LE MOYNE NORMAL INSTITUTE, MEMPHIS, TENN.
Reading edition
BY PROF. A.J. STEELE.
Another year has passed in the history of our work at Le Moyne Institute, and its eighteenth anniversary has been celebrated with the graduation of a class of eleven, and the tenth reunion of an alumni association numbering some seventy five members. Recalling sixteen years of experience in connection with this work, I can fix upon scarcely a single event or circumstance that has not been made to conduce to the advancement of our work and influence in the community, and looking over results in all directions, they have surpassed the dreams and expectations of the most hopeful.
The year past has been a remarkable one in our history. Our attendance has varied little from four hundred pupils in all grades of the twelve years' course, while our enrollment for the year has reached five hundred and twenty different pupils.
Every interest of the school has been prospered and greatly blessed and strengthened. The utmost harmony and earnestness has marked the work of the year, both among teachers and pupils. During the past session, as many as sixty of our pupils have started out in the Christian life, giving evidence of change of heart and an earnest purpose to live for Christ and His work in the world. We rejoice over this more than over all other results of our year's work.
The whole spirit and tone of our work has been such that even our trials and losses, from fire and from breaks in our working force, have seemed to be turned to means of blessing and sources of strength. Our trials and difficulties have been to us opportunities. We look forward hopefully to the future, as we look thankfully back to the past.
Our partially destroyed building, from the fire of March 3d, is rebuilt and greatly improved. We hope our corps of instructors, so uniformly faithful in the discharge of duty, may remain unbroken, the same for the coming year.
At the close of the term, the promotions were made in all grades by the principal, and the pupils given the "forms" they are to occupy the coming year. In truth, the formal "Commencement" for the year was made at the close of this session. Every pupil knows exactly his grade and place, and few will be absent at the opening, October first.