CHAPTER IX
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.