THE FREEDMEN.

GEORGIA.

Atlanta University.

ITS ORGANIZATION.

REV. E. A. WARE, PRESIDENT.

The first term of Atlanta University began, under its charter granted in 1867, in Oct., 1869. The highest class, at that time, was the junior preparatory. By a natural and steady growth, there has come to be a regular college department, from which two classes, (nine students), have been graduated, and in which there are now twenty-four students; a scientific department, with four; a preparatory, with 37; a higher normal, from which have graduated five classes, (twenty-four students), and which numbers at present 68; and a lower normal, with 62 students. The higher normal begins with the usual high-school studies, and continues four years. The lower normal includes the grammar-school studies, and the first two years of the higher normal course. Instruction in theology was given, until the State aid was granted to the school; it has since been discontinued. The home and family feature of the school is made prominent. A lady has charge of the young men’s building, and, so far as possible, takes the place of mother, making the house a home, instead of a college barrack. The refining, elevating, and restraining influence of this family life is incalculable.

Every effort is put forth to make the Sabbath a power. The usual church service is held in the morning, Sunday-school in the afternoon, and prayer-meeting at night. The monthly missionary concert is observed. The contributions at this meeting, for the nine school months, amount to about fifty dollars. The church prayer-meeting is held on Wednesday evening; the school prayer-meeting for all the students on Friday afternoon. At this meeting, the school makes weekly offerings, by the envelope plan, toward the payment of the debt of the American Missionary Association.

The workers this year, including Pastor, Treasurer, Steward, Housekeeper and Matron, number twelve. Among them are representatives of Yale, Harvard, Amherst and Oberlin.

The institution owns sixty acres of land, about one mile from the centre of the city. That part of it occupied by the buildings, commands an extended view in all directions. The buildings are two plain, four-storied, brick dormitories, one for boys, the other for girls. These also afford rooms for teachers, and the basement and first floor of the boys’ building give space for chapel, schoolrooms, library and reading-room. Many of these rooms are entirely unfit for these uses, and are much needed for sleeping rooms. By an hour’s work each day, the students care for the buildings, cultivate the grounds, cut the wood, and do the house-work, except the cooking.

The Graves Library contains about four thousand volumes, and has an endowment of five thousand dollars. The library and reading-room are thoroughly used. Excepting for the library, the school has no endowment, but depends for support on the American Missionary Association, and the State of Georgia, which latter has appropriated to it $8,000 annually.

The name “University,” when adopted in 1867, signified nothing, save as a prophecy. As such it was adopted. It foretold the capacity of those, for whom the school was especially founded, to advance in education, till they should need the advantages of a full university course. It foretold the willingness of the friends of humanity to furnish these advantages. There is no longer any doubt of the complete fulfillment of the first prophecy, provided the second can be speedily accomplished.

ITS WORK.

REV. C. W. FRANCIS.

To prepare teachers for the education of the children of more than half a million of poor and illiterate people is, and must remain, the chief work of the school. The ability to read and write is the smallest of the needs of the people, old and young, among whom such teachers are called to labor. They must teach the elements of morals and religion, of social and domestic life, must supply the forces which are to shape and guide the people from serfdom up to an intelligent, Christian citizenship. The course pursued in this school consists essentially in separating the pupils by means of a family school from all old associations and habits, and subjecting them for months and years to a strong and watchful discipline, in surrounding them with the most earnest and aggressive religious influences, in giving them the best mental training and furnishing which the time and facilities will allow, thus to stamp upon them new characteristics, and mould them so that they will represent and teach the best Christian culture and civilization. That they may resist the strong influences pulling them down on every hand, they need to be thoroughly fixed and set in character before leaving school. Such a complete transformation of character and life as is aimed at here, requires time and the constant exercise of the highest skill and patience. It is no ordinary education which is sought, but a special and peculiar training for a high and holy missionary work.

The demand for teachers from this school is continually greater than the supply. In the last catalogue were the names of 214 pupils, and of these, more than 150 are known to have engaged in teaching during the year. In the previous year, out of 240, more than 175 were at work in the same way. And this number includes nearly every person in school whose age and attainments gave him even the smallest fitness for the work. The school term lasts nine months, and there is but one vacation, including the three summer months. It is the practice of the pupils to pass directly from school to their work in teaching, and many have done so for a number of years, without going home or having a rest. They have in day-schools an average attendance of thirty-five or forty; and as most have night-schools, and nearly all organize Sabbath-schools and temperance societies, it is not unreasonable to estimate that more than 10,000 people are every season reached and instructed by the present pupils of this school, while a still larger number are under the instruction of former pupils. They, for the most part, find their own places, collect the pupils, secure a building—either a church, shed or cabin, or, in lack of these, build a log-house or bush-arbor; and so, all through the hot months, the work goes on from year to year. The seed is widely scattered, but it is not lost.

