The establishment of these permanent funds was frequently expressed by the numerous committees as the most important consideration for the execution of the school idea. They attempted again and again to provide a uniform means of establishing such funds, but due to the unequal circumstances of the several meetings it was impossible to do so.[378] The uniform plan was kept as an ideal to be striven for and recommended to the quarterly meeting for its advisement in the matter;[379] in the meantime individual contributions were urged on all who felt inclined to endow a worthy cause.[380] The amounts given were frequent though small, many of them being about £5.[381]
In addition to the local expenses of the meetings, (1) for worship, (2) for the use of schools, (3) for the maintenance of the poor, etc., there were also quotas to be raised for the yearly meeting stock, which added materially to the burden of each of the preparative meetings. The quota for the meetings belonging to Falls in 1797 was £500.[382]
If we may look over the Quaker treasurer’s shoulder as he runs his accounts at the end of the century, we find him situated financially as follows:
Financial status of Falls at end of century
We the committee appointed to examine and settle the Treasurer’s accounts, having attended thereto, find a balance in his hands of £136/8/11 school money; also, £3/10/7 poor money; and £9/00/00 of interest received on John Large’s legacy, making the whole £148/19/6, in the treasurer’s hands, and the monies upon interest stand as in the following statement, viz.
| Bonds for | School Money | ||
| 1 | bond for | ” ” | £250/ |
| 1 | ” | ” ” | £7/9/4½ |
| 1 legacy | without a bond | £50 | |
| 1 | bond for | ” ” | £50 |
| 1 | ” | ” ” | £50 |
| 1 | ” | ” ” | £130 |
| 1 | ” | ” ” | £100 |
| 1 | ” | ” ” | £50 |
| 1 | ” | ” ” | £40 |
| Included in a bond of £75 | £40 | ||
| £777/9/4½ | |||
| Interest due on school money | £40/00/11 |
| And one year’s rent on house and lot | £12/00/00 |
| And one year’s rent on house and lot | £12/00/00[383] |
Middletown
The Middletown Meeting began its educational work more promptly than did Falls.[384] Ten years after the first establishment of the meeting a request was brought forward as follows:
School requested in Middletown meeting house