The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-25
Dr.. Edward Minis.

Dr.. Edward Minis.
DR.. Edward Minis. OF Trinity College,
Durham. N. c. was called upon to speak
ten minutes. He occupied his time e1-
celently. He took q tack new to this
session Of the conference. urging that the
colleges OF the South have the light turn
cd as Is being turned on the rural schools
OF the South. He thought that many OF
the colleges of the country need console
idation as much az the rural schools. The
trend and argument OF his address was
that there were too many insignificant
colleges in the country at the sacrifice
OF good colleges. Many there were in
colleges at present who ought not to
be there. He longed for the time when
the college professors should take lead
ing part in the discussions OF economic
and all important questions OF the day.
He longed for the time Of great colleges
and great educators at their head and
in their teachers chairs.
Dr. Minis made n fine impression on
many and his remarks were cordially
applauded.
Prof Rose, OF Tennessee, made splen-
teacher, and that the teacher may give
the larger life to the pupils he must
have some of the larger life himself.
ARinging Address.
Those OF the audience who were Rich
mond people had every cause to be proud
of their Representative on the programme.
DR.. S. c. Mitchell. OF Richmond College.
for mat gentleman made a ringing adj
dress. He was greeted with burst OF
applause when presented and came for
ward. He spoke on the theme Part OF
the Citizen In Aiding the Cause OF Edu-
cation
i. is apparent to all that the education
al revival for which this conference
stands is a friend TO religion and pa
triotism, It must be equally apparent
that 1t is foe to sectarianism and SEQ
tionalisrn. two things which are often
found working in unison To this unholy
alliance OF sectarianism and sectional
ism this conference opposes. sympathy
or like mindedness which is tho beautiful
fruit Of education. In such a contest can
any one doubt the issue? rejoice In the
note OF sympathy which this gathering
intones. We are here to see, eye to eye,
and face to face. Earnest to do good.
but. prior to that. resolute to know the
ruth. 1t Is this Characteristic OF the
conference that brings you home to the
bosom OF our people. Truth through love.
and service through truth, that Is our
programme.
The inspiring impulse OF this move-
ment for education In the South Is not
the good of the individual alone, but the
welfare of our common country. which
embraces, to be sure, the total good OF
each citizen. This gathering seeks COM
munal rather than individual well-being.
and works for national rather than Sec
tonal interests. In this regard you COM
mend yourselves to every man in the
South.
All the ills OF slavery are embraced in
the one word isolation. That isolation
OF the South was geographic, historical.
industrial political. Sympathy Is the
key that is unlocking that prison door,
In thus welcoming you In the full
strength Of the national sentiment. the
South is but reasserting the position
which she was the first to take The
words OF Patrick Henry In the opening
hour of the Continental Congress, In l774
were both first and final: 1.-THE distinc-
tions between Virginans. Pennsylva-
mans, New Workers, and New England
ers are no more. ] am not Virgnian
but an American"
The spirit of those words, worthy tc
be written in letters of living light on
every school house, throbs In this con-
ference and constitutes It's real signih.
canoe. The possibilities OF the South are
not bounded by the traditions of the past.
but by the nascent energies OF the pres
ent and the hopes of the future.
Enlist Whole Citizenship.
II, therefore. the patriotic motive Is
the grand one. II the national good is the
real one. which this conference has at
heart then not all the work In this edu-
cational revival is to be done by the
teacher. nor by the taxpayer nor by the
legislator,
We must enlist the whole citizenship in
seeking these noble ends. In doing our
work, both the method of the teacher
and the money Of the taxpayer. good IN
themselves, are secondary. 1t Is the cit
izen who in the last analysis is the de-
termin!ng factor In the success of this
educational revival, II he Is committed
to 1t. 1t cannot fall,
To this cause the cltizens' chief contri-
button will be spirit. The South has
Of education in the South Is helpful but
inadequate statistics take no account OF
the sufferings of the past or of the as
pirations of the present.
II is not the statistical but sympathetic
treatment of this subject which will bring
Eus TO truth and largest service.
The South did not permit one college
of consequence to die as result OF the
rayages of the war, That Is RECORD
of educational loyalty without parallel
Recognizing this spirit OF self-help. at,
tracted indeed by what the South has
done in education under painful condI
tons, men of vision and generous i'm
nnlses from all sections unite here II
an effort to reinforce her desires for edu
cational advance.
How can the citizen be effectively en-
listed in this educational work? sThs de
cis,ye answer to that question has beer
given by the noble women forming thu
Richmond Education Association. whose
splendid services have been so fruitful
OF results in this city and this State
or the Idea Of such an assocla ton, SO tn,