Elementary and Scientific Knowledge. Prof. JOHN W. DICKINSON, Princi- Relative Contribution of Scholarship and Methods to the Power of the Teacher. Prof. H. B. BUCKHAM, Principal of State Normal School, Primary Reading: The Thought and Sentence Method. GEORGE L. FARN- HAM, Superintendent of Schools, Binghamton, N. Y., . . Elementary Reading: The Phonetic Method with Pronouncing Orthog- raphy in its Relation to other Methods. Dr. EDWIN LEIGH, New York, 207 What should be the Leading Object of American Free Schools? HENRY F. HARRINGTON, Superintendent of Schools, New Bedford, Mass., . . 219 What Froebel's System of Education is, and How it can be Introduced School-Hours for Children Under Ten. A. J. RICKOFF, Superintendent of GENERAL ASSOCIATION. FIRST DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. MORNING SESSION. THE Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the National Educational Association commenced its session in the Opera House, Elmira, N. Y., Tuesday, August 5th, 1873, at 10 o'clock A. M. The Association was called to order by the President, Hon. BIRdsey Grant NORTHROP, of Connecticut, and its meeting was opened with prayer by Rev. A. C. GEORGE, D.D., of Elmira. ADDRESSES OF WELCOME. The President. I now have the honor to introduce to the Association Hon. LUTHER CALDWELL, Mayor of Elmira. Mr. Caldwell. Mr. President, and Members of the National Educational Association: The pleasant duty has been assigned to me as chief magistrate of this city, and in behalf of its population and municipality, to extend to you the kindly greeting and hospitality thereof. I am reminded by the programme of your committee of arrangements that these preliminary exercises are expected to be brief. And as this agrees with my idea of propriety, and especially, Mr. President, as standing here this morning in presence of so many scholars and orators, whose shoe-latchets I am not worthy to unloose, you will hardly expect me to tire your patience or occupy your time by remarks of mine. I will say this much-that the people of this city feel proud and highly honored that this Association has seen fit to select this place in which to hold this its thirteenth annual meeting, and we will do all in our power to make your visit here pleasant and agreeable. When political conventions assemble, it is expected that some good will accrue to the party holding the convention. When a religious convention is gathered, a revival is looked for. We expect a like blessing from your assembling here. May it come like the gentle dew of heaven and rest on our institutions here in Elmira. In this self-seeking and self-indulging age, it is a cheering sign to see so ors. many of our teachers, voluntarily and at their own individual expense, coming from such distant parts of our vast national territory, to perfect themselves in their profession. The wealth of the state should flow out like water for the preparation and employment of such liberal-minded and enlightened instructRev. Dr. CHANNING, in an address delivered in Boston in 1837, said: "One of the surest signs of the regeneration of society will be the elevation of the art of teaching to the highest rank in the community. SOCRATES is now regarded as the greatest man in an age of great men. The name of king has grown dim before that of apostle. To teach, whether by word or action, is the highest function on earth." That you feel the dignity and nobility of your calling, as thus expressed by one of the greatest men and teachers America ever produced, is evidenced by the pains you have taken in giving the time of your vacations to come so far, and at such expense, to this annual meeting. Let others emulate your bright example in this great movement, which is to do so much to enfranchise and bless the world. Allow me, in conclusion, to say, we heartily welcome you to our rural city, and trust you will take with you pleasant memories of our city and its people. Thanking you for the opportunity offered me, for myself and for those I represent, to give you these few words of greeting and welcome, I will detain you no longer from the more important business that awaits your attention. At the conclusion of the Mayor's address of welcome, the President of the Association introduced GEORGE M. DIVEN, Esq., President of the Board of Education of the City of Elmira, who said: Ladies and Gentlemen: To me, as President of the Board of Education of this city, has been assigned the task of expressing the gratification we feel for the honor you have done us in selecting this place for your gathering this year, and of extending towards you, on behalf of the educational interest which we represent, a most cordial welcome. Fortunately, in the circular announcing the programme of this meeting, you have forestalled any extended remarks, by putting a "very brief" limitation upon the introductory exercises. Otherwise, I would shrink from the duty assigned me, language would fail me to express a welcome such as you deserve, and commensurate with the object which brings you together here. The present era of the world is distinguished by the preeminence given to the cause of education. No one who has made the slightest observation can have failed to notice how much greater attention is devoted to educational interests now than a few years ago; now they have become subjects, not merely of local, but largely of state and national importance. Proportionately to this greatly advanced interest in the cause of education, teaching has grown to be an art; a teacher, one trained in his art-educated