The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-16
THF TEACHERS MEETING.
Interesting and Thoughtful Address by
Prot. E. L. Hughes Upon the Sub
ject, EsTwo Problems Of 0vlli-
Zation."

building Saturday morning.
Owing to the very dlsagreeable
weather, the attendance was not very
large, but the meeting was interesting
;; and most pleasant one. The address
was delivered by Prof E. L. Hughes, of
the Greenville city schools. Prof.
Hughes is one of the leading educators
of the State and is at all times a pleas
ant and interesting talker. His address
upon this occasion was what was ex-
pected Of him-clear cut, practical and
full of thought. And it was peculiarly
appropriate to the time and the occa-
sion and. dealt with a question which
cannot be too closely studied by the
teachers OF the present age. His sub
was, 1.-TWO Great Problems of Civiliza-
tion.
He said he appreciated very highly
the privilege of being here on this
occasion. In days gone by he had
known very pleasantly many Newberry
people, whom he was glad to have the
opportunity of meeting again.
He wanted this morning to talk about
s'Two Great Problems of Civilization. 7"
The purpose of Civilization is to make
men more efficient. The chef elements
in efficiency are health, intelligence and
morality. The civilized man should be
healthier, physically and morally, than
the savage. He said he had rather be a
savage and stand erect in the forest
and be able to take in the lessons which
Nature teaches, which after all are the
best, than to be a civilized man in the
highest state Of civilization yet known
and to be diseased in mind and body.
The civilizations which have existed on
the earth did not fall from lack of in
telligence. Assyria and Babylon left
behind them records which prove that
they had a degree of intelligence which
even the civilization of today might
envy. And so with the civilizations of
Egypt, Greece and Rome-they all had
then excelledcies and the civilization of
today is enjoying the priceless legacies
which they have left. It was not from
lack of intelligence that they fell, but
on account of a deterioration in health
and mortality. Increased intelligence,
wealth, luxury, self-indulgence, degen-
eracy summarize the history of fallen
nations. The problem of our civiliza-
ton is how to increase intelligence and
at the same time avoid this downward
This problem is dual: it
becomes aquestion of preserving health
and morals. e.
Education is the most essential factor
IN civilization. These problems then
are for the educator. Public schools
should be conservators Of public well
fare as well IS centres Of intelligence.
What can they do to help solve these
problems, and how can it be done?
There is both a negative and a posi-
tive side to hygiene and ethics. The
Mosaic code contained ten prohibitions
and three positive commands. In
Christ's code, or the summary of the
Law are two, both positive. The posi-
tive side is the most natural; action is
easier than restraint, especially IN
and in youth. The negative
side is right, but what he meant to say
was that the teacher should take hold
Of the most natural side, the positive
side. Conscience has positive side |
and negative side. It may be SO |
lulled that it will impose NO penalty for |
wrong doing, but every mans con-
science quickens with a sense Of duty |
done. So that if the teacher can take |
hold of the positive side in dealing with
the child, he will have conscience on
his side.
There are three vital physical pro-
,esses: respiration, circulation, and
digestion. There are three vital ele-
ments in morality: reverence, service,
and obedience. These are all positive
things that must be done. 'These' do
and thou shalt live. - Those who would |
sfectually promote health and morality |
must look to these. No restraints can
take the place of these.
Prof. Hughes said that his subject |
here ran into 'shero worship" He
plead for a revival of hero worship as
the very basis of rendering good SER
vice and accomplishing good results in
health and morality, in strength of |
body and of soul. Physical strength |
and moral excellence make the hero.
In all ages humanity has 'worshipped
their gods from afar off; they were
their ideals, unapproachable ideals. |
They worshipped their heroes, who
came near to them and were their
models. The speaker thought the reason
why every man and woman is hero
worshipper is because our heroes rep
resent what we long to be, and he be-
lieved that so long as a people worship
heroes they are safe in measure from
physical and moral decline. He be-
lieved it just as essential to right living
to have heroes as to have gods. The