Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1858-07-09
Education in Central Pennsylvania


While the Eastern, the Southern, the
Western, and the Northern sections had
their Collegiate Institutions, some of them
rich in eudowments, and venerable in
years, there was NOT ONE in all Central
Pennsylvania. \ number Of respectable
Academies were indeed maintained, as
wei as several SemiuarIeS and private and
public Schools, but none of the higher
grades. \ rich aud ropulous country,
noted for its morality and enterprise, ira.
vcrscd by noble rivers, blessed with bound
less resources of prosperity in her mex.
haustiblc stores Of iron and coal as well as
in her agricultural capabilities, yet, to OBJ
tain for their sons and daughters finished
education, her people were compelled tC
send them scores if not hundreds Of mile.
away, at great loss of time and money
aud often to the detrimcnt of their moral.
as well as their love of home.
The establishment, in 1916, by the
Baptists, of High School-the nucleus
Of the UNIVERSITY AT LGwIsBURG-in.
augurated NEW ERA in Central Penn
sylvania. The Academy, College, Theo
Logical Department, and Female Institute
comprising the Uuiversi;y-with its noble
buildings aud guaranteed funds-secm to
have exertcd wonderful influence upon
all the surrounding country, by stimula
ting the comparatively dormant intellec.
tual energies Of the masses, directing the
ambition of hundreds and thousands OF
the ynnng to higher attainments in science
and literature, and proving that where
there is ,cW to "deyise liberal things"
a 'cry will generally be found open.
In the fall of 1913, the DICKINSON
SEMINARY, under the patronage of the
NJ f. Church, commenced operations at
Williamsport in Lycoming county, and,
receiving the addition of the old Academy
at the outset, has been highly favored
Although not endowed as it needs to work
most freely, yet it has prepared large
number of students for active life and for
schools of a higher grade.
About the year 1855, the Albrights or
Evangelical Association erected the UNION
SEMINARY, (at New Berlin. in Vnion
county, which, under the scholarship sys-
TEN, has collected many students, and
awakened deathless interest for Chris
tian Education in the minds and hearts of
thousands, not only in its vicinity. but
wherever the denomination exists. 1t
also requires larger pecuniary resources to
be placed on the surest footing, but bids
fair to attain rank among the first liter
ary institutions.
The STATE AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL,
near Boalsburg, in Centre county, is a
notable effort towards combining literature
with practical science, and will aid greatly
in making agriculture the most popular as
it is the most sure and honest and inde-
pendent means Of winning livelihood.
The Farmers College has already hand
some endowment from various sources,
State and individual, and its literally
planning and devoted Managers are pre-
pairing buildings and maturing plans of
study-for both brain and soil culture
which it is sincerely to be hoped may be
abundantly successful.
The effort to establish Lutheran school
at Shamokin,appears to have been lily ad-
viscd, for the property has been sacrificed
at forced sale, but their Mission INsTI-
TUTE, at Selinsgrove, in Snyder county,
where beginning, with single 1nstruc-
tor, is made this summer, promises better
things. The people of Sclinsgrove have
certainly made handsome subscription to
start with, and the denomination is abun-
dainty able to carry on the enterprise to
its consummation.
We might also mention the FREEDURG
ACADEMY, WEST BRANCH HIGH SCHOOL
at Jersey Shore, and perhaps other supe-
rior schools established within few years,
as well as those previously existing, all of
which have been or are efficient agents for
education.
Thus, within fifty miles of the exact
geographical, center of the State, have FIVE
Collegiate educational enterprises been in
within the past twelve years.
THE DANGERs.-Gratifying as is this
picture at first sight to those who seek the
best good of their race, yet the questions
must arise in the minds of al! sensible, re-
fecting men, ARE THERE NOT TOO MANY?
CAN THEY ALL LIVE, EFFICIENTLY
There are not too many-all can live
their respective friends take
proper interest-and will make the need
tM sacr,t;ccs-in their behalf 1t must
be remembered that the field is large and
-ich ,and that the other State Colleges, &c. !
as will be seen on examination) are all
ocatcd on the extreme borders Of the State
-leay;no mn half or TWO TuIpns of the |