32

A bell for the school was also acquired, probably in l878, as a gift from Lyman Bennett.44 It is said that Mr. fiennett contracted pneumonia during his efforts to collect money for the bell from Troy citizens, and died soon after.h5 The two hundred.fifty-seven pound bronze bell left the Troy foundry early in Recember, 1878. Upon arri-

76 The bell,

val'at Bennett, it was proudly housed in the new building. Still used today, bears the inscription, “Bennett Seminary From Friends in Troy, N. Y. 'To proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.‘ Isaiah LXI l.'"L+7

The school not only acquired a bell during Thayer's term, but

48 49 “50

also an organ and a library consisting of "several hundred books.

These facilities, too, must have been housed in the new building. 'Financial support during this time came not only from Northern

friends, but also from North Carolina citizens. The North Carolina

Conference gave some money, as seen previously in connection with the

erection of the first building. Yet the total collections to the

“4Freedmen's Aid Society, Twelfth Annual Report, l879, p. 37.

45"New Bennett Bell Tower to be Dedicated Today,” Greensboro News, March 8, I953.

Ibid.

u7Bennett College, Annual Catalogue, l9l2, pp. 9-10. The in- scription was verified by an examination Of the bell on July ll, 1969.

48Freedmen's Aid Society, Tenth Annual Report, I877, p. 37.

49N. Co Conference, Minutes, l878, p. ll. 50

Freedmen's Aid Society, Twelfth Annual Report, I879, p. 37.