ANNIVERSARY REPORTS.
HOWARD UNIVERSITY.
Commencement Exercises of the Theological Department of Howard University were held in the Memorial Lutheran Church, Fourteenth Street and Vermont Avenue, Washington, D.C., Friday evening, May 6th, 1881, at 7.45 o’clock. A large audience of white and colored friends was present, including various U.S. Senators and other persons of influence.
ORDER OF EXERCISES.
Music; Prayer by Rev. W. W. Patton, D.D., Pres. Howard University; reading of the Scriptures by Rev. J. G. Butler, D.D.; Music; Addresses by Graduates; The Perpetuity of the Church, by Emory W. Williams, Prince George’s Co., Md.; Man, a Religious Being, by William A. Shannon, Washington, D.C.; Music; The Christian Minister, by George V. Clark, Atlanta, Ga.; Our Duty to Africa, by Jarrett E. Edwards, Columbia, S.C.; Music; Address to Graduates, by Rev. Charles A. Stark, D.D., Lutheran, Baltimore, Md.; Presentation of Bibles to the Graduates, in behalf of the Washington Bible Society, by Rev. A. W. Pitzer, D.D.; Conferring Certificates, by Rev. J. G. Craighead, D.D., Dean Theo. Dept. The addresses were of a creditable character and gave promise of future usefulness.
The following persons connected with the Congregational, Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian denominations, having pursued studies in the Theological Department, now leave the University to engage in the work of the Ministry in their respective churches: George V. Clark, Atlanta, Ga.; Thomas H. Datcher, Washington, D.C.; Jarrett E. Edwards, Columbia, S.C.; John H. T. Gray, Prince George’s County, Md.; Thomas H. Jones, Baltimore, Md.; William A. Shannon. Washington, D.C.; Emory W. Williams, Prince George’s County, Md.
HAMPTON INSTITUTE.
REPORTED BY JUDGE WATKINS, A VIRGINIAN.
Those whose good fortune it was to be present will “not willingly let die” the pleasant memories of the Commencement day at Hampton, Va., on the 19th May, 1881. Representatives of widely circulated journals have made public record of many good things said and done on this occasion. Some of the incidents will interest readers of the Missionary.
The illness of Mrs. Garfield, regretted by all, prevented the President’s attendance. General Howard, Governor Holliday of Virginia, Rev. Dr. Potter, and other representative men and women, contributed largely to the pleasures of the day. The full and most interesting report to the corporation of Principal Armstrong gave satisfactory evidence of the God-blest success and continuing usefulness of this noble enterprise. A large edition of this valuable paper will be issued, and will, it is hoped, be widely circulated. No report of any year in Hampton’s history has been more satisfactory.
An account of the public exercises of the day for the Missionary must necessarily be brief. At 8.30 a. m. the new Academic Hall was dedicated. Bishop Payne, of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, in most appropriate words and manner, offered the dedicatory prayer. General Howard followed in an address of marked ability, and of broad and liberal and most approved views, admirably presented, basing his brief and pertinent remarks upon the duties of the hour in reference to the negro on the editorial in the Memphis Appeal reproduced in the May Missionary. Governor Holliday, of Virginia, was introduced to General Howard. Both had lost an arm in battle. With their left hands in cordial grasp, they exchanged fraternal salutations. The incident gave unaffected pleasure to all who witnessed it.
The corner-stone of the Stone Memorial building, for colored girls’ industries (the generous donation of Mrs. Stone of Massachusetts), and the corner-stone of the Indian Girls’ building, were laid. The Rev. Dr. Strieby, president of the corporation, delivered the address in the first, and Rev. Dr. Potter, of New York, in the latter of the ceremonies. Both gentlemen performed the duty assigned them most acceptably to the friends of the institution.
The large and interested audience filled the chapel of Virginia Hall to its utmost capacity to hear the public addresses of six of the alumni. These performances were made in excellent taste, the elocution being exceptionally good, and the views were expressed in a style and range of thought above the average Commencement orator, and reflected honor on the Alma Mater and her sons and daughters.
In appropriate terms General Armstrong introduced General Howard, Dr. Potter and Governor Holliday, of Virginia, whose words of wit and wisdom were enthusiastically received. His Excellency, who is a Christian gentleman of enlarged views and a broad-gauge statesman, gave cordial welcome to the strangers within the gates of the Old Dominion, and in fitting words of sincere and merited commendation approved and indorsed all that had been done and so well done at Hampton.
