Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-04-18
The Opening Exercises Of Pros
pect Academy.
.PRospEcT. Pa April l6 1883.

PROSPECT, PA, April l6, 1888.
EDS CITIZEN Allow me the pleas
ure of announcing to the public through
the columns of your paper the proceed
ings of the dedication of the Prospect
Academy, which took place on the 9th
of April This occasion was looked
forward to with the greatest of enthu-
siasm by all those who were interested
in the founding of this institution of
learning, and we are highly gratifed
to know that their anticipations were
fulfilled to the uttermost Notwith-
standing the disagreeable condition in
which the roads were at the time the
Academy building was filed to over
flowing with the good people of Pros
pect and vicinity. They came in the
morning and they came at noon, and
when the hour had arrived at which
the exercises were to begin, upwards
of four hundred people had assembled
IN and about the Academy.
The first performance on the pro-
gramme was music by the Prospect
Cornet Band and as we opened with
music, closed with music, and had music
in the interim, l will only say that this
in itself spoke in living accents to the
thinking mind that the people of Pros
pect possess not only the most refined
intellectual talent, but that there exist
among them germs of that most highly
appreciated facqlty-the faculty for
| music.
After the singing of "Te Deun
Laudaups," by chorus of thirty voices,
Mr.. james Wilson, President of the
Board of Trustees. made quite lengthy
and very appropriate address. Rev.
Young then conducted the devotional
exercises, after which the teachers OF
the Academy, Miss Mary Martin, Mr..
j. C. Ricketts, and Mr. Grove, were
introduced to the audience by G. c.
Sullivan. After the singing Of a very
beautiful "Quartette" entitled, "Come
Holy Spirit" the principal address OF
the day was delivered by the Rev.
James A. Clark, of Prospect. The
Rev. gentleman dwelt at some length
upon the necessity and advantages OF
an education. He showed that educa-
ion properly applied meant not only
the development Of tie mental or intel
lectual faculties, bat also the develop.
ment of the physical constitution.
Scientifically and correctly speaking y
said he, education is the symmetrical
development Of Ill the powers of man.
The next performance was a cornet
sQlo by /. Foehringer and j. F. Ed
mundsop, after which Miss Maggie
Riddle, in very finely written ad-
dress, presented to the Trustees large
brass bell which was east at the Full
ton foundry in Allegheny city express
ly for the occasion. The ladies ci
Prospect and vicinity, to show their
; zeal and earnestness in the cause OF
education, raised money to the amount
of $50 and invested it in bell which
.hay presented to the Trustees OF Pros
pect Academy az 9 toeen Of their fdel-
ity TO the good work iq which they are
now so much interested A solo elti=
tied "Shandon Bells" was then sung
by Miss Melia Crime who did credit to
herself and received the laudations of
the audience for the graceful manner in
Whica She e4ee4tsq Ahe: performance.
Mr. j. NJ f4eighner on Behalf qf the
Trustees responded to the presentation
address given by Miss Riddle. Mr..
Leighner in well chosen remarks ex-
pressed the hearty thanks of the board
OF Trustees to the ladies for the liberal
donations which they ip their kindness,
made toward the cause of education.
ia bis closing remarks Mr.. Leighner
said, sin years 10 cami when this IN:
stitution shall have grown to bo one OF
our best in thu catalogue of Americas
fountains of learning, we, or at least
our posterity, shall hear the mellow
tones and silvery notes of that bell,
which now swings in the belfry of
ftrospeSt Academy, sounding through
the dim mists Of Departed years, ea.sh
echo bringing with it some sweet me:
mento, or golden memory OF the 9th of
April. Eighteen hundred and eighty
three.
The next performance was a solo by
Mrs. j. M. Leighner Mrs. l.. being
absent On acco4at 9f sickness an ap-
propriate selection was sung by tp.
Prospect choir.
The address on the Formal Dedica-
tiop of the Academy was delivered by
the Rev. G. W. CritehloW. It is need
less to say that Nv. CritckloW mGde
an excellent speech as all who know
him are aware that he always gives a
performance nothing short of No. one"
The audience was again favored with
p,sc2 G. music entitled "Gloria." ]"
DR.. Wilson Of Porterssiiie yes called
on and made some very fitting remarks
on what the prospects were about
Prospect"
Mr. Reuben Shanor on behalf Of the
citizens offered the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the eitizens Of this
town and vicinity tender their thanks
(, to the Trustees of this Academy for
their energy and liberality, and for their
promptness in procuring and fitting up
this building for school purposes.
Resolued, That we thans them for
this entertainment provided for us at
this the formal opening ofthis Academy.
Resolved, That " tender our thanks
10 tho speak kers, singers and musicians
for the mastery manner in which they
rendered Us this rich entertainpent.
The above resolutions were adopted
by unanimous vote.
Rev. Dodds, of Mt. Chestnut, then
pronounced the benediction and the
audience was dismissed by another
blow from the cornets and all went on
their way rejoicing, believing, as they
have 6oc4 re2son 10 believe, that they
have done work here WHICH 9hai
leave its mark upon the drifting sands
of time and tell 10 future generations
that on the 9th of April, 1888. there
was Gshered in the most memorable
epoch in the eventrul history o! the