THE TEST APPLIED.
When Berea College was started, in 1858, its students were all white. The following year the question was raised, "What if colored students should apply?" One teacher voiced the sentiment of all when he said, "If any one made in God's image comes to get knowledge which will enable him to understand the revelation of God in Jesus Christ, he cannot be rejected." The simple declaration of that sentiment had the effect to make most of the students leave at the end of the term, never to return. The John Brown raid, happening soon after, rendered the school still more unpopular, and the war following a little later, the school had to suspend altogether. But when the war ended and, in 1865, the college opened its doors again, there being no longer slavery, the question of color soon came up for consideration.
In one of the by-laws to the constitution of the college was this statement: "The object of this college shall be to furnish the facilities for a thorough education to all persons of good moral character." Three colored youths applied for admission. On examination they were found to be "persons of good moral character." There was only one thing to do. They were promptly admitted. What followed? There were at the time seventy-five students in the college, and we are told, "the morning that those three harmless youths walked in, half the school walked out."
But some one will say: "That was at the close of the war, when the feelings of our white brethren at the South were naturally very sensitive; that time, however, has passed away. We can now plant schools and churches on an anti-caste basis, with open doors and welcome hands for colored people, if they choose to come. No such exhibition of race prejudice would now be made." Well, let us see.
For several years past we have had our attention turned to the terrible destitution of the people in the mountain region of Kentucky and places adjacent. Two years ago we sent a special missionary to labor among these people. He made his headquarters at Williamsburg, the county seat of Whitley County, Kentucky. The town was sixty-seven years old, yet it never had a church edifice; nor had the county, with a population of fourteen thousand, ever had a church edifice finished and dedicated to the worship of Almighty God. There were very few schools, and what few there were could not be considered schools by intelligent people. Our missionary went to work. The people heard him gladly. A new life came into their famished souls. They rallied round him. They built a beautiful church edifice. An academy, too, was erected; able and skilled teachers were put in charge. The missionary did not confine himself to the town merely. For miles up and down the valley he traveled, preaching as he went. Wherever he came the people were roused and steps taken to have churches and schools planted.
But the church and the academy above referred to must be dedicated. At the dedication this Association was represented by Assistant Corresponding Secretary Powell, by Field Superintendent Roy and by Rev. Dr. Wm. H. Ward, of the Executive Committee. And dedicated they were to the glory of God for the maintenance and spread of a free gospel and Christian learning. Special emphasis was placed upon the fact that over the entrance to these temples was written, Whosoever will may come. Does some one ask why that was specially emphasized? Because we were in a country where popular sentiment said, Into white churches and white schools there was a certain class who, on account of the color of their skin, would not be admitted. When you are in a community that publicly indorses a wrong, silence regarding that wrong is complicity. Under such circumstances, to say nothing about it is the same thing as to sign your name to a document affirming the thing to be right. To dedicate a Christian church in New York City and say nothing about the evils of Mormonism would be nothing strange, but to dedicate a Christian church in Salt Lake City and be silent as to what the teaching and the practice of that church was to be in regard to polygamy would be treason to the Gospel. We therefore made specially prominent at the dedication the broad principles on which our mission rested. Some said they were sorry to hear such things proclaimed; others said nothing, but feared; while a few said, That is right. It is just as it ought to be.
The school started off with bright skies above and a broad distant view around. The bell rung out its pealing calls, and bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked children and youth clambered up the hill side to enjoy such educational privileges as that country had never known. All was peace and prosperity. School was crowded, and everybody was happy. But suddenly the whole heavens were overcast. From horizon to horizon a deathly pall enshrouded the entire sky—and the cloud large enough to do all this was only the size of a black child's face! Whosoever will may come, we had said. Did we mean it? Oh, yes, but it is hardly right to sacrifice the feelings of that whole school merely to gratify the wish of—a nigger. Did we mean it? Oh, yes, but it is hardly right to imperil the very existence of the school merely to take in that one poor, despised and uninfluential colored child! Did we mean it? Oh, yes, but is it right, is it wise, to receive one when you know that by so doing you will lose twenty—perhaps more—to receive one whom you will have to help, and lose twenty—or perhaps more—who can help you? Did we mean it? Oh, yes, certainly, but would it not be better to reason with the applicant and show her that while we ourselves have no objection, yet things being as they are, she would really do more for her people by staying away than by insisting that she should be received? Why not take some such position as that? We will have peace and harmony and prosperity. We shall be able to tell our friends in the distance we are getting along swimmingly. We are true to our principles. Whosoever will may come. We have no trouble with the negro question. We simply let it alone. Our dear brethren down South are perfectly delighted to receive us. We have no trouble with them whatever, and the cause is going forward triumphantly.
Is that the way to meet the responsibility? Imagine the Lord Jesus Christ at the door of that school when that black child came asking admission. What would have been His answer? Say, reader, imagine what would have been His answer. Put on your thinking cap. Summon to your aid all the help that quibbling and dodging and sophistry can give, and after you have gone through it all, what do you think would have been His answer? Well, here is the answer the American Missionary Association sent as quickly as the telegraph could carry it: Admit all applicants irrespective of color. And then what followed? Nearly half the scholars picked up their things and left! This happened a few weeks ago. We had about a hundred students. We have now about fifty, and we may lose even those. Letter writing is easy. Talk is cheap. Even Buncombe is not a lost art. But actions speak louder than words. Let us know what follows when the test is applied, and then we shall know just what profession of loyalty to principle signifies. Berea stood by its guns, and it has steadily grown in favor with God and man ever since. And it will win in the end. Then what a glorious triumph! No regrets for having played the hypocrite, no regrets for having played the part of a time server, no regrets for having played the part of a trimmer, no regrets for having played the part of a special pleader, no regrets for having concealed its colors behind its back in shameful silence as to its past history, no regrets for having turned away one of Christ's little ones for whom He died, no regrets for having counseled it, while professing friendship, to go elsewhere. What a glorious triumph!
And we, too, shall win—and our triumph shall be glorious. Let us go forward preaching the Word, and when the time comes let there be no attempt to postpone its issue—but let the test be applied. Better go down standing on our principles than live with our principles denied and dishonored.