The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1907-06-07
ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY.

The present outlook for the future
of Roger Williams University grows
brighter at the close of each day. More
interest is being shown by Negro Bap-
lists of Tennessee, who are cooper
ating with all the citizens of Nashville
and the state as well. Hardly a week
passes but that the financial agent,
Rev. VIM. Haynes, does not fill some
appointment made for him by enthu-
siastic supporters. 1t appears that the
article that appeared in the columns
Of the Globe several weeks ago, stating
the possibility of the opening of the
school for the fall term, has created
no little speculation as to where the
school would be opened, and since the
article appeared, several leading mem
bers of the Baptist State Convention,
who are also connected with the re-
building of the university, have been
interviewed by Globe representa-
tive. Neither of the gentlemen seen
have had any voice in the manage
ment, but from their conversation and
from the many facts brought out in
connection with the re-establishing of
the school, it was learned that the
| Tennessee Baptist State Convention
which will meet in Knoxville, Tenn.
in July, will determine not only the
date of opening, but the president, the
management and the board of trustees
The state executive board held a meet
ing last week in the Kayne Avenue
Baptist Church, at which important
business concerning the work of the
convention was taken up. This boart
also voted to recommend to the state
convention that Roger Williams bt
opened in October. A committee o1
.hree was appointed to look after the
preparations and to make report tt
the convention. 1t seems to be fore
gone conclusion that strong senti
ment prevails for the re-opening of tht
school independent of the Home Mis-
sion Society, and directly under the
control of the Negro Baptists of Ten
nessee, with Negro president ant
faculty throughout. 1t is known tha
such staunch supporters as Revs. G. H
Clark of Nashville, Ward of Chatta
nooga, Smith of Clarksville, the Hard
ings and Taylors of Nashville, an(
many others who have declared tha
they are ready and willing to throw
their shoulders to the wheel and hell
the establishment of the school, are
not wiling to do so unless they can bt
assured that the title and deeds Il
the property will be made out to thu
Tennessee Baptist State Convention
through the trustees. Then, too, it il
openly said that the future Negro edu
cational institutions, in order to ge
help from Negroes, must be so estab
lished as to become the property of tn
Negro youth, as well as offer induce
ments to ambitious youths in future
The rapid growth of the Howe Insti
tute, located at Memphis, Tenn, is
fair specimen of what could have beel
done with Roger Williams under ia
vorable management, and what will b
done with the school after it open
again in September. President Fuller
of the Howe Institute, was seen il
Nashville, and stated to a Globe report
er that his enrolment for the session
: lust closed numbered 400 students, an
! it is known that scores of these woul
have spent this year in the schools i
} Nashville, as many of them went froI
the extreme eastern portion of tn
state.