Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-12-30

White Of Bangor called the meeting
to order, Prayer was offered by Rev.
g. y. Hayden. pastor the Universalist
church of Augusta. Following this
Mayor Choate. in an able and elo~
quent address, welcomed the members
of the society to the city of Augusta
He said:
Teachers Of Maine:
You are welcome to Augusta On be-
half of our hosptable citizens | extend q
cordial greeting and assure YOU that in
doing this | have great pleasure personal
ly.
You have assembled here today as the
representatives, of what is to aEy ma
ton. the most important profession. Il
profession which has the characters of
our future men and women in its keeping
to mould and perfect: surely its impor-
tance to our State and nation cannot he
exaggerated. the consequences of its
work cannot be overestimated Cicero
said What greater or better gift can We
offer the republic. than to teach and in
struct our YOUTH There is no greater
or better gift; and fortunate is that ma
tlon whose teachers are imbued with wis
dom and lofty aims teachers who seek
not alone the advancement of their pupils
in the learning of the books. but strive to
make them strong in everything that
gees to make splendid men and women.
IN education thorough knowledge of
the great underlying principles of any
study is of primary Importance. Look
over the vast fields of teaching in epofAi6kt
science and religion and see hoM many
great systems are the developms Slt of q
few fundamental principles. The great
Teacher told his followers that all the law
nrunhpfS hp tx1n
mandmcnts. the love of your God and the
love Of your ncighbors. all christianity is
the development of these two command
mcntS. One single principle. the law of
SravitatiOn. disclosed what was before a
great mystery to the scientists of the
world.
The constitution of the United States
written upon Il few pages contains those
great principles of government which
makes this nation the grandest on the
face of the earth-sO 1t is in the smaller
things of life: of what Overshadowils
Importance is it then that all such should
be thoroughly implanted in the youthful
mind.
Education should not be simply learn
ing from books but it should open n
broader ficld-education in all those
things which make mankind noble and
distinguishes christianity from barbar-
ism and elevatts man to the plane which
by his Maker he is created to occupy
H.
struction of the youth of our State their
plastic minds will take from you the i'm
press which shall determine their future
career. from you they will receive the
impulse which may dominate their lives
How much their after life will depend
upon the path in which YOU shall direct
it.
IT their tongues are touched by the fire
of eloquence shall they be heard in Ahe
cause of christianity and the uplifting of
the race or in waging hopeless battle
against the eternal verities of the word of
God.
If their. thoughts are painted in poetic
lines will they ennoble and uplift their
fellow men or lure them in the paths of
passion and pride. Il
If they shall seek the highways of com
merce or the marts of trade. will their
wealth be scattered to bless or withheld
to crafty personal ambition.
This nation Of ours stands today the
exponent of the highest DEVELOPMENT of
human government; with freedom OF
thought, freeuom of action and freedom
Of conscience the future is secure if only
that thought that action and that con
science are directed Alright.
Teachers OF Maine to Your keeping is /
in q great measure the future
Of our State. We welcome you as the
guardians of our youth. and say you be
guided Alright in the discharge OF that
sacred trust.
Responding to Mayor Chcates well (
come, President White said:
MIR. Mayor: In behalf of these teach
ars it gives me pleasure to respond 10 .
your cordial greeting. We are honored
N the city and building 10 which we are
welcomed. If. while We occupy these
seats. we could make laws which should
bind like those-some of them-which are
made here every two years we would |