USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume II > Part 4
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The history of the church of St. Michael the Archangel dates back to 1842, when a number of Catholics in the city and vicinity determined to erect
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a place of worship, the nearest sanctuary of that denomination being ten miles distant. U'pon application to Right Rev. Francis Patrick Kendrick, Bishop of Philadelphia, Rev. Philip Sheridan was assigned to the parish. On July 12, 18.12, a site was purchased on the Edgemont road, and September 29 the same year the cornerstone was laid by Bishop Kendrick. On June 25. 1843. Right Rev. Dr. Moriarty preached the sermon, dedicating the church under the pa- tronage of St. Michael the Archangel. Until 1850 no regular pastor was as- signed, although occasional visits were made by Fathers Sheridan, Lane, Sour- in, Walsh, Amat, and Dr. O'Hara, but that year Rev. Arthur P. Haviland, who had been ordained the month previous, was appointed to the charge. His ardent and carnest labors soon increased the number of communicants to such an extent that the building became insufficient for the needs of the worship- pers, so the congregation was divided, and the Church of the Immaculate Ileart established in the South Ward. Notwithstanding this temporary relief from the overcrowded condition, the necessity for a new church was plainly evident, and on November 1. 1874, Right Rev. Bishop Wood laid the corner stone of the new sanctuary, a building of Leiperville granite, trimmed with polished granite and columns from Maine. The church is handsomely deco- rated within, wonderful frescoes adorning the walls, and matchless work in carved marble, filling one with amazed admiration. On October 3. 1880, Arch- bishop Wood performed the solemn and impressive ceremony of blessing the cross surmounting the center tower of the church, in the presence of two thousand people.
The Church of the Immaculate Heart was, as before stated, an outgrowth of the Church of St. Michael the Archangel. The parish was organized in 1873, with Rev. John B. Kelly as pastor. A frame chapel was first erected as a meeting place, and September 23, 1874. Right Rev. Bishop Wood officiated at the laying of the corner-stone of the new church, which was dedicated ou Rosary Sunday, October 1, 1876, by Most Rev. James F. Wood, D. D., Arch- bishop of Philadelphia, assisted by Rev. A. J. McConomy, chancellor of the arch-diocese, with Revs. E. F. Pendercese, Francis P. O'Neill, A. J. Gallagher, T. J. Barry, James Timmins, and Thomas J. McGlynn, assisting.
Several years previous to 1849. a Catholic mission was established at Kellyville, Upper Darby township, which later became the Church of St. Charles Borromeo. The ground for the church structure was donated by Charles Kelly, the building being erected and dedication services held Sunday, October 13, 1850, Very Rev. F. X. Gartland, V. G., conducting the ceremony, and Rev. Dr. Moriarty preaching the dedicatory sermon.
Undenominational Churches .- Other churches have sprung up in the county, which, either because of their irregular origin or because of their scar- vity, could not be treated under separate denominational heads. The story of these churches follows :
In the early part of the nineteenth century a few residents of Ridley town- ship organized a Free Christian Church, and erected on a lot conveyed, Decem- ber 29, 1818, by Isaac Culin, to John L. Morton, John Price, Abraham Wood,
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Jonathan Bond, and Samuel Tibbetts, trustees, a stone house of worship, Rev. Frederick Plummer, of Philadelphia, becoming its pastor. At his death the organization weakened and finally dissolved, the last meeting being held about 1865.
In 1832, George Bolton Lownes, of Springfield, who seems to have had the true essence of religion in his heart, set apart a tract of land on his farm for church and burial purposes. He erected a church building, dedicated to no denomination, but free to the use of any which cared to hold services therein. Services were held by Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian ministers, and at times members of the Society of Friends have made it their meeting house.
The Wayside Church, erected by a society of Protestants of different faiths, organized in 1871, was intended for much the same purpose that the Free Church was erected, with this difference, that the Free Church was for the use of all faiths, while the latter confined its invitation to all of Protestant faiths. The lot upon which the church was built was donated by William H. Erwin, the building being dedicated May 3, 1874, by Rev. Dr. Speer, an Epis- copal divine of Philadelphia, assisted by Rev. George W. Gaul, of the Metho- dist church, Rev. Abel C. Thomas, of the Universalist church, Rev. Lynn, of the Presbyterian church, Rev. Worrell, of the Baptist church, and Darlington Hoopes, a Friend.
