The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-11
TEACHERS HOLD
 B|G INSTITUTE Gather Frem the Eighth Con-
 gresSionaI District WALKER IS OPTIMISTIC Member of Notification Committee Is Confident That Bryan Will Be EIected-Masons To Meet
 in Convention.
WALKER IS OPTIMISTIC

Decatur, August 10.-(Special. )-The teachers institute of the Eighth con gressional district opened this morn ing in the auditorium of the Decatur public school building. The attendance at the opening session was not as large as was desired, but the interest manifested makes up for the lack of attendance. However, it Is expected that many more teachers will arrive within the next few days. At the morning session there were about 35 teachers from various sections of the city enrolled. Brief talks were made by Prof. J. M. Collier Prof Henry I. Lille and oth CTS at the opening and the teachers from out of town were as- signed to tn cir homes.
 During the meeting various topics of study will be taken up and lectures will be delivered from time to time on various ta;ics by the following well known persons
 Joel c. DuBose of Birmingh am, on history of Alabama; I. w. Hill of Opelika, on perfectives; Dr. James K. Powers of Florence, on arithmetic; J. F. Dugger of Auburn, on agriculture; A. J. McLeroy of New York, on physi- ology; Miss Kate Boswell of Atlanta. Ga., on drawing; S. J. Cole of Atlanta, Ga., on geography; Waddie Thompson of Atlanta, Ga, on United States his tory.
 Tonight the teachers were welcomed to the Decaturs by Mayor Samuel Blackwell of New Decatur in a speech Falkville delivered the response to the address of welcome.
 From day to day there will be classes in geography, physiology, algebra, ar ithmetic, United States and Alabama history, English grammar, civil gov ernment, etc. The institute will open each session with devotional exercises. The institute will be in session until the night of August 22.
 Walker Is Optimistic.
 R. Harry Walker of Athens, Ala, editor of the Limestone Democrat spent last night in Decatur. MT. Walk CT was on his way to Lincoln, Neb., to visit the home of William J. Bryan for the purpose of notifying him of his nomination for President of the United States on the democratic ticket. At the Denver convention MT. Walker was unanimously chosen as a member of the Bryan notification committee from Ala bama.
 MT. Walker expressed himself last night as being of the opinion that MT. Bryan would be elected President of the United States this fall. MT. Walker has always been an ardent supporter of MT. Bryan, taking a great interes, in the Nabraskan's political ambitions at all times.
 Masons To Meet.
 Everything is in readiness for the meeting of the congressional distric! convention of the Masonic fraternity tomorrow in Decatur The convention will convene at II o'clock and will ad- journ on the 18th with a large old fashion barbecue at Oakland park. It is expected that about 200 visiting Ma sons will be present and the committee of arrangements has provided homes for them.
 This is the semi annual meeting Of the convention. New officers will be elected and the next place of meeting selected. The principal business of the convention will be teaching the un- written work of the Masonic ritual.
 Some of the best known Masons of the state as well as of the district are expected to be present.
 The Goree Funeral.
 The funeral of Samuel w. Goree who was killed by lightning at his home in. West New Decatur Friday night, took place-y yesterday afternoon and was largely attended.
 Mrs. Goree. who was paralyzed by the same bolt of lightning that killed her husband, is rapidly recovering and was able to attend the funeral. For some time it was thought that shs could not recover, so critical was her