Liberia ^ 



Spelling: T. M. Gardner. Languages and Music: E. D. W. 

 Shannon. Mathematics : S. P. Hodges. Modern Languages : N. W. 

 Valentine. 



The Hall Free School. — Dr. James Hall, of the United 

 States, founded in 1875, on his own endowment, the Hall Free 

 School in Maryland (Harper). This school was chartered by the 

 Legislature of Liberia in 1875. Its funds were invested in five 

 Trustees. When Dr. Hall died, he left money to continue the 

 upkeep of this institution. The Principal of this school is Mr. 

 S. J. Dossen, B.L. 



In addition to the foregoing colleges, the Liberian Government 

 has appointed a General Superintendent of Public Schools, Mr. 

 J. Deputie. 



Each county has a local School Commissioner. There are 55 

 Government Schools in Mesurado County, 13 in Grand Basa, 15 

 in Sino, and 19 in Maryland, with 102 teachers and 3,320 pupils, 

 male and female. A number of these pupils, according to Govern- 

 ment statistics, are native Africans. 



LITERARY SOCIETIES 



The principal amongst these is probably the MARYLAND 

 Academy of Philosophy, with its headquarters in the town of 

 Harper (Cape Palmas). At Monrovia is established Dr. Blyden's 

 Literary Union. At Cape Palmas is the Ladies' Mutual 

 Relief Society. 



The other societies trail away into secret, freemasonic, or bene- 

 volent institutions, such as the GRAND UNITED ORDER OF ODD- 

 FELLOWS (with fifteen lodges throughout Liberia), the UNITED 

 Brothers of Friendship (described as a secret order, having 

 its origin in the United States in 1861). "Like all other secret 

 organisations, this (the U.B.F.) inculcates the principles of brotherly 

 love, friendship, and truth." This institution has an organisation 

 of a somewhat lurid character as regards nomenclature. Besides 

 the Grand Lodge of Monrovia, there is the " Eastern Star Temple," 

 or Female Branch, further known as the " Sisters of the Mysterious 

 Ten." The United Brothers of Friendship maintain about 



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