STUDENT'S LETTER.
Straight University, New Orleans.
The path along which the mind must travel to obtain an education, is much like that on which one goes to accomplish any desired end. The student will find in his way numberless difficulties which seem higher than mountains, lower than valleys, and darker than any forest glade. The Alpine traveler knows that he will meet many a rugged steep, that he must cross many a mountain torrent on slender footing, make his way through many a gloomy valley. He does not give up, but presses forward with eagerness and courage, until he reaches the summit and gazes as a victor on the glorious scenes around.
So is it with the student who is determined to become useful to his fellow-men and to God. His path is strewn with difficulties all the way. He meets discouragements and back-sets which seem to him sometimes insurmountable, and he will need all his courage to keep on to the end. In our Southern country there are, it seems to me, many difficulties which do not exist in all parts of our land; but as I hear our teachers tell of their struggles and trials, I conclude there is no broad, smooth way along which one may walk comfortably up to the temple of knowledge.
Many who are exceedingly anxious to become students have in early life lost their parents, and, being poor, are unable to provide for themselves, and unless some helping hand is stretched forth, must remain in ignorance. There are others, who, though in good circumstances, are not able to appreciate the value of learning, and so care nothing for it. Again, there are many communities in which the people, ignorant themselves, care nothing about the education of their children, and will make no provisions for schools. I know of settlements of five hundred or more inhabitants among whom there are scarcely any competent preachers, no good schools or teachers, no missionary work going on, and the people in a very degraded state. Ignorant parents, unless persuaded, are not apt to attend to the education of their children. It is a disadvantage to any one aiming to prepare for future usefulness to meet with either of these unfavorable circumstances that I have mentioned, and yet it is the case with thousands of our boys and girls. The principles which ought to be impressed upon the children's minds while young are neglected, and false ideas and degraded impressions are allowed to govern them. Thus, they are robbed of an early training in those things which are the true foundations of a noble character.
Here are the plantations in this Southland around many of which yet cluster the stains of slavery, and to look upon them in all their degradation is enough to cause a young man or woman who was once acting in accordance with their sinfulness, but now trying to aim higher, to give up and declare that it is useless to try to elevate the great mass of our people to a high standard of citizenship and usefulness, and it is only when we remember that the hand of the great God is in the work, that one can have any hope. How many to-day are idling away their time, breaking the Sabbath, engaging in sinful sports, violating the State laws, disturbing the peace of quiet citizens, disobeying their Supreme Ruler!
We have glanced at the dark side of this subject. Let us now turn to the bright. God has raised up noble men who have loved us and labored for us—men whose names are familiar to all, and who will be loved and honored through all generations. Can we be discouraged when we think it was for us John Brown died? When we think of Abraham Lincoln, Charles Sumner, and all that host of great men who saw the evils our race suffered and so nobly stood up for us, we will not despair.
Our Christian friends at the North have given us liberty and citizenship. Noble Lincoln and brave Grant were to us almost what Moses and Aaron were to the Israelites. These same people are mastering another great problem. As soon as hostilities ceased they placed institutions of learning within our reach. Under the A. M. A. and other associations, schools and colleges are erected in the South for our advancement and training. Here is Straight University, founded at the very centre of bitterness. From the regions round about she gathers young men and woman, teaches them the truths of Christianity, educates them, and then sends them abroad to fill the pulpits, to gather in the lost ones. Trained by those who have had the best education the North could give them, they go out to teach the children, who, but for them, could have no good teaching. The missionary cause carries light to the homes that are in darkness.
It is a great encouragement, not only to us but to our parents also, to know that we are acquiring an education from the hands of these Christian helpers, so that we can become useful in the world, good citizens, skilled in art and science, and in all branches of knowledge; to become recognized in the best society, and to secure comfortable homes for ourselves; to know that we are taught true principles of Christianity, so that we can use our learning aright, build up God's kingdom, promote peace and happiness upon earth, and by and by, when that Eye which looked down from heaven and saw the shackles of slavery struck from our hands and souls, sees fit, we shall be the instruments in carrying the gospel of Christ across the sea to our fellow-men who inhabit the dark continent. Difficulties there are, many and great; but nothing is too difficult for the Almighty, and He is our helper and always will help if we ask Him.
The chance to get a good training is in the reach of nearly every one, if he will only try. We are grateful to our benefactors and to God for these blessings. May His name be praised and may He reward his servants in the end!
C. W. Johnson.