Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-09
THE SCHOOL, TRUSTEES
Criticism of the Appointmentof Richardson
and Brown Continues
Defense of University Park Temple
Entered by Mr.. hobest H. Ter
rellLOtheE. Matters.

81
The excitement which has existed among
the colored people of the District for about
week in reference to the appointment of
Messrs. Brown and Richardson as members
of the board of school trustees, shows no
sign of abatement, and some of the mana
gers Of the mass meeting which has been
called to take place at the Vermont Avenue
Baptist Church Monday evening next pre-
dict that the results of the affair will be
far-reaching.
Mr.. Robert H. Terrell, whose wife is O
member of the school board, and who, it is
said, is candidate for the Office of super
intendent of colored schools. takes how
ever, a different view of the affair, and
today said:
Since the furore and furry with regard
to the recent appointments of school trus-
tees seem to have subsidized somewhat
may be pardened for saying a word in be-
half Of University Park Temple. which has
been the innocent cause Of SO much harsh,
unjust and Incorporate criticism of the
District Commissioners. This little church,
with it's membership of eighty souls, was
established last January, and began its
work of an institutional character in sec
ton of the city largely inhabited by poor
colored people. Its primal purpose is to
help class of folks in n material and re-
ligious way who are not connected with the
munity. Those interested in this project
believe that the success of their enterprise
has justified their efforts and sacrifices.
A Mere Coincidence.
''1t Is the merest coincidence that Uni
versity Park Temple includes in it's mem
bership three school trustees and not be-
cause Of any effort on the part of the
church itself. Both Senator Bruce and Mrs
Terrell were school trustees long before
they became members of this church, and
Rev. Sterling N. Brown was strongly
time that he was the pastor of Plymouth
congregational Church, years before he
helped to establish University Park Tenn
PIE. 1 daresay the few colored preachers
IN town who were not candidates for the
place themselves Endorsed Mr.. Brown most
cordially in his efforts to serve his people
In so honorable a position.
I have always taken a deep interest in
the school affairs of the District of CO.
lumbla- have known personally all of the
coiored men who have ever been connected
with the board of trustees, and 1t Is no re-
nectlon on others to say that from a stand
point of intelligence and capability the
board as at present constituted has never
been excelled.
Special Point Raised.
THE special point raised In the present
controversy is that there is a one-church
District of Columbia, and that church is
University Park Temple. 1t is strange, in
deed. that this charge should be made
against this church in its youth and weak
ness. Every observant citizen knows that
II there is any such thing as one-church
rule in the educational matters in the Dis
trict OF Columbia that honor belongs to the
Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church, and
not to University Park Temple The Fiji
teenth Street Presbyterian Church is now
and has been for thirty years the control
ing influence in our educational matters.
Among its members are the superinten;l-
ent Of schools, two supervising principals
(out of three) the principal of the Normal
School. the principal of the High School
until last year, five teachers in the High
the principal of Logan School, the director
OF the sewing school, one of the highest
paid music teachers, the principal of Gid
dir gs School, the principal of Garrison
school two principals of the county school
and thirty-four teachers in the graded
schools. This imposing array of super
visors and teachers are paid the munificent
sum of $41 $50 annually. The total cost
OF instruction for the colored youth of
the city of Washington for 1876 was $780,
1923. More than one-fifth of this sum is
paid to actual members of the Fifteenth
Street Presbyterian Church. and several
thousand dollars more, perhaps, are paid
to members of the congregation who are
not churchmen in the strict sense of the
Herd. l raise no objection at all to the
good fortune of the Fifteenth Street Pres
byterian Church, but simply want to en-
phasiZe the fact that If there is any one
church among the eighty-four colored
churches in our community more powerful
ana more influential in school matters than
the others 1t Is not the University Park
Temple, but 1t Is the church that has under
its control school patronage to the amount
OIL s41, 40 yearly, or more than one-fifth
OF the total salaries paid colored teachers
In the District Of Columbia.
Money is Power.
Where the money is there the power
lies. And yet, how absurd it would be If
the colored preachers of Washington should
hold meeting and denounce the Commits
siorers and the Fifteenth Street Presby-
terrain Church because the real rulers-the
high-salaried officers-of the schools had
nearly all Joined this church! Looking
at the matter from purely material stand
point, the University Park Temple would
be fortunate indeed If it could exchange it's
three unsalaried trustees for few of the
supervising principals and principals of
schools that belong to other churches"
Correction.
Prof. George William Cook, principal of
the Normal Department of Howard Uni
versity. desires The Star to say that the
statement heretofore published that Prof.
William NJ. Cook Of Howard University
spoke in opposition to the recent appoint
ment of coored school trustees at a meet
ing of Baptist ministers on Monday last
has been fruitful of much error and mis-
representation.
There Is" he Gays, mo Prof. VIM NJ
Cook in Howard University, and no pro-
fessor of Howard University took any part
In the discussion referred to. l find that
many persons think that 1 made the re-
marks. was in no way, directly or indi-
rectly, connected with the matter"
The Prof. Cook who spoke at the meeting
referred to was introduced by the chairman
Of the introduction committee exactly as
was published.
A meeting of the Southwestern Citizens
League was held Thursday evening. and
resolutions adopted expressing confidence
In the integrity of George H Richardson.
one Of the recently appointed trustees of
the public schools, and approving of the Sc
lection made by the Commissioners, be-
cause those at the meeting believed him to
be well qualified for the place. A copy of
the resolutions will be sent to the Com
missioners. r-fii. -
- 10,
Abrams M