The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-29


 members on having reached the high est honor in the school and in well chosen words of advice and kindly ad mention reminded them that the di- rioma. was not gilded highway to future success but that it did mean that with it they were better equipped to fight the battles of life He then presened the diplomas. each of the graduates receiving a hearty round Of applause as they stepped forth to re- ceive the beribboned parchment from his hands and with his congratula- tions.
 After the benedie ton. pronounced by Rev. George l.. Jenkins. the graduates were given reception by the board Of education.
 The address of pr. Dabney was the subject Of much comment and left its impression of the large audience. He said in part:
 Birmingham an Inspiration
 It is a pleasure and an inspiration to see Birmingham again. More distinctly than any other city in the southland, Bir- mingham stands for the new south. Every one recognizes that industrially and com mercially Birmingham represents more fully than any other city in this section the ideals and methods of the new era. It's mines and furnaces. factories and warehouses are the embodiment of the spirit of progress which is making this dedr land smile all over with prosperity.
 Birmingham stands for great deal more; it represents much more than the industrial spirit and progress of the south. To every lover of the south it is matter of joy that Birmingham stands for spir- itual as well as material things This city is the embodiment. for one thing, of the great educational movement which is mak- ing over the people of these old states. Always a leading city in school building, Birmingham has of recent years led us all in the methods of public education. come. therefore, to congratulate you not only upon your magnificent school equip ment, but especially upon the system of education here developed by your great superintendent.
 Birmingham is also as a city identified in our minds quite definitely with the great educational movement represented to us by the southern conference for education. On many occasions your city has enter tained and encouraged the men and wom- en who have led this campaign. All who were here will ever recall with gratitude and pleasure the delightful hospitality which made the seventh session of the conference. held in the Jefferson theatre. in this city in 1904, such an epoch making one. Many other powerful conventions of tuutdtoT nave been neiu Here ana tnls people have applauded all of our great ed ucational speakers, including the great educational governor of North Carolina. Charles Brantley Aycock, who fell dead upon your platform while delivering his great address on universal education. Ded- icated as it has been thus by service and sacrifice to the sacred cause and exem- plfying its principles in its own institu- tions, Birmingham is therefore the appro- fa ,l,o .lxt one before which to discuss the results of the labors and acclaim the praises of the heroes of the great campaign of the south ern education board, recently brought to a conclusion by the death of it's great leader, Robert Curtis ogden.
 Record of Individual Service The history of the reconstruction of southern schools is the record of the devoted service of individual men Nothing worth doing in this world was ever done without man. There must be prophet, a teacher a leader to start every great reform. In all social revolutions the leader when he ap- pears. usually stands grandly alone and fights single handed the battles of freedom. True to this law, there now appears in the south succession of great leaders The first to come for ward was the old soldier of the south who had sacrificed all but life and honor to defend what he considered the rights of his country
 "The war itself was a great training school for both armies and our country never had nobler generation of teach CTS than those thus educated in it.
 After they had stacked their arms and furled forever the flag of the sep arated states at Appomattox, their great captain had told them to go home a nd htri1 fought to destroy. and he had set them a noble example. I shall devote my life now to training young men to do their duty in life,' said Robert Edward Lee, refusing all positions of ease and emolument when he gave up the com mand of an army and took command of college and so the noble intellect and heart, once consecrated to the de- fense of his country, was thencefor- ward dedicated to the education of it's youth.
 Curry an Alabamian
 ''The next great soldier who came forward to lead his people in the new campaign of restoration was son ot Alabama. As agent of the George Pea body education board he laid the foundation for all the future develop ments' we shall recite
 "Jabez Lamar>Monroe Curry was born in Georgia in 1925 and grew up in Ala bama. He received his early training at the University of Georgia and ther took his law course at Harvard. Like most educated young southerners of his time he at once entered public life ant was at 22 member of the Alabama Legislature.
 From 1857 to 1861 Curry served ir the Congress of the United States ant took prominent part in the exciting debates of the period. The year 1S6 found him in Richmond. an active mem Der of the Confederate Congress. whicl position he held till the close of tn, war, serving in the field between ses sions as a colonel of cavalry unde Gen. Joseph F. Johnson.
 ''The war over, Curry sought to serv his country as teacher. AS was to b expected from his scholarship, love o youth, and his magnetism. his success was immediate and brilliant. His skill il the art of expression and great Influence