Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-09
EDUCATING THE NEGRO.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND
THE COLORED PEOPLE.

The Sacred Heart Mission School and
What 1T has Accomplished in the Past
Four Years-1he New School on SlEida-
way Island.
There are few institutions that have
been founded in Savannah since the war
wOrtnier of notice than the Church of the
Sacred Heart and the school, on Lincoln.
corner of st. James street, established by
the Catholic Church for the education of
the cOlOred people. These institutions
were suggested in 1880 by Rev. Oswald
MoOsmulIer of the Order of Saint Bene-
dictine as auxilaries to missionary work,
and as means to promote the education
Of cOlored children in elementary English
studies. TIE order in which the priest is
recognized as Jealous worker
had year or two previous
found ed a monastery and chapel and an
industrial school for cOlOred boys on
Skidaway Island for the benefit particu-
larlY. but not exclusively, of cOlOred peO-
pie living on the island, and hence it was
deemed advisable that the cOlOred chill
dren living IN or near the city should
have an opportunity to enjoy equal facili-
ties for instruction under the direction OF
the order. When the project was sug
gested there was no money with which to
erect the necessary buildings. Father
MOOsmuller was, however. not to be
deferred by what seemed at first to be an
insurmOuntable obstacle. He began the
publication of a monthly periodical in
the German language, which was edited
here, printed North and shipped
back to Savannah, and thence
mailed to agents and sub
scribers. The publication involved the
expenditure of quite a sum Of money, but
the reverend Fathers talents and tinan-
cial tact paid the cost of the buildings.
The erection of the first building was
commenced in October, 1880, and
completed in February, 1881. The
church portion of the structure is 90 feet
in length. So feet in width, and % feet in
height. The twO-stOry annex is % feet
long and 80 feet wide. The lower floor OF
the annex was OpeLed as a school for
colored children in April, 1881,
with an attendance of about
halt a dozen pupils, with Miss Ellen Kelly
as teacher. AT the end of the first year
the attendance had increased 90 pupils.
In October 1882, the Sisters OF Mercy
took charge of the school, with 20 pupils,
male and female. One of the first acts
almost of the new instructresses was to
place the boys in a class room separate
from that occupied by the girls, and at
the end of that year the attendance had
increased to l25.
1t must be borne in mind that the course
of instruction is confined to the elemen-
tary English studies, such as spelling,
reading. writing and arithmetic.
In 1888 it became apparent that the ac-
cOmmOdatiOns for the pupils were entire
ly too limited, and it was decided to erect
the twO-stOry lower building shown on
the left of the picture. This building is
20 by 40 feet, and on the frame floor there
is a hall for exhibitions, etc, which meas
ures 30 by 10 feet. OF from this hall
there is school room % by
40 feet in dimensions, where the
Sisters of Mercy teach the more advanced
pupils such studies as geography, music,
etc. In this department the average at
tendance of pupils is between 30 and 10.
All the departments in the new building
are tor the tuition exclusively of cOlOred
children, whilst the building first erected
has been set apart for the education Of
white children who pay small fee for
their tuition in the elementary branches.
This school is a recent feature in the
work of the mission, the number of
pupils being IA, occupying one
room and taught by Miss Maggie
O'Brien. Four sisters of the Franciscan
order, under the lead of Sister Superior
Abbess DOminick O'Neal, came to Sa-
Vannah from England last December, and
are making ARRANGEMENTS to establish an
Industrial boarding school and orphan
asylum for cOlored children. This insti-
tuition, already described in the News,
will be located on Skidaway island and
Will be opened in a short time.
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