EDUCATIONAL WORK.
Report of the Committee on Educational Work in the South.
After speaking of the importance, the providential and varying character of the work, the report concludes:
As now conducted, the agencies of the Association are directly concerned with all grades of instruction, embracing common day schools, boarding schools, normal schools, chartered colleges, theological and other professional schools; blending also with mental, moral and spiritual culture the teaching of industrial occupations, and a training in good manners and right behavior in all relations. It seems best that the work should continue to have this multifarious character, that it may mold the whole life of this race as it rises into free manhood and full citizenship, and bring a positive religious influence to qualify the whole movement. Nevertheless, it is to be desired and expected that, in the progress of events, the way will be open for systems of public instruction to be introduced and maintained at the South which will provide for the primary education of negroes as well as white men, and so in time relieve the Association of much of its elementary work. In this matter our wisdom is to fall in with the indications of Providence, with no special anxiety either to hasten or to hinder the steps of the movement, but to do our utmost to prepare the way for wise and right action when it comes.
As a missionary society we must for a long time give chief attention to the education of teachers and preachers for the colored people. That must be done at the South, for Christianity and civilization can never be regarded as fully established among a people till from among themselves, in their own home country, are drawn out trained teachers, leaders and ministers of religion. Our normal schools, colleges and theological seminaries must, therefore, absorb, in large measure, the vigorous efforts and resources of this Association, that the foundations of these institutions may be strengthened and their courses of instruction advanced and improved, and especially that aid maybe judiciously extended to the young men and women who come out of great poverty to seek the advantages of these institutions and to offer themselves for the service of Christ among their own people.
The report very fitly emphasizes this last-named need, and we do earnestly commend it to the consideration and timely beneficence of our churches.
The report shows unmistakable tokens of the Divine favor to this department of our work during the last year. Notwithstanding the pressure of hard times and the embarrassment of debt on our Association, the work has been steadily maintained, the number under instruction has been kept up, and in the normal schools largely increased; the standard of scholarship in the higher institutions has been advanced; strong testimonials of appreciation of the quality of the education given from Southern men of standing and influence, and from Northern visitors, have been multiplied; and above all, God, by the precious work of His Spirit on the souls of students in nearly every one of the institutions under charge of the Association, has owned this work, and taken it into full identification with the plan of His redeeming providence. For all this let our devout thanks be given to Him who permits us to co-operate in His good work of mercy for a lost world.
As we enter on a new year of this missionary labor, the signs are full of encouragement and hope. The Association is free from debt, with money in its treasury. A Christian lady has pledged a large benefaction for providing much needed material accommodations for this educational work; the rising sentiment of our nation is demanding new guarantees for the rights of the oppressed Freedmen; old obstacles to the work are giving way, and the return of financial prosperity gives promise of larger means at the disposal of our churches for the Master’s work. May we not hope, also, that a fresh baptism of the Holy Ghost upon the churches, upon the executive officers of the Association, and upon the whole working force of missionaries, teachers and helpers on the field, may inspire all with a new spirit of holy consecration, and lead on this educational work in a movement, fresh and strong, towards the consummation which we seek and which the Lord designs? For this let us fervently pray.
A. L. Chapin,
G. B. Willcox,
Geo. M. Boynton,
Thos. N. Chase,
J. Brand,
S. D. Cochran.