Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1903-05-06
wALnALhA. soUTH oARoLmA. MAY .. 1905.
John Leland s A.. st::sa sss Fiss sss..s sssa M
Kennedy School. sssa ss.s;s ss i 9 s.n.s.. a

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Teachers
Association: When. in the midst OF an
active life, ] received your very kind in
vitation to be with You on this occasion,
the first thought that came into my mind
was that was too busy to accept your
call; then the thought that this is my
own, my uativ land, refreshed and
ipvigorated by Il scenes and days of my
boyhood, suggt sted by the subject as
SCHOOL," assert ID its sway, and hence I
To speak of Mr.. Kennedy's school is
to speak of him, for his school was mono
other than John Leland Kennedy. The
truth of the old addage, that sit Is the
man who makes the business and not the
business that makes the man. was never
life of this good man before us to-day;
therefore my remarks will be devoted
fret to the creator then to the creature.
His entire life, from early manhood,
was devoted to teaching and preaching
term of many years. He was o true
Christian gentleman, scholar, o theo-
logian, teacher and q builder of char
acters of both heart and mind. It may
seem strange that such talents and supe-
rior qualifications did not force him into
the higher institutions of learning in our
country; but Mr. Kennedy preferred the
quietude of country life, where he
could commune with nature and pursue
those studies whereby he enriched his
mind and heart with Gods purest gifts
and preside over q country school and
impart to his students, in his own pecu-
liar way and by precept and example,
that knowledge which cost him so much
time add study. He was devoted to his
school and took great pride in preparing
his students for the colleges of the
country. 1t is said to be fact that no
student going from his school ever failed
to enter the college to which he applied
for matrioulation. l have also heard
that some boys knew more when they
left his school than they knew when they
left the college of their graduation. do
not youch for the truth of this statement,
but must say this seems little unrea-
sonable to one of progressive ideas and
expansive theories, and will refer the
solution of the proposition to the young
teachers of this association, who are
wrestling with the reduction of fractions.
Mr.. Kennedy was practical man, and
while he did not ignore theory, always
looked on the common sense side of
every question. BY his association and
long experience In the ways of the world
he acquired knowledge of human
nature which bordered ON the super
natural. This, with his high sense of
honor and devotion to truth and justice,
under all and every circumstance, fitted
him most eminently for his high calling,
which was an honor to his name and Of
untold benefit and advantage to his asso-
oiates, his pupils and to the communities
in which he resided and labored.
Mr.. Kennedy had his own peculiar
ideas Of discipline. The rod, book,
and sometimes his fist, were his ever
ready companions in the school room
and were known as his side arms; better
this than the firearms of the present day.
He was as firm and steadfast as the Rock
Of Ages when he knew he was in the