The total income for current expenses is $63,868, and the value of property is $915,000, of which $378,900 is in plants and $537,000 in endowment. The attendance is 1,642, of whom 1,444 are elementary and 198 secondary. The teachers are 96 in number; 9 are white and 84 are colored; 19 are men and 67 women; and 57 are academic teachers. Only two of the schools are managed by white officers. The proportion of industrial teachers is fairly adequate. Instruction in gardening and agriculture is, however, not sufficiently emphasized to meet the needs of a rural people.
Lutheran Board of Education.—The Lutheran Board of Colored Missions owns and maintains two large schools and seven smaller schools. Luther College is located at Greensboro, N. C. While the name would indicate college grade, full college courses have not yet been provided. Luther College at New Orleans is also to be developed as a training school for colored leaders of the Lutheran faith. All of the smaller schools are located in Louisiana.
MAIN BUILDING, PHILANDER SMITH COLLEGE, LITTLE ROCK, ARK.
Founded in 1883 by a donation from Philander Smith of Illinois. It is owned by the Freedmen’s Aid Society of the M. E. Church. It has 15 teachers, nearly 450 students and property valued at $75,000.
RUST COLLEGE, HOLLY SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI.
One of the leading Methodist schools. It was founded in 1866 by the Freedmen’s Aid Society of the M. E. Church. It has 19 teachers, 336 students and property valued at $115,000.
The total income for current expenses of these schools is $72,000. The attendance is 1,147, practically all of elementary grade. The total number of teachers is 26, of whom 13 are white and 13 colored; 21 are men and 5 are women. Some effort is made to teach secondary and theological subjects at the Greensboro school. The teachers devote practically all their time to academic instruction. There seems to be little effort to give instruction in gardening or simple industry.
The Lutheran work for Negroes was begun as early as 1879, and the board has expended considerable money and effort in the development of the schools.
Methodist Episcopal Church.—The Freedmen’s Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church owns and supervises 18 educational institutions for Negroes in the United States. All of these schools are rendering valuable educational service to their communities and all deserve the support and interest of the church. In addition to these institutions, credit must be given to this society for the organization of Meharry Medical College, now managed by an independent board of trustees and classified with that group.
A tabular view of the work of the Freedmen’s Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church is given herewith: