1902

228

Mrs. C. T. Garland, who entered the work of the American Missionary Association as Miss Elizabeth M. Evans, adds another name to this list of consecrated women who went into the South in the early years of this service and gave themselves in unstinted devotion to the work. Mrs. Garland was one of the first white women who had the courage to teach in a colored school in Texas. She entered the work in 1867 with the protection of the military forces and under the auspices of the Freedmen's Aid Society. After the American Missionary Association took charge of this work Mrs. Garland continued her faithful and courageous services. She labored day and night for the colored people, teaching both the children and the older members of the race who were eager to learn. After some years of arduous labor she returned to the North, completed her education, and went back to Austin, Tex., to resume the duties of a teacher. Tillotson Institute, now Tillotson College, had grown into larger proportions. For six years, from 1876 to 1882, Mrs. Garland taught in this institution. She was the first teacher appointed to its Faculty. In speaking of her work, a Southern paper uses the following appreciative language: " Her life's work in this city would fill a large volume with the gems of Christian womanhood, the lasting memories of our people. Mrs. Stanford has given her millions, Miss Gould her thousands; . . . . but none have surpassed this departed Christian worker, Mrs. Elizabeth Evans Garland—she has given her life, her all, for the uplifting of the poor."

Such women as Miss Hayes and Mrs. Garland, and the noble band of women of whom they were a part, were the heroines in this country. The Association of to day ought never to forget them. The glory of the American Missionary Association gathers about the names of these men and women who went into this field in the early days.

Tillotson College, from its opening over twenty years ago to the present time, has aimed to give solid instruction in the elements of common school education and training in advanced work to all those who have completed high-school courses and are preparing to teach. As a result, its students are in demand for teacherships and hold some of the most responsible positions in the state. Additions extending the accommodations and enlarging the industrial plants are an imperative need.

A large number of graduates and former students of our AMA schools are engaged in teaching and other service in Texas. Mr Milton Barlow of Fisk University is one of the leading retail merchants of Houston. Mr Leathers of Talladega College has a large grocery and dry goods business at Corpus Christi. Mr Dudley Smith of Fisk is the Principal of the colored schools of Corpus Christi. Rev JI Donaldson of Talladega College is the only resident pastor among the colored people of this city by the sea. We have an interesting church work at Helena, Texas, Rev AC Pinckney pastor. Helena church is at a colony of colored people. They own 7,000 acres of land. The people are intelligent and industrious. They have $500 in bank on their building fund for a meeting house. I attended the closing exercises of the public school of Goliad Texas The teachers were from Tillotson College The influence of Tillotson College is felt throughout Texas The colored schools of Austin Dallas San Antonio Paris and many other Texas cities as well as Oklahoma City and Guthrie Okla have a large number of principals and teachers from Fisk Talladega Tougaloo Tillotson and other AMA schools 

The American missionary‎

by American Missionary Association, Congregational Home Missionary Society - 1902

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