The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-02-13
Musings ard Memories.

evening at Methodist class meeting re-
veals the fact that when located among
Quakers they partake somewhat of their
nature. If Fox. the founder of Quaker
ism, had mission in the world it was
eminently to revive a Light which
was in early days declared to be found III
a greater or less degree Of perfection IN
every human being. The Light is ac-
knowledged and cherished by every re-
ligious people at the present time. When
the Methodist class ceases to expect Its
members to speak, each in turn, through
the room, they lose the work of some of
the more tlmid ones. The greatest error
ever made by Methodist class is where
the leader is so afraid of heresy that the
members are encouraged to say nothing
but to express wish to serve the Lord.
And then they are encouraged to make
the statement lie by doing nothing in
His service.
A man visiting Niagara Falls for the
first time was impressed with the great
amount of power going to waste. This
power could be made to develop electric
ity or propel vast manufactures. Even
greater powers in the muscle and brain
of multitudes of people are going to
waste. We often sail on wild seas where
we scarcely dare to look about US or
think on our surroundings. Such was
the condition of the disciples when Jesus
arose and spoke great peace.
A Friends meeting the thought was
expressed that the gospel is not hidden
except to those who are lost also of the
beautiful meaning of sonship. These
two thoughts of a gospel revealed to man,
and conscious relationship with the In
finite, might have filled every minute of
the hour spent together instead of allow
ing the greater part of it to 60 to waste
If people would do their praying be-
fore they go to church and when they
meet bring together such crumbs of
eternal Light as falls in their pathway.
more might be accomplished.
Stopping few moments on the way
nome before the door Of the Presbyterian
Church we heard the thought expressed
that man can not grow in Christian char
acter unless he is flst born into the
heavenly kingdom. When visiting the
city schools of the Pacific coast years
ago never heard anything said about
culinary department; but when leaving
the Haddontield school buildings recently
l was called back by a pupil in kitchen
attire to have Jelly roll. Going to the
kitchen we found the superintendent and
several teachers assembled to test the
cooking done by the school, and which
did credit to both teacher, and class.
Here is town composed mostly of the
business men of Philadelphia. The
houses are the best. Children reared
here have little conception of frontier
life or the Stun life of cities. The level
country throws them back on the sand
,nolding of the school room for a concep-
ton of mountainous country with its
drainage system. With abundance of
tools in their school work shop for max
ing little articles of use or ornament
about their commodious homes it is hard
for them to realize how man can con-
struct suitable place of abode in the
forest in a day or two.
1t costs but a few cents to 90 to Phila-
delp. la and see TIE acres and acres of
floor space covered with goods for sale
and the thousands of clerks under sin
gle roof The single man would be pow
erless to construct such buildings or to
produce the machinery required for the
manufacture Of the goods. 1t is the re-
suit of an accumulation of intellect and
wealth. 1t is the work of the schools to
so train intellects that they can all act as
one mind for the accomplishment Of great
undertakings. Many men grow up in
these great enterprises without many
school privileges, but l have it on the |
authority Of the superintendent of these
schools that the mar with the highest |
education is given the preference by
those in charge of the selection of men.
As the mind does its best work when
the blood circulates freely, it is common
in schools Of lower grades to practice
gymnastic exercises occasionally. A
reference to some of the practices in
Maine schools when the country was first
settled might afford US as much rest and
recreation as gymnastics. was recent
iy told of one of those early pedagogues
who had never studied grammar in school
and yet taught school for years. An
other whipped boy numerically for
failing to make a fire in the schoolhouse
in the morning. The teacher was prose-
|cuted by the parents and fined one cent
and costs. AS there was more talk about
order than knowledge in those days, five
boys were seen coming toward the school
mouse one day with coats wrong side
out As they came through the door,
three of them were piled up on the floor.
HnHN fekn1NnERN