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si 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 WIMTiJi a i f I■u V* trlilWPWBBmMrMc ■ ■ '■ ■ : • - 1 ' : / ■ s ; ■ ■■ ; • ■ ■ |||y 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- MffTTrTjl xim •-_: HIBM 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"- O 7 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. 9