The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-08-08
EDUCATION OUR HOPE.
ADDRESS OF l. ii. HUNT, ESQ AT LIT
TIE MOUNTAIN REUNION, AUG. 1, O2
The Progress OF Education and Its Influence
In the Building Of the Nstion-Now
Within the Reach of All and Ii
In the Duty OF all to Take
Advantage of the OPP
portunity offered.
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle

men:
As I stand here and look over this
vast audience, am convinced that the
cause of education is alive in the land,
and that old Newberry College holds
a warm place in the hearts OF the peo-
ple of Fairfield, Richland, Lexington,
Saluda andNewberry counties. These
annual gatherings of almost four
thousand men, women and children
have a deeper meaning than a mere
picnic occasion, and broader i'm
port than q day of pleasure and rec
reation; they mean that the minds OF
the people are directed towards the
cause of education, and their hearts
towards that grand old institution in
whose honor we are gathered here
today for the purpose of paying an
humble tribute to its past, and invok,
ing divine benediction upon its fu-
ture. II there is one educational IN
st,tution in South Carolina that can
Justly claim the moral, financial and
personal support Of her citizenship
n
that institution is Newberry College.
For almost fifty years it has wealth
cred the storm along with the old
Ship of State and has fallen and
risen upon the waves of her pros
perity and her adversity. When the
war between the States commenced;
NeWberry College was dourishing
institution; its halls were full to over
flowing, and It's reputation as an IN
stitution of learning was a pride and
pleasure to the people of every de-
nomination; but its halls were soon
deserted that it's students might 60
forth to battle for personal liberty
and constitutional rights. When the
red banner of the Confederacy went
down in defeat, the walls of New
berry College crumbled and fell at
the hands of northern soldiery; when
the dark days Of reconstruction and
vandalism were forced upon our pc
pie, the ruins of Newberry College
were hedged in by the Federal Dayo-
net. As soon ss the alien aud the
stranger were driven from the State
and the machinery of the govern
ment placed in the hands OF the na'
tive Carolinian, NeEberry College
rose from its ruins and stands today
q monument to the love, fortltude
sad devotion of the Lutherans OF
South Carolina and other Southern
States Thus it is, that that old in-
stitution has stood by its people IN
time of peace and in time Of war; 1t
has prospered when they have pros
pered and suffered with them in their
days of adversely. These annual
gatherings have done much to direct
the attention of the people to the
csuse of education, and that is sub
iect that is of vital and personal IN
terest to every citizen of South Caro-
Ina. be that citizen good or bad, rich
or poor; If he has the future welfare
Of his children at heart, he must be
interested in the cause of educatlon'
and on that subject the voice OF the
people should be of one accord Ii
this day of advancement in agrlcul'
tnre. in science and in commerce.
the arm is getting weaker and the
brain is growing stronger; in reality
the pen is fast becoming ''mightlel
than the sword" Every schoolhouse
and college is work shop in which
bnman minds are moulded into edu'
cstionsl channels, and opinions anc
;dess are formulated that will direc'
and control the destiny OF this State
and this Nation. 1t is within the re
: citation hall and on the college cam
ms that mind and character Ii
formed, it is there a young man or
vonnp woman is made better o.
made worse; it is there for the mrs
time young man sees life OUTSIDE 0
bis own home and feels that stlmu
latiog independence OF mind an
body that makes him realize that q
nnst think and act for himself, an'
for himself alone. An education l
NO longer luxury, but an sOsolu'
necessity, and there can be no sadie
SIGHT than to see q young man star
o,t nnon his Journey of life wlthou