na," is a very efficient working body. It has a great work before it, and it puts its shoulder to the wheel with a will, and with marked success. Its funds come from Friends in various places on this continent and across the Atlantic. DANIEL HILL. (It may be interesting to those not acquainted with the size of Baltimore Yearly Meeting, to learn that at one sitting which was counted, about 70 men Friends were in attendance, and over 20 of these were from other Yearly Meetings.--EDS.) INDIANA YEARLY MEETING. THE last annual gathering of this body is descrving of notice in several respects. As its minutes are now published it is not proposed, in this article, to notice minutely, its proceedings, but simply to make some observations upon the Meeting. has been rather to carry out their views than to deliberate upon the wants of the body. However proper in themselves, the measures thus adopted may have been, such a course in arriving at them, has failed to enlist the interests and sympathies of the members generally in the work of the Church, which is often the most important end to be reached. And it has frequently happened that this leadership of a few has had an enfeebling and deadening effect upon the whole Society. Perhaps no session of Indiana Yearly Meeting has been freer from injurious influences of this kind than that of 1866. The life and feeling that existed in the body at large were such as to take away the necessity for any special leadership, and, indeed, to leave no room for it. The counsels of the old and tried members were heard along with the opinions of those of fewer years and less experience, and the conclusions reached were the intelligent, heartfelt convictions of the body of the Church, and not echoes of the views of those occupying prominent positions in the meeting. 2. Along with this interest and life the business of the meeting was conducted in great harmony; not indeed in sameness of opinion and thought, but in living harmony of spirit and purpose. There were differences of views upon some questions, but the decisions reached upon all important matters were evidently in much unity and good feeling. 1. Our Yearly Meetings are not Conferences of a privileged or a selected portion of the Society, but the Church assembled to transact its business in its highest capacity. There all have a voice, and all opinions have their weight in making up the decisions of the meeting. But along with this freedom of influence, and liberty of using it, conclusions are arrived at, not entirely by the numbers on the respective sides of the questions, but in part by the weight of the opinions expressed, which is chiefly estimated by the position in society of those expressing them. Thus are combined the advantages of equal rights and the influence of the most worthy persons in the government of the Church. But the results of this combination can be good only when the two elements are well balanced, and especially when all the right minded and concerned members contribute their part toward the business. Now it has sometimes happened in our Yearly Meetings, as well as in smaller ones, that a few individuals from their position and influence, have obtained almost absolute control of 4. Its legislation showed a comaffairs, and the action of the meetings mendable financial liberality. 3. Its deliberations were characterized by much dignity and ability. Views and suggestions by way of counsel, caution and encouragement were brought forward by different members during the course of the meeting, indicating much breadth of thought, and a true understanding of the conditions and wants of the Society. In this respect, it was a meeting long to be remembered, and its action will doubtless have a shaping effect for good in our branch of the Church. In evidence of this may be mentioned the hearty agreement to pay the expenses of all persons on committees doing business for the Yearly Meeting, the appropriation of $1,000 to aid in building a meeting house in Chicago, and the direction to raise $16,000 the coming year for the use of the Committee on Freedmen. 5. But perhaps the circumstance that most fully called out the feeling of the meeting, and gave tone to its proceedings, was the reception of an epistle from a body of Wesleyan Methodists, and the action in regard it. The opportunity thus presented of showing our feelings towards, and sympathy with, Christian brethren of other names, was not lost. The epistle and the reply, which, without dissent, were ordered to be published with the minutes of the meeting, show what that feeling was. Along with this may be mentioned that near the close of the last sitting, a venerable minister of another denomination, in much feeling, gave expression of his thanks for having been privileged to attend the Yearly Meeting, saying that he had come near the first of the session expecting to attend a public meeting, but when he discovered his mistake and was about to retire for fear of intruding, he was kindly conducted to a seat near the Clerk's desk, which he had occupied throughout the meeting. Perhaps there were few present who did not rejoice that he could thus speak. The meeting was well attended, the interest was well sustained, the usual course of important business was transacted, and, let it be gratefully acknowledged, the gracious ownings of the Master were known amongst us, by the prevalence of the spirit of condescension, brotherly kindness, and love. E. J. ECONOMY IN EDUCATION. Having had opportunities, for some years past, of becoming acquainted with the quality and amount of instruction imparted by schools among Friends, especially in the West, the writer feels an inclination, if not a duty, to offer some observations upon the subject. Often when the Committees on Education come together to perform the duties pertaining to their appointment, and on many other occasions, the remark is made that "the Public Schools are much inferior to those of Friends." This is certainly true in some localities, but in others the statement is very questionable. But, whether true or not, it should have no weight as an argument against improvement. We do not seem to reason upon the subject of education, with the same sagacity as upon others of less moment! One who will take the trouble to investigate and make some arithmetical computations, will not be long in reaching the conclusion, that Friends, in the Western States, are wasting thousands of dollars annually for the want of a proper educational system.The same remark applies in a much greater degree to the public at large, but our concern at present is with Friends. Those who have had charge of our higher educational establishments, as far as the writer's knowledge extends, agree in stating that a student on entering one of them, is very seldom qualified to enter a class as far advanced as the one which he leaves at his home school. His previous training has been so defective in nearly every case, that he is placed one, two, or even three, sessions behind the grade into which he expected his qualifications to place him.