The meeting was held in Central Church. A large and intelligent audience was present, and entered fully into the spirit of the occasion.
The orations were exceedingly well written and delivered. The oration of Rev. A. E. P. Albert, a graduate from our classical and theological department, on the subject, “Senator Jones’ speech, or is there to be a war of races?” was a surprise even to Mr. Albert’s friends, on account of its brilliancy, its vigorous thought and sustained eloquence. It is to be published in full in one of our city papers, and I wish all unbelievers in the mental capacity of the African would read it and pass upon its merits.
Wednesday noon occurred the Literary Exhibition in the University Chapel. What a storm raged without! It seemed as though the flood-gates were opened. We had it almost entirely to ourselves, only a few good friends venturing to face the tempest. The orations, compositions, dialogues, and select readings evinced decided talent in writing and speaking.
In the evening a concert was given at the church, with a few literary exercises. The musical programme was judiciously arranged, and was thoroughly appreciated by an audience of six hundred people.
The year has marked an advance in scholarship, and the University has acquired a firmer foothold in the city and state.
If we are quick to discern and seize upon opportunities of enlargement, the immediate future will furnish abundant room for the employment of busy hands and devoted hearts.
The Tillotson Collegiate and Normal Institute has closed its first full year since the building of Allen Hall, and its Texas friends are full of congratulations on the progress made.
The Baccalaureate Sermon on June 4, by President W. E. Brooks, was listened to by a large and attentive audience, and was peculiarly happy in its adaptation to the occasion, and to the financial, intellectual and spiritual interests of the colored race.
On June 5 and 6, occurred the examination of the classes. Listening to these students, and considering the time they had spent at school, one could not see that they exhibited that mental inferiority so often attributed to their race in the past. Let one instance suffice. I was so much struck with the solid intellectual qualities of one young man, a coal black negro, that I sought him out and advised him to study law. Conversation with him elicited the fact that his only schooling of account had been during the last five months at the Institute, while his attainments would indicate a good common school education, such as is ordinarily the work of ten years.