It is due the many donors and friends of Tillotson that a brief report of the work of the past year be made. It is a pleasure to do this, both because due and because of the hopeful prosperity which has attended the institution.
The land upon which to place the new dormitory and the buildings for the mechanical department, when funds shall be secured, has been bought at a cost of $5,000—$1,250 of which was from the Hon. J. H. Raymond, of Austin. Some progress has also been made in obtaining subscriptions for the new hall, which is imperatively needed to meet the pressing demands which are made upon us from all parts of the State. How urgent this call is may be inferred from the fact that on the 2d day of last October, one day before the opening of the school, Allen Hall was full to repletion, and the work of turning away began, and continued throughout the year, so that it is safe to say that for every one received one was refused. We had one hundred in our boarding department during the year. This necessitated placing four students in the larger rooms, and three in nearly every other—too many by far, but there seemed to be no other way. They begged to be received, while the two or three already in the room, urging us to admit one more, made it difficult to refuse. Put yourself, dear reader, in our place, and you will appreciate our condition, and why we allowed this crowding process. It was the best that could be done under the circumstances. Besides the one hundred in the boarding department, we had ninety-one day pupils, making our total attendance during the year 191. We have no primary department. Our numbers would have been very greatly increased if we had had the room to store them.
In educational and religious results the past year has been our best. More and better work has been done. The training has been more thorough and systematic, and the real progress more satisfactory. This was to be expected. Each year increases largely our own knowledge of the work and how best to do it.
Our religious services have been more largely attended and richer in results. A goodly number found Christ, and gave clear evidence of a change of heart. One in particular, who had been intemperate and profane to a sad degree, underwent a complete transformation. Our Sunday school was well attended, drawing in quite a number from the outside, while our prayer meetings, on Sunday and Thursday evenings, were pleasant and profitable.
The temperance society, with a pledge prohibiting the use of both rum and tobacco, embraced nearly every student of the institution. They gave evidence that they had joined for life. Many of them are doing good work in this direction, in the schools where they are now engaged in teaching. We have reason to feel deeply grateful for the advancement along the whole line of our threefold yet one work.
Our closing exercises won the praise of the many who were present. Among these were Gov. Ireland, ex-Gov. E. M. Pease, Hon. Mr. Swain, Comptroller of State, Judge Delaney of the Court of Appeals, Prof. Hogg, at the head of the schools of Fort Worth, and many other prominent citizens of Austin.
Able addresses were made by all of the above gentlemen and others; but among them all none was more cordial and appreciative than that of Gov. Ireland. He urged the students to continue to press onward and upward, assuring them that the hour was close at hand when merit will determine every man’s position, and not the color of his skin. All, including those named, expressed themselves surprised and pleased at what they saw and heard. It was the brightest day in our history.
This brief summary of the work of the past year indicates, but cannot fully unfold, our need of more room. Young men and women in the same building is an unfortunate necessity. It is the best and only thing that can be done with safety to the work, and even this is full of danger. Then to be forced to refuse admittance to so many is unpleasant. We ought to keep the streams flowing toward us, and not turn them in other directions or cause them to cease flowing altogether. As our only institution in the great Empire State we ought to provide liberally for it, that it may carry forward the work so auspiciously begun. No field can be more inviting. Nowhere in all the South is there a more Catholic spirit. Everything conspires to insure large returns on all investments in this department of Christian effort. Are there not friends who will now come forward and render us needed help in the hour of our necessity? Twenty thousand dollars in cash or approved pledges and the new hall will be begun. Some two thousand are already secured. Monuments of finest brass will perish through the wearing passage of the ages, but those erected for the uplifting of a race are imperishable. Will you help erect this?