Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-04-08

educate the children of plebians, nor
the latter for former. But, when all
our people, rich and poor alike, con-
sent to have their property taxed that
each others children and all children
may have an education, you have a
magnificent and far-reaching express
sion of genuine brotherhood A great
man, some years ago, expressed him
self as opposed to the whole public
school idea. Said he: You have no
more right to make me educate my
neighbor's children than to make me
spank them and put them to bed He
may not have realized that democ-
racy is based upon THE brotherhood
of man. Our laws and government
depend, after all, upon the intelligence
and character of our people. We are
not often misrepresented in legisla-
tive halls. The men elected to make
our laws and to enforce them repre-
sent pretty accurately the average in
ltelligence and character of their con-
stituency. Democracy, real patriotism
and brotherhood, alike require that
We unite our efforts to make every
citizen intelligent and upright. Prussia
defeated by France went home and
built school houses all over the land,
and educated a generation-then met
Franco and dpfeafad har
Should Fit For Life's Battles.
Mr. Chester cited other practical
illustrations as to the value of train
ing and education in public and in
private life and its value to the ma
ton, and the difference in value be-
tween an education that is purely or
namental and one that is useful, de-
cried the idea of a parrot-ike educa
tion that leads merely to the repeti-
tion of other mems ideas instead of
the cultivation of ideas that are
original. Education should not, he
held, fasten a people to a dead past
that can never return, but should
think and fight new battles. 1t should
be an institution for developing man
hood and Womanhood The claim that
society has on those whom it has ed
ucated was then discussed 1t was
pointed out that eople owe it to
themselves to build and maintain
schools. Every individual, he pointed
out, is a debtor to society, and
should seek to repay it for what it
has done for him.
The vital necessity of properly train
ing the children for the great work Of
the future was strongly impressed
upon those present Let US take a
look into the future said Mr.. Ches-
ter. Listen and hear the footsteps
of vast numbers of young people, with
their faces turned toward this build
ing. Through many long years they
come and come. We hear their glad
voices at playtime. We watcb their
young minds beginning to struggle
with the profound mysteries and intri-
cate problems of the First Reader.
Some years pass, all too swiftly, and
they are beginning to read the very
riddle of the universe. They leave
this institution, many of them, to pur-
sue their studies elsewhere in higher
institutions of learning and after
awhile some of their voices are heard
in the halls of congress, influencing
Legislation, at the bar pleading for JUS
tice, in the pulpit asserting the rights
of God to the homage of our hearts.
Some, perhaps, will go as messengers
of God to distant lands and use the
powers developed here in making the
kingdoms Of this world the kingdom
of our Lord. Sweet voices of girl
hood developed into rich cadences of
womans tones, ennobled and made
musical by the sanctifying influences
of motherhood, will be heard in happy
homes where they reign as queens and
govern the world"
At the closing of the address the
chaplain delivered the closing invoca-
ton, and the Masons returned to the
hall AGAIN m doff their rapaIia