11

The school opened January 9th, 1871. Almost imaediately it became known as the Wesleyan Academy. At the beginning-of the (first term there'were between 100 and 110 pupils registered. The

total cost of the building, land andeurniture was {5,500.

The January 13th, 1871, edition of "The Islander" carried the

following account of the opening ceremonies: "OPENING OF THE NEW WESLEYAN DAY SCHOOL

This institution, which reflects very great credit on the denomination whose'name it bears, and is also an ornament and honour to our city, was opened on Monday last with suitable devotional and dedicatory services. The spacious lecture—room was crowded with an audience including many of the elite of the city. The Rev. George S. Milligan, A.M., Ex~0fficio Member of the Board of Trustees, and Chairman of the Prince Edward Island District, presided.

The exercises were commenced by the singing of an appropriate hymn. Rev. D. FitzGerald, A.B.T.C., Rector of St. Paul's, read select scriptures,after which Rev. John Davis (Baptist) engaged in prayer. The Chairman (Rev. Mr. Willigen), in a short but animated address intimated that the object of the meeting might be said to be two—fold. The Trustees Wished to afford an opportunity to all who had contributed, directly or indirectly, towards the erection and equipment of the Wesleyan Day School, to come and judge for themselves touching what had already been accomplished by those upon whom had devolved the responsibility of carrying forward the work, towards the establishment of an institution which would be quite up to the demands of the times, having all necessary means of instruction and such facilities as modern appliances andapparatus furnished for imparting an education which would be liberal in its provisions, thorough in its character, and communicating upon right Christian principles, without coming into collision with denominational predilections, or — to use an expression which he thought to be generally too invidious — sectaridnz prejudice. Such an inspection, the Trustees felt assured, would not diminish the confidence which the public had already reposed in them, but, on the contrary, tend to strengthen or extend that confidence. He trusted results would prove that the generous patronage and support extended to those upon whom devolved the management of the school were not misplaced, and that, in due time, anything that might appear defective might be perfected, and the institution rendered in every respect worthy of the age in which we live. Another object contemplated by the Trustees was one, he ventured to believe,'the audience would agree with him in thinking still more important, namely, the dedication of the institution to God, in the interests of Christian education, and to commend by earnest prayer, the Board of Instruction and their ,WOrk.to the Divine Favcur and Blessi .. From the we fl ince tion