History of the Negro Race in America Volume II Part 64

In addition to the work done here on the field, this Church has been blessed with a true missionary spirit. It has pushed its work into "the regions beyond." In 1844 _The Parent Home and Foreign Missionary Society_ was organized by the General Conference. Its first corresponding secretary was appointed in 1864, John M. Brown, Washington, D.C.; 1865 to 1868, John M. Brown; 1868 to 1872, James A.

Handay, Baltimore, Maryland; 1872, Rev. W. J. Gaines, Macon, Georgia; 1873, Rev. T. G. Stewart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 1874 to 1876, Rev. G. W. Brodie; 1876 to 1878, Rev. Richard H. Cain, Columbia, S.C.; 1878 to 1881, Rev. James M. Townsend, Richmond, Indiana.

The following is the last report of the present missionary secretary:

RECAPITULATION.

_Receipts._

Collected for general work (including $300 from the W. M. M Society) $2,630 35 Collected on the field in Hayti 1,221 54 Women's Mite Society (in addition to the above $300) 364 31 Collected for domestic missions 3,743 87 --------- Total receipts $7,960 07

_Expenditures._

Total expended on salaries, travelling expenses, printing, etc. $7,773 10 Balance in Women's M. M. treasury 48 97 Balance in general treasury 138 00 --------- $7,960 07

Respectfully submitted, JAMES M. TOWNSEND.

The work of education has been fostered and pushed forward by this Church. Wilberforce University is owned and managed by the Church, and is doing a n.o.ble work for both s.e.xes. More than one thousand students have received instruction in this inst.i.tution, and some of the ablest preachers in the denomination are proud of Wilberforce as their _Alma Mater_. The following gentlemen const.i.tute the faculty:

WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY.

FACULTY.

REV. B. F. LEE, B.D., _President_,

_Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy and Systematic Theology._

_Professor of Ecclesiastical History, Homiletics, and Pastoral Theology._

J. P. SHORTER, A.B., _Professor of Mathematics and Secretary of the Faculty._

W. S. SCARBOROUGH, A.M., _Professor of Latin and Greek._

ROSWELL F. HOWARD, A.B., B.L., _Professor of Law._

HON. JOHN LITTLE, _Professor of Law._

MRS. S. C. BIERCE, _Princ.i.p.al of Normal Department, Instructor in French, and Natural Sciences._

MRS. ALICE M. ADAMS, _Lady Princ.i.p.al, Matron, and Instructor in Academic Department._

Miss GUSSIE E. CLARK, _Teacher of Instrumental Music._

a.s.sISTANT TEACHERS.

CARRIE E. FERGUSON, _Teacher of Penmanship._

D. M. ASHBY, G. S. LEWIS, _Teachers of Arithmetic._

ANNA H. JONES, _Teacher of Reading._

REV. T. H. JACKSON, D.D., _General Agent._

In the summer of 1856 the Cincinnati Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church decided to establish in that place a university for the education of Colored youth. Its Board of Trustees consisted of twenty white and four Colored men. Mr. Alfred J. Anderson, Rev. Lewis Woodson, Mr. Ishmael Keith, and Bishop Payne were the Colored members.

Among the former were State Senator M. D. Gatch and the late Salmon P.

Chase. It was dedicated in October, 1856, when the Rev. M. P. Gaddis took charge. He held the position of Princ.i.p.al for one year, when he was succeeded by Professor J. R. Parker, who worked faithfully and successfully until 1859. Rev. R. T. Rust, D.D., became President upon the retirement of Mr. Parker, and accomplished a n.o.ble work. He raised the educational standard of the school, attracted to its support and halls friends and pupils, and gained the confidence of educators and laymen within the outside of his denomination.

Unfortunately, his faithful labors were most abruptly terminated by the war of the Rebellion. The college doors were closed in 1862 for want of funds; the main friends of the inst.i.tution having cast their lot with the Confederate States. It should be remembered that up to this time this college was in the hands of the white Methodist Church.

