Our missionary work has been largely in schools. It was God's
providence. But these were always missionary centres.
Their number at the present time is ninety-three; seventeen of these
in the Southern States are Normal Schools from which a large
proportion of the pupils go forth as teachers. It is computed that of
the 15,000 Negro teachers in the South instructing 800,000 pupils,
13,500 became teachers from missionary schools, and that a great army
of more than 7,000 of these teachers received their education in the
institutions of the American Missionary Association. Thus the faith of
the churches multiplies and accelerates itself.
These Normal Schools are located in WILMINGTON, N.C., CHARLESTON and
GREENWOOD, S.C., ATLANTA, MACON, SAVANNAH, THOMASVILLE and MCINTOSH,
GA., MOBILE, ATHENS and MARION, ALA., MEMPHIS, JONESBORO, GRAND VIEW
and PLEASANT HILL, TENN., LEXINGTON and WILLIAMSBURG, KY., to which
must be added the large Normal and Industrial School at Santee Agency,
Nebraska, the Oahe Industrial School and the Fort Berthold Industrial
School, both in Dakota, and all three for the Indians, making
altogether 20. The Association provides also the entire teaching force
at the Ramona Indian School at Santa Fé, New Mexico. To these Normal
Schools, we may add the six normal departments in our colleges with
their superior normal instruction. From nearly all of these, strong
appeals for enlargement have come to meet the demands of a healthy
growth. We have cut, trimmed and denied, with a resolution that has
been painful both in the office and in the field, and yet the growth
is upon us. Without pushing our work, it is pushing us.
While ignorant millions need the truth and knowledge which we have,
and there are resources in the hands of the disciples of Christ enough
for this vast and increasingly urgent work, the necessity of denying
the provisions for the development of success becomes well-nigh
oppressive.
AT PLEASANT HILL, TENN., an important centre in our Mountain work, we
have now, in addition to the new church, a school building unequalled
in that region. A second building for a dormitory and boarding hall is
nearly completed.
THE GRAND VIEW ACADEMY in the Mountain region, has also increased its
school accommodations, and the look forward is to a large institution
with far-reaching influence in the valley of the Cumberland and on the
plateau. If we are to hold this region, we must take possession now.
We have also reassumed charge of a school at Beaufort, N.C. The people
are already appealing to us in the accents of their own sacrifices for
its immediate enlargement.
Providentially, and without our solicitation, a generous giver, of
Brooklyn, N.Y., who had already added to many large benevolences in
the South, the fine building known as Ballard Hall and the excellent
shops for industrial training at Tougaloo, made a proffer of $11,500
to erect at Macon, Ga., a school building of brick, capable of
accommodating six hundred pupils. This successful school had grown
until it had taken possession of the church building for school
purposes. This noble gift, bestowed after a personal inspection on the
part of Mr. Ballard, and upon personal conviction of its immediate
necessity, could not be refused, and the substantial and spacious
building, with its furnishings, is now nearly ready for occupancy. It
will call for increased contributions from the churches.
DORCHESTER ACADEMY, at McIntosh, Ga., is in a rice region remote from
civilization and educational privileges, among thousands of Negro
people very ignorant and poor. It cannot receive the pupils who beg
for admission. Children are punctual at school from a distance of
eight miles, lest they shall lose their privileges by tardiness or
absence. Africa itself could scarcely send out a cry of greater need.
We had decided to increase the capacity of this school, but are
compelled to wait.
AT GREENWOOD, S.C., the interests are so great and the appeals were so
reasonable, that it was voted to enlarge the facilities for the
growing institution; but at the last we could not do this, and the
laborers there continue their prayers and their hopes.
THE LINCOLN NORMAL INSTITUTE at Marion, Ala., was established in the
year 1868, by the A.M.A. In the year 1874, the State of Alabama asked
to assume the school, which had won a good name, and to increase its
facilities for the education of the Negro. This was done. Last year,
the work was deserted by the State and came anew into our hands. This,
also, is an enlargement upon our schedule of work.
At LEXINGTON, KY., our Normal School has grown to such a degree that
even the vestibules and halls of our insufficient building were
crowded with eager pupils. Teachers were teaching, and pupils were
studying, in conditions that none but missionary teachers would
accept. For lack of room, industrial training has been impossible. The
locality, meanwhile, has been surrounded by saloons, and houses that
are worse. A benevolent lady who became acquainted with these facts
offered $2,000 to purchase four acres of land for school and
industrial purposes, and to give money sufficient for a new brick
edifice with eight large school-rooms and all needful appointments and
furnishings; the gift amounting to $15,000.
We believe that we were not wrong in accepting this trust in your
behalf, even though it means more teachers and increased expenditures.
We are confident that your Christian faith would not decline this
Christian benevolence. Hence the plans for Chandler School are in the
hands of the builders. Could some like-minded wealthy steward of the
grace of God visit Williamsburg, Ky., in our Mountain White work, we
might be compelled to face another such dilemma.
AT MERIDIAN, MISS., where Christian parents have besought us for
years, past to open a missionary school, through which their children
might be saved to morality and integrity of character during the
formative periods of their lives, we have at last seen our way to
answer their pathetic appeal in part. A day school with an industrial
department is ready for the opening, the building having been
constructed during the months of summer. For valuable aid in sympathy,
counsel and influence in Meridian, we and the people to whom we are
sent are greatly indebted to Rev. Wm. Hayne Leavell, of Meridian.
