LINCOLN ACADEMY, KING'S MOUNTAIN, N. C.
BY MISS L. S. CATHCART.
Lincoln Academy closed its year's work on the last day of May. We have no building that will possibly seat over four hundred, with every foot of space occupied, and as we have to plan for a thousand, we take it for granted that the day will be fair, and prepare platform, seats and awnings in the woods. The rain drove us from our work the previous day, but the morning of commencement day was clear, and with the early dawn we were at work, and by eight o'clock the grounds were ready for our friends, who had thus early begun to gather. Within doors the beehive was preparing to swarm, packing trunks, emptying straw ticks, cleaning out rooms. By half-past ten the friends of the school are gathered in great numbers, and our pupils form on the veranda of the Home to march to the grounds and give the song of welcome.
I do not wonder that fathers and mothers look upon the school as it marches to the ground with pride, for in neat, but simple clothing (most of the dresses of the girls having been made in sewing-class), and bearing in manner of walking as well as in every feature the impress of work done during the past months, such a company of young people is an inspiration; and one can but thank God for the planting and fostering of such Christian schools all over our south-land.
Songs, recitations and dialogues are well rendered by the school, filling about three hours—and no one too tired—and a stirring address is given by Rev. O. Faduma, a native of Africa, on "Some things needed for the development of the colored race."
As we look back upon the year of work we feel that we have been abundantly blessed. We enrolled two hundred and nineteen pupils, not more than some previous years—we cannot for want of room; but they came earlier and stayed longer. Almost without exception good work was done by the entire school. About twenty confessed Christ as their Saviour. During the year we had not one case of serious sickness. These are among the great blessings of the year whose work is now closed. I do not think I should say the work is closed. A common expression among farmers here is, "when the crops are laid by," between hoeing and harvesting, while they are growing: That is much the way with our work, it is "laid by" to grow. Our pupils are teaching, working in Sabbath Schools, "speaking for temperance," and proving themselves in other ways. "They are growing," and we rejoice.
BY REV. O. FADUMA.
It was my privilege the last of May to spend three days at Lincoln Academy. The closing exercises drew together the friends of the students from different parts of the country.
The school grounds had more than a thousand visitors, and as there was no building large enough to seat them, the canopy of heaven afforded ample roof in the groves. The exercises of the day were creditable both to the instructors and pupils. The appearance of the students showed much intelligence and a training of the best kind. The Academy has been much crowded during the year, having had over two hundred scholars.
A boarding-school has always an advantage among our colored people. It moulds the morals of the students, and through them the morals of their homes. There is a more direct influence of the teachers upon the scholars than in the day schools.
That the institution is highly prized, is shown from the fact that during the past years more students than can be accommodated have yearly applied for admission; as fast as they could obtain added room it has been filled.
Under the principalship of Miss Cathcart, whose name is now a household word in North Carolina, and with the assistance of her consecrated staff of teachers, the Academy has taken a prominent part among the best educational institutions of the State. There is now a golden opportunity for the moral, religious and industrial development of the negro through Lincoln Academy.