The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1910-03-18

Atlanta, Ga.-At a meeting of
the Board of Directors of Spell
man Seminary, of this city, the
vacancy, caused by the death of
Miss Harriet e. Giles, who served as
president for a number of years and
who died last October, was filled. Her
successor is Miss Lucy Hale Tapley,
who for some time has been Dean
OF the Seminary, and who was form
erly Superintendent of the Teachers
Professional Department. The cleo
ton OF Miss Tapley as president Of
this, the largest female school ope-
rated for Negroes in the United States,
is regarded here as wise one. Miss
Tapley hos been connected with the
school for a number of years: in
fact, she belongs in the class with
the founders and is regarded as one
OF the most competent and well-ex-
per1enced educators in the Southland.
1t is not expected that there will be
any great change in the management
of the Seminary, which has been in
operation in this city since early after
the Emancipation. This school is one
of the few remaining exclusively un-
der the management Of the American
Baptist Home Mission Society, of New
York The other female school that
is so well known is the Hartshorn
Memorial College, of Richmond, Va.
The date of Miss Tapley's inaugural
ton has not been definitely fixed as
far as could be learned, but the an
nouncement is expected to be made in
the next few days.
While Miss Packard was on a trip
South in the interest of the Woman's
American Baptist Home Mission Soci-
ETY., her serious illness at New Orleans
made it necessary for Miss Giles to
join her During the long days Of
convalescence their souls were deeply
stirred by the pathos of the lot Of
the Negro woman. In their ears
sounded insistently the Macedonia
cry, which they felt they must heed.
Their New England friends disap-
proved, telling them that they were
needed at home, that younger wom-
eli were better fitted for such a field
Miss Packard had now reached her
fltty-seVenth year. Remonstrances
were in vain. Deeper and deeper,
even with agonizing force, pressed the
conviction, Woe unto me If l obey
not the call.
The Woman's American Baptist
Home Mission Society finally promised
to commission them as teachers in the
south, if they would raise among the
churches their initial salary. The
task was undertaken it proved diff
ficult There came a night on which
hung the decision whether to go or
stay After prayers and tears they
had privately agreed to accept as a
revelation of the will of God for them
the action of the Baptist church in
Medford, where they had been invited
to present their cause. The church,
although a small one, gave them fifty
dollars and cheered them with a God
speed. The closed door opened on
this hinge, and through it they passed.
Those who then said: What folly!"
now eXclaim, what faith!"
The story of their arrival in Geor-
gia, of their eager welcome by Father
Quarles, and by DR.. White, of Angus
ia, of the dreary basement, and Of
the humble beginning and marvellous
growth of Spelman Seminary is a
twice-told tale
After ten years there came a crisis.
Miss Packard died. She had said
when weakness was coming upon her,
'The school is not mine; it is the
Lords; He will care for His own"
He gave strength to Miss Giles bravely
to take up the burden.
Miss Packard and Miss Giles were
CONTINUED on Page 81