William Underwood, on behalf of the committee appointed to have under their care and labor to promote the education of the youth, as well as a reformation with that respect to other deficiencies in our society, informed this meeting that they have several times met and conferred together on the occasion, but have not proceeded any further in that service, neither have any prospect at this time of proceeding therein, etc.[512]
The tone of the next report of 1782 is more encouraging.
The Friends appointed to the care of schools report they have made some progress therein, some of them having attended each of our preparative meetings and endeavored to encourage Friends in setting up of schools agreeable to the intention of the Yearly Meeting and find there is a willingness in the minds of Friends to endeavor to have schools set up amongst us agreeable thereto, as nearly as the circumstances of the several Meetings will admit of. They are continued and desired to assist where there may be occasions and report to this Meeting in the third month next.[513]
School to be at York
In 1784 it was reported that the committee had attended at York and that there appeared to be a good prospect for a school to be established there according to the desires expressed in the yearly meeting’s advices.[514] It was also stated that some provision was made at each particular meeting for the same, and it was expected a particular report would be rendered thereof.[515] This report, however, did not come into the monthly meeting as it appears.
The conditions at York seem to have been the most promising as presented in a committee’s report of 1784 which is here submitted:
Schoolhouse at York; subscriptions started
The committee appointed to promote the establishment of schools report that they have paid some attention to the service; most of them attended a meeting at York, and find that Friends there have a house nearly finished and have entered into some subscriptions to encourage such a school, of which it is agreed that the Quarterly Meeting be informed, as well as of houses being built for that purpose at Newbury and Warrington, and that the committee be released from the service.[516]
Same statement by quarterly meeting