Newspaper Page Text
TWO
Adjutant Yates Makes Appeal For
Christmas Dinners for Augusta’s Poor
In Additional to Christmas Dinners, Many Calls Come For
Food, Fuel and Clothing-- An Appeal to Which Augustans
Will Respond.
Adjutant James Yntr-s, of the Sal
vation ATmy, is sending out HVI usual
nppeal for help for the needy In Au
gusta at Christmas time. The adju
tant always Rets the heartiest kind "f
responses from Augusta people for
they know him and his work and re
cognize that of all eharltahle institu
tions in Augusta none !s more worthy
than the Salvation Army. Adjutant
Yates and his family have done a won
derful work In Augusta among the
most needy of thla community.
Here ia the adjutant s letter:
Augusta, <la., Dec. 1, 1914.
Dear FYiend:
For many years the Salvation Army
has hern the medium through which
those who were aide have passed their
gifts to the needy and deserving poor.
They eagerly look to us, and we In
turn look to you. Your kindness In
the past entourages us to ask again
on behalf of our less fortunate broth
ers for your support in our efforts to
relieve distress. The Christmas effort
throughout the United States last yenr
tneant the distribution of over 40(1,000
dinners as well as supplying clothing
A ugusta Church News
At a Glance
Rev. Robert* on “The Value of Misery."
liev. J. F. Robert*, pastor of the Ht.
Duke Methodist church, will deliver a
■peels! sermon si the morning hours, 11
a. m. on “The Value of Misery.** At
K p. m. he will take lor ills theme: “The
Dead Kgyptlun." MV. Roberts Is said to
be one of the most able young ministers
In the city. lit* congregations are very
large and devoted.
t'y.nday school meets at .1 p. m. The
Barnca 'and I’hlMlun classes lire doing
a great work At hint Sunday’s meet
ing the Hiiraca Imd 49 present. The
Philatliras are also growing In numbers
and jMiwrr Total number present last
Kunda'. 248.
Dr. Jone* on “The Value of a Vote."
| ir. M. Ashby Jones wl I preach a spe
cial sermon today at tl o’clock on “The
Vtiiiie of a Vote.'' Dr. Jones has taken
great interest In the civic life of Ills city
and ills sermon today on th it most won
derful of nil Instruments will In- worth
hearing Hr. Jones believes the vote
of on Ami-,lean citizen:
"A weapon that comes down as still
As Manilla'.is tall upon the soil;
llut executes a freeman's will.
As lightning docs llie will of tlod”
At S p. to. Dr Jones will pre-ch on
“A Study of the Resurrect Ion."
6t. Jame* Steward* Elect Officer* for
th* Year.
St James McllkiJlm church In making
■lcaily piogres* under the leadership of
R.v, Wallet- It. Dillard At Friday
ntght'K meeting* the stewards of the
church held n moat Interesting meeting
«n<t 'looted officer* for next year. Mr.
j„Uan Smith was mode preoldont: Mr.
\\ 11 i lendi . ratal' Ml J. 1;
Weigh . tre.t*ttr*d. nnd Mr. J F. Hi**’,
chairman "f the finance committee. Dr.
milord all ptench today on: "Hold Fast
to That Which I* Good.” Regular
tvtmgcllHtlu service tonight.
Wcodlawn Church to Install Steward*.
The Woodlnwn Methodist church will
Install the newly appointed stewards to
rt;, .it il a. til. Mr. K E. Glltson I*
rhnlrumn of the (toward* for next year.
The pastor will preach today on "Tit*
Work of » Steward.'• At 8 p in. he will
take for lit* theme: “The Ttwnsfnrma
ti< iof Character." Tht* I* Mr. Blonc *
ne< ond Sunday as pit slur at Wood own
anil hi* i otigregatlon will give him a
large hearing.
Dr. S. P. Wtgqln* to Make an Addre**
on "George Whttefleld."
Dr. 8. 1‘ Wiggins, pastor of St. John *
Methodist church, will mike an addre**
on "George \V|i|t«f|«dd," the great evan
gel of the )a*t century Dr. 11 T Ham
by. pn-eldlng eider of the Augusta dis
trict, will preach at 11 a m today.
