The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-11

The Centennial exercises were con-
tinued at East Greenwich academy yes
terday afternoon and the speaker of the
occasion was Rev. NJ J. Talbot ID. d,
Of this city.
Rev. DR.. Whedon presided at the after
noon exercises and prayer was offered
by Rev. S. o. Benton of Fall River.
RHODE ISLAND PIONEERED.
After the singing of a hymn. Rev. DIR.
Talbot delivered his address and pre-
facing his remarks he declared that the
American colonies In their beginning were
not destitute OF men of learning, OF cul-
ture and OF statesmanship. Various
methods OF training the young were re-
sorted TO. private enterprise and indi-
vidual contributions often provided the
early institutions OF education. stephen
Hopkins a signer OF the Declaration OF
Independence; John Rowland OF Prov-
dence Samuel Slater, the Browns, the
Greenes. the Harrises. the Hope com
pany the Lonsdale company. the
spragues and Henry Barnard were among
the pioneer Rhode Island patrons of
education.
ACADEMY ESTABLISHED.
The excellent system OF public schools
was the natural and inevitable result of
the demand for increased facilities. Then,
again. certain educational needs must
be supplied by special agencies. Public
spirited men deemed IL proper that town
so favorably situated as East Green
wich should be the seat of an academy.
Accordingly Ethan Clarke, William Ar
mold. Mathewson q Mowry, and Peter
Turner, all of East Greenwich, and Ray
Greene and Elihu and Christopher Greene,
all OF Warwick, associated themselves
together for this laudable purpose and
wich, the site of the present academy.
Ray Greene, oliver Wickes and Nathan
Whiting were appointed committee To
procure charter from the general as
sembly, which was granted, and an or
ganization of the incorporators was ef-
fected early I'm October, 1902.
The Institution was known as the Kent
academy. On the Sd OF August. 1903 the
first election of officers was held They
were as follows: President, Hon. William
Greene: treasurer, Richard Mathewson;
secretary, Nathan Whiting; trustees,
Ethan Clarke. Thomas Tillinghast. Chris
topher Greene. William Greene, son OF
Benjamin, and stephen Arnold.
METHoDIsTs TAKE HOLD.
Land and buildings cost about $500.
In May. 1904 the school was opened with
Rev. Abner Alden. NJ. A. pastor of the
Congregational church that occupied the
first Preceptor. In August. 1885, the up
per hall was opened for a dancing and
singing school. In December OF the same
year the Baptist people made application
10 use the hall as place of worship
and their request was denied.
DR. Talbot described different phases
OF the schools history during the admin
istration of the first 20 principals. bring
ing the story down 10 1889 when Daniel
@. Allen. a Methodist, became the owner
OF IS shares OF the corporation stock,
controlling interest and was made princi-
pal
In 1s40 the Providence Conference OF the
Methodist Episcopal church was estab-
lshed and the New England Conference
appointed a committee 10 visit the school
and investigate and report the advisa-
bility OF purchasing II for the Providence
Conference The committee reported ia
vorably and Daniel G.. Allen sold the
school, the name Kent Academy was
no more and it became the Providence
Conference Seminary.
The boarding hall was completed in
1876, and about 1850. under the principal
ship of Robert Allyn, the largest number
OF students I'm the schools history was
registered. 1t was about 32l The COM
mercial department was established in
1851. In 1858 the brick edlflce now used
as a recitation building was dedicated
When DIR. Talbot was made principal
OF the school in 1858 he said that matters
OF discipline had been perplexing his
predecessor and some of them remained
10 trouble him. He engaged DIR. Eben
Tourjee. who placed the music department
on a prosperous basis and who entered
upon his wonderful career, which ended
when he was at the head OF the New
England Conservatory OF Music in
Boston.
PULLED THROUGH DARK PERIOD.
In July. 1884. the academy property was
transferred 10 n stock company, which
was not success In April 1887, Francis
u. Blakeslee who had already served
as principal, was recalled under condi-
tions satisfactory TO himself. August.
1896. the Boarding hall was burned and
with crippled facilities for boarding stu
dents a period OF depression followed
Dr. Blakeslee resigned as principal May
II, 1Sss 10 accept a call 20 the presidency
OF a university in Iowa. The present
principal. Rev. Ambrie Field, was elected
10 the position Aug. Is. 1929. without a
dissenting vote.
There were times. said the speaker,
when the friends OF the school had rallied
nobiy TO its support when II was I'm dire
financial straits. During the panic OF 1851
Pardon NJ. Stone was' one who pledged
his personal credit TO cover the indebed-
ness OF the institution and pulled II
through a dark period. MIR Stone now
= lives at "a Brighton street, this city.
cENTURY's WORK REVIEWED.
In his peroration Rev. DR.. Talbot be-
came very eloquent and he said that n
review OF this outline OF the century
work shows that, whether as Kent acade-
my or as Providence Conference semi
nary. the school has In an eminent degree
accomplished the purpose OF It's founders
and It's sustainers. the promoters OF free
institutions OF learning and religion In
combination The wise men who declared
this purpose IN their first petition fuT
Incorporation "builded better than they