Part 3

New Orleans, a city of 220,000 inhabitants, of whom 80,000 are colored people, is a most important point to be occupied in missionary work among the freedmen. As the commercial centre of the South-west—as the great cotton, sugar, and rice market of the Union—it out-ranks all others. In its intimate connections by river, bayou, and railroad with the most thickly populated negro districts of the old slave States, it is second to none. Texas, Mississippi, and Florida are constantly adding to the negro population of Louisiana. By the census of 1875 there were 369,000 colored people in this State, and each year swells the number. Already it is fifty-five per cent. of the entire population. Without disparagement to any other section, we claim, also, that the colored population of New Orleans represents the highest intelligence yet attained by the race in America. It includes the genuine African, the mulatto, the quadroon, the octaroon, and yet other shades and grades; and in this mingling of races we see, also, the diffusion of intelligence, and a corresponding increase in the capacity of culture and development. It would require the quick eye of an “expert” to detect, in the fair complexion and delicate features of many who throng our churches and schools, the faintest trace of African descent. Without speculating upon the cause, certain it is that we find among the colored people of the Crescent City a quickness of intelligence, and a capacity for the best culture and the noblest development, and withal a thirst for knowledge, which is worthy of our best sympathy and most generous benevolence.

THE RESULTS WE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH.

In a word, our aim is Education, in its broadest and best meaning. The elevation, the prosperity, the highest manhood, and the co-ordinate rank of the African race in America, in the friendly rivalry of races, are still in the future—whether in the near or remote future, depends largely upon the race itself to determine. Education, under Divine guidance, is the gateway to that longed-for future. That I mean education as allied with religion, will be assumed. That the race is not educated, is by no fault of theirs. That they desire education, is to their credit. To help them to this education is both our duty and our privilege.

The courses of study in this Institution include in the Academic Department, the Collegiate, the Normal, and the Preparatory; and in the Professional Department, the Theological and the Law.

We have a preparatory course, that we may secure better material for the higher courses. In the Normal course, special attention is given to those studies which will furnish young men and women with the education needed in the various branches of business life open to them, and which especially will qualify them as teachers, for which there is, and must continue to be, a great demand. In the Collegiate Department—which includes, among other studies, the higher Mathematics, Mental and Moral Philosophy, and Latin—a higher grade and wider scope of studies will be added so soon as there is a demand for them. The school is yet in its infancy, and the number of those who are fitted to pursue to advantage the highest grade of studies is, of course, very limited.

LAW DEPARTMENT.

An able corps of Professors has been secured. Jurists of reputation and successful practice at the bar of Louisiana have kindly offered their services, with little hope of adequate compensation, and every facility is provided for young men of talent, who are attracted by the profession of the law, to fit themselves for honorable and successful practice. Regular graduates from this department, at the conclusion of a two years’ course of study, and a well sustained examination, are admitted to the bar of New Orleans, with authority to practice in all the courts of the Commonwealth.

THEOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT.

College graduates, who can be instructed in the original languages in which the Scriptures were written, are greatly desired, and until they can be secured, this department will but partially accomplish the object for which it was organized. The churches need thoroughly educated ministers, with carefully cultivated minds, who can intelligently preach the word. The degree of suffering for the lack of such ministers cannot be told. In the meantime, it is our aim to make the best use of the material we have, and transform it from a state of utter crudeness to one of partial fitness for the present demands of the churches. Men of piety and ability to speak and to teach are received, and advanced as far and as rapidly as their imperfect preparatory education will admit. Louisiana, with a colored population of 370,000, is ripe for a glorious spiritual harvest. The churches are calling in vain for intelligent laborers to go forth into the harvest. I wish the prospect was brighter for a large class of intelligent, spiritual, and enthusiastic students to enter this department, and to lift it to a high grade of usefulness.

THE NEW UNIVERSITY.

