GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS, 1885.

HISTORICAL SERIES, NO. VI.

THE FUNCTIONS OF NEW ENGLAND ACADEMIES : An Address delivered at the Dedication of Lawrence Academy, Groton, June 29, 1871.

BY THE REV. CHARLES HAMMOND.

INTRODUCTORY.

THE main building of Lawrence Academy was burned down in the afternoon of July 4, 1868, during the summer vacation. The fire was first seen on the roof, and is supposed to have caught from the use of fire-crackers by some boys playing in the yard. Bigelow Hall, at one time in great danger, was with difficulty saved from the flames. The Academy was built of wood in the autumn of 1793, though it had been twice remodelled since that time: first, in the summer of 1841; and secondly, in the autumn of 1846, when it was much enlarged. The destruction of the building was complete, and swept away the last trace of the original structure. After the fire the regular exercises of the school were held in Bigelow Hall, where they were continued till the end of the summer term of 1869, when there was an intermission of eighteen months, lasting until March, 1871.

The new building, a handsome edifice of brick and stone, was erected on the same site, and dedicated with appropriate services on June 29, 1871, when an historical address was delivered by the Reverend Charles Hammond, of Monson, a former Principal of the Academy. Owing to various circumstances, it was not printed at the time, as was intended by the Trustees; but subsequently Mr. Hammond lent me the

manuscript with authority to use it, and I had it published in the "Public Spitit" (Ayer), January 1, 1874, from which newspaper this copy is taken. In accordance with his permission, I have made some slight changes and corrections.

Mr. Hammond was the Preceptor of the school from 1852 to 1863, a period of eleven years, thus filling a longer term of continued service than any other teacher. He was enthusiastic in his profession and always interested in educational methods. Before coming to Lawrence Academy Mr. Hammond had been the Principal of Monson Academy for nine years, though not continuously; and on leaving Groton he went back to Monson to take his former position. He was a keen lover of antiquarian studies, and had at his command a rare knowledge of New England history. On several occasions he delivered historical addresses, which have since been printed. He wrote a sketch of Lawrence Academy, which appeared in Barnard's "American Journal of Education" (ii. 49–60) for August, 1856, and another which was published in a pamphlet entitled "New England Academies and Classical Schools (Boston, 1877). A native of Union, Connecticut, where he was born on June 15, 1813, he graduated at Yale College in the class of 1839, and died at Monson on November 7, 1878. At the Commencement of 1877, Iowa College conferred on him the honorary degree of LL.D.

Mr. Elbridge Smith, master of the Dorchester High School, delivered a memorial discourse on his life and character before the Massachusetts Teachers' Association at Boston, on Wednesday, December 31, 1879, which was published by a vote of the Association. Mr. Smith says:

"When the Trustees of Monson Academy would celebrate their semi-centennial anniversary, they recalled Mr. Hammond from Groton to review its history. When the Trustees at Groton would dedicate their new Academy building, they sent to Monson for Mr. Hammond to come and teach them the history of academic education in New England."

S. A. G.