We, the committee appointed to consider Lampeter’s proposals for building a school house and having again met and had a solid conference together unite in judgment that the proposals are nearly agreeable to the advices of the Yearly Meeting and under the present circumstances are of the mind the monthly meeting may be safe in leaving that meeting at liberty to erect a building proportioned in size to their Friends and the probabilities of what may be obtained by subscription (which is submitted to the meeting by James Miller and signed by fourteen others). 6-25-1792.[640]
In 1793, the school committee recommended in the following report that more definite steps be taken to meet the demand of the yearly meeting in regard to (1) the accommodations for a master and (2) the establishment of a permanent school fund.
Funds to be raised
The committee in the care of schools made the following report in writing which, after being solidly considered, is adopted and the clerk is directed to furnish each preparative meeting with a copy of this minute together with the report of the committee (which follows). Most of the committee appointed in the care of establishing well regulated schools for the instruction of our youth report they met twice on the subject and solidly considering the same, believe it would be right for the monthly meeting to recommend to Sadsbury Preparative Meeting the making of such suitable provisions for the accommodation of a school master as is recommended by the Yearly Meeting Minute of 1778—That Sadsbury and Lampeter Preparative Meetings be stirred up to use their endeavors to raise such funds for their respective meetings by subscription as is recommended—as well as in a minute of our last quarterly meeting, by William Webb (and five others).[641]
By a later minute we are informed that an instrument of writing (subscription plan) has been drawn up for the purpose of raising funds,[642] which, however, did not prove wholly satisfactory,[643] and was postponed for further consideration. As presented finally and accepted on twelfth month, 10th, 1793, the plan for raising permanent funds was as follows:
Plans for raising funds adopted
Whereas the Yearly Meeting is impressed with a sense of the advantages that would arise from a religious education of our youth, has frequently recommended the establishment of schools under the care of a standing committee of monthly or particular meetings and especially in 1778, recommended the promoting a subscription towards a fund, the increase whereof might be employed in paying the master’s salary, if necessary, and promoting the education of poor Friends’ children. This provision may be made to take in poor children of Friends or others taught gratis or at such moderate rates as their parents or guardians can afford to pay at the discretion of the trustees, etc.
And we, the subscribers, writing with the above recommendations and willing to part with a portion of the substance, we as stewards are blessed with, in order to carry the same into effect (provided always, nevertheless, that no part of the fund shall ever be applied towards paying the master’s salary so as to reduce the schooling of children who are in affluent circumstances, lower than 40 shillings per annum, and may be raised at the discretion of the trustees), do hereby promise for ourselves, our heirs, and executors, or administrators to pay, or cause to be paid, the several sums to our names annexed, to the trustees for ... school. Otherwise, five per cent. interest from the dates respectively to our names prefixed until paid or till such other persons as may be appointed by the monthly meeting to receive the same. In witness whereof, ...[644]
The situation of schools near the close of the century is shown in a report of 1797 to be as stated below. Though this report states no fund is established, a later report of 1798 states that some progress has been made in that respect.[645]