Newspapers / The Orphans’ Friend (Oxford, … / Sept. 29, 1875, edition 1 / Page 2
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! ■THE ORPHANS’ FRIEND. 'WediiCMlay, September 29« f. §75. SCHOOL-GO VERIViriENT. The aims of school-government domaiid our first and most earn- «t attention, since they determine its extent and value and give law to all its methods. A low or in adequate view of these aims tvill almost necessarily load to a vteak or pernicious government. 1 .st. The first and most obvious, tliough not the highest aim of tlie government of a school, is to maintain a degree of order and quiet that will permit the ordina ry work of the school—the teach ing and study—to go on without undue impediment or delay. This aim is too simple and obvious to need discussion. 2nd. A second and higher pur pose is to train the pupils to hab its of order and system,—to edu cate them to regular and syste matic efforts, and to methodical and orderly movement both of mind and bodjo In the quiet and system of a well-ordered school room, the pupils learn the utility of having a place and time for ev erything, and of keeping every thing in its place and time. The Jieatness and regularity reigning in the school-room slowly but surely transfer themselves to the liabits and characters of the pu- ]'ils, and go forth with them to the duties of their after-lives. 3d. A third aim is to train the pupils to live in a well-ordered society to accustom them to abide peacefully under the regular ad ministration of laws, and in organ ized communities, and thus to ed ucate them for citizenship in the State, 4th. Another and still higher aim of school government is the education of the will. In the fields of knowledge there is food for the {rerception, the judgment, the reason ; in art there is culture for the eye, the hand, and the taste, but there is no study for the will. It must seek its exer cise and training in the domains of law. The will of the little 'hild is the slave of every fitful impulse ; it veers in its purpose with every changing fancy; its resolutions are as ropes of sand ; its plans are abandoned at the first impediment. Under the firm hand of a wise teacher, this childish will learns to obey with a stead}^ obedience, and thus comes at last to command both itself and others. This is the great truth that underlies the old maxim, “Let him who would command first learn to obey.” This is certainly tiie highest and most central of all education. The education of the moral na ture is another high and legiti mate aim of school-government. The realm of moral is simply the realm of right, and it is the cen tral aim ot all good government to inspire and enforce right-do ing. The child that obeys can not but grow purer and stronger by its obedience. But the genial quiet and peaceful good order of the wisely-governed school is the very atmosphere in which the higher sentiments flourish and all noble aspirations grow. But finally there is another use in good govornment grander than all these—grander because it is comprehensive of them all—it is to fit the soul for its -fesidence and destiny in this greaftiniverse of law. Look where you will throughout this great empire of God, the fact that meets us cve- lywliere, in all without us, and all within, is the power and preva lence of laic—all-comprehending, all controling, eternal, irresitible, irreversible law. How foolish the conclusion of those who count that the study of text-hooks is the great central work of the school and that any government is good enough, if the lessons are properly learned and recited. What acquisitions of knowledge or art can compensate a' man for having failed to learn that noblest of all knowledge— the knowledge of duty—and to acquire that best of all arts the art of submitting the soul with ail its poiyer, passions and aspira tions in the grand and eternal ser vice of law. Ill tho aims of school govern ment lie involved all its main principles and laws. Its very se cret and philosophy are wrapped up in them ; and in vain will any one seek to understand or intelli gently administer a wise and wholesome government without a careful consideration of these higli aims. IIOMEWAKD BOUND. Our chapter of nine orphans, going towards Oxford, gave an entertainment in Salisbury, at the Presbyterian church. Tlie inter est was not so general as that manifested at Concord, but the orphan work has some zealous friend.sliere who greeted us warm ly and were untiring in their kind attentions. The estimable pastor put,into the collection a gold dol lar with the following note ; Tho enclosed gold coin was the treasure of little Henrio Hall, who died last >Sabbath night. It was given by the bereaved mother to. the mini.stcr who i)roached her funeral ser mon. llo knows no better use for it tlian to place it where it will help to feed, clothe and eduea^ little boys and girls who have neither fathe/ nor mother. Such lie thinks would bo tho wish of little Honrie, were she here to ex press her prcferonce. J. R. We reached Winston on Satur day evening, and committees from tho Lodges of the “t'ndn cities” met us at the depot and sent us to the Merchants’ Hotel, a most deliglitful ])lace; but rain pre vented the entertainment. On Sunday we attended the Metho dist church in the morning and the Pi-esbyterian in the afternoon. The services at both places were interesting and impressive. At night we attended the clnirch of the “United Brethren,” or simply tho Moravian church. The house is large, and it is built and fui‘- nished with excellent taste. The