COMMENCEMENT AT FISK UNIVERSITY.
BY REV. A. P. MILLER, AN ALUMNUS.
Being absent on Thursday and Friday, I did not take in the exercises of the Senior Preparatory Class and the literary societies of the University, but learned that the young men and women did themselves and their Alma Mater much credit in their addresses and essays.
The missionary sermon was preached on Sunday morning by Rev. David M. Harris, D.D., editor of a Presbyterian organ in Nashville. Dr. Harris, who is a Southern gentleman, with much feeling referred to the wrongs endured by the colored people in this country, saying that he was heartily ashamed of their treatment in the past, but that he had rather be the wronged than the perpetrators of the wrong. The Doctor was much pleased with what had been accomplished by Fisk University during the trying years of her eventful history for the elevation of the African race in this country, and, through them, on the African continent.
The baccalaureate sermon in the afternoon, by Pres. E. M. Cravath, D.D., commanded the closest attention; and at the close, the President’s very feeling address to the graduates, four young men and two young women, was very impressive. The music provided for the services during the day by Prof. Spence and the Mozart Society was of the highest order.
The Rev. Dr. F. A. Noble, of Chicago, arrived on Saturday, and seemed to have taken in all round about him during his stay, visiting classes in all departments under examination. The exercises of the Normal Department of the University were richly enjoyed, degrees being conferred on six young men and two young women. The addresses and essays were thoughtfully conceived, timely, and well delivered; and to one who, nine years ago, was graduated from the University, showed marked evidence of advance. While one member was delivering his address, his fellow-townsmen were electing him to a position in their school on a salary of $75 per month.
On Tuesday the Alumni associations of the University held their anniversaries, addresses being delivered by Mrs. Ava Brown Dismukes, class of ’77, Normal, and the Rev. Albert P. Miller, of New Haven, Conn., class of 78, College. Mrs. Dismukes’ subject was “Local Missions.” She vigorously enforced the duty of graduates, wherever they may be, to make of themselves missionaries for the upbuilding of the race. The Rev. A. P. Miller spoke on “The duty of the hour,” and his address was listened to attentively throughout. Dr. Noble emphasized Mr. Miller’s remarks as to the Negro’s lack of sufficient moral courage to know and assert his rights. At the close of the Alumni meetings, Gen. Clinton B. Fisk and wife put in their appearance and were heartily applauded, and of course a speech was called for and received with wonted enthusiasm.
Wednesday, beautiful and clear, came, bringing Commencement Day. Teachers, students, friends and old graduates marched in procession from Jubilee to Livingstone Hall. The exercises began at 10 A. M. Music was grand. Addresses and essays gave evidence of deep thought and careful preparation. Dr. Noble, in his afternoon speech, said he never heard them excelled in any college, not even in dear old Yale. Six received the degree of B.A.; some of them having been in the institution fifteen years, and among those who had been longest connected with the University was Miss Mary E. Spence, only daughter of Prof. A. K. Spence, whom I found at Fisk on entering, seventeen years ago.
Dr. Noble’s address, “Christian Socialism,” was timely, and had a ring in it that thrilled the hearts of all who heard it. We who were privileged to meet and hear this noble man and minister of Christ cannot and will not soon forget him and his visit to Fisk.
After degrees had been conferred, Gen. Fisk delivered one of his characteristic speeches, thanking and blessing God for Fisk University, with whose life he had been associated for more than twenty years. He was proud of its history and of the work done by its band of noble men and women and students, and urged graduates to be something. Master’s degrees were conferred on W. R. Morris, now teacher in Fisk; G. K. McIlvaine, of St. Louis, Mo., and Dr. A. A. Wesley, recently graduated from medical school at Chicago.
What impressed me most was the desire expressed by the alumni of Fisk to see their Alma Mater permanently endowed, and an intention to work in the future among themselves and former students to this end. The alumni have already pledged one per cent. of their annual income toward an endowment fund, and as a result several hundred dollars have been realized, and are now invested in a Nashville bank. The ball was again started a-rolling at Commencement dinner, Dr. Noble leading off, followed by Prof. Spence, with $10 each for the class of ’87, and the amount ran up, swollen by contributions of students, to about $150, and Gen. Fisk said he knew a gentleman in New York who would double the sum subscribed on that occasion. [This gentleman is doubtless Gen. F.] Rev. A. P. Miller was appointed by the college alumni as corresponding secretary to work up the endowment fund among the alumni and former students, and it is to be hoped that friends of Negro education whom God has blessed with means will turn their attention toward this University, whose teachers and students have done so much for the mental and moral regeneration of the South and the Negro race.
Fisk University must be endowed, and we her sons and daughters, who intend doing what we can in this direction, most sincerely trust that friends of years gone by will not forget, in the distribution of what God hath given them, this institution, which has all these years depended solely on God and a charitable public for its existence and a continuance of its blessed work. May the richest blessings of heaven come down on every one, whatever his or her creed, white or black, who will help to permanently endow Fisk University.