Famous Givers and Their GiftsBolton, Sarah Knowles
History
Famous Givers and Their Gifts
Bolton, Sarah Knowles
Philanthropists
The Rev. Dr. A. D. Mayo says, in his book on the Southern women in the
recent educational movement in the South, "Perhaps the most notable
success in the secondary, normal, and higher training of colored youth
has been achieved by the American Missionary Association.... At present
its labors in the South are largely directed to training superior
colored youth of both sexes for the work of teaching in the new public
schools. It now supports six institutions called colleges and
universities, in which not only the ordinary English branches are
taught, but opportunity is offered for the few who desire a moderate
college course." Fisk University of Nashville, which has sent out over
12,000 students, is one of the most interesting.
The American Missionary Association assists 74 schools for colored
people with 12,000 pupils, 198 churches for the same with over 10,000
members and a much larger number in the Sunday-schools; 14 churches
among the Indians with over 900 members; 20 schools among the Chinese at
the West with over 1,000 pupils and over 300 Christian Chinese.
Mr. Hand's noble gift aids about fifty schools in the various Southern
States from its income of over $50,000 yearly.
Mr. Hand was a man of fine personal presence, of extensive reading, and
wide observation. He gave, says his relative, Mr. George A. Wilcox, "for
the well-being of many, both within and without the family connection,
who have come within the province of deserved assistance; befriending
those who try to help themselves, whether successfully or not, but
unalterably stern in his disfavor when idleness or dissipation lead to
want." He gave the academy bearing his name to his native town of
Madison, Conn. He joined the First Presbyterian Church in Augusta, Ga.,
when he was twenty-eight years of age, and was for thirty years its
efficient Sunday-school superintendent. He organized a teachers'
meeting, held every Saturday evening, which proved of great benefit.
He always loved the Scriptures. He said one day to a friend, as he laid
his hand on his well-worn Bible, "I always read from that book every
morning, and have done so from my boyhood, except in a comparatively few
cases of unusual interruption or special hindrance."
He was often heard to say, "I have now a very short time for this world,
but I take no concern about that; no matter where or when I die, I hope
I am ready to go when called."
The temperance work needs another Daniel Hand to furnish a million
dollars for its labors among the colored men of the South, where, says
the thirtieth annual report of the National Temperance Society, "the
saloon is everywhere working their ruin. It destroys their manhood,
despoils their homes, impoverishes their families, defrauds their wives
and children, and debauches the whole community."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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