Ryerson Memorial Volume: Prepared on the occasion of the unveiling of the Ryerson statute in the grounds of the Education department on the Queen's birthday, 1889Hodgins, J. George (John George)
History
Ryerson Memorial Volume: Prepared on the occasion of the unveiling of the Ryerson statute in the grounds of the Education department on the Queen's birthday, 1889
Hodgins, J. George (John George)
Education -- Ontario; Ryerson, Egerton, 1803-1882
institution fairly established.... The impression remains with
us to this day that if Dr. Ryerson had been a lawyer he would
have made all other Canadian lawyers look small; if he had gone
into politics he would have been perpetual Premier: in short,
he was the ablest native Canadian who has so far helped to make
history.
The _Christian Guardian_ of the 29th May, said:--
The unveiling of the statue of the late D. Egerton Ryerson,
last Friday, in the Normal School grounds in this city, recalls
the memory of a worthy and honored Canadian, widely known as
a successful journalist, a gifted and learned divine, and
an eminent educationist. It will hardly be questioned that
the principle of perpetuating the memory of benefactors of a
country is a laudable one, or that the individual in this case
was worthy of this honor. No one who has travelled in Britain
or other European countries, has failed to have his attention
arrested by statues, or other memorials, of eminent men whom the
county delighted to honor. It is well adapted to inspire the
young with high purpose to note that however partisan strife may
obscure the patriotic services of public men during active life,
when the work of life is over, as a general rule, men of all
parties cheerfully recognize the value of the service rendered
by those who have faithfully labored for the public good. Owing
to the intensity of political feeling in Canada, there is a
strong tendency to underestimate the work of our statesmen and
politicians, until they have gone where human praise or blame
cannot affect them.
Though Dr. Ryerson passed through many fierce controversies, and
at times came into conflict with hostile opponents, to-day men
of all creeds and parties are ready to give him his due meed of
praise as one of the greatest of Canada's sons, who achieved a
work in organizing and building up a system of public education
that shall tell powerfully for good through all coming time.
He founded no cities; he led no armies to victory; he had no
special influence on the material prosperity of the land; but in
organizing a system of public schools, which placed the elements
of a sound education within the reach of every boy and girl in
this Province, he has exercised an undying influence over the
future intellectual life of the country, that shall largely
determine its place in the scale of civilization.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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