REPORT

OF THE

NECROLOGY COMMITTEE

OF THE

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF INSTRUCTION

FOR 1884.

We have special cause for gratitude that so few of our membership have been called from earthly scenes since our last annual meeting the number being the smallest of any year since 1877. In the six years previous to the present, we had occasion to report the names of forty-one of our number, being an annual average of nearly seven, while at this time we have only two.

JOSIAH ATHERTON STEARNS.

Josiah Atherton Stearns was born in Bedford, Mass., in 1811, and died at Boston Highlands on the 8th of September, 1883, at the age of seventy-one years. After receiving such instruction as was afforded by the common schools of that day he pursued a course of study in the then celebrated Teachers' Seminary at Andover, Mass., after which he taught common district schools for two or three years with great success. He then for several years engaged in the publishing and book-selling business in Boston. In 1842 he resumed teaching, and entered upon a long and highly successful career as an instructor in the schools of Boston-a continued service for forty years. He commenced as u her in the Adams School, from which he was promoted to the mastership of the Mather School, and later to that of the Norcross School, of which he was the first principal. Here he remained discharging his duties to the great acceptance of the committee and patrons until 1882, when the need of rest and the approach of the disabilities

of advancing years induced him to resign his position and retire from teaching. On accepting his resignation the School Committee of Boston passed resolutions expressive of their appreciation of his service in terms highly complimentary. These were ordered to be engrossed and elegantly framed and presented to the retiring teacher.

Mr. Stearns was a noble specimen of a Christian gentleman. He was not only a faithful, devoted, and successful teacher, but he was a man whose influence for good was felt in the community. He was ever ready to do his part in all efforts for promoting the great interests of education, and while in word and deed he honored his chosen vocation, he was greatly respected and beloved by all who knew him. He was one of the earliest members of this Association, having become a member in 1832. In 1845, when the teachers of Massachusetts assembled at Worcester to form a State Association, Mr. Stearns called the meeting to order, and for several successive years he was the Treasurer of the Association, and in 1854 its President. He received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Harvard University and that of Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Stearns was the son of the late Rev. Samuel Stearns of Bedford, Mass., and his remains were followed to their burial in that town by a large number of friends. He was one of four brothers who have occupied positions of high honor and influence in life. The late Rev. Wm. A. Stearns, D. D., LL. D., was for several years the honored President of Amherst College; the Rev. Jonathan Stearns, D. D., is an eminent clergyman in Newark, N. J, while the youngest of the four, Eben S. Stearns, D. D., is now the respected and efficient President of the University of Nashville, Tenn.

ISAAC FOOTE CADY.

Isaac Foote Cady was born in Monson, Mass., on the 10th of October, 1818, and died in Barrington, R. I., on the 28th of April, 1884. His earliest school days were passed in the District School, but his preparatory Collegiate course was pursued at Monson Academy under the excellent teacher and noble Christian gentleman, the late Charles Hammond, from whom he received impressions of an ennobling and elevating character which

were felt for good during his entire subsequent life. Elbridge Smith, an eminent teacher now of Dorchester, bears this strong testimony to Mr. Cady as he knew him when a student. "On leaving college in 1841, I became tutor, and in the first class that came under my care was a young man of superior character and scholarship who had evidently come to college with aims quite different from those of many who were found there. Possessed of good native talent he had somewhere learned to respect himself and become inspired with an earnest zeal in the pursuit of knowledge. That young man was Isaac F Cady, then of Monson, Mass.

On graduating from college, Mr. Cady commenced teaching in Wethersfield, Conn., and after a year in that town, he removed to Providence and became teacher in the Providence High School where he remained until 1848, when he accepted the mastership of the High School in Warren, R. I. Here for twenty years he did excellent work, and will long be remembered as a valuable citizen as well as a faithful teacher. After resigning at Warren he went to Georgia, and for one year had charge of Chatham Academy at Savannah. Much to the regret of the patrons of the school he declined to remain longer, being unwilling to remove his family to a slave-holding state. In 1870, Mr. Cady removed to Barrington, R. I., and opened a boarding school and day school which he continued with good success for about ten years, when impaired health compelled him to abandon teaching. After this he took a very active part in establishing a Free Public Library in Barrington. He was elected one of the trustees, and also became Secretary and Librarian - the duties of which, with the assistance of his youngest daughter, he performed till his decease. Mr. Cady was a frequent contributor to educational periodicals, and took an active interest in educational work, often lecturing at institutes and educational meetings. Being a true man and Christian, he was instrumental in training many youths to true manhood and lives of honor and usefulness - who are now widely scattered, but diffusing in their respective locations the spirit and influences of their teacher - blessing and being blessed. Mr. Cady became a member of this Institute in 1853.

CHARLES NORTHEND,

Chairman of Committee.