The American Missionary | Page 3

ignored. Our Congregational churches
and their two great Home Missionary Societies, the American Home
Missionary Society and the American Missionary Association, hold to
certain principles respecting the universal brotherhood of believers in
Christ, and for which they stand before the world as witnesses,
historically, conspicuously, always and everywhere. Do these newly
constituted Congregational churches in the South stand with us on this
point? To ask this question implies not the slightest suspicion or
distrust. Not to have asked it would have been to betray a great
responsibility.
For one thing, the Home Missionary Society could not afford to even
seem to be indifferent to a matter of this kind. And if there is to be this
close fellowship and co-operation and mutual assistance, there should
obviously be, from the beginning, the most perfect frankness. The best
way to insure permanence of happy mutual relations is to begin right.
* * * * *
ATLANTA UNIVERSITY.
The State officials of Georgia are disposed, perhaps it might be said
they desire, to renew the gift of eight thousand dollars to the Atlanta
University, insisting, however, upon compliance with the color-line
requisition. To this, the University cannot yield. The controversy on
that subject was not of its seeking. The children of the professors had
for years attended the classes, and the State Examiners had known this
all the time and had made no objections. The demand for the exclusion
of these pupils from the classes was suddenly made by an outside
pressure, and was not provoked in any way by word or deed of the
teachers. To surrender now is simply to yield a principle for money.
Some of the officials of the State express the wish that a compromise
may be effected, but others of their number--the large majority, we
believe--regard this as impossible, and hence both parties--the State and
the University--must pursue their independent lines of action. Under
these circumstances, the Trustees of the University have deemed it wise
to resume relations of co-operation with the American Missionary
Association. This question was fully discussed at the recent meeting of
the Board of Trustees, May 29th, two of the members, Drs. Beard and
Strieby, being present and presenting, in behalf of the Executive
Committee of the Association, some overtures for co-operation. One of

these was accepted, and is now the basis of the relations existing
between the Association and the University. It stipulates that the
Trustees of the University shall elect six of the sixteen members of the
Board, on the nomination of the Executive Committee of the
Association, as vacancies may exist, and that the Association shall
(after the present fiscal year) contribute $3,000 per annum towards
defraying the current expenses of the University.
Four vacancies were found to exist in the Board, and, in accordance
with the vote, they were filled by the unanimous choice of Rev. Drs.
Twichell of Hartford, Llewellyn Pratt of Norwich, Cooper of New
Britain, and Brand of Oberlin. These honored brethren, friends alike of
the Association and of the University, will, if they accept, add to the
efficiency of the school and to the confidence of the public in it. We
believe there is a bright future before the University. It will pursue its
work quietly, having no controversy with the State, and will continue
its noble efforts for the education of the colored race, thus benefiting
both the State of Georgia and the Nation.
* * * * *
INDUSTRY AND SKILL OF THE NEGRO.
In replacing the burned portion of our building at Le Moyne Institute,
Memphis, Tenn., the work was done by colored men. The Principal of
the Institute says that, "though the job was far from simple, not a single
error or mistake has occurred from beginning to end to mar our
satisfaction at its successful completion."
The architect who drew the plan expressed considerable anxiety lest a
colored mechanic with all colored assistants should not prove equal to
so large and important an undertaking. The result shows how
unfounded were his forebodings.
The job is done, and well done, and with so much expedition that in
sixty days after the fire they were moving into the reconstructed and
improved building. Every one who has had any hand in the work has
seemed personally interested and anxious to expedite the work, from
the architect and lumber dealer to the commonest laborer.
* * * * *
Superintendent Hall writes:
Testimony as to the working power and will of the Negro is to be had
on all sides whenever a person speaks honestly.

A professional gentleman in Andersonville operates five large
plantations without any white overseer except himself, and is making
money from the land. He states his principle to be: "I make a short,
clear contract with the Negroes and do exactly what