The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-05-30
The Next President?
is The Problem Which Wise Ones
Are Trying to Solve. Capt. Oyster.
rendered. q Testimonial. High
School Cadets Drill.

hiSlN, p1ColuCllC VI 11OWdiu OulVcr-
sity, DIS a Bishop of the Methodist
Episcopal church. For many
months it has been known that his
friends would push him for pro-
motion at the Minneapolis confer
ence, and his success comes as a
happy elimination of a period of
service to God and humanity. His
election took place on the twenty
sixth ballot, receiving 557 votes, 38
more. than the number necessary to
choice. He was member of the
body as q delegate from the Ohio
conference, an unusually high COM
p1iment to one residing outside the
state. Bishop Thirkield's elevation
is richly-earned, and he has been
showered all this week with tele-
grams and letters of congratulation
from friends of both races in all
sections of the country. The only
lily in the ointment" lies in\ the
fact that the race must lose his
eminent services as president of
Howard University, in which capa-
city he has given six years of solid
achievement. Despite the satisfac-
ton felt by reason of his election,
his departure from this fruitful
field is attended with the keenest
regret by those interested in the de-
velopment of the races premier
school for the higher education.
Justice Anderson, OF the District
Supreme Court, and one of the
trustees of the institution, speaking
OF the valued labors of DR.. Thir-
kield, admirably summed up the
general feeling in saying:
He has done more for the Uni
versity in the past four years than
has been done in the preceding for
ty years. 49, (; ~ ::
In six years the enrolment of
students at the University has ris-
en- from 800 to l 400. The number
OF professors and instructors has
been trebled, and a half-million
dollars in buildings and new equip
ment has been added to the per
manent improvement of the insti-
tuition. Best of all, President Thir-
kield has been able to bring to
Howard the permanent support of
the federal government, and the as
sumption of this enormous obliga-
ton insures it's future as a national
institution.
His successors will find the task
OF administration q much lighter
responsibility that when he took
charge. DR.. Thirkield's life is one
long story Of devotion to the up
lit of the Negro people. A native
OF Ohio, he soon gave up a Cincin-
natl passionate to accept call to
Clark University, at Atlanta. Here
he founded the Cannon Theolo-
logical Seminary, and for seven
teen years he worked necessarily
to make that institution the potent
agency for religious education that
1T is today. In 1900 he became one
OF the secretaries of the Freedman s
Aid Society, from which he was
called to the presidency of Howard
University in 1906. Since coming
to Washington DR.. Thirkield has
not confined his labors to Howard
University, but has taken an active
interest III every movement for the
benefit Of the colored people. He
was elected to the directorate of
the Young Men s Christian Asso-
cation, and for several years has
been second vice-president of the
organization, counting no sacrifice
too great to assist in carrying for
ward the purposes of the Associa-
ton. His personal popularity and
strength with men in high station
haVe been utilized for the advance
1nent OF the causes most helpful
TO the race. Among those who
nave cVlnced great concern for the
success of Howard and who have
commended the effective labors of
President Thirkield are President
Tart, Former President Roosevelt,
Ambassador Bryce, Former Com
missioner Of Education Elmer f. |
Brown and Andrew Carnegie. DR.. |
Booker T. Washington became q |
member Of the board of trustees
lnder DR.. Thirkicld's administra-
ion.
The new Bishop has been assign
ct to the episcopal station at Now