Much more might be said; less could not be said. God will, it is not doubted, continue to call from Hampton to His service Christian men and women, workers in His vineyard, who will illustrate that
“Peace hath her victories
No less renowned than War.”
The Hampton Institute is becoming more known and appreciated in Virginia and the neighboring States. Its alumni are occupying positions of practical usefulness, and discharge the high duties of good citizens well and faithfully. Virginians believe that Principal Armstrong is emphatically the right man in the right place, and that, with General Marshall, Miss Mackie and others on his staff, he will push forward the good work in which they are engaged, and will continue to merit and receive the grateful appreciation of the people of the commonwealth. Above all, they invoke that blessing of God in the future which has been so signally manifested in the past.
FISK UNIVERSITY.
PROF. C. C. PAINTER.
No one can properly appreciate or understand Fisk University who does not take into account the model school whose unique anniversary exercises occurred on Thursday p. m., preceding those of the University proper. The school is under the management of Miss Irene Gilbert, who is assisted by students from the Normal Department. The excellency of her work is not found alone in the perfection of drill which every exercise shows, but in the exquisite finish of whatever work is done. A recent graduate from Williston Seminary and of the Sheffield Scientific School, with whom I visited this school one day when it was not on exhibition, and examined the children’s work in map drawing, declared that he had never seen any work of the kind that compared with it. The exhibition given by these children made it easier to understand the uniformly excellent work apparent in all the classes of the higher grades witnessed during the three days’ examinations of the next week. Miss Gilbert trains up the child in the way he should go, and in the higher departments he does not depart from it.
The Baccalaureate sermon of President Cravath on Sunday afternoon, from Heb. xi. 27, “For he endured as seeing Him who is invisible,” was able and timely; well calculated to inspire his hearers with the faith and courage requisite for the great work which lies before them as leaders of their emancipated people through the wilderness which still surrounds and stretches out before them, after sixteen years of wanderings.
A rainy evening gave a much smaller audience to hear Dr. G. D. Pike’s missionary sermon than would otherwise have greeted him. He must be a laggard indeed who, hearing the Doctor on his favorite theme of missions, does not become inoculated with something of his divine enthusiasm.
Space cannot be given for even a full programme of the exercises, which filled to the full Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; examinations in the mornings until 1 p. m., and exhibitions in the evenings by the Normal School, the Literary Society and the College Preparatory Class; and it would be exceedingly common-place to say, what simple truth demands should be said, that they were all excellent. One of the visitors said at the close of the Normal School exhibition on Monday, that he did not expect to hear anything better even from the graduating class; but on Thursday candidly admitted his mistake, as there was just such advance as there ought to have been to mark the advanced grade of the pupils. Perhaps, instead of giving a programme of these exercises, it will prove more profitable to state impressions derived from them.
This was the first time the writer has had the privilege of attending the closing exercises of this or of any school for the education of these people. Brought up among them, and always accustomed to regard them as inferior, he shared until recently the feeling so prevalent that in their education nothing more should be attempted than a fair common school training. This is not the place in which to argue that there is urgent need that the leaders of 7,000,000 people, who are to be redeemed from ignorance and lifted into a plane where they shall command the respect of those who are now unjustly prejudiced against them, shall be thoroughly disciplined and broadly educated; but it is the time to express the opinion of the writer, and of several others who attended with great interest these exercises, with something of his prejudices, that these students showed conclusively that they are capable of taking on the same culture, and under it of reaching the same excellencies of thought and discipline, as the more favored whites attain under like training; and that an objection to their higher education must be based on other ground than their inability to receive it, or the need of their race for such leaders as this school is sending out from year to year.
A gentleman, native of Tennessee, who has recently been called from the presidency of a Southern College to the management of the educational work of the State, was present during the commencement exercises, and contrasted them with those of the graduating class of the first institution of the State for whites, in terms so complimentary to the negro students, that, out of deference to the whites, his language will be omitted.
This work is no longer tentative. Both the possibility and value of it have been fully demonstrated, and the urgent demand is that the University shall be fully equipped for it. The point has been reached, in the estimation of all who know anything of its history, needs and opportunities, when it must be enlarged or suffer irreparably. It was, therefore, with gladness of heart that a large number of its friends, white and black, from the city and from other States, gathered to lay the corner-stone of Livingstone Missionary Hall on Wednesday afternoon.
