What Spelman Seminary Stands For.* (Spelman is a School for Negro Women, Located in Atlanta, Ga.) They that have turned the world upside down have come hither also.-Acts 17, 6. Christianity has always been a revolutionary force, quietly but thoroughly turning the world upside down, and it probably will continue to play that rôle until the world is turned right side up and continues to stay so. When Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Virginia to Gen. Grant at Appomattox in 1865, the Southern Confederacy, which had been built up at such fearful cost of the best blood of the South and unlimited treasure, fell to pieces; its President and his Cabinet were fugitives; its financial system had tumbled into ruins; the State governments gave way to military control; the entire industrial and economical system of the South was overturned, and the work began of reconstructing the South along new lines. Among the most potent factors in this work of reconstruction have been and are Christian schools, established by Northern beneficence for the benefit of the negroes of the South; they have sought to inculcate in the public mind both of the whites and of the blacks the great fundamental truth enunciated in the Declaration of Independence, of the essential equality of the rights of all men and races; they have attempted to prepare the negroes for the vast and difficult responsibilities of American citizenship, and have sought to make way for them to enter on terms of equal privilege the republic of letters. Spelman Seminary, planted here in the most progressive Southern city, one of these revolutionary agencies, claiming public approval for its works, is on trial at the bar of public opinion and must justify itself by an appeal to the conscience and the reason. What can be said for it? In 1850, the white population of Georgia was 521,572, and the Negro, 384,613; in 1890, forty years later, the former had grown to 978,357, and the latter to 858,815. By the census of 1900, the white population was 1,181,109 and the Negro, 1,034,998. This shows that during the last ten years there was an increase in the former of 202,752, or 20.7 per cent. and in the latter of 176,183, or 20.5 per cent. A MIXED POPULATION. increase of the white population is a trifle more than that of the Negro, but the difference is so slight that it may be disregarded, and we may say, in general, that the Negroes are increasing as rapidly as the white people in proportion to their numbers. It think it is also safe to infer that the Negro population of Georgia is likely to remain as an integral, indestructible, increasing element. It was once prophesied that under freedom the Negroes would die off, but this theory has been completely overthrown by the statistics of the census, not only for Georgia but for the whole country. It would seem, therefore, that the two races are to live side by side in Georgia; the white population is sure to stay, and so is the black. If the Negroes are not to remain in this State what will become of them? Will they emigrate to neighboring States? I answer, no; because there is no other Southern State that offers to them any greater inducements than they find at home. Will they go North? I give the same reply, and for a still stronger reason, that the North does not offer as good material advantages for the general mass of Georgia Negroes as they now enjoy. Will they emigrate to Africa? Emphatically, No! They are Americans, not Africans. Africa is a foreign land to them, difficult of access and offering very few inducements to the voluntary emigrant. Can they be transported to Africa? Certainly not by the State of Georgia, if for no other reason than this; that the places of all those sent away by the State would quickly be filled by others coming in from surrounding States. Will the United States Government undertake the herculean task of transporting nine millions of its citizens to Africa? The asking of the question suggests its own answer. It would be a physical impossibility to send so vast a multitude into such a region as that. Less than twenty millions of people from all the world have come to the United States during the last fifty years, with all the inducements offered to them by a vast and unsettled continent, with its rapidly developing civilization; its demands for the building of hundreds of thousands of miles of new railroads, the construction of canals, the working of the mines, the carrying on of numberless public and private enterprises; and offering all the attractions of a country with great cities, towns, and villages, with unlimited possibilities for farming, mining, grazing, and with all the facilities for transportation afforded by modern Atlantic According to these figures the percentage of steamship companies. To reverse this tide *An address delivered at the d dication of the new buildings on the twentieth anniversary, Nov. 17, 1901, by T. J. Morgan, D.D., LL. D. of immigration and pour nine millions of people into such a country as Africa, where barbarism reigns, where there are no great cities, no great lines of railroad, no great public enterprises, no demand or opportunity even for laborers, no commerce, no public schools, no churches, is simply a dream of the visionary and not worthy of serious consideration. They would multiply faster than they could be transported. PERMANENT CONDITIONS. We are, then, it seems to me, logically forced to the acceptance of this condition of things, viz., that the population of Georgia is almost one-half colored; that it is likely to remain so for an indefinite period of time; that the millions of Negroes now here are here to stay and to rapidly increase in numbers; that they will not immigrate, and that they cannot be deported. Consequently they must be reckoned with as an indestructible element, and the statesmanship of the South, as well as the philanthropy of the nation, is called upon to consider what means shall be taken to render it possible for two races so diverse in character as the Caucasian and the Negro to