South Lancaster Academy
By E. R. Palmer
On Wednesday, September 16, our academy at South Lancaster, Mass., opened its doors for the beginning of its twenty-second year's work. After an absence of nearly twelve years, it was a great privilege to walk again through the halls and rooms of this quiet, home-like school. Many interesting changes have taken place in the school and neighborhood during the past twelve years. The academy building has been enlarged, and the rooms and chapel rearranged, so as to give additional room and better conveniences. The students' home is now being enlarged, in fact, it is being more than doubled in size, so as to accommodate all the boarding students. The faculty has largely changed, though Mrs. S. J. Hall and Miss Fannie M. Dickerson are still at their old posts of duty, where they have stood since the school was founded. The old students have gone away, and new ones have taken their places, except a few young men and women of the advanced department whom I remember as children just entering the primary department when I went away; but notwithstanding these various changes, the dear old school still carries the same air of thoroughness, solidity, homelikeness, and good cheer, which has marked its work since the beginning, and has endeared the school to all who have attended it. On the opening day the enrolment was one hundred and twenty-five, an increase of twenty-five per cent above last year. I was especially pleased with the good deportment and earnestness of all, and the definite purpose of many, if not all, was evident to a marked degree. Among them are three good students contributed by far-away Australia, who, having heard of the fame of this little Eastern school, came ten thousand miles to attend it. The keynote for the year's work, as sounded by the principal, Professor Griggs, in his opening remarks, is the second coming of our Lord; and he expressed his earnest desire, and the desire of the whole faculty whom he represented, that the work of this year shall contribute mightily toward hastening the glad day of the coming of the Prince of Peace. The readers of the REVIEW will respond with a hearty Amen; and they will, we trust, earnestly pray that this may be the watchword of all our schools. That the Lord will abundantly bless the members of the faculty and every student in the school at South Lancaster shall be our constant prayer.