Franklin's paper the statesman., 1912-11-09


ty-sisth Year of Exstence-Surviv-
ing Three Original Fisk Jubilee Sing
srs Recall Visions of the Past.
Nashville. Tenn.-Fisk university.
the noted institution in this city for
colored youth recently celebrated the
forty-sixth anniversary of its founding
and the forty-trst anniversary OF the
going out of the first company Of sing
ers that brought to the attention OF
the world the slave songs which have
become part Of American musi-
cal history and which have been call
ed by American critics the original
American music" The memorial ad-
dress was given by DR.. George E.
HAYNES. professor OF social science OF
the institution. on the subject. The
Faith OF Our Founders DR.. Haynes
said in part:
Forty-six years ago. while the smoke
of war stiiI hung over this fair region
few men and women. Gods messengers
appeared upon the scene TO follow the
tran of the army and to make the free
dom of the some time slave fully free.
They did not come with the blare OF
trumpets but with that mild and gentle
sympathy of those who save. they did
not bring bullets. but Bibles and spelling
books Theirs was 10 be conflict OF
decades not OF years: battle against
poverty. ignorance and superstition. mol
against opposing armies OF Confederntes-
These missionaries founded Fisk school
Five years after the arrival OF these
teachers the pail OF poverty gathered like
n dark cloud over the settlement. where
nearly a thousand freedmen daily sought
Instruction and inspira non The leaders
bent In anxious prayer for Divine deliN-
erance and were shown the silver llninG
behind the cloud Some OF their pupils
opened their mouths TO sing. and the
world stood cnraptured. Another three
years passed and the money TO meet their
obligations was sung into their posses
sion These grounds. which We now en-
JOY were paid for. md out OF the slave
sonEs was composed the symphony In
brick and stone. Jubilee Hall
We pause In tho propitious beginning
of our years work to call UP these VI
xIons OF the past and TO inquire upon
what meat did these. our fathers, feed
that they have wrought so well We re
move tho sandals OF our routine. daily
toll and llnEcr upon this holy ground
that We may hear more distinctly the
voice from the burning bush calling US
TO follow in their train As We stand In
the Divine presence. We ask what were
the beliefs that ouoycd up our founders
for their tssksr What was the faith
which would not let Them faltcr'
lyr. Haynes answered these ones
tons by saying that the first article OF
their faith was firm belief In the ulu-
mate triumph OF true democracy.
which VIII include all men. irres especttye
of creed color or previous condition
of scrvitudc The second article OF the
faith OF our founders was belief In
the possibility OF the NeGro's develop
mcnt The third was their belief In
the power of ideals 10 uplift the low.
Hest OF humankind. and the fourth was
n faith In the God OF justice aud right
They were convinced" he conclud-
ed. that the cause OF human liberia
ton from slavery. ignorance and sin
was n righteous cause and that 1t was
n cause champloned by the hosts OF
jehovah"
The athletic tournament held on Ben
nett field. the center OF the university
campus, where running and jumping
events took place. was concluded with
a football game between the Pearl high
school and university teams. Prizes
were awarded to the winners in these
interesting contests.
The Theology OF the Songs OF South
ern slaves" was the subject of an in
spring address by the Rev. DIR. II. II
Proctor. pastor OF the First Congrega
uonal church. Atlanta. Ga. DR. Proc
tor Is a graduate of Fisk, class of 1891.
In the course OF his instructive address
DR.. Proctor said the songs OF the slaves
showed nrt. heart emotion and thought
Their iden OF God was that of n SOW
ercign who was also Father. Son and
holy spirit They had n conception OF
Satan rs n personal devil sly and Gun
ming
II was an interesting and inspiring
sight at the closing exercises to see
Mrs. Ella Shepherd Moore. Mrs. Mabel
Lewis lines and Mrs. Mabel Gordon
Taylor. three survivors OF the company
Of forty years ago. rise and lead the au-
dience In Swing Low Sweet Chariot"
Oetobs- Meeting Of Concord Literary.
The October meeting of the Concord
Literary circle, held In the chapel of