The American Missionary — Volume 50, No. 04, April, 1896 — John Shaqi
The American Missionary — Volume 50, No. 04, April, 1896Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 50, No. 04, April, 1896
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
If the principal of it should tell the story of his life, how he walked
eight miles every day for three months of the year to learn to read and
write; how he worked for 20 cents a day to raise enough money to get away
from his limitations for an education; how he became bell-boy at a hotel
until he earned enough to buy a grammar, an arithmetic, and a dictionary;
how he found himself at last at Fisk University with $1.25 with which to
continue his studies for eight years before he could graduate; how he
worked his patient way along teaching in vacation, pulling himself up hand
over hand, it would pay one to stay over a day for it. There were only a
few times during the eight years in Fisk when he had money enough to stamp
a half dozen letters at once. This story, however, differs only in its
incidents from that of other students at all of our colleges. The story of
their struggles is the story of their strength.
"Shock and strain and struggle are
Friendlier than the smiling days."
All of the teachers at Enfield are graduates of Fisk University, and they
each have their own story how heavy-weighted with poverty, they kept
"inching along" with a resolute faith that had divinity in it. Are they
not the very ones to help upward the poor boys and girls about them who,
until this year of grace, never had one chance in life, and never dreamed
of one? We will keep our eyes on the school at Enfield.
[[Illustration: YOUNG MEN’S HALL, ENFIELD, N.C.]]
YOUNG MEN’S HALL, ENFIELD, N.C.
Next accompany me to Beaufort, N. C.. It is a place to visit. After we
have gone as far as the land holds out, we set sail for a queer little
town as far into the sea as it could get; but when once we have arrived
there we are repaid for any temporary discomfort on the waters. We find at
Beaufort, "Washburn Seminary" with its excellent industrial plant--a
school of much merit--and a church that gives us who are watching and
caring for churches through their weaknesses and doubtful times, much
encouragement. A few years ago it was a question if the church would
survive. Now it lives and stands for not a little and has strength of its
own. Here, at the time of our visit, a young man, whose only educational
privileges had been those of "Washburn Seminary," preached his first
sermon to a congregation which crowded the church. It was a most
creditable discourse in method, matter, and manner. The best of it is
that, among those who have always known him, there is the common testimony
that the young preacher lives his faith. Such incidents as this are not
singular in the history of our schools and churches, but they are
significant. They represent the evolution that is going on.
Of our visits at Wilmington, Greenwood, Athens and Marietta, Atlanta and
Anniston, we make no record.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account