The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1917-02-10


Negro. He virtually devoted his life
to the interests of the race. BY voice
and pen he aided our emancipation, up
held our rights and denounced our
wrongs, advocated our education and
encouraged our ambitions.
He inspired us with hope for a flu
ture free from prejudice and proserlp-
ton. DR.. Ward was also a personal
friend of Wilberforce university and
of Bishop Daniel A. Payne, the chief
Of its founders. Whatever pertained
to its welfare deeply interested him.
Therefore he noted with deep regret
ON visit some four years ago when he
addressed us during commencement
week that our quarters for science
teaching were totally inadequate.
Every one who knew DR.. ward
knows what a keen interest he took
in all lines of scientific endeavor and
research. 1t seems to us, therefore,
very fitting that we strive to build for
our great need a monument to him
that will not only show our grateful
appreciation as a people of his labors
in our behalf, but that will also have
a close connection with the things in
which he took so great delight. 1t is
equally fitting that the Oldest Negro
school in America should be the one to
put forth this effort and that its cam
pus should be the spot where such a
memorial shall stand.
DIR. Ward was always quick to recog-
nize a real need. and there is no ques-
ton that a science building is one of
the greatest needs of Wilberforce uni
versity today All its class work along
scientific lines is greatly hampered by
lack of room for work and for even the
proper placing of the laboratory equip
ment for which friends are making ar
rangements to provide. Our work
planned for advance study demands
the new building, as does the constant
ly increasing work in certain industries
and in agriculture.
We cannot even make the most prof
liable use of our small but well select
ed museum because it cannot be prop
erly arranged in our present crowded
quarters. Thus we find very impor-
tant work suffering at every point be
cause of needed enlargement.
Wherefore university. because of
its strategic situation. its environment
and many admirable facilities. is one
of the strongest centers of Negro high
er education in the country. Its work
is constantly growing. 1t provides all
around training in literary courses,
teachers training and vocational
courses. of which there are seven.
With forty-one instructors and 500
students, it is serving most aceeptably
In wide field of Negro education.
1t is the Oldest institution of its kind
In the United States, as | have just
said, dating as far back as 1917. when
was founded the Union seminary, a
manual labor institution for the educa.
ton of colored people, and which was
subsequently merged into Wilherforce
university. 1t was named in honor Of
the great English statesman and ben
efactor of the colored race, William
Wilberforce.
1t was Incorporated in 1856 and its
first board Of trustees included Gov
ernor Salmon P. Chase, who at his
death left it $4,000.
Major General o. o. Howard, Major
General Saxton, DR.. Bellows, DR.. Ed
ward Everett Hale. Frederick Douglass
and other men of prominence have
served as trustees Of this institution.
Mr.. Andrew Carnegie recently gave
s-=-a.