The Denver star., 1916-06-17
BY n. BARNETT DoDsON.

tic year at Wilberforce university has
been one of constant effort on the part
of its president. DR.. William S. Scar
borough and the faculty to make 1t
the most successful in the long and
eventful history of the institution.
While not all has been accomplished
which the president desired nor have
all the plans for future development
matured, the results are highly crafty
ing. The students have made good In
their studies, and the commencement
exercises to be held in June will afford
period of satisfaction and joy to fac
| ulty. students and the board of trus-
tees.
The slogan now is a greater Wilber-
force university, and in keeping with
1t provision has already been made for
several new buildings, some of which.
according TO arrangements, Will De
erected this summer and fall. Among
the first buildings to be erected will be
gymnasium, central recitation
building for all class purposes and
hospital.
Buildings for other purposes which
are much needed and for which plans
will be perfected are science hall,
college chapel, n conservatory of mu-
sic and an administration building.
The fact is rot generally known among
the great majority of the colored peo
pie that the first organized effort for
the education of our people was per
fected at Columbus siNty-nine Years
ago. At that time there WAS organized
and established what was then known
US Union seminary.
The establishment of Union seminary
crystallized nine years later in the cs-
tablishment and Incorporation of VII
berforce university, fittingly named aft
er William Wilberforce, who was Eng
lands greatest abolitionist, at Tawaw.!
Spring. now Wilberforce o., just three
miles out from Xenia and fifty-hve
miles from Columbus. the point Il;
which the first organized effort with
| In the race was made for the educa
| tion of the race in this country.
Thus, by this establishment OF the
Union seminary IN 1S4I at Columbus
and the establishment OF Wherefore
university at Wilberforcc, Ohio he
came the cradle of Negro education IN
America. Union seminary long since
became mere incident IN the history
of the race and the history of educa
zion in the United States, but Wilber
force university stands today the pride
Of the race.
II Is impossible to estimate how much
Wilberforce university has contributed
to race advancement. 1t has ratliated
hon tot
every section OF the giooe. 1t has been
the great conservator that has ameiio-
rated the condition OF the race in this
country and softened prejudice oh the
part of whites to a point where the
true American white man abandonS
the idea OF restrictions for the Amer
lean idea Of swinging wide the door
of hope for those who half century
ago We're suffering slaves.
Historical references become delight
full "reminiscences when the enlarged
present and the far greater future at.
tract attention to some feeble effort of
the long past that has materializcd
into a great realizB ton. Thus il is
with Wilberforce university. once but
an acorn, that has grown to great
oak, whose history Is uear to the Ne
gro race. lnsepara5ly associated with
Wherefore university are those who
composed its first board of trustees,
among whom Were Salmon +. Chase
and Bishop Daniel A. Payne, the most
famous of all Negro prelates. who be-
came president of Wilberforce and
served until his death.
Wilberforce university is the only en-
clusively conducted institution for the
education of Negroes by Negroes In
this country, to which the federal gov.
ernment details regular army officer
to instruct its young men in military
training. BY reason Of this graduate
of Wilberforce becomes eligible. nc.
cording to the rules OF the war depart
ment at Washington, to take the exam
ination required by the government 10
become nn officer III the United States
regular army. There are only two
schools in Ohio where military instruc.
ton Is given under supervision of Il
regular army officer detailed by the
United States government-the Ohio
State university at Columbus and vii.
berforce university In this town.
The Ohio state auditor In his report
paid n high compliment to the ett.
cient and economical management of
Wilberforce by It's present officers
when he stated that "thc per capita
cost OF each student is the lowest of
any institution for manual training and
higher education in the state" Again.
In the clearest possible way. he gave
one of the prime reasons why WILDER.
force has done and is doing such
great work when he said: Here ther,,
are no artificial distinctions created
by wealth. There Is no indulgence
in social prosiiuaAty. The students are