The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-11-27

| aration Of states. they thought them
selves alone in the promotion OF ideas
for which they were laboring and
| praying with very small results.
A Great Co-Operator.
II Lincoln was tho great emancipa-
| tor. and as such, the nations sur
geon to bring blessings but little Joy to
those Immediately concerned. Ogden
was the great co-operator whose
sympathy like oil and wine healed the
wounds and whose ''unofficial states
! manship' to use D., Curry's prophe-
| the phrase, was destined to effect
! he consequences of Appomattox."
II I may be pardoned a personal
! "Reminiscences to show how wide
! spread was the feeling among South
ern teachers that Mr.. Ogden was that
great and good friend representing
the outside aid. for whose coming
they had been longing so many years.
! will tell q story of more than q
decade ago--a story that I never had
the courage to relate before: What"
said !. feeble and a totally un-
known county supe 'intendent OF
schools, Education in a special train.
in palace cars. And it's going to
visit Blacksburg in my neighboring
/ that We have read of in our stories
of fairyland. III ask these wonder
full folks to stop off In Salem to see
schools and talk to oui
pie"
did not realize that the request
was totallp out of proportion and
felt almost like a child whom Santa
Claus had passed by wnen a courteous
reply came, saying that bhe Anvi-
tn ut In nd
incident, however. serves to show how
prompt and widespread was the re-
Spouse of the South to that 'sentt-
mental. spiritual, altruistic. patriotic,
popular movement which originated
in the warm heart of Robert c. Og-
den. who was. I again repeat. the
great and good and sincere friend OF
the aspiring Southern man of every
race and every station.
/. Mr.. Stearnes introduced PRESIDENT
Edwin A Alderman.
DR.. .Aldernlan's Address
DIR. Alderman spoke as follows:
In the summer of 1901 / received
a telegram from Robert c. Ogden ask
ing me to come to him for a confer
ence at hts summer home. Kennebunk-
port. Maine. / accepted the invita-
ton and found awaiting me there not
only Mr. Ogden. but my old friend
and colleague, Charles .. McIver. OF
North Carolina. This meeting was my
first acquaintance with Mr.. Ogden,
and my first reunion for long period
with my old co-worker. McIver. Mr..
Ogden was then well past the meridian
of life. but Astounding Inc physical
Tger. and as eager an idealist as ever
dreamed of better world. The I'm
preston he made upon me then is the
hax re fnrf1h4 that
II is deepened and heightened by ex-
perience Of him and affection for him.
Here was man vital in body, pure Of
spirit, keen of mind, happy OF heart,
and utterly given over to thought OF
.anseifis,, ffeipfuiness to individuals
and masses He bundled as both into
canoe and carried us, with swift,
sure stroke. up the deep. quiet river.
Under the pines. upon hillside by tire
river. we spent the day discussing the
organization. the purpose and the per-
sonnet OF the Southern Education
Board---expansion OF the old Capon
Springs conference made remarkable
by the participation of men like Bishop
Dudley. J. L. NJ. Curry. William l..
Wilson. Barnes Sears, Mr.. ogden him.
self and many other great names.
Board Is Orxonized
EN- the autumn OF that year the
board was formally organized. and It's
great spiritualizing adjunct. the Con-
ference for Education in the South.
was set in action. Mr.. Ogden became
the president of the board and the
supervising director Of the conference.
and under the guidance OF his en-
-ts,ss<sasFFs the hoard entered upon q re-
markahie career Of national useful
mesa.
THE Southern Education Boari
was natural offspring OF the activi-
ties OF the Peabody Foundation. The
great need OF the time in Southern
life was the formation OF a powerful
public opinion for popular education.
Public opinion under any form OF row.
eminent. in such great social move
ments, must be continually strength
ened and enlightened This board took
up that task and may be said to have
accom- plished in Its short life greater
total with the smallest expenditure OF
money of any agency OF our day. So
untechnical and inspirational were its
influences. that 1t IL difficult to de-
scribe them in any brief space. II
had no funds to distribute to educa-
ttonal institutions. 1t sought to ally
itself with State and local agencies.
Its purpose was steadily not to OBJ
trude. but to effnce itself in the in
terest OF the people. Its first prin
ciple was profound belief that ig-
norant masses. white or black, could
not be safely left In the body OF a
dem ocracy. Its working theory was
a perfect confidence in che s.lf-re-
lance and creative powers of the peo-
pie OF the South. It's supreme deaire
was to help q great overburdened peo-
pie. struggling with terribly diff
cult group OF problems. but proud,
and rightly determined to mould their
institutions after their own way and
with their own means. Its high
method was faith In the solvent power
of sympathy and friendship and nc
curate and common understanding
between good men and women OF all
sections OF united country.
Winning Rural Committccs.
Perhaps the chief practical function
Of the board was the winning of rural
committees to a larger policy or local
taxation for school purposes. In tho
States where the unit OF taxation has
been the county. assistance was given
to the County Campaign" the rcp-
resentatives OF the board helping In
the organization OF public meetings.
defraying the actual expenses Of ef-
fective speakers. creating and circu-
lating the literature OF the subject
ana tim rs,t<h thA 2ornt Ad,,