Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-12-24

mountain church-hOuse or on the
platform of a great university the
effect upon his audience is the same.
Men listen to his every slow-spoken
syllable, they believe him, they see
what he sees, they catch a glimpse
of heart and soul SO simple and so
great in faith, hope, and love that
they surrender to it in admiration
and affection.
THAT CRITICAL MEETING IN THE OLD
MILL.
He naturally felt the need of more
education, and for few months at.
tended classes in Denison Univer-
sity in Ohio, but the call of the noun
tains came on him strong again, and
back he went to preach and teach
among the people of the hills. His
purpose now became more and more
clear, until he was filled with the
conviction that Christian education
alone would rescue the mountains
from moOnshine and murder. His
conviction was announced in the de-
termination to build a school in the
very center of Clay County. Men
told him that he was foolish, that
his school would have to be out on
the edge of the mountains or rail-
road. Is it not always so that the
men Of vision are received? He
withstood their opposition and de-
liberately started to kill off the vices
of the mountains by establishing his
school at the very seat of the trouble.
James Burns knew his people and
right shrewdly he began his task.
First he called together twelve men
of the opposing clans. These were
Older men, less inclined to quarrel,
and more inclined to listen to his
eloquent appeal for better things.
The twelve met him in little noun
tain "church-house," and signed
their names as trustees to an appi-
cation for a charter for Oneida In
stitute. Three Of them could not
write, and SO made their marks.
But the real battle was to come; he
had yet to win over the more diff
cult men. Your great Ieader is in
variabIy daring at the real crisis and
boldly goes out against the appar-
entity insurmountabe obstacles.
James Burns dared the inevitable
and called a meeting of the younger
men on both sides of the feud, the
hot-bloods thirsting for revenge.
They came, about twenty-five
each side, all armed. They squat
ted on opposite sides of a great
room in an old mill, and then ensued
the greatest hour in the history of
the Cumberland Mountains. That
gi1t Of eIoquence and persuasion had
been given and trained for this mo-
ment, and it was equal to the task.
He told them what they all knew,
that they hated the life they were
living, and that they were simply
] rearing theiY sons for slaughter, and
that there was only one way to stop
the whole bloody business, and that
Was to stop it right then and there
and let Christian education take the
place of rifle practise, and progress
supplant destruction.
1t was mighty quiet meeting,
says Burns in telling about it, u
didn't know what they were going
to do, but | was right glad wher
Lee Coombs got up and when Oar
Burns got up, too. and they met If
front of me. They did not draw
but shook hands; and then knew
that Oneida College was going to b'
success"
One cannot listen to the simple
narrative of the unspeakable brav
cry and wit and persistence that made
Oneida College a success withou
a wonder at the mans faith ant
Tightening of the throat at tn
pathos of it all. He had the con
sent of others, but not their CO
operation; they had merely agreec
to suspend hostilities to see what h
; could do. He had his vision, hi
! faith in God, and about twent
cents with which to start a colleg
in the heart of the mountains; but
he did it. He begged a bit of Ian
on an ideal site on condition that h
put a school.house on it. He too
I an old crowbar. and with the use @
the backsmith's forge he made