* * * * *
FISK UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT.
A. R. MERRY, STUDENT.
The commencement exercises of Fisk University began on Sunday,
May 19th, at eleven o’clock A. M. Addresses were made before the
Society for the Evangelization of Africa, by Professors Spence and
Chase.
As the readers of the MISSIONARY doubtless know, from this Society
already have gone forth four young consecrated souls to bear the
light of the Gospel and civilization to the perishing ones on the
west coast of Africa; and in the future we are sure that many more
will verify the prophetic saying of one of those already gone: “Her
sons and her daughters are ever on the altar.”
At three P. M. the baccalaureate sermon was preached by the Rev. H.
S. Bennett, from the text, Matt. xxii. 21: “Render, therefore, unto
Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and unto God the things that are
God’s.”
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, commencing at 9.30 o’clock,
examinations were held in all the departments of the University,
and were, on the whole, unusually satisfactory.
On Monday evening the Common-school Normal Exhibition took
place, at which time those who have completed that course were
granted certificates of ability to teach in the common-schools.
The exercises of the evening consisted of essays and original
declamations.
On Tuesday evening the Union Literary Society held its ninth
anniversary. The exercises were unusually interesting, especially
the debate, “Should the colored people of the United States migrate
to Africa,” which was well sustained on both sides, by Mr. J. C.
McAdams, of Tennessee, in the affirmative, and Mr. R. H. Harbert,
of Texas, in the negative.
On Wednesday evening the Senior Preparatory and Higher Normal
Exhibition took place. Six young men were admitted to college, and
three young ladies secured the Higher Normal diploma.
On Thursday, College Commencement day, the interest of the week
culminated. At an early hour the chapel of the University began to
be filled, until all available space was occupied. The audience
room was tastefully and elaborately decorated. At the back of
the platform, extending its entire length, was the national
flag, gracefully folded and festooned. Above, on one side, was
the portrait of the hero, Livingstone; on the other, that of the
statesman and philanthropist, Wilberforce; from the centre, the
generous, open countenance of General Clinton B. Fisk smiled
benignly down; above all, in evergreen, were the words, “CLASS OF
’78.”
At eleven o’clock the exercises commenced with the chorus, “Hail,
Festal Day,” well rendered by the University choir, after which
prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Baird, of Ohio. Mr. H. S. Merry,
one of the two graduates, then delivered his oration, “Beyond
the Alps our Italy.” The young man acquitted himself with honor.
The manuscript of Mr. Miller, the other graduate—now absent as
Missionary to Africa—not having arrived as expected, extracts from
letters recently received by various members of the University
were read instead. These letters breathed forth a spirit of zeal
and devotion, and a courage unabated, even in the presence of the
obstacles and difficulties with which he must daily combat, thus
showing that his was not a mere romantic sentiment, but a deep,
controlling principle.
After a well-rendered instrumental solo, Mr. John H. Burrus,
candidate for the Master of Arts degree, read a carefully prepared
thesis on “American Citizenship.”
Rev. A. J. Baird, D. D., of Nashville, then delivered the
Commencement Address, which was full of wholesome, practical
advice, interspersed with happy illustration. He dwelt largely upon
the great tendency of young men to rest upon their laurels won in
college, and to expect afterward to float with folded arms into a
haven of prosperity and success. He maintained that substantial
success is achieved only by unmitigated toil. After the address,
the degree of A. B. was conferred upon Messrs. H. S. Merry and A.
P. Miller, and the degree of M. A. upon Mr. Jno. H. Burrus and
Mrs. Virginia Walker Broughton. After a few pertinent remarks by
Prof. A. K. Spence, Dean of the Faculty, a shield, bearing in
golden letters upon a blue field the parting words of one of our
missionaries, which have been unanimously adopted as the motto
of our institution—“Her sons and her daughters are ever on the
altar”—was suspended upon the wall of the chapel amid sounds of
hearty applause. The benediction was then pronounced by Rev. L. N.
