Maiden Creek secures land for school
Attempt to establish school at Reading
Maiden Creek was at this time (1784) making earnest efforts to meet the standards set by the general meeting. In the eleventh month they requested a number of persons to be named to whom they might give a deed of trust for the ground agreed upon for the use of their school.[340] Three were suggested and the deed and declaration of trust accordingly drawn up. Efforts in the meantime had been made towards establishing a school at Reading and a committee to conduct a subscription for that purpose named.[341] Help was solicited from the yearly meeting, but James Pemberton answered for that body that there was no money to be spared at the time, so Reading was advised to build such a house as their circumstances would permit.[342] Near the close of 1787 those having direct charge thereof made the following report of their progress:
Committee report on Reading school
We the committee appointed to have the school education of youth under care, have given close attention to a school proposed to be opened in a short time at Reading by Caleb Johnson, in a house now in building by Friends there, and nearly finished, which we are of the mind should be under particular care and direction of the monthly meeting; and that it may be well that a committee be thereby appointed to superintend and monthly to visit said school; we have also drawn up and agreed on certain rules to be observed and attended to by the employers, master and scholars concerned therein for the regulation and well ordering thereof: which we have ready for the examination and inspection of the monthly meeting if thought necessary. All which we submit thereto. Signed on behalf of the committee, Francis Parvin.... Which minute being read was allowed of and it was directed that a copy thereof be kept in open view in said school and that the original be lodged among the meeting papers; Benjamin Pearson, Samuel Jackson, John Mears, Francis Parvin, Johannes Lee, Jr., and James Iddings are appointed to have the said school under care and visit it once a month or oftener as necessity may require and report of their care. The former committee is continued.[343]
School discontinued
After the school had been in progress two years, Samuel Jackson reported that it “appeared to be in an increasing way”[344] but its prosperity was not to be long continued. In 1705 it was reported “discontinued,”[345] and no reason assigned for it excepting “the situation of the Friends there” which, taking into consideration the shortage of funds when it was begun, we may infer, had reference to the financial situation. The action of the monthly meeting in regard to it was left entirely to their own judgment.[346]
SUMMARY
Scope of chapter
In this chapter we have considered the schools of Philadelphia (city and county), and also those at Exeter Monthly Meeting, which belonged to the Philadelphia Quarter.