James Lindsay about 1818 erected on the Logtown road, in Aston town ship, a church building which was always known as the Blue Church, and which on March 1, 1822, he conveyed to William Glenn, James McMullen, and Sam- uel Hunter, trustces of the First Branch of the United Presbyterian Congrega- tion of Aston, Providence and Springfield, "for and in consideration of the love of God and promotion of Religion, and also in consideration of the sum of one dollar."
Rev. John Smith was the first and only pastor of the Mount Gilead Church, as he named it. The church later fell into disuse.
In August, 1878, the organization of St. Paul's German Lutheran Church was effected under the charge of Rev. J. T. Boyer, and in May, 1879, a meet- ing house, formerly the property of the Methodists, was purchased from George H. Crozer. The church was consecrated Sunday, May 18, 1879, by Rev. Dr. C. Shaeffer, president of the Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania, A. T. Geissenheimer, of Philadelphia, and J. Lewberger, of New Jersey. The build- ing was remodeled throughout, and July 10, 1879, was dedicated by the pastor. The services are held in the German language.
Prior to 1830, James Robinson, who had been a lay preacher of the Swedenborgian Church in England hefore emigrating to America, began the teaching of that faith in Upper Darby, holding services in the picker room of the factory now owned by the Thomas Kent Manufacturing Company, and in the academy building at Haddington. At the laying of the corner stone for a church of the denomination Mr. Robinson explained the principles of the New Jerusalem faith. The Rev. Carll, of Philadelphia, also spoke, stating that "they had laid the corner-stone of that church in the name of Jehovah, one
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God, and that Jesus Christ was that God." expressing the hope "that the church erected thereon might never be appropriated to the worship of a Trin- ity, or more than one God, as distinct and separate beings." The church was built on land owned by Frederick and Edward Levis, and it was not until July 31, 1833, that the ground was conveyed to Morris W. Heston and George G. Trites, church trustees, Incorporation papers were obtained September 2, 1861, under the name of the New Jerusalem Society of Edenfield, Delaware county.
DENOMINATIONAL STATISTICS.
Methodist Episcopal .- Delaware County Methodist Episcopal churches, with the twenty-three churches in Philadelphia, and a few others in Chester county, form the South District of the Philadelphia Conference of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, Bishop Joseph F. Berry, president. From the min- utes of the Annual Conference held in 1913. the following statistics are taken :
Churches.
Pastor of
Value of church property.
Madison street
William H. Shafer
$52,000
Providence Avenue
Chester
F. J. Andrews 1 1,000
South Chester
Geo. W. Sheetz 35,000
Trinity
Samuel McWilliams 25,000
Clifton
J. W. Perkinpine 28.000
Crozierville
G. E. Archer
10,000
Darby
J. W. Bennett
20,000
East Lansdowne
W. S. Housman
9,000
Eddystone
H. F. Hamer
*30,000
Elam and Bethlehem
C. J. Benjamin
$3.000 and 8,000
Glen Mills and Stony Bank
Geo. R. Tompkins
6,500
Gradyville
R. J. Knox 3,000
Lansdowne
N. B. Masters
21,000
Lima
A. B. Peterson
6,300
Llanerch and Bethesda
J. H. Royer
21,000
Marcus Ilook
J. R. McDade
10,000
Media ( First Church )
H. S. Noon
13,000
Morton
F. W. Z. Barnett
12,000
Mt Hope
J. G. Smith
16,000
Norwood
R. H. Kiser
12,000
Ridley Park
Bertram Shay
16,000
Sharon Hill
S. W. Purvis
15,000
Siloam
J. S. Tomlinson
5.000
Swarthmore
W. L. Mckinney
12,000
Trainer
T. W. Bare 10,000
Union and South Media
John Stringer
6,000
Upland
A. A. Thompson
5.000
Baptist. - Delaware County Baptist Churches form a part of the Delaware I'mon Association of the Pennsylvania Baptist General Convention. From the minutes of that convention the following statistics are taken :
Churches are located as follows :
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DELAWARE COUNTY
Brandywine Church, Chadds Ford, organized 1715; pastor, J. L. Foreman; member- ship, 172; value of church property, $16,000; seating capacity, 600.
