The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-07-16

Letter from New England.
Mr.. Editor There is no portion OF
the Union which has built, and SO libcr-
ally sustains a greater number of educa.
tional institutions than do these six East.
ern states. The institutions are prima-
ry, intermediate, ,bigb, academic and col
legiate.
Allow a brief description of one OF
these academic instu.ions which I have
had the pleasure of visiting.
The Providence Conference Semin-
ary," is beautifully, convenien tly, and
aeoessibly located, in the large and
pleasant village of East Greenwich, r.
l., some fourteen miles from Providence
the capital of the state. To the travel
or on the " Stonington route" to New
York. the academy buildings present
themselves finely from their command
ing eminence. The location is really
beautiful, and exceedingly healtbful (;
and when buildings now in process of
erection shall be completed, the Provi-
dence Conference Academy may safely
challenge comparison in whatever per-
tains to educational facilities. For more
than half century these academic build
ipgs have adorned their present site ; for
the institution was chartered as early as
1903, and from that time to the present
it has been engaged in its honorable mis-
sion of education. But not until its al
lance with the young and vigorous Prov
idence Conference, was its real power
called forth. This alliance was formed
in lS4l. when its charter was renewed
AT this time there was but one building
and about one acre Of land connected
with the property. Ten years ago the
(then considercd) spacious boarding
house was erected; and recently about
half dozen acres of land and smaller
boarding house have been added. And
now the cry is louder than ever, " The
place is too strait for u.s." Give us
more room, or We shall be compelled to
refuse the numerous fresh applications
for admission that are so constantly be-
ing made to u.s." This cry came before
the Providence Conference at it's last
session, in true Syro Phenician charac.
ter and SO far prevailed, that one Of
our most energetic men, Rev. VIM. Liv.
sey, was appointed agent. to solicit fund:
wherewith to make such enlarged ac-
commodations as the necessities of the
institution imperiously demand. Up to
this time Mr.. Livsey has obtained sub
scriptioDs to the amount of ten thousand
dollars. Confident that their agent is
bound to succeed the trustees are already
at work.
The third floor Of the building is now
being laid. The structure is of brick,
eighty feet by fifty six, three stories
high, with basement and steps Of granite
and windows and sills of free stone. 1t
is divided into recitation, society, cabin.
ct, reading and library rooms There
are eighteen in all. The Assembly room
will seat 500. All are large and well
adapted to their purpose. On either
side of the building little back from
the front, are two towers, twelve feet by
twelve, designed for stairways which
will rise more than fifty feet from the
ground
If this Scripture standard be adopted
ted as the measure of our Judgment,
we hesitate not to place the Providence
Conference Seminary alongside the first
educational institutions of our land,
either for Intellectual, moral, or religious
character or results. Principal and
teachers connected with tlis seminary,
may have compeerA, but not superiors
We believe all of them are truly pious,
and in their several departments are
" workmen who need not be ashamed ~
Of their productions. Tbe school has
been rapidly gaining in reputation for
the seven years last past. Its thorough
sound scholarship, and whole
some moral influence, are universally
conceded. Its graduates take first rank
IN the classes of the Wesleyan Universe
ty, from year to year aud not a few of
them stand we'll in Brown University
and other colleges.
Perhaps not single term passes iu
the school without witnessing work Of
grace among the students. So abund :
antly has God given his spisitual bene.
diotion 10 the pious labors of these teach
ers, that pious parents are actually send
ing their children. there to have them
converted. And many parents make
grateful acknowledgements to the honor
ed instruments Of turning their children
from darkness to light" Thank God
that We ever sent our dear child there
we hope in few weeks TO meet her q
" new creature"
Our ministerial ranks are being aug
,nented from year to year BY such as 20
forth from these hall consecrated to
learning and picty, Many Of our young