Wilmington journal., 1876-07-14
For the ,JourIaI
nnual Comm ement Of .s0Ck y
Point Academy.

of this we'll established aud uStfui III
stitution took place in the hall of TIL
academy on the 9TH and 9th of July
The examination was conducted Ii
public on Wednesday, by Committee
> consisting OF Thomas i. Arm -trong
Jr., and DR.. " L. Emmett, aided b,
others at the solicitation of the devoted
and excellent principal. Rev. F. A
Bishop. Rev. James S. Black, Edward
, Shaw, Miss julia ID. Dnrhom and Mis-
Indiana Durham occupied, with til,
> committee, the entire day in an eXami
nation of he pupils in rea ling, arith-
metic, English grammar, geography
history, algebra, geometry, French
and Latin This plan of the fair
minded principal, SO different from
the humbug arrangements of SO many
sensational teachers, of putting certain
pre-arranged questions. upon certain
pages III these pobnc examinations
showed a commenda BILE Willingness OF
his part TO submit his methods tC
searching investigation and his la
bors to fair test aud criticism
There is SO much deception practiced
nowadays in this important relation,
and such widespread misconceptiOn
existing III Ignorant communities as TO
what educ alton really is and should be.
that reform is lInperatively demanded
IN the prevailing systems of public eX,
aMlnatlOns. The writer did not wit
ness these examinations but the ex-
amIneTs made report Of their labors
that was creditable to Mr.. Bishop, and
encouraging to the pupils and to their
parents and guardians It is Il ,eatter
Of regret that so few of the parents and
trustees were out-on Wednesday III at
tendance upon this public examination,
| for it Is such an examination as this
which shows the merits Of educational
methods, and the claims of a school to
patronage. Good judges have high
opiLipn of the qualific ations, as a
teacher, Of the Principl Il of this Iusti-
| tuition.
Thursday was the day when the
crowd oiled to overfowing the academy
building, situated near Rocky Point
depot. 1t was the appointed day for
decIam alton by the boys, for the dis
tributiOn of prizes to the most success
fui pupil, fer the rendering of compo1
sition by the girls. for IA sermon by
Rev. James Z. Mann of Will
mingt0n, and the annual address
| by DIR. W. Il. Emmett of Pender,
invited, as had been Mr.. Mann, to
speak on this occasion, by the worthy
Principal. The patrons and friends of
the Academy, with visitors from every
section of Pender and from other coun-
ties fiocked eagerly to these public ex-
erclses.. That good old custom of
country life, So popular in Pender, of
taking basket dinners to celebrations,
was duly observed, and hospitality as
we'll as cordiality was the order Of the
day.
First in order, came an able, learned
and appropriate sermon by that dt
voted man of God, Rev. Mr.. Mann,
who most worthily and most ably fills
the lpit of the Front Street Methodist
Church of Wilmington. 1t was found
Ell On the ninety seventh psalm, 1st
verse. Eloquently, iInpressively, above
all, truthfully, did he show that The
Lord reigneth, i'll the Heavens aud
upon the Earth, in mans nature, in
natural laws, in the physical system of !
man and of the universe. Seldom is
an audience blessed with such a mas
terly vindication OF the scriptures and
of science from the sOphiatries and |
heresies of the whole tribe of intideIs. |
unbelievers, and sophists, who are
striking at the foundation OF virtue, |
christianity and society, and safety, |
by their false but aIluring. |
theories that matter is seIf-Greated |
and, therefore, that the hand Of omnIp- |
ltance IS unnecessary in the world of |
creation. None but a mind of high |
order, vas. research, immense logical
resources, deep piety, can grappie as
this learned minister grapples with
these abstruse subjects. Fortunate is
that community, happy should that
congregation consider themselves who |
is blessed with such a scholar, ma,
citizen, pastLr, as is this lhboriOns,
useful minister aud sled9e- hammer
expounder of the truths O science aud
religion. He is an exemplar Of pro
gress too in this. that while shallow
iutelIects rant and rave in speaking,
it is the. man of thought, wisdom,
brains and success, who are directly
the opposite in their public efforts.
Next came the distribution of prizes
which DIR. Emmett, as chairman Cf the
prize COMMITTEES, said were due to Miss
Clara Duncan and Miss Clara Helm.
Both were judged to be equally
worthy. An elegant bible was the
prize presented to the former and
splendid hymn book to the latter.
While all the girls did we'll in their
compositions, Miss Duncan both in
nGT SJltIicS dilu COLlpO5IlIOu Won lH6
prize aforesaid. Miss Clara Helm is
certainly a genius and did we'll
The large assemblage was pleased |
both with the efforts of the girls and
the speeches of the boys. Too favor>
able Il mention cannot be msde of the
examination sustained, and of the
composition read by that talented |
young lady Miss Iowa Durham. the |
daughter of that high-toned gentlemen,
james IL. Durham.
The exercises closed late in the af- |
ternoOn with a small well conceived |
and well prepared addressed by Dr-W. |
L. Emmett upou the Influence Of edu
cation on the N raj and intellectual |
nature of man." 1t was we'll delivered |
aud we'll received. The Doctor showed |
himself master of lis subject. and that, |
like others Of his professional breth- |
rem who are up with the progress of
the age and the demands of truth in |
being able to demonstrate that science |
and revealed religion mutually sustain
and defend one another, he has mind |
aud heart responsive to the Importance |
an claims of education, and in appre-
ciatipg that natural laws and the de |
velopments of science are but merciful
manifestations of Him who holds. as it
were, Ill Gue IlOIiO" vi Ills ilduuS bu6
phenomena of the universe, as well as
the destiny of met and nations. 1t
was All excellent and useful address,
and will advance the reputation of DIR.
Emmett as a writer and speaker.
The board of trustees are Messrs.
d. T. Durham, James 81. Durham,
Bryan Brown, w. L. Emmett, S. 5.
Satchwell and W. d, Sparkman. To
sucI, members Dast and present of the
board as have been active and faithful
to duty, it should be a consolation to
know that they have not only kept
banished by law since the war the sale
of intoxicating liquors within three
miles of their academy, but have done
much good in the great cause of edu-
cation.
A VISITOR.
July 7th, 1876.
For the Journal.