Part 3

showed thoroughness of instruction, and aptness in learning and retaining what was taught. Many kind words of appreciation and pleasure were spoken by the visitors and trustees. One of our merchants who attended Professor Jewett’s examination of the class in botany said: “What would the planters up in Ouchita Parish say if they should happen in here now and hear a ‘nigger’ analyzing a Morning Glory?”

THEOLOGICAL ANNIVERSARY.

While the Theological department has been in existence for eleven years, we have never graduated a student till this year. The theological and literary attainments of the students would never have justified us in doing it. It is little less than a crime to confer an unmerited degree upon a young man. It would not only be a fraud, but a source of constant embarrassment to him. This year we had as a student Mr. A. E. P. Albert, who studied some time at Atlanta University, and who joined our senior class of the University and the Theological school in October. He is a regularly ordained minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, a young man of culture and ability. On Sunday night he delivered his address, taking as his subject, “Like Priest, Like People.” It was able, impressive, and appropriate for the time and the people. The President followed with a plea for an “Educated Ministry;” and then the degree of Bachelor of Divinity was conferred upon Mr. Albert. I trust all subsequent degrees will be as worthily bestowed.

LITERARY EXHIBITION.

In the afternoon of Commencement day, our University chapel was filled with an intelligent and interested audience. The exercises, consisting of orations, compositions and recitations, were entirely by the undergraduates. We furnished a pleasant entertainment to the citizens, and identified the entire school with Commencement day.

At night Central Church was packed in every part, pews, aisles, vestibule and gallery, with an eager, expectant audience, comprising the best element of the colored population of New Orleans. Such an assembly was never gathered in Central Church before. The audience itself was an inspiration and showed a deep and intelligent interest in the holy cause represented. A goodly number of our white friends were present, and were among the most enthusiastic in their congratulations.

Rev. H. M. Smith, D.D., editor of the _South-Western Presbyterian_, offered the prayer, in which he thanked God for the existence of Straight University and the good it had done.

The five young men composing the senior class, who made their salutations to the audience, represented three of the Southern States, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Their orations were well written and well delivered. One of the orations was solicited for publication by two of the New Orleans papers represented in the audience by their editors.

The music, both in the afternoon and evening, was exceptionally fine, and so pronounced by all. It was entirely under the direction of Professor J. M. McPherron, and reflected great credit upon his method and excellence of instruction.

STONE HALL.

The new dormitory for girls will be entirely finished by July 15th.

It must be furnished by the 1st of October. Milwaukee, Wis., West Newton, Mass., and Evansville, Ind., have already forwarded money to furnish and name a room. Others have the money partly raised. Dear friends, come to our help at once. Send $50, if you can. Send $25, or $10, or $5. Do the best you can and at once. It is God’s work, and we ask your aid in His name.

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LE MOYNE NORMAL INSTITUTE.

PROF. A. J. STEELE, MEMPHIS.

The passing months have again brought us to where we may look back over the entire work of the year. While we grieve over opportunities lost and efforts to all appearance fruitless, we can, too, rejoice that the “Master of the harvest” has given increase. The year has been one, on many accounts, unusually successful and satisfactory. Never before have we known our pupils so susceptible to all good influences and so ready to receive instruction and guidance from their teachers.

During the year past, the school has experienced a most precious revival, over forty of our young people professing conversion. In our closing prayer meeting for the year, it was found that there were but about a dozen students of the Normal department who had not accepted the Saviour.

In way of school work we have never before secured so satisfactory results as this year has shown. Our attendance has been more constant, and consequently our work more thorough.

A class of eight—five young men and three young ladies—this year complete the course of study, and go out to work at teaching in three different States, one taking a prominent place in the schools at Fort Smith, Ark.

We have for the entire year had the active sympathy and hearty encouragement of the best people of the city; Gen. Humes, a very prominent lawyer and formerly a major-general in the Confederate army, giving the annual address, and the daily papers making full reports of lectures, graduating exercises, &c.

Our industrial work has developed to our entire satisfaction, and by all our patrons and friends is now regarded as a very important and valuable feature of the school.

