The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-05-27
A VERY FINE ADDRESS
DIR ALDERMAN AT THE SALEM
BOYS SCHOOL.
HThe Child and the State' His Theme
introduced by Bishop Rondthaler.
Music by the Orchestra and
Songs by the Boys.

-
introduced by Bishop Rondthaler.
Music by the Orchestra and
Songs by the Boys.
An appreciative audience assembled
at the new and attractive building of
the Salem Boys School, Thursday to
hear the address of DR.. E. A. Alder
man, President of the University Of
North Carolina, and to enjoy the
other pleasures which had been pro-
vided for the occasion.
The exercises opened with selec
tion by the Salem Orchestra and this
was followed by chorus, my Coun-
try Tis of Thee" by the school, with
orchestra accompaniment.
Then the speaker of the evening
was introduced in a graceful and ap-
propriate manner by Bishop Rond
thaler, who paid high tribute to Dr..
Alderman and his interest in the
cause of education, which, said the
Bishop, next to religion, is the chief
thought.
DR.. Alderman then proceeded to
deliver an address repiete with deep
thought, earnestly and beautifully
"
| tention of his auditors from the open
ing sentence to the close. A fine ad-
dress it was, indeed, and one which
We wish the entire com immunity had
heard.
The subject of mis- address was "The
Child and the State The one great
question of the world is how to make
man better. There is only one an
swer, education-that education that
TN q q q fp ri nf
| this great process must be the child
| The greatest agent working upon the
| child is the State, the Christian State.
| 1t was not his purpose in any way to
minimize the value Of the Christian
| church
The most fascinating thing in the
world is little child. There is no
! hovet however wretched but that the
presence of child lends to it fresh
ness and brightness. The child is the
| epitome of the civilization Of society.
In ancient literature the child pass
| ed uunoticed or was used to appeal to
| pity. Even Shakespeare, in his uni
versal sweep, failed to notice children
in an appropriate way. Milton scarce
ly mentions them Pope only hinted
| at them once. Goldsmith and Burns
was reserved for Wordsworth, the
/ poet of Democracy. to invest child
hood with sort Of divine essence.
| Dickens crowned the work After
| wards there sprung up literature for
and about children. Now millions OF
| dollars are used annually in this di-
| rection
| to government. Every child has the
same right to be educated as it has
to be free The speaker referred to
the erroneous impressions as to what
constitutes a State. The State is the
will of the people. Primarily, it is the
people, and secondarily it is the will
of the people, expressed in some way
The State is thing to be reckoneo
with and has higher duty to per
form than is symbolized by the police
mans coat or the hangman's rope
The State is intended to assist man
kind in doing good and leading better
| lives. Education enables people tt
help themselves. 1t is good thint
to feed the hungry, but it is tetter tt
provide them way to fill their owl
mouths.
The speakers reference to the con
! nection of the Saviour with child lif,
set before his disciples, who wer'
clamoring for precedence, littl
child and declared that whoever dit
the will Of God was His brother, theI
a new era began in the relation o
men to each other. This spirit o
Christ and Christianity has passet
beyond the borders of the church, ant
by the divine energy OF the Churcl
itself is entering human society an
is maDifesting itself in the aims o
the State. Democracy and Christian
, ity are beginning to join hands.
, The State has conscience, heart
purpose and it has will to trans
form into action that conscience, tina
, | heart, that purpose. The speake
then spoke Of the evil of denouncin
+ the State. He remembered when tn
public school idea had but sligh
hold upon even good men. He CAV
: some of the objections urged and Il
doing so adrolJly used the weapon c
| refined sarcasm. Soon these obstacle
were swept away by the spirit {
: | Christ.
Z The speaker took occasion to refe
to the University and its work an
+ the fact that for century 1t has bee
: pointed to with pride.
+ Next to the Church itself there
nothing greater than The publ
y school idea for good in our land. TT
4 spirit of Christ is working upon tt
State and the individual and will M
!. cease until all are emancipated frOl
the black ignorance of night.
h The address was followed by a gle
a song, by a number of the boys, and
selection by the Orchestra.
,. Prof. Brewer, principal of the schoC
expressed qualification at being alb
to greet the friends In the new bull
ing and announced that the reguli
commencement exercises would occl
next Friday night, May 20th.