American Missionary | Page 6

the
American Missionary Association. Thus the faith of the churches
multiplies and accelerates itself.
These Normal Schools are located in WILMINGTON, N.C.,
CHARLESTON and GREENWOOD, S.C., ATLANTA, MACON,
SAVANNAH, THOMASVILLE and MCINTOSH, GA., MOBILE,
ATHENS and MARION, ALA., MEMPHIS, JONESBORO, GRAND
VIEW and PLEASANT HILL, TENN., LEXINGTON and
WILLIAMSBURG, KY., to which must be added the large Normal and
Industrial School at Santee Agency, Nebraska, the Oahe Industrial
School and the Fort Berthold Industrial School, both in Dakota, and all
three for the Indians, making altogether 20. The Association provides
also the entire teaching force at the Ramona Indian School at Santa Fé,
New Mexico. To these Normal Schools, we may add the six normal

departments in our colleges with their superior normal instruction.
From nearly all of these, strong appeals for enlargement have come to
meet the demands of a healthy growth. We have cut, trimmed and
denied, with a resolution that has been painful both in the office and in
the field, and yet the growth is upon us. Without pushing our work, it is
pushing us.
While ignorant millions need the truth and knowledge which we have,
and there are resources in the hands of the disciples of Christ enough
for this vast and increasingly urgent work, the necessity of denying the
provisions for the development of success becomes well-nigh
oppressive.
AT PLEASANT HILL, TENN., an important centre in our Mountain
work, we have now, in addition to the new church, a school building
unequalled in that region. A second building for a dormitory and
boarding hall is nearly completed.
THE GRAND VIEW ACADEMY in the Mountain region, has also
increased its school accommodations, and the look forward is to a large
institution with far-reaching influence in the valley of the Cumberland
and on the plateau. If we are to hold this region, we must take
possession now.
We have also reassumed charge of a school at Beaufort, N.C. The
people are already appealing to us in the accents of their own sacrifices
for its immediate enlargement.
Providentially, and without our solicitation, a generous giver, of
Brooklyn, N.Y., who had already added to many large benevolences in
the South, the fine building known as Ballard Hall and the excellent
shops for industrial training at Tougaloo, made a proffer of $11,500 to
erect at Macon, Ga., a school building of brick, capable of
accommodating six hundred pupils. This successful school had grown
until it had taken possession of the church building for school purposes.
This noble gift, bestowed after a personal inspection on the part of Mr.
Ballard, and upon personal conviction of its immediate necessity, could
not be refused, and the substantial and spacious building, with its
furnishings, is now nearly ready for occupancy. It will call for
increased contributions from the churches.
DORCHESTER ACADEMY, at McIntosh, Ga., is in a rice region
remote from civilization and educational privileges, among thousands

of Negro people very ignorant and poor. It cannot receive the pupils
who beg for admission. Children are punctual at school from a distance
of eight miles, lest they shall lose their privileges by tardiness or
absence. Africa itself could scarcely send out a cry of greater need. We
had decided to increase the capacity of this school, but are compelled to
wait.
AT GREENWOOD, S.C., the interests are so great and the appeals
were so reasonable, that it was voted to enlarge the facilities for the
growing institution; but at the last we could not do this, and the laborers
there continue their prayers and their hopes.
THE LINCOLN NORMAL INSTITUTE at Marion, Ala., was
established in the year 1868, by the A.M.A. In the year 1874, the State
of Alabama asked to assume the school, which had won a good name,
and to increase its facilities for the education of the Negro. This was
done. Last year, the work was deserted by the State and came anew into
our hands. This, also, is an enlargement upon our schedule of work.
At LEXINGTON, KY., our Normal School has grown to such a degree
that even the vestibules and halls of our insufficient building were
crowded with eager pupils. Teachers were teaching, and pupils were
studying, in conditions that none but missionary teachers would accept.
For lack of room, industrial training has been impossible. The locality,
meanwhile, has been surrounded by saloons, and houses that are worse.
A benevolent lady who became acquainted with these facts offered
$2,000 to purchase four acres of land for school and industrial purposes,
and to give money sufficient for a new brick edifice with eight large
school-rooms and all needful appointments and furnishings; the gift
amounting to $15,000.
We believe that we were not wrong in accepting this trust in your
behalf, even though it means more teachers and increased expenditures.
We