Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-04-14
A GREAT WORK.
The Convention and Education OF the
Negro, the Indian and the Chinese
by the American
Missionary AssoeIaf ion-The schools at
Memphis, Nashville and Hampton,
Virginia.

Missionary ASSOCIATE on-The schools at
Memphis, Nashville and Hampton,
Virginia.
Under the title of A Week Among tie
Workers Of tie American Missionary Associd-
tion,we have pamphlet covering the progress
made at Memphis, Atlanta, Nashville, Talla-
dega, New Orleans, San Francisco and Hamp-
ton. The aim and work of the association,
as our readers know, is to preach the gospel
to the poor. 1t originated in sympathy
with the almost friendless slaves. Since
emancip alton it has devoted its main efforts
to preparing the freedmen for their duties
as citizens and christians in America, and as
missionaries in Africa. As closely related
to this, it seeks TO benefit the caste prosecuted
Chinese in America, and to cooperate with
the government in Its humane and christian
policy toward the Indians. 1t has also
mission in Africa.
ATLANTA.
The school at Atlanta, under the direction
of the First Congregational Church, at pres
sent numbers fourteen classes, o. which three
are Bible classes; an infant class numbering
sixty and still growing, the ten other classes
being composed OF boys and girls from eight
to sixteen years OF aga. Attendance for to-
day is 30, fair average for pleasant
weather. AT Inc close Oh SIu1y nOur Inc
school reassembles for general review, which
occupies about quarter Of an hour, and in
cludes the previous lessons of the quarter as
we'll as that Of to-day. The review, though
necessarily briet reveals two things: One
il, that we have corps OF earnest, faithful
and competent teachers; the other, that the
pupils have studied their lessons and are
learning how to think. The promptness of
response, the intelligence of the answers
given, and the thoughtiulness of the ques-
tions asked by them, have rarely seen sur
passed. That they are in great part either
students or graduates of the Storrs school
will explain the reason of any unusual pro-
iciency. The majority of the children in
our Sunday school are as wide awake, active,
keen, as you will find anywhere, and any
dull, prosy, goody-good teacher will find ours
the beat school in the world-to stay away
from. AT o'clock we gather at the first
church service OF the day. This is commun-
ion with US, and in connection with the ad-
minstration of the sacrament, brother re-
Gently chosen deacon is TO be set apart for
that office.
TALLADBGA.
Under this head an account is given OF the
progress in the theological seminary which
elected the proudest praises from visitors.
"Talladega has thirty ministers in the field,
and through such men is the way upward for
the colored people. The colored preacher is
a bishop of the most dominant order, hence
he must be wisely fitted for his work.
FISK UNIVERSITY, NASHVILLE, TENN.
The imaginary visitor, as he goes from
room to room to-day, will not see much that
is peculiar either in classes or teaching.
Aside from African features, more or less
pronounced, and some Southernisms in voice
and expression, you might imagine you were
listening TO n class in new Northwestern
college. We are orthodox, and we believe
in the good old idea of discipline through
the hard study OF Latin, Greek, and mathe-
matics with the usual amount of science,
both natural and mental, and the It ceteros
The colored man is just man, and his mind
must be dealt with as are other minds. He
must climb the difficult hill of education as
his white brother, by many slow and weary
step; and, as in white colleges, many a toiler
falls out by the way and few reach the shin
ing top. The average time spent by each OF
the thirty-two college students thus far
under our instruction is four and nine-six-
teenths years. Some have been with US as
long as seven or eight years. The average
time is growing less with better schools and
increased facilities elsewhere. Qnite num-
Der now come to Us prepared to enter the
college preparatory course, and occasionally,
one fitted to enter college. A college planted
in an intelligent community takes root at
once in a soil prepared, and brings
fruitage. Not so with the effort begun here
twelve years ago, to develop college among
a people Just out OF bondage. Nearly all
the students in college are dependent on their
own efforts, with the aid so kindly
given by friends in the North, in
acquiring an education. Only one
has property, and two live at home with
their parents in the city. Several have others
dependent npon them. One, a lady, has care
of the family, both parents being dead.
During the last summer all were at work,
three as porters on railroads two as clerks; |
one had charge cf church, which, under his
ministry, enjoyed q revival Of religion, and
the rest taught school. Some teach classes
in the university and some do manual labor.
Nearly all are compelled TO be absent part
of the college year, thus increasing their toll
when they return. Who would not help
people who are thus helping themselves?
All the college students are protesting chris
tians, and out of the thirty-two, twenty-one
have become so while students here. One is
a licentiate for the ministry, and several, We
hope, will enter that calling. Four Of the
college students are ladies. The college is
the apex of our educational pyramid. The
higher the apex the broader the base Pass
ing downward, We find in college prepara-
tory forIy-eight; in higher normal, twenty
seven; in normal, 167; i uthe model school, |
l35. Scattered through different grades we
have twelve, taking in addition to other !
ton with reference to the ministry Twenty |
four have already graduated from college, |
one OF whom is dead. OF the others, one is,a |
lawyer, one is a minister, five are learning |
professions, three being the ministry and all |
the rest are teaching, many of whom occupy |
important positions, one being professor in
this unworthy.
lie MoYNE INSTITUTE, MEMPHIS.
A days work in any we'll organized school
is, ordinarily, a simple enough mater. An |
intelligent description of the same is quite |
affair II the reader viii follow |
me I will attempt to chow him what is done
in an average day at lie Moyne We first |
enter the library and reading room Here |
are 1000 volumes, a cabicet Of 1900 natural
history specimens, a number OF periodicals,
etc. Passing now 70 the assembly room, on
the upper floor, about ninety students of the |
Normal department are in their seats and, |
as the clock in the tower is striking nine and |
the lower schools are. about to march in, we |
will take seals with the eight teachers on the |
platform for morning devotions. There are |
about 200 pupils before u. 4 song is sung, |
accompanied on the piano; a short selection
is read from the Scriptures; the principal |
leads in a brief prayer, in which all seem 10
Join, with bowed heads; a few moments
silent prayer, another song, and the lower
schools file cut OF the room and the work Of |
the day begins. During the day We shall
find the students in the assembly
room, preserving their own order,
a teacher seldom being seen in the room In
the grammar room We shall hear recitations
in English grammar and competition, con-
Quoted by Mrs Peton, the entire work being
made as practicable az possible to secure