"Now, why ought this work to be sustained? The first reason is, it pays, and that is the business reason. When a man invests money he wants to know whether it is going to yield him a large income. Can you show me a work that has brought a larger income than the work of the American Missionary Association? Can you show me a people in all history that has made the progress which has been made by the black people in the South according to your own testimony and the testimony of white men in the South? "Then there is another thing: this work is but justice. It is but just to the slave who toiled for 250 years and accumulated the wealth of this nation. The white man and the colored man were in partnership together for 250 years--John Smith & Co.: but when the dividends were declared, John Smith got them all and the poor colored man has yet to get a settlement. So he is just asking for a share in the dividends." FISK UNIVERSITY. Fisk University is located at Nashville, Tenn. Rev. J. G. Merrill, D. D., is the president. The work of founding Fisk University was begun in October, 1865, by the purchase of a half square of ground in Nashville and securing the large Government hospital that had been erected during the war. The Fisk School was opened January 6, 1866, and the attendance for the first year was over 1,000. There were then no public schools in Nashville for colored children. [Illustration: FISK UNIVERSITY, NASHVILLE, TENN.] The charter for the incorporation of the University under the laws of Tennessee was secured August 22, 1867. The Jubilee Singers were sent forth to raise money for the University October 6, 1871. The net result of their campaign was $150,000 in money, besides valuable apparatus, books for the library, and several valuable portraits. This success led to the establishment of the University on its present most beautiful and commanding site, one and a quarter miles north-west of the State capital. The University has in successful operation the following departments: 1. The Common English, which has been maintained to meet a continued need on the part of many of the patrons of the University. 2. The Normal, which has a course of study extending over four years, beginning with Latin and Algebra. 3. The College Preparatory, which has a course of study extending over three years, beginning with Latin and Algebra, and requiring two years of Greek. 4. The College, which has a four years course of study additional to that provided in the College Preparatory course. 5. Department of Music, with an extended course in both instrumental music and voice culture. There are 150 pupils in this department. In addition, vocal music is taught throughout all the courses of study. The Mozart Society studies and renders the classics in music. 6. Industrial. Printing and Carpentry are taught to young men. The young women are instructed in Nursing, Cooking and Sewing.