live side by side in peace and prosperity. There are three possible relations that they can sustain to each other; the first is that of master and slave, but I do not suppose that any rational being acquainted with the history of the past would seriously suggest the restoration of slavery, and the reduction of the Negroes of Georgia to a system of bondage. The second is that of a system of caste, which would make citizens of the white race endowing them with all the rights of citizenship, opening to them all the avenues of culture and the varied opportunities in industry, trade, together with all the privileges of social and religious life, and exclude the black man from all participation on any possible terms of equality. This system is so utterly at variance with the spirit of the American people, and so opposed to the plain teachings of Christianity, that it is hardly conceivable that it can ever obtain. The Negroes are now citizens of the United States, made so by the Constitution, and I do not believe it is possible that their citizenship can ever be taken from them. They may be hindered in their privileges and the exercise of their rights, but their nominal citizenship, guaranteed to them by the Constitution, will remain, and they will more and more, as they become fitted for it, enjoy its full advantages and bear its full responsibilities. It seems, therefore, that we are shut up to the recognition of the possibility of two races living together on terms of political equality, and enjoying From which it appears that it is possible in the year 2,000, at the close of the present century, that the colored population of Georgia will exceed six millions. Of course, the white population will increase proportionately, to about 7,314,094, thus confronting us with the serious problem of supporting comfortably within the limits of the commonwealth a population of more than thirteen millions. This vast number of people can undoubtedly be supported in comfort if the conditions are favorable; if all the people are educated, and if there is a progressive improvement in scientific farming, manufacturing and commerce, and in home economies. If, on the other hand, the increasing multitude of negroes is to be left in gross ignorance, there may come a serious struggle for existence and it is not impossible that, at some period of time as the century advances, there may come a scarcity of food and other supplies which will drive the negro population to desperation. If such a time comes, does any one doubt that they would resort to any deeds of vio in the cooking-school, in the laundry, in the hall homes by the "hall mothers." Girls sometimes enter Spelman with the idea that to be a lady is to be idle, especially with the hands. But they leave Spelman equally proud of their ability to interpret a poem or to keep a floor clean. There are other interesting industrial departments, nurse-training, printing. A peep into the printing-office just about this time would show a dozen young printers too busy setting up type to look at you; for they are hurrying to get out the anniversary number of the Spelman Messenger. In MacVicar Hospital, new, modern, fully equipped, with one ward for the use of the school and another for outside patients, the natural talent for nursing, common to negro women, is being developed by a three years' course of training. As we watch the nurses gliding softly among their patients, their faces beaming under their white caps with good nature and sympathy, we can guess why Spelman's trained nurses are always in demand. Twenty years ago Spelman was unknown among the colored people save to a few in Atlanta. How thoroughly it has become known and loved by them is attested by the fact that from nineteen different States they have sent five thousand of their daughters to her halls, one hundred and seventy-five of whom have remained to graduate. Students have come, too, from Canada, from the West Indies, from Central America, from South America, from Africa. Four of her graduates have gone to Africa as missionaries. Twenty years ago Spelman was cordially hated by the white people of the South. "These foolish sentimentalists," they thought, "who do not understand negro character, will spoil our good negro cook and make instead an impossible, ridiculous creature, composed of vanity and half a dozen Latin words, abhorrent to Nature because absolutely useless to our own race or any other." But time cleared away much misunderstanding, and gradually Spelman won the approval of the best of the white people. One of the first of these to be won over was Major Root, a prominent citizen of Atlanta, who had watched the work carefully and had seen its merits. But some of his friends, so bitter was the feeling of the time, told him that they hoped the new building then being erected would "fall on him and kill him." The Rev. Mr. Daniels, pastor of Central Baptist Church (white), gave brotherly aid, but he could not at that time warm the hearts of his people toward the work. Now, the regular Sunday services are sustained by the leading pastors, white and colored, of the city; and such men as Judge George Hillyer, Dr. J. L. M. Curry, former U. S. Minister to Spain, and many other prominent Southerners heartily co-operate in the advancement of the work. Twenty years ago the Northern white people hesitated to give Spelman a small support. "We have too many enterprises of the kind," they said, "why burden ourselves with another?" "At least it should be, to save expense, a part of the boys' school." But those two earnest women clung to their ideals with loving zeal that won friends everywhere, for the Lord was with them. Among the many liberal givers who early became interested in Spelman was John D. Rockefeller. He heard Miss Packard and Miss Giles tell of their work in a church in Cleveland, Ohio. He was so much interested that he emptied his pockets into the contribution box. After the sermon he asked them a characteristic question, "Are you going to stick? If you are, I will do more for you," he