The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-06-15


riculluraI progress during all time has
beer greatly retarded because Of the
seeming impossibility of devising any
plan by which the rural community
can be organized permanently and
efficiently along Dusiness-like intelli-
gent lines. The history OF voluntary
farm organizations demonstrates that
the mere alliance OF rural people for
mutual Improvement have proven in
effective and transitory.
Every city and town has its cham
Der Of commerce, or its board of trade.
The purpose Of such organizations is
to study the economic and business
needs of the city and to exploit and
promote such enterprises as will ex-
tend the influence and power of TIE
city. No convincing reason can be
shown which would prevent a similar
organization in every rural commun-
~, except the fact that the necessary
leadership and initiative are lacking.
Every organization must have its TO-
cal point around which its activities
and aspirations olive. In every or
sanitation the must be some one in
dividual whose only business it is to
keep watch Of the opportunities which
may advance the interest Of the or
ganization. If all the leading farm
ers of a neighborhod would lay their
heads together and talk over the Sit
uation and study the opportunities for
new investment, and tie chances for
the bettering of rural credit, or tie
marketing Of farm products, the
chances for making costly and burd-
ensome mistakes would be lessened
immeasurably. There is great wisdom
in common council.
The present great need OF rural life
is the vitalized focal point, the rural
leader who shall dream the dreams
1of the community and direct it along
correct lines and have charge OF the
details of it's activities and it's aspira-
tions. To fill this want we shall I-aVe
to turn again to the itinerant teacher
whose only business will be the COM
munity business, whose only problem
will be the community problem, whose
only thought a more efficient COM
munity and more satisfied people.
To the Societies.
But young ladies and gentlemen of
the literary societies, young ladies and
gentlemen of this audience, the most
heroic work of the itinerant teachers
will fail to meet fully. the need of the
rural community for proper leader
ship and here lies your opportunity
for civic service.
To you have been given opportuni-
ties denied to the great majority OF
your friends and acquaintances. ALL
the generations that have gone before
"since the stars first sang together
over the Garden of Eden" have laid
their rich treasures in your laps
Science, invention, art, music, Ia1story,
craftsmanship, all have conspired to
enrich your equipment and prepara-
ton for the grave and responsible OBJ
i legations which you owe to your com
munity, your State and your nation
as you go forth from the hallowed
precincts of this institution, That OBJ
legation will be most fully met, that
debt most surely cancelled, if you de-
termine here and now to consecrate
yourselves to lives of community ser
vice; if you VOW to make yourselves
leaders in the great battle for re-
directed rural life for better homes,
for more satisfying rural social life,
for more adequate return from rural
effort and for better system of rural
education. Yours is the greatest op-
portunity tsat has ever come to any
generation and as I look into your
bright and determined faces tonight, I
feel that you will not miss the oppor-
tunity, that you will seize it gladly
and courageously, and that around
your lives in the future will revoIye a
community of better men and women,
inspired with higher ideals and i'm
pregnated with clearer and brighter
vision. Your task, your willing work,
is to be that of the community lead
er.