In  1804  the  vestry  established  a  day  school  for  the  in-
struction of  the  youth. Each  member  of  the  Educational
Society  thereby  called  into  existence  was  required  to  contri-
bute an  annual  sum  of  one  dollar. The  board  of  trustees
continued  to  carry  on  the  school  up  to  the  year  1816;  beyond
which  time  no  minute  of  the  proceedings  appear. A  fact
worthy  of  note  in  connection  with  the  school  is  the  expense
of  instructing  ten  male  scholars  was  provided  out  of  trust
funds  coming  through  Rev. Dr. Bray,  the  English  commis-


OF  THE  Episcopal  Church  69

ssiry. Rev. Mr. Douglass  says  with  respect  to  this  school,
"It  appears  that  the  vestry  finally  gave  up  the  control  of  the
school  and  placed  it  in  the  hands  of  Solomon  Clarkson  (one
of  its  members)  who  also  for  a  considerable  number  of  years
afterwards,  was  paid  from  the  same  charity  for  the  tuition
of  the  aforesaid  number  of  scholars. Besides,  there  was  a
female  school  taught  by  Madam  Hand  in  the  Northern  Li-
berties, supported  from  the  same  source."

Watson  s  Annals,  2nd  volume,  page  263,  ed. of  1854,  has
this  interesting  note  concerning  the  above  mentioned  charity:
"This  ancient  charity  originated  with  the  Rev. Dr. Bray,
American  missionary,  the  Bishop  of  London  and  Mr. D'-
Alone,  secretary  to  King  William. In  1774  the  ground
rents  of  a  large  lot  in  this  city  were  set  apart  for  the  payment
of  the  expenses  of  two  schools  for  blacks,  one  for  each  sex,
to  be  educated  gratuitously. 'The  Associates'  in  England
are  perpetual;  and  from  their  appointments,  three  of  our
citizens. Churchmen,  constantly  serve  the  schools  as  direc-
tors and  governors. Those  lately  in  service  were  Wm. Mere-
dith, Thos. Hale  and  James  S. Smith,  Esquires."

Says  the  author  of  the  Annals  of  St. Thomas:  "For  the
last  fifteen  years,  at  least,  this  charity  has  been  turned  in
some  other  direction. It  has  been  ascertained  that  ever
since  the  suspension  of  the  school  here,  the  net  sum  of  nine
hundred  dollars,  arising  from  said  ground  rents,  has  been
forwarded  to  London  annually. 