The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1906-06-28
Thoughts on Education.
Address of Rev. J. H. Henderlite
at the Closing Exercises of Hen
derson Graded Schools -Educa-
ton is the Greater Matter Of the
Discipline Of the Faculties, the
Training and Exercise of the
Powers, the Formation and De-
velopment of Character and Ca
pacity.

IOWcIS, the FOImdtlOn ana LIE
velopment of Character and Ca
pacity.
There is only one subject permissi
BILE for this occasion. 1t is thai
which has brought us together, ant
OF which this handsome building tha
we are assembled in reminds US
That we are interested in education
is attested by this gathering of citi
zens, by the beauty of this costly
building and by these splendid exer
cises which reflect such ample credit
both upon the teachers and the grad
uating class.
The times are very auspicious in
Henderson for the future welfare O.
it's educational interests. This new
building shows what taxpayers and
school trustees think of education
The teachers and superintendent
| have proven their interest and ability
by their past record, and SO it only
remains for the boys and girls tC
show what they think of it.
| Some hae meat who Gamma eat
| And some wad eat who want it,
| But we hae meat and we can eat,
SO may the Lord be thankit
We shall say a few words of educa.
tlonin its original meaning of "draw,
ing out" the leading out OF the pow
ers and faculties of mind and heart
1t is the great business of life 1t is
not by any means mere matter OF
acquiring knowledge, of learning the
''three RS" and their various combi-
nations. 1t is the greater matter OF
the discipline of the faculties, the
training and exercise of the powers,
the formation and development of
character and capacity. And that is
life-work. Lifeis simply this school
on a bigger scale, a process of train
ing and tests, with successive promo
tions till the final graduation day.
And on that final day twill be found
much as it is today Some will grad
uate with honor; there are others
who will deliberately have chosen a
secOnd-rate position, and there will
be some failures, stamped as worth
less, to be swept out like blocks and
shavings- Let US remember two
tlfuSS:
Each must choose for himself.
Failure to choose the best is no less than q
crime.
Each must choose for himself what
he is going to be. He can choose
and he must. Every man is the ar
chitect of his own fortune. While we
are hearing SO much of the power ol
heredity and environment, let us not
overlook this companion truth, that
with all the power OF environment
granted, still every man is his own
master. There is one empire over
which he holds undisputed sway. 1t
is true that about three-fourths O
ourselves we absorb from our sur
roundings. We are glad of it, else
there would be no advantage in liv
ing in an age and a land of such en-
lightenment and privilege. But while
we are SO largely the product OF ell
vironment, and we cannot altogether
choose that environment, yet we cal
choose what shall enter into our lives
and become a part of us. We have
the power of selection. Largely
moulded by outside forces as we are
we can choose which of the moulds
we prefer. Like a wise builder we cal
exercise the power of selection anC
rejection over the materials presented
to US for the building of life Sowt
can look the fact Of our freedom
squarely in the face and not endeavol
to shuttle our own responsibility OF
to circumstances. And it is nothing
short of crime to choose less thar
the best. 1t is not a misfortune, bu
a crime against ourselves and th
commonwealth. The time comes
when our choices become eterna
choices. The mould grasps US mine
and heart, the habits are fixed ant
the destiny is determined We ma,
modify some features, but the moult
is fixed and unchanging. We cannO
go back
That is the difference between lif
and dead matter.
After man or tree has attaine'
q certain growth, the forms are pei
maneIt. You can tear this buildin!
down and raise it again after som
other pattern. But you cannot re
construct tree or human life. W
do not run along for such very loni
time before we find that we have Gu
a groove, and we cannot get out OF ii
So we who are a little older do loo
with envious eyes upon you who ar
beginners. We covet your indepeno
ence and your power of selection
This is a wonderful age and mos
gracious one for builders. 1t is a
age of unprecedented opportunit
and power. "The history OF the worl
is in q real sense just the history {
the widening power OF man. He bt
gan quite simply; the centuries hav
watched the gradual but unintel
rupted expansion of his power" "
have today power over natur
never dreamed OF by preceding ages
And in hundred ways mans SOY
ereignty has widened. Its as thoug
God Himself had felt an increasin
trust in man, and has been manifes
ing it by increasing his power. Neve
before did the race possess such po'
sibilities OF good or OF evil. There
a throne for every one who has til
vision to see and the desire to noun
The Hon. Champ Clark declares tha
if he could envy his children anythin
it would be the privilege OF livin
their lives in the first half OF tt
twentieth century. 1t is certainl
true that life offers more and NEAR
more than ever before, and that t.
day it is q great thing to be alive.
We are living, we are dwelling
In q grand and awful time;
In an age on ages telling,
To be living is sublime.