A class of girls has had careful instruction, with actual practice in the experimental kitchen, in the nature, relative values and healthful methods of cooking different articles of food, including vegetables, meats, breads, pastry, &c., &c. Classes in needlework, knitting, use of sewing machines, &c., have had daily lessons and practice.

We are confident that instruction of this nature can be given in connection with a day-school, without interfering with regular school-work, and at slight expense and small increase of teaching force. I am anxious to have a workshop fitted up where the boys and young men shall receive instruction in wood-working and the ordinary use of tools for that purpose.

We shall have a full and strong attendance for next year. We are having more students from the country, and usually they are those who put to good use the training and instruction they carry from here. Not less than seventy of our students will be teaching during vacation, those of former years with those going out from this year’s work. I should look upon our work as of little importance and value if our influence did not extend and multiply in this way.

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EMERSON INSTITUTE.

REV. O. D. CRAWFORD, MOBILE.

Three hundred and fifty pupils enrolled for the year, carries our numbers above any point reached since the boarding accommodations disappeared in the “Blue College” fire. Had we possessed boarding facilities and sufficient school-room, the number would have been as near 500 as 350.

Two days of this week were given to the final written examinations, and in some of the departments three days were so used. Thursday was devoted to oral examinations. About thirty visitors favored us—among them Rev. Dr. Burgett, whose name is becoming familiar to your readers as one that appreciates this work of the Association; another, the Rev. W. G. Strong, pastor of the largest colored church in the State. The common sentiment of these judges was that the pupils did remarkably well, and showed that they had received careful and thorough training.

Last night 800 people crowded the Third Baptist Church to witness the closing exhibition. Although the aisles were filled with people standing down to the middle of the house, many turned away from the door. Dr. Burgett offered the opening prayer, and Rev. Mr. Strong pronounced the benediction. All the exercises that came between astonished many, especially the white people present, and gave pleasure to all until the weariness of standing made many persons about the door restless and unduly communicative. The popular judgment is that much progress has been made during the year. Personally, we think many exhibitions at white schools would suffer in comparison with this one.

The future of this people is full of promise.

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SWAYNE SCHOOL.

REV. O. W. FAY, MONTGOMERY.

Prof. Martin and his efficient corps of assistants are deserving of commendation for their hard and thorough work at this point during the school-year just closed. The number in attendance has been unusually large, (the whole enrolment being 644 against 484 last year); but in thoroughness of teaching and in all that constitutes good discipline there has been a decided advance all along the line. Recognizing the fact that the school building has a seating capacity for only about 350, while the average attendance for a part of the year has been 450, the necessity for enlarged accommodations, as well as some of the difficulties encountered by the teachers, will be apparent.

On the principle that what is good for a part is good also for all, there was no favoritism shown in the assignment of parts in the closing exercises. All, “from the least to the greatest,” were given a _speech_. Although the average was somewhat reduced near the close of the term, yet, with the more than three hundred to take part, it will readily appear that the “Commencement Exercises” of Swayne College (as the patrons call it), could not all be crowded into a single day. Consequently, in order that a _good_ thing might last a good while, it was arranged to devote three evenings to the speaking. Friday evening, May 20th, was given to the exhibition of the Primary department; Friday evening, May 27th, to the Intermediate; and Tuesday evening, May 31st, to the Higher department. The Congregational church proving too small on the first night, the exhibition was held the second and third nights in the M. E. Zion church, with an audience on the last night, which, admitting all members of the school free, and charging an admittance fee of a nickel for adults, netted more than seventeen dollars.

These exercises, consisting of declamations, dialogues, solos, choruses, &c., were creditable entertainments, and gave evident satisfaction to the members of the City Board of Education and other white visitors in attendance, as well as to the patrons of the school.

Monday and Tuesday, May 30th and 31st, were occupied with the examinations of the several departments. These were entered into by the pupils with a good deal of genuine enthusiasm, and evidenced to the goodly number of visitors present that the efforts in “drill,” on the part of the teachers had not been in vain. The “Swayne” is doing good work.

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BEACH INSTITUTE, SAVANNAH.

