[CHAPTER XXV.]
DONATION TO LAWRENCE ACADEMY.—CORRESPONDENCE WITH R. G. PARKER.—SLEIGH-RIDES.—LETTERS.—AVERSION TO NOTORIETY.—CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
Mr. Lawrence had always taken a deep interest in the academy at Groton, of which he, with all his brothers and sisters, had been members. The residence of his former master, James Brazer, Esq., with whom he lived when an apprentice, bordered on the academy grounds. It was a large, square, old-fashioned house, and easily convertible to some useful purpose, whenever the growing prosperity of the institution should require it. He accordingly purchased the estate; and, in July, 1846, presented it to the Board of Trustees by a deed, with the following preamble:
"To all persons to whom these presents shall come, I, Amos Lawrence, of the City of Boston, in the County of Suffolk, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Esquire, send greeting:
"Born and educated in Groton, in the County of Middlesex, in said Commonwealth, and deeply interested in the welfare of that town, and especially of the Lawrence Academy, established in it by my honored father, Samuel Lawrence, and his worthy associates, and grateful for the benefits which his and their descendants have derived from that institution, I am desirous to promote its future prosperity; trusting that those charged with the care and superintendence of it will ever strive zealously and faithfully to maintain it as a nursery of piety and sound learning."
This had been preceded by a donation of two thousand dollars, with smaller gifts, at various dates, of valuable books, a telescope, etc., besides the foundation of several free scholarships. The present prosperity of the academy is, however, mainly due to his brother, William Lawrence, who has been by far its greatest benefactor; having, in 1844, made a donation of ten thousand dollars, followed by another, in 1846, of five thousand, and, finally, by will, bequeathed to it the sum of twenty thousand. The following memoranda are copied from Mr. Lawrence's donation-book:
"August 20, 1847.—I have felt a deep interest in Groton Academy for a long time; and while brother L. was living, and its president, he had it in charge to do what should be best to secure its greatest usefulness, and, while perfecting these plans, he was suddenly taken from this world. Since then, I have kept on doing for it; which makes my outlay for the school about twenty thousand dollars. I had prepared ten thousand dollars more, which brother William has assumed, and has taken the school upon himself, to give it such facilities as will make it a very desirable place for young men to enter to get a good preparation for business or college life."
In an address[10] delivered at the jubilee celebration of the Lawrence Academy, held in Groton, July 12, 1854, the Rev. James Means, a former preceptor of the Institution, thus speaks of the benefactions of the two brothers:
"It was my good fortune, after becoming the preceptor, in 1845, to have frequent intercourse with them in this particular regard,—the interests of the school. I shall never forget the impression made upon my mind by the depth of their feeling, and the strength of their attachment. They were both of them men of business; had been trained to business habits, and would not foolishly throw away the funds which God had intrusted to them as stewards. But it seemed to me then, as the event has proved, that they were willing to go as far as they could see their way clear before them to establish this school on a foundation that never should be shaken.
"There was a singular difference in the character of these two brothers, and there is a similar difference in the results of their benefactions. I have reason personally to know that they conferred frequently and earnestly respecting the parts which they should severally perform in upbuilding this school. There was an emulation; but there was no selfishness, there was no difference of opinion. Both loved the academy, both wished to bless it and make it a blessing; each desired to accommodate the feelings of the other, each was unwilling to interfere with the other, each was ready to do what the other declined. Out of more than forty-five thousand dollars provided for the academy by Mr. William Lawrence, forty thousand still remain in the hands of the trustees for purposes of instruction. Of the library Mr. Amos Lawrence says, in one of his letters: 'I trust it will be second to no other in the country except that of Cambridge, and that the place will become a favorite resort of students of all ages before another fifty years have passed away. When he presented a cabinet of medals, he writes, 'I present them to the Institution in the name of my grandsons, F. W. and A. L., in the hope and expectation of implanting among their early objects of regard this school, so dear to us brothers of the old race, and which was more dear to our honored father, who labored with his hands, and gave from his scanty means, in the beginning, much more in proportion than we are required to do, if we place it at the head of this class of institutions, by furnishing all it can want.'"