The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-06-21

Yesterday was perhaps the strongest
day in the work of the assembly, al
though, owing to the very inclenfent
weather, the attendance was smaller.
The first paper for the day was that
of Professor Ragsdale, of Pitt county,
which emphasized the duty of the
county superintendent TO get as nearly
as possible in touch with all of his peo-
pie.
SECRETARY MEBANE RETIRES.
The following resolutions commend
atory of Professor Charles H. Mebane,
were offered and passed by the assem-
bly,:
Resolved, Tha the members of the
North Carolina Teachers Assembly
have heard with sincere regret that
Professor c.. H. Mebane finds it impos-
sible on account of his official duties
as president of .Catawba college to re-
tain the office of secretary and treas
urer of the assembly. They desire,
therefore, to give expression to their
opinion that he has been, in every way,
an energetic, faithful and efficient Off
Ger. wise in the leadership of education
go $1,000 ~-N III A1o SAA
deavors to arose educational senti-
ment.
H has been uniformly thoughtful of
the interests of each Individual men,
Der of the assembly and has won their
lasting esteem and love
LAS superintendent of public instruc-
ton and as secretary of his assembly,
to the educational development of the
state.
w heartily wish him "God speed in
his new field of work, and trust that he
may attain an ever greater success
than has already rowne his indefa-
tigable labOrS educational"
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The officers for the year were next
elected and were as follows:
Presiden-Professor Edwin Minis,
Trinity college.
First Vice President-Dr. F. p. Ven
able, University of North Carolina.
Secretary and Treasurer-Professor
w. D. Carmichael, superintendent Du%
ham Grade schools.
Among the other vice presidents is
Professor Washington Catlett, of this
city.
DR.. E. w. Sykes, of Wake Forest
college, followed; his address and those
of Mr.. Bailey and DR.. Ivey, as coming
from men of large experience in their
respective fields were very closely fol-
lowed and enjoyed.
DR.. Sykes said in part:
DIR. SYKES ADDRESS.
Education is an Introduction to the
past, in the fields of literature, science,
religion and as Institutions they are
great possessions. To teach is to bring
the heirs into rightful possession of this
of this inheritance. In this work the
college has been a great factor. Great
monuments nave had their beginnings
in colleges. Wycliffe the morning
star of the reformation, gained his in
spiration from his class room. Wesley
and Whitfield started their great
movement in the college, thirty-two
out of fifty-five members of
the great constitutional convention
were men. But there were certain
conditions in which colleges must live
in order to do their work. The college
is what it's faculty is. The college
professor must believe in the universal
ity of education. Not only must he
train leaders but he must train the
constituency of the leader. II not then
many a Milton will tune his Tyre in ST
lence n many a Hamden remain in
the village. If the public be not train
ed then will they sacrifice their noblest
leaders. Socrates will drink his hem
Galillio will break on the rock,
and Latimer urn at the stake.
The law school aims to make the
lawyer. the melical hoo the doctor,
the university the scholar, but the col
lege aims to make the man.
"A new civilization is coming among
US; it marches under a banner Of smoke
and keeps time to the music of the
shuttle: it knocks at the college doors
and says tear down the altar Of Schol-
arship and builds the urnace. From
without his new civilization may no
voice ever come to call young Carroll
mans away from the feet of such
teachers as were o Swain, Brax-
ton Craven and Manly Wingate. These
are the Gamaliels from whom go out
the young Pauls.
.aThere is much for the North Carroll
ma professor to do. A great education
al awakening is upon US, put IL must
be directed. North Carolina must
change her ideals. VIVA t boots that
Virginia Dare first say the light IN
North Carolina if her grand children
cannot read. How cheap is that glory
which makes only first in war, but
last in peace, first at Bethel and last
to enter the temple of knowledge OF
last at Appomatox n first in the ar
my of ignorance. Take away no
trophy from the temple of Mars, no
wreath from his brow, u do let us
kindle the fires on the temple of Min
erva and win the victories Of peace"
PROFESSOR WILSON.
Professor Wilson, Of Catawba college,
followed on the same subject. me
college professor and public educatlon.'
and left some good thoughts for the
college He said that the av-
erage professor while doing his work
faithfully in the school room did no
show that attention to the public school
interests which he should do, as the
presence of comparatively few profes-
sors at this assembly showed. He sug-
gested that the college professor train
ed in public speaking should occasion
ally appear before the public schools
and give them words of inspiration to-