The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-11-15
Education in Randolph County,
w. Va.

MesSTS. EditorS,-In his exhaustive re-
port on Evangelistic Labor submitted to
Synod this fall, DIR. Hopkins mentions
the schools organized in Randolph county
by the present pastor. The results Of
three years of effort in this direction by
which these undertakings are removed
from the sphere of experiment to those of
fact, may prove of interest to those who
watch the progress of our evangelistic
fields and believe our time-honored doc
trine that the school is necessary ad-
junct to the Church The object has
been, independently of the public school
system, to provide for the education of
the youth under distinctly Christian in
huences by thoroughly competent teach
ers with firm and wholesome discipline,
and in classical course of study.
The relation of the pastor to the schools
has been that of general control only.
The work Of organization, the enlistment
of public support, the designation of those
in charge OF the schools l@ve been his ;
but the internal order of each institution
is fixed by the principal or master.
The female seminary is now in its
fourth year. 1t was begun amid popu-
lar doubts of its success but, by its rapid
advances each year, has dispelled those
doubts. 1t was opened as a day-school
in small room with one teacher and
dozen scholars gathered from the neigh
borhood it is now a boarding-school, in
a large house, filed with pupils from diff
ferent parts of the county, employing
three teachers and offering a course in
English, Latin, French, and Music
Miss E. E. Baird daughter of Rev.
DR.. Samuel j. Baird, has recently taken
charge of it for term of years. By her
natural gifts of teaching and of executive
ability which have been developed first
by Miss Baldwin's full course for grad
uation, and then by several years of ex-
perience in her work, Miss Baird is pre-
pared for her responsible position and
has strengthened our hopes of the per-
manent success Of this school. Through
out these past years of effort the valuable
assistance of Miss Baldwin, of Staunton,
has been freely given, not only in the way
OF timely counsels, but in the supply OF
competent teachers.
The male academy is in its second year.
1t is in charge of Mr.. John w. McCue,
of Nelson county, valued elder in the
church of Rev. B. M. Wales. Being but
recently organized, its patronage is not
equal to that of the seminary; but al.
ready it is doing good work among the
boys and young men. 1t will furnish
thorough and substantial high school
course and, in addition, that preparation
for college, lack of which has proven
bar to the higher education Of our young
men.
The teachers in both schools take ao-
tive part in the ordinary work of the
Church, and thus strengthen the present
while they build for the future.
Where higher education has been so
long neglected, it perforce requires time
to convince communities of its necessity.
The three years past have been occupied
largely in this. The years to come seem
to promise a growing patronage of the
schools and generation of men and wo-
men, patiently and thoroughly trained
to take their places in society and the
Church. WIS. P.B.