The Lawrence Asylum' was built as a memorial to Major General Sir Henry Lawrence, CB, BT, LT.COL., ADC to Queen Victoria, K.CB, who early in 1856 offered a sum of Rs.5,000 down and Rs.1,000 per annum if action were taken to found, at some Madras hill-station, an Asylum similar to those already established at Sanawar and Mount Abu. In February of 1856, a meeting was held in Ootacamund to make every effort to carry out the project. From the beginning, difficulty arose as to the religious principles to be inculcated at the institution. However, a prospectus for 'The Ootacamund Asylum for the Orphans and other children of European soldiers in India', on a strictly Protestant basis, was issued. A committee was formed with Bishop Dealtry as its President.
The committee then sought the aid of the Government, but the latter said that their action would depend on the support received from the Army. It must be noted that the Commander-in-chief objected to the restriction of the institution to Protestants. The Government also stated that the institution must adopt the rules of the Sanawar Asylum from which the committee proposed to deviate.
These difficulties and the outbreak of the Revolt of 1857 led to the abandonment of the project for a time.
In his will, Sir Henry Lawrence had commended the scheme (founding of an Asylum at a hill station under the Madras Presidency) to the care of the East India Company. This led to the project being revived in 1858. At a meeting held in Ootacamund, in August of the same year, it was resolved to found the institution by adopting the Mount Abu rules. A new committee was formed of which Bishop Dealtry was again the Patron. Early in 1859, the 'Stone house' was purchased at the cost of Rs.22,600 for the institution.
Thus was born what we now know as The Lawrence School, Lovedale.
Website: http://thelawrenceschool.org
The committee then sought the aid of the Government, but the latter said that their action would depend on the support received from the Army. It must be noted that the Commander-in-chief objected to the restriction of the institution to Protestants. The Government also stated that the institution must adopt the rules of the Sanawar Asylum from which the committee proposed to deviate.
These difficulties and the outbreak of the Revolt of 1857 led to the abandonment of the project for a time.
In his will, Sir Henry Lawrence had commended the scheme (founding of an Asylum at a hill station under the Madras Presidency) to the care of the East India Company. This led to the project being revived in 1858. At a meeting held in Ootacamund, in August of the same year, it was resolved to found the institution by adopting the Mount Abu rules. A new committee was formed of which Bishop Dealtry was again the Patron. Early in 1859, the 'Stone house' was purchased at the cost of Rs.22,600 for the institution.
Thus was born what we now know as The Lawrence School, Lovedale.
Website: http://thelawrenceschool.org
