Prof. Albert Salisbury, Superintendent of Education.
A REMARKABLE TRIBUTE.
HOW IT PAYS TO EDUCATE COLORED MINISTERS.
REV. W. W. PATTON, D.D., WASHINGTON.
Facts are worth more than abstract theories. Let the people have the facts. Howard University has for a number of years been carrying on a theological department, which has educated many colored ministers for all the evangelical denominations in this country, besides sending several missionaries to Africa. This department is mainly supported by the American Missionary Association, and its principal professorship has been partially endowed by Mrs. Stone. From this institution went forth a few years since, a young man (Rev. A. J. Henry) of unmixed African blood, who took as his field of labor a benighted county in Virginia. As the result of his patient, self-denying toil, several churches and schools have been established, and a new character has been given to the whole community. In proof of this, I am permitted to quote the following letter, voluntarily sent by the Prosecuting Attorney of the county to Mr. Henry:
“Amelia Court House, Va., Jan. 31, 1883.
Dear Sir: There has been such a marked improvement in the conduct, character, morals and intelligence of the colored population of this county, and crime has diminished to such an extent with the past several years, that it is natural that an observing man should at once consider the cause or reason for such a changed state of affairs. In doing so, I am at once constrained to believe and to attribute it to your untiring zeal in the laudable effort to do good to that race whose training has been so long neglected. Your boldness in condemning the wrong and asserting and approving the right, has not only impressed the colored people and influenced their conduct in the right direction, but it has at the same time won for you the confidence and esteem of all the thinking portion of the white race who are interested in good government, and a well-ordered and law-abiding community. It is not surprising to thinking men that an immense amount of crime should have been the result of liberating the vast number of colored people of the South, and throwing them suddenly upon their own resources, with their wants unprovided for and with no training, when it had not been their habit to think or provide for themselves. Consequently, the sad result was that crime was prevalent throughout this whole Southern country. It therefore became sensible men to undertake to provide a remedy; and the remedy is, to educate and Christianize the race; and I am glad—indeed, happy—to be able to say that you have contributed your full share toward bringing about that happy result, for which this community ought to be profoundly grateful.
“Now, for a moment, let us contrast the present state of things with the past, which is vivid in our recollection because of its sadness. I qualified as Prosecuting Attorney for this county at the April Term of the County Court 1870, and have held that office (with the exception of one term of four years) from that time to the present. It was no uncommon thing—indeed it was a common thing—to prosecute from two to four cases of felony at every term of the court, and I have prosecuted as many as seven felonies at one term of our Circuit Court, and the jail was full or crowded with those awaiting trial. But for the last four or five years crime has gradually diminished, until now it is a rare occurrence that we have a prisoner in jail awaiting trial or a felony to prosecute; and the jail is nearly all the time without an inmate. The present state of things is so different that it is a subject of remark. May He who directeth all things spare you long in the good work in which you have accomplished so much. Very respectfully and truly your friend,
T. K. Weisiger.”