Merry.
In one hour, professors, students of boarding department and
invited guests assembled in the dining hall to partake of a
carefully prepared collation. After all had partaken heartily,
remarks were interchanged by invited guests, professors and
students. Among the many pleasant features of the occasion was
the presence of two old friends of the Institution from Great
Britain—Rev. George Crow, of Belfast, Ireland, and Rev. William
Bathgate, of Kilmarnock, Scotland, who gave many words of cheer
and congratulation. Thus pleasantly closed the most prosperous and
eventful year in the history of the institution, with a clear gain
of thirty-five per cent. in attendance over last year. On the day
after commencement, the 24th, the Union Jack floated from the tower
of Jubilee Hall, in honor of the birthday of Queen Victoria, and
significant of the close relation the institution sustains to its
friends in Great Britain.
* * * * *
KENTUCKY.
Then and Now.
_Berea College._
The builder working day after day placing stone upon stone,
polishing here and there, might well get discouraged if he stopped
to look at each day’s work. Progress in all great things is slow,
and nowhere slower than in building character.
Twelve years ago, two little black children made their first
appearance in our Berea School. The scholars, all of whom at that
time were white, scattered before those two little bits of color,
as if scared by the plague. The school that in the morning numbered
fifty, by noon scarcely counted a dozen. Then commenced the long
and weary work of rowing against the stream of prejudice. With a
whole State against us, with even our country, so far as it knew
us, looking on in doubt, with colored people, who held the most
absurd notions of freedom and learning, flocking to us, we found
ourselves under a heavy burden.
Our students were fresh from town and country, plantations and the
army; some with misty thoughts that education was a good thing, and
that about all they had to do was to open the pores and let it soak
through. When the restraints of the school-room came, and the study
that brought slow results, the courage of this class flagged, and
they were easily wooed back to their first love, where the liberty
of the corn-field and the swing of the axe was much more to their
fancy.
There were some, however, of sterner stuff, who, counting the cost,
came through poverty and self-denial, and are remembered as among
our best students and graduates. One man, the father of fifteen
children, came to Berea years ago, and has somewhat educated almost
all his children. Some have taught, and others are preparing to do
so. How, in their poverty, they have managed to keep four or five
in school at once, we can hardly imagine. We, who are mothers, and
know how the little shoes wear out, and the clothes always need
a button or patch, stand almost in awe of a mother who not only
prepares her children’s daily bread, but helps to earn it. If their
little ones have had less than others more favored, they do not
seem to mind it. Their laugh is just as merry, and their appetite,
perhaps, better for the work that helped to earn the meal. On last
Thanksgiving-day, the father spoke of his trials and hindrances,
but counted them all as nothing for the joy that the children had
gained the privileges he had so longed for, but had been denied.
Only this winter a noble girl, well on in her course of study,
whose influence over her companions was always good, the help and
stay of the principal, was, inexplicably to us, called to leave her
work below and go to the mansion prepared for her. Another sweet,
dark-eyed girl, frail in health, but strong in spirit, for two
years has not only paid her own way, but has had something left to
send to a tired and over-taxed mother. Last year, directly after
Commencement, she engaged a school where for months she taught very
successfully. At the close of her school, mounted on horseback, she
rode to Berea to make final preparations for a new term, telling
gleefully how she had secured this and that comfort for the year,
and that now she could give herself wholly to study. Imagine her
surprise and distress to find, on her return to her boarding
place, that all her possessions were burned to ashes, her clothing
all gone; and this with only a little money due her. But, though
stunned and almost broken-hearted, her courage never failed. Using
her means with the greatest economy, willing to deny herself, she
is here with us, though how she manages to get along, only she and
her Lord fully know.
These are but few cases out of the hundreds that might be
mentioned, showing heroism of a very quiet sort; but in God’s own
time, when faithfulness in little things is appreciated, many
of these poor people will wonderingly receive the crown of the
blessed, astonished to find that their plain, hard lives had aught
of glory in them.
