The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-03-23
REV. DIR. LEEFE'S SERMON.
DISCOURSE ON "WHAT IS THE
MATTER WITH CoNNECTICUT?"

MATTER WITH CONNECTICUT"
DcIended-Comp with Those
of0thsr Stntes-Remedtes for Ell listing
Ills suggested-Piea for Closer Fellow
ship and Spread of Christinm Religion.
Despite the stormy weather last even
ing large congregation assembled in
Dwight Place church and listened to an
eloquent sermon by the pastor, the Rev.
DR.. Leete, on the subject, What is the
Matter With Connecticut" The speak
err first eulogized and reviewed the lives
Of many of Connecticut's eminent sons
and daughters, speaking not only of the
good they had done for this state, but
also their influence on the whole world.
This influence was and is of an uplift-
ing and enlightening character and has
done much toward making the nations
history.
Continuing he said that all had not
come from the larger cities but had
risen from many of the small country
tUwns amid humble environments. In
glowing terms Dr. Leete mentioned the
good done by, the Beecher family and
many others, whose birth had occurred
in small Connecticut hamlets. He also
spoke of the great moral, social and
political Influence they had had on the
rest of the world. The reason to a
great extent is social one which has
made them leave their homes and
caused them to mix with the rest of
the world.
DR.. Leete then, in conjunction with
this, spoke Of the moral and educa-
tlonal limitations of the country towns.
He said he knew about these things as
he had been a country preacher at one
time and had also served on a country
school board. The usual pay for a girl
school teacher is about $40 and mems
pay seldom exceeds $50 per month. A
boy or a girl graduates from a country
district school and then secures a posi-
ton to teach either in the same one or
a similar one. They teach just what
they have learned there. Now 1 would
like to know how much progression can
be expected from such a condition of
affairs? To my mind districts should
be broken ID and a central school or
Two provided, taught by competent and
we'll educated teachers who not only
keep in touch with the rest of the
world. but who will assist their pupils
to do likewise. He said that the
churches had not gone into the high
ways and by-ways as they should,
I~fVY rfT1rr fI,~.x 20
junction with education: He also spoke
in reference to the influence foreign
emigration had on the sociological con-
dition of the state, saying that go per
cent of its Inhabitants were foreign
born. They have the ability to live on
less money than the native born and
gain their sustenance from the soil. In
time they inter-marry and if they had
proper u opportunities for education
would not in many cases become what
they are sometimes called Poor white
trash," but would assist in making a
better state. Continuing DIR. Leete
said: Dublin is not the biggest Irish
city in the world; New York and Bos-
ton are larger
A perfect babel of speech similar to
tAiAL ebs LltC ttil1C vi lllG Ol
tongues can be found in all parts of
our state. Some of the greatest things
in the history Of the world have eman-
ated from this mixture. England claims
that the people in this country are not
pure Anglo-Saxon and we make the
same counter claims. The mixing of
blood is sometimes a. good thing, al
though We do not know what will be
the result of blending. The salt of the
earth is sometimes spoken of, but it
was not salt that killed the policeman
in Waterbury. Of course it is a ques-
ton who committed the crime al
though 1t does not look like the work
of an American. 1t was not an Ameri-
can who killed policeman in this city
about a year ago. There are similar
conditions all over the country. The
poor mountain whites in Tennessee can
be made something of and there are
many, as bad If not worse in Connect
cut who need our work and attention.
Is there no chance for the poor mixed
whites in Connecticut?
Good roads have tendency toward
helping education. in the rural sections
and automobiles may help to cause
revelation in the state by bringing
these sections IN touch with the out
side world Church unity would do
great deal toward helping educate the
people. Don't divide the money that is
contributed into so many churches but
put 1t into one or two located in the
center of these rural sections, live
among the people and teach them and
let us do more home missionary work.
Teach the women how to keep house
and the men their duty towards their
families and the rest of the world.
There is nothing strange the matter
with Connecticut; it is the same all
over New England and New York
state. The only remedy know of is
prayer, work and association. What