The Portland daily press., 1897-01-23
eoRHAM NORMAL SCHOOL.
The Graduating Exercises Held Yes
terday.

Yesterday was in delightful contrast to
the day before, clear and bright and
beautiful, but the streets of Gorham were
not favorable for pedetrians. goodly
company, however, gathered in Assembly
hall of the Normal school to see the
pupils of the graduating class receive
their diplomas and hear the address of
Rev. DR.. Blanchard of Portland.
Among the visitors were State Superin
tendent Stetson and Trustee Robertson
of Augusta. Senators Walls, Clason and
Hurd and seven members of the lower
house whu constitute the committee on
education.
The services opened with the petition
of the XIII. Psalm by the school, led
By Principal Corthell. Prayer was offered
| by Rev. Mr.. Reynolds of Gorham. Music
followed, and then Principal Corthell in
troduced Rev. DIR. Henry Blanchard. His
theme was "Magnifying the Office of the
| Teacher.
DR.. Blanchard began by saying-"The
delightful task, Mr.. Principal, to which
you have summoned me, I gladly at
tempt to discharge today. To speak in
| behalf of the education of the young is
one of the highest privileges accorded to
public men. The office of the teacher is
to develop the body and mind and soul.
Our schools are nos to be goddess. al
though sectarian teaching is prohibited
To develop the young people of our land
is to render glorious service to humanity.
il is because of this glory Of service that
we are to magnify the office Of the teach
er.
The community does not magnify this
office. 1t does not sea the glory of this
service. Young men in colleges wish to
be lawyers, physicians. editors, electrical
engineers. They do not want to be
teachers. The reason is, in part, that
fession OF teaching. How SO many
lawyers live is puzzliug. The president
of the National Bar Association said that
it would be blessing if Noahian
flood drowned half the lawyers of the
land. The medical profession is over
crowded. Lately young physician ap
Piled for place ON the New York police
force because he could not earn living
in his profession. The community must
learn to honor the teacher. Who shall
magnify the office? Those who become
teachers--pal ents- ministers-the legisla-
ture. Let teachers themselves feel the
dignity of their office. Longfellow said
~ r. IL
er's chair throne" Prof. Tyndall said
eff there is any profession in England
of paramount Importance. believe Ii is
the profession of the school master" :" Or.
Blanchard urged the graduating class TO
study the history Of eduoation-to have
the books of the great teachers i'll their
rooms for constant study. He besought
them to have vision of service in the
schoolrooms where they were to teach.
Next, he asked fer the cooperation of
parents They too largely ignore the
echools. They DO not honor nor co-work
with the teachers. The public school, as
the church, needs the reverence of the
parents. He urged that conferences of
parents and teachers be held as they have
been in Detroit and are in New York.
The ministry is to magnify the Office
of the teacher. Tke Clergyman, both as
citizens and ministers. should visit the
schools so as to encourage teachers and
scholars.
This legislature should show by their
votes that they hold the cause of educa-
tion in highest esteem.
The address closed with repeating of
the class motto, Neglect not the gift
within thee" and Of verso and prose
quotations:
"Whate'er thou seest man
That, too, become thou must;
God, if thou seest God,
Dust, if thou seest dust"
From the wall of Scottish university
these words were taken, "Always TO be
the best.'' From Emerson
So close to glory is our dust,
So near to God Is man;
When Duty whispers low, "Thou must"
The youth replies-"I can."
The Prince of Wales motto is "Ioh
Drew"-"I serve"
The address WINS earnestly praised by
Superintendent Stetson and the audience.
At it's conclusion. Principal Corthell
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