Opis: The Commons, Vol. 7 - Author Unknown

Excerpt from The Commons, Vol. 7: A Monthly Record Devoted to Aspects of Life and Labor From the Social Settlement Point of View

"The Big Meeting"

When I state the fact that Hesperia is a village of seven hundred souls, situated twelve miles from a railroad, and that I have audiences numbering fifteen hundred interested, inspired people at the "big meeting," there may be some who will doubt, but, doubter, attend the meeting and see for yourself.

Col. Francis W. Parker, now of blessed memory, Dr. Arnold Tompkins, "Will Carleton," Hamilton Wright Mabie, Byron King, Rev. J. Morgan Wood, Principal W. N. Ferris and Hon. H. R. Pattengill, who have addressed the "big meetings," say there is nothing equal to it in America for inspiration, social and civic uplift.

Hon. H. R. Pattengill, the best state superintendent, so far as the rural school interests are concerned, that Michigan ever had, and Principal W. N. Ferris, of the Ferris Industrial School, Big Rapids, helped create educational sentiment which helped on the "big meeting." Mr. Pattengill made twenty-eight and Mr. Ferris thirty-one addresses in the rural lecture courses of Oceana county within the eight years that I was commissioner of schools.

The foundation purpose of the organization was a closer communion, sympathy and co-operation of all the educational elements of the rural communities. As the movement took hold upon community life, the horizon lifted, ahd libraries for district schools, clean schoolyards and schoolrooms, a larger use for education, a surer and longer tenure of service for teachers, with better wages, a socializing of rural conditions, were stars shining ever in the heavens of hope. These conditions, in some measure, have been realized, and are being realized. The inspiration, the song sung, the oration given at the "big meeting," have sunk too deep into thousands of care-burdened lives to be effaced. Many counties in Michigan have adopted and are adopting the movement, and it has made its way into many states, "has become national," as State Superintendent Fall says.

A Civic-Center Building Needed.

The movement has reached a point now where we need a building which shall be dedicated to the civic, spiritual, intellectual life of the community. A committee, of which Mr. Neal McCalum is chairman, has been appointed to investigate and make recommendations as to such a building.

No extension movement, university or otherwise, will prove adequate to the social, civic, intellectual and spiritual life of rural communities, since the force that socializes must be in the midst of the community - must be a part of its very life. The extension movement is an admirable means to help raise the level of rural community life. The end to be reached, that we desire to reach by the Hesperia movement, is a building in which may be developed to a high degree the social, civic, spiritual and intellectual life of the community. This factor in community life is not intended to displace any church or secret fraternal organization, but is one around which all parties, all creeds, all societies, can rally.

The community shall own this building. It shall be the home in which all that is best, all that makes for happiness, all that broadens and deepens life's best impressions, all that makes government stronger, men less self-centered, life sweeter, may be developed. The Hesperia movement is doing this now. The movement is not a dream, not a theory, for it has passed beyond these into reality.

Service The Watchword Of Progress.

What do the philanthropical library, social settement movements, supported by the immensely rich, portend Translated into the life of the twentieth century, they mean that there shall be no standing in the future social life of this nation for the vulgarly rich. I serve is the keynote of the new-old gospel. The world yearns to-day for an education of service, a religion of servic

Szczegóły: The Commons, Vol. 7 - Author Unknown

Nazwa: The Commons, Vol. 7 A Monthly Record Devoted to Aspects of Life and Labor From the Social Settlement Point of View (Classic Reprint)
Autor: Author Unknown
Wydawnictwo: FB &c Ltd
Kod paskowy: 9781331293996
Języki: angielski
Ilość stron: 352
Format: 15.2x22.9cm
Oprawa: Miękka

Recenzje: The Commons, Vol. 7 - Author Unknown