Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-01
HOWARD'S NEW PRESIDENT.
DR.. Rankin VIII Assume the Place FRI
day-A Letter From Fred Douglass.

"No, am not superstitious, and to me Fri
day is just as good as any other day on which
to take hold Of my new duties.''
The speaker was the Rev. J. E. Rankin, D. D.,
the new president of Howard university, now
stopping at the Langham, and his remark was
addressed to STAR reporter. So far as ap-
pearances are concerned DR.. Rankin is not a
day older than he was when he left the First
Congregational church and the city of Wash
lngton for Orange Valley, NJ. There may be
a little more grey in his hair, but the bright
eyes are as clear ever and the cordial hand
shake has lost none of its affectionate force.
Il shall take charge on Friday morning."
said the president, land do SO under the most
pleasing circumstances. The congratulations
have been almost overwhelming; don't know
how can ever thank my many friends"
A scrap-book full OF photographic specimens,
all laudatory Of the preacher-poet is an aggre-
CATION Of expressed good will such as is GEN.
tered Oh but few men.
LETTER FROM FRED DOUGLASS.
Prominent among these letters is one from
Fred Douglass. a trustee of Howard university
and now United States minister to Hayti. 1t is
as follows:
PoRT-AU-PRINCE, December Z, 1889.
MY DEAR DR. RANKIN: l congratulate YOU
upon your election to the presidency of Howard
university, but have far greater reason to con-
graduate the university You have taken
upon you a great labor of love and have
made a great sacrifice. 1t Is like you.
You could easily have found many positions
with less exacting and in many respects more
agreeable conditions. Your talents. l might
say your character and genius, would open
doors on golden hinges before you, but you
have chosen place though high yet among
the lowly. May Heaven bless you in and TO:
the choice you have made Your heart chow
should not know IT'D is with my poor per-
secuted and struggling people and no man in
my range OF acquaintance has larger or more
helpful powers. You can not only teach the
letter but the spirit of Christianity, SO much
needed Ill the capital of our great republic.
never became reconciled to your absence from
Washington; you had fixed position among
the moral and religious forces of that CITY,
and were terror to evu-doers 1t was never
your misfortune to be misunderstood; your
trumpet gave no uncertain sound. Your lam
guage was never made to conceal your thought
You SAID what you meant and meant what you
SAID 1rlmmers took no stock in you, hence
the true friends OF temperance and Of freedom
deeply regretted the day that saw you depart
and are glad that you have returned l had
some thought OF resigning my trusteeship on
account OF my absence from the country, but
am reluctant to do SO; especially since you are
president OF the university. should like to con-
tinue with the institution to the end"
Miss Willard, president of the WC.TU.,
wrote long inspiring letter, in which she
said: 1T is once more as il we had a brother
beloved on duty at the national capital"
REV. JOSEPH COOKS FEAR.
Joseph Cooks letter was full of fear that the
responsible duties of president of university
would shut off the fountain of religious poetry
for which DR.. Rankin has become famous, but
his fears are not well grounded, for as DR.,
Rankin said good night to the reporter he said
~ shall still fnd time in which to write
HYMNS"