Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1904-06-09

Capt. ID. III. ROBERTS.
CHARLOTTE HALL MILITARY ACADEMY.
June @ 1904.


In selecting q subject for this occasion may
say that Of the many different ones considered
was sare from the flrst that noae could be
more pleasing 20 myself than q historical re-
view OF this old institution which am about
70 leave with fondest memories and SD regret
Doubtless many of you are as familiar with
certain events regarding Charlotte Hall az
mysei ara. Few there are who do not know
that the incorporation OF our Alma Mater by
this General Assembly IN liza. when King
George III OF Great Britain still held the Colo
mics in bis iron grasp. gives to Charlotte Hall
the honor Of being one Of the oldest education
al institutions In the State OF Maryland, and
indeed there are not many In the nation that
can boast an earlier birth. Fewer stfll are
there who do not know of the great men who
have received their education at this old school
and gone forth upon the arena OF life: such
men as Chief Justice Roger Brooke fancy,
, Judge Richard II. Alvey. Honorable Clement
Il. Dorsey and hundreds OF others, who.
though they have not established for them
selves such widespread fame, have a Just
right 10 be proud Of their Alma Maaer from
which they derived 30 many advantages and
to which they are so largely indebted. There
are incidents In the history Of this school
commanding interest.
Charlotte Hall had its origin In those DAVIS of
TRIALS and troubles just before the revolution,
when our fOrefathers were buslsy engaged
with the many duties which the times forced
upon them. But amid all their troubles they
saw the great necessity Of such school as this
and furthermore, they found time In which 10
provide for IT, Indeed. long before the zeyo-
luton, the people of Southern Maryland real
lied that the STANDARD OF education for the
youth OF their province must be raised. They
were convinced that such was a grave necee-
sity and they therefore started to work ON its
foundation. Besides donating large sums of
money themselves, they appealed to the Gene
raj Assembly, and judging from, the laws OF Ma
ryland. IL Is very plain 70 that this great and
learned body OF men were as quick 70 realize
the necessity and advantages of such a school
as tine people of Southern Maryland them
selves. The General Assembly passed an act
consolidating the free school funds of the sew.
cral counties of st. Mary's. Charles and Prince
Georges TO establish an institution for the
piOus and liberal education of the youth Of
this province, In order that they might be bet
ter fitted for the discharge OF their duties both
In regard to church and State.
Here at the cool springs on July l. i574 the
OF their new institution. II may be mentioned
that among these trustees were such famous
men as DIR. James Craik, George Washington's
physician; General William Smallwood of rev.
olutionary fame, and many others whose
names are closely Identified with the Colonial
history of our State. By this act incorpora-
ton, the Governor of Maryland then Hon.
Robert Edenl was president of the Board OF
Trustees, and do not believe that the law on
this point has ever been changed
now we'll that first board of trustee, per
formed Its duty can be the better judged when
We stop to consider that although the school
did not start for several years, when its doors
were thrown open, they were to remain so I'M
til the present day, and let US hope forever
Since then the country has passed through sew
erai stormy periods. In the war of Ist2, In the
Mexican war and in the Civil war. Though
many of the students left to join the armies.
yet the old school continued operations and
always managed to come out of the struggle
with colors flying just as freely as the Union
herself.
From the very start good work was the re-
suit, and with capable principals at the helm,
our school has always maintained a straight
and steady course in n nobe channel.
Ii appears from the charter of Charlotte Hall
that the free school funds cs st. Mary's, Charles
and Prince Georges counties were consolida
ted for the erection of one school of higher
grade, to he located at the cool springs Thus
we see that Charlotte Hall Is to great extent
part Of the tree school system OF the State
having been started by the uniting of free
school funds. This view of the matter Is con-
frmed by the fact that Charlotte Hall, through
the system of scholarships. provides many dc.
serving young men OF Maryland with free
education. In return for these SCHOLARSHIPS
the State provides the school each year with
liberal appropriation, and Charlotte Hall In
thus drawing Its support directly from the
State, is TO be considered q State institution.
/ We all know how the people OF Southern
Maryland were strongly united In the support
of this school ut its founding. How the South
ern MARYLAND counties banded together, as
the States after the revolution did, TO form
stronger and more effective government. It's
true that since that far-off day many changes
have been wrought, but there Is one thing
which l hope and trust may never change or
lose in any respect Its original vigor-that
Charlotte Hall will always have the hearty
support aud cooperation of Southern Mary
land people. l have been "a student here for
the past three years and realize that to find
people more hospitable and pleasing than you
! of Southern Maryland Is well-nigh impossible.
| III you extend to this old school that same de-
gree of friendship with which you welcome
stranger, / can safely say that so long as the
1 great sun brightens your fertile fields, Char
| lotto Hall will continue her good work. Give
| her your hearty support In the future that
those who come from her doors may live up TO
tho standard OF their fathers. hat not only you
; of Southern Maryland owe hearty support to
Charlotte Hall for when say that the entir.
State has received for more than century the
benefits of this SCHOOL, am but ex pressing no
more than the truth The State has had many
| q Charlotte Hall man In every one OF her most
honored Offices the Governors chair, the Su-
preme Bench, both branches Of the Legisla-
ture. have boosted many. many times alumni
OF our school and proud are we TO say that
they have always done fun honor IT, their DO
sitions. The State fully appreclating these
benefits. has always given its hearty support
to the school, and let Us trust that Il may al
ways be justified In continuing this valuable
] aid.
Having enjoyed the advantages Of this school
and the pleasures of Southern Maryland hoe
pitality for three years, il Is with deep regret
that now take my leave. But In doing so II
is with the Arm assurance that many times
viii look back with extreme pleasure to the
happy days that have spent at this old school
Yes. ! will recall that beautiful green and
gold campus with its white columned Co
lonial hail. its stately trees. its cid white houss
and It's beautiful chapel, and they will appear
in my mind as fond and lasting images of !
happy boyhood. I will recall many times In
after life those days OF work and those days OF
pleasure which .have made up our lives here
and in closing I must say, that IL Charlotte