The steward* of St John’s elected the
following officer* on Friday night: 11
J. Hollingsworth, chairman and J. U.
Bailie, secretary. Committees to be
appointed later.
81 John's Sundry school will observe
next Sunday as Christum* Day. There
will be n special service at the reguar
hmjr. The school will give a Christ
mas tree to Its pupils and take an offer-
POTS OF SALVATION ARMY
DISTRIBUTED ALONG
BROAD STREET
The Salvation Army, always awake
to the sufferings of the poor, I* In
the thick of the flKht to give some
tangible relief to Augusta's poor Ht
Christmas time The pot at the cor
ner of Hrouil and Jackaon street* Is
receiving a fairly Rood patronage con
sidering the talk of hard time* Ad
jutant James Yates and his assistants
are generally on hand to give Inform
ation about the work of the army In
Augusta, and other parts of the world,
If you want It.
Adjutant Yates hopes to he ahle to
Cttni a Christmas dinner to IM *f
Augusta's poor. Of course there are
more than five hundred poor people In
tha city at this ttine who would ap
preciate a helping hand, hut thla Is
about the number that Mr. Yates hopes
to assist Then there are a great
many children In the .city who will
have no Christmas tree unless the Sal
vation Army arrange* It. So you are
asked to put In enough tr> make the
children happy too.
Adjutant Yates Is well known In th«
city. His work here goes hack for
many years, and his appeal* always
meat a hearty response.
OFFICERsTorT9IS~"
ELECTED BY BARACAS
The Baraoa City I'nion met at St
Matthew's Lutheran church on Tues
day evening elected officers for
the next year. It was an enthusiastic
meeting and largely attended by most
of the classei represented In the union.
Mr. (Jeorge Huldowskt. the retiring
president, presided over the meeting.
The reports from the classes showed
a steady growth In most of the classes
of the city. Two new classes have
recently been admitted Into the union.
These eotne from tVoodlnwn and St.
James Methodist churches.
The union Is now raising Its second
Installment of the Jf.ftO pledget! at the
state convention In May of this year.
Thera war* some who wished to no-
to the very needy and thousands of
toys to gladden the hearts of the
younger folks.
The local corps of the Salvation Ar
my last year with the assistance of
their many friends was able to sen*
out one hundred and seventy-five well
filled Christmas baskets. Each bas
ket contained sufficient provisions for
a dinner of five persons. In addition
to tills there was the huge Christmas
tree In the Armory from which hun
dreds of children w’ere made happy
with toys, fruit nnd candy.
In addition to the special help given
at this time and season, we are con
tinually faced with the necessity of
supplying food, fuel, clothing, etc , you
will readily see that our funds are
continually being drawn on and there
fore need continual replenishing.
We rely upon your generosity to
enrr out the work and supply the re
lief that is required of us.
Thanking you In anticipation,
Yours for the needy,
JAMES YATES,
Adjutant.
Ing for the city mission work. It will
In- a most Interesting service. A beau
tiful program of music has been ar
rangi d.
Rev. O. P. Gilbert on "The City That
Rejected Je*u».”
Rev. O. I*. Gilbert will preach at to
night's service tile siVmon announced
for last Kunduys night's service. lie
will discuss: “The City That Reject
ed Jesus.’’ Just lit this time when so
much Is being said about the enforce
ment of law in Augusta the theme !h a
very appropriate one. The morning
service will lie held ns usual.
Services at First Chrlstlsn Church.
Rev I low uni T. (Tee announces that
the furnace of the First Christian church
is out order and services will be held
111 the large Sunday school annex till re
pair* are made. lie will preach today
on "The Dynamic of Dehtnrshlp.” al X
I, m. lit tv 111 preach on: "Finding One's
Sr i" Dr. free will be delighted to
see large crowds at each service. His
i Inin h Is near the heart of the business
tlie city, right on the prlm-l
pil residential street In town. If you
ore slopping at one of the lintels and a
s'ruiig.v you v.-IU find a cordial welcome
.it this church.
Or. Sevier to Conclude Serle* of Sermon*
In- .1 It Sevier will preach the last
. f Ids series of sermons at the service
jni sp. m. today. The theme for the
i, - ssion is “Royal Womanhood or a
Man's Ideal Woman" The i-holv end
orchestra will render the usual excellent
music.