The school was brought to a successful close to-day. The year has been one of interest and profit, although of trial, on account of severe and, in some cases, protracted sickness on the part of nearly all the workers in this field. The school has prospered, and the progress made by some of the pupils has been very marked. Differing degrees of attainment, as well as of ability to express their knowledge, was clearly shown in the examinations. The closing oratorical exercises this afternoon, in the presence of an audience which crowded the chapel, were interesting in every particular. Without any special expenditure of time and strength in preparing for these, the most creditable results were shown. There was almost no prompting. The original productions, chiefly having relation to some country and the people inhabiting it, were well conceived and well expressed. The reading was distinct. It is manifest that that form of public address is doomed, and will soon be heard no more among the colored people, which only “mouths” words, regardless of sense and of the listening ear. Such scenes as that at “Beach” to-day have only hope in them for our country and the colored race.

C.

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BYRON, GA.

BY REV. S. E. LATHROP.

I recently attended the closing exercises of Rev. P. W. Young’s school at Byron. Going down on an evening freight train, I arrived at 9 p. m., and proceeded with my little girl and Bro. Young to the church, which is used also as a school-room. People in these country places are slow in getting together, at night especially. After working hard all day in the fields (it was just the busiest “cotton-cropping” time), they have to go home, get their suppers, dress up in their best clothes, and then go perhaps three or four miles. So it was half-past ten o’clock before the audience arrived in sufficient numbers; but finally the curtain was drawn and the exercises began. Declamations, readings, dialogues and music were given by the school, with much credit to themselves and their teachers. These exercises were under the direction of Mrs. Amelia Young, the pastor’s excellent wife, who showed decided talent in managing. It was after midnight when the exercises closed, and then your reporter was called on for a speech, which at that hour of the night (or rather morning) turned out to have one merit—that of brevity. A young neighboring teacher also made a speech, and the session was closed.

Next morning came off the examination of the classes, which showed commendable progress and encouraging attention to the studies. These country schools have many disadvantages which are not felt in larger places; but Bro. Young and his wife have evidently done a good work here, and are elevating and helping the whole community by their labors. A picnic dinner was spread in the church, as the rain prevented its service in the beautiful grove surrounding. After bountifully satisfying the inner man, and a little more speech-making, we returned home well pleased.

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TALLADEGA COLLEGE—LAYING OF CORNER-STONE.

PRESIDENT H. S. DE FOREST.

The corner-stone of the new dormitory which Mrs. Stone gives to Talladega College was laid May 13th. Scripture was read and prayer offered by President De Forest. Professor Andrews, the veteran in American missionary service in Alabama, laid the stone and gave an address, in which fitting reference was made to the good lady who, having seen and known none of us here, with her queenly benevolence, has blessed not only this school of Christian learning, and others in the South, but indeed round the world. The students were well represented by Spencer Snell, a member both of the Normal and Theological departments; after which a very appreciative address was delivered by Captain N. A. McAfee, a citizen of the place and a friend of the college from its foundation.

The sun was very hot that afternoon, and the services, beginning at 5 o’clock, naturally ended in a collation, which was followed by off-hand speeches, the singing of old-time songs, and music from a brass band. Some references were made to the past, but the prevailing thought was of gratitude to God for what He has wrought, of the duties of the hour, and of preparation for the auspicious future. Twelve years ago the corner-stone of Foster Hall was laid, in the days of turmoil, fear and violence. The first college building, now called Swayne Hall, was begun nearly thirty years ago; and it is a noteworthy fact that one who worked as a slave on that structure is the brick contractor of this, while his home to-day is the place owned by his master at the time of the surrender. The history of this man, who is a pillar in the college church, as well as an influential citizen among both blacks and whites, shows something of the possibilities and hopefulness of this Southern work. More of it is to be done, and it is a privilege to have a hand in it.

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NORTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE.

REV. ALFRED CONNET.

This Conference, organized two years ago at Raleigh, held its third meeting with Bethany Church at McLeansville. The churches were all represented. Rev. Islay Walden and his delegate, Deacon Potter, together with three others, came fifty miles in a one-horse wagon to attend the Conference. One of the party, Mrs. Hill, now a widow, has had twelve children, forty grand-children and twelve great-grand-children. She had never seen the cars nor heard a railroad whistle till she came to the Conference.