Gen. Fisk presided most felicitously, and the address of Dr. Strieby was in every way happy and inspiring. It was a regular love feast, not simply because there was so much of the Methodist element in it, as represented by the General and his excellent lady, and Dr. McFerrin—“a rebel who fought on the last ten acres left for the rebellion to stand upon,” and who overcame great obstacles to get out to the exercises, despite attractions in other directions, and made a delightful speech, full of good feeling—but because there was such a flowing together of hearts and good-will from all classes as represented on the occasion. Dr. Strieby should be requested to print his speech in full and distribute it all over the land, and with it should go the eight or ten other excellent shorter speeches which followed, one of which was by the city’s treasurer, who came to represent the Historical Society.
There was a poem written for the occasion by Prof. Spence, and read by one of the pupils, Miss Allen, who has remarkable powers as a reader.
The address from Rev. C. H. Daniels, of Cincinnati, which followed the graduating addresses of the class, was able and timely. His theme was “The dignity and value of the individual man.” It was every way a manful presentation of a manly subject, and was a fitting finale to the very able and manly addresses of the graduating class.
The diplomas were presented by Gen. Fisk in a brief address full of pathos and good sense, with happy allusions in each case to the theme of the recipient’s address. After this came the Alumni dinner, plain and substantial, and the speeches following, which were fully up to those of older and more pretentious societies.
And thus closed the fullest and most hopeful year in the history of this institution, which is beginning to excite the deepest interest among the people of the State, who are awakening to the fact that it is offering the only solution to many dark problems which to them seemed without an answer, or at least one that had anything of hope in it.
We cannot better close this article than by giving the following extract from an editorial from the American, the ablest and most influential paper of the State:
“In the proceedings at the Fisk University, yesterday, another step forward was taken in the way of providing material means for that moral and intellectual growth which is going on silently as a great institution grows and roots itself firmly in the society around it. Universities are not created in a day, nor at all by money, although money is a necessary agency. They grow. The Fisk is passing through with comparatively the early stages of growth, when we compare it with the ideal which finds place in the dreams of its enthusiastic laborers—dreams which enfold the future result. We doubt if the public, although it lend a hearty sympathy and approval, and expect good to flow from it, begins yet to realize the work this institution is to perform. We doubt if there is such appreciation anywhere existent or possible except in the dreams of its enthusiast laborers. These in some way comprehend its future. But the Fisk has had to adapt itself in more ways than one. At first it encountered, as a matter of course, but cold approval from the wealth and culture of Nashville—not hostility, but approval from a languid and cold judgment. But perhaps the hardest task has been to adapt itself to the negro himself. To secure the cold approval of intelligent judgment was apparently easy; to go a little further and secure aid, if it were necessary, would not be hard; but to lift the negro up to appreciate New England culture and conservatism and quiet labor, is like bringing him, in his early religious experience, to accept the calm conservatism and quiet demeanor of the Catholic, Presbyterian or Episcopal churches. In vain is he solicited to enter the intellectual stage of religious experience, when nature tells him that his stage is the emotional, if indeed it be beyond the sensuous. This is the task Fisk has set itself, and is performing, and performing well. It is encountering, and has encountered, a world of prejudice from the very race it seeks to elevate, and must content itself with working upon and with the creme de la creme of the race in the South, while it cannot as yet reach the vast mass unless it let itself down, and we believe that so long as its present laborers are at the helm it will insist on drawing others up and never let itself down. It has a great and widening field, which it is worthily filling, and in the labor of regeneration of a race, no agency will have a higher, or indeed so high a place as this conservative school, which is filling so difficult a position.
“We are not unmindful also of the necessity for quite other laborers in the regeneration of this race. It is just as necessary in school as in church that this yet blind and emotional creature, ‘crying for the light with no language but a cry,’ shall have tendance suited to his condition and upon his own level.”
TOUGALOO UNIVERSITY.
The annual examinations in this institution began on Thursday, May 26th, continuing Friday and also Monday forenoon. Many friends of students were present from various parts of the State. The forenoon of Sunday was taken up with the Sunday-school, with its very instructive lessons from the parable of the talents, and immediately following this a temperance Bible reading, with its intensely practical and stirring appeals. The latter was especially timely, inasmuch as a large number of temperance tracts, pamphlets and papers had been distributed to all the members, just before, for circulation as they return this summer to their own homes, or go forth to engage in teaching. Supplied in this way, the students from this school are the means of disseminating through the State a great deal of good temperance literature, and are enabled to organize a multitude of little temperance societies.
