The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-12-01

that with the sacred words of Moth
err Home and Heaven our chill
dren should be taught that our flag
is the symbol of all that makes a
home for US. We would place a
flag upon every public school in our
land, and a Bible within, and the OBJ
ject lesson therein set forth should
be a beacon light in every storm that
threatens to engulf us. In this noble
and patriotic work we ask the cordial
and hearty cooperation of all good
citizens. In this grand work we need
the helping hand of all organizations
holding the same views and princi-
pies. We have no time for jealousies
and chickering's, but with a united
'front.' We should march forward,
shoulder TO shoulder, remembering
that united we stand, divided we
fall In the strictest sense we are
a national political organization, but
We oppose with unanimlry the slight
est faint of ~partisanship. Our coun-
try is our motto, ano we keep this
motto steadily before US. We are
cognizant that there are great and
powerful enemies within our midst,
requiring the StricteSt surveillance of
all who are at heart, word and in
deed Americans. We, as members of
this Order, affirm our allegiance to
the objects of the order as paramount
to any partisan %affiliation, and urge
upon h membership harmonious.
united and intelligent action in carry
ing out the principles. Our public
| schools forms the chief cornerstone
of the American republic. They are
the sheet anchor Of u hope. The
growth n prosperity which have
| characterized the first century of our
nations existence, have excited the
wonde and admiration of the world.
What shall be written Of her at the
end of another century, will depend
| largely upon the manner in which our
| schools perform their mission. In the
100000 public schools of this nation,
under the training and tuition of
| 300. 600 teachers, there are today r.
600. 900 children who will, in the next
generation, shape and control the
d~estinies of a great people. Upon
| them and their children will depend
the future glory or shame of the
American republic. No other nation
| since the world began has had a his
tory such as ours. But what of the
future? What story VIII another cen
tury tell? The teachers of this day
and hour are answering these ques-
tons. There must be no sectarian-
ism, either political or religious, in
our public schools; but there must be
truth and duty there. The unchang-
ing undying maXims of moral rOcti-
tude should be taught to every child.
The time has come when the pupils
Of our public schools must be taught
the love of our country. That means
| that the children of his nation must
learn to love their native land. To
whom shall we look for the inculca-
lion of those patriotic sentiments
which shall inspire the heart of every
American citizen, but to the 800, 600
| teachers of our public schools. The
Junior Order of United American
Mechanics has achieved a worthy and
| enduring work in directing the at
tentiOn of all our people to the vital
| Importance of patriotic training in
| our public schools. Through their in
strumentality the emblem of our ma
TONS glory. which has hitherto been
unfurled only in times Of bloody con-
flict or holiday occasion, is now seen
| floating peacefully in the genial sun
| light over many of the buildings dedi-
Gated to the education of the nations
youth. Age and the custom inaug-
urated by our order will spread over
| all the land. Over every school house,
in hamlet and city, in country and
town, in the north n in the south,
in the east and in the west, the
American flag will be kissed by the
morning breeze. Twenty millions of
children see it every day, and learn
to love it as the emblem of all that
is good. 1t will represent to us and
to all the world, in a new and pc
culiar manner the great fundamental
truth that the bulwarkS of our lib
critics are in the education of the
people.
Now, my friends, 1 have outlined
the principles of our order. It's OBJ
jectS and purposes should commend
it to every right thinking man. 1t
seeks the highest good of Jul country.
1 II jc rom nnSa1 not Of h19 I nj fanatics
or alarmists, but of earnest thought
full men, who honestly desire to dis
cover the weak places in the ship of
state in time to avert disaster, who
prefer to admit and foresee perilS
that threaten our country so as to
guard against them in time rather
than sit down in optimistic content
ment while the work of ruin goes on.
Do you ask me who are our mem
bers? And of what material are we
composed? I refer you to the halls
of our National Congress: to our
State Legislatures, to the various Of
fees of n and trust, to the pull
pit, to the bar, the departments of
literature. science and art. our manu-
features and mechanical trades, in
fact wherever worth is recognized
and services rendered, there may be
found the members of our order"
II EXERCISES
The other exercises consisted of a
short talk by Vice Councillor Burke,
who spoke about the Importance of
every child obtaining an education,
which was the only way to seek and
reach the goal of happiness and
prosperity. Upon conclusion of his
remarks he called upon Prof. Wash
ington Catlett, county superintendent
of public Instruction. and Rev. H. a.
Edwards, of Delgado, for talks, and
each, though taken by surprise, re-
| sponded and made interesting educa-
tional speeches. The former took oc-
| casion to thank the Junior Mechanics
for the interest and aid in the edu-
cational progress of the country on
behalf of the Board of Education,
and the latter expressed the thanks
of the citizens of Delgado.
PRESENTATION SPEECH.