The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-08-28
POWERFUL PLEA
FOR CHILDREN
RIGHTS or CHILD ELooUENTLY
SET FORTH BY PROF. p. p.
CLAYTON.
AT The FIRST N. {. CHURCH
Opportunities Which 1t is the Duty of
The State to Guarantee to
Future Citizens.

OhC VI TIC lOSl lulClESt
ing and instructive discourses hearC
in pulpit here in some time was tn,
address of Prof. P. P. Claxton, of tn,
University of Tennessee, at the frs
Methodist Church, on Sunday morn
ing. Prof. Claxton took for his sub
. ject "The Rights of Children" and his
plea for the little ones was strong
logical and eloquent. His address
showed perfect familiarity with his
tory, literature, science and religion
and there is little doubt that the
truths which he uttered found eternal
Judgment in the hearts and minds OF
many of those in the audience Prof.
Claxton was warmly congratulated
upon this effort and every one appar-
emily felt better for having heard him.
In the first place, said Prof. Claxton,
the child has the right to life; right
that is guaranteed by holy writ and
by the laws Of the State. The child,
in the second place is entitled to
health, so that when it arrives at
maturity 1t may be strong and vigor-
GUS in body and healthy in mind in
surfing a healthy journey down the
decline of life. The third right of the
child is to a happy and joyous child
hood that 1t may have that kind of
disposition in after life. The speaker
eloquently drew a parallel between
the child that is raised amid surround
ings that make for happiness and
health and joy and one that is reared
in squallor and misery and gloom and
darkness.
Prof Claxton pursuing his subject
| further, said that there were five in
alienable rights which the State
should guarantee to the child. The
laws of tine State guarantee that the
property which the child may inherit |
from its parents shall not be wasted, /
or squandered or lost, but it does not |
guarantee other rights which are inn
measurably more important. The |
State owes an obligation to the child |
which it cannot discharge unless the,
child is given knowledge of science.
The child is entitled to scientific
knowledge that he or she may have
the benefit of the discoveries of the
ages; may know and appreciate the
forces of nature and the laws of the
universe.
Prof. Claxton drew striking pic
ture contrasting the ignorance of the
forces of nature which characterized
our ancestors and the knowledge
which the people now have. He
showed how as the result of scientific
research, plaques and disease and cpl
denies have been conquered and the
race made healthier and stronger. It
would, he said, be crime against
not to transmit this knowl-- ]
edge to our children.
The child is entitled to knowledge
Of the literature of the world, that he
may have the benefit Of the accumu-
lated wisdom of the ages. Some peo-
pie, said Prof. Claxton, are born and
die at fifty and they have lived just
fifty years; others die at fifty and
they have by means of the literature
Of the world and the accumulation of
knowledge, lived for thousands OF :
years.
Every child should be familiar with
he history and the institutions of its
country. The children should be
aught what it has cost In blood and
reasure to attain the liberty and the C
civilization of the present age. The Q
'hild should appreciate the great
-alue and the Importance of preserv-
ng and making better the institu- :
ions Of his country that he may be
veil fitted for proper discharge Of Y
is obligations as citizen Is
Children should be taught a love OIL 8
he beautiful; 1t is important that q
hey should have an astehthic nature B
cultivated. There is nothing that 8
to the Clearly, beauty low 8
az life. An appreciation of things 3
eautiful and shapely have resulted 3
the great treasures of art, in the s
uilding of mighty monuments and q
nposing memorials. A peoples civ B
ization is judged largely by their 3
ublic buildings. School houses es- q
ecially should be adorned and be =
lade comfortable that they may in :
pire the young to a proper apprecia- u
on of the aesthetic.
And lastly, said the speaker, the th
hid has a right to full entrance in OF
the religious life and an apprecia- q
on of the joys and beauties of the N