, 1859-06-11
RKrQ44 OF REV. zon11f coLLIKR.

RKroR4 OF REV. zoHnE7 coLL1ER.
10 Mfxsrs iona Berr, 6. q. Higginsoa, Wm.
H. L1rra54e, HAIRY Thcka, Wm. II. Rrooks,
Jr., CAas 4. Gregory, Tr*sse<s Of the Mn
istry at Ldrge:
Quarterly Report Of Robert Col1yer, Minister
At Large, to the Bpard Of Trustees Of the ''Chi-
cago Association for the support Of the Ministry
It Large
Your Minister has to report the continued op~
GRAFTON Of the Ministry at L.rfe, placed oy !ou
prefent year.
iound At my entranee npon my duties night
school in operation There we're eight teach:
ers employed, who were paid ffty cents each
night for their seryices, and taught each three
nights rsek With he exception Of one seaehsr !:
cation oi want Of central power in the man
agement Of the school, the result Of this defect
WAS to render the school less efficient in its op-
erat'op than 5faa desirable: | attended every
night in person; addressed the scholars dtd
teachers several times, introduced singing occa-
sionally az pleasant recess, and had the pleas
ure of feeling, before the school WAS dismissed
for tho season, that it was pervaded By M ex.
cel]ent. tons aud spirit, and full OF life md
Interest.
The average attendance came up to sixty each
night, averaging from forty 10 se1enty-6ye,-
the average Of boys was constantly higher than
that Of girls. The school was diEided into two
was derotedto anal Boys aud women, and the
other to larger boys and rnen. The SCHOOL MUM
beteti altogether from one hundEa .ud twenty
to one hundred and thirty AEholdfH rad little
over two hundred in all verb admitted. Dufihg
the winter the ages Of cur scholars ran from
sayen years up to about ifty. We had several
Germans in their full manhood, two OF whom
I'D NH oho o1n in
German and French. but found here that il Was
indispensable to their success that they should
master English. These men mere quite regutur
in their attendance and ut1de good progress in
their studies. We had also four colored nlcn
anita boy in regular attendancs on our school,
very eager to learn, most exemplary IN their
conduct: and much better for the opportunity.
ginning Of the winter quite ignorant even Of
their letters. became good readers, could whte,
well and we're advanced in arithmetic as far as
compound division. Some Of The boys we're in
printing and other Offices, and hare bean graft
lied to hear that they we're better able to accom-
plish their work from The hep obtnined at our
school The school was closed at the request of
the Trustees ou the 18th Of March. There was
full attendance to the last Partly to i've en-
ploymcnt to one Of the teachers, and also to
help number Of boys who were anxious for
more schooling. gave the ethobl-raotn far
school to be under the instruction fths teacher,
paying also ono dollar und q half week to-
wards hiring an assistant teacher: The scholars
at this school numbered from l6 to Is, and the
school was kept open about six weeks.
I found day school taught By a lady, to
whom the schoo1room was RiYeu, with fire aud
other conreniences; but she was paid for her
services out Of other funds than those OF this
Association. The sewing school, under the
care Of the ladies', Was also in successful opera.
i r.
closed for the summer
have great pleasure in reporting the large
and increasing attendance IT our Sunday School.
Our accommodations for the scholars are not
sufficiently ample The average Of attendance
upon the Sunday School is about 80 scholars,
md we hare every prospect Of = large increase
But the most gratifying feature about our Sun,
conduct Of our children. Many u first were the
most ragged and forlorn children, but they have
exhibited growing attention to cleanliness IN
person and dress, desire To appear well, and
IN interest in the school; which has gisen us
the greatest pleasure. Permit me to note in
this connection my pleasure at the careful aud
kind attention Of our teachers, who, though
them, especially about some Of our new scholars,
arc still at their posts, and do their parts well
in this great Christian work
Your minister, in bis little sermons to the
children from time to time, has rather dwett
upon the religion Of a clean face, good tem-
per. patience, truth-telling, and other Obvious
bits Of nobility, than the more remote Christ an
doctrines that could not be more than mysteries
to them.
During the period Of my ministry, have to-
gether with my excellent co-worker, Miss New
come, found homes in the country with two or
three e1ceptions) for fifey-hve Children four
teen girls, the rest boys. Two hare been taken
out Of the Bridewell on my petition, and sent to
good places, three hare been taken from the
Reform school, for the same purpose We have
two boys in the Home for the Frieudless, and
one in the Orphans Asylum waiting for good
places. hare also four waiting at their own
homes in the city.
We have tried to be careful in cur selection oi
places, and have refused sou when we thought
wise not likely to do their duty by the children.
II is our rule to have persons who take our
children, send in writing their willingness to
give the child good home, clothing that shall
be fully equal to that Of other young people
around them, three months schooling in year,
and each boy Que hundred dollnrs when he gets
twenty-onc years Of age, aud each girl tsy dol.
they shall be free. We bare on file most pleas
ant letters about our children; quite large
average do well and, we believe, children sent
from here, nre preferred to those that arc
brought from the East. Persons often apply.who
will have none but those who hare come under
our own c1re.
We arc also compelled to give large degree
of help to adults in the way Of finding places
Many come to us utterly disheartened, unable to
find work, unfit to seekit. Our duty is obvious.
some clothing from our little store, a trifc in
money, sometimes an urgent appeal for place
and We have started them in the world again.
These are extreme cases, perhaps occurring