— Each student then, on the average, upon entering one of these higher educational institutions, must spend at least one half year in removing his deficiencies, and "unlearning what he has learned amiss." We cannot suppose that only those who go from home to attend school, or college, are thus deficient. Whether there is opportunity to test it or not, the same deficiency must exist in those who never advance beyond the training of their schools at home. We may consider it then as an established fact, that on the average each child loses really or virtually one First Month, half year, and most of them the cost which, growing upon him, as years of their support and tuition during increase, rendered him unfitted to an equal period, and this loss and cost excel in the affairs of life, and exists when students might if other- very naturally prevent him from atwise employed be earning something taining that refined religious develfor themselves. One hundred dollars opment, which, under more favorable for each child is a low average esti- circumstances he might have reached. mate for this loss. In a future number of this paper, The number of children in Indiana some suggestions may be made as to Yearly Meeting between six and modes by which our educational systwenty-one years of age, is about tem, especially in common schools, 4,000. The loss, accruing to them may be improved. alone, from the lack of a complete system of education, is not less than $400,000. By dividing this sum by fifteen, we obtain more than $26,000 for the annual loss. W. B. M. EXPERIMENTS IN NATURAL SCIENCE It is our design to give methods of Readers will perceive that this performing numerous philosophical argument proceeds in part upon the experiments with apparatus that costs hypothesis adopted by all economists, but little, and to propound questions that when there is a failure to realize in natural science to our younger all that ought to be gained by a certain outlay or investment, the deficiency in the gain must be considered a loss. Likewise, if in any case a little larger investment made, would enable an individual, not only to recover the additional expenditure, but realize greater returns from the original investment, the additional amount which might thus be gained, must be considered a loss. A portion, therefore, of the $26000 above, must be included under losses of this char acter. But the pecuniary loss is a very trifling matter compared with the evil results of an improper system of instruction. Many a parent, perhaps without being able to account for the disastrous event, has had to mourn for a son, who has run to irretrievable ruin in consequence of the loose system of training and its attendant circumstances, to which he has been subjected at home and at school in his younger years. Many a parent, whose child, in early years, gave bright promise for future usefulness, has been disappointed in his expectations, because the fine abilities of the child have become stunted and distorted in their development under the instruction of teachers poorly prepared for their important labors. He may have been suffered to acquire loose habits of thought and application, readers, which we request them to answer by letter. The answers which are most nearly correct, with the names or initials of their authors, will be noticed in succeeding numbers of the paper. We think this will be an interesting and valuable department to those who will give it their attention. Question No. 1 with Experiments.Stretch one thickness of a silk handkerchief tightly on a round metallic knob of a fire shovel, apply to it a live coal;-the handkerchief will not be burned. How do you account for it? Second. Why does blowing increase the burning of fire? TAKE a common tin pie-pan, pour melted sealing wax over the bottom and inner sloping sides, and with a knife spread it, until all parts are of a uniform thickness. Then take another pan similar to the first, melt one end of a bar of sealing-wax, stick it fast to the bottom of the pan on the inside, and the machine is complete. To produce electricity, take the first pan and brush the wax covered bottom rapidly with a bunch of perfectly dry feathers, or a silk handkerchief. for two or three minutes, then taking the second pan by the wax handle set it inside of the other for an instant, raise it up and apply the knuckle to its edge, and an electrical spark may be both seen and felt. Repeat the operation and the same effect will be produced, until the electricity in the first pan is exhausted when it must again be renewed by brushing the wax. In our next we will publish a cheap method of making a Leyden Jar and discharging rod, so that the electricity thus generated may be collected, and discharged as desired. Besides being a mere toy for amusement, teachers may use it to perform many experiments before their schools as successfully as with an Electrical Machine, which would cost forty or fifty dollars. EDUCATIONAL. SCHOOL ITEMS. SUCH items of information respecting schools and educational institutions as are deemed of interest will be published in the columns of the AMERICAN FRIEND. Teachers, school committees, and others interested in education are requested to furnish us with statistics of schools in their respective