expressly for it, and devoted to its pursuit. You, who gather here to-day, are devotees of this art, come together that you may compare your varied experiences, interchange views, and consider how best to advance your calling. As such, we welcome you, and would extend to you every facility in our power to aid you in your purpose. We know and feel the importance of the subjects you are to discuss, of the ends you have in view, and of the sacred trust imposed upon you by your calling. You are toilers for the future-reaping far in the future your highest reward. Patient, quiet workers, shut out for the most part from the strifes and turmoils, and debarred the richer material rewards which tempt the many into more demonstrative pursuits, we would by the warmth of our reception make you feel that we do not underrate your true worth and position. We trust your meeting here may afford you all the pleasure you may have anticipated from it, and in every way fulfill your utmost expectation. Were I to overstep the “very brief” limit allotted, I could not say more than I do, when I again bid you a cordial welcome. RESPONSE BY THE PRESIDENT. The President responded as follows: His Honor the Mayor of Elmira, and the President of the Board of Education: In behalf of the Association, and personally, I would express my appreciation of the cordial welcome just given us. You promise to do your best to facilitate our work. Of the fulfillment of that promise, we have ample assurance in the admirable preliminary arrangements already made-arrangements, both for comprehensiveness and minuteness of detail, such as I have never seen equaled at any previous meeting of this Association. But our thanks should be expressed through our doings rather than my sayings. To this end, we will address ourselves at once to our business. The whole country will be represented here, and our meeting will be national in fact as well as in name. Let nothing, therefore, be said either sectarian, sectional, or political. Let this meeting tend to harmonize and fraternize all friends of education, and stimulate and encourage us all as fellow workers in one common cause, though in different states and various spheres. Messrs. A. E. BURNETT and O. E. VAILE, of Ohio, were elected Assistant Treasurers, and Messrs. RoswELL R. Moss and D. R. FORD, of N.Y., Assistant Secretaries. On motion of H. B. BLAKE, of North Carolina, a Committee on Resolutions was appointed, as follows: H. B. BLAKE; DANIEL READ, Missouri; J. H. FRENCH, Vermont; C. G. BROWN, Louisiana; and H. B. BUCKHAM, N.Y. On motion of JOHN HANCOCK, of Ohio, the following-named gentlemen were appointed a Committee on Honorary Members: JOHN HANCOCK; J. W. BULKLEY, N.Y.; Z. RICHARDS, D.C.; I. N. CARLTON, Connecticut; and E. A. CHARLTON, Wisconsin. The presiding officers of the Departments and the President were constituted a Business Committee. W. R. CREERY, of Maryland, moved the appointment of a Committee on Nominations. Carried. At a subsequent time, the following-named gentlemen were named such committee: C. C. ROUNDS, Maine. C. GOODWIN CLARK, Massachusetts. WESTGATE, New Hampshire. J. P. WICKERSHAM, Pennsylvania. J. O. WILSON, District of Columbia. ADOLPH EISWALD, Georgia. Miss ISABEL BABCOCK, Mississippi. Miss H. A. CUMMINGS, Missouri. M. W. MARTIN, Arkansas. P. J. WILLIAMS, Kansas. A. P. BENTON, Nebraska. G. W. ATHERTON, of New Jersey, moved that all resolutions presented be referred to the Committee on Resolutions without debate. Carried. In the absence of Mr. CHIN LAI SUN, of China, and of Prof. E. H. House, of the Imperial College of Tokei, Japan, who were expected to speak concerning the new educational movements in their respective countries, EDWARD SHIPPEN, Esq., of Pennsylvania, read the following paper on the RELEASE OF THE UNPAID JAPANESE INDEMNITY BY THE UNITED STATES. The history of the Japanese Indemnity, ladies and gentlemen, may be briefly told. In 1863, MORI DAIZEN, a Daimio and Governor of one of the Japanese provinces, being in hostility and revolt against the government, and having called to his aid the lower classes of the people, with the view of complicating the international affairs of Japan, erected batteries on the straits of Simonoseki. With these he defended himself against the government and opened fire upon an American trading ship, the "Pembroke," and the United States frigate "Wyoming." The frigate returned the fire and a brisk action ensued. The "Wyoming" was hulled eleven times, her smoke-stack and rigging aloft were damaged, four men were killed and eleven wounded. In the year following, the English, French and Holland governments, each having grievances to redress, united in a naval expedition against DAIZEN, in the straits where the outrage was committed. The United States could not honorably avoid uniting with the allied powers for its own redress, but having no war vessel in Japanese waters at the time, our government chartered the "Ta Kiang" with one Parrot gun. The expedition was organized with the concurrence of the Japanese government. It silenced DAIZEN's batteries, captured the rebel chief, and bound him in indemnification to the extent of $3,000,000. For years after this, the rebel Daimio and his retainers kept up war with the Tycoon, who sent large forces to reduce him to subjection. His ports were blockaded, and he was held by the Japanese government as a rebel of the deepest infamy. He had even the audacity to attack the imperial palace. This crime was pronounced, in the quaint language of Japan, which loses in the translation, to be "An act |