The colored American., 1903-01-17
PROF, w H FERRIS.
,n+erzs ira Career OF a Prac i
cal grIculurist and Exper
sOclOlOgjSt

t...baror ofarts degree from Yale Uni
,..rsirv in 1885, taking two year special
b,rors in philosophy, one year special
-...,,r- in English literature and being
,,..re, the first twelve in class of zoo
-: GEOLOGY. Then he spent two years in
f. vale Graduate school, taking ad-
,-.rc4d courses in psychology, practical
...f,Ioq.v and English literature. In the
,.f,,, of 1897 he received one of the
li,,rl,ius scholarships in the Harvard Di-
.5,irv school over one hundred stu
l..nts applied and Prof. Ferris was one of
tine fortunate six who won the Hopkins
s.5oIarshfps, which netted $5Z5 a year
be- sDent two years in the Harvard DlVln-
fr,. school and received the Master OF
Arts Degree from Yale in 1899 Feeling
that the calling of the teacher offered
wider scope, he spent the third year at
Harvard in the Harvard Graduate school
and received the Master of Arts Degree
from Harvard in 1900.
rr the fall of 1898 Prof Ferris was adj
r,ftted TO the Boston Browning Society
L4ins the only Negro to be received IN
that exclusive circle. The Browning So
cfetv is composed of the hterateurs OF
Boston and its envirOns. Mostof its mem
bers are wealthy. And it is the most
aristocratic literary society in New Eng
land The circumstances of his admls-
sion are somewhat unusual Prof. Ferrls
had written a long and exhaustive essay
upon Browning. He sent it to Col t
w Higginson, VINO in turn sent 1t TO Jo-
siah Kendall, the former President OF
the Browning society. One Saturday
evening Prof. Ferris met the editor OF
the Poet Lore at Mr.. kendall's home
cod mas
sages from his essay. 1t was also sent
to the late g. {. Everett. Dean of the
Harvard Divinity School. Upon the rec
ommeudatiOn of these ladies and gentle
men. Prof. Ferris was admitted to the
society.
In the winter and spring of 1912 Prof.
Ferris lectured in some Of the most aris-
tocratic churches of the North upon the
environment as Il factor in the life of
the coIored youth. discussing the problem
of the unemployed city Negro, and trac-
ing the evolution of the Negro criminal,
his genesis. development and methods
for his speedy elimination. The United
Congregational church of New Haven,
Conn, the Second Congregational church
in New London and the Charming Mem
orial church of Newport, r. l., We're
few 0I the wealthy and exclusive
churches in which he had the honor of
appearing. The Sunday night lecture
course held under the auspices of the
Mems Club of the United Congregational
church of New Haven, Conn, has a
worldwide fame. The most celebrated
preachers, writer's, scholars and educat-
orS on both side of the Atlantic have al
ready appeared in it And it sustains
Very close relation to Yale University.
And with the exception of DR.. Booker
Washington, Prof. William H. H Hart
coored men who have addressed the in
telectual audience that assembled within
that historic church. There have been
Two or three other cOlOred men who have
accompanied the Hampton and Tuskegee
4uartette and have had a few words to
say, the quartettes being the main attrac-
IONS but these three are the only ones
Who have given lectures per Sc in that
1urch before The Mems Club.
Last July, Prof. Ferris visited the Tow
T Hill Institute. Wakefield. r. l., and for
Two months was utilized as advance
agent Then he assisted in repairing the
"Hdngs Property valued by the New
York papers at $4,000 had been given.
Nearly 5000 had been raised to repair
and equip the buildings, a $1,000 heater
had been scared and there was money
IN the bank for 100 tons OF coal. when in
The trst week in October, the local coal
dealer informed Reb. Joseph w. Holley,
The principal, that he could not fill his