Newspapers / State Agricultural Journal (Raleigh, … / July 10, 1875, edition 1 / Page 6
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6 THE! STATE AGRICULTURAL () L- RNAL . CSttorationaL St. Mary's School, Raleigh. Founded in 1812. Jvhn.D. l7utjbrft :.: My Deak Sir: It affords me plea sure to occupy the place which you so kindly offer me in .your valued journal, with a brief account of St. Mary's School, Raleigh. There is significance in its name. It is not an Institute, nor a Hall, nor a College. It is simply a school for discipline, for training, for good, honest, hard work. Its title, ','St. Mary's,;1 "designates it as an institution of the church, a school of Christ, whose chief de sire and care are to instil into the minds of its pupils the wrs'om that Is from above, and to fm-m in them habits 6f obedience, industry and-piety that will make them blessed- and a blessing heiv, and meet for the iuheritanee of the saints in light, hereafter. For this end, "-deeming the moral and. religious education of a child to be as much niore important . . than mere literary culture as tin Heavens are higher than the earth and fully persuaded that distinct definite views of " doctrine are es senttal to the inculcation of the "morals and "spirit of the Gospel. St. Mary's School owns and avows her allegiance to the-doctrine, dis cipline ami worship of -the Protes tant Episcopal Church in those United States. . The honored names of the Bishops of the Diocese stand at the head of ?the circular of the school as its"' visitors. Its Hector and his assistant are clergymen of the 1'rotestant Episcopal Church. Its daily religious services are taken exclusively from the Prayer Boolt, and celebrated in a Chapel whicjh is a gem of architectural beauty, used only for sacred purposes. Tims our flag is at the' mast head. Our trumpet gives no un certain sound! Parents may 1 ie assured that the children entrusted to St. Marv's School will be trained in the "godlv, righteous and sobe ways of the church.1 At the same time, it is but fair .... ' ! to state that no .special efforts at proselytism are ever made in the school; aim mar an pupus are treated witi equal consideration, charity and kindness. In this connection, as bearing iijioii Ihe moral character and m tlncnce of St! Mary's School, it is due to it to say, that it discards all the machinery by which at the present day schools endeavor to stimulate the zeaf of their pupils and excite the notice and interest of the .community.' . Ithasnopub lic examinations, exhibitions- or jcommencements. It seeks to make no capital for itself by parading on the stage the readings, declama tions, or performances of its pupils, at the expense of tlteir simplicity, reserve, delicacy and modesty. It offers no medals, or prizes,, or stimulants of any kind to rivalry and emulation. It expects and secures from its pupils zeal in their studies and order in their conduct, from motives of duty to their school, , to themselves, to their parents, and to their God, thus endeavoring to train them in princi ples and habits in which they are to walk as christian women in all their future life. Next to. the sound mind, a sound body is important in the training of a woman. St. Mary's has. been eminently favored in the health of its'" pupils.-.. To. this end, besides the, rules and precepts, the instruc tions mid exhortations of the school, its high and salubrious situation,' its ample buildings, its well -ventilated dormitories, and its extended grounds of twenty acres of oak grove, largely contribute. The course, of instruction em braces, the studies of young chil dren as Avell as those of pupils the most advanced. Special interest is: felt in the" structure and litera ture of the English language. The Latin, French and German are carefully taught. Music, Drawing and Painting have their full share of attention and pains. In the de partment of Music, four teachers are employed, skilled, patient and successful, trailed specially for their business, and exclusively oc cupied in it. In arranging the studies of a pupil, care is taken not to exact of her more than she can do thoroughly; while in imparting instruction, the objec-t aimed at is to lit the pupil to become, herself, a teacher., . Among the distinctive features of St. Marv's mention ought to be made of its large and elegant par lor, a room 'of tine proportions, of ample size to give space and verge for all 'the pupils, and accessible to them at all hours, when thev are not engaged in school. duties! It 'is believed that the facilities-which the rooms affords for innocent recrea tion, social intercourse, and the cul tivation of manners, have exerted a powerful influence, in refining and "polishing' the daughters of St. Mary's. ' All the teachers of St. Mary's reside in the institution; sit at the same board with the pupils; par take of the same domestic privi leges and enjoyments; and contri bute their best efforts towards pro moting the cheerfulness and social improvent of the family, j The ladies to whom the charge of the dormitories is entrusted have special opportunity, Avhich they faith