The building on Esplanade street, built in 1870, was entirely destroyed by fire February 16th, 1877. Since that disastrous event, our sessions have been held in Central Church, which is also the property of the American Missionary Association. A new site, more convenient and attractive, was purchased in January last. It is located on Canal street, the most beautiful avenue in New Orleans. It comprises a half square of land, 150 feet front by 310 feet in depth. The new building, for whose design great credit is due to Prof. Thomas N. Chase, while not adhering strictly to any style of architecture, may be classed as _Italian_, as it approaches more nearly to that order. The dimensions of the building are 72 feet by 51½ feet. The five large recitation rooms are 30 feet by 50½ feet. The halls are 10 feet in width. The building is conveniently arranged, and all the requirements of the school, we think, have been anticipated in its design. The funds at the disposal of the Association did not admit of ornamentation; but the building, when completed, will be substantial, convenient, and comely. It will be ready for dedication and occupation at the opening of the fall term, October 1st. Grateful as we are for this new structure, we are not satisfied; neither should the friends of the freedmen in the North be satisfied. Straight University, in order to fill the measure of its usefulness, and cultivate the territory open to its occupation, must furnish accommodations for students from abroad—from towns outside of New Orleans, and from adjoining States. It must have _dormitories_. Two buildings, one on either side of the main building, are urgently needed, and at the earliest possible day. Then, when our group of buildings are completed, we can invite and welcome the best talent of the race, at whatever distance from New Orleans it may be found. Then our beloved University will become, among the educational institutions of the South-west—and especially of the Gulf States—the magnet, attracting to itself the best in intellect, in heart, and in promise of future good.

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VIRGINIA.

Additions to the Church—An Indian’s Creed—A Good Beginning.

REV. RICHARD TOLMAN, HAMPTON.

Four students united with the church by profession the first Sabbath in May. It is several years since any Communion season has passed without some additions to the church.

The fifteen Indians who have lately joined the school have taken hold of study and of manual labor with commendable zeal, and give promise of becoming good teachers and guides of their race. One of them now shows evidence of Christian character. Their promptness and decision, as to the duties required of them, were put to the test in reference to the use of tobacco, to which they were so strongly attached that, as one of them said:—“There are three things I love: I love God; I love Jesus; I love smoke.” When asked if they would comply with the rules of the school, prohibiting the use of tobacco, after considering the matter awhile in silence, one of them gave an expressive sign that he would cut loose from tobacco; and then all the others gave the same significant pledge—a pledge which, their teacher assures us, they will never break.

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SOUTH CAROLINA.

History of “Avery” Graduates.

PROF. A. W. FARNHAM, CHARLESTON, S. C.

Avery Normal Institute was organized in Charleston, S. C., October, 1865. The first formal graduation occurred in June, 1872, at which time eleven young people received diplomas from the Institute. A class has been graduated each succeeding year, numbering as follows: In 1873, fourteen; 1874, six; 1875, fifteen; 1876, nineteen (including one post-graduate); 1877, twenty-two—giving a total of eighty-six. Of this number, death has taken five.

Our school aims to fit its graduates to be competent teachers. Forty-six have been engaged in the public schools of the State—schools first in rank, in scholarship, and discipline. Forty-one of the forty-six are teaching to-day; seventeen hold State certificates.

One young man of the class of 1872 is an ordained minister. He was also graduated at South Carolina University in 1877. Another from that class, and one from the succeeding class, are studying with the ministry in view—one at Madison University, New York, the other at Atlanta University, Georgia. Three others from later classes are in higher institutions, preparing themselves to preach the Gospel.

Our graduates bid fair to represent all the professions. One is in Howard University, studying medicine, and one in the leading Normal school of our county, preparing for teaching. The total number in higher institutions is seven, while four more have already received the degree of A. B. Five others were in South Carolina University when it closed its doors. These young men were ready to enter the Junior year of the College course when their studies were so abruptly ended. With one exception, they are teaching.

Thirty-eight of our graduates are members of Evangelical churches; twenty at present are engaged in Sunday-school work.

“By their fruits ye shall know them.” But is this all that Avery has done? No! Her influence has pervaded the homes of hundreds, and the lives of thousands. Her light has shone in every quarter of the State; and other lands are destined to share in her gifts, for the good ship Azor is carrying three of her pupils to “Africa’s sunny fountains.”

The questions are often asked: “What per cent. of your school is brown?” “Don’t the browns receive instruction more readily than the blacks?” The query, in the minds of so many, has led to an actual count of the graduates with regard to color, which gives: _Black_, 19; _brown_, 55; _fair_, 12. But, “the Lord is the maker of them all;” nor is He “a respecter of persons.” We sow “beside all waters.” “What shall the harvest be?”

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GEORGIA.

Pilgrim Church and Sunday-School—Band of Hope—Twichell School.

REV. JOHN H. H. SENGSTACKE, WOODVILLE.

This small settlement of colored people is situated three miles west of Savannah, Ga. It was bought by a Northern agent, and divided into half-acre lots, which are now selling, on the instalment plan, for seventy-five dollars each. The houses are very small and uncomfortable; but since the American Missionary Association has erected a new meeting-house and parsonage, the people have commenced to put up better dwellings, and a strong love for home comforts is gradually taking hold upon the masses. The inhabitants of Woodville obtain a living by selling in the city market, or laboring in gardens and on rice plantations. In this settlement there are two groceries, and three on its border, where strong drink is sold, even on the Lord’s day.

