until death should have wrested them from a reluctant grasp.
His charity w^as of his own designing. The noble aspirations
of his early manhood, which contemplated the acquisition of
wealth for the purpose of disposing of it by doing some great
good to his fellow-men was realized in the opportunity offered
at the close of the sanguinary struggle in his native land,
which impoverished the overpowered Confederate States and
left them at the mercy of ignorance. The hopeless condition
of the Southern people was manifest, with their 4,500,000
emancipated slaves recently associated in the political man-
agement of affairs, and fostered by a military despotism.
George Peabody grasped the situation and saw "the edu-
cational needs of those portions of our beloved and common
country which has suffered from the destructive ravages, and
the not less disastrous consequences, of civil war." By his
prompt action in bestowing the gift and in his discrimination,
which secured efficient trustees and agents for its distribution,
he gained a place by himself far above all competition or com-
parison as ha%dng done the greatest good for the greatest num-
ber of his fellow-men, and in all human annals he should be
esteemed as pre-eminent among the many benefactors of man-
kind.
• Dr. Rufus C. Burleson. 337
Tlie history of education in the United States would bo
incomplete which did not introduce George Peabody and his
patriotic benefactions in behalf of the South at a critical
period in the history of those States. In their then impov-
erished condition the people were unable to provide educa-
tional facilities for the white children who, for eight years, had
been growing up in ignorance during the continuance of the
war, and after its close, because all efforts in that direction
were restrained, for the education of the masses, by the blight-
ing influences of military occupation. The country Avas in the
power of selfish and malignant influences, and threatened by
a semi-barbarous generation under universal suffrage seeking
to control the destinies of a section of the country which
needed all the resources of knowledge, science and art to
recuperate and fully develop its energies. Men of elevated
character and ability throughout the Southern States were
fully impressed with the importance of establishing an educa-
tional system, and were in a state of anxiety when contemplaV:-
ing the preponderance of ignorance which threatened the
country.
The Board of Trustees of the Peabody Pund appointed
Rev. Dr. Barnas Sears, President of Brown University, Rhode
Island, their general agent. The wisdom of this appointment
cannot be questioned. He was eminently fitted for the work
contemplated by the endowment. His high intellectual gifts
and large attainments, and administrative ability, coupled with
his social distinction, qualified him for entering upon such a
vast field of labor, where so much was to be accomplished. Dr.
Sears was a great man, statesman and philosopher as well as
an educator. Through his industry and patience in removing
obstacles, he succeeded in laying the foundation for a system
of public schools for the South.
His fidelity in the discharge of his duties and the results
flowing from the administration of the great Peabody bequest
up to the time of his death, at Saratoga, July 6, 1880, will
commemorate him as the friend and benefactor of the South-
ern people.
It was through Dr. Sears that the State of Texas became
a beneficiary of the Peabody Pund. In December, 1869, he
said: ''I visited the State shortly after the adoption of the
338 The Life and Writings of
new Constitution. All eyes were turned to tlie Legislature
about to be convened. Great interest was being manifested
on the subject of a system of public instruction. I had an
interview with the Governor-elect, with members of both
branches of the Legislature and others. I was earnestly
requested by them all to visit Austin during the session of the
Legislature. As nothing could be done in Texas until that
time, I made preparation for future action by addressing cir-
culars to cities in the interior setting forth my plans of action,
and requesting co-operation as soon as the necessary laws
should have been passed." He says in his report of February,
1870 : "The present is a time of great interest in Texas with
respect to all that relates to its social and moral condition.
AVhile I was in Texas three different committees were ap-
pointed to confer with the Legislature on the subject of a
system of public instruction."