Missionaries to heathen lands are glad to give their lives to plant
Christ’s banner on foreign soil, and we, looking back through these
years, take courage, thinking of the souls which have been helped
here, and are going out, carrying the good seed, and planting it in
all the waste places about us.
Berea opens her arms to the poor about her, with a welcome for
all. Those who come here rarely go away without benefit, and many
outward signs of improvement. The old people gaze with delight on
their children. Weary mothers who have toiled over the wash tubs,
fathers who have worked alone in the field while their children
studied, are more than rewarded for their toil. Through these hard
times, when expenses are great and money comes in slowly, we have
had to learn anew the lesson of waiting on the Lord; but we know in
whom we trust, and that for the sake of His poor He will supply all
our needs.
L. R.
* * * * *
GEORGIA.
Religious Life in Atlanta University.
MRS. T. N. CHASE, ATLANTA.
The other day, when one of our young men handed me a letter to
read from a dear old lady “up North,” in which was the sentence,
“I’m so disappointed when the MISSIONARY comes, not to read of a
revival in your school,” I felt like saying to her: “Dear, praying
mother, if you could be here one week, you would go home rejoicing,
even though there were no revival.” As the years go by, there is
less inclination here to come in flocks to the Lord’s side, or to
be led into the kingdom by impulse or excitement. Our students act
more and more upon the spirit of the motto that hangs in each of
our buildings—“Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart
from iniquity.” They look upon religion less as a Sunday garment,
and more as a robe of righteousness, that transforms our selfish
natures into earnest, self-denying lives of obedience.
Let me give a week’s religious duties. Sunday, two of our young men
preach in an adjoining town. Quite a number go out to neighboring
Sunday-schools, and return about eleven o’clock, when our
preaching service begins. Our pastor, a graduate of Yale College
and Theological Seminary, came South at the close of the war, to
build the first Congregational church in Atlanta. For years he did
foundation-work there that placed it in the front rank of A. M.
A. churches. The past four years he has been our college pastor.
With such a knowledge of the needs of this people as his experience
gives, you may have an idea of the kind of sermons we enjoy.
Simple truth, such as young people, with such a history and such a
future, need, is presented so forcibly, that often the meal, which
immediately follows, is almost a silent one, owing to the serious
thoughtfulness produced.
In the afternoon, all meet for Sunday-school, which is
superintended by the President, who is also a graduate of Yale.
As his rich tones come to us in the hymns and Bible readings,
both in Sunday-school and at morning devotions through the week,
we are thankful for the rare gift—a good reader. In a large
school-building, of course each class can have a separate room, and
so secure a delightful hour of quiet, uninterrupted Sunday-school
work.
In the evening, all assemble in a general prayer-meeting. I do
not think it would be possible to give an adequate idea of this
meeting, or of similar ones in other A. M. A. schools. It is simply
an inspiration to one who realizes what a part these pioneers have
in shaping the destiny of their people. In all the meetings I have
attended here during these years, I do not recall ever hearing the
remark, “Improve the time, brethren,” or any other expression of
like import.
Monday, most of the school devote the time of one
recitation—three-fourths of an hour—to Bible reading and study in
classes. After school there is held a female prayer-meeting of a
half hour, led by a lady teacher.
Wednesday evening is the regular church prayer-meeting, led by the
pastor, attendance upon which is voluntary. The last half hour of
school, Friday afternoon, is devoted to a prayer-meeting, led by
the President, and attended by the entire school. This is the only
meeting at which the day scholars are required to be present, and
so is the most important of all the week. At its close almost every
member of the school deposits in the box an envelope containing his
regular weekly contribution toward paying the debt of the A. M. A.
A very profitable meeting is announced on Sunday in this way: “On
Friday evening bring your Bibles, and tell us what it says about
the evils of the tongue;” or, at another time: “Select passages
referring to the Sabbath, the Holy Spirit, Repentance,” etc.