It will not be amiss to note the fact, as illustrating the high value of just this sort of work, that besides these societies established by the students of this University, there is no kind of temperance organization among the colored people in the State. At the same time, the prevalence of drunkenness, and of the habit of drinking among all classes, is appalling. The following incident shows the crying need of a reform movement: A colored church not far from here had communion service, and when it was concluded, the pastor and deacons tarried, and following, as they believed, (?) the instruction of the Bible, where it says, “drink ye all of it,” consumed what was left of the generous supply of wine, and thus made themselves beastly drunk.
Sunday was filled up with impressive services. In the afternoon the Lord’s Supper was commemorated, and five of the students united with the church, receiving the rite of baptism. In the evening, Dr. Strieby preached a sermon from the text. “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree, therefore, which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” Every word was listened to with closest attention.
On Monday evening the Preparatory School Exhibition, under the management of the teachers of the Primary and Preparatory departments, was held in the chapel, presenting to a crowded audience a varied programme, made up of recitations, declamations, songs, &c. A prominent feature of this exhibition was a strong and well appreciated temperance dialogue.
It was a manifest disappointment to all when Tuesday dawned cloudy and dark, with every prospect of a rainy time. The exercises of the day were accordingly held in the barn, instead of the grove, for which all arrangements had been made. The forenoon was taken up with the commencement exercises of the Normal department. The orations and essays were presented by members of the Middle and Junior Classes, with the single exception of an oration by the one graduate from the Normal course. As was said on that day, what the graduating class lacked in quantity was well made up in quality. We expect a very high order of work and Christian influence from Henry Lanier.
In the afternoon the interesting ceremony of laying the foundation of “Strieby Hall,” the new boy’s dormitory, was followed by a procession to the chapel again, where the annual address was given by Dr. Strieby. This was a stirring presentation of the reason why the American Missionary Association is to-day in the field of Southern Freedmen education, and of exactly what it is aiming to do for the colored race. It was shown how this Association was pioneer in the work, and how, gradually, the most prominent and cultured of Southern gentlemen have come to regard the higher education of the race as possible, and, now, as a necessity to the prosperity and the material advancement of the region.
Col. Power, who with other gentlemen from Jackson had been present through the day to witness the exercises, was then called upon to speak. He alluded to the exercises of the forenoon with appreciation of the orations and essays presented, referring to one of the former as “eloquent,” and added a glowing word of tribute to the sweet music rendered by the students. He assured all present that the white people of the State are now in hearty sympathy with the work of the education of the colored race. Immediately after the war, he frankly admitted, the people were not attracted by the idea, but now a better opinion prevails, and they see that education must be given to all, white and black.
H.
STRAIGHT UNIVERSITY.
REV. W. S. ALEXANDER, D.D., NEW ORLEANS.
We come to the close of another school year with a profound sense of gratitude to God for His guiding Providence, and for His blessing upon the work undertaken in His name. We have had 328 names upon our rolls, with a large average attendance. There has been a marked advance in scholarship, and we are justified in saying with regard to all the pupils, “Our labor has not been in vain.” There have been years of decline, since the first burst of enthusiasm after the war, in education; but a better and more hopeful era has dawned, when interest in the general education of the people, and the higher grades of scholarship, is in the ascendant. From this time on, the demand for education among the colored people will be more intelligent and abiding.
THE EXAMINATIONS.
showed thoroughness of instruction, and aptness in learning and retaining what was taught. Many kind words of appreciation and pleasure were spoken by the visitors and trustees. One of our merchants who attended Professor Jewett’s examination of the class in botany said: “What would the planters up in Ouchita Parish say if they should happen in here now and hear a ‘nigger’ analyzing a Morning Glory?”
THEOLOGICAL ANNIVERSARY.
While the Theological department has been in existence for eleven years, we have never graduated a student till this year. The theological and literary attainments of the students would never have justified us in doing it. It is little less than a crime to confer an unmerited degree upon a young man. It would not only be a fraud, but a source of constant embarrassment to him. This year we had as a student Mr. A. E. P. Albert, who studied some time at Atlanta University, and who joined our senior class of the University and the Theological school in October. He is a regularly ordained minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, a young man of culture and ability. On Sunday night he delivered his address, taking as his subject, “Like Priest, Like People.” It was able, impressive, and appropriate for the time and the people. The President followed with a plea for an “Educated Ministry;” and then the degree of Bachelor of Divinity was conferred upon Mr. Albert. I trust all subsequent degrees will be as worthily bestowed.
LITERARY EXHIBITION.
In the afternoon of Commencement day, our University chapel was filled with an intelligent and interested audience. The exercises, consisting of orations, compositions and recitations, were entirely by the undergraduates. We furnished a pleasant entertainment to the citizens, and identified the entire school with Commencement day.