localities. We should like especially to have the names of the teachers employed, the progress made in grading the schools, any striking feature in the plan of government, or any important changes in text-books. HAVERFORD COLLEGE, PA. By a Catalogue for the current year we learn that the number of students in this institution is 45; divided among the classes as follows: Seniors 12, Juniors 8, Sophomores 12, Freshmen 13. The College affords no accommodations for Preparatory students. THE MEMBERS OF THE FACULTY ARE, Samuel J. Gummere, A. M., President, and Professor of Mathematics, Physics, and Astronomy. Thomas Chase, A. M., Professor of Classical and English Literature. Edward D. Cope, A. M., Professor of Natural Science, Chemistry, etc. John H. Dillingham, A. M., Superintendent, and Adjunct Professor of Greek and Latin. This College is perhaps not surpassed by any in the United States in thoroughness of instruction, the selection of topics for study, and the interest of its Managers and Faculty in the moral culture of its pupils. It is also provided with a large library, an extensive Geological Cabinet, and with ample apparatus for elucidating science. Taking these things into consideration it is to be regretted that Friends do not fill up the College with students. The number that can be received is about seventy. NEW YORK. YOUNG LADIES COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE. This institution is located in the village of Union Springs, Cayuga county, New York. We learn from the published Catalogue that the school was opened in the 11th month, 1863. The students in the Collegiate Department board in the institution. A Primary day school is connected with it, which affords the advantages of a training school for those who wish to prepare for teaching. Unusually ample provision appears to have been made for the instruction of the limited number of pupils admitted. Among the faculty we notice the names of Wm. J. Beal, A. M., Caroline A. Comstock, Esther Peirson and Daniel Sattherthwaite, A. M. Dr. Z. Test has recently become connected with the Institute. Robert B. Howland, Proprietor and Manager. CARY INSTITUTE. This school is located in the Southeast part of the city of Poughkeepsie. It was first organized in the basement of Friends' Meeting House, by Egbert Cary and Mary B. Johnson. It began with fifteen scholars, but at the end of one year it was sufficiently successful to warrant the erection of a building capable of accommodating one hundred and fifty students. The male and female departments of the higher grades occupy separate school rooms, but recite together in their classes. Those who board in the family of the Principal are under the immediate care of the Teachers. his wife, Eunice Clark, and Mary All the students attend Scripture Jarrett. The school is divided into School on First Day. three grades, Primary, Intermediate and High School. There are 75 students in attendance. A course of study is arranged for such as wish the benefit of a systematic education; it is also arranged so as to prepare those who desire it, for entering college. Those who complete the course, sustain a good character and pass a satisfactory examination are awarded a Diploma signed by the Board of Instructors. There are, at present, seven Teachers engaged in the school. We are informed that much care is taken to educate pupils religiously as well as secularly. INDIANA. THE Winter Term of Earlham College has opened with a full attendance. There are 115 students in the Preparatory Department, and 60 in the College. Walter T. and Susan M. Carpenter having resigned their positions as Superintendent and Matron, have been succeeded by Barnabas C. and Rebecca T. Hobbs. Spiceland Academy is at present under the superintendence of Edward Taylor, A. B., and Samuel Cowgill, B. S. They are assisted by Luzena Thornburg, A. B., Louisa W. Hiatt and Elma Hough. They have a commodius building, containing four school rooms and four recitation rooms. A considerable amount of Philosophical and Chemical Apparatus is owned by the Principals and kept by them for the use of the school. There are at present 186 students enrolled. In the High School 37; Grammar 61; Intermediate Department 32, and Primary 55. A new school house has been built at New Garden the past year, and a prosperous school of 70 students is now in session under the care of Israel H. Hollingsworth, B. S., as Principal, and Mary Jones, Assistant. Farmer's Institue, about nine miles from Lafayette, is under the care of J. Addison Clark, A. M., assisted by Bloomingdale Academy, for many years under the care of B. C. Hobbs, is now under the superintendence of John Chawner, A. B. We have no statistics of the present session. Mooresville High School is taught by Edwin H. Dorland, B. S., Robert B. Warder, A. B., and Seburn P. Dorland. The number of students at last account was 70 or 75. C. D. MARION STREET SABBATH SCHOOL, RICHMOND, This School was opened in the 4th month, 1864, for that class of children in Richmond "who do not attend Sabbath School." Its officers and teachers are mostly Friends, although there are several who are not. About 350 children are enrolled, of these not forty are in any way connected with religious society, and most of that number only nominally so. The families represented are not all poor. No class is excluded. The average attendance of teachers and scholars the past year has been over 200-for the past five weeks the average has been 280-two classes are adults, and the remainder children, a large proportion under 12 years of age. The work has been greatly blessed. Five of the children died of Cholera during the past summer and fall; of these, four gave every evidence of conversion and full preparation to meet the Savior-their whole religious instruction had been in this school. Many of the children who attend give evidence of a change of heart. A tract, or religious paper Sabbath. More than 700 children is sent into each family on every have been in the school since it opened. weekly in connection with the school A Mothers' meeting is held -more than forty attend-several of these have given evidence of change of heart and life. C. F. C. |