The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-07-10
FOR COLORED GIRLS.

FOR COLORED GIRLS.
The Ferguson. Williams College at
Abbeville.
Southern Presbyterian.
No doubt many of the readers of the
SOUTHERN PRESBYTERIAN have often
heard of the Ferguson-Williams Col
lege for colored girls at Abbeville,
s. G. For many years Rev. E. w.
Williams and his wife labored in Abbe-
vile under the direction of the Freed
mems Board of the Northern Pres
byterian Church. They enjoyed the
confidence of the Board and were used
as examples of what colored man and
his wife could do for their people In
the South. God blessed their work
and they built up Church with $50
members and q large school, known
then as Ferguson Academy. About
two years ago Mr.. Williams wrote an
article in his paper calling attention to
rumors affecting the good standing of
one of the Boards schools for girls. A
severe controversy sprang up over the
matter. The result of it all was that
Williams bought property and built
another school. For year he and his
wife have alone been conducting a
successful school in their new and
excellent building. Last winter appll-
cation was made to our Executive
Committee of Colored Evangelization
to purchase this property and take
charge of the school. But there were
matters involved that made it seem
best to refer the matter to the General.
Assembly at Dallas. The Assembly
referred the matter back to our Com
mittee with power to act. The Com
mittee after most careful consideration
has adopted the following: "Resolv-
ed that this Committee approves of the
purchase of the Williams school prop
erty upon favorable terms, provided
the Church in South Carolina or else
where will undertake the payment OF
the debt and the expense of. carrying
on the school without infringing on
the income of the Committee for its
regular work. Resolved, that the
Secretary, Rev. J. Lowrie Wilson, d.
D., and Rev. J. S. Watkins, D. d.,
appoint q committee to canvass the
Church and ascertain its mind"
With the substantial approval of the
Assembly and with express approval
of the Executive Committee Of Colorej
Evangelization, this most important
matter is referred to Gods people for
their help.
AN INTERESTING OCCASION.
was invited recently to go to Abhe-
Vile to make the Commencement ad1
dress at the closing of the session OF
the Ferguson Williams College.
was present at the exercises with other
white friends of the enterprise day
and night for four days. I heard reci-
tations, songs, instrumental music
orations, essays 1 saw gymnastic exer-
cises of various sorts, and most glsdly
testify to the high character of the
performances. I did not see single
girl hesitate about anything. Every
thing showed patient and careful
training. 7 enjoyed the unique distinc-
ton of making Commencement ad-
dress to very large audience at elev-
en- o'clock at night. and they didn't go
to sleep either! The impression made
on nv mind was that in this school
real substantial good was being done
by colored people for colored people
under the sympathetic eye of their
own white neighbors. 1t seemed a
we'll nigh ideal arrangement.
A BIT OF HISTORY.
Rev. E. W. Williams is native of
MARYLAND and was carried, [ believe,
by a Union soldier at the close of the
war, to Maine where he has prepared
for college. Afterwards he went to
Howard College in Washington City.
7 Leaving there he came South. His
wife was born in Washington where
she attended Howard also. She was
q teacher in the Washington Public
Schools which are among the best in
the country. She had thorough |
training as teacher. They are one
in the opinion that the kind of eGuca-
ton needed by the colored girls of the
South today is that which, while it
gives them a thorough intellectual
training, will fit them to be indus.
trious and useful citizens, able and
willing to labor skilfully with their
brains or their hands for an honorable
living. They are particularly careful
for the spiritual interests of the girls.
I preached in the School for five days
last spring and witnessed q dozen very
intelligent confessions of faith amongst
the girls of the college. I have care
fully examined this school in and out.
NV deliberate conviction is that its
plans and methods are helpful and
sound to an unusually high degree. If
we were to start from the bottom we
could not produce such teachers aud
managers and so suitable a building
in twelve or fifteen years.
WHAT ABBEVILLE SAYS.
There is but one opinion in Abbe-
Vile amongst the white citizens, so far
as could hear, about Rev. and Mrs.
f.. w. Williams and their work in
that region, and that is a feeling and
expression of great confidence. The
Session of the Abbeville Church, em-
bracing some of the best and wisest
men in South Corolina, has ordered
the preparation of testimonial of
their big regard for the workers and
their work.
WHAT ABBEVILLE DID.
fNl>o So,,;op rro ya mo norm iccinp to