The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-05-06

JuSblcS is 1iupOSS1Ol0. LII GuS 21I1O-
sphere of common human sympathy
the Conference for Education in the
South lives and moves and has its
| being.
The concrete reply concerning the
theory of the conference is short and
simple. 1t diminutiye spiritual
democracy-a sympathetic association
of those who believe in the civic and
constructive value of the policy Of
| universal education. 1t exists for the
cultivation of the higher inspiration
that underlies all social development
It firmly believes that successful
practical effort is the product of sound
ethics. Many here present will attest
the accuracy of this statement from
personal knowledge acqiured at former
meetings. -
RELATION TO BOARDS.
Speaking of the relation of the con-
ference to the Southern and General
Education Boards, the speaker said:
"It is fundamentally impossible to
hold the Southern Education Board
and the General Education Board off,
ciaIly responsible for this conference.
In a full and complete sense they are
only accountable to the donors of the
money by which they are supported.
In a very broad and positive sense they
are responsible for their action to in
telligent public opinion. In senti-
mental and sympathetic sense they are
so interesting to this conference that
this discussion demands reference to
them, and the programme would be
incomplete without some account OF
their doings. And yet it should be posi-
lively understood and insisted upon
until: the interested public comes to
fully understand that the conference
and the boards are absolutely and en-
| tirely distinct.
'.The Southern Education Board
carries on crusade for education.
Its organization is comprehensive and
| actively covers the larger part Of the
country from the Potomac to the Rio
| Grande, from the Ohio to the Gulf.
| It's large expenses are privately de-
frayed. The General Education Board
administers such funds as may come
| to it for the assistance of education.
In this connection they cannot be con-
sidered separately-their work is q
| unit; they are the halves OF complete
sphere; they are interdependent, sub
jectively and effectively. Seven men
| are members in both boards. The pro-
| gramme indicates the part that re-
| ports of their work will occupy in the
exercises. -
GROUND OF FELLOWSHIP.
After referring to Northern men in
| the conference, he said:
'sTwo common grounds of meeting
| for all humanity are found in the fell
lowship of sin and the fellowship OF
| service. Fellow sinners, we are all by
our common human nature; fellow SER
wants of human need, we may all be
and ought to be through human SYM
pathy. This great audience is here be-
cause of sympathy with the object of
this conference. There is no indiffer-
ence here. It indicates that the cry
| of the child is falling upon sympathetic
ears: that the fundamental right Of
every American born boy and girl to
a good English education appeals to the
sympathetic heart; that illiteracy, the
great undone margin Of national educa-
tion. claims the sympathetic thought
of the patriots. that the public con-
science is being reached by the demand
that an heredity of intelligence and
civic righteousness should be created
as the birthright, the patent of
nobility, of every American.
"We are a proud people. The vast
resources, growth of wealth, increase
of population, achievements of enter
prise, tremendous material strides for
/ ward witnessed by recent years, appeal
| to the imagination with overwhelming
force. and we are dazzled by the bril-
lance of the pageant as we are con-
fused by it's incomprehensible magnl-
tude. I freely admit the blessings Of
commercialism and recognize, with
good healthful spirit, that trade is
! the vanguard of civilization and the
ally of education.
eve are, indeed a proud people. We
boast of our civilization. We are vain
of our national achievements IN
science, literature, the fine arts,
education, philanthrophy and social
progress. There is an aristocracy of
intellect and culture, as Of money,
and in it all self is the object of high
est worship.
"We should be a humble people. Are
the willy arts of the demagogue, North
and South, who finds in prejudice,
produced by ignorance, the opportun1-
| ity to serve himself through the trl-
umph of that which is false, subject
of pride? Is the prevalence of pro
vincialism, urban or metropolitan (the
latter the greater), which narrows the
view to things local and selfish, a sub
ject of pride9 Is the heredity Of ignor--
grow; growing s11o blight s': from m generation to
generation, a subject of pride? Is the
failure of law, North or South, to
punish crime and the freedom OF the
criminal to prey upon society subject
of pride9 Is the arrogance and indiffer-
ence of wealth to human need sub
ject of pride?
"When we look fairly at the under
side of things, with a good, honest
purpose to know the truth, does not
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