The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-12-16


challenged the respect and veneration of all
who knew him; and years will pass away
before his tall majestic form. and untircne
activity Of life. even under increasing age and
inlirmity, are blotted from the remembrance
of this people. Mr.. Duke was Clergyman
of the Church of England. and fora long time
regularly preached every other Sabbath morn
ing in the Academy building.
| shall attempt no encomium upon the gen.
tlelnan who prcsides at this interesting meet
ing, who for two years had charge of the In
stituton as Principal. and who was a second
| time elected but declined to serve; nor NJ on
the present President Of The Commissioners of
The Torn, who for nearly four years occupied
the same post In this community they
need none; in their presence it would he in
bad taste. During the time the Academy
was under the charge of Mr.. McIntire, (thcn
believe student of Divinity,) religious
services were regularly held in the building
by the Rev. Mr.. Williamson, a Presbyterian
clergyman, pastor OF a small society in thus
place. The Rev. VIM. ii. Rccs, who sue
cccdcd Mr.. McIntirc was a clergyman of the
Protestant Episcopal Church. and regularly
held the services of that church in the Acad
envy until the church building was erected.
Mr.. Duke, believe, preaching every other
Sabbath morning. During Mr.. Recs's ad
miniStration great nnanimity of feeling and
existing, an extensive revival Of religion oc-
Cured among the Epscopalians and Prcsbv-
tcrians, and both the Episcopal church and
the church in which we are now assembled
were erected.
Upon the resignation of Mr. Mccullough,
in 1913, the Board of Trustees came to the
determination, that in future they would elect
no person Principal of the Academy, who
did not intend to make teaching his profess
sion, and that determination has ever since
been adhered to. Under the administration
of Mr. Thorp, who succeeded Mr.. McCul
Tough the Female Department, under the
immediate charge of a Preceptress, was first
organized; and this department during the
Sllperintcndance of both Mr.. Thorp and Mr..
Getty, became an important and interesting
branch Of the school and contributed greatly
to the interest which the community has ever
since felt in the success Of the Institution.
Without referring to the names of all the
Teachers in the common school department
it may he proper to state that Mr. Edward
B. Lewis, who was first elected in April 1923,
held that position from first to last, about
twenty five years, more than two thirds of
the time that elapsed from its organization as
an Academy, to the destruction of the build
ing in February last.
Under the administration of Mr.. Thorp and
Mr. Getty. we all remember that the schools
greatly advanced in character and interest
and the number Of pupils increased. The
annual report to the Legislature, find by
examining the records often exceeded one
hundred students, male and female The
great draw back, however, was the want of
proper and conmodious building. The old
fabric which had stood, it is believed, well
on to century, had been gradually crum-
bling to pieces, Notwithstanding the repairs
from time to time made by the Trustees out
OF the limited means in their possession, until
at the time of MIR. Getty's resi- gnation it had
become almost, If not entirely untcnantalc.
Various propositions for extensive repairs,
were from time to time submitted by ditieren,
members of the Board, but none were, upon
full consideration, found to be practicable. or
at least advisable. The opinion to which the
Board was brought, by every examination of
the premises was, that nothing short of a new
building would answer. But the difficulty Of
raising the means stared them in the face.
and they hesita,ed and dclibcratct, until the
tire Of the DIST of February last, by which
The old building and its contents were entire
" consumed, brought those hcsitations and
deliberations to close, and presented the
direct alternative. new building or an entire
abandonment of the school.
Upon this question there could be but one
opinion, and the Board immediately assem-
died ON the ODD of February last, the ,lav
after the fire, and determined to proceed at
once to the construction of n new building.
committee of ways and means, and a
building committee were appointed, and i'm
mcdmtely proceeded to act: and so well did
they succeed, through the libcrality Of many
of our citizens, that Oh the Goth of April last
the Board entered into contract with Mcssrs
smith Il Rambo, through whose industry
and perseverance we are now able to prescn,
TO the patrons of the Institution the present
beautiful and commoaious building.
The entire cost ofthe building and fixtures,
| 'ncl""lng the fuinancc for heating, and the
| contemplated fencing and enclosures, IS in
round numbers about SO 400, of which the
trustees have paid and have the means to paw
about $1,000, lcayinga balance yet to be OBJ
tanned OF from eighty to "A hundred dollars.
There is yet debt of $1,000 upon the pro-
perry, which to enable them to complete the
building the trustees were obliged to borrow
and for which as well as the expense of fur
thcr improvements the Beard must provide.
Tins responsibility they may probably ask
the community in some manner to share with
them. Some have ALREADY contributed lilcr-
ally, others have refused, for reasons no
doubt, satisfactory to themselves :-I.cavng
! such persons to their own reflections: the
Trustees having duty to perform arc deter
mined to persevcrc, chccrcl by the hope that
the friends Of the Institution and of the cause
of liberal education will not suffer this incum
hrance to cripple its future usefulness.
On Thursday the I'd Of November, instant,
| III. Edwin Arnold, the gentleman now about
to assume the duties and responsibilities of
Principal, was elected. The Institution is now
le-opening, as we trust and believe, under tht.
most favorable auspices, and with the kind
cooperation of the citizens of Elkton and of
the county, the Board of Trustees arc deter
mined to spare no labor in their efforts to
place this Academy upon level with the
hest Institutions of the kind in the country.
The testimonials submitted by DR.. Arnold
are of the highest character; proper measures
are now in progress for the successful re or
ganization of the female department, and the
Trustees feel gratiied i'll being able to say
that they confidently expect in short time,
if sustained by their friends, to make the
academy in fact, what it is in appearance, an
ornament to the town.
*NorE After the reading of this sketch friend
4 Al =