North Angus « Baptist to Hear Rev. W.
W. Williams.
The North Augusta Baptist church has
been without n pastor for some weeks.
It has arranged with Rev. W W. Wil
liams to preach at today's service. MV.
Williams was recently ordained by the
Curlls Baptist church. He Is a young
minister of much promise and will have
a good hearing today.
Rev. M. M. MacFerrln Will Conclude the
Series on "The Holy Spirit."
Rev. M M. MncFerTtn. who has been
preaching » series of sermons on the
Holy Spirit, wl I preach the last at to
night's services Mr. MacForrln's themes
imv 11 a m "Ills Humiliation;" Bp. m.,
"The Bln Against the Holy Spirit.*'
New Minister at Sibley Mission.
The new minister m Sibley Mission,
(lYesbyterhm) bus arrived In the city
and will preach at both services today.
The new pastor ts the Rev. W. 11.
Roy,l, formerly of Edgefield, S, C. Mr.
Itoyd Is n married man with a wife and
three children The' ere located at
HOST Ellis street. Mr. Boyd will find a
hearty welcome to out city.
Rev. C. 6. Hutching* at Woodlswn*.
Baptist.
Rev C. E. Hutchings will preach to
(hiv nil "Essential* to Efficiency In
Christian Work " At 8 p. tn he will
preach on “Missions," an address to the
Woman's Missionary* Society. There will
he spec lei music at each service.*
tify the state officers that the classes
of Augusta would not consider them
selves responsible for the remainder.
The matter was tabled until the meet
ing In January.
The executive committee will decide
upon the next place of meeting.
The officers for 19t5 are:
President Kdward \V. ("lark.
First Vice-President J. H. Scott.
Second Vice-President Span Green.
Third Vice President—P S. Tinley.
Fourth Vice-President —George Bal
dowski.
HENRY BARACA CLASS
AWARDED BASEBALL ‘RAG*
An Interesting feature of the Ra
t'aca Pity Union's meeting on Tues
day evening was the awarding of the
baseball pennant for the 1914* season.
The presentation speech was made by
Mr. \V. Cleveland Scigler. chairman
of the committee on athletics. Mr.
Selglcr said he was not a gifted speak
er but all present enjoyed his very
choice words in delivering the banner
to the llenr> class.
Ur. Robert 1* llenry accepted the
pennant on behalf of his class and
in a most charming way delivered *t
to one of the young men present. It
will he greatly appreciated by the
members of hi* class as It Is hand
made. all silk and a most beautiful
trophy.
In making the award Mr. Selglar
said the Second Baptist Haruca class
was second and the Asbury class,
Herd. All things point to a great con
i' -t among the young fellows next
.'ear, as many of them will rematu
with their classes and teams
BETTER THAiTsPANkTnG
hranktn* floes not rur» children of
bed - wetting There I* a constitutional
cause for this trouble Mrs. g. Sum
mers. It"* W, Node Dame. Jnd will
•end free to any mother her successful
horns tientment. with full Instruction*
S'■ d no money, but writs her today If
your children trouole you In this way
lsin't blame the child th* chances nr*
It enn't help It. This trestmen* also
*ur«s adults and age people troubled
with urine difficulties by day or night.
Colored Y. ML C. A„ Appeals For Aid to
Assist the Needy Colored People
The folk,wing is from the Colored
Y. M. C. A.:
Augusta, Oa„ Dec. 12, 1914.
TO THE PUBLIC.
Dear Friends: This year, as last
year, the Colored Y. M. C. A. is anx
ious to assist the white friends In Au
gusta in reaching needy and deserving
cases among the negro poor of the
city. Our appeal last year met with a
generous response, und he have rea
son to feel that the same will he the
case this year. Any white friends
who wish to do so may designate that
their donations are for Shiloh Or
phanage, the I’aul Moss Orphanage,
or for the generally destitute. Cloth
ing or food or money, will be receiv
ed. Several friends last year who
said that they had been annual con
tributors to the late Uncle Dan Mc-
Horton sent their gifts through ti ls
29TH ANNIVERSARY
TABERNACLE CHURCH
Last Anniversary Sermon in
Old House of Worship As New
Church Expected to Be Com
pleted By Next Year.
