The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-16
GALA DAY AT THE UNIVERSITY.
CORNER STONE OF THE SCIENCE
HALL LAID.

Grand Master Taylor of the Masonic
Fraternity in Charge-MayOr Mel
drim Makes n Strong Plea For the
Education of the Masses by the
state - Mr. MeIdrim Reelected
President of the Alumni Society.
winners of the OratOricaI Prizes.
Athens, Ga. June 15-This has been
gala day at the university.
The corner stone of the new science hall
was laid this morning with imposing GER
emory. The exercises at the laying of the
stone were in charge of Grand Master j.
W. Taylor of the Masonic fraternity In
Georgia. assisted by the Grand Lodge of
Georgia and the officers and members of
the two local lodges. After the corner
stone had been laid the crowd, number
ing more than 1000 returned to the chap
el, where Hon. p. w. Meldrim, president
of the alumni society, delivered the adj
dress of welcome Mr.. Meldrim spoke in
part as follows:
Il insist that the supreme law, that Of
the safety of the republic, demands that
the state should educate the children
male and female, white and black. We
must not delude ourselves into thinking
that the illiteracy of Georgia is due sole
ly to the negro. Nearly Is per cent. of our
white population is illiterate, while in
the comparatively new state of Iowa
there is less than per cent, of litter
acy, and in Kansas less than 4 per cent
Forty states in the union rank higher
than Georgia, and only three are lower
in the scale of illiteracy. Illteracy neces-
sarily begets pauperism and crime. Not
one out of twenty of our white convicts
- 1f I,a ar1r
The question as to the effect of education
on crime and pauperism is no longer an
open one.
I'VE are accustomed to rely upon the
good sense of the American people as a
protection against anarchy, and have been
taught to believe that as the great mass
of our citizens do not live In crowded
cities, but are engaged in agricultural
pursuits that they may be safely trusted
to oppose by their conservative influence
the false doctrines of socialism. Owing to
inferior advantages afforded in the coun-
try for the education of the children
farms are being deserted and the great
cities are becoming crowded. Grant that
the life of an ordinary farmer is dreary
drudgery. Yet what is 1t that makes it
to a great extent so dreary? The want of
education. 1t is s much the duty of the
state to provide for the happiness of the
citizen as to protect his person or proper
ty Permit a people to grow FESTIVE, and
idle, and good government topples.
What is Georgia doing to make her peo-
pie happy? l do not blame a man for be-
ing ignorant but 1 do blame the intelli-
gent and educated men and women of
Georgia for permitting this illiteracy to
continue. We have done something for
education, but we must do more.
Il do not disparage the upbuilding Of ma
terial Georgia but to-day she needs more
than alien immigrants, or foreign capital
educated men and women. With them
all things are possible, without them moth
ing is attainable Ignorance is slavery,
education is freedom. Illiteracy is power
ty, learning is wealth and knowledge is
power.
Speaking of the education of women.
Mr.. Meldrm said: There is no we'll
grounded apprehension that higher educa-
ton of women will render them less wo-
manly. THE woman who is resolved to
be respected can make herself to be so
even amidst an army of soldiers As
bread winner education makes
a woman battle less hard and yet
enhances for her the value of the fruits of
victory. AS wife, the educated woman be-
comes adviser. friend and comrade AS
mother, she directs with high intelligence
and cousummate skill, the physical intel
lectual and moral well being of her chill
drcn. In the affairs of city and state she
an important part.
The women of Georgia, who having
broken the shackles of false pride that
bound them, and who, too proud to eat
the bread of dependence, maintain them
selves by their own labor, are of right
entitled TO that education, which will en-
able them to use their talents to the best
advantage on any and every field of hui
man endeavor.
Georgia is working out her destiny. and
her people, through her representatives,
are discharging their duty in erecting this
building the cornerstone of which we
have just laid. May il rebound to the well
fare of the people, to the glory of the
state.
ITO the alumni of the University l would
say, seek We to make glad to waste places
of Georgia by directing your strength and
energy 70 the education and the culture
OF the children of the state"
Gov. W. Y. Atkinson was kept from
attending the exercises on account of