At night Central Church was packed in every part, pews, aisles, vestibule and gallery, with an eager, expectant audience, comprising the best element of the colored population of New Orleans. Such an assembly was never gathered in Central Church before. The audience itself was an inspiration and showed a deep and intelligent interest in the holy cause represented. A goodly number of our white friends were present, and were among the most enthusiastic in their congratulations.
Rev. H. M. Smith, D.D., editor of the South-Western Presbyterian, offered the prayer, in which he thanked God for the existence of Straight University and the good it had done.
The five young men composing the senior class, who made their salutations to the audience, represented three of the Southern States, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Their orations were well written and well delivered. One of the orations was solicited for publication by two of the New Orleans papers represented in the audience by their editors.
The music, both in the afternoon and evening, was exceptionally fine, and so pronounced by all. It was entirely under the direction of Professor J. M. McPherron, and reflected great credit upon his method and excellence of instruction.
STONE HALL.
The new dormitory for girls will be entirely finished by July 15th.
It must be furnished by the 1st of October. Milwaukee, Wis., West Newton, Mass., and Evansville, Ind., have already forwarded money to furnish and name a room. Others have the money partly raised. Dear friends, come to our help at once. Send $50, if you can. Send $25, or $10, or $5. Do the best you can and at once. It is God’s work, and we ask your aid in His name.
LE MOYNE NORMAL INSTITUTE.
PROF. A. J. STEELE, MEMPHIS.
The passing months have again brought us to where we may look back over the entire work of the year. While we grieve over opportunities lost and efforts to all appearance fruitless, we can, too, rejoice that the “Master of the harvest” has given increase. The year has been one, on many accounts, unusually successful and satisfactory. Never before have we known our pupils so susceptible to all good influences and so ready to receive instruction and guidance from their teachers.
During the year past, the school has experienced a most precious revival, over forty of our young people professing conversion. In our closing prayer meeting for the year, it was found that there were but about a dozen students of the Normal department who had not accepted the Saviour.
In way of school work we have never before secured so satisfactory results as this year has shown. Our attendance has been more constant, and consequently our work more thorough.
A class of eight—five young men and three young ladies—this year complete the course of study, and go out to work at teaching in three different States, one taking a prominent place in the schools at Fort Smith, Ark.
We have for the entire year had the active sympathy and hearty encouragement of the best people of the city; Gen. Humes, a very prominent lawyer and formerly a major-general in the Confederate army, giving the annual address, and the daily papers making full reports of lectures, graduating exercises, &c.
Our industrial work has developed to our entire satisfaction, and by all our patrons and friends is now regarded as a very important and valuable feature of the school.
A class of girls has had careful instruction, with actual practice in the experimental kitchen, in the nature, relative values and healthful methods of cooking different articles of food, including vegetables, meats, breads, pastry, &c., &c. Classes in needlework, knitting, use of sewing machines, &c., have had daily lessons and practice.
We are confident that instruction of this nature can be given in connection with a day-school, without interfering with regular school-work, and at slight expense and small increase of teaching force. I am anxious to have a workshop fitted up where the boys and young men shall receive instruction in wood-working and the ordinary use of tools for that purpose.
We shall have a full and strong attendance for next year. We are having more students from the country, and usually they are those who put to good use the training and instruction they carry from here. Not less than seventy of our students will be teaching during vacation, those of former years with those going out from this year’s work. I should look upon our work as of little importance and value if our influence did not extend and multiply in this way.
EMERSON INSTITUTE.
REV. O. D. CRAWFORD, MOBILE.
Three hundred and fifty pupils enrolled for the year, carries our numbers above any point reached since the boarding accommodations disappeared in the “Blue College” fire. Had we possessed boarding facilities and sufficient school-room, the number would have been as near 500 as 350.
Two days of this week were given to the final written examinations, and in some of the departments three days were so used. Thursday was devoted to oral examinations. About thirty visitors favored us—among them Rev. Dr. Burgett, whose name is becoming familiar to your readers as one that appreciates this work of the Association; another, the Rev. W. G. Strong, pastor of the largest colored church in the State. The common sentiment of these judges was that the pupils did remarkably well, and showed that they had received careful and thorough training.
Last night 800 people crowded the Third Baptist Church to witness the closing exhibition. Although the aisles were filled with people standing down to the middle of the house, many turned away from the door. Dr. Burgett offered the opening prayer, and Rev. Mr. Strong pronounced the benediction. All the exercises that came between astonished many, especially the white people present, and gave pleasure to all until the weariness of standing made many persons about the door restless and unduly communicative. The popular judgment is that much progress has been made during the year. Personally, we think many exhibitions at white schools would suffer in comparison with this one.