said. Miss Packard and Miss Giles stuck, and from giving his loose change John D. Rockefeller has come to make princely benefactions. And the name Spelman, Mrs. Rockefeller's maiden name, is a lasting token of the gratitude of the school to its benefactor. At the start it was difficult to get one society to lend its sanction to the enterpirse. Now three societies, The Woman's American Baptist Home Mission Society, The American Baptist Home Mission Society, and the Baptist Education Society (colored) of Georgia, gladly unite in her support. What has wrought these changes? What are Spelman's characteristics that have won and held the admiration, the love of the best of both races, North and South? First and last we should say the spirit of the school"To win souls for Christ" was the first thought of those early workers. "Our whole school for Christ" is Spelman's motto to-day. But to "get religion," in plantation phrase, is not all these broad Christian workers mean by "winning for Christ." They realize that to make efficient Christian workers requires years of careful training of hand, of head, of heart. Now, as in basement days, Bible study is considered of paramount importance. Discipline at Spelman is not a mere matter of school rules-thou shalt, and thou shalt not. But "Was it right or was it wrong? What does God's Word teach about the matter?" are the questions asked in cases of wrongdoing. Twenty years ago Spelman was just winning some wonderful friends: Dr. Howe, Dea, and Mrs. Mial Davis, Dr. Haygood, the Cole family, and others. Now, one by one, these are being called to their home beyond. Will these new days of prosperity win new friends for new needs? Spelman's wants in basement days were fittingly expressed by one of the older pupils who used to look longingly at the frame buildings about to be vacated by U. S. troops and pray, "Oh, Lord, give us at least one or two of those buildings. We don't know how it can be done, but you do." And the Lord did know, for he gave five of the old barracks buildings. "But surely," says a casual observer, "Spelman, with her fine equipment, HISTORICAL. April 11, 1881, School started in basement of Friendship Baptist Church by Miss S. B. Packard and Miss Giles with eleven pupils. February, 1883, Moved to Old Barracks, nucleus of present property. QUARLES LIBRARY, PACKARD HALL. now needs no more." But not so. A sapling may be watered by a child-but a great tree needs showers from the skies. When a sapling dies it may be easily replaced; but when a great shade tree dies we mourn because the work of years is lost. Those who love Spelman and know her works and her needs realize that teachers' salaries, large industrial departments, and the constant demands for improvement and equipment that growth always brings, cannot much longer be met by contributions from Northern churches and philanthropists; they know, too, that the colored people can no more support so great an institution by yearly contributions than can the more pros February, 1886, Nurse Training Department opened. May 18, 1886, Rockefeller Hall dedicated. May 24, 1887, First class graduated, Academic Department. November 15, 1887, Cornerstone of Packard Hall laid. March 6, 1888, Incorporated under a Board of Trustees. November, 1891, Missionary Training Depart ment opened. October, 1892, Teachers' Professional Department opened. December 1, 1893, Giles Hall dedicated. October, 1897, College Department opened. May 2, 1901, First College class graduated. November 17, 1901, Reynolds Cottage, MacVicar Hospital, Morgan Hall, and Morehouse dedicated. Spelman Seminary. BASEMENT DAYS-ANNIVERSARY DAYS. Twenty years ago an aged negro preacher pastor of the Friendship Baptist Church in Atlanta, was kneeling by his chair praying, as he had oft before, that the Lord would send some one to help the wives, the mothers, the daughters of his race. As he lifted up his voice to the Lord, there came a tap on his door; and there stood before him two white women. "We have come to teach, to help the colored women of the South," they said. Their faces were so strong, yet withal so gentle, so full of zeal, yet all love, that the white-haired minister received them gladly as a direct answer to his prayer. And who shall say they were not, for they were none other than Miss Packard and Miss Giles, founders of Spelman Seminary, the largest school for colored girls in the world. Father Quarles, for so the old colored pastor whose answered prayer made him the first and stanchest friend of the school is always called, led the way to the basement of his church and said, "Start your school here. I wish I had a better place for you." large brick buildings with all modern improvements. An old rickety stove gave little heat and much smoke in that basement; now a twenty thousand-dollar steam-plant gives heat to each building; and the uncertain wavering light of the basement has given place to brilliant electric lighting. Eleven pupils, secured by house to house visiting, was considered a hopeful number with which to open the school. Last year Spelman's enrollment was nearly seven hundred. When the third teacher was added to the basement faculty the question of more room came up. But there was no difficulty; for, happy thought! there was a coal bin; and did it not, with its BASEMENT, FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH. This school, of which all Baptists may well be proud, is now celebrating its twentieth anniversary. What a contrast between basement days and anniversary days! The basement, Spelman's birthplace, was dingy, dark and damp. Now upon twenty Now upon twenty acres of high, rolling ground, showing the work of the landscape gardener, rise nine tiny window, furnish, forsooth, the luxury of a separate recitation-room? Now Spelman has forty-one teachers and forty class rooms suitably equipped with modern school appliances, from the small desks and kindergarten gifts in the first year of the practice-school to the telescope and human skeleton for the academic students. The students also have the |