PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOLS MANAGED BY WHITE PEOPLE.
It is a great pleasure to me to note, in these sketches, the splendid
work done by the Presbyterian Church for the education of the colored
people.
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY.
_Rev. I. N. Randall, D. D., President._
Among the instrumentalities through which the friends of the Negro may
convey to him the blessings of education, Lincoln University especially
deserves the confidence of the Christian public. She was the first to
enter this field. Lincoln University was chartered by the State of
Pennsylvania to give a liberal Scientific, Classical and Theological
education to colored youth of the male sex in 1854, six years before
the war which resulted in emancipation. The school is located in
Chester county, half a mile from Lincoln University Station. A liberal
Christian education was the policy adopted by Lincoln University for
the elevation of our colored population before the body of them became
freedmen.
Four hundred and ninety-five have been graduated from the Collegiate
Department, after a course of instruction extending through four and,
in many cases, seven years. Most of these graduates are engaged in
professional and educational labors in the Southern States. Two hundred
and sixteen of the students of Lincoln University have received
ordination as ministers in Evangelical Protestant denominations.
Thirteen students have gone to Africa as missionaries. Three young men
from Liberia are now in the University.
Such men as J. C. Price, W. H. Goler and hundreds of others are the
class of men educated at Lincoln University. There can be no question
but that this institution has accomplished more for the colored people
both North and South than any other north of Mason and Dixon's line.
SCOTIA SEMINARY.
Scotia Seminary is one of the most interesting schools I have ever
visited. It was founded to bring within the reach of colored girls in
and about Concord, N. C., where it is located, the advantages of a
thorough Christian education and to aid in building up the Presbyterian
Church among the colored people. It is chartered by the State of North
Carolina. Says Rev. D. J. Satterfield, D. D., the president:
"Our aim has always been to appeal to the nobler natures of our
students in order to secure compliance with our wishes. Our rules
prohibit what is unlady-like and disorderly and require only what is
necessary to provide for the mental, moral and physical welfare of all.
"For the enforcement of these rules we hold students as well as
teachers responsible. We propose to maintain a moral sentiment in the
school, which will make anything vulgar or vicious so much out of
place here, that it cannot stay."
MARY ALLEN SEMINARY.
This institution is located at Crockett, Texas, and was founded by Mrs.
Mary Allen, who was a true friend to the colored people, and especially
to colored women. The purpose of this school is to train up colored
women in such arts and sciences as are taught in schools of high
grade, in all kinds of domestic duties. Rev. Jno. B. Smith, D. D., is
president, and he is assisted by an able body of teachers.
MARY HOLMES SEMINARY.
Mary Holmes was founded and is now sustained by the Board of Missions
for Freedmen of the Presbyterian Church. The school was first located
at Jackson, Miss., and was built as a memorial to Mrs. Mary Holmes,
wife of Rev. Mead Holmes, of Rockford, Ill. The buildings at Jackson
were destroyed by fire, and the school was then moved to West Point,
Miss. The object of this institution is the higher education for
colored women. Rev. H. N. Payne, D. D., is president.
BARBER MEMORIAL SEMINARY.
Barber Memorial Seminary is the thoughtful and loving gift of a
Christian woman for the education and elevation of colored girls.
Ardently interested in the welfare of the colored people, Mrs. P.
M. Barber, of Philadelphia, has founded this school as a memorial to
her late husband, whose expressed purpose it had been to provide an
institution of this kind. The school is located at Anniston, Ala. Rev.
S. M. Davis, D. D., president.
BRAINERD INSTITUTE.
Brainerd Institute, established for the Christian education of Colored
youth of both sexes, is located in Chester, S. C. John S. Marquis,
Principal.
The school grounds comprise 13 acres. There are two large buildings;
one being principal's home, young women's dormitories, dining room and
kitchen; the other containing class-rooms, printing office, and young
men's dormitories.
Brainerd Institute has turned out some very useful men and women. Rev.
George W. Clinton, now a Bishop in the A. M. E. Zion Church, was at one
time a student there.
INGLESIDE SEMINARY.
Ingleside is located at Burkville, Va., and, like Mary Holmes, Mary
Allen, and Barber Memorial, this seminary was founded for the higher
education of colored girls. In addition to the literary work, they have
an industrial department, where sewing and other domestic work are
taught. Rev. Graham C. Campbell, A. M., president.
In addition to the schools mentioned in the Presbyterian work they have
quite a number of large parochials which are doing splendid work.