The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-05-03
HARRISON COLLEGE.

Its commemorative 0bjects-Its
BqnefactOrs and Teachers.
We have been furnished with the
following information abou HARRISON
College, and the commencement
which takes place next week which we
publisheas requested.
AN INVITATION.
The faculty and members of the
graduating class of HARRISON College
extend to the white citizens of Abbe-
vile an invitation to witness the COM
mencement exercises of this institu-
ton on Monday, May the 9Th.
Program-ll a. NJ, the dedicatory
exercises IF the chapel and recitation
hall. Address by Rev. Edward p
Cowan, d. D of Pittsburg, Pa.
Those accepting this invitation will
ne accorded pleasant seats.
The Harrison College which ex-
ENDS the above invitation to the citi-
zeDs of the town has made remarka-
Uie grogress in the past years. Over
TWO thousand colored youths have en-
lie. ed it's various departments, come
continuing only a term and others
completing the course.
The majority in attendance at the
present time being students not from
The immediate vicinitybut FROM places
throughout the State and other States
and five have entered this institution
from south Africa.
Tue President of this institution is
himself d native of West Africa. His
father and mother having been COM
missioned missionaries to the Dark
Continent fer several years, he was
born there.
In consideration of the present needs
and attainments of those who even
attend its class, the course of study at
this college is at the present time ele-
mentary. Stress on reading, writing
and arithmetic is the SPECIAL under
taking of the teachers, though higher
studies are included in thecourse.
The industrial department. trains the
girls in sewing and domestic science.
The boys study agriculture and. as soon
as possible, q young man now In an
agricultural college in Canada, Is ex-
pected to take charge of q course in
Scientific agriculture with the view OF
training young men to be modern ag-
riculturists. A trades department. ID
also in the plans Of the institution but
the money for these departments must
first come into the treasury. ~
The buildings now used for the work
are substantial brick structures.
The third building is the HARRISON
Hall erected by Mr.. Samuel P. Harbi.
son, in whose honor the college Is
named. This building cost, including
the heating apparatus, over ten thousr
and. dollars. 1t is a handsome and
useful structure containing eight class
rooms. A chapel that seats six hum
dred, a room for the meetings Of the
Young Mems Christian Association,
the college office, a reception room
and sewing room.
The solitary aim Of HARRISON College
is the moral improvement of its stu
dents. This object has commended it
not particularly to those who advocate
the industrial education Of the negro
nor has 1t commended it to those who
have faith alone in the higher educa-
ton of this people, but it has friends
among those who believe the present
demand is a moral education Of the
negro that which will make him q
Christian citizen. .r
This college is one of the enterprises
near the town that few of its citizens
take an interest in. Some may look
upon it with fear and some with hate
but the past years have not rendered
any cause for serious apprehensions
concerning the usefulness of the work.