The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-06-30
COMMENCEMENT.
Interesting Exercises by tina Students
of the COlored ColIege-A GOOD
Speech-Fine Work of the School
RIuaiool Ennnoaa

Musical Success.
The closing exercises OF the Ferguson-Wil-
liams College, Abbeville's fourishtng Negro
school, were held In the Court House last
All the exercises were well attended both by
the white and the colored people.
The graduation exercises LOOK place
Wednesday night. The graduates and their
Miss Mamie Perrin, Observation-Disclosures
Miss Corrie Hagood, Anderson-"Female
Miss Rebecca Milliner. Pendleton-"More
Beyond"
These were really good commencement
speeches.. These students and all the rest
showed that they had received careful train
ing and thorough drilling.
Rev. J. A. Clifton, pastor OF the Aobeville
Methodist church presented the diplomas
and made a brief but telling speech.
Classics asyc W at t. the a. safe sat@e College Il; 81 for pfo MegToe 8,
Orangeburg, delivered the annual address.
His subject was THE Relation OF the South
ern White Man to the Education of the
Negro" He made a strong, sensible, conserv-
alive speech.
Dr.. Palmer denied the claim often set up
that Northern teachers introduced industrial
South, stating that the pioneer in this direc-
ton was q distinguished South Carolina
white man-Rev. John Bachman Haskell,
who Is yet teaching in Charleston. He said
IL oOuIuCl III uloh ~ GlS 4NCBIoc bCbt
friend the South is the Negroes home. The
Negro is proud of the South and her great
men in common with the whites.
THE Negro must work out his own saliva
ton. This is best. The best teachers from
the North do not come here now. The South
Carolina Legislature has set up q college for
us. given us means to run IT, and manned it
with Negro teachers. Both church and State
are helping Us. We must prove worthy of 1t.
"There are two lines Of work which belong
exclusively to the Negro with respect to his
incorporating and teaching. The Southern
nor in the school room. but t am sorry to say
that some Northern white men do. Lately
an effort was made TO put a white preacher
from Maine In the only Negro pulpit In the
southern white people do not fear the ed.
ucated Negro, but the ignorant. To command
their respect we must be industrious, sober,
honest and self-reBpectipg.
"The curse of bondage was Ignorance; the
curse OF freedom is poverty"
The concert Thursday night was credlta.
BILE. Good training was manifest IN this as
In all else.
This school is conducted entirely by colored
people, but 1t has the moral support OF the
white people. The real worth of It's work
can readily be seen In the evident attachments
of its pupils. their correct bearing and their
success in life. In starting and maintaining
this school the Presbyterian church did we'll
for the colored race. The selection of the
corps OF teachers was fortunate.
UNDERGRADUATES.
Miss Hattie Percival, Abbeville.
Miss Florence Richie, Abbeville.
Miss Ella Walla, Wellington.
Miss kittie Sherrard, Anderson.
Miss Ella Boozer, Abbevllle,
Miss Lula Turner, Bellway.
Miss Alice Harper, Abbeville.
Miss Jennie Thomas, Abbeville.
Miss Ruth Reed. Chester.
Miss Lizzie Williams, Avbeyille.
Miss Carrie Chiles, Abbeville.
Casper Wheeler, Laurens.
RECEPTION COMMITTEE.
Miss Susie Edwards Lebanon.
Miss Lola Tucker, Anderson.
Miss Georgia Irwin, Lowndesville.
Miss Miss Maggie Milliner, Pendleton.
Miss Polly Brown, Pendleton,
Miss Rosa Simpson, AbbeYille.
Miss Mamie Walker. Chester.
Miss Angie Rutledge, Septus.
Miss Mary Haygood, Guyion.
Miss Josephine White, Pendleton.
Celluloid starch-5 and 10c packages.
Lots Of dried fruit. Apples, pears, peaches
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