The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-04-26

fthe tuition of my brother. DR.. John
R. Smith, his eldest brother, who lost
a limb at Gettysburg and was confin-
ed in Northern prison for months,
| came back pale and emaciated and
came on crutches to old Cedar Mount
academy after his release from prison
and received further training of his
long and useful profession.
H. H.. Watkins now one Of our fed
eral judges and his brother, Barnes
Watkins, who was for number OF
years an efficient educator in his ma
tive state, were both from that COM
munity whieh dared to keep open its
school in spite of martial law, the
imprisonment of it's citizens, negro
rule and carpet-bag oppression. look
back on those cid school days and see
again many of the older boys who
had returned from the army "eipher-
ing" under the oaks, for the house
was too small to contain them all
comfortably and the older students
were privileged to prepare their les
sons under the old shade trees with
out.
To many living men the old hill on
which the academy stands will ever
be crowned in their hearts and mem
ories as a consecrated spot. From IT
went out many successful business
men to various towns throughout the
state. A few remain still in the old
fcommunity-good citizens.
If it were possible TO- gather up and
| present in concrete form the SUM
total of the influences which went out
from, that old academy we would
stand with uncovered heads and gaze
fat it with bated breath. The little
stream beginning in days when veal
THY men were made doubly poor, with
oppression and humiliation added an
hundred fold; and ever widening as
the years have rolled away has enrich
ed the state with educators, lawyers,
/ doctors, statesmen, Judges, governors,
flecturers, ministers and authors. !
hope / am not immodest when ! stop
to lay a little wreath Of forget-me-
nots on the grave of my sainted Ia
ther and affirm that no man had any
tlareer share in what was wrought
than he and the old teacher, his son,
now carrying his burden OF three
score years. =:
! remember when little boy SIT
ling on the logs at 3 saw mill owned
lby one of our neighbors, and listen
j ing to a conversation. between him
1and the owner of the mill. They had
'|been friends from beyheod and both
/ OF them were of old Virginia stock
IsHenry," said my father, 5"mour m hope
lis solely il our children, we must
Ibuild school houses to educate them.
1.-The revolution that will follow this
war and our defeat will be further
/ reaching than all the ether effects OF
! the war combined. Wealth as q rae
}tor in this government has had Its
! day and the time, is not far distant
when the people will rule and sad viii
lbe the plight of our state if the peo-
! Die are not educated" Ihave thought
tof that declaration q. thousand times
! isince and laid my hand over my heart
] land whispered to myself, "Well spo'
.1ken, sainted seer. thou dldst speak
i wiser than, thy dream cor could :lst: nave
/ shown thee when the vision opened
;Ithe future to thy thoughtful brain, ;.
lit has been 50 and will be1so in stll
4 larger measures. The man to whom
4 he spoke educated his sons and two
i of them have. been named in the roi
1of worthy men. already enumerated al
]coming from the vicinity of Cedar
4 Mount academy. ,
l On this historic old road still stanc
1 the affairs which our fathers built. II
/ what was known as the Fork, neal
/ the confluence Of the Reedy and sa'
Iluda rivers, Bethlehem Methodist
church was built long before my day
HIT gave to the ministry w. B. Whar
tton of The South Carolina Conference
lFive or six miles above Bethlehem
i stills stands Kings chapel which has
j produced a number of worthy minis
tiers aud scholars. ] may say modest
fly that It is worthy Of record that thi'
| old church gave three ministers to the
! methodist church from one family
land each, one Of them has been honor
led with #he degree Of Doctor of D4z D4z
Unity. These degrees were conferred