Our Schools by J. S. WASHBURN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 4, 1908

Our Schools

By J. S. WASHBURN

Universities for Colored People in Nashville

THE city of Nashville is the great educational center for the South, but in this article we will speak only of the schools especially prepared for the training of colored students. There is a cordial and friendly spirit manifested by the people of Nashville toward the education of colored people. Several institutions are established for this important work.

The largest institution probably is that of Waldon University, which has been established by the Methodist Church. About one thousand students are in attendance. About half of these are in the literary department, and about five hundred in the medical department, which, I understand, is the largest medical school for colored students in the South, if not in the world. It is stated that one half of the colored physicians of the South are educated in this school. There are also dental and pharmaceutical departments connected with it, both of which are quite largely attended. Thorough, practical work is done in this institution. I greatly enjoyed visiting this school, and seeing such a large number of intelligent young physicians receiving a very careful and thorough training for their work, which is greatly needed among their own people.

We were received most cordially by the dean of the university and were asked to speak before some of the classes. In the literary department we also received a very cordial welcome, speaking at the morning chapel exercises and before a large number of classes, and at the invitation of the theological professor taking the whole time of the class in theology. The professor of theology had stated to the writer, before inviting him to speak before his class, that it mattered not on what Bible subject a Seventh-day Adventist minister was asked to speak, he would be prepared.

We have one student in the medical department of this school, and also one in the literary department, both of whom are keeping the Sabbath. At a very recent visit to this school I learned that the school was more largely attended than ever before, and the prospects for sending out a large number of trained workers was very hopeful.

The Fisk University, however, although not having quite so large an attendance, is probably the most advanced and the best-known university for the colored people in the world. This university has made itself famous by sending out the Fisk Jubilee Singers, who sang in every civilized country in the world, and probably before every royal family. They sing the old slave songs, with their weird, strange melodies and sad minor chords. They still voice the longings for light and liberty of the bondmen and women of sixty years ago. These songs are truly typical "American" songs. Surely there are none others like them in the world. One of the largest buildings of the school was erected by the funds raised by these singers.

The school is quite a strong institution at present, being thoroughly equipped for its work. It is conducted by the Congregationalists. About half the teachers are white, the president being a New England clergyman. The old jubilee songs are still kept up, and new ones are constantly brought to light, or, we may rather say, old ones that have never been brought forward are constantly being dug up and harmonized by one of the colored professors, who makes a specialty of the work—and are sung by the entire school, and by the special choir which is kept constantly in training.

Those who have heard these singers will never forget the experience. There is nothing of the burlesque or absurd in their singing, but the songs are sweet, pathetic, and particularly characteristic. One of these which we heard at a recent visit is led out by the words of the solo singer, "I want to be more faithful," and the refrain, sung by all, follows, "In my heart." Then the lines, "I want to be more humble—in my heart," "I want to be more loving—in my heart," "I want to be like Jesus—in my heart."

Among the students in this school is a son of Booker T. Washington, who highly recommends Fisk University, as I was told by the president, and it is regarded by him as being the very highest institution for the colored people in the world.

There is an air of substantial reality in the work that is being done in this great institution. While God has given the mighty truth for these last days, which must go to the colored people of the South, and to all the world, yet I felt that we could learn something from the self-sacrificing workers and the many others who have nobly contributed of their means to the great work that is being done in these institutions for the colored people of the South.

J. S. WASHBURN.