The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-21
HOME MISSION SOCIETY
FEATURES OF THE WORK OF A
GREAT BAPTIST ORGANIZATION.
Report of the Committee on Educa-
tiOnal Matters-SchooIs and Col
Ieges in the South.

sion Society was called to order by Presl-
dent Porter at 10 o'clock this morning.
There were fewer present than at the open
ing yesterday, but the church filled up be-
fore the meeting was well under way. After
devotional exercises the first business OF the
meeting was the election of officers, which
resulted: President, Stephen Greene, of
Massachusetts, vice presidents, w. g.
Brimson of Illinois, and c. w. McCutch-
con, of New Jersey; treasurer, D. A Wat
terman, of New York; assistant treasurer,
W. P. Plant, of New York; recording sec
rotary, A S. Hobart, of New York; CORE
spending secretary, T. j. Morgan OF New
York; auditors, Edgar L. Marston and l..
p Payne, of New York; members of board,
William Phelps, Stephen H. Burr, D. a.
Waterman, r. B. Hull, L. ]. P. Bishop and
c. B. Garfield, all of New York; Edward j.
Brockett, of New Jersey.
President 3. L. Whitman, d. D., of
Washington, d. c.. then presented the re-
port of the committee on educational work.
1t was in part as follows:
In endeavoring to discharge the duties
laid on 1t, your committee has held four
meetings. Members of the committee have
visited the schools at Washington, Rich
mond, Raleigh, Columbia and Atlanta; ALSO
Hampton Institute. They have been aided
in every way possible by the secretaries of
the society and by the superintendent of
education, and they have had the benefit of
the large experience and the mature ret1ec-
ton of the secretary of the Peabody and
the Slater fund Two questions of general
interest were raised at the very beginning
of our work, and it is fitting that the So
ciety should have the result of our invest-
gationS:
'First-The impression has gone abroad
that in the Home Mission schools large
amount of time and money is given to the
study and teachings of the classics. On
we
the total salaries of all the teachers in the
schools were $104, 1923; of this total 3 Clio per
cent. was chargeable to Latin and 2 per
cent. chargeable to Greek, or "a 4-10 per
cent. chargeable to English and general
work. The committee is of the opinion that
in catalogues and announcements the en-
phasis should be laid on the courses which
constitute the main work of the schools.
Second-Ihere has been an impression
that our schools are not up to date that
their methods are antiquated, the appoint
ments and equipments poor, and much of
the teaching of an inferior order After
very careful inquiry we are convinced that,
while our schools are far from being ideal,
and with few exceptions would not bear ia
Vorabie comparisons 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 because
the denomination does not furnish the So
ctety with the means to make them better
1t Will be seen, therefore, that your COM
criticism.
AS a preparation for the introduction Of
better methods and more effective work we
recommend the concentration and develop
ment or our educational work chiefly at five
important centers. We therefore call your
particular attention to the favorable ioca-
ton and promising condition of our schools
in these five places, namely: At Richmond
is our distinctiVely Theological Seminary
with four teachers and an average attend
ance during the past year Of forty-one stu
dents; also Hartshorn Memorial College for
Girls, with eight teachers and an average
attendance of eighty-nine students. A plan
IS under consideration for removing Way
land Seminary from Washington, D. c.,
to Richmond, Va, calling it Wayland Col
lege and Incorporating it with. the institu-
tions named above under the general title
of Virginia Union University, or some other
name equally or more appropriate, This
and we understand has been formally au-
thorized by the executive board of the So
ciety. At Raleigh, N. c., is Shaw Univer-
sity. with total average attendance of 209
students At Atlanta Ga. are the Spelman
Seminary a school for girls with thirty
eight teachers and an average attendance
of 300 students and Atlanta Baptist Sem
mary (for boys), with eight teachers and
an average attendance of ninety students.
Your committee is gratified to learn that
mary whose name is borne by one of the
buildings has just added to the facilities of
the school by the purchase of several lots
of land designed to round out the campus
and make it complete ard ample. AT Nash
Willie Tenn, is Roger Williams University,
and an average attendance of IT'S students.
The location, however, and the value of the
property convince us that this school should
be included among the I'VE centers or our
educational work At Marshall, Tex, is
Bishop College, school for both sexes,
with eighteen teachers and an average at
tendance of 204 students.
LAS already minated it is our judgment
that these five schools or groups of schools
another so as to avoid as far as practicable
the duplication of certain specific lines of
work, and should be regarded by us as our
five principal centers for the education of
the colored people, The general courses of
instruction and training at each of these
FIVE centers should be substantially the
BILE education, chiefly in English. The other
schools of the society, such for example as
those at Columbia, S. G.; Jackson, Miss;
lem, Ala, should be made auxiliary and
tributary to these five principal institutions
1t is the judgment of your committee that
the Benedict School at Columbia, S. c.
should be raised to the grade of first
class academy, where our more promising
the ministry at the Richmond, Theological
Seminary or to enter the School of Law
Medicine or Pharmacy at Raleigh.
1T will be seen that our suggestions are
simply a slight advance of the existing
state of things in some of these schools
quite within the realm of the practicable
and in the direction of economy as we'll as
of efficiency.
The rest of the session was taken up with
a discussion Oh the report.
Just before the assembly adjourned the
committee on the substitute Cuban reSolu-
ton made a report, which was adopted
unanimously. The concluding resolution
follows:
"Resolved. That we strongly approve of
the steps recently taken by the President
to ascertain the facts in the reported cases
of infringement by Spanish authorities of
| the rights of American citizens resident in
Cuba and if a real demand shall be found
to exist for the signal Eindication of such
rights we shall hail with satisfaction what
| ever vigorous measures he may adopt to
that end"
| In the afternoon the American Baptist
| Historical Society held its forty-ffth ami
| versary Lemuel Moss, president of the So
! ciety, delivered his annual address. He said
| the disastrous fire of Feb. 2, 1896, complete
| ly destroyed the accumulation OF forty
| years, and the society wants $25,O00 to as
| sist in getting a fresh start. They want
! support the society. Contributions of
| books, relics and anything pertaining to the
| Baptist Church will be gratefully received.
| The following officers were elected: Presi-
1 dent Lenuel Moss; first vice president, w.
| T. Chase; second vice president, Samuel
| Colgate; secretary, B. MacMa ckins; treas
urer Fl. f. Lincoln.
| Tonight the seventy-third anniversary of
| the American Baptist Publication Society
| convened. After devotional services the
| pha read his annual address committees
| were appointed and adjournment was had
until tomorrow morning.
| B. Y. II. L. Convention.
| Special to the Indiana polls Journal
LAFAYETTE, Ind. May 2a-The semi
annual convention of the Tippecanoe Asso-
| citation, B. Y. p. T., was held to-day in
/ this city The programme of the exercises