This school bears a very close relation to the special church work of the Association as well as to the general religious welfare of the whole people. A large majority of the pupils become Christians before leaving school, and only one or two have been graduated without giving evidence of Christian character. There has been special religious interest every year in the history of the school. One missionary to Africa and several ministers in active service, caught their inspiration here.

ITS INFLUENCE.

REV. HORACE BUMSTEAD.

The varied and powerful influence of Atlanta University is seldom adequately estimated by the casual reader. Situated almost exactly midway between the Ohio and Mississippi rivers on the one hand, and the Atlantic and Gulf coast on the other, it has an unsurpassed opportunity for reaching the colored people of the South. Over most of this large territory there is no other institution of so high a grade, the nearest neighbors doing a similar work being Fisk and Straight Universities at Nashville and New Orleans respectively. It is especially fortunate in having no sectarian rivals to disturb the harmony with which it is now doing a broad Christian work for all denominations.

The first and most direct influence of the institution is, of course, upon its students. An observing visitor, listening to a recitation, or attending any gathering of the students, can, without much difficulty, distinguish the recent comers from the older pupils. In modes of thought and expression, and in the general bearing, the contrast is usually quite marked. These, however, are only superficial indications of the deeper change that is commonly wrought in the entire character. Frivolity is toned down, carelessness corrected, punctuality secured, a respect for the rugged virtues as well as the amenities of life stimulated, and, in many cases, a sober and abiding religious earnestness developed.

The influence of the institution thus imparted to its students, is next felt by the thousands of younger scholars whom the students gather into their schools. So, too, the Sunday-schools and Churches with which they are connected, and the entire communities in which they move, receive a quickening impulse from their presence. “There are three of us in that Sunday-school, all with the University ideas,” was the significant remark of a graduate now teaching in a large Southern city.

Finally, the influence of Atlanta University upon the Southern white people themselves has been a marked one. They have repeatedly and handsomely acknowledged that the success of its instruction has convinced them that the colored race can receive a high degree of culture. The demonstration of this fact has an important bearing upon the whole subject of public education. Not only the colored people, but the white people of all classes, especially the poorer classes, will receive great benefit from the quickening of public sentiment, produced by the success of this institution. The last official report on Atlanta University, by the Board of Visitors appointed by the Governor, contains an emphatic recognition of its very great influence, present and prospective. These are some of the sentences from that report: “The Board are constrained to say that the mental training was very satisfactory.” “No school in Georgia ever had such a field, and its social as well as political power may become immense.” “The pupils of that school will be the moulders of their race in the State,” etc., etc. These are the statements of influential white men in Georgia. Do the people of the North realize how true they are?

Devotion to Study—Conversions to Christ.

REV. M. O. HARRINGTON, MACON.

Many cases of interest come to notice in connection with our school, showing the eager thirst for knowledge which these colored people have. One incident to-day illustrates this. A young man, twenty-two years of age, who has been connected with the school for a few weeks, was obliged to go home a few days since, to attend to matters of business. So anxious was he not to lose his position in his class, that he started at 2.15 in the morning and walked about forty miles, reaching Macon at 5 P.M. and this in the severest N. E. rain-storm of the season. It makes our hearts sad to know of many who would gladly come to our school, but cannot find boarding places in town.

The young man mentioned above has since found Christ to be his Saviour. Rejoice with us! God is visiting us with His Spirit. The Church is quickened to newness of life, and sinners are converted. We observed the Week of Prayer; have continued the meetings every night this week. Some of our strongest and best young men were the first to start in the new life. All is quiet, but deep and earnest.

ALABAMA.

Breaking Ground for the New Emerson Institute Building.

PROF. T. N. CHASE.

On the 26th of December, ground was broken for the new Emerson Institute building at Mobile, with appropriate services. A portion of Scripture was read, and brief addresses were made by Rev. Mr. Ash, pastor of the Congregational Church; Rev. Mr. Owens, Baptist; Rev. Mr. Taylor, Methodist; Mr. Koons, principal of the school; and Prof. Chase, of Atlanta University. Led by Miss Stevenson, Miss Lord, a former teacher, and Miss Sawyer, of Talladega College, the pupils of the school sang “Hold the Fort,” “Thank God for our Country,” “Labor On,” etc., and Rev. Mr. Davis led in prayer.

