The Taney County republican., 1907-10-03
SCHOOL or THE OZARKS.
Address OF Welcome, Delivered by Col. A..
S. Prather on Opening Day, tuesday,
September "a, 1907.
Published by Request J

Published by Request
Friends and Fellow Citizens:
This is red-letter day for Taney
county and southwest Missouri. We
have lived all these years hoping,
praying for a chance to give our chill
dren a better education than the COM
mon schools afford, Many have left
the county, wearied with waiting, and
gone TO educational Centers; some have
gone to "that bourne whence no travel
er returns without realizing their
hopes; boys and girls who have longed
for this opportunity have married, and
have children large enough to send to
this school. Their experience has
been in part like my own. came here
nearly thirty years ago to get ahead Of
the Frisco railway. have been ahead
OF ii ever since.
But how things have changed. A
great church with an educated minis
try and world wide influence, looking
over the needs Of the home field, was
attracted to Taney county as fitting
location for a great educational institu-
tion, and wisely decided TO place its
light on a hill-a beacon light that
will penetrate TO the darkest recesses
OF southwestern Missouri, bring
ing JOY and hope and opportunity to
every home in this section.
The generous people OF Forsyth and
surrounding country made possible the
selection OF this spot for their purpose,
We are deeply grateful that this great
church, through its officials, has Sc
lected this commanding and pictur-
esque location for the erection OF this
initial building, modern in all its ap-
pointmcnts, comparing favorably with
those in more pretCntiOus locations.
| believe this location was inspired,
for God moves in mysterious way
his wonders TO PERFORM" and the Mas
ter, when looking for instruments tC
do his work, did not go 70 those in
high places, but chose from the com.
mon people those whom He would
make 'hshers Of men"
1t has been my hope to see this
mountain top, revealing beautiful
panorama unfoldcd at your feet, it,
base washed by the crystal waters oi
our beautiful streams and its slopes
covered with beautiful city, crowned
by great school When rs mem
Der Of Kirbyville Lodge a. T. & A. NJ
| assisted hy my presence in laying the
corner stone Of this building, was
more rejoiced than could have told
had opportunity afforded; and now
viewing this magnificent structure, un
derstanding something OF all it implies
in possibilities for the future, and seeing
this school actually launched like {
great ship sliding from its ways
without uuseemly ostentation ol
parade, feel like saying with Simeon
Lord, now lettest thou thy servan
depart in peace, according to thy word
for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.
Before the capstone was placed upor
the vault, at the laying of the corner
stone, when it was asked If any person
had anything further TO deposit, tive
old veterans OF the civil war, withou
previous understanding, one OF whom
had worn the blue and one the gray
each took from the lapel OF his coat tn,
badge Of his respective order ant
placed them side by side in the cOrne
stone, where they rest in peace, typi
cal Of the union OF hearts and hands, o
a reunited country under one flag, anC
OF the united efforts which will max,
of this School Of the Ozarks all that ii
name implies. May the management
prove as fraternal and as loyal to thei
trust as did these grizzled veterans Il
the cause each believed TO be right.
Today is glorious epoch in the his
tory OF Taney county. We rejoice il
the fruition of our hopes. No words o
mine can tell how thankful we are 70
this great blessing, nor how gladly W
= welcome to our midst these sturdy
Conscientious, educated ministers
representatives of one OF the creates
churches Of the world. Nothing is 10
, good for them: and since the fish fr
has failed you may draw on me for
, dozen full-grown, yellow.legged, Ply
mouth Rock chickens.