Chester :- six churches. First church, organized 1863; pastor, Frank MacDonald; membership, 540; value of church property, $53,900; seating capacity, 900. Calvary, organized 1903; A. R. Robinson, pastor ; membership, 660; value church property, $10,400. Emmanuel, organized 1899; H. J. Lane, pastor; membership, 258; value of church property, $25,000; seating capacity, 450. North Chester, organized 1873; pastor, M. M. Lewis; membership, 86; value church property, $12,500; seating capacity, 450. South Chester, organized 1873; pastor, R. A. Rook; value of church property, $11,500; seating capacity, 1400; membership, 268. Union, organized 1902; pastor, J. W. Brown; membership, 50.
Crum Lynne, organized 1879; pastor, C. J. Dauphin ; membership, 46; value church property, $24,500; seating capacity, 300.
Marcus Hook, organized 1878; pastor, W. H. Van Toor; membership, 137; value church property, $13,000; seating capacity, 350.
Media, First Church, organized 1832; pastor, W. S. Staub; membership, 313; value church property, $40,000; seating capacity, 450.
Moores, Prospect Hill, organized 1889; pastor, W. R. McNutt; membership. 206; value church property, $28.500; seating capacity, 500.
Ridley Park, organized 1830; membership, 78; value of church property, $20,000; seating capacity, 400.
Village Green, organized 1880; pastor, Alfred Lawrence; membership, 46; value of church property, $9.000; seating capacity, 250.
Churches of Delaware county belonging to the Philadelphia Association :
Media, Second Baptist, organized 1894; membership, 163; value of church property, $6,000; seating capacity, 250.
Moores, Second Church, organized 1908; pastor, G. E. Chambers; membership, 30.
Newtown Square, organized 1832; pastor, G. H. Dooley; membership, 183; church property value, $14,000 ; seating capacity, 500
Lansdowne, organized 1898; pastor, C. M. Phillips; membership, 136; value of church property, $14,000; capacity, 300.
Garrettford, organized 1908; pastor, L. C. Drake; membership, 61; value of church property, $12,000; seating capacity, 250.
Collingdale, organized 1888; pastor, F. P. Langhorne; membership, 128; church property value, $15,000; seating capacity, 250.
Upland, organized 1852; pastor. R. D. Stelle; membership, 625.
Churches of Delaware county, belonging to the Central Union Association :
Wayne, First Church, organized 1841; pastor, W. O. Beazley; membership, 75. Second Church, organized 1897; pastor, George Washington; membership, 105. Central Church, organized 1897: pastor, P. E. Wilmot; membership, 126.
The church at Yeadon was organized in 1912 with twenty-one memhers, the church having a seating capacity of 150.
