GEORGIA.
Atlanta University.
ITS ORGANIZATION.
REV. E. A. WARE, PRESIDENT.
The first term of Atlanta University began, under its charter granted in 1867, in Oct., 1869. The highest class, at that time, was the junior preparatory. By a natural and steady growth, there has come to be a regular college department, from which two classes, (nine students), have been graduated, and in which there are now twenty-four students; a scientific department, with four; a preparatory, with 37; a higher normal, from which have graduated five classes, (twenty-four students), and which numbers at present 68; and a lower normal, with 62 students. The higher normal begins with the usual high-school studies, and continues four years. The lower normal includes the grammar-school studies, and the first two years of the higher normal course. Instruction in theology was given, until the State aid was granted to the school; it has since been discontinued. The home and family feature of the school is made prominent. A lady has charge of the young men’s building, and, so far as possible, takes the place of mother, making the house a home, instead of a college barrack. The refining, elevating, and restraining influence of this family life is incalculable.
Every effort is put forth to make the Sabbath a power. The usual church service is held in the morning, Sunday-school in the afternoon, and prayer-meeting at night. The monthly missionary concert is observed. The contributions at this meeting, for the nine school months, amount to about fifty dollars. The church prayer-meeting is held on Wednesday evening; the school prayer-meeting for all the students on Friday afternoon. At this meeting, the school makes weekly offerings, by the envelope plan, toward the payment of the debt of the American Missionary Association.
The workers this year, including Pastor, Treasurer, Steward, Housekeeper and Matron, number twelve. Among them are representatives of Yale, Harvard, Amherst and Oberlin.
The institution owns sixty acres of land, about one mile from the centre of the city. That part of it occupied by the buildings, commands an extended view in all directions. The buildings are two plain, four-storied, brick dormitories, one for boys, the other for girls. These also afford rooms for teachers, and the basement and first floor of the boys’ building give space for chapel, schoolrooms, library and reading-room. Many of these rooms are entirely unfit for these uses, and are much needed for sleeping rooms. By an hour’s work each day, the students care for the buildings, cultivate the grounds, cut the wood, and do the house-work, except the cooking.
The Graves Library contains about four thousand volumes, and has an endowment of five thousand dollars. The library and reading-room are thoroughly used. Excepting for the library, the school has no endowment, but depends for support on the American Missionary Association, and the State of Georgia, which latter has appropriated to it $8,000 annually.
The name “University,” when adopted in 1867, signified nothing, save as a prophecy. As such it was adopted. It foretold the capacity of those, for whom the school was especially founded, to advance in education, till they should need the advantages of a full university course. It foretold the willingness of the friends of humanity to furnish these advantages. There is no longer any doubt of the complete fulfillment of the first prophecy, provided the second can be speedily accomplished.
ITS WORK.
REV. C. W. FRANCIS.
To prepare teachers for the education of the children of more than half a million of poor and illiterate people is, and must remain, the chief work of the school. The ability to read and write is the smallest of the needs of the people, old and young, among whom such teachers are called to labor. They must teach the elements of morals and religion, of social and domestic life, must supply the forces which are to shape and guide the people from serfdom up to an intelligent, Christian citizenship. The course pursued in this school consists essentially in separating the pupils by means of a family school from all old associations and habits, and subjecting them for months and years to a strong and watchful discipline, in surrounding them with the most earnest and aggressive religious influences, in giving them the best mental training and furnishing which the time and facilities will allow, thus to stamp upon them new characteristics, and mould them so that they will represent and teach the best Christian culture and civilization. That they may resist the strong influences pulling them down on every hand, they need to be thoroughly fixed and set in character before leaving school. Such a complete transformation of character and life as is aimed at here, requires time and the constant exercise of the highest skill and patience. It is no ordinary education which is sought, but a special and peculiar training for a high and holy missionary work.
