| Huston-Tillotson
University Historically Black College
1884 WANTED AT TILLOTSON INSTITUTE. This is our only institution of higher grade in Texas—that vast State which is filling up so rapidly with both colored and white people. The Institute is most eligibly situated on a fine campus of twenty-two acres near the capitol in Austin, and has been most warmly welcomed by the leading white citizens of the place ; Ex-Gov. Pease, Rev. Dr. Wright and others accepting places on its Board of Trustees. The one building, Allen Hall, was erected in 1880 and was almost immediately crowded to overflowing with students, the two sexes occupying the same building, necessitating a division, thus adding inconvenience to the overcrowding. For both these reasons, to relieve the overcrowding and to place the two sexes in separate houses, a new building for a Boys' Hall is most imperatively needed. Prof. Salisbury, our School Superintendent, on a recent visit to Austin, says: "The institution is crowded" to excess. There are now more boarding students than can be properly accommodated and they had to turn away applicants yesterday. There is great need of another building before next year. The field is truly a promising one." Its President, Rev. Mr. Brooks, writes : " It does seem that every interest demands more room. There must be great loss if we cannot provide for this. I hear of large numbers who propose to come next year. We could more than double our numbers if we had room for them." The building so much needed at Austin will cost $20,000. The present effort to secure the needed funds was begun with this year. A conditional pledge of over $1,000 has been obtained, and we appeal to the friends of the colored man, and of the nation as well, to aid us speedily in providing this relief for an overcrowded school and this facility for the education of those that have now to be turned away.
PHASES OF SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK IN TEXAS. PRES. Wm. E. BROOKS. One who attempts to give a clear outline of "The Phases of Sunday-school Work in Texas," in one short article has a task on his hands which few can properly appreciate. The territory is vast, the workers few, the population changing, and accurate information not easy to obtain. One sign of promise is that a very large part of the schools use the International Series of Lessons. A few do not, but in most schools, white and colored, they are found. I cannot forbear saying that these lessons have done, and are now doing, more to unite all parts of our land in a kindly and even loving brotherhood than any one other agency. This is manifest here in Texas. Perhaps nothing will indicate this more clearly than the treatment accorded me by the Sunday school workers of this State. Known to be connected with Tillotson Institute, established chiefly for the uplifting of the colored people, I am urged to engage in the Sunday-school organization of the county and State, to attend conventions, and was appointed a delegate to the International Convention of 1881. That the quality of the work done here is inferior as compared with much in the older and more highly-favored portions of our land, cannot be questioned; yet I have been both pleased and surprised to learn how many schools are holding teachers' meetings. It has seemed to me, judging from the replies to my circular, that our colored friends are fully abreast in this respect of the whites. In the direction of county and State organization there has been great progress. Dr. Storey, of Dallas, Secretary of the Texas Sunday-School Association, writes me that when, five years ago, he was called to his present position, "there was but one county organized and only a nominal State organization. Now the State is well organized, and more than forty counties, and still the work goes on." The meetings, which are the result of these organizations, are increasing in number and interest. So great has this become that, at some points, " the largest churches are not sufficient to accommodate those desiring to attend." There is more in this than will appear to the careless reader, or to one living where these meetings are common. Such cannot readily understand the strong and too: often bitter sectarian spirit which is wont to exist in new States, or where the intellectual standard is low. But, notwithstanding obstacles, the true workers are coming together more and more. Realizing the impossibility of doing the work alone they are reaching forth and clasping the outstretched hands of other toilers, and thus both are being blessed. It is here that the A. S. S. Union is doing a good work, which was begun by Father Paxton years ago. The Union has five missionaries in Texas. This seems a goodly number, but when we pause and call to mind the fact that each of these on an average has a field larger than the entire State of New York, we cannot but feel that far more laborers are needed to save the thousands yet unreached. But it cannot be questioned that much of the progress made in the Sunday-school work of Texas is due to the labors of these noble men. They establish new schools, cheer the fainting, and sometimes call to life the dead. They plan conventions, marshal the workers, and in many ways are doing much to break down the false barriers which separate the various churches. But, true as these men are, I can find no evidence that they are doing anything for the colored people. It seems to me a mistake that this noble society should so lose sight of the more than 400,000 of African descent who are now living in this State. They are a too important factor in the present and future of Texas, and the country even, to be ignored. If the Union continues to stand aloof, how would it do for the American Missionary Association to send a few earnest, devoted, loving workers to care for the Sunday-school interests of the colored people? Something ought to be done by somebody. We are trying, in connection with our work here, to do what we can in this direction, but it is little, very little, compared with what should be done. But despite the apathy of the many who find the Bible a dry book, despite ''sectarianism gone to seed" and the consequent unwillingness of different churches to unite in co-operative effort for the increase of Bible study, in spite of ignorance in the pulpit and still greater ignorance in the pew, as is all too common, especially among our colored friends ; despite the strong, clinging prejudices born of the past, which sadly fetter any free, aggressive effort, and must for some time to come; despite one and all of these combined, the work advances. As one, writing to me, well puts it: " The young themselves are becoming more and more interested in Bible study, and not long and they will arise in their strength and take the work into their own hands."
When our church was organized, of course we did not expect to escape criticism. We are aware that some, though not all, of the colored ministers regard our action as tending to weaken their influence. But we have no fears whatever as to the result, or that the interests of the school will be jeopardized. Every month increases our assurance that the formation of our church was a wise act. It is especially assuring to observe how quickly the Congregational faith and polity commend themselves to the colored people when brought to their knowledge. Most of the young people, and not a few of the older ones, are dissatisfied with the old-time religion.” An intelligent physician here, a graduate of Fisk, deplores the influence of the “colored” revivals—a most violent specimen of which is just now at its height—on account of the great injury to health arising from late hours and a stifling atmosphere. Another young man reluctantly, but
with evident sincerity, confesses that one of the
greatest obstacles to the progress of the colored people
is the more than doubtful morality of their preachers. While this is a hopeful sign, it also indicates a
danger which makes the present a critical period. I refer to the
tendency, by no means confined to colored young people, to renounce all
religion when that of their fathers comes under suspicion. Much stress is placed on "revealed” religion, by which is meant such teachings as come through visions, dreams, etc. I was prepared to find meagre and grotesque ideas of the Bible, but never thought of associating these with lack of confidence in the sacred Word. A leading elder of the city recently quoted the old proverb, “Every tub must stand on its own bottom,” as coming from the Bible. If this were to be understood as a summary of Bible theology, then the poor creatures who accept such ignorant leadership might easily regard such doctrine as affording little ground for hope. It has been my pleasure for some time past to hold weekly meetings for Bible and catechism study. I am gratified to observe a growing reverence for the Scriptures, and a deepening desire to know more about “Bible religion.” An important branch of our work, not mentioned in my report, deserves notice. We have a flourishing Temperance Band, which I believe to be doing much good. The young people frequently give expression to the conviction that intemperance is one of the most alarming evils now prevalent among their race, and in nothing does their zeal for the elevation of their people manifest itself more strongly than in the matter of temperance reform. The work that needs to be done for the colored people in Austin alone, is sufficient, I sometimes think, to fill the bravest heart with despair. What must it be throughout the South?
The American missionary - 1884
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