Near this time, very probably in 1784, a new school was established by Friends at Nantmeal, for which Uwchlan Meeting appointed a special committee which was to make a report; the report made in 1785 stated that they had visited the school and found it well conducted.[620] In 1787, the school committee produced a report on all schools, which was to be sent to the quarterly meeting. It embodied some statement of the results achieved, difficulties to be faced, and further gave an insight into the coöperation of Friends in the “mixed schools” of their communities. As sent to the quarterly meeting, the report was as follows:
Report of 1787
Nantmeal school discontinued
We of the committee appointed to essay a report to the quarterly meeting of the situation of our members in regard to schools and the progress of our monthly meeting in that important concern, having had several conferences and opportunities of enquiring into that subject, report as follows: that some have been appointed and continued from time to time by our monthly meeting for several years past, who have used many endeavors to promote the establishment of schools agreeable to the advices of the Yearly Meeting; but our number generally living so remote from each other, has prevented much progress being made therein, save one house being built by Friends at Nantmeal nearly on the plan proposed, in which a school has been kept some time, but now dropped for want of a salary for the master, there not being a sufficient number of Friends settled contiguous thereto nor to each other, in any other part of our meeting to support a school; and the boarding out of our children appears an expense too heavy for many of us, so that we are generally in the practice of schooling our children in a mixed manner, though mostly under the tutorage of Friends, or persons friendly disposed, to whom some care has been extended and their schools frequently visited by our committee some time back. Signed by order of the school committee by William Millhouse, clerk.[621]
London Grove
Committee of men and women appointed for schools
In 1794, the London Grove Monthly Meeting, just created, began its educational work by appointing a committee to take subscriptions for a fund to support a “regular school.”[622] In 1795, the preparative meeting proposing that a standing committee be appointed to inspect the necessities of the poor and the school education of their children, the following were named to unite with a committee of women on that concern, viz.: Samuel Swayne, Josiah Hoopes, John Man, and Jonathan Buslow.[623] Four months later the committee appointed to raise the funds by subscription (see above) reported that a sum of “more than fifty pounds” was already subscribed.[624] No statement of the number of schools established in the limits of the London Grove Meeting is given between the time of its establishment and the end of the century; nor are any other details vouchsafed. It will suffice for a voucher of their intentions and the work actually begun in that period, to insert the following statement of their plan for founding their schools.
Plan produced for settling schools
Pursuant to the advice and recommendations of the Yearly Meeting of Friends for many years, and excited by consideration in our own minds for an improvement of the school education of the youth, especially those in low circumstances, we, the subscribers hereto, have agreed to promote the raising of a fund or stock, the increase whereof to be for the benefit of the several schools which are or may be under the care of London Grove Monthly Meeting, and to be distributed amongst them at the direction of a committee of the said meeting, appointed from time to time in the care of schools. The sum annexed to each of our names we hereby engage each for himself or heirs, executors and administrators respectively, to pay or to cause to be paid to such Friend or Friends as the abovesaid monthly meeting shall appoint as treasurer for the same, and that at any time, when demanded, after the whole subscription amounts to the sum of fifty pounds. The treasurer, so appointed, we enjoin to be subject to the inspection and control of the said monthly meeting and to render a fair and true account thereto of his proceedings therein once a year, and if the said meeting shall at any time see cause to release the treasurer, then he shall give up his accounts and pay the money or transfer such other property as may be under his care, appertaining to the said fund unto such other Friends as the monthly meeting may appoint to succeed him in the said trust. Our subscriptions, until they amount to fifty pounds or upwards, we direct to be kept in stock and be deposited in some safe way so as to produce increase either by a loan upon land at the discretion and direction of the said monthly meeting or committee thereof. The interest, rent, or increase whereof we direct to be applied for the benefit of the aforesaid schools in such a manner and at such times as the school committee of the said monthly meeting for the time being, or a majority of them shall direct. And although our present endeavor may appear feeble and small, yet we trust and hope it may gradually increase so as to become more useful in time.[625]
Sadsbury