Dr. Burleson says in an unpublished paper : "A broad
and magnificent system of free schools was the early pride and
glory of our Texas fathers. They made the grandest provision
for the future establishment of free schools of any nation in
ancient or modern times. But Gov. E. J. Davis and his
allies, by their miserable management, made the free school
system odious in so much that when that learned and practi-
cal sage and philosopher, Dr. Barnas Sears, general agent of
the Peabody Fund, came to Texas in 1869, expecting to make
an appropriation of $60,000, he returned home in sadness,
and reported to thp Trustees of the fund, assembled at White
Sulphur Springs, Virginia, that it was useless to appropriate
anything to Texas in her present situation; and suggested that
unless some Texas educator, well and favorably known, could
be induced to canvass the whole State, and correct the mistakes
and explain the abuses of E. J. Davis and his allies, the free
school system of Texas would be set back twenty-five, if not
fifty, years. By the earnest importunity of Dr. Sears for the
Trustees of the Peabody Fund and other true friends of free
schools, I reluctantly consented to canvass the State and cor-
rect these abuses, which would result in saving the 3,542,400
acres of county school lands for the children of Texas.
"I was astonished to find in my tour the fearful array of
prejudice agaist a free school system. In several places lead-
Dr. Rufus C. Bueleson. 339
ing educators denounced my advocacy of free schools as
unworthy of an old Texas educator. Even threats and insults
opposed me."
It was not, however, until 1874 that Dr. Sears appointed
Dr. E, C. Burleson special agent and lecturer for one year in
Texas. In this selection Dr. Sears exhibited his usual good
sense in choosing the most competent men available in each
State to assist him in carrying into effect the intention of the
great trust. Dr. Burleson, however, says that "he was
appointed because he knew everybody, Avas not afraid of any-
body, and was a friend to free schools."
Previous to this Dr. Burleson's services were enlisted in
the cause of the Peabody Fund, during Dr. Sears' visit to the
State in 1869, but the extent of his labors in its behalf are not
accurately known, until the time when he entered upon his
duties as State lecturer. His first quarterly report is herein
given :
PiRST Quarterly Beport of Bufus C. Burleson, Peo:m
April 21st, 18Y4, to July 24th, 1874.
To Dr. B. Sears, Through Prof. 0. N. Hollingsivorth, Super-
intendent of Public Instruction for the State of Texas :
Dear Sir — I have the honor to submit my first quarterly
report as State Lecturer on Common Schools under the Pea-
body Education Fund.
I went immediately from Austin on receiving my com-
mission, April 21st, 1874, to the city of Galveston. I found
my old friend. General Thomas aST. Waul, the Superintendent
of Common Schools in Galveston County, fully alive to the
great cause of universal education, and determined to make
Galveston the banner county in Texas in the efficiency of her
common schools.
I found things, however, in a very confused and chaotic
state, chiefly because of the fact that the old De Gress Board,
in the absence of any regulation, had reappointed themselves
as Trustees of the county for one year. N'either the people
nor the teachers had confidence in these self-appointed Trus-
tees; hence there was but little co-operation and much con-
fusion as to the distinct duties of the School Directors and the
340 The Life and Writings of
Scliool Trustees. As a consequence, the teachers were
appointed and left to work out their own salvation and do that
which was right in their own ejes. It is justice to Jas. P. Cole
and others, on the old De Gross Board, to state that they pro-
tested against this disreputable self -appointment, and tendered
at once their resignations to General Waul, but he and other
good citizens urged and prevailed upon him and his honorable
minority to remain and restrain the majority from doing fur-
ther mischief.
I found over 6,000 children under the scholastic age in
the county, and nearly all of them in the city of Galveston.
I visited and delivered lectures before all the principal
schools. I found them, as a whole,, doing well. Some of
them were very high models in discipline in the manner and
ability of teaching. Mrs. Goodwin's school was equal to any
I have ever visited in Texas.
I made an effort to organize a Teachers' Institute, but
found it impracticable, as nearly all the schools were drawing
to a close, and there was great uncertainty whether the same
teachers would remain in the common schools. Indeed most
of them had resolved not to continue to teach unless there was
a general remodeling and greater certainty in regard to prompt
pay. They, however, expressed a great anxiety to organize a
Teachers' Institute as soon as the common schools reopened,
provided they continued to teach. I have found the same
difficulty existing all over the State, and I deferred organizing
Teachers' Institutes till fall.
