Rev. T. H. JACKSON, D.D.,
General Agent.
In the summer of 1856 the Cincinnati Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church decided to establish in that place a university for the education of Colored youth. Its Board of Trustees consisted of twenty white and four Colored men. Mr. Alfred J. Anderson, Rev. Lewis Woodson, Mr. Ishmael Keith, and Bishop Payne were the Colored members. Among the former were State Senator M. D. Gatch and the late Salmon P. Chase. It was dedicated in October, 1856, when the Rev. M. P. Gaddis took charge. He held the position of Principal for one year, when he was succeeded by Professor J. R. Parker, who worked faithfully and successfully until 1859. Rev. R. T. Rust, D.D., became President upon the retirement of Mr. Parker, and accomplished a noble work. He raised the educational standard of the school, attracted to its support and halls friends and pupils, and gained the confidence of educators and laymen within the outside of his denomination. Unfortunately, his faithful labors were most abruptly terminated by the war of the Rebellion. The college doors were closed in 1862 for want of funds; the main friends of the institution having cast their lot with the Confederate States. It should be remembered that up to this time this college was in the hands of the white Methodist Church. The Colored Methodists bought the land and buildings on the 10th of March, 1863, for the sum of $10,000. The land consisted of fifty-two acres, with an abundance of timber, fine springs, and a commodious college building with a dozen beautiful cottages. And the growth of the institution under the management of Colored men is a credit to their Church and race.
Bishop D. H. Payne, D.D., was elected to the presidency of the university, which position he has filled with rare fidelity and ability for the last thirteen years. In 1876 Rev. B. F. Lee, a former graduate of the college, was elected to occupy the presidential chair. It was not a position to be sought after since it had been filled for thirteen years by the senior bishop of the Church, but Mr. Lee was the choice of his official brethren and so was elected. President Lee is a native of New Jersey. He is about the medium height, well knit, of light complexion, dark hair and beard of the same color that covers a face handsomely moulded. He is plainly a man of excellent traits of character; he is somewhat bald and has a finely-cut head, broad and massive. He moves quickly, and impresses one as a man who is armed with a large amount of executive tact. His face is of a thoughtful cast, and does not change much when he laughs. There were many difficulties to hinder his administration when he took charge, but he surmounted them all. Under his administration the institution has grown financially and numerically.
The following report shows the financial condition of the college at the present time.
Receipts.
June 20, 1880.
Balance in Treasury, Avery Fund $10,000 00
" " Rust Prize Fund 100 00
" " cash 63 82
——————————Total balance $10,163 82
Receipts.—(Continued.)
Balance $10,163 82
Received from Financial Secretary 200 00
" " tuition 1,604 49
" " dormitories 525 80
" " Unitarian Association 600 00
Received from loans 100 00
Received from interest from Avery Fund 800 00
Received from interest from Rust Fund 8 00
Received from General Agent 150 00
" " contributions 232 00
" " Philadelphia Conference 52 95
Received from Illinois Conference 30 00
" " bequest of John Pfaff 602 08
Received from miscellaneous 407 64
——————— $5,312 96
——————————
Total receipts $15,476 78
==========Expenditures.
To salaries $3,166 15
" building and grounds 243 25
" furnishing building 177 37
" notes paid with interest 285 86
" lectures 600 00
" fuel 116 64
" Powers' Fund interest 114 90
" incidental 296 17
" insurance 219 00
" miscellaneous 144 21
—————————
Total expenditures $5,363 55
Balance in bank—Avery Fund securities $10,000 00
Balance in bank—Rust Fund securities 100 00
Balance in bank—cash 13 23
—————————— $10,113 23
——————————
$15,476 78
==========STATEMENT OF CASH RECEIPTS, FROM 1865 TO 1881.
1865 to 1866 $10,677 82
1866 to 1867 6,717 88
1867 to 1868 9,000 00
1868 to 1869 5,403 83
1869 to 1870 9,498 24
1870 to 1871 28,672 22
1871 to 1872 7,270 31
1872 to 1873 4,452 30
1873 to 1874 6,129 77
1874 to 1875 4,962 50
1875 to 1876 7,805 36
1876 to 1877 13,757 66
1877 to 1878 14,429 15
1878 to 1879 4,944 37
1879 to 1880 6,942 98
1880 to 1881 5,312 96
———————————
Total $145,977 35
The following-named persons are the bishops of the Church: James A. Shorter, Daniel A. Payne, A. W. Wayman, J. P. Campbell, John M. Brown, T. M. D. Ward, H. M. Turner, William F. Dickerson, and R. H. Cain.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church will remain through the years to come as the best proof of the Negro's ability to maintain himself in an advanced state of civilization. Commencing with nothing—save an unfaltering faith in God,—this Church has grown to magnificent proportions. Her name has gone to the ends of the earth. In the Ecumenical Council of the Methodists in London, 1881, its representatives made a splendid impression; and their addresses and papers took high rank.
This Church has taught the Negro how to govern and how to submit to government. It has kept its membership under the influence of wholesome discipline, and for its beneficent influence upon the morals of the race, it deserves the praise and thanks of mankind.[129]
FOOTNOTES:
[129] We have to thank the Rev. B. W. Arnett, B.D., the Financial Secretary, for the valuable statistics used in this chapter. He is an intelligent, energetic, and faithful minister of the Gospel, and a credit to his Church and race.