Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1896-04-03
Baltiqlgg II {. Annual Con-
n terence.
THE Wesleyan Female Institute
To Be Taken by a Stock Co.
CONFERENCE TO MEET In STAUN.
TON NEXT YEAR.
THE APPOINTMENTS FOR ROCKINGHAM
DISTRICT.

The Baltimore Conference Of the M. B.
Church, South, met at Roanoke on Wed
nesday of last week, Bishop r. K. Har-
grove presiding. The Secretary was Rev.
DR.. Jas. E. Armstrong who was reflect
ed.
In the appointments of Boards and Com
mittees, Rev. J. II. Boyd was put on the
Joint Board of Finance, MI A. Lee Know
les Of Stanton was put on the COMMITTEE
on ? ublish ing Interests.
Bishop Hargrove made statement ABOUT
the Importance of the mission work among
the Indians, and said that for every SloO
given as nucleus, church costing from
$3.50 to 81 200 could be built, and that it
could be named in honor of any person Sc
lected by the donor of the 500.
The conference promptly took UP col
lection of 5000 for starting two churches,
one to be named in honor Of the late Dr.
John S. Martin, who was for so many years
the conference secretary, and the other III
honor of the late Rev. Samuel Regester.>
President Fl. P Hamil. of the Wesleyan
Female Institute in his report upon the
conditions of the school, made plain state
ment of the Straits in which it is now, but
expressed confidence in its ability to come
through them safely if the proper spirit Oh
cooperation is shown by the members OF
the conference and members of the South
ern Methodist churches. After the school
session was begun last September, he SAID
it was found that the patronage secured
was not sufficient to defray more than the
EXPENSE of the session. apart from teach
ers' salaries, The loss of patronage, he
stated, was due in the main to the prevail
euce of smallpox in Staunton during May
and June. the financial embarrassment OF
the institute, made more OIL less public by
assignment of the prosperity in February.
the willingness Of competitors to use such
conditions to divert patronage, and the TACT
that in the selection of schools SO many are
governed By the cost rather than the Char
acter of the school. To continue the
school the teachers ww Id their ela @s FL
stipulated salaries and agreed to accept
such amounts as might remain after all
other expenses of the session had been paid.
To their self sacrifice, President Hamill
said, is solely due the existence of the
school to day. A total of SO persons have
received instruction so far during the ses-
sion, of whom % were boarding pupils, 81
were day pupils and six specialpupils. The
total income from all sources of general &C
count is S., sos. The cash On hand is 1916
and the total funds available are 81 ,515.
Concluding, President Hamill expressed
confidence that the school, in view Of its
past usefulness, its favorable location and
its present Importance as factor Of the
work Of the church, has just right to live,
and can live if the conference will unitedly
own and faithfully support it. The report
was referred to the board Of education.
On Saturday the Board Of Education
made its report on the Wesleyan Female
Institute as follows:
''At present the Indebtedness on the in
stitute is about $37 900. OF this $15,O13 is
what is known as the Cochran debt and
5000 as the Harris debt" both being a
part of the original purchase price and &C
cumulated interests, but the Harris debt
is subordinate to the Cochran debt.
under the conditions of the assignment to
DR.. W. A. Harris. The balance of $13 ,23S
is due to sundry creditors, on part Of which
judgements have been obtained.
''The property is now in the hands of a
receiver under orders OF the Hastings
Court of Staunton Virginia.
1.-The board has given very careful con-
sideration to the condition of existing Cir.
cumstances as they have been presented
with view to save this school to the
church, if possible, feeling the importance
of continuing in operation this power fol-
the Christian education of our young wo-
men. But after every effort to do other
wise, we feel compelled to offer the follow
ing resolutions:
l. Resolved, That we regret that, after
careful investigation, We are unable to
devise any possible plan by which the school
Can be conducted next session.
2. Resolved, That the conference deep,
ly appreciates the heroic sacrifice of Rev.
III. 7. Hamill and his associated teachers in
maintaining the Wesleyan Female Institu-
tie for the Church during the past year
practically without compensation and in the
name Of the Master, thanks these brethren
and sisters for this service to the Church.
The report was adopted, and a subscrip
ton wa5 taken up towards paying the
teachers what would be due them at the
end of tie session. The collection amount
ed to $6l5, about $500 OF which was in cash.
and the balance in promises.
Later in the day E. s. Conrad read a
paper by Rev. H. z. Hamill, which sug-
gesta plan for continuing the institute.
1t emb0dies plans for the organization of a
stock company. capitalized at SO, 600, with
the power 10 increase the capital to 325, 600
the board Of Directors to rent the property
next gne and purchase it at the sale, next
October. The paper was laid on the table,
The correspondent Of the Baltimore Sun
writing from the Conference says:
1t now looks as if the Wesleyan Female
Institute, at Staunton, one of the best
known girls schools in Virginia, will bt
permanently closed at the end of this scho
lastie year. in June, and the property viii
besold at auction. The conference boar(
of education made report on Saturday de
claring that no practical plan had been de
vised by which the school could be continu
ed next session. AS the property is now il
the hands of a receiver, it will probably b.
sold under the hammer to satisfy the claims
against it. which amount to about $37, 900
At a forced sale it is said that the pro
perty, which occupies about three acres il
the heart of Stanton. would not bring