The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-06-17
REV. F.A. POOLE WAS SPEAKER
First Honor Was Won BY Uric Lebour.
veau and the Second by Miss Mar
garet Ritchie-Exercises Were
of High Character.

o'clock, when class numbering twenty
one members received diplomas Nearly
every seat in the house was taken, and
il the enthusiasm OF All expectant audi
ence was any inspiration the different
participants must have been much In.
spred The stage was attractively dec
grated in the school eolors and lent a
decidedly charming effect to the auspic-
ious occasion. Seated on the stage were
Rev. Francis A. Poole, pastor of the
Union Congregational church, Worces-
ter, Mass, who delivered the address 60
the graduates, Principal 0. d. Mathew
son, Rev. w f. Braisted pastor of the
Baptist church, and the school commits
sioners as follows; II. G. Woodruff, Alex
ander Gordon. J.. R. Hutchinson, DIR.
Joe w. jackson, John Stephen, and
Frank Comolli
Shortly. after o'clock, the members
Of the graduating class filed into the hall
and took specially appointed seats near
the stage. Music for the march was
played by the high school orchestra. At
the request of Principal Mathewson, who
presided during the exercises, Rev. w.
f. Braisted invoked divine blessing upon
the occasion.
Miss Margaret Arletta Ritchie, who
was awarded second ranking honor in
this years class, then told the story of
Polly and Politics" Her clear, yet un-
assuming recitation was one of the pleas
- xF a.. The
high school chorus undeh the direction
of the musical instructor, Miss Hoyey,
followed with rendering of Gounod's
Lovely Appear" The accompaniment
was played by the school orchestra,
The chairman then announced the ad.
dress Of the evening by Rev Francis
A. Poole, who was greeted with hearty
applause. The remarks which followed.
Of soulful and inspiring nature, could
have been no more appropriately chosen
for the occasion. Neither could the prac-
teal advice which the speaker gave to
the young graduates have been more
Illuminating or concise. The message Of
his speech carried with ii an unending
note of optimism and enthusiasm for
the spirit of Modern Education" the
subject OF his remarks.
He said in part "The subject Of the
spirit Of modern education Is too large
TO be sufficiently covered in the time
at our disposal. To fully consider the
broadness of its many aspects would
consume two years in preparation and |
two hours to present. In briefly discuss
ing the topic, however, it might be in
teresting to touch upon the spirit OF edu- |
cation as il was in the early days of |
our country to mediate for a time upon /
the changes which that spirit has I'M /
dergone in the development of educa /
tiOnal standards.
"The spirit Of education in old New |
England was one Of moral seriousness and |
earnestness. Education was puritanical /
in its precepts and since the church DOM
mated education the spirit was dis /
moral College presidents and
teachers were invariably men chosen
from the ranks of the clergy. The DOM
mating idea OF education was primarily
To train for religious leadership. and col
leges were established with a view to
men for the church, The re-
ligous spirit was uppermost and the
atmosphere OF the times was
necessarily spiritual And all of this
was essential to the foundation of Amer
lean education.
"The modern era now at hand has
evolved the modifying forces of democ
racy and science. The latter fore has
become as dogmatical as theology since
set laws and rules obtain in everything
and only by searching shall we find
The discoveries of science have stimulat.
ID the inventive, genius of man. This
has become an age of system, steam
tremendous engineering and
Industrial operations. Every sphere has
been hroadened, and yet We must real
ze that all of these have changed the
spirit of education. 1t is nevertheless
we'll that these broadening influences
nave been exerted
"Such things are we'll; but the tend
,ney of the TRANSFORMATION has been
o secuarize educational methods II
las meant the subordination of the per-
,onal and moral element. Scholars are
many, but teachers are few. Qualifca- {
ions have changed with the times and
low the qualifications of teachers must {
,e intellectual, commercial and altogeth-
r secular The significance OF the
haHge is reflected in the TACT that the
eading of the Bible has either been
ropped or greatly restricted in the pub
ie schools In the majority of our coll
eyes, attendance at classes is made COM
lulsory, while the presence of the stu
ent at chapel is left to the inclination :
t the individual Education has TO do
With man, not the fraction. but the
rhole man. Religion. sanitation. hy-
iene and physical development should
e among the things considered
"And vet the changes brought about
Y the years have not been without their :
savening Influences. Religious education
compelling new and serious thought
&c have been alarmed and shocked nj !
he results of a manifestly practical age. t
,eligious education is to inspire and d
rain any man to achieve the very best 5
9th for himself and for the community. n
he environment to which the human g
lind is to be adjusted is to be a moral y
lvironment. n
at has been said that we are in need i
{ some great issue like war to bring q
at the very best Of national ethics aud /
It is lamentably certain n
Rat four such issues that call for the
lost determined resistance are even now