The only house of worship in this place is the Pilgrim Congregational Church. This church was organized in 1871 as the Woodville Church, and re-organized in 1875 as the Pilgrim Church. A new site was chosen, and the present meeting-house was erected in the same year. This church has been a great blessing to the people. A deep religious feeling has prevailed in our midst, and many have become savingly acquainted with the Lord Jesus Christ. Rev. Mr. Markham is deeply interested in this little church, and a great assistant to the young pastor in charge. A revival is still in progress; twenty persons have been recently added to the church, and seven are waiting to be received at the next Communion.

The Sabbath-school is prospering. We have no well qualified teachers as yet, but Twichell School is preparing instructors for this work. We need lesson papers and other papers. Who will help us in this direction? Our Band of Hope consists of both adults and children. This society is working hard to save men from a drunkard’s grave, and hell. It has much opposition to overcome. The rum-sellers and whisky-drinking church-people are its worst enemies.

TWICHELL SCHOOL.—This school is held in the church, and is taught by the pastor. Through the benevolence of the A. M. A. and the Congregational Church Sabbath-school at Grand Rapids, Mich., we have been able to instruct hundreds of children, and it is pleasing to know that our labor has not been in vain, for many of the little ones are rejoicing in Christ the Lord. Mrs. S. N. M., of Dubuque, Iowa, “the Merry Workers,” at Grand Rapids, Mich., and other Northern friends, deserve our sincere thanks for the deep interest they have taken in this work. Every effort put forth in the name of Jesus to elevate this ignorant people deserves the heartiest encouragement.

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School Children Farming—Their Parents Buying Farms.

SEABORN SNELSON, MCINTOSH.

Our school is very small, as it always is at this season of the year, the children having to assist their parents in farming. For that reason, during the summer months of the previous years, we have had to teach about two hours at night, for the benefit of those who could not come in the daytime. We have not yet commenced night-school this year, though it is desired by many.

There are many children in our neighborhood who belong to our school, but we find it very difficult to get all, or the most of them, to attend school regularly. We have a pretty good average attendance, but do not at all times have the same scholars, which causes much discord and delay.

The children seem to be anxious to learn, but it is done in the midst of hardships which are uncommon to children in many other places. The older people are not as much interested in the education of their children as they should be, by a great deal.

Only two schools for the colored children are kept up during the year in this county, namely, Second Midway and Old Midway. There are other places I know of in this county, where much might be done in the way of instructing the people in the right way, and they would be very glad to receive it; but the aid is wanting.

About two-thirds of the colored people in this county are trying to buy land, and really some have succeeded in so doing; but it is done by about four years’ _hard_ labor and strict economy. There is very little money in this county, and it will be so until the colored people pay for and take possession of these lands. After a couple of years they will be able to do much for themselves in many ways.

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A Growing School—A Literary Society.

COSMO P. JORDAN, MARIETTA.

The Mission School at Marietta was opened Oct. 15th, 1877, with four pupils only. The 2d day of January, 1878, there were fourteen. The end of January found a roll of thirty-seven, which has steadily increased to seventy-two. It may be seen that the growth of this school was not very rapid, from the fact that it was opposed by many of the colored people in the city. But the more water they threw on this little spark, the brighter and faster it burned, till it has become a centre of attraction. Friends of this work are fast multiplying, and the future seems bright.

My school is composed of some very bright and promising young men and women, seven of whom go out every summer to teach. The studies are spelling, reading, writing, geography, composition, grammar, and arithmetic.

To this work is attached a literary society, known as the Junto, the exercises of which consist of reading, speaking, discussions, and singing. It was likewise opposed, but is now as largely attended as any church in the city.

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MISSISSIPPI.

An Old School—Temperance Work—The Gourd Family.

MISS ANNA HARWOOD, GRENADA.

Our school, in age, ranks among the older ones, having been established in the Spring of 1866, and we have been its teachers continuously up to the present time. First, we were missionary teachers; after a time the Freedmen’s Bureau lent us its aid, until the organization of free schools by the State; thereafter, we taught the public school until last year.

During all these years of varying fortunes our school has steadily progressed, until there has grown up around us a generation of young people, not great, nor wise, nor learned, only as they are compared with those who have gone before them; but, standing out from the blackness of darkness of twelve years ago, they furnish a bright and hopeful outlook.

