The leader., 1898-12-14

Unless we do, Mississippi will become
a byword and a reproach among her
sister States. A commonwealth where
Greed strikes hands with Selfishness,
and Selfishness bargains with Debauch-
cry, and Debauchery leers at Incompe-
tency, and the pitiable picture painted
by the Prophet Isaiah will be realized
where Judgment is turned backward,
and Justice standeth afar off, for Truth
is fallen in the streets, and Equity can
not enter.
Before the public conscience can be
reached the private individual con-
science must be aroused. State pride
will be dormant until the sentiment of
patriotism and pride is awakened in the
individual. The way to make young
people truthful is to train and trust
them. We must look to the
MEN OF MISSISSIPPI
to fight our battles and solve the polit-
ical problems, but if the homes of Mis-
sissippi were what they should be, the
political problems would be of easy So
luton. The Christian home is the
hope of the nation, and the Bible is the
chief corner stone. Arm our women
with the Bible, and they will not need
the ballot. In the last analysis the re-
generation of Mississippi is to be &C
complished through her homes,
through the efforts of the women who
preside over these. Nor need we be
discouraged at the magnitude of the
task, ut is ours to do, the results are
Gods.
John Ruskin thus testifies: "An
that l have taught of art, everything
that 1 have written, every greatness
that has been in any thought of mine,
whatever I have bee in my life, has
simply been due to the fact that when
achild, my mother daily read me part
of the Bible, and daily made me learn
a part of it by heart"
DIR. Beeman once wrote, 1.-THE higher
classics, and the heavenly classics are
presented in the Bible. Christ is a
truer teacher than Plato; Isaiah a
sweeter poet than Virgil, and the sub
FINEST strains of Homer cannot COM
pare with the book of Job, and the Ro-
man Horace never gave from the
chords of his well-strung Tyre such
melody as David swept from his old
Jewish harp which had been tuned for
him in heaven"
1t was the Bible that shaped the
character of
ENGLAND'S GREAT CoMMONER,
William E. Gladstone and if the
standard of citizenship is to be elevat-
ed in Mississippi we must first exalt
the Bible in every home. Daniel Web
ster said the most momentous thought
that can enter human brain is that of
personal accountability to God. The
Bible makes men and women feel this
accountability and quickens the con-
science to demand faithfulness in all
the walks of life. Show me home or
a school where the Bible is taught and
honored, read and memorized, and
will show you well-spring of virtue
and good citizenship.
The best way to elevate the home is
to elevate the women of the State. l
do not know a more potent influence
outside of heaven than that exercised
by
EDUCATED CHRISTIAN WOMEN,
and the time has come for united &C
ton, for organization of women for
women.
At recent meeting of the Fedora
ton of clubs at Selma, Ala, the women
of that State deplored the illiteracy
that prevailed and it was suggested
that every member pay annually fee
of one dollar, and that sum would be
sufficient to send each year eight girls
to school. In every neighborhood
in Mississippi there are bright girls,
earnest girls, to whom practical edu-
cation such as may be obtained at
Whitworth College, would be VERT
able fortune. Could not our women in
every town and county organize asso-
Citations and raise funds to provide
these girls with the means of educa-
ton? commend this to you my asso-
ciates as one way to benefit our sex
and our State. Let me tell you of the
PRACTICAL WORKING OF THIS PLAN.
In 1885 loan association was formed
in one of our counties, each member
paying a dollar annually, and the
money was loaned to two deserving
young women. One of them continued
at school until she was prepared to
teach She taught school and repaid
the money, married a young Baptist
minister, taught and helped him to
finish his course at the Seminary, and
today he is the pastor of flourishing
II.
Was not that money well invested?
Again recall a graduate of this col
lege With limited means she stopped
school after her sophomore year,
taught school and made the money
with which to pursue her junior course.
Another year of teaching and she re-
turned to enter the senior class and re-
ceive her well-earned diploma. Just
then her mother died and left nine
younger children. With rare self-ab-
this heroic young woman sent
these sisters and brothers to college
until all are now about educated, and
she herself is principal of school in
Texas which pays her 1925 month.
That is what a practical education
will do for a woman, and that is what a
woman will do with practical educa-
A.