Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-07
OPENS IN SEPTEMBER.
St. GATHERINGS Hall Passes Into the
Hands Of Local Capitalists.
Rector George F. began to Have Full Control
for Three Years.

Marks church, that ST. GATHERINGS
school is to be reopened in the fall
after having closed something like four
years, has caused a general feeling Of
rejoicing among the members of the
alumni of the school.
When the school was closed about
four years ago it was on account of the
financial embarrassments Of the asso-
citation by which the school was gov
erned. When the school was founded
it was covered with debt, it being nee
essary to borrow the money With
which to build the school building. AS
| years went by the association found
! that instead of getting out of debt the
school was gradually sinking into debt
deeper and deeper. Not only was there
a failure to make partial payments on
! the principal but more than that the
| gradually increased.
AT that time the mortgage on the
| building was held by James II. Nc
| Mullen of Portland, and when he found
that the debt was gradually increas-
| ing he foreclosed and the school was
| shut up.
After Rev. Mr.. began had been in
charge of the St. Marks parish Is
rector for a short time he conceived
the idea of reopening the school. He
{ laid his plans before Bishop Nicely of
| Portland, who at once fell in with the
plans, as did also the other members
Of the diocese. With this encourage
ment Rev. Mr.. began went to Mr.. NJ
/ Mullen and tried to obtain a lease Of
the building for a term of years Mr..
McMullen refused to lease the building.
however, on the ground that he had
lost money enough by the affair. He
was willing to sell the property,
though.
Rev. Mr.. began then secured the
cooperation of one or two of Angus
tas leading business men and through
them the building was bought and i
to remain their property. They have
agreed to lease the building to the as
ISOLATION for a period of three years
with the privilege Of buying at the end
of that time if the association 50
wishes. The papers completing this deal
changed hands. Saturday. and Sunday.
Rev. Mr.. Dugan made the announce
ment from the pulpit that the school
was to he opened.
At the time St GATHERINGS was IN
full running order it was one of I'M
usual merit. While a school for girls i
had such high standing that pupils
were admitted to Wellesley without
the necessity for an examination. lis
graduates are members of the best
families in the State and many If
, them now hold high positions. While
the school is under the direction Of this
diocese of the Episcopal church over
half Of the 200 pupils whoattended dur
; ing the time the school was running
were from families that attended
churches Of other denominations.
; While St GATHERINGS is to be opened
in the fall. probably in September it
has not yet been decided how Che
) school will be run or what VIII be done
about reftting the rooms. During tn
time the school was closed all the fur
uiture with tho exception Of the school
room desks was taken out ana sold
Rev. Mr.. began has several plans for
rcnMng The school. This morning in
company with a contractor he visit d
the building and looked it over in Il
thorough manner. The results of The
in.-ce. igation he presented 70 the mcci-
ing Of the resident graduates, yester-
day afternoon 1t is his plan to have
salrral of the graduates take charge Of
q room and have that fitted w by
thom. He intends to carry out the
| same idea in regard to several Of the
churches in the diocese and for III"
reason that this is the only school Of
the kind in the state. feels reasonably
sure OF its success.
When he presented his plans to the
bishop he was given to understand
that if the school was 4 failure i
would reflect on him. 1nasmuch as the
failurc is 70 reflect on nm
in case one should result, he