fully improve of correcting the faults, and guarding and training the character of those committed to their oversight. In the fall of 1841, the pjesent Rector of St. Mary's met the I jishop of North Carolina in the City of New York, when the following col loquy ensued: "Bishop, what Mrt of place would Raleigh be for a school for girls V" "The best in the United States." "Why don't you open a school then ?" "I am now looking out for a man." "Bishop, I am your man." "The very man I wrnt." In the month of -May, lSi2j the school was opened. Since that time, for thirty-three years, in peace and in war, its doors have never been closed. When the United Sjtates army took possession of Raleigh, in April 1865, Gen. Howard had his headquarters in our .grove, which was tilled with his 1 roops. Yet the exercises of the school went on without interruption, and the term did not close until tjhe- day appointed in June. You have asked me, Mr. Editor, to state some of the distinct ve fea I have tares of St. Mary's. I think done so. It may perhaps be men tioned as distinctive, that, j hough it has a eon- a"ft.'7ioolof the Church," never applied for or receivee tribution to its foundation pr -sup- port, which it has not fairly earned by its labors; -while it has been en abled to do much in the way of gratuitous board and education. Having come into the possession of admirable buildings at a moderate rent, the school front the first day was a success. Thegood' -people of Xorth Carolina? received it with open arms, and gave it a gmerous support. Soon sister State; of the South became our friends; and the daughters of Virginia, South Caro lina", Georgia," Florida, Ajlabama, Mississippi, ' Louisiana, JVrkansas and Texas, in : considerate num bers, were enrolled among our pu- nils.' I cannot in the ml dst of a ' 'I very busy week, find time as you precise request, to ascertain tlie number of pupils which these States has furnished, each of But I have been able to satisfy myself that the whole number tjf pupils entered, at: St. Mary's since the opening of the School is about six- teen hundred. It does not become a parent to praise hi own child but he may be pardoned for repeating the kind sayings of others in regard to it. If then, I have hot trespassed t oo long upon your generously offered space, I beg to close my communi- j cation with the following extracts: i - The first is from a late address of Bishop Atkinson to his'eonvention: "It gives me particular pleasure to witness the continued prosperity ) of that admirable institution, o well merited as it is by the 'un wearied -labors, the singuV.r tact and judgment, the firmness tem pered by gentleness and affection) and the large hearted liberality of its distinguished principal, the Rev. Dr. Smedes." ."'." "While many excellent -'persons : have labored for this end, and with gratifying success, he who, in my judgment at least, has accomplish ed the most,' is the Principal of St. MaryV School, Raleigh; and I, therefore, feel it my duty, as 1 trust, dear brethren, you feel it 'to be yours, to extend as widely as possible these beneficial influences', by recommending to the attention of -'parents and others, who have charge of voung girls, that school in which so many admirable women have heretofore been trained for usefulness in this life, and happi ness in eternity." The second is from the report of the Committee on the state of tlie Church; "The Committee on the state of the Church call special attention to that part of. the Bishop's address, in which he speaks so highly of the Diocesian School at Raleigh, under the care of the Revd. Dr. Smedes; and they do most heartily recom mend this school to the patronage ; of every churchman in this State; being well assured that the chil- t dren of -the church can be as thor ouglily educated there as at any schools in the United States." The third is froni an address to his convention by Bishop Young, of Florida, himself the energetic head of a school for girls in his Diocese. Speaking of a visit to St. Mary's, he says : ; "I was glad to find on. personal observation of the school and its management, that the "high reputa tion and confidence of churchmen, which it has for so. many years eh joyed, have beeii well won, and are ..'""' abundantly deserved; and to any' of our parents who are constrained by the consideration of the health of their daughters to place Ihem at school in a colder climate thaiv ours, I can and do most confidently re commend St. Mary's, Raleigh." In conclusion, Mr. Editor, I can truly say that in the quality of its teachers and its pupils, and its ability to render faithful service in the cause of christian education, tlie condition of our school was v nevermore satisfactory, than it is now, at the close of its thirty-third year. - -. '..-. i ' '." - ' ' 'v . - ; i .. i -. . - 4 , ' .1 v. ..j.-. , - , ... . ' ; . - ..--....-'.. - - - s . . -' - - v ': '-'-. ' ';' ; "-, ' -.' -.v-;: : - - r : .
State Agricultural Journal (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
July 10, 1875, edition 1
6
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