ALABAMA.
Breaking Ground for the New Emerson Institute Building.
PROF. T. N. CHASE.
On the 26th of December, ground was broken for the new Emerson Institute building at Mobile, with appropriate services. A portion of Scripture was read, and brief addresses were made by Rev. Mr. Ash, pastor of the Congregational Church; Rev. Mr. Owens, Baptist; Rev. Mr. Taylor, Methodist; Mr. Koons, principal of the school; and Prof. Chase, of Atlanta University. Led by Miss Stevenson, Miss Lord, a former teacher, and Miss Sawyer, of Talladega College, the pupils of the school sang “Hold the Fort,” “Thank God for our Country,” “Labor On,” etc., and Rev. Mr. Davis led in prayer.
In the remarks, Mr. Ash spoke of education in its relation to the individual, to society, to government, and to the Church. Mr. Owens said that ignorance was our greatest enemy, and that the building which was to be erected might be regarded as a fort, from which guns were to be aimed at this inveterate foe, and exhorted the people to sustain the teachers who were leading them in their intellectual and moral warfare. Mr. Koons made a few statements concerning the school, saying that its aim was not to advance the interests of any political party or religious sect, but to develop character and cultivate the minds and hearts of the people. Mr. Taylor said he had been taught that the negro could not be educated—that his brains lay in his heels, etc.; but he was glad to see proof to the contrary in the speeches that had just been made by Mr. Ash and Mr. Owens. Mr. Chase alluded to the burning of the old Institute, the causes of delay in rebuilding, the fact that the school was needed now, and the probability that it always would be.
At the conclusion of these addresses, the old men, headed by Mr. Taylor, claimed the privilege of removing the first earth; others followed, without regard to age, color, sex or sect.
The new lot is more accessible to the colored population than the old one. It is known as Holley’s Garden, and has been a favorite resort for picnic parties. On account of the great depreciation in real-estate, the property, containing over two acres, and having on it a house that will serve as a home for the teachers and accommodate a few girls as boarders, and covered with nearly a hundred large shade trees, mostly live-oak, has been purchased for the small sum of $2,800.
The new building is to be sixty-four feet long and fifty-four in greatest width, and will accommodate 250 pupils, under five teachers. Many of the bricks from the old building can be used, since they were not injured by an excess of water at the time of the fire.