In 1877, Mr. Stewart accepted the chair of Professor of Mathematics in the State Agricultural College of South Carolina, at Orangeburg, S. C. He resigned in 1878 to attend the post-graduate course of philosophy at Princeton College under Dr. James McCosh, and he also pursued the theological course in the seminary there. He went to New York in 1880, and made a national reputation in the ministry as an earnest and eloquent preacher. In November, 1882, he resigned from the church to accept the position of Professor of Belles Lettres and Law in the College of Liberia, on the West Coast of Africa. After traveling in Europe, he went to Liberia, remaining there until January, 1884. He returned to the United States and was appointed General Agent for Industrial Education in Liberia, West Africa. He traveled extensively in the New England States, making addresses in the principal cities. He was everywhere received with great enthusiasm, and Joseph Cook gave up the platform of Tremont Temple to Mr. Stewart, who made a brilliant address there on March 23, 1885, to an audience which applauded him heartily, and his address was subsequently published in full in the New York _Independent_ of April 2, 1885. In the fall of 1885, Mr. Stewart decided to return to the practice of law, and in January, 1886, he was admitted before the General Term of the Supreme Court of the State in New York City. The New York _Freeman_ of January 9, 1886, contained this reference to the proceedings in Court: "On Wednesday morning, before the Supreme Court in General Term, Algernon S. Sullivan, Esq., rose and submitted the papers of T. McCants Stewart, signed by Chief Justice Simpson of the South Carolina Supreme Court; and after a brief and generous reference to Mr. Stewart's ability and character, moved that he be admitted to practise law in the courts of New York. Hon. A. M. Keiley, late minister to Austria, seconded the motion. Mr. Keiley said he deemed it a great privilege to speak in behalf of this learned and well-beloved member of the African race, and was sure the members of the bar would extend to Mr. Stewart a fraternal welcome. Mr. Stewart was then sworn in. Ex-Governor Chamberlain, who was absent from the city, joined Mr. Keiley in seconding the motion for admission."