TOUGALOO UNIVERSITY.
Sunday-School Convention——Farm and Normal Work——Compliments.
MISS ORRA A. ANGELL, TOUGALOO.
During my three years’ stay in Tougaloo, there have been many changes that deserve to be more widely known. One that is fresh in mind is our Sunday-school convention, held on June 1st. It was first assembled by our principal, one year ago, at that time an entirely new and unheard-of affair among our pupils. What a change was wrought in their estimate of Sunday-school work by last year’s teachings and convention. The heavy rains of Saturday last compelled our use of the chapel instead of the grove, and reduced the number in attendance, yet one of our students made a journey of fifty miles to be present, and we received word from others through the county who desired to come. A Sunday-school Union of our young men having been formed this term, its president opened the convention, and our principal was appointed chairman of the session. The forenoon was given to remarks and a temperance concert by our Sabbath-school. One fruit of the concert ripened immediately. One of the recitations was an extract from Colfax, upon the death following drunkenness, and the young man who gave it came to the office next morning to sign the pledge. Being asked if it had not been his business to sell liquor, he answered, “Yes, but I shall bust it up! I felt as if I was bound for death.” The two months he has spent here have prepared him to make this decision. The afternoon session from two to five consisted of addresses by the Faculty and students, followed each by discussion.
The good of the convention was not merely in the considerable number present giving the people of this county the benefits of one day’s contact with a modern Sunday-school; but the efforts of our students will be far more intelligently directed as they disperse through this State to their summer teaching. Their desire to push forward their mission work will only be increased by the rude log churches, benches that tip uneasily, shuttered holes in the walls, and dearth of Sunday-school papers, books and Bibles. The needs of their people are becoming more and more plain to them as they observe the methods and efforts used for themselves at this school, and the example set causes them to use some efforts for the benefit of others. They draw their pupils with them on their return here. The pestilence of last summer kept from us an overflow of students whom our next term will see filling our rooms. Perhaps the cracked and leaning walls of our buildings will be severely tried, but all who wish to study will be welcomed with confidence on our part, that all needs will in time be met with a supply.
The young people enter on a busy life here, in many respects new to most of them. Their own hands do most of the farm and in-door work. We have a field of one hundred acres planted in corn; next on one side is the sweet potato patch of ten acres; and on a southeast slope were set strawberry plants last year, that will another season furnish a supply for some northern market. This spring ten acres were sown with grass, ten with clover that now feels revived by the recent rains. The new wire fence is already showing its merits by keeping in our own stock and shutting out others that have heretofore grazed in our grove and fields. Our stock is now of the best breeds, and instead of buying we shall be able to supply meats for our tables, that already have a variety of early vegetables from the garden. Ornamental trees have been set out upon the grounds, and the whole plantation has been brought to better use and improved appearance.
Less frequent change of teachers, a more regular attendance of students, and their promotion according to merit, have advanced the scholarship in this institution. Last summer for the first time it graduated a class. The present year opened two months later than usual, and the senior class will study another year before graduating.
Normal methods have been used this year in the seminary department, and proved a success, giving promise of better material for promotion to the preparatory department. The senior class in the normal department have had one lesson a week in the primary room; and in addition to this preparation for their work as teachers, all in the normal department have been formed into a practice class in grammar, each in turn being teacher of the rest. The examinations of this week in these and other classes have given pleasing evidences of the work accomplished.
After the examination closed on Thursday, students in the normal department have literary exercises, interspersed with music, before an audience numbering many of the parents and former students, some of the trustees and other friends of the institution.
At 3 P. M. the President of the Board of Trustees of the State Normal School and others gave congratulations and sound advice to attentive and appreciative listeners. The President of the Board referred to the fact that the State had made no appropriation for the school for the present year and last, saying it was not from any lack of interest in the work done here, but simply because the Board of Trustees found it impossible to perform the duties imposed by the State, while the school itself was under the control of another Board of Trustees or Society, and therefore had made no recommendations to the Legislature. He said, as evidence of their appreciation of our work, that he would refer to what one of the members of the Board, who is also county superintendent of an adjoining county, said at the last meeting of the Board. He said that the moral influence of the teachers in his county who are students at Tougaloo is quite different from those coming from other schools; that almost invariably they start Sunday-schools as soon as they open their day-schools. He assured the teachers and pupils and friends present, that they might expect with much confidence an appropriation to the institution of a few thousand dollars from the next Legislature, with a visiting committee to see if it is well expended, and make report directly to the Legislature.
Rev. J. E. Roy, D.D., our Field Superintendent, in his address upon “Our Country,” gave an immense amount of practical information in regard to its history, vast area and resources, its wonderful development during the past century, its present condition and future possibilities. This address, as also his missionary address the night before, could not fail to inspire all with true patriotism, and the real gospel spirit.
Thursday evening an exhibition by the preparatory and primary departments closed the exercises of the week, and the delighted friends parted, feeling a greater interest than ever in their institution.
We feel grateful for the general good health and harmony of feeling during the past year, and we look forward with courage to the coming year.