Sanderson documents

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Hereafter it will be seen more clearly a sign of progress, a point gained by the friends of intelligence and equity, in the struggle with ignorance and prejudice against color. We who have been are the sufferers in this contest feel the import of your action, and are thankful to God and to you. It is a test of your courage in oppos ing and overcoming a strong prey. It was my privilege to attend the dedication of your High School in its present advice improved form. How vivid by That scene is stamped vividly impressed upon my mind

There were two gentlemen present. One connected with the Board, officially; the other, though not a member, yet united with you by every tie that binds med together in the circle of human life, human duties and destiny. Both participated in the exercises of that occasion. I allude to Dr. Beers and Rev. T. Starr King. Since then, both of them have passed from among the living, from the opportunities and responsibilities of life.

Two months ago. when this dedication

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He would have come had he lived. An occasion like this, would have inspired and given wings to his eloquence: He labored for this very object. His heart was with us in every effort to improve and elevate ourselves. But he has been taken from our midst, leaving --- what a record of labors and high purposes accomplished. He lives in our memories and hearts. Who doubts that, in that last hour, while passing through the Shadowy vale, he was comforted by the reflection that, his sympathies and labors had been freely given to improve and raise up the despised and outcast; with a brave and loving sympathy heart he had stood with them, confessing himself a brother brother to the least, and that, The Spirit of the Eternal King, there whis-

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pered, "ye have done it unto me?." Their day of life is ended, Let us work while it is day. for the night cometh wherein no man can work I see here to-day, ladies and gentlemen who have passed from eight to fifteen years in this State and City. How naturally we who can call to remembrance incidents connected with the organization and opening of the old school, on Virginia St and the room in which it has been held for few years: Out gladness joy at first that we had a school; and, as time rolled on, the contrast within and without which it presented with the "improvements going on all around us; "Comparisons are odious." Our dissatisfaction with it afterwards; And then after earnest consultation at mid night, we decided to go up to the door of the friend house of the Friends guardians of Education, and knock, and tell them that, our brethren and friends in their journey had ve [have] come to us with their children; Give us a loaf loaves to set before them. __ We have been humble in our requests. It must be confessed that we have lived many days upon

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the dry half loaf that which was at first given to us. Meantime our Friends these guardians were well housed, their doors shut against us, themselves and their children were with them were in the bed they had made so pleasant. for themselves

Ten years have passed elapsed. since our old School was opened under the Su- Superintendency of the Hon. William O'Grady. His memory deserves a tribute of gratitude from us. He was a true man; a bold and consistent friend of education for all the people.

In 1854. with few exceptions. the public cared almost nothing for the colored people or the education of their children. In our lives and property we were almost without legal protection. ---

Law makers had done what they could to close the gates of knowledge against us our children; to put out the light in our houses. They pursued towards us a system calculated to degrade and keep us in ignorance. Many seemed to take a fiendish pleasure in pointing out our defects and vices.

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They said to their children, Behold these ignorant and inferior people; thus inculcating an inhuman sentiment.

Alive to the importance of securing --- some arrangement for the schooling of their children, the colored people, presented the subject to the attention of Mr. O. Grady [O'Grady] in 54. With rare manliness he confessed to the injustice of the Laws upon the subject, which, while they taxed us to support schools, with-held instruction from our children. He encouraged by his words, and in a Spirit honorable to him, introduced the subject into the S.F. Board of Education, --- and ceased not to urge it there, until they decided to appropriate from the City School Fund a sum sufficient to hire the room basement of St. Cyprian in which the school has been kept, and employ a teacher. at the ordinary Salary of teachers of Mixed Schools. --- To him belongs the honor of having first established a Public School for our children