The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-04-17

she lived The girls ate snails and
bugs In the back yard, went crazy
over all msnner of colors and adorn-
ments, and whenever they could
escaped from the confinements 81
civilization. On one occasion my good
aunt. looking out Of her front window,
saw crowd gathered In the street
gazing intently at her house. She
at once surmized that her African
guests were doing something unusual,
and soon found that such was the
case. II was raining heavily at the
time, and the girls had found their
way up To the flat roof OF the house
where they resumed their scant ma
tive costume and were dancing with
delight in the freedom of the weather.
When you hear of the American
Missionary Association you may re-
member that this was its origin. II
was formed by gentlemen belonging
To different religious denominations.
Once organized, II undertook work for
escaped slaves IN Canada, and for
the free colorcd people of Cincinnati,
and other border towns, and was tn
first organization ready to help the
negroes who came into the Union
lines at the beginning of the Civil
War. and were called by Gen. Butler
"contrabands.
II II had not been for this associa-
ton. Fee and Rogers could not have
done the work they did in Kentucky.
The American Missionary Associa-
ton was also instrumental in found.
ing Hampton Institute in Virginia
and Fisk University in Tennessee. In
later years other religious bodies
have formed societies of their own
for work In the south so that the
American Missionary Association has
finally been left to be supported only
by the Congregationalists. But during
all the years of its connection with
Berca II was, like Bcrea itself,
non-sectarian organization.
The first man who gave money for
Berea itself was Gerrit Smith. Gerrit
smith was one of the FIRST million
aires In America, and inherited vast
tracts of land in eastern and north
ern New York. Where he obtained
his bent for good things | have never
known. But he devoted long life
To doing good lie was one of the
most powerful advocates of temper
ance when the temperance cause was
young. And he was one of the most
powerful workers for the cause of
emancipation In the days of mobs
and persecution before the war. At
the conclusion OF the war he showed
his kindly feeling toward those whom
he had opposed by assisting in bail
ing out jefferson Davis from the
military prison where he was confin.
ed.
Mr.. Fec told me of his first inter
view with Geirit Smith. He called
upon him in Peterboro, n. Y, and
told him of his intention to found an
anti-slavery church and school in
Kentucky. 1T Is impossible To do
such n thing" said MIR. Smith. Il
am going to try" said Brother Fee.
We'll. here is $50 to help you try"
replied Gerrit Smith. Subsequently
Gerrit Smith gave several thousand
dollars to Berea. In the East Room
of Ladies' Hall you may see his por-
trait. And in the little parlor are franz
ed two checks. one for $50 and one
for $1,000 which was sent to help in
the last payments for the construc-
ton Of that building.
Rev. Chas. Avery was another Of
Berea's early friends whose picture
appears on our program today. He
was a Methodist preacher in the vicin-
ity OF Pittsburg who got rich by mis-
take. and used his riches for the
glory of God. He left a large sum to
board of trustees to be used for
the benefit Of the freedmen. With
that money they founded the Avery
Institute at Charleston. S. c.. and
the Avery Institute OF Pittsburg. Pa
and they made appropriations TO diff
ferent schools. Berea received ST.