Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1904-08-10
he calendar was of greater impor-

lance.
But a great gain was made. The
representatives of the State and
Church schools were brought to-
gether and a sight was witnessed
that had not been seen I'm the Capt.
tol in a generation. if ever before
all the UNCONVENTIONAL colleges,
the university, and the State Board
of Education joining together urge
the passage of bill. This union of
forces must accomplish its purpose.
We must join together and insist
that the representatives of the
people in the General Assembly
place the interests of the children
of the State above partisan politics
and purely personal matters.
(2) There must be increased
local taxation. At this point there
must be genuine cooperation of
all our forces. Educators and edu-
Gated men may see the needs of
our people. but we must be able to
convince the people themselves of
their needs. And after we have
convinced them of their needs, we
must prove to them that they are
able to help supply their needs.
We must arouse them To the point
when they will voluntarily tax
themselves to meet their needs.
And Just here | am sure that it will
not be thought out of place, if, as
Secretary of the Virginia Methodist
Conference. and as principal of the
largest Methodist institution i'm the
State. | state my conviction that
the great Protestant pulpit of Vir-
ginia can do more than any other
one agency to arouse our people To
their duty and their opportunity.
| cannot agree with the distinguish
ed speaker who said upon this plat
form some weeks ago that the
center of gravity in the neighbor-
hood life haSshifted from the Church
to the School-house." Certainly
do not think it To be true in Nir-
ginia. In my work am obliged to
travel all over Virginia, from the
Blue Ridge To the ocean, and the
center of gravity OF the neighbor-
hood life Is still found in the coun-
try church. If we are 10 do this
great work. speedily and success
fully, there must be frank and
hearty recognition of the power
and purpose of the Christian min
istry of the State. Nothing will
have greater effect upon our
people than the earnest work of
their pastors in this matter. The
parable of the talents must be ex-
pounded in our pulpits and the
application made TO the obligation
resting upon the church members
as citizens give time and means to
the elevation of the public schools.
The self-Satisfed citizen. who OBJ
jects TO raise in the tax rate be-
cause he sees no necessity for any
more book learning, Is oftentimes
a man who is faithful to his duty
when he knows it, and if his pastor
can reach his conscience, his igno
rant self-satisfaction will be de
/ strOyed more etfectually than 10y
any other method. And what i
true of the self-satisfed man i
equally true of the intelligent an,
wealthy men who are Indifferent {,
the educational welfare of others
The selfishneSS of such a position
can be clearly and pointedIy Sc
forth by the faithful pastor. / say
again, without hesitation, that tn,
great Protestant pulpit of ouI
Southland can do more than am
other one agency to arouse GU
people. 1t must insist upon i
, that more money be given for on
, schools, that we may have longe
terms, and more efficient teacher
: and primary, intermediate, gram
: mar and high-school grades il
every neighborhOOd where Their,
are enough children TO form :
graded school.
The Board of Education of tn,
Virginia Conference is pressing
this through upon our Methods
people. At every one of our Dis
trict Conferences this subject ha
been discussed, and resolution
have been passed similar to tn,
following:
Resolved, That we urge on
people to do everything in theii
power to increase the efficiency O
their local public schools until il
every county there shall be {
thoroughly graded system of pri