The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-05-02
THINK UPON THESE THINGS.
Duty of the Adult Population to Train
up the Rising Generation to Call
Them Blessed-Plea i'm Behalf of the
Graded Schools and General Educa-
tim

EDIToR GOLD LEAF, Sr:-JEst $500
years ago the prophet Daniel placed
on sacred record these inspired words:
They shall go to and fro. and knowledge
shall Increase in the earth. The index
OF Daniels prophetic vision must have
pointed down the stream of time 10 the
present generation as such facilities Tor
general going to and fro and i.r a gen
eral increase OF knowledge were never Of
Tered the world before. which of course is
Tor the carrying out of special proyidrn-
tlal purposes for the benefit Of the com
ing millennal age, and it should hc
understood that it is nett Ter pleasant nor
profitable to willfully place selfish OBJ
structlons in the way OF The providential
wheel; it is the duty of I'll good Chris
tlans who may be watching the winding
OF Providence to remove as far us posi-
bic all instructions that may have a ten
dency to retard the wheels OF progress
The system OF education can be traced
back to remote periods: the first Divincly
appointed legislator was trained up in all
the wisdom and learning of Egypt; and
the increase OF general knowledge has
been but meager adown the centuries to
the present time. Alfred the Great" an
English king, was a man of progress he
founded the two his Orical seats Of learn
lng-OXford and Cambridge. a thousand
years ago, but the educational knowledge
acquired was not general. being limited
to special and privileged classes; but in
the year 1870 compulsory system of
education was adopted in England. n
vast stride in the line of progressive
knowledge. The United States from the
commencement of its history has been in
the front ranks OF education; Il praise
worthy effort is now being made to carry
out theinspired injunction in the town OF
Henderson, and is it possible that some
of its best citizens are opposed to this
laudable scheme? if so. tell it not in
Gath, publish it not i'll the streets of
AskelOn VS.. Henderson: il defeated at
the polls a week hence an injury will be
inflicted on the promising youth OF Hen
dersOn beyond human calculation. an ac-
count OF which will be required at a
provldential Bar 1t is the duty OF the
adult population to train up the rising
generation to call them blessed; if other
wise vice versa will be the sad result; they
will live when we are dead and the
mighty responsibilities OF bearing their
share in conducting the affairs of this
world will then involuntariy fall on
them; if they are to founder in Il quag-
mlre OF ignorance, they will not be in
position to compete with the mighty I'M
pending achievements which will he
prevalent in their day. The Creator has
got many mighty purposes to be accom-
| plished in the earth through human in
| strumentality. not in ignorance. but
through the medium OF light and IlnoWl-
edge; in the grand system OF educa-
| ton can be seen the civilization. the
| elevation, the editicaton the cvangeli-
| cation and the salvation of the whole
| human race; without it the Bible would
be sealed volume. Everything is ready
for carrying out the great educational
work i'll Henderson: the school house is
here, the worthy Principal with his eff
! cient staff OF able and accomplished teach
ers are here, the money is here, and above
all the pupils in great abundance are
here; and by teaching them the twenty
six letters of the alphabet, a key is
placed in their hands that will, if rightly
turned, unlock the cabinet OF science.
Those who understand phrenoIo2y and
physiognOmy must observe while passing
along these streets that there i. youthful
talent enough here if fully developed to
| weave an immortal wreath around the
| brow OF Henderson,
Your humble servant
RICHARD MARSTON.
April both. 1901