Presbyterian Churches .- The Presbyterian churches of Delaware county are part of the Chester Presbytery of the Pennsylvania Synod. The churches follow :
Bethany church, of Chester, organized 1890, Egidius Kellmayer, pastor; Chambers Memorial of Rutledge, organized 1889, George L. Van Alen, pastor; First Church of Chester, organized 1852, P. H. Mowry, D. D., pastor, membership 258; Second Church of Chester, organized 1866, Harvey W. Koehler, pastor, membership 316; Third Church of Chester, organized 1872, Abraham L. Latham, Ph. D., pastor, membership 902; Fifth Church of Chester, organized 1899. Thomas M. Thomas, pastor; First Italian Church
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DELAWARE COUNTY
of Chester, organized 1911; Memorial Church of Chichester, organized 1886, Josiah L. Esthin, D. D., pastor, membership 65; First Church of Clifton Heights, organized 1887, William R Hustou, pastor, membership 123; Church of Darby Borough, organized 1855. James R. Kerr, pastor, membership 521; Church of Dilworthtown, organized 1878, Martin I .. Ross, D. D., pastor, membership 70; First Church of Glenolden, organized 1840, David Winters, LL.D., pastor, membership 204; Glen Riddle, organized 1880, vacant; First Church of Lansdowne, organized 1887, William Boyd, pastor, membership 530. Leiper Memorial, G. A. Marr, stated supply; Llanerch, organized 1909, Charles S. Richardson, D. D., pastor; Marple, organized 1834, Ralph A. Garrison, pastor, member- ship 132; Media, organized 1866, S. Harper Leeper, pastor, membership 256; Middletown, organized 1720, William Tenton Kruse, pastor; Radnor, of Wayne, organized 1906, Frank C. Putnam, pastor, membership 176; Ridley Park, organized 1875, Samuel T. Linton, pastor, membership 335; Sharon Hill, organized 1908, Alexander Mackie, pastor; Swarthmore, organized 1895, William M. Woodfin, pastor; Wallingford, organized 1891, Edwin E. Riley, pastor, membership 107; Wayne, organized 1870, W. A. Patton, D. D., pastor.
Protestant Episcopal Church .- The Protestant Episcopal Church of Dela- ware county is a part of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, the officials of which follow : Bishop of the Diocese, Right Rev. Philip Mercer Rhinelander, D. D., LL.D., D. C. L. : Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese, Right Rev. Thomas James Garland, D. D., D. C. L. ; secretary to the Bishop and of the Diocesan Com- mittees, Rev. W. Arthur Warner; Treasurer of the Diocese, Mr. Ewing L. Miller. The churches of the county, as listed in the report of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, for 1912, are as follows :
St. Luke's, of Chadds Ford; St. Luke's of Chester, admitted to the diocese 1874, rector, Rev. Henry J. Beagen, membership 115, aggregate value of church property, $10,000 ; St. Paul's of Chester, admitted to diocese 1786, Rev. Francis M. Taitt, rector, membership 68.1; St. Stephen's of Clifton, admitted to diocese 1879, no rector, value parish property $25,000, membership 120, (at direction of Bishop of the Diocese, Rev. H. M. G. Huff assumed duties of minister in charge until appointment of minister in charge) ; Trinity Mission of Collingdale, Rev. Charles A. Ricksecker, missionary, (this mission, February 15, 1912, established Darby Mission) ; St. John's of Concord, admitted to diocese 1786, Rev. Thomas L. Josephs, rector, membership 35, value of parish property $8,000 ; Darby Mission, Rev. Charles A. Ricksecker, missionary, membership 100, value parish property, $8,500; St. David's of Devon, admitted to diocese 1786, Rev. James Hart Lamb, rector, membership 169, value parish property $16,500, endowment fund, $10,000; St. John the Evangelist Mission of Essington, Rev. Gilbert Pember, B. D., rector, mem- bership 38; St. John the Evangelist of Lansdowne, admitted to diocese 1897, Rev. Cross- well McBee, rector, membership 529, value parish property. $45,000; St. Martin's of Marcus llook, admitted to diocese 1786. Rev. R. M. Doherty, rector, membership, 85 ; Christ's of Media, admitted to diocese 1858, Rev. Harry Ransome, rector, membership 381, value parish property, $25,000; Church of the Atonement of Morton, admitted to diocese 1886, no rector, membership 95, value parish property, $12,000; St. Stephen's of Norwood, admitted to diocese 1908. Rev. H. Bakewell Green, rector, membership 114, value parish property, $8,800; St. James Mission of Prospect Park, Rev. William Howard Davis, missionary, membership 43, value parish property $8,000; St. Martin's of Radnor, admitted to diocese 1887, Rev. George Warrington Lamb, M. D., rector, membership 129. value parish property. $.[0,000; Christ's of Ridley Park, admitted to diocese 1881, Res Gilbert Pember, B. D., rector, membership 200, value parish property $26,000; Calvary of Rockdale, admitted to diocese 1835. Rev. J. Frederic Weinmarm, rector,.
