The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-07-12
pEATH oF LELANp,s PREslpENr
Rev. Geo. W. Perkins, President Of
One of the south's Oldest
Schools, Passed Away in
Philadelphia.

Philadelphia.
News of the death of the Rev.
George w. Perkins. d. D.. president
Of Leland University, located at New
Orleans, La, which reached Nash
vi lie last week, was a great surprVe
and caused much sorrow among the
Baptists of the city, many of whom
We're persona iy acquainted with the
deceased. The press dispatches from
Philadelphia giving the surprising in
formation of the death and where it
occurred were read eagerly but pain
fully, as Leland has been looked upon
from several points of view as the
South's most Independent school It
was said. il was the first Negro school
of the South to reach that point where
il could be se,f-supporting. A num-
her of years ago, through the philan-
thropic efforts of some of its friends,
The school was endowed and for the
past fifteen years or more, II has not
been compe led to do as most schools
must do to raise finances for the op-
Grafton of the institution and the pay
ing of the teachers. Then, too, it is
the South and the gateway to South
and Contra America, giving it an en-
located in the logical metropolis of
viable position. 1t has turned out
some of the leading men of the race.
They are scattered throughout the
length and breadth of North America
Many of them have crossed to Europe,
or found their way to the Orient.
While the late Dr. Perkins had some
misunderstanding with some of the
Negro Baptists of the State of Lou
isiana, il is said that he succeeded in
holding the respect and soliciting the
cooperation of the entire South. His
reputation as an educator was not
known only to this section OF the
country, as in the North, East and
West, he had made himself heard on
the lecture platform until he was
sought for his e,oQuence 1t is now
a current rumor in Nashville that a
movement has already been started
to have his successor elected from
some member of our race. Leland
has had the distinction of being the
first Independent school to ever elect
a Negro as president, a though the
fortunate one never served ione day.
Ii is stated that back in the eighties
the lamented VIM. ]. Simmons, of
Louisville, Ky, was elected as pres
ident of the school, At the same
time he was elected as district sec
rotary of the Home Mission Society
+ Ii appears that he was notified first
as district secretary of the Home Mis-
sion Society and Immediately notified
the secretary he would accept the
position. He was then notified of his
election as president of lie and Uni
gersi;y. but having already accepted
the secretaryship of the Society, the
I tre1stees proceeded to elect Rev. DR..
Perkins. The Alumni of Leland
throughout the United States are IN
derstood to be working for Negro
president Prominent among the
names arleady mentioned for the
presidency are Rev. A. S. Jackson,
D. D., pastor of the New Hope Baptist
Church. Dallas, Texas Rev. A. F.
Owens, D. D., Dean of Phelps Bible
Hal School, Tuskegee, Inst, Ala, and
Rev. H. NJ Williams, D. D., pastor of
Avenue L. Baptist Church, Galveston,
Texas Leland boasts OF sending
forth into the world such me nof ma
tional reputation as Rev. c. l.. Sim
mons, d. D., of Louisiana; Rev. VIM.
Hicks. B. D., of Alabama; Rev H. B.
" Brown, of Louisiana; Revs. A. S.
Jackson, D. D., and H. NJ Williams,
D. D., and ]. B. Plus, of Texas Rev.
\. H. Plus, D. D.. of Tennessee; Rev.
J. B. Taylor, of Baton Rouge, and
score OF others who have. since they
left the school, made splendid rec
ords.