The opening sermon was preached by Rev. David Peebles, of Dudley, from John vii. 37. On Friday the Conference organized by electing Rev. G. S. Smith, of Raleigh, Moderator, and re-electing Rev. David Peebles, Clerk. The morning meeting for prayer and reports from the churches was a precious season.

Rev. Mr. Peebles discussed Church and Sunday-school Singing and Pictorial Preaching; Rev. W. H. Ellis, Children for Christ; Rev. G. S. Smith, the A. M. A. Work and National Council. The sermon Friday night was by Rev. Islay Walden; text, the first Psalm. Saturday afternoon the Conference held an experience meeting, in which some very interesting and touching reminiscences were given, particularly that of the death and burial of the martyr, Rev. Mr. Luke, related by Mr. Peebles. While this was in progress, Mr. James Gilmore, who sold the A. M. A. the grounds for this mission, came in, was made an honorary member, and sat, an interested listener, until the close.

Saturday night, the Conference held a rousing temperance meeting and took strong ground by a unanimous vote in favor of total abstinence, the use of unfermented wine at communion, and in favor of prohibition, as submitted to the people of this State by the last legislature for their ratification next August. The leading temperance speech was made by Deacon Jones, of Raleigh, whose grave was gratuitously dug for him at Chapel Hill some years ago by the Ku Klux, but which he declined to occupy. He tells us the Congregational Church at Raleigh is known as the prohibition church.

On the Sabbath the Sunday-school occupied the hour from 10 to 11 a.m. Sermon at 11 by Dr. Roy on the Great Commission. Text, Matt. xxviii. 18–20. In the afternoon one infant was baptized and nine persons received into the church, the pastor, Rev. A. Connet, officiating. Communion was administered by Revs. G. S. Smith and David Peebles.

Sunday night was devoted to the cause of Missions. Rev. A. Connet, for ten years in the employ of the A. H. M. S., presented the cause of Home Missions. Rev. G. S. Smith presented in earnest and eloquent words the cause of the A. M. A. He was followed by Rev. J. E. Roy, D.D., who gave a clear outline of the discoveries and missionary operations on the continent of Africa. He told us how the Christian world is looking to the colored population of this country to evangelize the “Dark Continent.”

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AFRICA.

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THE ORDINATION AT GOOD HOPE.

REV. H. M. LADD.

No little interest centered about the ordination of Kelly M. Kemp. It took place at Good Hope Station, Sherbro’ Island, West Coast of Africa, Sunday, April 10th.[A] Being the first ceremony of the kind in which the church and community had ever participated, it was naturally looked forward to by many, not only as a matter of deep interest in itself, but also as the harbinger of a better state of things for the enfeebled and almost discouraged church. Yet the field was an important one and must not be given up. The Lord had set His seal upon some faithful souls here, and they were praying and hoping for better things. Here, in the little graveyard adjoining the church, lay those who had given their lives that Africa might be redeemed. Here, by their side, lay one of Africa’s own sons, the gifted Barnabas Root, whose Christian graces of character had endeared him to all who knew him, and whose brilliant attainments had been to all the friends of the colored race at once a promise and a fulfillment of their fondest expectations. Their mute appeal, seconding the conviction that God had not forgotten this station, was eloquent, and prevailed. Good Hope was not to be given up. On the contrary, it was to be strengthened, so far as human power could do so, with a good hope, true to its name, that God would add His blessing in the fulfillment of the rich promises of His grace.

The property of the mission here is on all sides acknowledged to be the finest on the island. It consists of a large tract of land, part of it well wooded, about a quarter of a mile wide and a mile long, running back from the Sherbro’ River or Sound, and commanding a fine view of its many beautiful islands, stretching across to the native town of Bendoo on the opposite side. The mission house, large and well built, the church and school-house, besides a large number of “fakis,” or groups of native huts, are on this land. The grounds in front of the mission house are neatly laid out with gravel walks and shrubbery, and extend to the river road skirting the bank, where lies the mission boat moored to its wharf. It may be truly said of this place, in the words of the grand old hymn, that

“Every prospect pleases And only man is vile.”