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DELAWARE COUNTY
membership 153; Trinity of Swarthmore, Rev. Walter A. Matos, priest-in-charge, mem- bership 77, value parish property, $9,000; St. Mary's Memorial of Wayne, admitted to diocese 1889, Rev. C. M. Armstrong, rector, membership 350, value parish property, $105,000.
Society of Friends .- The Meetings of the Orthodox Branch of the So- ciety of Friends in Delaware county, are as follows :
Chester, held Ist and 4th days, Io o'clock; Middletown, Ist and 5th days, 10 o'clock; Media, ist and 4th days, 10 o'clock, 4th day meetings are omitted in weeks of quarterly and monthly meetings; Landsdowne, Ist and 5th days, 10.30 o'clock; Con- cordville, Ist day at 10 o'clock, and 4th day at same hour, except monthly meeting, which is on 3d day, at 9.30.
Friends Meetings (Hicksite) :
Darby, founded 1684, meeting house at Darby; Lansdowne, at Lansdowne; Chester Monthly Meeting, founded 1681, preparative meetings at Providence, Middletown and Chester ; Concord Monthly Meeting, founded 1684, preparative meetings at Concord and Chichester ; Swarthmore, founded 1893, meeting house at Swarthmore; Birmingham, founded 1815, set off from Concord, preparative Meeting at Birmingham; Newton, at Newtown Square.
Catholic Churches .- The Roman Catholic church in Delaware county is embodied in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, with Most Rev. Edmond F. Pren- dergast, D. D., as Archbishop. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia contains a Cath- olic population of approximately 605,000, and to it are assigned one Archbishop, two Bishops and 654 priests. In it are contained 271 churches, 3 colleges, and 149 parochial schools, the latter having an attendance of 65,912. The various Catholic churches in Delaware county, are enumerated below :
Chester, six churches :- St. Michael's, Rev. Joseph F. Timmins, rector; Rev. Joseph V. Sweeney, assistant rector ; school-sisters of the Holy Child. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Rev. Peter J. Ryan, rector ; Revs. John J. McMahon and Francis P. McGinn, assistant rectors; school-sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary. St. Hedwigs (Polish), Rev. Leon Wierzynski, rector, pro tem .; school-sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Holy Ghost (Rutherian), Rev. Lucas Bilansky, rector. Chapel of St. Anthony of Padua (Italian), Rev. Antonio Garritano. Church of the Resurrection, Rev. August L. Ganister, rector.
Clifton :- Sacred Heart (Polish), Rev. A. Kulawy, rector pro tem .; mission, Our Lady of Czestechowa B. V. M. Eddystone-St. Rose of Lima; Rev. Thomas F. Ryan, rector ; Rev. Patrick D. Houston, assistant. Ivy Mills-St. Thomas the Apostle, Rev. Daniel A. Dever, D. D., rector ; Rev. James J. Devine, assistant. Mission, Kaolin, first Sunday each month, station, Glen Mills, House of Refuge every Sunday. Kellyville- St. Charles Borromeo, Rev. Michael G. Scully, rector; Rev. John J. Cunniff, assistant ; school-sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary. Lansdowne-St. Philomena's, Rev. F. J. Markee, rector; Rev. John J. Toohey; school-sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary. Lenni-St. Francis de Sales, Rev. William C. Farrell, rector; Rev. Joseph J. Conway, assistant ; school-sisters of St. Francis; station, Delaware County House of Refuge for Girls. Media-Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary; Rev. Francis A. Brady, rector ; school- sisters of St. Francis. Morton-Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rev. James J. Wilson, rector. Norwood-St. Gabriel's, attended from Ridley Park. Ridley Park-St. Made-
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DELAWARE COUNTY
lines, Rev. Wilham J. McCallen, Ph. D., rector. Sharon Hill-Holy Spirit, Rev. Joseph Paul Monville, rector ; Rev. Francis E. Higgins, assistant; school-sisters of the Holy Chill; Chapel, Convent of Sisters of Holy Child. Villanova-St. Thomas of Villanova, Rev. 11. A. Gallagher, O. S. A., rector; Rev. A. J. Viger, O. S. A., and Augustinian Father assistant; school-sisters of Mercy; chapel, Augustinian Monastery, Reverend Augustinian Fathers; St. Rita's in St. Rita's IIall. Wayne-St. Katherine of Sienna, Very Rev. Joseph F. O'Keefe, V. F., rector.
