44 What must the conclusion be in view of these conflicting statements? The Fifth Ward Educational Institute was dedicated on November 7, 1890. It was built for educational purposes. It is quite possible that a church school for young children was begun shortly after the dedication. The school, if held, must have been small. Many of the L. D. S. church members wanted their children to go to a church school, and this school may have offered them the chance. Three months after the dedication Louis F. Moench was asked by Bishop Thomas J. Stevens to take charge of Our Ward School. He accepted and the school opened its doors to all the children in the city whose parents were anxious to enroll their children. Louis F. Moench was the personification of the Weber Stake Academy, and his taking charge was to many the sign that the Academy was re-opening its doors. The attendance and interest of the students and parents and friends was a great surprise to Bishop Stevens and others who had made possible the new church school. To our mutual surprise there were about two hundred present besides a number of visitors, parents of children. Bishop Stratford predicted that the house would yet be filled to overflowing. We found we had so many that we could not get along with the help we had which consisted of Mercy Burton. Arrangements were made to have Marian Burton to take charge of the Preparatory Department.1 Louis F. Moench conducted the ward school as he had conducted the Weber Stake Academy. There was singing of church songs and prayer at the opening and closing of school. There was a similar organization, consisting of Primary, Intermediate and Advanced or Academic grades. There were school programs in which pupils participated. There was the same warm and friendly spirit, the kind welcome and personal interest in every student that had characterized the Academy in 1889 and 1890. It is quite reasonable to believe that all who attended thought they were attending the Academy. In reality it is a great tribute to the teacher whose influence was felt so strongly and is still felt so strongly in 1951. In spite of the feelings of many who believed they attended the Academy in the Fifth Ward Institute, in spite of the tradition during the years, 1890 until 1951, in spite of the statements of the school publications and the writings of distinguished authors, in spite of newspaper accounts and descriptions there seems to be but one answer, and that is that the Fifth Ward Institute was in reality a Ward school and not the Weber Stake Academy. 1. Historical Record, Louis F. Moench, p. 61.