Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-06-05

I
tlon. In many instances where a new
community has begun its existence the
second house built has been one for
the advancement of this interest.
While it Is an error to stress educa-
ton out of its real design by thinking
and acting as if education was the 'sine
qua non" and the summum bonum in
the attainment of life-while this is
an error, we do not hesitate to say.that
education is of such Importance and of
such vital interest in the general de-
velopment of humanity that unless
We pervert its use and substitute it for
the end to be attained instead of the
means to attain that end, we can not
call too loudly for the attention of the
church and the people generally in the
important department of life.
Since coming on the Rappahannock
District ! have been panied to see some
conditions relative to the interest of the
people IN education. One is that there
are so few of our young people attend
ing. our advanced schools or colleges
and such small number of these who
are attending our own church schools
The other point that is painful to me is
that so many OF our people do not seem
TO consider the Importance of giving
their children any education at all.
I find IN some localities very MANY
children of white parents who do not
attend the public or private schools. and
in one part of this District there is a
county in which an official says that
there are more blacks who can sign
their names than whites.
We do not hesitate to say that there
IS so much involved in this condition
and Its legitimate results that it be-
hooves us to call the attention of our
congregations to the supreme impor-
tance of ageneral education, tho it NAV
be of limited nature, yet should be the
equal in quality and quantity of negroes
who will in the near future compete
with the whites in all official life and
literary life.
We rejoice in the manifest interest
on the part of many of our people on
the subject of education which has
meant not only training of the mind
IN strictly literary line but has stirred
the idea that education means the
training and development of the whole
man, body, mind and soul,
In our opinion education will never
have given it that great Importance until
the people reach that point at which
they. will be willing TO make sufficient
sacrifice to give training to their chill
dren. This will not be done until we get
them to see the reason for an education
is not
|. To make them bread winners
Tor with this in view, the question
comes TO the mind of the parent: Can't
| save enough, if | don't educate them.
to feed them in connection with their
own efforts?
2; 1t is not to qualify them for So
called society, for this takes but little
education, just enough to be familiar
with current literature of the yellow
type,
But education is to develop the whole
man. and we educate boy or girl not
SO much for what she or he can do, but
for What she or he is. Then, when
weTf qualified for useful life under
religious influences. we need not give.
ourselves trouble over what they will do
neither from the standpoint of "bfead
winner or from a literary or moral
view point. For from the intelligently
good man or woman will go out a life
oil good deeds and an influence for
good along all lines.
We are gratified to know from the
reports Of these brethren during this
Conference session, that at some points
our people are turning their attention
to this important subject, and mani
Testing growing interest in the sub
lect generally. But brethren because
some of our people are sufficiently
aroused on the subject and some points
IN our territory are building up
the educational interest, this does
not preclude the necessity for ear
nest effort on our part to awaken an
interest in this great work so dear to
the interest of our church and so very
dear to the literary and spiritual inter-
ests of many of our young people.
THEREFORE, RESOLVED:
/. That we hear with pleasure the
increased interest ON the part of some
our people on the subject of education.
z. That We, members of this Confer
ence, will do all that we can to
encourage our people to send their chill
dren to school and also call their atten-
tion to the importance of giving them
every advantage possible in the higher
courses of an education as found in our
church schools, namely: Randolph Ma
con Academy, Randolph Macon College.
Blackstone Female Institute, Danville
Institute and Randolph Macon Woman's
college. w. r. CRoWDER.
The report on church literature was
submitted by E. E. Harrell. who made
some remarks on it, and it was adopted.
The world today is beginning fully
to appreciate the power of the press.
The church should not be behind the
business world in this important mat
ter.
RESOLVED, THEREFORE, that were COM
mend that all our people furnish them
selves with our church papers, the Bal
timore and Richmond Christian Advo-
cate, and the Christian Advocate pub
lished at Nashville. Z. E. HARRELI..
On motion the Conference went into
the selection of a place for the next
session of the Conference. Bethany
was nominated by j. w. Tankard;
Heathsville by c. H. Williams; Calvary,
Richmond circuit, j. T. Payne. The
name of Heathsville was withdrawn,
and the vote being taken, Bethany was
selected by a large majority.
The Committee on Finance hegs
leave to submit the following;
All the charges made reports. The
following show ministerial support paid
to date. and general financial conditions
well up: Heathsville, White Stone,
WestmOreland. Z. Mathews and Caro-
line. The following not paid to date,
but will pay out in full on salaries and
collection: Bethany, Lancaster, E. Mid
dlesex, Gloucester, Gloucester Point,
Mathews and King & Queen. The fol-
lowing report conditions favorable and
comparing. well with last year: Mon
tross, King George and Essex.
SpotSvlUania an1 Roml;po, Crooo :.