In the remarks, Mr. Ash spoke of education in its relation to the individual, to society, to government, and to the Church. Mr. Owens said that ignorance was our greatest enemy, and that the building which was to be erected might be regarded as a fort, from which guns were to be aimed at this inveterate foe, and exhorted the people to sustain the teachers who were leading them in their intellectual and moral warfare. Mr. Koons made a few statements concerning the school, saying that its aim was not to advance the interests of any political party or religious sect, but to develop character and cultivate the minds and hearts of the people. Mr. Taylor said he had been taught that the negro could not be educated—that his brains lay in his heels, etc.; but he was glad to see proof to the contrary in the speeches that had just been made by Mr. Ash and Mr. Owens. Mr. Chase alluded to the burning of the old Institute, the causes of delay in rebuilding, the fact that the school was needed now, and the probability that it always would be.

At the conclusion of these addresses, the old men, headed by Mr. Taylor, claimed the privilege of removing the first earth; others followed, without regard to age, color, sex or sect.

The new lot is more accessible to the colored population than the old one. It is known as Holley’s Garden, and has been a favorite resort for picnic parties. On account of the great depreciation in real-estate, the property, containing over two acres, and having on it a house that will serve as a home for the teachers and accommodate a few girls as boarders, and covered with nearly a hundred large shade trees, mostly live-oak, has been purchased for the small sum of $2,800.

The new building is to be sixty-four feet long and fifty-four in greatest width, and will accommodate 250 pupils, under five teachers. Many of the bricks from the old building can be used, since they were not injured by an excess of water at the time of the fire.

TENNESSEE.

A Debt Extinguisher—The Happiest Girl in the Land.

REV. TEMPLE CUTLER, CHATTANOOGA.

On my return from the campaign in New England, I found the church in a much better condition than I feared it might be. Except in the falling off in the weekly offering, I could see no change. They had been ministered to regularly on Sunday evenings, during my absence, by Rev. J. C. Irwin, the pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church.

I was glad to find that a good degree of enthusiasm had been awakened among them to assist in paying the debt of the A. M. A. The Church had held a fair during my absence, at which they realized about $20, which they had forwarded to you. The Band of Hope had sent about the same amount. Then the band decided to celebrate the anniversary of their freedom on the first of January—Emancipation-Day—with a festival, the proceeds of which should be appropriated to the debt. All the colored people, without regard to church connection, were invited to be present and contribute to this object. It was quite a success. The exercises consisted of speaking, essays and songs, and were very creditable to the performers. The singing was from the Hampton Cabin Songs, some of which were new to this section. Among the speeches was one on the emancipation of the blacks, another on the work of the A. M. A. in the South, which were well delivered. One essay was on a contrast between the slave and the freeman. Dr. Lawrence and wife, who were here on a lecturing tour on temperance, were present. The doctor made a short address, full of wit and good counsel. The evening closed with a social entertainment. The proceeds, I think, were about $30, which you have probably received ere this.

The hearty interest manifested by all the colored people in the payment of your debt is encouraging. If the wealthier people would do as much in proportion as these poor people do, your debt would not long be a burden. The Sabbath-school has caught the fever, and, last Sunday, the proposition was made to send you all the money in the treasury (about $15); but, on further consideration, it was thought best to wait until we see how we shall pay for our lesson papers. You will probably get the $15, however. I hear from other Churches that a similar effort is being made among them.

In addition to this, I am happy to say that the Week of Prayer was observed, the meetings well attended, and the spirit of the meetings excellent. Prayers were made for husbands and children that are already answered, in a conviction on the part of those prayed for that they must give attention to the things they hear.

One of our most promising girls, who went to Tougaloo, Miss., a few weeks ago, writes me that she has found the Saviour, and is so happy. Let me mention another fact that has interested us here in our home exceedingly. One of our girls has been very anxious to get an education. Just before I went North, she asked me to see if I could not find somebody who would help her. One friend gave me $5, and that was all. Her heart was very sad when I told her that I did not succeed in getting enough, but I encouraged her with the assurance that if it was the Lord’s will that she should go, He would open the way yet. In a few days I received a letter from an old friend, whom I had not heard from for years, but who had accidentally seen my name as connected with this work, in which was a post-office order for $20. I put this with my $5, and told Jennie she had better start; we would take this as an earnest of the whole amount ($60) needed to finish the year. We are curious to know the result of this venture. One thing we know, and that is, where to find the happiest girl in the land.