1888

Another good man has gone to his reward. Rev. Geo. J. Tillotson, who has perpetuated his name in the Tillotson Institute, Austin, Texas, died March 29th, at his home in Wethersfield, Conn. His useful life was spent in that State. He was born in Farmington, Feb. 5, 1805, was graduated at Yale in 1825, studied theology in the Tale Seminary one year and at Andover for two years, completing his theological studies in 1830. He had several long pastorates, which he filled with great fidelity and success. From 1876 he was not employed as a pastor, but devoted himself with great assiduity to various modes of promoting the Redeemer's kingdom. He had practised economy and had the means to give, and this he did with a discriminating, and yet a liberal, hand. To the founding of the Tillotson Institute, he gave not only from his own resources, but devoted his time and energies to collecting funds from his friends. But his benefactions were not confined to one object; he had a broad sympathy for every good cause. He was a man of genial temperament, and closed his useful career after a short illness in the 84th year of his age.

Tillotson Institute, at Austin, Texas, has invigorated its normal course and has inaugurated a hopeful college preparatory department. The recipient of a special gift, it was enabled to complete a new industrial building, in which has begun a course of industrial training. It greatly needs a second dormitory hall for young women, and were not the institution so remote, some prophetic giver would see the urgency and the strategy of such a gift, and would make it. If, without the sight, some one shall be led to do this for Tillotson, he will reap the blessing of those who do not see and yet believe.

CLOSING EXERCISES AT TILLOTSON.

Of the six chartered institutions of the A. M. A., Fisk, Atlanta, Talladega, Tougaloo, Straight and Tillotson, the last is the youngest, the most remote and the most deprived of Northern aid and sympathy. In plan and aim its work is identical with theirs ; in quantity its work is less, because, in part, it has less resources, but in quality we believe our closing exercises would show our work at least not inferior to some of the others.

Our examinations occupied the whole of Friday and extended through Monday and Tuesday forenoons. The questionings through which the students passed were not only creditable to them and their instructors, but satisfactory to visiting teachers and others invited to join in testing their knowledge of the studies pursued. The exhibition of the sewing and the practice of the calisthenic class attracted special attention.

On Saturday, May 26, came Tillotson Day, designed, like Alumni Associations, to foster in the minds of present and past students, not only a love of the institution, but of the great work of educating and uplifting the colored people. Last year the day was inaugurated with a programme a little more extended than that of this year. Among other speakers then Miss M. J. Adams, our first matron and now our special missionary, gave reminiscences and a gracefully written narrative of the opening of the school in January, 1881. Mrs. Judge Garland read a valuable paper on the work done by Tillotson in connection with her own school in another part of the city. In'81 she sent her older classes up to the Institute. The next year her large school outside was considered a part of us and so counted in the catalogue. In '83 she joined our teaching force, naturally attracting many of her old pupils within our walls. In '84 and '85 she took other work, but neither herself nor Judge Garland has lost interest in the welfare of the Institute.

This year the Rev. Dr. Wright, our only trustee in Austin, gave us an excellent address, concluding with extracts from Mr. Tillotson's letters and a very interesting account of the procuring of the site on which our building now stands, generally thought to be the finest and most conspicuous in the city. After this came a few words from one of the Faculty, and four short speeches from as many representatives of the students, after which came refreshments and a social time on the grounds.

On Sunday morning the president preached before the students the closing sermon of the year. On Tuesday evening the annual concert and exhibition was given to a full house and an enthusiastic audience. The commencement exercises of Wednesday, consisting of essays, original orations and musical pieces, not only brought out the ability and attainments of the students, but seemed to impress patrons, friends and visitors present, with the quality of the work done and the standard maintained at Tillotson.

In spite of some disappointment caused by the great severity of last year's drought, our numbers have somewhat increased and the year has been a good one.

Never has the work of Christian education, in which the A. M. A. is engaged, seemed so absolutely necessary as at this hour in uplifting the people and purifying the churches. H. L. H

by American Missionary Association, Congregational Home Missionary Society - 1888