ATLANTA UNIVERSITY.
The Tenth Anniversary—Commencement—Alumni Meeting—Going Forth to Work.
REV. C. W. FRANCIS, ATLANTA, GA.
The tenth anniversary of Atlanta University, which has just occurred, was an occasion of special interest to all its patrons and friends. The fact that the school was closing a year of prosperous work, during which a larger attendance than ever had been secured and maintained, and that evidences were multiplied of increasing confidence and respect on the part of all classes of people in the State, so that opportunities for usefulness were never greater, while generous gifts had recently come to provide needed facilities for the work, together with the real merit of the exercises and the large attendance of graduates, gave all a feeling of satisfaction which did much toward making the week one of great pleasure.
The exercises were introduced by a thoughtful and instructive sermon on the Sabbath, addressed to the graduating classes by the Rev. Mr. Bumstead, in which he set forth the occasion and motives for a high standard of attainment in life according to “the pattern shown on the Mount.”
Three days of examination followed, which were attended by a board of examiners, appointed by the Governor of the State, and by a committee of citizens, invited by the Board of Trustees, and a large number of patrons and friends. The chairman of the Board of Examiners, a prominent editor of the State, who has attended these exercises in his official capacity for six successive years, spoke, in an address to the students at the close, of his increasing satisfaction with the progress in education exhibited, and the substantial work done, with the spirit and management of the institution, and the zeal and skill of the students in their work, in different communities. He assured them of the liberality and friendliness of the people, and pledged the hearty co-operation of the State authorities and leading citizens with all their efforts at self-improvement, and for the elevation of the poor and ignorant so long as the present high standard of doing good was maintained. For all their work in these directions thus far, he had nothing but praise to give.
The Commencement exercises upon the last day were brief, sensible and entertaining. Five young men were graduated from college and two young women from the normal course, and degrees were conferred upon six young men who were graduates of three years’ standing. The music was a pleasant feature of the occasion, being well selected and well rendered. A report, which was highly commendatory, was read by Rev. J. M. Martin, D.D., of Atlanta, who had been in attendance upon the examinations by request of the Board of Trustees.
The gathering of the graduates in their meeting in the afternoon was the most striking feature of the occasion, as it was their first formal meeting, and secured the attendance of a large portion of them, and was marked by the warmest expressions of devotion to the school, its aims, discipline and culture, and affection and gratitude for its instructors. A singularly sober and earnest feeling pervaded their utterances, and it could plainly be seen that the conflicts of life in the difficult work nearly every one has taken up, have led them to appreciate as never before the value of work done for them here.
A finely framed portrait of Pres. E. A. Ware was presented by them to the school, as an expression of their appreciation of his sacrifices and devotion to its interests, as well as a testimonial of personal affection.
The next day witnessed the busy scenes connected with the departure of more than 150 young people, who, for the most part, go to teach summer schools of three months’ duration throughout the country regions of the State. There is something peculiarly interesting in the separation and departure of a large company of young people anywhere, but a special interest belongs to this occasion. These go with such a simple faith to difficult work among strangers, with so few facilities and so many obstacles of many kinds; and yet they seem to win favor, even from those naturally opposed to their work: they find places open for them, gather schools in churches, log-cabins, or brush arbors, make furniture, black-boards and charts, give lectures, lead Sunday-schools, Bible classes and meetings, teach ministers and elders, and become “all things to all men,” that they may save some from the degrading bondage to ignorance, superstition and sin in which they find the mass of those for whom they labor. It is rare that any are unable to find schools through lack of money to travel and friends to aid them, but the absence of any efficient system of schools makes the burden heavy, and brings to a few sad disappointments. But the fact that so many young people, with no experience and little money and few friends, accomplish every year such a great work, seems to prove that the hand of the Lord guides and protects them, and that His purpose is to make them a leavening power at the base of society in this State, to regenerate and bless and save the whole mass.
The religious work of the year has been prospering, twelve having united with the school church, and more than as many more, who were hopefully converted here, being expected to unite with churches at their homes. All the members of the graduating classes are professing Christians, as has been the case with all who have been graduated thus far. The opportunities and possibilities for good were never greater nor the outlook more hopeful; and we may well set up at the end of the year another stone of witness and say, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”
We append the following statements from the Editorial correspondence of the Macon Telegraph and Messenger:
This institution has been conducted with singular wisdom and propriety, and has already proved an inestimable blessing to the colored people of Georgia. Gradually, but surely, all the prejudices of the whites have been overcome, and the predictions of many that it would eventuate in a mere nursery of Radicalism and hate to the superior race, have not been justified by the facts. On the contrary, we have the testimony of our own School Superintendent, Mr. B. M. Zettler, that some of the most efficient and conservative teachers in the Bibb County schools were educated at the Atlanta University. Moreover, he favors the appointment, by the various Boards of Public Education, of teachers of their own race for the colored children of the State, in every instance where they show themselves competent.
Accordingly, we find from the official report of President Ware, that of the fifty-one alumni of the University, forty-two have engaged in teaching as a profession, while three are pastors of churches, two theological students, and one, Nathaniel D. Harris, of Washington, D. C., is pursuing the study of law. Of the teachers, four only have located beyond the limits of the State.
In addition, over ninety of the more advanced pupils employ their time during vacation in teaching.
The institution is in a more flourishing condition than at any previous period of its history. Its matriculates number two hundred and forty, representing ten different States and forty-seven counties in Georgia. The trustees hold sixty acres of valuable land adjoining the college edifices, which is in itself a splendid endowment. The other revenues cover $8,000 per annum from the State of Georgia, tuition fees (only $2 per month), and donations usually amounting to $2,500 from charitable institutions at the North. But recently the trustees have had quite a windfall from the Stone estate at Malden, Mass. The widow of Mr. Stone, who, by her husband’s will, was made the almoner of his bounties, has given $50,000 to the University. They have fallen heir also to another sum exceeding $10,000, from the estate of the late R. R. Graves, of New York, who had previously donated a valuable library to the University.
With these subsidies it is proposed to erect immediately another College building between the two present structures, to cost $40,000, and a large addition to the Girls’ Dormitory, which will include a dining-room capable of seating 300 pupils. The estimated cost of this improvement is $15,000.
The library of the Institute comprises 4,000 volumes, most of them excellent selections, with a balance on hand in cash of $700 for further augmentation, derived from the interest on the permanent library endowment, which is $5,000.
It will be seen from the above that the Atlanta University is on the high-road to prosperity.