benches are as comfortable as those in tho Presbyterian church of Salisbury, and this is the high est compliment wo can pay them. The organ is a very large one, and its tones are very sweet. The singing is excellent. The Bishop preached a good sermon and or dained two PrGsb3ders who will now devote themselves to the work of the miiiistrju With them, ordination means “separation” in its Bible sense. On Monday evening this house was full and our children did as well as they could ; but there was so much solemn gravitj' tlia,t ive left out some of our funnjr pieces. The collection was liberal. On Tuesday' evening -we occu pied the Presbyrierian church in Greensboro. Dr. Smith, tho pas tor, offered an excellent pray'er and good attention w'as paid, in spite of tlie immense crowd. The collection was veiy good. We w’ere quartered at the McAdo.o House and fed so high that— well, too higli for peojile in our circumstances. Again we go to AVinston, and give an entertain ment in the Methodist church. Tlie pastors of the different ehiirchos cheer us with their pres ence and codperatiou. The house is packed and the order perfect. The collection is liberal, and with grateful hearts tve leave these ex cellent people and go by stage to Higli Point in time for train at 2 a. ni., and so reach Hillsboro on Thursday morning. As the children need sleep, we put them' to bed, andjtake a seat with a kind friend to Cane Creek, where Mt. Zion Association is to meet. The attendance is good. A sermon is preached, and the letters are read show'ing an increase of 85 mem bers in the churches. Moderator Wilson is a good man and pre sides wdtli dignity and docornm, AVe, on invitation, tell about the orplian work, and a collection is immediately taken. Returning to Hillsboro our entertainment is largely' attended. Thomas AA'^ebb, Esq., makes a handsome speech which is followed by a collection. In Raleigh, that friend of every good w'ork, Mr. John Nichols, meets us at the depot and all are entertained, ■ At night Metropol itan Hall is full. AVe are glad to see that at the Capital there is no abatement .of interest in the or phan work. On Saturday' we re turn to Oxford,, all in perfect health, with hearts full of thanks to hundreds of friends whose kindness can never bo forgotten and devoutly'grateful to the “All- seeing .Ky'e” who has watched and guided our foot-steps in all the dangers encountered in many hundreds of miles of travel. 'THE- OBPHAN'ASi'iUBI. The organization and purpose of this institution seem to be veiy imperfectly' understood by some, and thoroughly misunderstood by others. It is the purpose of this article to give some information in regard to it. It is under the patronage of the Masonic Fraternity of the State, but not designed nor conducted alone for the benefit ef the or phans of Masons. The Grand Lodge of North Car olina devotes to the. use of the or phan work tlie large buildings and grounds of St. John’s College at Oxford, and in addition to this she calls upon the subordinate lvodges_for sy'steniatic contribu tions for its support,—wbicli by- tbe-way; has"- not been strictly complied with on the part of ina- nyoi the Lodges, tvhose members, like many outsiders, seem to mis understand tlieir duty' and obliga tion in this respect. Having done this much for the orphan cause, the Grand Lodge claims the prerog ative of appointing the officers of the Asylum, and of holding them to account for the discharge of their resnective duties, and a jrro- per application of the means con- trbuted to its support. To this extent it is a Jlasonic institution and no further. Its benefits, as we have said, are not confined to the orphans of deceased Masons, but are extend ed to the destitute and promising orphans of all classes and all de nominations in tho State. . There is no favoritism or partiality shown in the selection of its beu- eficiaries; for the children from all classes of society and all de nominations of Christians are brought here, it is required that, at least,, four of the religious de.- nomiuations shall always be rep resented in -the officers and teach ers of the institution. The Masonic Fraternity' having thus thrown open the doors of the Asy'lmn for the reception of all whose condition require its aid, they feel they' are justified in call ing upon all classes and all de nominations to help contribute to its support. Aud surely this is nothing but what is reasonable ’and riglit. Contributions for the Asylum caTinot he considered as a charity' to the Alasons or Afa- sons' orj)hans, but it is the dis charge of a high Christian dut'N' devolving upon all who recognize the authority' of the scriptures, as well as upon every' patriot .and philanthropist who desires to proij mote the wellfare of his state and ameliorate the misfortniies- of those bereft of the means of help ing themselves. The Asy'lum is Alasonic in its origin, and to some extent in its management, but its advantages are common to all the unfortunate orphans of the State, and the Ala sonic Fraternity are willing to share with any' other benevolent society', with the Christian de nominations of the State and tho public at large, the duty of-siis- taining and perpetuating an in stitution that has done, is now doing, and promises in fut.ire to do, such a noble work as that of taking by' the hand the destitute orphans of the State, feeding and clothing them, -giving them an education- to fit them for the oi’di naiy business of life, finding, when necessary', good homes for them and thus leaving them on the track of becoming good