Franklin's paper the statesman., 1912-06-15
POTENT FACTOR
IN EDUCATION
School In CIaTemont, Va, Com
p|sles Twentieth Year.
HOW IT BENEFITS THE RACE.

Institution Founded by Or. John j.
smallwood Holds Brilliant Closing
Exercises and Dsdieatss Masnifiesn,
Edifies Named For LineoIn-Go~sr-
nor Mann Delivers Address.
By N. BARNETT DoDsON.
Claremont, Va.-The Temperance In
dustrial and Collegiate institute in this
town has closed another successful
school year 1t was founded twenty
years ago by the Rev. John ]. Small
wood, Phi. D. The work of the school
under the safe leadership Of President
Smailwood all these years has been
of great benefit to the race.
At the recent commencement exer-
cises and dedicatory services of Lin
coin hall there were many men Of
state and national reputation present
Lincoln hall is named for the great war
president and emancipator. 1t Is
magnificent four story edifice built Of
brick, stone and cement. The build
ing cost $4,000 and is fully equipped
with all necessary Improvements.
Among the other splendid buildings
for school purposes are Mayfiower cot
tage. Sunnyside cottage, teachers cot
tage, the main school buildings and
the barns where farming implements
are kept The buildings have heating
and electric plants, water plant and
sewerage plant. which make the sani-
tary environment healthy
Those who made addresses at the
closing exercises and dedication of
Lincoln hall We're the Hon. William
Hodges Mann. governor of Virginia:
Rev. Fred NJ. Estes OF Boston: Editor
John Mitchell. Jr.. Richmond. Va; DR..
Charles f. Davis. Boston, Rev. David
Jones. Scranton. Pa; DR.. C. S. Morris
Norfolk. Va. and the Rev. Clinton b.
Henry. New York.
President Smallwood made an In
spring address. in which he covered
every phase Of the work. He declared
for higher education. better treatment
of the youth of the race and for proper
religious training in our public and
higher institutions of learning.
The institution has grown from an
expense of $3.50 per school year to that
of $4,000 per school year for 1912.
All of this is upon the work of an in
stitution free from any church creed
and free from any political influence.
The school owns ten excellent build
ings. about 300 acres of land and the
best horses and mules and the best
kept farming implements in the cast
ern section of Virginia.
While the institution is strictly re
ligious, II Is free from sectarin uism.
The first thing that Is sought by all
of the faculty as well as the president
Is the religious welfare of the students.
This being accomplished. it is an easy
matter to shape their literary course.
Up to the present time President
Smnllwood has kept the institution In
his own hands. working to free 1t
from debt and to find himself able to
present the institution to the Negro
race and to American friends free from
debt. This he has done. Comparatively
speaking, of the STE. 600 he owes less
than $4,000 He has always had an
aversion to making big show.
The institution teaches scientific
farming encourages the young Negro
to buy land and to build n respec tn BILE
home and to become independent. as
well as an intelligent citizen. Dress
making. scientific cooking. laundering
and carpentry are all taught by the
teachers of the institution. In the aca-
demIc and college department Presi-
dent SmallwoOd makes no apology for
teaching Latin. Greek and the sciences.
He maintains that the Negro must
have his leaders and these lenders
must be proficient and that In order
that they shall be proficient they must
have more than normal school edu-
| cation.
| The Institution is built upon the very
spot where the second cargo of slaves
landed upon American soil in 1924
and where the first auction block was
erected upon which Negroes were sold
! into slavery. The school. by its Won
| derful achievements. commends itself
most favorabiy to the consideration Of
the friends OF the Negro race through
out the country.
The institution needs a hospital for
| the training of nurses. good carpen-
ter shop in which work can be done
all the winter. four sets Of carpenters 3
| tools. three sewing machines. black
boards. laundry outfit and printing
press. President Smallwood is direct
ly concerned row in plans for raising
an endowment fund OF 100000.
J, p. Morgan Aids Fisk University.
Fisk university expects to receive the
..xro,rdn- NJ tho S5OO ono fund which