Most of the family gladly come, each reading one of his selected
passages, and discussing it. Familiarity with the Bible and
Concordance is a very apparent benefit of this exercise. It is
also remarkable how they improve in clearness of expression, and
in confining their thoughts to one point. Best of all is the broad
view they get of Bible truth, by looking at it from all sides.
No disputed points—as Baptism or Perseverance of the Saints—are
discussed in this Bible exercise, or in Sunday-school, or any
other religious meeting. No Baptist or Methodist need fear being
proselyted in Atlanta University.
Saturday evening is the teachers’ prayer-meeting of a half hour.
The best test of the religious interest is the number of voluntary
students’ meetings. Sunday evening, just before the general meeting
of an hour, the young men always gather for another hour in a
meeting of their own. The burden of this meeting is praying for the
Spirit’s blessing on the sermon and Sunday-school, and pleading for
His presence in the general meeting that follows.
There are many other students’ meetings, among both the young
men and women, whose interest, and existence even, depend upon
circumstances. Nearly every summer term these meetings multiply.
As the pupils realize they are soon to leave this peaceful home,
and for three months take on the responsibilities and trials of
teachers, they seem impelled to a new consecration. Many, each
year, go out to teach for the first time, and all feel it is a
solemn undertaking. Another occasion for extra meetings is to plead
for those so soon to leave us, and not yet in the fold.
This is a hasty view of what may be seen of our religious work.
Eternity alone will reveal the number and effect of the private
personal appeals, or of the pleading notes written to the timid
ones. So, dear friends, do not think, because no revival is
announced, that souls are not often coming into the kingdom, and
that Christians are not receiving a most careful culture.
I have often thought that the prayers of Northern friends, more
than anything else, have been the occasion of such a deep Christian
spirit in the A. M. A. schools. Think of that old lady watching the
MISSIONARY to see if her prayers for us were answered! I once knew
a man, who was not rich, or even a professing Christian, who, for
some years, gave $300 each year for the support of a teacher, who,
as he said, “would teach a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ” to
the freedmen. Many of our best friends are in such haste for us to
do simply church work, that they can hardly wait in patience for
us to build on an intelligent, educational basis. If God has so
burdened hearts for the spiritual welfare of the freedmen, may it
not indicate that, in His plan, He may have a glorious part for
them, in bringing the nations to His feet?
* * * * *
A Photograph with Lights and Shades.
MR. JOHN MCINTOSH, TEACHER, ATHENS.
The lights and shades are the things which make the photograph
appear natural; and so, in attempting to give a true, and thus
natural, picture of my field of labor, I must give the lights
and shades. But, in order that my picture may leave a favorable
impression upon the mind, I will first give the shades, and then,
the lights. I came to this place October 6th, 1877. On the first
day only two pupils met me, and the increase, during this and
the following months of the same year, was so very small that I
began to be discouraged. I called several educational meetings,
and, to my surprise, there was no response. I became still more
discouraged. Failing to get as large a day-school as I desired,
I offered my services at night, for one dollar per month each to
those who could not come in the day. A few accepted the offer, and
when these few became weary in well-doing and fainted by the way,
I offered to teach at night, free of charge, any young man who was
not able to pay his tuition. Only one accepted this offer. I then
offered to teach vocal music, free of charge, to any who would meet
me every Saturday. The first Saturday, none came; the second, eight
came, far behind time; and this has been the greatest number that
has ever accepted the offer. In my day-school the variety of books
was large; the number of misused books was great. I had for several
months to labor very hard to reduce chaos to form and order.
But why did I not have a full school all the while? The assigned
reasons were various. Many did not know whether I was Baptist,
Methodist, or something else; and so sectarianism kept some away;
some parents said their children were just out of school, and
their minds needed rest—these, and many excuses less plausible,
were rendered for non-attendance. After my school was pretty well
established and my scholars were somewhat classified, one other
fact became apparent, and this was, and is, indeed, a sad fact,
viz.: in the acquisition of knowledge, the teacher is considered
one distinct party, the parent another, and the child another.