and useful citizens, instead of habitnds of tlie jails aud dens of infamy of the st.ate. - Now, reader, what have yon done, what are you now doing, towind the promotion of this grand and noble enterprise. The work is too gigantic for the Alasonic Fraternity' of the state alone. If their own destitute only were to be provided for, perhaps theyv might successfully shoulder the responsibility; but tiiey' have, with the expansive charity that characterizes the order in all ages and all countrie.s, off ered the ben efits of the Asy'lum ■ to all, and they have been availed of by' large numbers who had no special claim upon Alasonic benevolence ; now, therefore, we, call upon all to came iqi to tho measure of duty in regard to this matter, and not leave a few imlii'iduals (or one in dividual) to 'bear the burden of care and anxiety' whicii a want of ■ cooperation and encouragement inevitable entails. y AlMt-SSS.' One of the considerable reasons, and no one, why' so many lives are failures, is that they' are begun without a definite purpose and pursued 'vUtliout sy'stem. Very few men or women in this world have genius sufficient to enable them to pursue success fully any profession or trade without a pi'evious course of edu cation or training for that partic ular pursuit; yet many parents raise their children as if they thought them capable of doing any'thing that circumstances may' offer w'hen the time comes for them to strike out for themselves. How many of our boy's have made choice of the business they intend to follow in life I How many' parents have st’-idied the disposition and bias of their chil dren and selected for them such occupation as they' are best fitted for ? For want of definiteness of purpose and aim in life, thous ands of the children of our coun try' fritter away the days of their ■ child-hood youth with no prepar- ■ ation of fitness for anything, and as a matter of course, in nme cases out of ten, they are failures so far as becoming useful mem bers of the community is . con cerned. Tliis want of aim in childhood and youth is the fruitful cause of indolence and laziness. The boy on the farm, who is uncertain as to whether he will engage in ■farnuag as an occupation, is in different about everything he has to do. He does not care to learn how to make a fence, to plow a straight furrow, or to do anything else neatly' that he uniiertakes. The boy' in school who has no definite aim in life, is careless of his studies. lie does not strive to learn accounts or write a legi ble hand, nor acquii-o a knowl edge of any of the sciences, bo- emise he knows not that he shall ever have a use for any of these things, and so he idles way his time in listlessness and indolence vainly' imagining that, whatever chance or circumstances may call him to afterward, ho will learn to dO) “some how or other.” AA^o think parents would lay a surer foundation for the happi ness and usefulness of their chil dren by-' selecting for th.em, in their e-'irly y'ears, useful and hon orable occupations, according ‘to their capacity; and bias, and train ing them specially for the chosen pursuit than to leave it to chance to decide for them afterwards. Some of them might be able to change their occupations and en gage in .some higher calling if they found, or ratlier, if the world should find, them capable of fill ing it successfully'. It is. better to have a giant intellect capable of filling stations of honor and dis tinction, trained to the shoe bench and tailor’s board, than to endeav or to make statemen and legisla- t >rs of intellects fit only for the tailor’s board and shoo bench. Tlie former rvill, despite all oppo sition, rise upward to their level, the latter, in sinking to theirs, will seldom fail to fall below what they' might have been. You cannot spoil a statesman by try ing to make a mechanic of Iiim, bat an excellent mechanic miglit be ruined for all purposes of u,sa- tulness by' trying to make him a statesman ; and both may bo spoiled by neglecting to try to make anything of tliom at all. Let the boys, and girls too, of opr country have some defiiuta aim and occiipation in life, and let them try' to ivork up to it by fitting tlieinsolvcs for it, aiid if they, by’ tlio ]tosse.ssion of genius or talent and tho habits of indus try and perseverance wliieh tliey v.'ouhl thii,s acquire, work them selves beyond it to some more useful and honorable position,' why', it will not hurt tiiem. But by' all means, furnish them with aim in life—something to call out their energies and prevent them becoming more drones in the hu man live, “to live unrespccted and die without regret.” FDEIiTCAt, BS'TTEKNSSS. AA’o honestly' believe that. the Convention now in session in Raleigh comprises more learning and talent than has ever before been found in any assembly of men in onr state. AVe hope to see a good constitution laid before tlie people for their adoption ; but regret to see party' rage making some men almost mad. In gome instances yei'y ugly' words have been spoken aud fire arms have been ready for use, as occasion miglit require. A state paper also low'ers its own digbity by alluding to the members of the Convention as “this fraudulent body of contemptible thieves and vagabonds.” AAfe hereby request tho editor of that paper to give , his exposition of that Scripture which say's; . “Thou shalt not speak .evil of the ruler of thv peo ple.
The Orphans’ Friend (Oxford, N.C.)
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Sept. 29, 1875, edition 1
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