| |
Huston-Tillotson
University
Historically
Black College
1885
The Tillotson, at Austin, Texas, has taken to itself a church
organization. This was effected on the first Sabbath of the year—a
very interesting occasion. Superintendent Roy and Rev. Jeremiah Porter,
spending his second winter in Austin, were present to assist the pastor,
Rev. J. H. Parr, who, with his wife, united in the organization. It
consisted of twenty members, half of them teachers and half students.
Principal W. L. Gordon and wife presented their two little children,
born in the Institute, for baptism. Mr. Gordon and Mr. R. F. Ftrrell, a
student, were ordained as deacons by prayer and the laying on of hands.
Mr. Porter offered the prayer of institution, and broke the bread at the
communion table. This venerable servant of God had just passed his 80th
birthday. His golden wedding will come next June. His multitude of
friends will be glad to know that the United States Government, having
put him upon the retired list as chaplain, is continuing his salary.
Mrs. Porter is assisting the special missionary, Miss M. J. Adams,
Professor Dean, and other teachers and scholars, in supporting two
mission schools contiguous to the Institute. Miss Rose M. Kinney, a
veteran in the service, is matron and preceptress. The Tillotson is
moving on this year smoothly and successfully. A church in connection
with these main chartered institutions is essential to their best
Christian result.
OBITUARY.
Prof.
Wm. L. Gordon died August 28th at the residence of his fatherin-law,
Rev. W. I. Hunt, of Columbus, Mich., at the age of thirty-four
years. Mr. Gordon became connected with the A. M. A., as Principal
of the Avery Institute at Charleston, S. C., in 1880, which position
he held until 1882, when he was transferred to Tillotson
Institute, Austin, Texas, to become its Principal and
Treasurer, where he remained until the time of his death. He became
a Christian in his boyhood, although he did not connect himself with
any church uutil he arrived at manhood. Rev. J. H. Parr, who was
associated with Prof. Gordon during the past year at Tillotson,
sends us the following estimate of Mr. Gordon's character :
" To know him was to love him. No sounder advice than his was
ever offered to young Christians. No one ever felt a deeper
solicitude in behalf of the wayward and thoughtless. We cannot
adequately speak of the loss which the bereaved wife and children
sustain. We only venture to say that the school to which Mr. Gordon
gave the last and best years of his life has lost its wisest
counselor and truest friend. The American Missionary Association has
lost a most faithful worker, and those who
knew him well have lost the visible presence of one they loved, but
they cherish a memory which shall be fragrant and inspiring
forever." Hi» Christian faith never wavered in all his
sufferings. Only a few minutes before he died, he said : "
Bless the Lord, O my soul, for all His kindness and goodness to
me."
Ret.
Joseph K. Roy, D. D., Field Superintendent.
PRof. Albert Salisbury,
Superintendent OF Education.
ITINERARY
FROM AUSTIN TO CORPUS CHRISTI.
REV.
JOS. K. ROY, D.D.
Jan.
4, Sunday.—Assisted in organizing at the Tillotson Institute a
church of twenty-one members. Lord's Supper. Prof. W. L. Gordon's two
children baptized.
Jan.
5, Monday.—At Austin depot. Waited for train five hours to 8 p. M,
Jan.
6, Tuesday.—Arrived in San Antonio at 1 A.
M. Departed for Flatonia at 8 A. M., arriving at noon. Looked up
the folks. Preached at night for Pastor T. E. Hillson, whose second child
was baptized, as the first had been by the same hand at the dedication in
Luling, his alternate church.
Jan.
7, Wednesday.—Up at 4 and off to Luling, arriving by daylight,
Off then, by livery rig, 45 miles to Riddleville.
Jan.
8, Thursday.—On to Helena. 15 miles. Ride oat with freedman, 3
miles, to our Colony Church. Lecture at night for Pastor Thompson.
Jan.
9, Friday.—Half a day of writing. Visited at another freedman's.
home, taking supper. Preached at night.
Jan.
10, Saturday.—Brother Thompson, with another colored man and
myself, start for Corpus, 80 miles, reaching Goliad, 35 miles, at night.
We are entertained at Pastor T. Benson's.
Jan.
11, Sunday.—In the morning, Sunday-school, preaching and
communion. At night, preaching. Conferring all day, at the intervals, with
"parties," being called upon even after retiring at night.
Jan.
12, Monday.—Up and off before daylight, without breakfast. But
Mrs. Benson has provided for us a grand lunch box that lasts us three for
the two days through to Corpus. No place on the way, to put up ; no chance
to buy eatables. Our boss has planned to reach the half-way spot on the
Popolota for camping. The day wears away, and it is 10 o'clock before we
come to the halting-place. For the last three hours Brother Thompson had
led the way lantern in hand, splashing through the mud and water. We turn
under a live oak, take out and feed the jaded horses, and eat our snack,
and commit ourselves to the Heavenly Father, and at 11 o'clock turn in for
the night, Brother Thompson on the ground. under the hack, and
Brother Eding and I m the hack, doubled like a couple of jackknives into
our four feet square of space, being all of a color. By our side the ponies
through the night crunch their corn; and, by turn, we jump up to
drive off the cows from stealing their hay. But we sleep, and snore, and
rest some.