Sad fact that, in the pleasant and most beneficial work, teacher,
parent, and scholar are not one. When Christmas-day came, most of
my patrons said: “It is Christmas, and there should be no school
for one week;” and, indeed, I had but little. A short time ago
a circus drifted down this way. “Of course,” said many of my
patrons, “the children must go to the circus, and omit going to
school until the circus is over with”; and they went.
But all shade, says the photographer, makes no picture; and so I
will show the lights, and thus complete my picture. Many of my
pupils, who were once, apparently, ignorant of what punctuality
was, have learned to be punctual. Those who once thought it best
to be disorderly, disrespectful, disobedient, careless, idle,
and the like, now think it their duty to act differently; and so
a much better state of things exists than formerly. Some months
ago, when I would ask a reason for working an example in a certain
way, the answer invariably was, “because”; and if I asked “because
what?” the reply would be lengthened, thus: “because that gets the
answer.” But now my pupils can not only work their examples, but
tell why.
Strange to say, my third class (by name) is my best class in
arithmetic, and the best scholar in this class is the smallest,
and probably the youngest—not thirteen, perhaps. This same class
is very good in geography, and, indeed, as a class, good in all
their studies. My class in composition, for three months, have
been endeavoring to understand the theory of composition, and now
they are writing, or learning to write, essays according to the
theory which they have learned. A few in the class compose very
well already. In nearly all of my classes, strange to say, the dark
pupils are the ones that stand at the head. In composition, good
morals, geography, reading, grammar, writing, the leading scholars
are dark—dark in color, but bright in intellect. I think it must be
acknowledged that color has no influence over mind. I have several
grown men, who have left their farms in the country that they may
attend school and receive instruction, which they may impart to
others. They are getting along fairly. When I asked my scholars
what I should write concerning them, they said, with one accord,
“The truth, and nothing but the truth;” and I think I have done
just as they said. Clouds still hang over me, but they are not so
dark as they were some months ago.
* * * * *
ALABAMA.
Dedication of Emerson Institute.
MR. B. F. KOONS, PRINCIPAL, MOBILE.
Since the burning of Emerson Institute in 1876, our school has
passed through some very dark clouds of discouragement. All of last
year, and the first four months of this, it occupied an old store,
very poorly fitted for school purposes.
In December last, the A. M. A. purchased property known as Holly’s
Garden, located near the centre of the city. There are nearly three
and three-quarter acres of ground, covered by over one hundred
beautiful live oak, cedar, and various other trees, and near the
centre of the lot is located quite a comfortable and commodious
frame dwelling. Into this we moved the school in January, and have
since occupied three rooms, some sixteen by eighteen feet square.
In these, we have accommodated about one hundred pupils.
Readers of the MISSIONARY will recall the account in the March
number of the breaking ground for a new school building upon this
lot December 26th. Since that time the proposed structure has
steadily grown, and on the 30th of April we were able to pronounce
it completed. It is a well constructed two-story brick building,
34×64, with wings at the centre of each side 10×21. The lower
story is divided into two school rooms, 28×31½ feet, and between
these is what may be called a hallway, divided into four hat and
cloak rooms. From this floor there are two stairways, occupying
the wings, and leading to the second story. At the head of each
of these is a commodious hat and cloak room, through which the
pupils pass as they enter the chapel, or large school-room, of the
second floor. This room is 31½×48; at one end, on each side of the
teacher’s desk, are doors leading into two recitation rooms, each
15×15½. The building is surmounted by a very neat belfry, which
awaits the new bell daily expected from New York, via the ocean.
The original plan was to place above the whole a weather-vane in
the shape of a large gold quill, but just as it arrived here from
New York the railroad depot was burned, and with it our quill. We
sincerely hope that the burning of this is not an indication of the
fate of our building.
THE DEDICATION.