Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-07-16
PRESIDENT S. j. ROSS, OF COL-
liEGE or WEST AFRICA, Ill
IBERIA, DIES ON SHIP BOARD
EN ROUTE TO AMERICA-MRS.
ROSS ARRIVES.


The recent arrival in this country
the late President S. J. Ross, of the
College of West Africa, Monrovia,
LIBERIA. brings to mind the untimely
demise announced by cable of the
end OF one OF the most useful and
versatile members OF his race. Pres
idcnt Ross during his lifetime was
Identified with the Negro DoDula-
ton OF three widely separated parts
OF the world. and in each was an
outstanding and constructive per-
sonality. lie was born in British
Guiana, South America. September
10. 1878. lie came to the United
states in 1902 and entered Lincoln
University.
During his college career he
crinrcl those qualities for leadership
which have made his name we'll
known among his people Of two con-
iincnts. He received the degree of
bachelor Of arts and bachelor of di-
Witty i'll 1907. ut which time he was
president and valcdictorian of his
class. During his career at Lincoln
he won three gold medals for ora
tory. In 1908 he entered the col
icBc OF Physicians and Surgeons of
Chicago. He married Miss Pearl Il.
ihomasSon, of Chicago, in March.
1913, and in May Of that year sailed
FOR Porto kico TO finish his medical
preparation with the practical work
OF an interuc al Iauco under the di-
rcctlon OF one Of his former profess
SoTS who had charge OF several dis
ncnSaricS there. In 1915, after two
years work, the i'll health of Mrs.
Ross caused their return to the
ut h,,,
ticcd medicine until 1918, when he
was appointed medical missionary to
Liberia by the Board Of Foreign Mis-
$ionS OF the Methodist Episcopal
church. IN recognition OF his abili-
t. he was soon appointed president
of tho College of West Africa, Mon
rovla, which position he was holding
at the time Of his death.
The college grow rapidly undcrI
Dr. Ross able administration from
an enrolment of $50 to 3J6. Inl
collaboration with Mrs. Ross. tLeI
president organized the Young VOL
mems Christian Association and theI
Young Mems Christian Association,
as we'll as an athletic association
patterned after those Of American
colleges. These organizations weroI
the first of their kind in Liberia andl
comment. The Y. w. G. \. Of lii
IBERIA has recently been received intoI
complete afiliation with the world
organization Of that name. OwingE
to the i'll health Of Mrs. Ross, Il fur
Tough was granted tho couple by thep
Board OF Foreign Missions under
which they worked, and it wasI
aboard the steamship San Carlos thatk
DR.. Ross was stricken, and passed.
away week later. He was buried
at Santa Cruz, Tencriffc, Canary Is
lands. Mrs. Ross has recently ar
rived in the United States.
According to officials OF the MethiS
odist Board of Foreign Missions, DR.
and Mrs. Ross occupied high rankl
among missionaries. They took al
prominent and constructive part I'M
the Methodist mission program for
Liberia, which maintains thirty-onCH
mission schools with SiXty-nvtn
teachers and IN enrolment of sew
eral thousand pupils, many of thcn
natives of the interior bush country
where education is the primary need
In spreading American civilization
and Christianity.