The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-21
RICHMOND vIRGINIAN-sATURDAY, OCTOBER

velop the Will and determine II in
the direction of Christian living
Let us never forget that in the
children of today we have the men
and women of tomorrow. Young
America will soon be old America.
The destiny of your State or nation
may one day be placed in the hands
of that boy whom you are helping to
train for his life-work. The evils that
disgrace our civilization. the black
curse of the liquor traffic. the awful
strain of impurity. the degradation
of morals the corruption of politics.
the sel1shness of the rich and the
sordidness of the poor-none of these
things can stand for a moment before
a young American, trained. rooted and
grounded in the principles of right
eousness and the law of Christ
The evening session began at
o'clock and was opened with a brief
song service. followed by devotional
period. which was conducted by Rev.
@. II. Steed, of Hampton. The an
nual report of the State Board and the
presidents message were then given
by Rev. George w. Kemper, who re-
turned from Richmond just in time
for this service.
DIR. Mcconnell on Opportunity.
He was followed by IN address on
ouT by Ut. d. +. NC
Connell president of the East Rad
ford Normal School
DR.. J. p. Mcconnell discussed the
revolution that had taken place in
communication. transp indus
try, home comforts. relation OF parent
and child, relaxation of parental au-
thority. and the abdication Of the
parent in favor of the church and the
school. He called attention especially
TO the decay OF Bible reading in the
home and discussed briefly the plan
recently adopted by the State Board
Of Education to give credit in the pub
lie high schools for Bible study done
in connection with the churches. Sun
day Schools. Christian association or
the home.
He maintained that the changes
now going on in Virginia are unparal-
leled in the history Of the State, ex-
cept IN the Revolutionary period and
in the Civil War period. The pasticity
and open -mindedness OF the present
are the opportunity OF the church and
the school. The old static conserva-
tive attitude OF mind is giving away
TO the new plastic and dynamic spirit
that Is abroad throughout the State
Elasticity and receptivity OF mind
are the chara cteristics of Virginia to-
day. The opportunity Of the church
is in this Elasticity and receptivity and
II the spiritual and educational lead
ers do not grasp this opportunity.
selfishness. materialism and the forces
OF evil, always alert and aggressive,
will enthrone themselves. Society
VIII not and cannot remain long in
a highly plastic, responsive. dynamic
condition. A static conservative era
always succeeds plastic and radical
periods. Whatever habits of mind"
and cast of thought" are established
in the next few years will probably
prevail for a long period. possibly for
centuries. The church and the schools
can now fix the character and ideals
Of the next generation. This has al
ways been true In large measure.
but in plastic and responsive periods
like the present the opportunity and
responsibility of the educators and the
leaders of the church stagger the i'm
agination.
Prophets Are Needed
At this time the leaders OF the
church and the educators should
dream dreams and see visions, for It
is true now. as OF old. that where
there Is no vision the people perish"
Prophets are now needed to interpret
the significance OF the movements of
the present The true prophet Is a
statesman. understanding and direct
ing impulses OF men OF his own gen.
Grafton. The leaders who do not I'M
derstand the significant changes
movements and needs OF their own
time will have little influence in pre-
pairing men for the future or In fore
seeing and interpreting the problems
OF the next generation. The oppor-
tunity OF the statesman leader In the
church and the school Is all that a
dreamer OF dreams and a seer OF
visions could desire
DR. Mcconnell also spoke of the
marvellous increase o. wealth in the
last few years and the problems aris-
ing from an increase OF wealth with
out a corresponding development OF
character that enables the newly rich,
with which the State now sbounds. to
use wealth and leisure nationally