WHITNEY HALL, for the Indian boys at Santee Agency, is another noble
gift of large Christian faith for our Normal School in Nebraska. We
summoned our courage to take this, also, with what the enlargement
includes.
These are the chief additions to our system of schools, though there
have been less marked enlargements in other places. They are simply
the growths of strong faith and strong life. They are the free and
special gifts which came to us through the convictions of others who
had realized the need.
The common schools, 35 in number, in eight different Southern States,
are in the hands of faithful teachers.
There are six Chartered Institutions, behind which we have stood the
year past.
TALLADEGA COLLEGE in Talladega, Ala., has had a year of exceptional
interest. The college work is developing and the theological school
was never better. The industrial departments in agriculture and the
mechanic arts offer fine advantages. The institution increases in
popular favor and is full of students.
ATLANTA UNIVERSITY in Georgia, under the temporary presidency of Prof.
Francis, who was also college preacher and pastor, has moved on in its
usual course. Through the successful solicitation of Prof. Bumstead,
with our cordial and constant endorsement, sufficient Christian money
came into the treasury to meet the deficiency caused by the withdrawal
of $8,000 from the State of Georgia. The Association was able in its
grants to share in this satisfactory result. At the last meeting of
the Trustees, Prof. Bumstead was elected President for the ensuing
year, and Prof. Chase, in view of a removal to New Mexico, resigned
the professorship which he had ably held many years.
STRAIGHT UNIVERSITY at New Orleans, located in the most influential
city of the Southwest, draws its students from refined Creole homes
and from the rude cabins of the remote plantations. An interesting
report gathered from twenty-two of its students who taught school
during the summer vacation, tells us that they instructed 1,398 pupils
in day schools and organized thirteen Sunday-schools, in which were
taught 1,574 children, most of whom were absolutely unreached before.
This summer record of Straight University students is a partial
illustration of what is going forth from it year by year; and not from
Straight only, but from all of our higher schools. The theological
work in Straight is of incalculable importance.
TILLOTSON INSTITUTE, at Austin, Texas, has invigorated its normal
course and has inaugurated a hopeful college preparatory department.
The recipient of a special gift, it was enabled to complete a new
industrial building, in which has begun a course of industrial
training. It greatly needs a second dormitory hall for young women,
and were not the institution so remote, some prophetic giver would see
the urgency and the strategy of such a gift, and would make it. If,
without the sight, some one shall be led to do this for Tillotson, he
will reap the blessing of those who do not see and yet believe.
TOUGALOO UNIVERSITY, near Jackson, Miss., is an institution of
exceeding interest. It has a department of Biblical instruction added
to its course of study, in which students are prepared to preach the
gospel. Its industrial facilities are excellent, both for agricultural
and mechanical training. The students can take the timber from the
tree, and the iron in the rough, and make wagons and carriages
sufficiently good to compete with the best makers in the State. The
school in all of its parts is controlled by the missionary spirit.
Rev. F.G. Woodworth, of Connecticut, last year assumed the Presidency.
FISK UNIVERSITY, at Nashville, Tenn., is one of the oldest and most
complete of all our Southern colleges, and has no superior among all
the institutions in the country devoted to the education of the Negro.
Giving relatively less attention to the industries, it models itself
after our Northern colleges, and emulates them in the rigor of its
intellectual studies and in the thoroughness with which it seeks to
make good teachers and preachers; educators in the larger way for the
race. It also has a department of theology. It has made its place,
which it holds with enthusiasm and fidelity. If some one would give
us, or leave us, money to endow this institution, he could scarcely
send his influence further down the centuries than in this way. It
would tell upon the race and upon the Nation.
In this glance at our schools, we see Christian schools. But they are
more, they are missionary schools. We are bearing the torch of Christ
into places of darkness. We teach the industries to them because they
can be made tributary to the salvation of the people. They are the
leaves of the tree of life, and the leaves of the tree are for the
healing of the people.
We may not close this review of our school system without remembering
those institutions now standing alone; great Hampton, in whose rich
gifts we rejoice, and Berea, another child of the A.M.A., now grown to
strength.
TO HOWARD UNIVERSITY, at Washington, also, we extend the sympathy of a
common purpose, together with such financial aid as we may for the
support of its theological course.
We point to these great institutions which have been planted and
fostered by the A.M.A., together with those which are still upheld by
us, with a feeling akin to that of the renowned Cornelia when she
said, "Behold my jewels."
Total Number of our Schools South 58 Indian 18 76
Total Number of our Instructors South 266 Indian 50 316
Total Number of our Pupils South 9,896 Indian 580 10,476
Theological Students South 87 Indian —— 87
Law Students South 73 Indian —— 73
College Students South 68 Indian —— 68
Preparatory College Students South 105 Indian —— 105
Normal Students South 836 Indian 10 846
Grammar Grade Students South 1,996 Indian 43 2,039
Intermediate Grade Students South 2,998 Indian 108 3,106
Primary Pupils South 3,831 Indian 419 4,250
We have, in addition, 17 Chinese Schools on the Pacific Coast, with 39
teachers.