Tuesday,
Jan 13.—Up and off by daybreak. We camp for breakfast lunch. We
camp for dinner lunch. As we consume the fragments, how we do bless Mrs.
Benson. When, at her own table, we had praised her baking and cooking, she
responded: "Oh, I learned that at Talladega College." Then I had
to tell Dr. Strieby's story of the native preacher, who thanked him for
the good wife who had been trained in one of the American Missionary
Association schools, saying that he had gotten more than he had
anticipated—a good cook and housekeeper. On, on we trudge through the
heavy mud. Night has come, and we are yet seven miles from Corpus, and the
cold, " wet norther" that has been drizzling upon us all day, as
we had been fearing, has at last broken upon us. Again Brother Thompson is
on the lead, with lantern in hand, through the slush, and he has walked
more than half the way through the day. The black-waxy is heavy for the
wheels, and slippery for the poor old freedman ponies that have no shoes.
Pastor J. W. Strong, who for four years has manfully held this extreme
southwestern outpost of Congregationalism, having learned of our approach
from a dashing country rider, comes along in the dark, one mile out to
meet us, in Oriental style. After our salaams, he gallops back to town to
make the final arrangement for our entertainment. It is now 8.30 P.
M., too late for the preaching ; and, for once, the preacher is
glad that the storm has kept the people away from the appointment. But the
next night they make it up. and the preacher tries to make it up, too.
When Mr. Thompson brought me down, six years ago. we came straight through
by fording, belly-deep to the horses, across the reef, three miles long,
that forms the nexus between the Nueces Bay and the Corpus Christi Bay. On
either side was deep water or miring sand. Once, since that, he has had to
tote his passengers out on his back. The reef has been washed out
in spots. Lo! this time we go up around the head of the bay, ten miles
farther. Brother Thompson claims that he can endure such jaunts without
wear or much weariness, because he is so abstemious as not to drink tea or
coffee nor to eat meat. And everybody knows him to be a true, pure and
high-minded Christian minister.
who, though
he has had but little schooling, has been so taught of God in the Word,
that after these eleven years in the same parish, that at Helena, he is
yet confided in there as an able pulpit teacher. In old times, his people
were Presbyterians. Blood will tell; and doctrine, too.
201
LETTER
FROM REV. J. H. PARR, AUSTIN, TEXAS.
Marked
revivals have been in progress in all the colored churches of the city. With
all the noise and superstition, we cannot doubt that there are not a few
genuine conversions. And yet, while our students attend these meetings only
to a limited extent, the influence upon them tends to interfere with our
religious work.
Last
week it was my privilege to attend the meeting of the North Texas
Association, held at Cleburne. Tillotson church, on application, was
cordially admitted to membership. The same cordiality and courtesy were
extended to Brother McLean, late of Talladega College, who applied for
membership in his own behalf. Rev. J. W. Roberts, representing the colored
church of Dallas, was also present. The dignified, scholarly bearing of both
these brethren won for them golden opinions from all who listened to their
reports and remarks. Not a few of those who were present at the various
sessions were Southerners, but apparently none the less interested on that
account. It was my fortune to be entertained by an ex-slaveholder, who
served in the Confederate army through the war, but who nevertheless is a
warm friend of the Congregational church in his town, and contributes to its
support.
The
moderator and scribe of the association, seated side by side through the
meetings, presented a striking contrast. The first was a business man, born
in New England, quick, keen, decisive and energetic, an officer in the Union
army through the war, since that time engaged in business in Texas, now the
possessor of a large fortune, and thoroughly identified with, and
enthusiastic concerning, the material and spiritual interests of his adopted
State.
The
second was the pastor of the leading Congregational Church of the State,
born in the South, educated for the law, a soldier in the Confederate army,
for a time almost a wreck morally and physically, but now, by the grace of
God, ' clothed and in his right mind," dignified, magnetic, an earnest,
reverent student of the Bible, an able preacher and a beloved pastor.
Thus,
with representatives of the North and the South, the East and the West, the
white race and the black, America. Sweden and Ireland, we had at least one
marked feature of the Pentecost. But aside from that, the manifest presence
of the Spirit, and the consequent harmony and good-fellowship, rendered our
meeting in a still more important degree like that season which was the
beginning of such a wonderful regeneration in the history of the world. It
may be accepted, I doubt not, as one of the signs of the regeneration that
is going on in the South, which is less wonderful only in the fact of being
local rather than world-wide.
The
American missionary
by
American Missionary Association, Congregational Home Missionary Society - 1885
Home
|
|