There are churches of other denominations than those mentioned in the foregoing chronicle, whose work for the advancement of the cause of Chris- tianity and the uplift of the community in which they have been placed, has been just as productive of good as have the efforts of the churches of the more numerous denominations, to whom more space has been granted.
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ASTOR, LENOX AND TLOON FOUNDATIONS.
EDUCATION*
With the first settlement of the territory now known as Delaware county, began the fight for educational advantages, now so marked a feature of the progress and enlightenment of the county. From 1684, when the first employ- ment of a teacher is noted, the advance along educational lines has been rapid, until now no locality is without its public school, no borough without its high school ; many private schools flourish, while three great institutions of national fame are located within the borders of Delaware county-Swarthmore College, Haverford College, and Pennsylvania Military Institute, all of which will have further and extended mention.
The first public utterance on the question of education for the people at large, is found in the general laws enacted by the second General Assembly, held at l'hiladelphia, March 10, 1683, over which William Penn presided. Chapter CXII, general laws provided :
"And to the End that Poor as well as Rich may be instructed in good and commend- able learning, Which is to be preferred before Wealth be it, etc. That all persons in this Province and Territories thereof, having Children and all the Guardians or Trustees of Orphans, shall cause such to be instructed in Reading and writing; so that they may be able to read the Scriptures and to write by that time they attain to twelve years of age. And that they may be taught some useful trade or skill that the poor may work to live and the rich if they become poor may not want. Of which every county court shall take care : And if such parents, guardians or overseer, shall be found deficient in this respect every such parent, guardian or overseer sball pay for every such Child, five pounds. Except there should appear an incapacity in body or understanding to hinder it."
This law was in force for ten years ; it was repealed when William and Mary took the government of the Province out of the hands of Penn and com- missioned Benjamin Fletcher, the Governor of New York to be Captain Gen- eral of Pennsylvania and the territories annexed. However, in the laws made that year the one numbered 25, entitled "The law about education of youth," the same law was reenacted with some changes-that part applying to guar- dians and trustees of orphan children, their obligation to have such minors taught to read and write depending upon their wards having, "sufficient estate and ability to do so." Neither of these acts, however, can be considered as meaning free public instruction, as no public funds were set apart to pay even the slight cost of education in the branches named, reading and writing. Free public education did not come for many years thereafter, and only then after a fierce fight.
The first schools were established by the Society of Friends, Christopher Taylor, a classical scholar, and prominent in the public life of the first decade, had a school on the island of Tinicum about which little is known. It was the first school of high grade in Pennsylvania. It was ordered by the Monthly Meeting, held at Darby, September 7, 1693, "that Benjamin Clift is to teach
*For much of the material of this chapter we are indebted to the excellent "History of Delaware County" of Henry Graham Ashmead.
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DELAWARE COUNTY
schoole," his term to begin "ye 12th of ye 7 mo." and to continue "One whole yeare except two weeks." The annual salary was £12, but board was probably included. These Friends schools have always been a feature of the educational system of Delaware county. Teachers that had the proper qualifications were few, therefore progress was slow, but each monthily meeting maintained a com- mittee on education which had oversight of those schools established. In 1788, Concord Meeting had three schools, and the report of the committee was that they believed there were no Friends' children "but what received a sufficiency of learning to fit them in a good degree for the business they are designed for." There were also schools at Darby, Radnor, Haverford, Middletown, Springfield and Upper Chichester and in connection with almost every Friends Meeting throughout the county. These schools, although established for the benefit of the Friends, were open to every denomination and being superior to any other schools of that day were well patronized. Many, indeed, were of so high a character that when the general system of free public education was finally es- tablished, there were many who doubted whether any benefit would result from the change. It must also be set down to the credit of the Friends that the proper education of the colored population claimed a share of their atten- tion.
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