The leading Methodist school of the State. It was founded in 1889 by
the Freedmen’s Aid Society of the Methodist Church. It has 12
teachers, 312 pupils, an annual income of $6,000, and property
valued at approximately $45,000.
]
Much of the success of the colored schools of the United Presbyterian
Church is due to the ability and faithfulness of Dr. Witherspoon, whose
long service forms a notable contribution to religious and educational
work. In 1915 the Board of Freedmen’s Missions published the Fifty-fifth
Annual Report of its activities. The time and consideration which this
board of conscientious business men and ministers devote to the
management of the affairs of the school under their care are....
In educational work and administration the United Presbyterian
institutions compare favorably with the best church schools. While the
majority of them are not large, they are managed with economy and their
activities are conducted with considerable regard for thoroughness. With
the exception of two or three in eastern Tennessee, they are all well
located. The six schools in Alabama are all in Wilcox County, forming a
county system of private schools. The influence of these schools has
transformed the conditions in the county. The unusual development of
these schools in this one county is probably due to the interest and
ability of a Scotchman, member of the United Presbyterian Church, who
settled in the county soon after the Civil War.
_Miscellaneous Denominational Schools under White Boards._—There are a
number of miscellaneous denominational schools maintained by white
boards. These boards are not discussed separately, because there are so
few schools under each board as is indicated in the table below.
Many of the schools of this group represent churches with considerable
wealth. Of special interest are the two institutions maintained by white
church boards of the South. Paine College of Augusta, is maintained by
the Methodist Episcopal Church South. This institution is the largest of
the group. The other school owned by the South is Stillman Institute,
maintained by the Presbyterian Church South. Both of these schools are
taught by Southern white people who are genuinely interested in the
colored. It is especially significant in this connection to mention the
fact that it is the announced purpose of the Methodist Church to make
Paine College an institution of higher education in every sense of that
term. Stillman Institute, at Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is also of importance
as it touches of point of most vital concern to the development of the
race, the development of trained ministers. While the institution has
not reached its highest point of development, there is every hope that
it too will eventually be a higher institution for the training of
ministers.
[Illustration:
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.
]
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