Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-04-16
For the Ellsworth American
Dwight L. Moody's Schools.


For some years, Mr.. Moody says, God
had inspired him with the idea of found
ing a school for the education of young
women in the humble walks of life. For
a time it seemed impossible Tof %r. Moody
to carry out this plan. But finally with
the aid of his friends he started
NoRrHFIELD SEMINARY,
Ia the autumn of 1879 This school is de-
of young women who cannot afford to at
tend the higher schools of the land.
The town in which the school Is situated
is one of the healthiest and most beautiful
Of New England villages. 1t is on the
Connecticut river, Just south Of the bound
ary line between New Hampshire and Mas
sachuSetts. The seminary grounds in
clude about 210 acres and thus furnish an
abundance Of opportunities for outdoor
recreation and amusement. A beautiful
little lake is on one side of the grounds
and affords very pleasant place to skate
in winter and boat in summer.
There is mountain land and open fields,
and also a wild, deep glen, which offer
much attraction to those interested in the
studies OF botany, geology and zoology,
as there are great many wild flowers,
rocks. &C., to be found in these places.
The buildings of the seminary are all sit
uatcd on high. well-dralned land, are heat
ell by furnace or steam and thoroughly
lighted by gas and have an abundant water
supply from never failing springs in the
mountains.
Recitation Hall, in the centre OF the
group, contains in addition to il. many
class rooms. chemical, physical and botan-
teal laboratories for practical work. A
large chapel occupies the centre of the sec
ond floor, which Is used for the morning
deyotions and all meetings and lectures.
Next in order Is the Talcott Library,
the gift Of Mr.. James Tacott. 1t
is a granite building with brown-stoue
trimmings. and is finished and furnished
throughout in oak. The first floor is oc-
Cupied By the library Of book, at one end
aud by large study room at the other
end, The study room is furnished by sev-
eral daily papers also all the popular
weekly and monthly publications. There
are about 400 volumes now belonging to
the library and they are made as useful
as possible by the Dewey system of clas-
shcation.
Frederick Marquand Memorial Hall the
largest home on the grounds, i occupied
by eighty students East Hall furnishes
accommodations for sixty-one and Weston
Hall, the gift OF Mr.. David NJ Weston
has room for forty-onc. Besides these
halls are the Hillside House Rcvelr
House, IIplton House and B.tscy Moody
Cottage, each of which /, the home Of
twenty or twenty-five. The Betsey Moody
Cottage is opened for the first time this
year. 1t has been built for the express
purpose Of furnishing place where girls
may 90 and rest when ovcrworked or tir-
ell. It is in charge Of a trained nurse.
The instruction, discipline and influence
are such a. will secure the very best results
in the development Of character and be the
most lifting preparation for cpn-ecrated
life. Special study is given to the Bible.
The government is such a. is ncedful to
all, and the ultimate end Of all discipline IS
ness, seltconttol and courtesy NJ stu
dent who is unwilling to meet these re-
quircments or who seems to lack apprecia-
tion of the benefits received, can expect to
be retained To the injury OF others and the
exclusion Of more deserving applicants.
The Bible study is continued through
out the course, as Mr.. Moody believes a
thorough knowledge Of the scriptures is
necessary before one can study and thor
oughly understand and appreciate the other
branches of education. Lectures upon the
Bible are given frequently during the year
A department of Household Science
aim, 20 supplement the intellectual train
In. with knowledge OF the practical du
ties connected with the houshold.
4 large room in Marquand Hall has been
fitted up with special reference to this
work. Daily and weekly classes are held
so that all may take these lessons if they
wish. The work is divided into four
branches: housekeeping, cooking, laun-
Cry and sewing.
The first takes up the general care of the
Of ~.
ing, busting, &c. Cooking is taught very
practically as the room Is furnished with
two ranges and all kinds of cooking i'm
plements. The principles Of laundry
work are taught and the plain sewing and
mending lessons are made very interesting
All the work of the houses is done BY
the students under the supervision of a
matron. Each student performs her por-
tion of work faithfully and cheerfully
The students at present number 346 and
represent twentysix states, besides Rus
sia, Norway ard Turkey. There are also
five girls from Alaska the expenses OF
whose education are borne by Mrs. Elliot
F. Shepherd, of New York.
The attention of christian people is
earnestly called to the work and needs of
this school. To carry on the institution
as desired, it is necessary that endowments
and scholarships be founded for this ever
increasing work.
The need of such gifts will seen by all
who remember that the 800 paid by the
student only about half covers the expense
of the student to the seminary. The sum
of $4,000 will found scholarship which
will yield the amount required of the stu
dent, but the sum of $4,000 is necessary to
found a scholarship that shall cover the
entire cost of the student to the school.
In connection with the seminary Stu
dents Aid Society has been formed for the
an education and who are ready to do all
they can for themselves. The assistance
is given in the form of loans which those
who receive the aid are to pay back with
out interest when they are able.
The officers of NoIthfield Seminary are
II. NJ. Moore. of Boston, president; Frank
lin Fairbanks, of Boston. vice president
julius j. Estey, of Brattleboro, VT, treas.
urer, and board of twenty trustees.
The school is growing very rapidly. In
1884 there were 1863 pupils and eleven
teachers. Now there are 346 pupils and q
teachers.