The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-14


falrs, mas given his time, his talent and
OF his private means for the education of
the daughters of the church. therefore.
Resolved, that the convention of the
Diocese of North Carolina. in assuming
control of ST. Mary's school through a
Board of Trustees, desires to express its
sense of the obligation it feels to Rev.
Bennett Smedes, ID. D., for the work he
has so successfully done for the good
of the church in this and other Southern
dioceses during the last twenty years"
Rev. Mr.. Hoffman said he realized that
ST. Mary's elsewhere than where it now
stands, and under other conditions, would
not be st. Mary's; and it meant much for
this Diocese and for the Episcopal church
that this convention had decided to as
sumo the responsibility for its support.
1t has, he said, always been a great bless
ing to the State and now it was to be a
greater one because it was to be put on
basis that would put it in the reach
of all the girls of the State 1t was to
be confined to no city or section, not even
to the State or the Diocese, but il should
ever stand for that which is noblest and
best and highest in Southern woman
hood.
The committee having this matter in
charge, Mr. s. s. Nash thought, had per-
formed great work and deserved there
for the thanks of all the friends of this
institution. They had solved the problem
and done it so well that hereafter any
girl in North Carolina can receive the
benehts of this famous institution for
the sum of $500 a year.
The Bishop didn't think he ought to
speak, but he found it impossible to keep
quiet, saying that if he could say a word
that would solve this difficulty and bring
to successful consummation these plans
he would consider it one of the greatest
acts OF his Efe. AS to the price-S50,-
OOO-that had to be paid, he thought it
large price, but it was the price that
must be paid if it were obtained. The
associations and traditions that cluster
l ed about it belonged to the church, but
still if it kept them it had to pay for
them. Tie Bishop said his own father
was educated at st. Mary's. 1t was
at first a boys school under Bishop
Ives; it failed and was turned into
girls school under the Smedeses 1t was
explained by the Bishop that the owners
of the property were on account of GER
| tain legal complications, unable to con-
| slider any questions of generosity. They
were compelled to ask for it such an
| amount of purchase money as the courts
would consider a fair price; as the prop
| erty can only be sold by order of court.
The Bishop said he had already found
| five women who would give $500 each
and ibe Patrons of st. Mary's SCHOOL," :"
he had also found thirty women who will
| give 800 each and be Daughters of st.
| Mary's." He thought he ought to be
| able to find five men in North Carolina
| who will give $1,000 each he thought he
| could find thirty who will give $1,000
| each.
Maj. j. B. Batchelor considered the
| price an exorbitant one but he was will
| ing for it TO be given rather than that it
| should not be obtained by the Diocese.
From it will ever go out that which is
best and greatest of all human forces
| the influence of an educated, pure Chris
| tian womanhood."
| The feature of the report touching the
establishment of scholarships was dis
cussed by the Rev. Mr.. Bronson. 1t
had, he said, been long cherished hope
of his that some such scheme would
| be inaugurated by which some of the
noble, but poor young women of the State
might be taken and educated in the
| church and for the church. The speak
| er referred in the warmest terms of
praise and appreciation to the efforts of
the Bishop in this direction.
| The ways and means of raising the
money necessary for the purchase of the
property were discussed by the Rev. Mr..
| Horner. Oxford, he said, had 100 COM
municants of the Episcopal church, yet
| it furnished six students; and this in spite
of the fact that Oxford itself had fine
| female schools. Now. if all the other
| parishes will do as much, Mr.. Horner
said ST. Mary's would have 600 students.
| Remarks along the same line were
made by the Rev. Mr.. Pruden who ex-
planned that the Oxford parish, while fur
nishing these Students was also trying
| to build new church.
As to the Board of Trustees Mr.. Bat
| tie didn't think better one could be
obtained in North Carolina. But he had
| considerable doubt as to the advisability
of purchasing this property. Is the
| church prepared, he asked, at this time,
to incur debt of $4,000 and pay down
| $4,000 as soon as it can be obtained?
Mr.. Battle wanted more light and inform
alton on the subject, and to this end he
requested Mr.. d. Y. Cooper, of Hender-
| SOU, WuO WAS we'll luIOTIleu on TIE
| church finances, to give his views on the
subject.
In response to this request Mr.. Cooper
| said he disliked to sound a discordant
note, though he was compelled to say
that it would be cheaper and better, for
the present to rent the property. The
rental now paid is $1,000 and the owners
keep it in repair and pay the insurance.
If the property is bought, before it can
possibly be paid for, it will cost nearly
100000. Then again, Mr.. Cooper said,
the rate of interest, 6 per cent, is entire
ly too high. The Seaboard in this city
Wednesday completed deal for 81, ,5OO,-
600 at per cent. He thought in this
case per cent was high enough.
| All the arguments advanced by Mr..
Cooper were endorsed by Mr.. w. A. Err
win, of Durham, but he thought that
| thara wouId come with the Ownershin