The church realizes that true progress is the law which God has given to His creation. Any progress is creation continued. The gospel of Christ is the gospel of progress. The mind to be progressive must seek Him and find Him, and finding Him, be of value to the child and the state.
This the church understands better than she gets credit for, and this is the reason why her parish school is her first care after her own existence has been established. Hence any attempt at her history which would not include her schools would be incomplete and dwarfed. In the school is sown the seed which is afterwards nursed and cared for by the church, in its life-giving sacramental system.
One of the chief parish schools in Linn county is Sacred Heart Academy, at Green Mound Farm. It is a school for young ladies in which are taught all subjects which qualify candidates for the varied positions to which they may wish to aspire, such as teaching, bookkeeping, stenography, etc., etc.
St. Berchman's Seminary at Marion is a boarding school for boys who have not attained the age of fourteen. In this school, which is in charge of the Sisters of Mercy of Cedar Rapids, the most approved methods are employed in imparting thorough and comprehensive instruction in all the elementary branches of an English education, together with a marked attention to the moral culture of the boys, which makes them an honor to their parents and society. Careful attention is given to their physical needs and bodily comfort, and diligent care is extended in seeing that their time in the seminary is put to the best advantage. Music and elocution are among the subjects taught.
The seminary is located on First avenue and Fifteenth street. It is situated on a twenty acre area, beautifully wooded, and affording excellent facilities for outdoor games which boys usually indulge in.
The seminary has its own sources of supply in all edible stuffs. It has a beautiful orchard and vegetable gardens, and its needs in the way of dairy produce and poultry are supplied from its own farm. While within the city limits, it is far removed from noise and all disturbing elements which may in any way militate against the best results.
The apartments are spacious and are furnished with every modern improvement conducive to health and comfort. The building is heated by steam, well ventilated, and lighted by electricity. Hot and cold water are in use for the bath system. At the present time a large addition is being built to meet the needs of the increasing patronage.