The demand for teachers from this school is continually greater than the supply. In the last catalogue were the names of 214 pupils, and of these, more than 150 are known to have engaged in teaching during the year. In the previous year, out of 240, more than 175 were at work in the same way. And this number includes nearly every person in school whose age and attainments gave him even the smallest fitness for the work. The school term lasts nine months, and there is but one vacation, including the three summer months. It is the practice of the pupils to pass directly from school to their work in teaching, and many have done so for a number of years, without going home or having a rest. They have in day-schools an average attendance of thirty-five or forty; and as most have night-schools, and nearly all organize Sabbath-schools and temperance societies, it is not unreasonable to estimate that more than 10,000 people are every season reached and instructed by the present pupils of this school, while a still larger number are under the instruction of former pupils. They, for the most part, find their own places, collect the pupils, secure a building—either a church, shed or cabin, or, in lack of these, build a log-house or bush-arbor; and so, all through the hot months, the work goes on from year to year. The seed is widely scattered, but it is not lost.
This school bears a very close relation to the special church work of the Association as well as to the general religious welfare of the whole people. A large majority of the pupils become Christians before leaving school, and only one or two have been graduated without giving evidence of Christian character. There has been special religious interest every year in the history of the school. One missionary to Africa and several ministers in active service, caught their inspiration here.
ITS INFLUENCE.
REV. HORACE BUMSTEAD.
The varied and powerful influence of Atlanta University is seldom adequately estimated by the casual reader. Situated almost exactly midway between the Ohio and Mississippi rivers on the one hand, and the Atlantic and Gulf coast on the other, it has an unsurpassed opportunity for reaching the colored people of the South. Over most of this large territory there is no other institution of so high a grade, the nearest neighbors doing a similar work being Fisk and Straight Universities at Nashville and New Orleans respectively. It is especially fortunate in having no sectarian rivals to disturb the harmony with which it is now doing a broad Christian work for all denominations.
The first and most direct influence of the institution is, of course, upon its students. An observing visitor, listening to a recitation, or attending any gathering of the students, can, without much difficulty, distinguish the recent comers from the older pupils. In modes of thought and expression, and in the general bearing, the contrast is usually quite marked. These, however, are only superficial indications of the deeper change that is commonly wrought in the entire character. Frivolity is toned down, carelessness corrected, punctuality secured, a respect for the rugged virtues as well as the amenities of life stimulated, and, in many cases, a sober and abiding religious earnestness developed.
The influence of the institution thus imparted to its students, is next felt by the thousands of younger scholars whom the students gather into their schools. So, too, the Sunday-schools and Churches with which they are connected, and the entire communities in which they move, receive a quickening impulse from their presence. “There are three of us in that Sunday-school, all with the University ideas,” was the significant remark of a graduate now teaching in a large Southern city.
Finally, the influence of Atlanta University upon the Southern white people themselves has been a marked one. They have repeatedly and handsomely acknowledged that the success of its instruction has convinced them that the colored race can receive a high degree of culture. The demonstration of this fact has an important bearing upon the whole subject of public education. Not only the colored people, but the white people of all classes, especially the poorer classes, will receive great benefit from the quickening of public sentiment, produced by the success of this institution. The last official report on Atlanta University, by the Board of Visitors appointed by the Governor, contains an emphatic recognition of its very great influence, present and prospective. These are some of the sentences from that report: “The Board are constrained to say that the mental training was very satisfactory.” “No school in Georgia ever had such a field, and its social as well as political power may become immense.” “The pupils of that school will be the moulders of their race in the State,” etc., etc. These are the statements of influential white men in Georgia. Do the people of the North realize how true they are?
Devotion to Study—Conversions to Christ.
REV. M. O. HARRINGTON, MACON.
Many cases of interest come to notice in connection with our school, showing the eager thirst for knowledge which these colored people have. One incident to-day illustrates this. A young man, twenty-two years of age, who has been connected with the school for a few weeks, was obliged to go home a few days since, to attend to matters of business. So anxious was he not to lose his position in his class, that he started at 2.15 in the morning and walked about forty miles, reaching Macon at 5 P.M. and this in the severest N. E. rain-storm of the season. It makes our hearts sad to know of many who would gladly come to our school, but cannot find boarding places in town.
The young man mentioned above has since found Christ to be his Saviour. Rejoice with us! God is visiting us with His Spirit. The Church is quickened to newness of life, and sinners are converted. We observed the Week of Prayer; have continued the meetings every night this week. Some of our strongest and best young men were the first to start in the new life. All is quiet, but deep and earnest.