Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-07-23
The Peabody Educational Fund.

icttcr from Nr. icaoouy, which was
read at q special meeting Of the
Trustees Of the Peabody Educational
Fund, on tho first Of July. 1t an
nounced tho fact that Mr.. Peabody
had mado to the trust another trans
fer of stock and bonds, all of them
dividend paying, and ranking high
among securities, amounting in tho
aggregate to ono million of dollars.
The annual revenue of tho trust is
now moro than s130,OOO, sum with
which much good might be effected,
and should be accomplished, if the
wishes aud intentions of the donor
be ut all faithfully carried out. Mr..
Peabody has given a noble charity,
and he intended that it should be
distributed in a noble way. He has
simply said, Il give you the means to
do q great good. Go and do it,"
Have they done it, or have they not ?
Can any one tell us ?
Mr. Peabody in his letter says:
81 beg to take this opportunity of
thanking with all my heart, the pco-
pie Of the South themselves for the
cordial spirit with which they have
received the trust, and for tho ener-
getic efforts which they have made,
in cooperation with yourselves and
DR.. Sears, for carrying out tho plans
which have been proposed and ma
turcd for the diffusion OF the bleasings
of education In their respective
States"
These are atrong words. Mr.. Pea
body must have had, at least through
the agent, DR.. Sears, assurances from
the people of the South about which
the Southern public is quite ignorant
He must have had evidences of the
energetic efforts of tho trustees, end
satisfactory information about the
plans of DR.. Sears for the diffusion of
the blessings of education in the
Southern States, about which We
know nothing. It is a private char
ity. We, perhaps, have no right to
be Informed, We may be told. But
when noble man does q noble char
ity, when q. large minded and liberal
handed individual come- to the relief
of suffering and distressed people,
have they not a right to know Of the
charity, that they may thank him
Mr.. Peabody tells us that he makes
this further provision for plans, which
are ''to be productive Of encourage
ment and benefit to the South" He
tells Us that bc trusts that "the gift,
with Gods blessing, may prove q
permanent and q lasting boon, not
only to the Southern States, but to
the whole Of our dear country"-a
hope in which thousands will cheer.
fully join. That there may be NO
mistake about the design of this trust
Mr.. Peabody tells the trustees ex.
pressly that he has the same sympa
thy with all the States, and that
wero all needing assistance, be should
wish each alike to share in the bene
fits Of tho trust.
1t is very evident that Mr.. Peabody
desires to accomplish great good il
an unostentatious and practical way
He has selected gentlemen, hoping Il
find them men Of large sympathies
with hearts, as far at least as thi
work is concerned, in unison with hi
own. He has the hope that Lii
wishes are being carried out by al
agent who is supposed to feel and ap
prcciate the Importance of tho tasl
which he has taken. What Mr.. Pea
body wants tho people of the South
ern States want. What he give
they wish to receive as it is giver
Are they and he likely to be graft
fed?
Individual gentlemen, like II,
, Appleton, for instance, have, sine
the war, founded schools and provide
money, and are already rcaping
reward for their iberality. Associa
tions like the Pioneer Aid Societ
have established schools, which hav
given comfort and aid and educatio
to hundreds Of destitute chiidre1
andihave sown seed which is alread
producing good fruit. Other soci
ties and other schools have bee
founded in other States on simii,
principles. -, q
;, In Baltimore the Southern Educ
tional Aid Society has given educatie
). to a very large number of you1
girls, whose families were too poor
provide even the most .ordina,
|, schooling FOR them. In North Car
( Lima the Society Of Friends have 6
: tablisbed system Of public schoo
: which have proved most invaluabl
!. mostly supported sby Northsrn 100
n tfibutiOnes - All these. uoeiafiea 4,