Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-16
DONE IN PHILADELPHIA

IA no connection between the site of the
building where the Evening Ledger is issued
and Sunday schools, but there is.
Sunday schools are now so common that their
existence IL taken as matter OF course and
vet only 100 years back they were so much
novelty that they were being studied else
where. especially in England with a view TO
introducing them into this country.
And when it had been decided to introduce
them here, the movement that was organized
TO support them had it's home in Philadelphia.
Now the connection between the Ledger
Building and this movement is simply this,
that the American Sunday School Union, hav-
ing been formed. made the ancient building
then on this cite its headquarters, and remained
here until about so years ago. 1t removed to
its new building on Chestnut street, near
Twelfth, from which location It again removed
only few years ago still further westward.
But the site was historic even before that
day. In the new view of the group Of buildings
on Independence Square, which emsellished the
Columbian Magazine in 1890, there will be seen
in the foreground an isolated structure, named
the Academy. Unfortunately it is only this
rear of the structure that is presented to us,
but it is sufficient to give us an idea OF the
character of building which was first erected
this lot.
Academy OF the Episcopal Church, just about
the time the forfeiture Of the charter of the old
College and Academy of Philadelphia was
complished, which, it turned out, was good
thing for all concerned. for that institution
raised its head again as the University Of
Pennsylvania,
The Episcopal Academy, which still thrives
after more than a century Of useful service
in the cause of education, organized in
1TS5. The Rev. John Andrews appointed
its first principal. and in 1857 the institution
received its charter and also n grant of 10000
acres of land from the State.
Its first home Fourth street, below
Market, but this provided little than a
makeshift, and arrangements were begun for
the erection OF the building Chestnut street.
west OF Sixth. The site of this structure Is
covered by the Washington Building, 6l2 and
6i4 The building was still unfinished in 1ISS
when the Academy moved into its new homo.
But while the Fourth street house was too
modest, this was found to be too ex-
pensive, and it sold in 1871.
Subsequently it became hotel, and suffered
severely from the fire that destroyed Ricketts,
Circus at the corner OF Sixth and Chestnut
streets in December, 1899. Oellel's Hote as the
house was known, was the finest hotel in the
sympathizers. who wore the tricolor cockade
and tried to sing the "Marseillaise' in French
as they waved liberty caps in honor OF Citizen
Genet, were held here.
Talleyrand himself, while in the city, is said
TO have stopped there, and the celebrated Doctor
Prlestley honored these affairs by his presence
In those days the doctor resided for time on
Market street, west OF Sixth. There is long
story to tell about Oeller's Hotel ITSELF but
this is about Sunday schools.
1t was quite long time afterward that the
American Sunday School Union came to this
site The interim was filled by the building
being used for various purposes. part of the
time as a boarding house.
When the nineteenth century opened, strange
as it may appear. there was not Sunday school
In the modern sense in this country. There had
been such schools in England since Robert
Raikes, Gloucester. England, printer, opened
one in this city, and set example for the
entire Christian world.
Raikes' idea took hold for he seems to have
been one OF the first to have not only
the connection between neglect and ignorance
and crime, but to have put forth a plan by
which this might be remedIed. This plan was |
put into operation in Gloucester in 1882; by |
degrees the idea spread all over England, Lon |
don having introduced this form OF instruction |
in 1855.
In these first schools an effort was made to |
teach the children something more than piety |
and correct conduct 1t also sought TO give |
them a rudimentary education. 1t should be |
remembered that what we call public schools |
were still long way off, and those children !
whose parents could not pay for their education
got none. Our own public school system is
less than century old.
What seems TO have been the first Sunday
school established in this city was organized
in 1871 by Robert May, who had received his
knowledge in a Sunday school in London. May
left the country in 1912, but the seed took root.
1t was not that the idea was not regarded
as a good that it did not take hold more
quickly. but there the expense attached to
it that had to be borne. In order to assist
those Sunday schools that needed 1t, and at
the time TO supply proper literature for
them. the Philadelphia Sunday and Adult School
Union was formed in 1917. New York had a
similar union. and finally, in 1923, it was pro-
posed that national union should be estab-
llshed.
This was the beginning of the American Sun
day School Union, which was formed that
year. and constituted in 1874. II was de-
eided that Philadelphia most centrally To-
Gated for the headquarters OF the organization,
and this became Its home. Three years later
the property now SIP and 6i+ Chestnut street
purchased and the union established here
Ten years later it had the titles of 500 of its
own publications on its catalogue.
am not sure OF what constitutes a historic
site, but I am inclined to the belief that this
has some claim to the distinction.
GRANVILLE.