Tabernacle Baptist Church, on Ellis
Street, will celebrate today its twenty
ninth anniversary. The pastor, Rev.
C. T. Walker, says that he expects
fully that this will he the last anni
versary celebration to take place In
their present house of worship, as it
is believed that the new institutional
church, now building, will be ready for
occupancy long before next December.
For this reason, it is planned to make
tile exercises of today somewhat out
of the ordinary. The preacher for the
dny'H services will be the Her. Dr.
William I’. Hayes, of New York City,
the pastor of the Mount Olivet Church
there, which was pastured by Dr. C.
T. Walker for some five years In the
early nineties. Dr. Hayes will preach
at 11 a. m. and at 8 p. m., and the pub
lls is urged to attend the services. A
rally for the new church will take
plac tonight. The women of the
church, under the leadership of Dr.
Walker, are lined up to bring In more
money on today than the men of the
church, win, are working under the
direction of Deacon W. \V. McNatt,
vflio was elected as their leader. It Is
expected that the church will raise
somewhere in the neighborhood of
SI,OOO. The pastor says he needs this
much, and expects to get it out of
the Lord's bank—the pockets of the
people.
1 "WINSOME WOMANHOOD”
REV. DR. SEVIER’S TOPIC
Sermon of Especial Interest
Will Be Preached at First
Presbyterian Church Tonight.
Dr. Sevier, pastor of the First Pres
byterian Church, will preach a ser
mon Sunday evening on. "Winsome
Womanhood,” being a sequel to the
•hermon preached last Sunday night
before a large congregation on "Royal
! Manhood.” These two sermons have
'followed a series on Young People and
| Their Problems, which has proved
i very popular.
In the sermon Sunday evening he
will portray the kind of a woman who
best measures up to the standard set
for her by her Maker. Ho will show
jtb.at such a woman brings happiness
not only to herself, but to others.
The large chorus choir, supplement
ing the regular quartet, and assisted
by the orchestra will render some
I beautiful music.
Y. M. C. A. PREPARING FOR
WORLD BIBLE CONFERENCE
The Y M. O. A. will begin this af
ternoon a series of Gospel services in
the Dreamland theatre preparatory to
the World's Bible Conferences which
will open here sometime in the mid
winter. The services will be of a
similar nature to those that have been
held tn the Y. M C, A building on
Greene street, but it is believed they
will have a better patronage on Broad
way. Mr. Hunter, secretary, has ar
ranged with some of the best musi
cal talent In the city to sing at the
meetings. Miss Battle will be heard
this afternoon.
The first speaker is Dr. J. H. Harms,
president of Newberry College, New
berry. S. C. Dr. Harms is one of the
most distinguished Lutheran ministers
In tlie South and Is an üble preacher.
He has been to Augusta on several
occasions and always gets a large
crowd.
The meeting this afternoon will vary
slightly from the meetings of the past
in that women are Invited to attend.
The next meeting will be held the
fourth Sunday in this month, and some
minister or layman of note will have
charge of the service.
DR. j7h. HARMS SPEAKS AT
ST. MATTHEWS CHURCH
Dr. J. H. Harms of the Newberry
College. Newberry. S. C., will address
the Sunday school of the St. Matthew
church at 9:15 a. m. He will preach
at 11 a. m. ami 9 p. m.
Dr. Harms is a noted scholar and
preacher and is no stranger in Augus
ta where he has preached before. The
services at Si, Matthew today will in
clude a sermon. Holy Communion and
confession. Good music at each ser
vice.
REGULAR SUNDAY MORNING
SESSION. ASBURY BARACAS
The regular Sunday morning session
of the Asbury Baraca class will be
lield tn the class room this morning
at 9 4R o'clock.
Dining the month of November tb;s
class Was Increased about thirty new
members, making a total of etghty
slx. and hopes to reach the one hun
dred mark soil.
All young men of the elt\ are cor
dially invited to visit Asbury O. M
Young, teacher.
County Tax Books close this week.
