Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-10-22
EDUCATION.


Laying the Corner stone OF Jubise
HaII-A Large Attendance and Inn
press1ve Ceremonies.
j at half past two O'Clock yesterday sftel
noon, q large assembly of people OF all seer
| and creeds gathered together on the emil
nence in the western part of the city, know
| IS Fort Giflem, 10 witness the ceremony Q
laying tho corner stone of Jubilee Hall, 0
the Fisk University.
The exercises we're opened by singing Q,
q large class Of singers who are students 9
the University, led by Prof. Spence, whf
! at the close of the singing, advanced TO th'
space re- erved for the speakers, and said:
ADDRESS OF PROF. SPENCE.
My friends, you all know why you an
assembled here to-day, but wish TO say
something of the labor that has been I'M
dertaken by those who have charge Of FlsE
University. The men and women who
have labored to build up institutions O
learnings-they, and none but they, know
the full extent of the task undertaken. To
day is day of rejoicing. We are glad tc
welcome here to-day our friends and fellow
citizens Of Nashville, on this jubilee occa'
sion. We are glad to welcome here to-day
so many representatives of the various
classes of this city-so many who are
united with Us in advancing the cause Of
education.
We have met to-day to lay the corner
stone Of the first permanent structure con-
nected with one OF the institutions in your
midst, Of which you have reason to bs
proud. We have here the beginning only
the beginning of q vast and difficult work,
and were it not for profound confidence
that God who rules over the right, we
would grow faint al the undertaking, but
we feel from our past experience, our pres
emit prospects and realities, that we have
every reason to hope for and behave in the
success of this work, undertaken In the
midst of difficulties.
In this building we win have not only a
school building, but home TO which you
may send your sons and daughters, away
from your parental care, place where they
may be watched over and have thrown
around them the infuences--so far as cir
cumstances permit--of a Christian home.
We have here to-day with US, one of the
original founders of the Fisk University
one of those three men who, seating them
selves on pile of lumber down yonder in
en0 SASyl auu iVoninS e4OuAU uPou on tiio
surroundings, decided to establish
8 school here, and gave their
own 81 individual promise to pay
the expenses to be incurred at the out set
in that work. Those men are the Rev. E.
N. Cravatb, Field Secretary of the Ameri-
can Missionary Association, Rev. E. p.
Smith, now Indian Commissioner at Wash
ipgton, and Prof. John Ogden,now of Ohio.
We have here to day the Rev. E. M. Cra-
Vath, who will make some remarks, after
which, aided by E. P. Steward, Superin-
tendent of construction, he will lay the
cornerstone.
Prof. Spence then introduced Mr.. GRAY
ath, who said:
ADDRESS OF REV. E. NJ. CRAvATH.
1t is often said in these days that we are
making history very fast, and this is GER
tainly true Of eur age and our time, In q
higher senle than it was ever before true
In the history of the world. 1t Is true in
regard 10 the institution in whose interest,"
we are assembled here to-day.
| wish to say few words with regard to
the history of this institution with reference
to the la.teight years. 1t is, of course, not
very difficult thing to build up
school when the means and
appliances for completing such
work are provided directly TO our hands.
There have been institutions that have
sprung into existence, have been incorpo-
rated, have constructed their buildings and
have gathered together q large number of
students, so as to make a greater show of
results at the end of eight years than the
Fisk University is able to make, but their
beginning and the circumstances which
brought them into existence and enabled
them to so rapidly accomplish their work,
differed materially from the circumstances
of this school.
Eight years ago last October the first pur-
chase was made for the establishment of
Fisk University. Two of the three gentle
men referred to-Rev. E. P. Smith and my
SELF were sent South by the American
Missionary Society, with instructions TO the
effect that the condition of the treasury Of
the association was such that it would not
be possible for Us, in founding schools and
educational work on behalf of
society, to invest in real estate. The second
day after we arrived in Nashville
we became acquainted with Prof
John Ogden, who represented the West
ern Freedman's Aid Commission, of Gin
cinnati, Ohio, and we concluded that MOTH
ing would meet the wants of the future
no plan would do the work we thought
ought to be done, better than to plant in
the city of Nashville and other cities South,
educational institutions. Having no au-
thority to invest dollar in real estate, we
found that with our own funds we could
ma Ike the first payment on the property
which has since been occupied by the Fisk
School, and then by the Fisk University,
and for which we paid $4,000, paying
1000 and mourning debt of 900.
The speaker then dwelt upon what he
looked upon as providences of God to aid
in building up the school. The ground
purchased wsss occupied by government
buildings which were used for school pur-
poses at small expense. By and by the
buildings were purchased, the institution
was aided by favorable Legislation on the
part of the government, the sum of twelve
or fourteen thousand dollars being also pro-
vided by the government, which money was
expended in building the chapel sDd the
girls dormitory. Then came the generous
help of the Peabody fund, amounting TO
$500 annually.
After the institution had been under way
Ola JOAAc, LILO Ou1So1S VI bhC AcoOSAoblOH ollu
the trustees of the University became anx-
ious with regard to the future, fearing they
would not be able to make it permanent
institution for lack of funds to carry out
their plans. At this point Mr.. George l..
White, who occupied a position as clerk in
3 government Office In Nashville, offered his
services as a teacher of vocal music in the
school, offering to teach an hour each day,
taking the time allowed him for lunch. Toe
offer was gratefully accepted, and in the
course of time Mr.. White became perma-
nently connected with the school. The
Jubilee Singers were organized soon after,
started out to give concerts, aud were
received by the best people of all the cities
Of this country and also by the nobility of
England, in very fattering manner, and
now the success of the Fisk University is
ss a direct result of this band of
singers, they having raised enough money
to buy rs acres of land, eight acres Of which
are in the square forming the site of Jubi-
lee Hall. Three thousand Congregational
Churc hes are contributing literally to the
work. After the land had been paid for
here was $4,000 left to begin a building
which is to cost $4,000. The speaker said
that money had been sent in during the
progress of the work, SO that now there was
about as much on hand as when the exca-
Vation for the foundation was begun.
THE ARTICLES DEPOSITED.
At the close of Mr.. Crayath's address, q
lin box about ten inches square was brought
forward by Mr. Steward, Superintendent of