Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1914-06-25
Address of
A. Dana Hodgdon
Before the Washington and
StonewaiI Society OF Charlotte
HALL SehooI.


Hall School.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF CHARACTER
TO EARLY EDUCATION AND ENvIRo-
MENT."
MIR. President, Fellow Members of the
Washington and Stonewall Society:
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Home again from a new home!''
To one who has not stood upon this
platform since the unwilling of Won
shield one bright June day some SIX
years ago, it is difficult to find express
sion for the thoughts and pleasant
memories that surge in quick success
sion through the mind To be one of
you again is my pleasure, to- ask your
indulgence IS my plea, and to be in
vited to address this old society at
this, their farewell meeting for the
year 1914, is my honor. Would that
| could bring to this shrine of learn
ing tonight an address worthy of its
consideration, a fitting testimonial to
its early teachings!
IL has been said, "a word fifty spok-
en- is like apples of gold in pictures of
silver" What important results oft
en- depend upon a word l? And what
greater results still oftener depend
upon the time and manner of the utter
ance of thatword What word then
can he fifty spoken" at this time dur
ing the few moments | shall trespass
upon your patience
From the trend of many instructive
conversations / have had with the
Alumni OF this society, bring to you
a message from their hearts, a mes
sage fired with the fame of apprecia-
ton, and as they told it to me, their
humble messenger. / in turn realized
its truth, and determined to share It
with you who are soon to Join their
ranks
The story is invariably the same. A
young boy of tender years leaves the
old home and all that is dear to him.
Life with all its possibilities and un-
certainties is before him when he en-
ters these portals of learning. Care
free is this boy of the farm, and with
a light, but not always serious heart.
he begins his work at Charlotte Hall.
Year in and year out he pursues his
work under the masterful leadership
and example of a William Briscoe.
He aifiliates in due time with the
Washington or the Stonewall Society.
In each and every activity in the
school life he is brought in close COM
petition with his fellow students. In
the daily routine, (due to the limited
enrolment of the School), he is brought
in close communion with teachers
whose character embody all the char
acteristics the southland holds most
dear. Whatever may be his tendencies
he soon learns that honor is his pass
word. Around him he finds spun a
web of moral ethics. This code of
Ethics applies To every branch of the
school life. Well do you know that
frequent have been the challenges for
combat in yonder woods for more
technical breaches of the Ethical Code.
The influence of that great Virgin
ian, born on the 2lst day of January,
in the year 1924, in the wild, rugged
county of Harrison, now in the state
West Va, has been given you by this
society as a precious heritage. Poor
as lad, at an early age left an or
phan, brought up among followers of
the turf, We find in the life of Stone
wall Jackson an example of what will
and determination can do. At Il
years of age he became a sort of un-
der-sheriff, serving warrants, collect
ing debts, and summoning witnesses.
In lSi2, year later, he heard through
the village blacksmith of a vacancy
from his congressional district al
West Point Military Academy, and he
at Dice brought to bear all the influ-
ence he could command. Although
his primary education was deficient
the appointment was given him. His
idomitable will saved him on numer-
oas occasions from utter failure and
route. While at West Point he kept
a book which is a curious volume. Ii
shows at this period of Jackson's life,
devotion ito duty, was his guiding
rule; and Notwithstanding his remark
able freedom from egotism, the traces
of an engrossing ambition and of alb
solute self-dependence are everywhere
apparent. Many of these sentiments
he would have repudiated in after life
as inconsistent with humility; but
there can be no question that it was
strong and fearless hand that penned
on conspicuous page the sentence:
You can be what you resolve to be!'
This was the slogan of this man living
a great life, life too soon cut short
Ii is interesting to- us living at this
second Mexican crisis to recall the
fact, that Jackson's first military ser
vice was rendered during the storm
and capture of Vera Cruz in the year
lS4I. Jackson was commended for
his bearing under fire, and as q reward
was promoted from Second Lieutenant
of Artillery to First Lieutenant of
Artillery.
Shy as lad, reserved as a man,
speaking little, but thinking much, he
led his own life, devouring the expert
ence of great men as recorded in mill
tary history, in order that, when his
time came, he should be capable of
handling his troops as they did. A
man of very simple tastes and habits,
but of strong religious principles
drawn directly from the Bible: a child
in purity, a child in faith. The AL
mighty was always in his thoughts,
his stay in trouble, his guide in every
difficulty.