THE AUGUSTA HERALD, AUGUSTA, GA.
committee for the institution which
Uncle Dan founded, and they may do
the same this year, if they feel dis
posed to do so. All donations or con
tributions may be sent to Silas X.
Floyd, secretary of the Colored Y. M.
C. A., and trustee of the Shiloh Or
phanage, at 1025 Twelfth Street, of, if
goods are to be sent for, our friends
are asked to phone 2610.
As heretofr re a statement will be
rendered publicly after Christmas as
to the disposition made of articles or
money entrusted to us.
Thanking the public for past help
and asking a continuance of their
confidence, we are,
Respectfully,
C. T. WALKER, President.
P. H. CRAIG, Vice-President.
A. M. SHERRILL, Treasurer.
J. W. WHITEHEAD.
SILAS X. FLOYD, Secretary.
Y.M.C.A. MEETING
AT DREAMLAND
President Harms, Newberry
College, S. C., Will Speak at
4 O’clock---Public Invited.
A large number of people are ex
pected to attend the first of the bi-
Sunday religious services to be con
ducted during the winter under the
auspices of the Tuesday Night Bible
Class of the local Young Men’s Chris
tian Association at the Dreamland
theatre, nroad and Campbell streets.
The meetings begin today, the opening
address to be delivered by President
J. H. Harms of Newberry College,
Newberry, S. C., at 4 o’clock, prompt
ly. The doors will be open at 3:30.
A special musical program has been
arranged for the opening service and
al each succeeding service, every oth
er Sunday, the music will be a feat
ure. It is also announced that in ad
dition to prominent Augusta ministers
and laymen speaking at these meet
ings, men of public note from other
cities will be invited to make the ad
dresses.
The services are for men and wom
en. The Dreamland theatre affords
about the most comfortable and most
convenient place in the city, it is be
lieved, for these meetings. All of the
services will be free.
Notes of St Luke
Baracas
The topic for discussion today at
the St. Luke Barac.a Class is, “The
Great Commission.”
Golden text: "Lo, I am with you
always, even unto the end of the
world.” (Matthew xxvii 20).
The topic today promises to be very
Interesting and helpful to all who at
tend today's session. Under the lead
ership of a very competent teacher
this class has made much progress in
its devotional department.
This class expects to make today a
banner one in attendance. This or
ganization has been doing a great deal
of good in the past and Vhints to con
tinue in good work of upbuilding. So
come and bring a friend.
This class meets every Sunday af
ternoon with the Sunday school at 3
o'clock.
“The class that meets you with a
glad hand-shake.”
Corner St. Luke Street and Craw
ford Avenue.
CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS
BAPTIST.
Second Baptist Church
O. F. Gilbert, pastor. Preaching by
the pastor at 11 a. m. and at 8 p. m.
There at 8 p. m„ “The City that Re
jected Jesus.” This sermon will be
ill keeping with the special movement
now on lo enforce the law in Augusta.
Sunday school at 10 a. m. Public cor
uialty Invited.
CHRISTIAN. I
West End Christian Churoh
Preaching at 11 a. m., subject: “The
Race und the Runners." Preaching at
7:30 p. tn., subject: "The Short Bed
and the Narrow Cover." Bible school
at 3 p. in. Prayer meeting Wednesday
night. Bro. J. 1. Holmes, leader. Teach
er-Training Class Friday night at the
parsonage.
The best way to get rid of all your
troubles is to enthrone the Christ in
your heart. We extend a real invita
tion to all to come and worship with
us and to help us learn the ways of the
Lord perfectly.—West End Christian
Churen.
EPISCOPAL.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Rev. G. Sherwood Whitney, rector.
Third Sunday in Advent— Use. 13th.
Holy Communion at 8 a. m. Sunday
school at 9.46 a. m. Morning prayer
and sermon at 11:15 o'clock. Evening
prayer at 8:00 o’clock.
PRESBYTERIAN.
Rsid Memorial Presbyterian Church '
Corner Walton Way and Johns road,
S L. McCarty, pastor. Divine wor
ship and preaching by the pastor at
11 a. m. and at 8:15 p. m. Sunday
school at 4 p. m. Classes for all ages
and grades. The adult Bible class will
be taught by Mr. Lawton B. Evans.
