The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-04-10


"tIIstory repeats Itself" In so doing,
! there Is sometimes analogy, and at others,
narallel. In tho repetition that Is about
"a bc cited Is IN almost oxact prototype
~ tho proceedings which have recalled
II to mind.
! Inst year there was held In Richmond.
large and wcighty convention IN be-
hnlf OF southern education 1t also did
much good outside OF tho great cause,
4 which 1t was Intended to advance. fo o'ri
4 it led some influential and widely known nc n
mon to concur in what the toastma'ster
OF the s. A. r. banquet In New Haven.
1 told the Hon. John Goodc president OF
our lato Constitutional Convention:
want YOU to know that the citizens OF
This sturdy State OF Connecticut leave
your people to settle their own troubles 'le.
| without criticism or correction. &.
/ rho impetus which was given to the
/ work Of education In the South by the
success full convention above referred 70
has been continued and enhanced IN
Virginia by a confereDce Of distinguished
ana experienced educators recently held
in our State Capitol. It was invited by
i Governor Montague md Superintendent enc
4 Southall, whose very hearts arc III me
1 vital work, and was quite well attended
by able and efficient representatives OF
Various institutions OF this state ana
4 North Carolina. Their thouEhtful ana
4 valuable deliberations took place Tor Two
n days in the Senate Chamber. and were
nresided over and aided by the State
q Executive. Their important and susetuI
) Iabors were contaminated by a mass
mectinE OF tho friends OF public educn-
lion. fn the Hall OF the House Of Dele
On tes. Governor Montague presided ana
B introduced the able and earnest speakers
selected for tho occaslo The crystallzed
results arrived ut were stated and en-
& forced; and such meeting enjoyed as TO
/ leave no scmblance OF regret by those
( who called or attended the conference.
I Indeed, permanent organization was
effected for the purpose OF keeping up
Z ana carrying out what the conference
n Ind inngurated. the Cooperative 6 Edu :
cation Commission OF Virginia.
y But the present generation are not tho
4 first. nor the only advocates OF public
& education whom Virginia has had. Near
n sixty years ago a large and resp table
Injecting OF the citizens OF Richmond was
'5liheld in the old City Hall on the 2st h
. day OF August, 1915. @ to take into con-
4 7sideration tho best means OF cfrecting
the Immediate adoption by the Lcglslaa-
\ ture OF some more efficient and extensive
/; system OF popular education, and the ex-
n pedIency OF holding an education con-
q vcntion." On motion of Joseph Mayo. Ills
Excellcncy James MCDOWELL, was called
h to tho chair. and 5on motion Of Peter y.
\ Daniel. Jr.. Joseph Mayo was appointed
. secretary. Afterwards the people OF Rich
I lmond added on ty" to his name, for
J several years.
on motion OF Mr. Daniel n committee
OF nine Increased to thirteen) was APP
pointed to draft resolutions. They were r.
". Daniel. Jr.. G. A. Myers ]. a.
cowardin. G.. W. Munford. J. Mayo. DR..
r. Nelson, Rev. W. s. Plumer, r. G.
Scott. c. E. Osborne. ]. NJ. Wickhan.
c. T. Bolts, B. B. Minor and T. II. Ellis
They reported an appropriate preamble
and nine resolutions which were unani'
mously adopted. These resolutions were
for that early period. quite remarkable
They called upon tho Legislature, cspe.
cIally the citys senator and delegates
for more efficient and extensive sys.
TEN of popular education; recommended
an Increase OF taxation for that pur-
:. pose; urged the people to hold meetings
3 and discuss the matters involved and the
q expedien cy OF holding a State convention
+ on the subject, which they approved: sug.
gested Richmond and tho 10th OF Deem
Der, 1886. as the place and time Tor it
and rendered Its delegates the hospltali-
ties OF the city; invoked all who were
( accustomed 10 public speaking to make
addresses and arouse the people to imme'
date and imposing action, and Instituted
standing committee OF thirteen to pre-;
pare an address to the people, to collec
information from other States and coun
tries, to correspond with county commit
tees and to call other meetings wher
necessary.
This standing committee. when ap
pointed, was not altogether the Same al
that which prepared the preamble ane
resolutions. 1t consisted OF George w
Munford William II. Macfarland. Thonl-
Ms Nelson, M. D.. Charles +. Osborne
Peter ". Daniel, Jr., Henry l., Brooke
Raleigh r. Daniel. James u. Heath
!, Thomas III. Ellis, BENJAMIN 3. Minor
Il Gustavus A. Myers. Richard j, Goocf
+ and James A. Cowardin.
y They issued an earnest address to the
people OF the whole State, which was pre-
pared by Colonel Munford. but seems e
have some touches of the eloquence Of
mcfarland. Munford afterwards wrote
that interesting work. Tho Two PaF'
sons"--Blair and Buchanan-and was fol
many years the secretary ana l'prar'a'
q Of the Commonwealth.
Princeton, and was q strong friend O
, education and general literary culture
/, He was OF a commanding presence,
. presiding officer, like Montague. OF era
!, and dignity, and an orator. In Iexlns'
ton he breathed congenial and salutary
atmosphere. There was washington COL
lege, over which was presiding ono @
,, Its own alumni, Rev, Henry Ruffner. Wn lI
! attained both .. D. and LID. He no
only wrote books on serious subjects. pu
, entered successfully the field OF romance
His Judith Hcnsaddl' WIS 80 populin.'
that he Issued a revised and enlarged 90!
ton, and followed II up with SEQUEL
entitled "Seclusaynl." One Of his owr
name and blood--his own son-has SINGS
his day rendered highly valuable service
, to tho public school system Of Virgins,
There was In Lexington q younger mar
, | than Or. Ruffncr--George d. DlRney--
; who was at ono time n professor y! Wash
!, ington College. and afterwards W ltlch
nlond COLLEGE, He Too. was frlond o.
schools and literary culture, ana "a
. ! ,ui,tl t,t