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An Industrial Female College.
By Len G. Broughton.
The Meridian Female College, of Meridian, Mis
sissippi, where I recently gave a lecture on their
Lyceum Course, presents many features unique in
themselves, in many respects quite different from
any other college in this country. It is said to be
the largest private college in the South, not backed
up by some church, state, city or fund or organi
zation of any sort, but stands only on its merits
for support.
It is non-sectarian, yet wonderfully religious. It
has had nearly all of its students profess salva
tion each year since its existence, and is turning
out a marvelous type of Christian womanhood. Its
founder, President J. W. Beeson, has had this work
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in Meridian for ten years, and four years ago he
started a male college one quarter of a mile away,
which is presided over by his brother, Dr. M. A.
Beeson, of Johns Hopkins University, who is run
ning this male college on the same general plan.
Many young preachers, missionaries and Christian
workers for all vocations of life are being taught
here and a higher type of educated Christian young
manhood and womanhood than these sent out from
these colleges would be hard to find anywhere.
The founder of these colleges saw three great
needs not emphasized enough at other colleges.
First, Christ is to be put first in all things, and the
spiritual is to receive the highest development
along with the highest intellectual and physical.
Second, not enough emphasis is put upon discip
line at most colleges, but too much of license is
given to the average college boy and girl under the
cover of their being “only college students.” In
the Meridian Male College no student, teacher or
trustee is allowed to use tobacco, whiskey nor bru
tal names, or intercollegiate games, are allowed,
such as football, baseball, etc. Every teacher and
trustee of the Male Colleege must be highly reli
gious, filled with the Holy Ghost. No secret society
or College fraternity or hazing are allowed at
either college.
When such a college was suggested, educators
looked on in wonder, saying that the principles are
fine but no student would attend such a college.
Os course it is criticised by the old time educators
and religionists, but its growth is something mar-
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Meridian Female College. —President Beeson, —Girls at DrilL
The Golden Age for April 19, 1906.
velous. In ten years the Female College has grown
from fifteen boarders to 490 total enrollment, and
the Male College in four years numbers 230 stu
dents, making a total enrollment of 720 from twen
ty-five States and three foreign countries.
The third principle of its establishment was that
it should have an industrial feature, not in name
but in reality.
One of the curses that slavery left the South
is that our Southern boys and girls grow up to be
waited on by servants and they naturally look down
upon manual labor as being for the negro and be
neath the dignity of the white man. President
Beeson saw the state of affairs and in order to
overcome it as far as possible he established the
industrial feature in these colleges and has all work
in and about the colleges done by students, that is
hiring such as wanted to work out a part or all
of their expenses in college, paying them in board
and tuition in proportion to the amount of work
done. This plan is working admirably and not only,
trains them in skillful labor, but enables many a
worthy boy or girl to go to college who would other
wise be shut out. One prominent educator said of
President Beeson that he was doing for the white
girls and boys of the South what Booker Washing
ton is doing for the negro youth. It was very in
teresting not to see a negro on the premises.
The industrial feature is one of the most im
portant features in the school training. More than
a hundred girls are engaged in different branches
of this work—some in cooking or waiting on ta
bles, others on sewing, sweeping, ironing, or caring
for the grounds. The fact that they earn their
education becomes to them a great incentive to
ward making good students, and, in addition to the
valuable practical training, they obtain lessons of
perseverance and tenacity which make a lasting
mark upon their characters.
One of the noteworthy phases of the school is
its system of student government. Having received
military training himself and being fully sensible
of the advantages to be derived from it, Mr. Bee
son determined to establish in his college for girls
a form of government similar to that of military
schools, with, of course, the necessary modifications.
The girls ar divided into companies controlled by
various officers of different rank, chosen from the
best material of the student body. These officers
are loyal to the school, and create a high standard
for the other students. The daily military drill on
the campus is unique. The movements are adopted
from the United States Military Tactics, and prove
very beneficial in insuring exercise in the open air
to those who would probably not otherwsie take
it. In addition to this, the drill gives accuracy and
promptness and develops controlling power.
On the whole it may be said unreservedly that
the school is accomplishing the object for which it
exists—the Christian education of young women.
Its religious atmosphere is something wonderful.
For such a work as this the President, Mr. Beeson,
is eminently fitted, not only by the natural endow
ments of tact, an engaging manner, and marked
capacity, but also by an experience of twenty
years as college president. The explanation of his
success, however, lies not in these things; but rather
in his devotion to and faith in the God from whom
he received his call and his ideals, and by whose
help he is enabled to realize them.
Laus Mortis.
By Frederick Lawrence Knowles.
(Who Died in Roxbury, Mass., September 19,
at the age of 36.)
Nay, why should I fear Death,
AV ho gives us life, and in exchange takes breath?
He is like cordial Spring
That lifts above the soil each buried thin"-
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Like Autumn, kind and brief
The frost that chills the branches, frees the leaf;
Like winter’s stormy hours
That spread their fleece of snow to save the flowers;
The lordliest of all things—
Life lends us only feet, Death gives us wings!
Fearing no covert thrust,
Let me walk onward, armed with valiant trust,
Dreading no unseen knife,
Across Death’s threshold step from life to life!
0 all ye frightened folk,
Whether ye wear a crown or bear a yoke,
Laid on an equal bed,
When once your coverlet of grass is spread
What daybreak need you fear?
The love will rule you there which guides you here!
Where Life, the Sower stands,
Scattering the ages from his swinging hands,
Thou waitest, Reaper lone,
Until the multitudinous grain hath grown.
Scythe-bearer, when thy blade
Harvests my flesh, let me be unafraid!
God’s husbandman thou art!—
In his unwithering sheaves, oh, bind my heart!
It is of infinite concern to you what you are, but
of minor importance what people say about you.—
Divertv.
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