A cordial welcome to all the services.
“Cheap Excursion Rates ac
count ot the Holidays via the
Charleston & Western Carolina
Railway Co. For rates, Oates
ot Sale, etc. call on ticket
agents or. Ernest Williams. Gen
eral Passenger Agent, Augusta,
Georgia."
CLERGY ORDINATION
PROVED FRAUDULENT
No Divine Authority For Their
Ecclesiastical Titles.
Christian People Humbugged—Digni
fied False Pretense—Christ’s King
dom Thereby Injured—The Start of
the Error —Its Motive—lte Bad Ef
fects—Th* Proper Remedy.
New York City
Dec. 6. Pastor
Russell, at New
York City Temple,
W. 63rd st ami
Bway., took for
his text today.
"CRY ALOUD
spare not; shon
My people theii
transgression.
Isaiah 58:1.
The adtirccs vra.
prefaced with
some remarks re
W——■——-
epectlng the speaker’s unpleasant duty
Implied in his text and his preference
for speaking only pleasant things. Thi
Pastor has the happy faculty of stat
lng pungent truths kindly and sympa
thetically. Lie speuks from the heari
and carries conviction.
He then demonstrated from Scrip
ture that our Redeemer «.nd His disci
pies knew nothing whatever about thi
distinction between clergy and laity
With great humility Jesus declared
that His Message was of the Father
He taught Ills disciples to seek only
that honor which cometh from Above
“One is your Master, even Christ; and
all ye are brethren,” was His way ol
forewarning us against the error which
afterward divided the Lord’s people.
The Btart of the Error.
The growth of this erroneous doc
trine was then traced from Its begin
nlng In the Fourth Century, when the
bishops became dignitaries In the
Church and sought to Impress the rul
ers with tbelr importance. Emperor
Constantine endeavored to strengthen
his political power by granting honor
to all Christians who acknowledged
the Nlcene Creed and especially to the
Bishop of Rome. In the following cen
tury the power of the bishops was
greatly Increased by various false doc
trines which gradually crept in
Amongst these was that of a fiery
Hell of torture, followed by the theo
ry that members of the true Church
would never be sent there, but to Pur
gatory, where a second chance for
Heaven would be furnished them.
The clergy gradually grasped mon
power and money for services now ami
hereafter. Marriages not performed
by them would not be valid. Then
followed the theory of Infant damnn
tlon, classification of sins, fixing of
penalties, arranging for masses, etc
All these bound the people to the cler
gy and separated them from the si in
pllclty of the Gospel.
As Hie Roman Empire went to
pieces, the Bishop of Rome became
more prominent, and assumed the ti
tie Pontlfex Maximus, previously held
by the Caesars. Another doctrine thor
oughly separated clergy and lnlty
that the former constitute the Church
the laity being children of the Church
This accounts for the Catholic custom
of calling ordained clergy Father.
The year 800 found the Church mnk
lng higher claim* than ever before,
namely, that then the Church became
the Kingdom of God. Catholics still
bold that the Millennium began that
year, and that the L’opee are Christ's
Vicegerent—reigning In His stead. The
clergy, separated from the people by
a great gulf, represented the Elect ol
God, holding the destinies of the laity
In their control; the laity dependent
upon them for baptism, marriage, etc.
Protestants and Chriet’s Kingdom.
The separation of Christ’s followers
Into clergy and laity was established
for centuries before the Reformation
It was but nntural for Protestants to
copy practises and doctrines with
which they had been familiar from
childhood. Consequently we see every
where forms of godliness without Its
power—lip reverence without much
manifestation of Christ’s Spirit
Protestants are much confused re
epectlng I’apaey's claim that Christ’s
Kingdom has been set up. They, of
course, deny that the Popes are Christ’s
Vicegerent. Nevertheless, they have
followed Papacy's lend in telling earth
ly rulers that their kingdoms are pari
of Christ’s Ivlugdom—“Christendom.’
They send chnplalns with the armies
and navies of these kingdoms, receive
financial support and recognition from
them, nnd call upon the civil power to
suppress so-called heretics, refusing
them license to preach, etc. They thus
closely follow In their mother’s foot
steps. Altogether, these false doc
trines are surely responsible, not only
for many past wars, but also for the
present European war.
