The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-14
ST MARY'S SCHOOL
The Diocese OF North Carolina
Has Bought It.
AND PAYS $4,000 FOR iT
OF THIS AMOUNT $4,000 is TO BE
PAID IN CASH.
TAE CONVENTION LAST NIGHT
The Price of Tuition is to be Reduced
and Number of Free Scholar.
ships Are to be Es-
tablished.
AND PAYS $4,000 FOR II
TAe CONVENTION LAST NIGHT

Resolved That the Convention of the
Diocese of North Carolina hereby ap-
proves the act of incorpora ton of the
Trustees of st. Mary's School. and accepts
the trustees named in that act and elect
cd in pursuance thereof, on the part of
this Diocese, as the representatives of
the Convention in that capacity.
Resolved, That this Convention does
hereby approve the action of the ex-
ecutIyc committee of the Board of Trus-
tees in purchasing the school property
rs set forth in the foregoing report. To
take the twenty-five acres known as the
st. Mary'S tract,at the price of $4,000, of
which $4,000 is to be paid in casn. when
the sale shall have been confirmed by the
court
Resolved. That the funds in the hands
of the treasurer known as the Fund for
the Education of Children of Deceased
Clergy be increased to $1,000 from
the Mary Ruffin Smith Fund, and that
said fund so augmented be put at the dis
posai of the trustees of st. Mary's School,
upon condition that they shall establish
in the school scholarship TO be known
as the scholarship. for the
free education of a daughter of Il de-
ceased clergyman, the nomination to be
in the hands of the Bishop of the Diocese
of North Carolina, residents of the Do
cese of North Carolina only being eligi-
Bile.
Resolved That the remaining portion
of the Mary Ruffin Smith Fund be placed
at the disposal Of the trustees of st.
Mary's School, and that in consideration
of the use of this fund. they shall es-
ta blish one free scholarship in said school
for each $1,000 received from said fund
to be called the Mary Ruffin Smith Schol
arships. The nominations for the said
scholarships to be in the hands of the
residents of the Diocese of North Caro-.
lima only being eligible.
The above resolutions were adopted last
night at the convention by practically
Il unanimous vote.
This means great deal, a very great
deal for Raleigh, for without this action
of the convention st. Mary's School must
have been closed. 1t means much for
North Carolina, for the purchase of the
property by the Diocese means that one
of its best and most famous schools will
be handsomely endowed by the Episcopal
church and put on such footing that
its influence and usefulness will be en-
larged and extended throughout the whole
South.
And to the young women of the State
there is no estimating the Importance
of last nights action by the convention
This famous school is not only to be
kept open and improved so as to give
them the best possible educational ad.
vantages. but these advantages are to
be supplied at a price that will be III
reach of the humblest girl in the land
and what is more, free scholarships viii
be provided for those who give great
promise but are unable to defray their
own expenses.
OF such Importance was this step that
the Diocesan convention gave the whole
of its evening session-some three hours
to its consideration.
The report of the Trustees of st. Mary's
school had been made the special order
for $50 o'clock and therefore, imme
diately after calling the convention to
order. the Bishop asked DIR. Kemp 2
Battle to take the chair and the conven
ton went into committee of the Whole
for the consideration of the report
On taking the chair for this purpose
DR.. Battle stated that his greatest inter
est was in this school. One of his sis
ters, he said, was the first student tC
report at the door of that institution. He
had another sister educated there, as was
also his wife and his granddaughter
1t had been with the deepest regret thai
he had heard that there was some doubt
ms to this institution being continued. He
hoped that the action of the conven
| ton would leave no doubt on that score
At the conclusion of DR.. Battles re-
marks, DR.. r. III. Lewis read the report
of the Board of Trustees, embodying the
above resolutions.
Touching this report DIR. Lewis said the
most important point in it was to raise
| the $4,000 cash necessary to secure
confirmation of the sale. Some
he said, might consider this an ex
orbitant price. But he thought. this wa:
mistake; there are % acres of the land
but in addition to this there is that abou
this school which cannot be estimated
| in money value. There is about thi.
school the traditions, the love, the allie
glance Of long lines of alumnae, whicl
would not cluster about the finest build
| ings that could be erected elsewhere. /
now depends, DR.. Lewis said, on thi
convention whether or not the doors o.
| this institution shall be closed. DR.
Smedes has been running the school at &
loss and now the Diocese must assume the
burden or the school must stop. 1t wa.
explained that even now the school wal
being kept in operation on the promise
of the trustees to furnish so many stu
dents.
At this point Mr.. r. III. Battle intro
duced the following resolution:
"Whereas the present Rector Of St