The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-14
y gospel that fits the need of the

More than this. in no other art IS
the soul from youth to Old age so
refreshed and edited. Every child
should have the opportunity OF
learning to play an instrument. a
European writer has called atten-
ton to the fact that Of all the
studies, music is one which the aV-
erage person will meet the mos N
later life in the hours spent aiart
from business-every day in his
| home, at church and at theater, he
will feel the ennobling influence Oh
music
BY now you are asking, What is
the Golden Hour?" 1t is an ideal
offered as a remedy for our coun-
try's greatest peril-the lack OF
training in character-buildinS.
This staggering national condl-
ton makes the day school the only
present manner in which all the
children may be reached, every day
! in the week. The Golden Hour is
a non-sectarian, non on-organlZatlon'
ron-partisan ideal Of devotins one
hour each day in the public schools
to the development Of character
building, good citizenship, and
Ar:ericanization with back
ground of music and literature.
How can it be made Of practical
working valile? In some of the
following ways. Let there be daily
not weekly-assemblie Of groups
of children in the school auditor
iurn. Let the exercises begin with
! musical numbers on piano o., music
reproducing machine or class or
cheStra, followed by suitable sing
ing to inspire all children. Select
! two children to illustrate orally
some ethical truth taken from ev-
every-day life newspapers or DOCKS
etc. Let selections from the best
literature 70 the world, religious or
| otherwise, but always non-sectar-
j ian. readings from really inspired
books, reciting examples Of recti-
/ tude and honor. be presented to
the children or read by them. Let
prominent men and women Of fine
character step aside from their
! daily work to give few Inspiring
words to the next generation. Let
/ the whole program be so interest
/ ing that the dullest child will enjoy
every moment of it.
Let there De, by means Of play
lets and moving pictures, represen-
tations of heroic moments in
American history.
Let there be terse sentences OF
! ethical significance taken from the
writings Of great Americans
washington, Franklin, Jefferson,
Lincoln and others,-presented to
! the group daily, to be memoriZed
as texts in Americanisms and car
ried home. There are fine passages
in the works of Frances Hopkins,
Thomas Pain, Irving, Bryant and
! Longfcllow, to say nothing of more
recent writer's. There can be no
better way to make good Ameri-
! cans than through the study of
| American literature.
Let this be the most important
Lesson O. the entire day.
Let the children return to their
studies singing, inspired. invisor-
atcd, alert and happy, ready for the
other work Of the day. Let the
spirit of the Golden Rule, the finest
ethical principle OF the ages, IL
{ luEline every heart--worh OF organ
ixation.
Who will do t?lc planning? Who
will. do the organizing for such a
daily period? Fortunately much
of the work has been done already.
The songs exist, literature, pictures
and playlets exist. What is need
ed at :he outstart is cooperation
on the part of clergymen willing
ITO rise above al sectarianism, to
achieve 4 common end, editors who
feel their responsibility Of serving
the public. superintendent with
large vision, clubs, supervisors,
music teachers and others to settle
the details If music merely sup
piled the inspiration which made
the child look toward nobler things,
its place in the public school sys-
tenn would be justified.
Thomas y. Edison says: "The
Golden Hour has struck keynote
that. If needed. would work a revo-
luton in morality and home life. y
The Hon. Philander ClaXton, L.
S. Commission Of Music, says: Il
am thoroughly convinced Of the ne
cessi.y cf such teaching and train
ing rs the Colder Hour will give
Ii will result in higher moral ideals
stronger moral character and moro
consistent neral practice. l agree
with the principle Of the Greek ed
! ucators that music is the most inn
portant factor in education, and
everything should rise from the
return to music.
Harmony with all It's iatricacies
stirs to activity all the latent forces
of the mind, while melody puts the
soul in tune with the infinite
The civilization Of the future is
. CRYING out to Us today to give the
youth a safer compass and chart
OF life by which to set their course
to escape the maelstroms Of the
present day.
Go to your pastor and enlist his
interest. See your school superin'
tcndent. your supervisor, youl
teachers. who perhaps have fell
the need of this stimulating plan
and who Will be the first 70 rccog'
ni::e the splendid possibilities of the
1..-lLlA.., 4 81, he cd II Nr. al