Atlanta University has wrought throughout the year, under various embarrassments. No one has yet been found to take up the large responsibilities of the Presidency so successfully borne by the lamented President Ware. The schools of the prophets and the various fields of labor have been diligently scanned, but no Elisha has been found upon whom her Elijah’s mantle should fall.
The iniquitous Glenn Bill disturbed the quiet of the scholastic life of the University. It is not necessary to refer at length to the barbarous propositions of this bill. It failed to pass; but the bitter agitation, the obtrusive visits of politicians and the excited state of public feeling, have been a terrible tax upon the strength of those who were already burdened with the regular work of the University. Notwithstanding these discouragements, Atlanta University has increased the enrollment of pupils from 291 of last year to 413. “The wrath of men shall praise Him,” is a truth that is always true.
Fisk University has enjoyed a year of marked prosperity. The character of the work done here is of a high order. A scholarly French prelate of the Romish Church, who had visited many institutions in this country, recently found his way to Fisk University. He took in hand the classes in Latin and Greek, and put them through an exacting and exhaustive examination. He afterwards said to a friend that the work done in the class rooms at Fisk University was as good as that of any American school which he had visited. This is unsought testimony of high value. Fisk is constantly broadening and deepening her work. Here, too, the enrollment shows a decided increase over that of last year. The names in the catalogue number 437, as against 384 last year—a gain of 53. During the year there has been a quiet work of grace among the students, both hopeful and helpful.
Talladega College.—Among those who took the title of B. D. upon examinations at Talladega’s last commencement was a young clergyman who, during several years of successful ministerial labor in a large church, carried on systematic study and prepared himself for these examinations. Talladega College lays great emphasis upon thorough scholarship. The course of study includes Normal Training, College Preparatory, College and Theological Departments. The Intermediate and Primary grades of the Normal department have outgrown their accommodations, and the building has been enlarged to accommodate them. The industrial departments are an important feature of the school work at Talladega. The Winsted farm offers fine advantages for agricultural training, and the large Slater shop furnishes the students with opportunity for thorough knowledge of mechanical industries. The President writes: “Talladega aims at thoroughness and seeks to cultivate the hand, head and heart.” The enrollment in this college shows a slight increase over that of last year.
Straight University, at New Orleans, gathers among its students many from that bright and interesting people known as Creoles, who have so often furnished characters for song and story. The Romish influence is very strong at New Orleans, but during an interesting revival with which the school was blessed this year, not a few children of these Catholic homes professed Christ. One of these desired to join the University Church. Her parents gladly consented, saying that if their child could live a better Christian life in that church than in their own, they were rejoiced that she should take this step. The religious interest in the school this year has been deep and genuine.
The regular course of training at Straight includes Normal instruction, and teachers educated here are found in many Southern cities. At Vicksburg, Miss., the Superintendent of the colored public schools, having eleven teachers under his direction, is a graduate of Straight and is an honor to his Alma Mater. The year just closed showed an enrollment of 518 pupils in this school. Industrial classes have been organized as a part of the regular school work. In the Law Department at Straight we have the remarkable phenomenon of white and colored students sitting down side by side in the same classes. The whites come from the best Southern families, and are there because the instruction in the Straight Law Department is so excellent. A diploma from this department admits a student to the practice of law in the State, without examination.
Tougaloo, Miss., is situated only eight miles from the capital of the State. There has been added to the former course of study at Tougaloo a department of Biblical instruction during the year. The purpose of this department is to fit the students for more efficient and intelligent Christian work. The industrial departments of Tougaloo are especially complete and have been already mentioned. The appropriation of $3,000 from the State was almost the only one in the whole list of appropriations voted by the Legislature for school purposes which was not reduced this year. This fact is remarkable testimony to the value of the school by those who see its immediate results. Rev. G. S. Pope, who has been connected with Tougaloo as its President for many years, has been transferred to the general missionary work in the Tennessee mountains. His services as President of Tougaloo have been characterized by great energy and faithfulness.
Tillotson Institute, at Austin, Texas, is the only important school we have in that great empire of the Southwest. This is the youngest child among the chartered institutions of the Association, but even this child is crying out for enlarged accommodations. The enrollment of the school shows a considerable increase over that of last year, and the promise for the year now opening is still larger. One building only answers all the purposes of this institution. Here are the school rooms, the teachers rooms, the President’s residence and office, dormitories, rooms for industrial training of girls, library, chapel, dining room, kitchen and laundry, and it is not a large building either. Are not these facts potent arguments for a new building? An industrial department has been added to the Tillotson this year and a Superintendent of Mechanical Training has been appointed.
In addition to this goodly list of large institutions we point with pride to Berea and Hampton, planted by the Association. Howard University also receives support in its department of Theology.
Such is the brief record of the educational work in the South during the year. Thoreau paid a splendid tribute to John Brown when he said of him in reference to his neglect of the schools: “He let his Greek accent slant in the wrong way in order to set upright human souls.” But these heroic teachers of the A. M. A. are straightening Greek accents, solving mathematical problems, and teaching the spelling book and the alphabet, for the same grand purpose, that they may set upright human souls. Salvation is the guiding purpose of this educational work. This purpose is not forgotten amid the rush and fret of school cares and duties.