We may assume that some of thi
clergy, Catholic nnd Protestant, art
honestly doing what they believe t*
be God's will In these matters. But
we are bound to believe that thotis
nnds nre not deceived—that they know
full well that the world Is ruled, not
by Christ und Ills teachings, but by
self seeking kings, princes, nobles
financiers, politicians, etc But whnt
have the minister* of “Christendom*
Jone to open people's eyes to the truth
on this subject—to tell them that these
kingdoms are not Christ’s In any
sense?
Now, ns the hour of their Jndgrrei;
npproa:hPS, they deserve our aympa
thr
READ HERALD WANTS
“BACK TO
THf FARM’*
■s
XIII. —Rural Education—Ths
District School.
©y C. V. GREGORY.
JCopyrtght, mo, by American Pres* Asso
ciation.]
NINETY per cent of all the coun
try boys and girls never get
any education beyond that
given them In the country
scboolbouse. Obviously the problem of
education for country life la the prob
lem of the district school.
The problem of the Increasing cost
of living is not so much to be solved
by raising more corn and bogs as It Is
by raising better boys and girls. A
crop of boys and girls brought up to
love the country and appreciate Its
possibilities will do much to postpone
the coming of the day when the Unit
ed States will be too big to feed Itself.
There are too few real country
schools In the United States today.
There are too many imitations of town
schools. Too many of the teachers are
girls from town. They come out on
Monday morning and go back on Fri
day night They have none of the
spirit of the country, and they endure
the country school for the meager
wages they receive. They are longing
for the day when they may get posi
tions in town schools.
While this condition exists the rural
school cannot be a success. If the
country is to have a life of Its own. as
It already has In many localities, that
%' ; Hit : :
.
good judges or CORN’
[Bchoolboys who won the trophy for the
best corn Judging at the short course
at the lowa State Agricultural college.
IWS.J
life must be most manifest in the
school. The fault Is not primarily
with the teacher, but with the system.
The chief fault with the rural schools
Is that there are too many of them.
In lowa there are 278 schools with few
er than five pupils each. There are
2,853 schools with an average of fewer
than ten pupils. The schools have been
established with the idea of numbers
rather than quality. There Is a school
house every two miles with monoto
nous regularity, whether there are any
pupils or not. Under such conditions
A large share of the school funds is
used in maintaining the small schools.
The result is cheap teachers, poor
•choolbouses and meager equipment.
The most advnnced rural communi
ties are getting around this difficulty
by consolidation, in some places two
schools are brought together, in others
three or four or half a dozen. One
good, well equipped rfehoolhouse takes
the place of several poor ones. Fewer
teachers are needed, and the money
can be used to litre better ones. A plot
of ground can be purchased for n
school garden, and the schoolhouse
can have trees and a lawn.
Local pride has been one of the ob
stacles In the way of consolidation
The patrons of a school district dislike
to have their schoolhouse taken away
even though there are but two or three
pupils of school age in the district
Local pride is a commendable thing
There Is Just as much local pride In a
consolidated district, but it is a little
wider in its scope. The pride based
upon a modern consolidated school has
much more foundation than the pride
that objects to having a dilapidated,
poorly attended schoolhouse removed.
The question of getting pupils to nnd
from school has been a troublesome
one in some localities. The coming of
better roads is doing much to solve
that. Even In the largest consolidat
ed school districts the bulk of the pu
pits are within or three miles of
the schoolhouse. Often stables are pro
vided near the schoolhouse. where the
pupils from the corners of the district
can keep their horses. More often the
children are hauled in covered wagons
at the expense of the district.
The consolidated rural schools are
developing a system of edneation all
their own. They are no longer imi
tators of the city schools. They are
of the country and for the country
Objection has been mnde to the intro
ductlon of agriculture into the rural
schools on the ground that the courser*
are already crowded. There is some
ground for tills objection in the old
fashioned district school. In the coti
solidnted school better grading is pos
sible. the pupils leuru a thing well
when they go over it. nnd endless
repetition Is unnecessary. Every one
who has attended a district school re
members the endless routine of selec
tlons in the reader, which must be
gon” over rime and aeiin until they
READ HERALD WANT ADS.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13. T
could almost be read without looking
at the book. Arithmetic was much
the same. Often there was a new
teacher each term, und she went on
the principle that the advanced class
Bhonld be put back to fractions to
start with History was another end
less circle Geography was a list of
towns and seas to be memorized.
