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

Sunday schools are now common that their
existence is taken as matter of course, and
yet only 100 years back they 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 its 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 site its headquarters, and remained
here until about 50 years ago. 1t removed to
its new building Chestnut street. near
Twelfth, from which location II 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 em:ellished the
Columbian Magazine in 1890. there will be seen
in the foreground an isolated structure, named
the Academy. Unfortunately it is only the
rear of the structure that is presented to us,
but 1t Is sufficient to give us an idea of the
character of building which was first erected
on this lot.
This building was erected for the then new
Academy of the Episcopal Church, just about
the time the forfeiture of the cherter of the old
College and Academy of Philadelphia was ac-
compshed, which, 1t 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 than a century of useful service
in the cause of education, organized In
1885 The Rev. John Andrews appointed
It's first principal and in 1887 the institution
received It's charter and also grant of 10000
acres of land from the State.
Its first home was on Fourth street, below
Market, but this provided little more than
makeshift and arrangements begun for
the erection of the building on Chestnut street,
west of Sixth. The site of this structure is
covered by the Washington Building. 62 and
GA The building was still unfinished in 1888
when the Academy moved into its new homo.
But, while the Fourth street house was too
modest, this was soon found to be too ex-
pensive, and 1t was sold in 1891.
Subsequently 1t became a hotel. and suffered
severely from the fire that destroyed Ricketts,
Circus at the of Sixth and Chestnut
streets in December, 1799 Oeller's Hotel. as the
house was known, the finest hotel in the
city. Those historic banquets of the French
sympathizers, who wore the tricolor cockade
and tried to sing the "Marseillaise" in French
as they waved liberty caps in honor OF Citizen
Genet, held here.
Taleyrand himself, while in the city, is said
to have stopped there, and the celebrated Doctor
Prestley 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 a long time afterward that the
American Sunday School Union to this
site. The interim filled by the building
being used for various purposes. part of the
time as a boarding house.
When the nineteenth century opened, strange
1t may appear. there was not a Sunday school
in the modern sense in this country. There had
been such schools in England since Robert
Raikes, a Gloucester, England, printer, opened
one in this city, and set example for tho
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 remeded. This plan
put into operation in Gloucester In 1882; by
degrees the idea spread all over England, Lon
don having introduced this form of instruction
in 1856
In these first schools effort made to
teach the children something than piety
and correct conduct; 1t also sought to give
them rud!mentary education 1t should be
remembered that what We call public schools !
stin long way on, and those children
whose parents could not pay for their education |
got none. Our own public school system is
less than A century old.
What seems to have been the first Sunday |
school established in this city was organized |
in 1911 by Robert May. who had received his |
knowledge in a Sunday school in London. May |
left the country in 1872 but the seed took root.
1t was not that the idea was not regarded |
MS a good that 1t did not take hold more
quickly, but there was the expense attached TO
1t that had to be borne. In order to assist
those Sunday schools that needed It, 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 a national union should be estab-
lished
This the beginning of the American Sun
day School Union, which was formed that
year and constituted in 1924 It was de-
clded that Philadelphia most centrally To-
Gated for the headquarters OF the organization.
and this became its home, Three years later
the property now 6l2 and GA Chestnut street
was purchased and the union established here.
Ten years later it had the titles OF 800 of its
own publications on it's catalogue
am not sure Of what constitutes a historic
site, but l am inclined 10 the belief that this
has some claim 10 the distinction
GRANVILLE
THE IDEALIST