The evening times., 1897-05-21
BAPTIST HOME MISSIONS
Report of the Committee on Edu-
catiOnal Work.
ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOLS
Report on the Condition of schools
in Various Southern Cities-Ap-
proya1 of the Plan to Remove
Wayland Seminary From WASH
ington to Richmond.


session of the American Baptist Home Mis-
sion Society President B. L. Whitman, D. D..
of Washington, ID. c.. presented the re-
port OF the committee on educational work
IL wasin part as follows:
In endeavoring to discharge the duties
laid urOn them, your Committee have held
four meetings; members of the committee
have visited the schools at Washington,
Richmond, Raleigh, Columbia and At
Ianta; also Hampton Institute
Two questions of general interest were
raised at the very beginning Of our work.
and it is fitting that the society should
have the result of our Investigations:
1. The impression has gone abroad that
in the Home Missions schools a large
amount Of time and money is given b
'hc study and teaching Of the Classics
Upon careful inquiry, however. We find
that the total salaries Of all the TEACHERS
in the schools were 81 139; OF this total
3 clio per cent was chargeable to Latin.
and . per cert chargeIble to Greek, OF
% 1-10 per cent chargeabIe 90 English
dUu EtIltEdl NOIn- L llS lIliltttE dICOl ttlf
opinion that in catalogues and announce
nents the emphasis should re laid upon
the courses which Constitute the main wOrG
OF the schools
2. There has also been an impression
that our schools are not up to dItc. that
their methods are antiqudted; the ap-
pointments and equipments pOO=, and
much Of the teaching OF an inferior Or
der. After very careful inquiry we are
convinced that while our schools are far
from being ideal, and with few excep-
tiOns would not bear favora ble COM
parison with the best white schools,
nevertheless, the society is doing the best
that can be done with the means at its
disposal, and if the schools are not all
that could be desired, it is largely be-
cause the denomination does not furnish
the society with means TO make them
better. 1t will be seen, therefore. that
your committee find little occasion for
unfavorable criticism
As a preparation for the introduction of
better methods and more effective work,
we recommend the concentration and tie
velopmcnt Of our educational work chiefly
at five important Centers. We, therefore,
call your particular attention To the favor
able location and promising condition Of
our schools in those five places, viz
At Richmond is our distinCtiyely theo-
logical seminary, with -four teachers, and
an average attendance during the past
year Of forty-0ne students; also Harts-
horn Memorial College for girls, with
eight teachers and an average attend
anCe OF eghtv-nine students. y plan il
under consideration for removing Way
land Seminary from Washington, d C,
TO Richmond, Va, calling ii Wayland
College nd Incorporating il with the in
stitutiOnS named above under the gen
eraI title OF Virginia Union University.
or some other name equally or more ap-
propriate. This plan has the approval
OF your committee, and. we understand,
has been formally authorized by the ex-
eCutivc board OF the society.
At Raleigh, n c., is Shaw University.
with a total average attendance of 2O9
students.
At Atlanta. Ga. are the Spelman Semi
nary, q school Ter giIIs, with thirty-eight
teachers and an average attendance OF
3O9 students, and Atlanta Baptist Semi
nary, for boys, with eight teachers and IN
average attendance Of ninety students
L Ouf tOlHiI4tttG cit dlllAttl W Atd ~ Nllttt
a munIficent friend Of the Spelman Semi
nary, whose name is borne By one of the
buildings, has just added To the facilities
of the school hy the purchase Of several
lots of land designed to round out the
cam pus and make it complete and ample
At Nashville. Tenn, is Roger Williams
University, a school for both sexes, with
nine teachers and an average attendance
Of l75 Students The location, however,
and the value Of the property convince
Us that this school should be included among
the five ceGters Of our educational work
At Marshall, Texas, is Bishop College,
a school for both sexes. with eighteen
teachers and an average attendance uf
204 students
1t is the judgment Of your committee
that tie Benedict School at Columbia, 5 c.,
should lie raised to the grade Of first
class academy, where our more promising
young people can enter upon the study for
the ministry at the Richmond Theological
Seminary, or 10 enter the school of law,
laedicine or pharmacy at Raleigh