[J. Thomas Scharf (1886)] James T. Colyer and others, a lecture association was organized, and for a number of succeeding years it supplied the people of Sing Sing with excellent winter courses of lectures. The best talent of the land was procured, including such persons as the Rev. T. Starr King, Revs. Dr. Vinton, Bethune, Henry Ward Beech-er, Hon. Thomas Francis Meagher, Cassius M. Clay, Mr. Whipple, John B. Gough, the poet John G. Saxe, Mr. Wendell Phillips, Professor Youmans and many others. In 1875, the Baptist Church having incurred a heavy indebtedness by the erection of a new house of worship, the plan of increasing their funds by the profits of winter courses of popular lectures was in-augurated, with general satisfaction to the public and considerable accessions of funds to the exchequer of the church. These courses have averaged an annual profit of about five hundred dollars. The large audi-ences have thus been treated to the eloquence of most of the best orators of our country. Sing Sing has been long celebrated for its BChoolq, The healthfulness and beauty of the location, its ac-cessibility, its nearness to the city of New York, all conspire to make it a desirable place for the establish-ment of educational institutions. Its schools enjoy a national reputation, having B patronage from almost every State and Territory in the Union.