| Description |
Weber Stake Academy first opened its doors for instruction at the LDS Second Ward Meeting House on the corner of 26th Street and Grant Avenue on January 7, 1889. The academy's two teachers, Louis F. Moench and Edwin Cutler, welcomed nearly one hundred students on the first day, and, by the end of its first term, 195 students in all had registered for the school. This monograph depicts the role the LDS church and its leaders played in founding the school, the background of its first educators and administrators and the financial challenges they confronted in operating the school from 1889 through 1894. Letters of appreciation for Louis F. Moench and a bibliography of primary sources are also provided. |
| OCR Text |
Show 54 WEBER STAKE ACADEMY Dedicated with Impressive and Solemn Ceremony Eloquent Addressed Delivered Monday, August 29, 1892 was the occasion of the dedication of the Weber Stake Academy. The spacious lecture room was elegantly decorated with flowers and bunting and from the front portico the national emblem waved in the breeze. At 10 A. M. about five hundred had congregated filling the lecture room to the utmost capacity. There were present Apostle Lorenzo Snow, Apostle F. D. Richards, Hon. John T. Caine, Dr. Karl G. Maesar of the General Board of Education, Dr. Talmadge, President Shurtliff, Middleton, Flygare, Hon. Joseph Stanford, Bishop Robert McQuarrie, Bishop Thomas Stevens of the Stake Board of Education, members of the High Council, bishops of the city wards and the academy faculty.1 A hymn was sung and orayer offered by Charles F. Middleton. The choir rendered "I'll Praise My Maker While I've Breath" President Lewis W. Shurtliff made a few opening remarks, and Apostle Lorenzo, "with choice words pronounced the dedicatory prayer." The Honorable Joseph Stanford, secretary of the Weber Stake Board of Education reviewed the conditions of the institution, past, present and prospective. The statistics showed money receipts since June 1, 1888, aggregating $39,607.97, expenditures of all kinds for the same period $53,607.97. Present liabilities $23,000. The institution began with one hundred and twenty pupils. The last academic year enrolled 303 students. The present faculty is strong and compitent and the prospects are auspicious for the coming school year.2 Apostle Franklin D. Richards was the next speaker and advised against machine like efforts towards culture in which the health and capacity of the students is not consulted. He stated also that the knowledge of the sciences properly associated with moral and religious training will possess the youth of all necessary qualities for usefulness. A duet Evening Prayer was sung by Orson Griffin and Lettie Chambers. Karl G. Maesar then congratulated the Stake Presidency and the Board of Education on the completion of the building, and said that the board members should not be discouraged by the small liabilities out standing. He predicted a great future for the school. 1. The Standard, August 31, 1892. 2. Idem. |