I found that great confusion and dissatisfaction exists in
regard to the salaries of teachers. The matter being left to
each district, I found one district giving higher salaries to
inferior teachers than was being paid to teachers of higher
grade and greater ability and experience in an adjoining dis-
trict. And some inexperienced colored female teachers were
receiving salaries equal to Mrs. Goodwin. Also, in some in-
stances, one district would offer higher wages to induce a fav-
orite teacher to remove into another district. I suggested as
an immediate remedy for these evils tliat as soon as the new
teachers were elected a convention should be called and all the
schools be well graded; also, that the salaries of teachers be
De. Rufus C. Burlesoj!^. 341
made uniform according to the grade of the school and the
experience and ability of the teacher.
I am convinced from what I have seen in all our large
to\^Tis and cities, including Galveston, Houston, Jefferson,
Dallas, Sherman and Denison, that the present law must be
so amended as to permit all large cities and densely populated,
counties to elect a special city or county superintendent — a
man of great ability as an organizer and experience as a
teacher — to superintend and regulate all these things. He
should be paid and required to devote his time to the duties
assigned to him.
I conferred with the Mayor and many leading citizens
relative to the importance of making a special effort to elect,
at the approaching election, the best men in the county aa
Trustees, and to use every influence to co-operate with Gen.
"Waul in making the common schools in Galveston a great suc-
cess. Galveston secured, years ago, eligible lots for school
buildings at the instigation of County Judge Jas. P. Cole.
As soon as I learned the new Trustees were elected, I
returend to Galveston, and delivered a lecture to a convention
of all the teachers in the county, in which I pointed out the
defects I found existing in the former schools. They
appointed a committee of one teacher from each district to
meet monthly and confer fully on all the great interests of the
schools, and also a committee to provide school houses.
I was rejoiced to find the Trustees were the very best
citizens of Galveston. I promised them to return when the
schools open and organize a Teacher's Institute, at which time
the Honorable Mayor promises to call a mass-meeting of citi-
zens in behalf of common schools.
If we can demonstrate in a few great centers of influence
the efficiency of the common school system, then we can dispel
the doubts and break down the prejudices so common in Texas
against its adoption ; hence I propose to direct special attention
to those places.
I am happy to report that I found two of the colored
schools in Galveston in a very fine condition. The school
taught by Miss Fanny Williams (F. W. C.) and the Barns
Institute were conducted in such a manner as to give me
342 The Life and Writings of
renewed confidence in the possibility of educating the colored
race.
Houston and Harris County I found less favorable to
common schools. The schools generally had not met the pub-
lic expectation and were not well organized. Dr. Ashbel
Smith, the learned County Superintendent, lives remote from
Houston, the county seat, but has done the best he could under
the circumstances. I visited the schools at an unfortunate
time, as they were in recess, preparing for their May festivities
on a large scale.
At Hockley I found a better spirit and a determination
to reorganize in September with a full corps of efficient
teachers.
At Crockett and in Houston County I found a disposition
to co-operate and build up common schools, but there was a
strong inclination to complicate with some cherished private
school. In my address to them I endeavored to explain
clearly the present school law, and the importance of keeping
common schools free from entangling alliances, but, should
necessity require a temporary blending, the terms ought to be
well defined, because no aid could be received from the Pea-
body Fund except for common free schools.
At Huntsville, in Walker County, I found a dead acqui-
escence in favor of common schools without any well defined
purpose. The leading citizens heard my lecture with earnest
attention, and promised co-operation, but I fear, with a few
exceptions, they have the impression that common schools are
mainly for charity schools and must, from necessity, be of
inferior grade.
I^ear the farm of Col, Green, five miles east of Hunts-
ville, there is a very flourishing colored school, which seems to
be doing well. They want to get aid from the Peabody Fund
to enlarge their faculty.
While at Marshall and Jefferson I was too hoarse to lec-
ture, and too lame to walk much, yet I gave all the information
I could. The leading men in these towns are very doubtful
of any good results from common schools.
The citizens of Marshall would be glad to have one of the
State Normal Schools located there, and will turn over to the
State a comomdious building for that purpose.
Dk. Rufus C. Buklesox. 343
At Calvert and in Robertson County I found things very
muck mixed. iVt Bremond and a few other places common
schools had done well. Prof. C. E. Stephen is one of the best
County Superintendents I have met, and if he could spare the
time to give common schools the requisite attention he would
make them succeed.