The Colored Methodists bought the land and buildings on the 10th of March, 1863, for the sum of $10,000. The land consisted of fifty-two acres, with an abundance of timber, fine springs, and a commodious college building with a dozen beautiful cottages. And the growth of the inst.i.tution under the management of Colored men is a credit to their Church and race.

Bishop D. H. Payne, D.D., was elected to the presidency of the university, which position he has filled with rare fidelity and ability for the last thirteen years. In 1876 Rev. B. F. Lee, a former graduate of the college, was elected to occupy the presidential chair.

It was not a position to be sought after since it had been filled for thirteen years by the senior bishop of the Church, but Mr. Lee was the choice of his official brethren and so was elected. President Lee is a native of New Jersey. He is about the medium height, well knit, of light complexion, dark hair and beard of the same color that covers a face handsomely moulded. He is plainly a man of excellent traits of character; he is somewhat bald and has a finely-cut head, broad and ma.s.sive. He moves quickly, and impresses one as a man who is armed with a large amount of executive tact. His face is of a thoughtful cast, and does not change much when he laughs. There were many difficulties to hinder his administration when he took charge, but he surmounted them all. Under his administration the inst.i.tution has grown financially and numerically.

The following report shows the financial condition of the college at the present time.

RECEIPTS.

June 20, 1880.

Balance in Treasury, Avery Fund $10,000 00 " " Rust Prize Fund 100 00 " " cash 63 82 ---------- Total balance $10,163 82

RECEIPTS.--(_Continued._)

Balance $10,163 82 Received from Financial Secretary 200 00 " " tuition 1,604 49 " " dormitories 525 80 " " Unitarian a.s.sociation 600 00 Received from loans 100 00 Received from interest from Avery Fund 800 00 Received from interest from Rust Fund 8 00 Received from General Agent 150 00 " " contributions 232 00 " " Philadelphia Conference 52 95 Received from Illinois Conference 30 00 " " bequest of John Pfaff 602 08 Received from miscellaneous 407 64 -------- $5,312 96 ---------- Total receipts $15,476 78 ==========

EXPENDITURES.

To salaries $3,166 15 " building and grounds 243 25 " furnishing building 177 37 " notes paid with interest 285 86 " lectures 600 00 " fuel 116 64 " Powers' Fund interest 114 90 " incidental 296 17 " insurance 219 00 " miscellaneous 144 21 --------- Total expenditures $5,363 55

Balance in bank--Avery Fund securities $10,000 00 Balance in bank--Rust Fund securities 100 00 Balance in bank--cash 13 23 ---------- $10,113 23 ---------- $15,476 78 ==========

STATEMENT OF CASH RECEIPTS, FROM 1865 TO 1881.

1865 to 1866 $10,677 82 1866 to 1867 6,717 88 1867 to 1868 9,000 00 1868 to 1869 5,403 83 1869 to 1870 9,498 24 1870 to 1871 28,672 22 1871 to 1872 7,270 31 1872 to 1873 4,452 30 1873 to 1874 6,129 77 1874 to 1875 4,962 50 1875 to 1876 7,805 36 1876 to 1877 13,757 66 1877 to 1878 14,429 15 1878 to 1879 4,944 37 1879 to 1880 6,942 98 1880 to 1881 5,312 96 ----------- Total $145,977 35

The following-named persons are the bishops of the Church: James A.

Shorter, Daniel A. Payne, A. W. Wayman, J. P. Campbell, John M. Brown, T. M. D. Ward, H. M. Turner, William F. d.i.c.kerson, and R. H. Cain.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church will remain through the years to come as the best proof of the Negro's ability to maintain himself in an advanced state of civilization. Commencing with nothing--save an unfaltering faith in G.o.d,--this Church has grown to magnificent proportions. Her name has gone to the ends of the earth. In the Ec.u.menical Council of the Methodists in London, 1881, its representatives made a splendid impression; and their addresses and papers took high rank.

This Church has taught the Negro how to govern and how to submit to government. It has kept its membership under the influence of wholesome discipline, and for its beneficent influence upon the morals of the race, it deserves the praise and thanks of mankind.[129]