The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-13
ANOTHER BAPTIST ACADEMY
Or. Hatcher Starts the Ball Rolling a
New Salem Church.
Especial to Tho Ttmes-Dispatch

Especial to Tho Ttmes-Dispat ch.)
cULPEPER. VA, June 12.-An event
OF decided public interest has just oc-
CURED at New Salem Baptist Church. a
conference OF leading people to consider
the propriety OF esta blishlng an academy
in the community OF the New Salem
Church. This conference included the Rev.
8. M. Cole. Mr. Durant. and quite q
number of other gentlemen. AS a fact.
the founding OF this academy has been
agitating the minds OF not a few OF our
citizens for some. time. but this con-
ference was the first formal movement
In it's favor that has thus far been made.
The weather and roads were not friendly
to the gathering; but, beside the neigh
borhod people, there were quite a num-
her OF sympat hctic visitors from adjacent
communities.
1t was known that DR.. w. f. Hatcher,
president OF tho Board OF Trustees OF
Richmond College. would be present at
tho conference and no threw himself
open to the questions which the friends or
foes OF the new enterprise desired to ask
him and quite a tempest Of questions, az
to the purposes, grade, cost. needs and
value OF such an academy were turned
loose upon the Doctor. II Is known TINT
rs the representative OF Richmond Col
lege, Dr. Hatcher ardently believes In
system OF hrst-class secondary schools as
feeders for that institution. He submitted
to the peting questions from tho audience
with amIable humor, and evinced the ut
most candor In his replies, indicated clear
~ enough the gravity Of such an under
taking, and urged that the matter should
be thoroughly, and patiently ventilated
before the final action was taken. He was
squarely In favor OF having the academy.
II esta blished. under Baptist control, that
is denominational but not sectarian in
Its tea chings: and, OF course, desired that
1t should be brought into proper relation
ships, with Richmond College. More than
an hour was spent In this free and easy
consulta ton. and the crowded congrega-
ton, showed the profoundest. interest in
overy Item and detail Of the discussion.
AS the end of this Interchange of vlews.
II was insisted by Mr.. Cole and others
that the people should have an oppor-
tunity to indicate their readiness to End
and foster this school .'rhia suited Di.
Hatcher exactly, and With rare spon-
tane!ty. and within the shortest space of
time, 5000 was subscribed. and 1t Is
known that quite a number OF persons
present. as well as others who were ne.
cessarlly absent, fully intended to contri-
butte to this object It Is safe to say that
the New Salem people In addition to the
beautiful wooded site OF twenty-five
acres. will, at least. double the amount
mentioned above. " 1t is finally decided to
put the academy In their midst.
DR. Hatcher urged that the Shiloh, the
Potomac and the Shenandoah Baptist As
socations be invited to confer together
as to the founding OF this school. and
that their communities be invited to make
competitive bids for the location Of tie
academy. This tho New Snlem people
seem very cordially to favor, and no
final action will be taken until the con.
ference of these three bodies can be
called, 1t is believed TINT at least $4,000
can be secured for starting the academy
If these several bodies decide Ia unite
In the enterprise md are harmonious
as to lis location, II is hardly expected
thatthe school will begin before the term
of 1904
The section az country covered by these
several associations ot Virginia ahounds
in Baptists, and is one of the most pro
gresslve and Intelligent sections of Nir'
glnia Hundreds Of the people are en-
terprisipg. successful and prosperous, AMI
the educational spirit. already widesnread,
is RAPIDLY growing. The people Of Cul,
pepper are warmly interested in the moye-
mfnt. and II the school is startedsti IT
will command the ardent reporp Of our
rannle. u