At Calvert my lecture was well received by a majority of
the leading citizens, but I met open hostility from Dr. Mood,
President of the Methodist University at Georgetown. I
invited him and a number of the leading Methodist educators
and preachers, who were in Calvert holding an educational
convention, to hear me, hoping that they might be influenced
to give me some aid in my arduous mission, and from courtesy
I invited members of the convention to take part in the dis-
cussion. "Whereupon Dr. Mood, in an inflammatory address,
appealed to the old prejudices of the South, and entered his
protest against anything and everything originating in ISTew
England or the monarchies of the Old World. He especially
objected to my position that the State had the right to tax the
people of the country to educate the children of the improvi-
dent and the poor. Several of his brethren joined heartily in
with him.
I fear all the preachers and teachers of that church with
any personal connection or interest in their church schools
will throw every obstacle in the way of common schools.
My visit to Waxahachie confirmed me in this impression.
My old friend. Dr. Pugh, President of Marion College,
declined to give notice of my appointment to lecture, and he
and his friends seemed to do all in their power to prevent the
masses from hearing me on common schools. Il^evertheless, I
received a patient hearing from all the leading men in the
community not immediately connected with the Methodist
College. I endeavored to show the congregation that common
schools would be an assistance and not hostile to all real
colleges and ministers.
At Ennis and Lancaster I found a better spirit and was
cordially received..
At Mt. Calm and Spring Hill/ in Limestone County,
the people had failed to do anything and were wellnigh in
despair. After hearing me fully on all the difficulties, and the
344 The Life aisd Writings of
best means of removing them, they resolved to make one more
earnest effort.
Dresden, in Xavaro County, is more hopeful, and will
organize vigorously, and apply for aid from the Peabody
Fund. If they can avoid sectarianism they can succeed, and
will deserve assistance.
Collin County is in a better condition than any county in
the State. Col. Alexander was a noble Superintendent, and
his removal to California is a calamity to universal education
in Texas. Col. Rogers, his successor, pledges himself to do
all he can in support of my efforts. I Avas cordially received
and heard at Mcffinney and in every part of Collin County.
I was delighted to find in the Rev. Mr. Park, of McKin-
ney, a professor in the Methodist Male and Female Institute,
a warm supporter of common schools. He was conected with
common schools nine years in St. Louis, Mo. If the arrange-
ment can be made, he is anxious to turn over the building and
furniture of his school to the State, and make it a graded
school for Collin County. Grayson County has done some-
thing, but is far below Collin County in the number and
especially the efficiency of her schools.
Denison is all alone with reference to common schools
and education. They have commenced a school house, to
cost $30,000, which amount is to be raised by the sale of city
bonds. I found the schools all full and organized, but sadly
in need of room and school furniture.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
RUFUS C. BURLESOIT,
State Lecturer on Common Schools in Texas.
Waco, July 21st, 1874.
Dr. Kufus C. Burleson. 345
CHAPTER XLI
Address of Hon. Egbert C. Winthrop, Chairman, Before
THE Board of Trustees of the Peabody Education
Fund — Appropriation of the Fund to Texas in 1877 —
Differences Regarding Appointment of Superintend-
ents OF Peabody Schools — Dr. R. C. Burleson's Let-
ter ON THE Subject — Annual Report of Dr. B. Sears
FOR 1877 — Dr. Burleson Charged With Sectarian
Bias — Vigorous Denial — More of the Pioneers of
Texas — Joint Canvass of the State by Drs. Sears
AND Burleson.
Ml' N THE address of Hon. Robert C. Wintlirop, chair-
^^ man of the Board of Trustees of the Peabody Edu-
^& cation Fimd, at the fifteenth meeting of the Board,
held in I^ew York, October 3d, 1877, he says: "The one
thing needful for these States, under the changed social con-
ditions resulting from the war, was an enlightened public
opinion on the subject of education, and a deeper impression
of the essential importance of free schools for their whole
population under regulations of their own establishment,
together with examples of schools of the highest character,
and I^ormal schools for the training of teachers. I think it
will abundantly appear from *he reports that such have been
established, and that such a public opinion has been created in
many of the States, if not quite in all.
