The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-01-10
HISTORY AND WORK
OF GRENADA COLLEGE.
BY President J. R. COuntiss in Recent
Issue Of n. 0. Christian Advocate.

This school, established by the. Bap.
tist church in 1851, was not prosperous
in the disastrous days following the
Civil War, became involved in debt and
fell into private hands. In 1882 it was
about to be sold for use as a negro
school, when it was fortunately pur-
chased by the North Mississippi Con-
ference as school for girls, and was
opened for work under the presidency
of Rev. T. J. Newell. In 1884 it was
chartered under the name of Grenada
College Institute, and was leased sue
cessively to Presidents Newell, Ma
lone and Mcintosh, each of whom
wrought faithfully, maintaining stand
ards equal to others of that day.
In 1902, in accordance with the plans
and instructions of the General Board
of Education, the Conference aban-
doned the leasing system and placed
the school directly in the hands of the
board of trustees, the officers and teach
ers to be elected at fixed salaries by
them. In this way all profits accrue
directly to the school, and during the
eight years administration of President
Clifton the value of the property was
probably doubled. In 1904, the curric.
Nlum WAS IdIScu dIlu Vic UdIIlc Vi tut
school changed to Grenada College by
amendment to the charter.
Two years ago the writer was elected
president and took charge under very
favorable circumstances, which have
been used to such advantage that the
school has made the largest material
gains in its history without calling for
direct contributions from the church.
Probably no five previous years ever
showed so much expended for improve
ments out of the net earnings.
The course of study is based on four
years of high school work and requires
four years of collegiate work for the
Bachelor of Arts. Only experienced,
university-trained teachers are en-
ployed, and the school having more
than one teacher for every ten pupils,
gives personal care and interest not
excelled anywhere. The personnel of
the student body 9 superb n d
their spirit of earnestness and obe-
dience is rarely equaled. The character
Of work done compares favorably with
that of the best institutions supported
lby taxation or endowment. In addition
to its literary work, the college main
itains schools of Art, Expression and
Music. The teachers III these depart
ments are graduate specialists with
postgraduate work, and they repre-
sent the best schools in this country
and in Europe. All these have y good
patronage, more than 100 being ~n-
rolled in music alone. The standards
maintained, the faculty employed, and
the work dene would be impossible
without the generous assessment Of
$4,000 per year Ey the North Mississippi
Conference for the school, yielding an
income equivalent to that from $780,
600 endowment.
While the school is doing a remark
able work under the circumstances, its
needs are large and imperative. 1t is
impossible to make any large advance
within the present quarters. The par
lors are utilized as class-rooms, GER
tain classes have to be divided for lack
of adequate room, several more piano
rooms are badly needed, the art studio
is entirely too small for the present
class, and more laboratory room is
necessity. Pupils in pipe organ have
to go to the church for practice
Provision for all these can not be made
without the erection of new building,
and no better opportunity will come
TO: some good man or woman of means
to build lasting monument and be-
stow an immortal benefaction than by
donating the necessary funds for such
building. The need is great, and the
building should be erected before the
opening of another session.
For the future the college must have
endowment. The modern curriculum
calls for trained specialists and costly
apparatus. The large profits once made
from the boarding department OF
schools for girls have been made i'm.
possible by the high cost of food and
by the keen competition of state schools
furnishing board at cost. The middle
of the present century will see the un-
endowed school relegated to the scrap
heap, Even now, no one thinks of es-
tablishing school for men without
endowment. Young women are as
worthy and capable as young men and
must have similar provision made for
their education. The only schools that
can survive without endowment are the
expenive, fashionable fl n S hi g
Schools" furnishing frills and furbe-
lows to foolish, frivolous females.
These will probably be kept mp by the
newly-rich who contemplate breaking
into society" but detest the work
and discipline necessary to secure a real
education.
Unless the Methodists of North Mis-
sissippi mean to endow Grenada Col
lege in the near future, they may as
we'll surrender its charter and turn il
into preparatory school. They are
sending 500 girls year to so-called
colleges and paying out much more
money than would be required to equiv
and maintain first-class college al
home under their own care and undel
the soundest christian influences ane
environment. Let US have the build
ings and the endowment to care for oul