Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-12-02


am [ can't tell you how [ feel, the word
are not here to express it, and the hand
grasp he gave, so very like a vice, Dor
abundant testimony of his sincerity.
1 ought to tell you that it is only a lit
tie over a year since this college property
was bought by the American Missionary
Association, with the aid of the Freed.
mems Bureau, at the hands of the rebels
The building was erected in 1856, fol
tho education Of young men, under thu
auspices of the Baptist denomination. The
trustees were, in the majority, land-hold
ers, wealthy and naturally opposed to tn,
elevation of the poor. | say naturally
perhaps you ask why? You know as wei
as |, that men who have tasted of power
thirst for more, and will sacrifice ever
their principles to obtain it. The poorer
class of whites demanded their rights tc
the privileges which the institution would
afford. In this state of things the war found
them, destroyed their property aud demol'
ished their plans, insomuch that their col
lege was obliged to be sold for less than
half of what it cost, to cancel a debt which
it had already incurred. The Association
bought it. Their object in doing this was
the establishment Of a normal school for
the education of colore1 teachers, feeling
that they could accomplish more in this,
than in any other way for the promotion of
the cause of education and Christianity in
the South.
The college occupies 4 beautiful site a
little out from the village of Talladega up
on a commanding eminence.
. Talladega is a few miles North of GEN.
trail Alabama, Just where the hills have
higher aspirations. daring to be called
mountains. The climate is therefore beau
tiful.
Oar college is three stories high. Its
walls are two feet thick aud built of brick
TIE building fronts to the Fast. On the
first floor are two capacious recitation
with u wide hall between; on the
second floor are two recitation rooms, a
library. and an off the third story is
one fine, large hall, used for chapel, sing
ing concerts ami other like exercises.
1t is almost impossible to realize, some
times. that this structure, erected in the
spirit that il was. ami for the purpose, viz.
the agran1izement of a certain class to the
exclusion of all others. should now, in 50
short d period after its erection. become
the centre of the intellectual and spiritual
elevation Of all within Il circuit OF hundreds
of miles.
As results Of our years work. rather OF
Gods work through us. we can point you
to a church of twenty-five working mem
bers, a normal class of nearly fifty, and the
building in very good repair, for ! should
have stated that when the building came
into our possession it had been neglected
and abused. There was scarcely a whole
window pane in the house, ma y of the
sash were entirely demolished the plaster
ing was off in many places, and what re
manned was defaced by the knives and
pencils of Maynard soldiers who hal oc-
cupied it for barracks. To illustrate the
character of some of the " Southern chiv-
airy ;" after the building was sold. some
of the school furniture. that was sold with
it, was removed, together with the fence
that surrounded it. | need not tell you
the rank in society of the individual who
this trespass sufficient that
twas done. But we very seldom think OF
these things the Lord did not send Us
here to harbor unkind thoughts. but to
train mind that such thoughts. and deeds
like this, may be Stunned. We see a wide
field, widely opening. Much appears to
occupy our hands and hearts, and if we
had the disposition, we have no time for
complaint. God grant that this may ever
be so.
l find I've taken so much space in get
ting ready to tell of our immediate work.
[ would better defer that till next
week. w. R. NJ. C.