The visit of Dr. Sears to Texas during the last winter,
agreeably to the instructions of the Board, was welcomed in
many parts of that great State, and there is every reason for
346 The Life and Writings of
hoping that the interest which it awakened will not be without
important results."
In 1877 Texas received $10,800 from the Peabody Fund,
which, added to the annual sums previously donated, was
$18,600. This amount was paid to incorporated cities which
complied with the requirements of the Board,
It seems that some misunderstanding arose during this
period on the part of cities which were the beneficiaries of the
Fund regarding the selection of principals of such schools.
The only stipulation exacted by Dr. Sears was the Superin-
tendents elected by such cities must be fuly competent to
undertake the management, and he went no farther than to
recommend such persons to fill vacancies. Dr. Burleson was
the intermediary in such cases, and he thus became an object
of attack. In only one instance, to the San Antonio Herald,
does he make any effort to correct the erroneous charge. That
journal on one occasion said:
"It is generally understood that unless Dr. Burleson,
Peabody agent, has the appointment of Superintendents, the
$2,000 that the San Antonio schools are entitled to will be
withheld. Also that Dr. Burleson has his eye on an eminent
Baptist minister to take Prof. Plagge's shoes. Some of the
Aldermen feel like telling Dr. Burleson to take your little
$2,000 and depart out of our coasts."
Dr. Burleson answered this charge of sectarian bias in
vigorous terms, as follows:
"There is not a shadow of truth in the insinuation that I
have my eye on an eminent Baptist minister to take my friend.
Prof. Plagge's, shoes. Prof. H. H. Smith, of Houston, and
Prof. Rightstell, of Arkansas, are the only men I ever had
'my eye upon' for Superintendent in San Antonio, and
neither of whom is even a Baptist, much less 'an eminent
minister.' But I soon learned neither could be spared from
his present position. I received a letter from Judge Divine
and other eminent citizens of San Antonio urging the claims
of Prof. J. R. Griffin, and I infoi-med his Honor, Mayor
French, I would endorse him if elected by the city authorities.
"Second. It is equally untrue that 'unless Mr. Burleson
has the appointment of Superintendent, the $2,000 will be
withheld.' The appointment is left with the Mayor and
Dr. Kufus C. Burleson. 347
Aldermen. But tlie Peabody Fund is 'a premium fund/ as
your correspondent says, and we, as agents, must decide what
schools are entitled to the ^premium.' We always withhold it
from any school that is conducted in the interests of any sect
or party, in religion or irreligion, or any clique or favorite, or
upon any principle except 'the greatest good to the greatest
number,' or 'education for the people and from the people
and by the people.' If cities or communities want to conduct
their schools on any other principles, they are not worthy of
the 'premium' offered by the Peabody Fund, and will never
receive it. But it gives me great pleasure to know that the
noble Mayor of San Antonio and the noble Mayor of Houston
are struggling to make their schools a grand success, and we
are glad to aid them to our utmost ability in giving them each
$2,000.
"Third. It seems hard for men to learn that 'eternal
separation. of church and State' is a cardinal doctrine of all
true Baptists. Our Peter Waldo, and John Bingam, and
Koger Williams, and the thousands unknown to fame, have
suffered and died for the principle during the last 500 years.
If I should pay or reward men for being Baptists I would
not only apostatize from the faith of Baptists, but aid in fill-
ing the church with hirelings and hypocrites and the State with
indifferent officers. "Give unto Caesar the things that are
Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's,' 'My kingdom
is not of this world,' are the grand doctrines of Baptists m ail
ages. And that we have acted on this great principle is evi-
dent from two well-known facts. First, though Dr. Barnas
Sears, Prof. O. N. Hollingsworth and I are all strict Baptists,
and have had the sole management of the Peabody Fund in
Texas, there is no Baptist Superintendent of any Peabody
School in Texas. Second. Last year year Dr. H. Clarke, a
Baptist of thirty years' standing, was an earnest applicant for
Superintendent of Public Schools in Houston, yet Dr. Sears
and I used all our influence for Prof. H. H. Smith, an Episco-
palian, and his brilliant success demonstrates the wisdom of
our choice, as well as our impartiality.
"I would not waste my time nor your valuable space in