Evening journal., 1921-03-31

at least so Of them studying TO be
ministers and missionaries and dea-
conesses and other life-service work
ers. Educationally speaking there is
yet much land to be possessed.
There is on Salisbury District
one solid block Of territory larger than
the State OF Rhode Island without
any school OF High School grade Is
it any wonder that we still have
scores OF officials who can neither
read nor write? And the heart
breaking part OF II is that so many
of our people do not want better edu-
cational privileges for their children
During the past year Wicomico
county, Maryland, with Salisbury
the county seat, voted on the propo-
sition 10 bond the county for $780,
900 for erecting modern school build
/ ings. as so many Of the present build
ings are insanitary. and wholly in
adequate. as we'll as out Of date In
every way; but the proportion was
voted down by a vote OF 1.092 for
to 1904 against. See the fight that
has been made throughout the State
Of Delaware.
] Defends School Code.
I "Our own Methodist Governor
John c.. Townsend. during his wise
administration as Governor OF Della
ware. succeeded in having written
into the laws OF the State more con-
structive. progressive legislation than
any administration in the history
OF the State so far as I have knowl-
edge. Among these forward-lookinE
laws was the School Code which
II faithfully carried out. would have
raised Delaware from the low posi-
tion Of forty-third state in educa-
tional standing TO the very front
rank among the States Of the Union.
A survey made by Federal experts
showed that s10.O0O.O0O or more
would be needed to put the school
houses Of Delaware into suitable
condition for their work. In order
TO carry out this educational program
one public-spirited citizen Of Della
ware nobly pledged S3.9OO.0OO OF his
private fortune for the benefit OF the
children Of Delaware, and aid in their
equipment for life's work. But be-
cause IL necessarily increased taxes
a bit, and more still because IL took
the control Of the district school out
OF the hands OF local politicians
from the date OF its enactment II
has been so bitterly fought, all over
the state. that the recent session
OF the General Assembly has 50
loaded II with amendments and
emasculated its best provisions that
it is virtually repealed.
90, the pity Of IL. that ignorance
and prejudice, and avarice can b,
so appealed TO by the small-fry
demagogue that voters close the dooi
OF opportunity in the face OF theii
own children?
why does this item appear in m,
report? What has the public schoo
, questions TO do with church work
r Reason enough. The Methodist Epis
, copal Church has ever stood for edu
cation. A Methodist preacher Il
recreant to his trust IL he is not in
, tensely interested in the schools 10
Gated in his charge The churcl
ought not, dare not shirk her dutl
? to the children and youth. Besides
in this land of ours life and churcl
b are so interviewer that the line o
demarcation binds rather than sepa
b rates. 1 know one church on Sails
? bury District that has been LITERAL!
rent in twain for three years because
the membership Is divided on tn,
! question OF improved school facili
b ties for the children. I know one
b pastor who had TO move from hi
charge because he actively anS
) openly. as he ought TO have done
2 advocated an Improvement in tn,
5 grade OF the local school.
{ Epworth League.
3 The Epworth League OF the Dis