Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-09-14
A WELCOME ADDRESS.

|
, tion met in a small city. and the prir
cipal of the schools, Mr.. Hawkinl
!, asked the pastor of the church to whic
he belonged to make the customary at
dress of welcome. He did so. 1t wa
the regulation effort with which W
are all so familiar:
The teachers responsibllity''-wit
great sOlemnity.
' His cbaracter''-with admOnition
His habits s''-with proper warning
"His person and dress''-with sug
gestions.
IBIS mapners with inferences.
"Hls duty as a citizen, a patriot, q
Christian" etc.-with orotund vocif
e alton.
| lie closed, leaving the audience with
the impression that the teacher ought
to lead a far different life, and needed
looking afar.
A month or two later convention of
ministers had a meeting in the same
town and as it happened they met In
the same room. Mindful of past hon
Or5 the ministers asked Hawkins to ex
tend to them the city's welcome. He
accepted.
He came forward with apparent EN-.
barrassment and remarked that be had
never had the honor of addressing a
body of ministers before; but be wish
ed to say few words about the minis
ter's responsibility, and reminded them
that the minister was to blame for ev-
cry soul that was lost to the kingdom.
They looked surprised.
Then he spoke of the minister's char
acter, and warned them against the
saloons Of the city that were there to
tempt them. Wbiskey, be said, not
oaly interferes with the preparation of
the sermon, but it thickens the preach
er's utterance and spoils his delivery.
The ministers nervously busted their
spectacles and lowered their noses to
take look at him through the long
lens to make sure be wasn't crazy.
Then Hawkins warmed to his work.
He told them to avoid gambling. 1t
leads to quarrels and dish onesty, and
with the collections. Church
money ought not to be used for such
purposes
The ministers glared at the local
brother.
"The ministers ought not to smoke |
cigarets or chew tobacco" said Haw.
kins 1t ruins the digestion and breaks
The thread of discourse when the min.
lster stops to spit. Then he spoke of !
their clothes, and their laundry, and |
thell private habits. H said the min
ister ought to acquire the habit of |
taking bath. The old swimming hole |
is not sufficient. He ought to make
to bathe in bis house,
aud could accustOm himself to take a
oath even 10 the winter. "YOu would |
De surprised" said be, lat the stimu-
ating effects"
He kept this up for twenty minutes,
and tie scandaliZed ministers were
polling with rage. The local brother
who had invited Hawkins was parali.
ed.
Then Hawkins concluded: Now,
)rothers, this is the first time | have
,ver talked to ministers, and when |
vas asked to accept this honor l had
40 idea as TO what l ought to say: but
nv pastor is wise and good man. l
JAKE him as my mentor and guide.
lie teaches me tue golden rule and l
Know it is his rule of conduct. A month
or two ago he addressed a convention
)f bright. intelligent lady school teach
srs in this hall, at my request. He
poke of them, as no doubt many of
you have done, about their characters
md personal habits. | have followed
lis outline and have endeavored to do
It unto you even as he did it unto us.
hope | have not done amiss, and l
heartily welcome you to our city.
The convention saw the point, and |
ne sat down amid burst of applause.
Zoe next twenty minutes we're spent |
by those ministers IN eulogizing the |
ork and character of the American |
school teacher in a manner that made
even me blush who hadn't blushed for
ten years.