In the consolidated school the work i
is systematized and made more thor
ough. The time saved cbd go to some
of the newer branches which relate to
agriculture. It is not the actual agri
culture taught In these schools that
makes them most effective, how
ever. It is the spirit of the farm that
Js injected Into the other studies. The
modern arithmetic has lost most of
Its ponderous ami Imaginary problems.
Instead the problems deal with the
price of corn and cattle, with the fig-
of a balanced ration and with
the profit on a Held of corn. Physiol
ogy has been broadened. The diges
tion of animals is studied, together
with the digestion of man. Tie girl
learns the need of a balanced ration
for people at the same time that her
brother 1s learning the necessity of the
same klDd of ’ration for stock. The
principles that underlie both are the
same
Geography deals with products more
than with places. The pupils learn
where the Various articles of com
merce come from and why each coun
try Is adapted by nature to certain In
dustries. The boy takes added inter
est in his class when he learns that
the binding twine that Is used for his
father’s binder comes from the Phil
ippine Islands or that most of the
sugar he eats on his bread at lunch
time comes from the German beet
fields. The details of land formation
are studied in the streams and hills
of the school district, and a study df
soils Is brought in at the same times-
These outdoor excursions add to tbd
interest of the work and quicken the
children’s power of observation.
When all the time necessary has been
given to the routine studies there is
still plenty left. A little botany can
be given. The pupils can study the
forms of flowers and plants and the
mystery of growing things. Usually
the school has a garden of ample size.
Here the pupils can spend part of the
time In summer, when the pleasant
weather makes the study of books Irk
some. They can study the different
seeds and plants at first hand and
learn things from this close observa
tion which they never could obtain
from books. In the spring before work
In the garden Is possible germination
boxes can be started indoors and the
beginning of the life of the plant stud
ied.. Often a small shop and a few
tools are provided, and the boys are
taught to saw and plane and hammer
to some effect.
The success of this modern district
school education has been proved bAr,
yond a doubt. One of the foremost lo
calities in the country In this move
ment is Page county, la. The work be
gan there in 1907 under the leadership
of Miss Jessie Field, a county superin
tendent, whose motto. “We believe in
the country and girls.” has be
come famous the country over. Page
county set to work to give the country
boys and girls a better chance. Ona
of Miss Field’s first acts was to dis
tribute a large number of tulip bulbs
to all the schools in the county. In
making the dower beds and planting
the bulbs the children became Interest
ed In growing things. They became
Interested in improving the school
grounds and the schoolhouse.
The teachers of Page county are in
terested In rural schools. During the
past year several of the rural school
teachers refused positions in town at
higher salaries. They were too deeply
interested In the rural work to forsake
it. With a teacher like that a school
cannot help but be successful. The
patrons are coming to appreciate these
teachers, too, nnd are giving them bet
ter salaries, more equipment and more
moral support.
The county superintendent bought a
Babcock tester and sent it around from
one school to another. The boys learn-
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Jf x \
■ :•? M J
lv -
TYPICAL BCBAL SCHOOL, BABB AND
OHEEBLBBB.
ed to test milk, and tbelr fathers
learned that some of their cows were
not bo good as they had thought The
boys were taught to judge corn and to
make germination boxes for testing
seed corn. They learned to pick out
one weed seed from another and
which were the most to be feared.
At the national corn show In Oma
ha in 190 b Miss Field won the automo
bile that was awarded to the best
rural school exhibit Miss Field, sev
eral of her teachers and some ot th«
brightest boys iu the county attended
the short course at the agricultural
college Id 190 f) "I find that I’ra go!
to learn more about com." Mlsa Field
said. "My boys are getting ahead o i
me." She did so well that she won at
expert judge’s certificate. Her
won the seventy-five dollar gold medal
that was given for the best boya’ judg
lng team in the state. Her teacher!
went hack with new ideas to put int<
eject.
READ HERALD WANT AD$.