The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1877-04-21
To the Friends and Patrons OF
Straight University

On the 10Th of February 1877, Straight
University, with all its furniture, its records,
and its library OF over $500 Folames was
totally destroyed by fire.
IFS erection / 1870 was noble expression
of faith in the manhood of the colored RAGE
Its founders believed in the talent ard capa-
bility OF the colored man. that it the btaip
and heart were set free, the world Tould be
enriched and blessed by the generous fruits
of their expansion and culture.
Those who have performed the work ct liz
struetion can testify to the result: they
have seen the mind eXpa4t ding and streilg
ening under the discipline of study; they
have seen awakened thought rising and re-
ioicing IN the strength of its new found en-
energies: they have seen the heart, touched
by the fire of song and story, glowing with
Il noble enthusiasm; they have seen man
hood and womanhod taking upon themselves
the;grace and nobility of u divipely endowed
nature.
Faith is now reality, and expectation is
stamped with the seal of success, The past
is an earnest of the future, of the good and
great work yet to be done. The destruction
of the building cannot mean the destruction
of it's faith and purpose these will abide AND
must be fulfilled. Its loss can aud must mean
only the loss of wood, bricks and mortar.
These must be replaced; a new building
must be erected. No other thought can 6e
allowed for a moment. The great struggle
still before the colored people demands 1t,
the urgent wants OF this great Southwest
make it absolutely necessary. The great
fertility of the soil of Louisiana, her peculiar
products and her intense climate mark this
State as The home of the colored people. 70
the West is the Empire State of Texas,
stretching away to the border line of Next
co. just below US are the West India Isles,
teeming with an ignorant and degraded
population and always to he in the posses
sion of the African race. For all this great
Gulf region, struggling for respect and
equality Yearuing for the light OF knowledge
and its blessings, there must be at least II
few great fountains of learning Education
must have its teachers, society must have its
leaders, the State must have its rulers, and
the Church its mniSters-theSe the college
must supply, and these, we believe, our
noble young institution will supply Already
in its few short years OF existence 1t has ell
rolled an aggregate of nearly four thousand
students. Many of these have gone forth to
the school-house. to the pulpit, ard the bar
1t has gathered young men and young wo-
men from far and near, and its name is now
dear to thousands of hearts throughout this
and neighboring States. Even now, DIS far
as the Rio Grande, young men may be found
teaching again the lessons which they
learned here. A few weeks ago, a man said
of a Young woman who went to a back par
community, the people almost worship her,
Can you send us another student like her +"
But who can measure the influence and
power tor good, when ten years more have
multiplied the number of such workers 1T
Yale and Harvard have given cast to the
thought and feeling of New England, and
New England in turn welded q controlling
influence over the destinies of the whole
country, what may similar institutions not
aeeomDlish for the southwest!
And now, friends, we propose to build
again, not ia the narrow quarters where we
were before-for in spite of the most ex-
| tenSiye preparations which we could make
there, we found ourselves unable to accom-
MEDIATE all who came to us-but in d larger
and better place. We intend to occupy one
of the most eligible locations in the city,
where we shall have ample room for our
buildings and play grounds for our students.
We hope to erect main building tor school
purposes and for the accommodation Of young
men, also a hall for the accommodation of
young ladies. These buildings are to be
durable and handsome structures, and to
cost not less than tilirty-tive thousand dol
lars. They will be II credit to the city, an
honor to the Institution aud its frieads, and
above all blessing to its patrons.
The American Mississionary Association
has already spent, besides its annual outlay,
sixty thousand dollars for property in its
work here. 1t expects to spend many
thousand more. But it asks you to assist
1t asks not i'll its own name, nor for its own
sake, for a more noble and generous society
never sent workers INTO the great field of
humanity, but i'll your name, for yourselves
and your children. In the spirit of the
Apostle Paul, it asks you to give that it may
have some fruit to show to those who are
ready to scoff and say, will this people
never help themselves" In the name of the
Il
which is dawning, it asks you to join in the
great consummation. Like Moses viewing the
promised land, it surveys with prophetic
eye. your coming day of prosperity, honor
and happiness, and bids you rise and go
forward. JAS. A. ADAMS
Principal Straight University.
New Orleans. March 81, 1877.