We organized a Temperance society early in our work here, and it has never died out. We, several years ago, gave the control into the hands of the young people, being only members, for service, when needed. They have changed names, and banners, and badges more than once—just now it is blue ribbon—but the object has always been the same. Our Sunday-school has always claimed our best efforts, and we are glad to know that more than two-thirds of our older scholars are professing Christians. But the work done is but a drop compared with that which is not done. We have lived to see very many hopes and dreams fade out, and to learn that manhood and womanhood are not plants of the gourd family—Jonah’s kind, at least. The knowledge of what we have not done, and cannot do, is sometimes very hard to bear; and, perhaps, we have thus learned to do what we can the more gladly, feeling sure that we, ourselves, grow thereby. And maybe this is a part of the work, for we, too, are our Father’s children.

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THEOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT OF HOWARD UNIVERSITY.

Its Catholicity—Closing Exercises.

The year of the Theological Department of Howard University has just closed. This department is under the joint care and support of the Presbytery of Washington, and of the American Missionary Association. The former sustains Rev. L. Westcott, as Professor of Revealed Theology and Biblical History, and Rev. A. W. Pitzer, D. D., as Professor of Biblical Studies and Moral Science; the latter supplies the instruction given by the President, Rev. Wm. W. Patton, D. D., in Natural Theology, the Evidences of Revealed Religion, and Hebrew, and by Rev. John G. Butler, D. D., in Pastoral Theology, Church History, and Homiletics. The theological students this year have numbered thirty-two. These are in all stages of preparation for their expected work. Several are already ministers, and are preaching, every Sunday, as pastors of colored churches in Washington; but, having had no early advantages, they are making up deficiencies as best they can.

The theological students come from seven different denominations, while their instructors represent four. This is an unusual illustration of Christian union, and shows how much can be done, on a simple evangelical basis, for meeting the pressing wants of the colored population of our land. The work needs to be conducted on a broad, generous basis. We can thus introduce a powerful leaven of truth and righteousness where it is especially needed. The plan of instruction has been, to meet the special wants of each individual according to his age, his forwardness or backwardness of study, the time that he could remain, etc. Such as have enjoyed a classical education, are encouraged to take the regular three years’ course pursued in all theological seminaries. Others are taught what is found to be most needed to fit them for their work, in the form of English studies. Six have studied the Hebrew this year, and they passed a creditable examination in the grammar, and in translation, averaging quite as well as ordinary white students in theological institutions. These students also attend the Bible-class conducted by the president on the morning of the Lord’s day, and his preaching service in the afternoon, in the latter of which he has lately, in a series of discourses, pointed out the weakness and absurdity of modern skepticism, as an antidote to the influence of the infidel lecturer, popularly called “Bob” Ingersoll, who has taken up his abode in Washington.

Although the theological students have numbered thirty-two this year, it so happens that but one has completed his course; and as a distinguished clergyman who, it was hoped, would deliver the address at the anniversary, failed us at too late a moment to substitute any one else, the closing exercises took the form of a debate by eight of the young men, on this question: “Has a church a right to make total abstinence from intoxicating drinks a condition of membership?” This point was debated with much earnestness and shrewdness, and arguments, _pro_ and _con_, were drawn ingeniously from reason and Scripture in a way which testified favorably to the abilities of the speakers. One of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States takes a deep interest in this department of the University, and lately expressed himself emphatically in favor of encouraging and endowing it, as an important means of elevating the colored ministry and churches of all denominations. Its friends anticipate for it a future bright with usefulness.

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THE INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY-SCHOOL CONVENTION.

MRS. T. N. CHASE, ATLANTA.

As gems are valued by their rarity, so you can imagine how such a gathering as the Sunday-school Convention seemed to us in Georgia.

We were favored, not more by hearing the appointed speakers in the great Convention, than by the personal presence and good words of many of its delegates in our own school-room. Gen. Fisk, who has given not only his name, but his heart and hand to our Fisk University, took Atlanta and the Convention by storm with his happy address of welcome. It seems to me our young men can never lose the inspiration of hope and courage that must have come to them from him, whose youthful struggles had even exceeded many of their own. Then we heard Dr. H. M. Parsons. All who ever listened to him will understand how, at the close of his words, we felt that, next to the Rock Christ Jesus, there was not beneath the sun so firm a foundation as our blessed Bible. Another day, Dr. McVicar, a college president from Montreal, warned us of the Jesuits, with an earnestness such as, perhaps, only a good Scotch Presbyterian could feel. Then we had “Hope Ledyard,” the charming correspondent, whose young life seems too exquisitely moulded to have always escaped the loving Father’s crucible.