The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-11
GREAT WORK in THE SOUTH
WHAT THE METHODIST FREEDMAN'S
AID SOCIETY Is DOING.
Reports of Secretaries Submitted at
the Meeting of the General Com.
mittee at Troy.
eciaI to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
TROY, n. Y, Nov. 10.-This city is enter
tanning the general committee of the Meth
odist Freedmen's Aid and Southern Aid
Society, the opening session of which began
to-day in the State-street Church. All the
bishops and committee men from the four
teen general conference districts of the de-
nomination are present. This society main
tains twenty-three schools for colored peo-
pie and nineteen for whites scattered
throughout Georgia, North and South Caro-
lima, Tennessee, Missouri, Louisiana, Ar
kansas. Mississippi, Texas. Alabama and
Florida. The cost Of supporting these
schools is about $4,000 per year. The chief
business of the committee will be to deter
mine how much each Methodist Church
shall give toward this fund, and the amount
that shall he appropriated to the schools.
Reports of DR.. NJ. c. b. Mason and DR..
w. p. Thirkield, the corresponding secre-
taries, who have their headquarters in Gin
cinnati, show that the schools of this So
ciety have, to date, handled over 100000
students, 10000 of whom are teachers and
1000 ministers. In addition to the income
from the Methodist churches, which Is
steadily increasing, over $4,000 was con-
tributed this year for building enterprises
and special endowments. During the past
two years $4,000 in cash has been received
on the annuity plan and specially invested
Industrial training Is receiving special at
tention, largely increased appropriations
having been made for that purpose. Over
$500 students are now receiving instruction
in the industries.
DR.. Thirkield. who made tour Of the
South shortly before the meeting of the
committee, reports as follows;
'At Clafiin University, Orangeburg, s.
c., one of the largest and best equipped In
dustrial buildings in the South is being
completed. This is the most extensive in
dustrial plant under the care OF the So
ciety. In II are taught the most expensive
forms of work in iron, wood. sloyd, archi-
tectural drawing, building, etc.
AT Clark University speciality Will be
made OF agricultural training and more
than 400 acres owned by this society will be
brought under cultivation by the students.
Special attention will be given to training
in the care of poultry, bees and live stock.
"At Walden University, Nashville, Tenn,
the school of cookery is worthy of special
mention. and the training of young colored
people to be home-makers and bread-win-
ners is carried on with success.
"A new laboratory has just been COM
pleted at Meharry Medical College, Nash
Vile This institution had over 800 students
last year in medicine, dentistry and phar-
macy. The course in medicine is four years
and those holding diplomas readily
passed by the state boards. Sixty-five grad
uated at the last commencement. The
school has sent out nearly 600 trained ply
sicians-more than one-half Of all the col
ored physicians who are now practicing in
this country.
lone of the best equipped halls for sci
ence has just been completed and dedicated
at Grant University, Athens, Tenn. A large
part of the funds were contributed by a
wealthy Pennsylvania gentleman.
Eighteen graduates of the Freedmen S
Aid Society are now engaged in missionary
work in Africa. under Bishop Hartzell, and
many more .well-trained and equipped COL
ored young men and women are ready 70
go as soon as the money can be provided to
send them"
telegram was received to-day announc-
ing that the Rev. DR.. William Runyan,
one of the vice presidents of the board
of managers had died suddenly while
preaching at New Richmond, o., last even.
ing. A committee was appointed to draft
resolutions on the death of DR.. Runyan.