The future of this people is full of promise.
SWAYNE SCHOOL.
REV. O. W. FAY, MONTGOMERY.
Prof. Martin and his efficient corps of assistants are deserving of commendation for their hard and thorough work at this point during the school-year just closed. The number in attendance has been unusually large, (the whole enrolment being 644 against 484 last year); but in thoroughness of teaching and in all that constitutes good discipline there has been a decided advance all along the line. Recognizing the fact that the school building has a seating capacity for only about 350, while the average attendance for a part of the year has been 450, the necessity for enlarged accommodations, as well as some of the difficulties encountered by the teachers, will be apparent.
On the principle that what is good for a part is good also for all, there was no favoritism shown in the assignment of parts in the closing exercises. All, “from the least to the greatest,” were given a speech. Although the average was somewhat reduced near the close of the term, yet, with the more than three hundred to take part, it will readily appear that the “Commencement Exercises” of Swayne College (as the patrons call it), could not all be crowded into a single day. Consequently, in order that a good thing might last a good while, it was arranged to devote three evenings to the speaking. Friday evening, May 20th, was given to the exhibition of the Primary department; Friday evening, May 27th, to the Intermediate; and Tuesday evening, May 31st, to the Higher department. The Congregational church proving too small on the first night, the exhibition was held the second and third nights in the M. E. Zion church, with an audience on the last night, which, admitting all members of the school free, and charging an admittance fee of a nickel for adults, netted more than seventeen dollars.
These exercises, consisting of declamations, dialogues, solos, choruses, &c., were creditable entertainments, and gave evident satisfaction to the members of the City Board of Education and other white visitors in attendance, as well as to the patrons of the school.
Monday and Tuesday, May 30th and 31st, were occupied with the examinations of the several departments. These were entered into by the pupils with a good deal of genuine enthusiasm, and evidenced to the goodly number of visitors present that the efforts in “drill,” on the part of the teachers had not been in vain. The “Swayne” is doing good work.
BEACH INSTITUTE, SAVANNAH.
The school was brought to a successful close to-day. The year has been one of interest and profit, although of trial, on account of severe and, in some cases, protracted sickness on the part of nearly all the workers in this field. The school has prospered, and the progress made by some of the pupils has been very marked. Differing degrees of attainment, as well as of ability to express their knowledge, was clearly shown in the examinations. The closing oratorical exercises this afternoon, in the presence of an audience which crowded the chapel, were interesting in every particular. Without any special expenditure of time and strength in preparing for these, the most creditable results were shown. There was almost no prompting. The original productions, chiefly having relation to some country and the people inhabiting it, were well conceived and well expressed. The reading was distinct. It is manifest that that form of public address is doomed, and will soon be heard no more among the colored people, which only “mouths” words, regardless of sense and of the listening ear. Such scenes as that at “Beach” to-day have only hope in them for our country and the colored race.
C.
BYRON, GA.
BY REV. S. E. LATHROP.
I recently attended the closing exercises of Rev. P. W. Young’s school at Byron. Going down on an evening freight train, I arrived at 9 p. m., and proceeded with my little girl and Bro. Young to the church, which is used also as a school-room. People in these country places are slow in getting together, at night especially. After working hard all day in the fields (it was just the busiest “cotton-cropping” time), they have to go home, get their suppers, dress up in their best clothes, and then go perhaps three or four miles. So it was half-past ten o’clock before the audience arrived in sufficient numbers; but finally the curtain was drawn and the exercises began. Declamations, readings, dialogues and music were given by the school, with much credit to themselves and their teachers. These exercises were under the direction of Mrs. Amelia Young, the pastor’s excellent wife, who showed decided talent in managing. It was after midnight when the exercises closed, and then your reporter was called on for a speech, which at that hour of the night (or rather morning) turned out to have one merit—that of brevity. A young neighboring teacher also made a speech, and the session was closed.
Next morning came off the examination of the classes, which showed commendable progress and encouraging attention to the studies. These country schools have many disadvantages which are not felt in larger places; but Bro. Young and his wife have evidently done a good work here, and are elevating and helping the whole community by their labors. A picnic dinner was spread in the church, as the rain prevented its service in the beautiful grove surrounding. After bountifully satisfying the inner man, and a little more speech-making, we returned home well pleased.