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Vol. XXXVI MARCH-APRUi, 1931 Xo, 3
A COLLEGE HYMN
One of the most distinguished graduates of St.
Augustine’s is William Augustine Perry, at present
supervisor of numerous colored schools in Columbia,
South Carolina. After graduating from St. Augus
tine’s and then from Yale University, Mr. Perry for
many years served as head of St. Athanasius School
in Brunswick, Georgia.
He is a musician of note. While at Yale he com
posed a college song. For St. Augustine’s he has
written two college songs, one of them on the occas
ion of the celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of
the Institution.
We are happy to report that he has recently been
iaispired to compose the words and music of a college
hymn “on the occasion of St. Augustine’s College
arriving at full maturity,” dedicated “to my father
and mother, early graduates of St. Augustine’s School
and missionaries in the Church.” This College Hymn
will be sung at Commencement time this year.
In connection with the arrival of St. Augustine s
“at full maturity” Mr. Perry has written the follow
ing letter:
The Rev. Edgar H. Goold, President,
St. Augustine’s College,
Raleigh, N. C.
My dear Mr. Goold:
I was not at all surprised when it was announced
recently that the State of North Carolina had rated
St. Augustine’s College in the “A Class” group. For
a number of years I have noted with interest St.
Augustine’s progress towards her collegiate objec
tive by way of her extensive building program, her
improvement in equipment, and the reorganization
of her curriculum. Knowing, too, that, above all
things, St. Augustine’s stands for uncompromising
thoroughness, I felt that this recognition which she
has received from the State would be the logical out
come and the only classification probable. St. Augus
tine’s consistently normal growth made this outcome
certain.
For the Episcopal Church to have a full, rounded
“A Class” college among her Institute schools is one
of the finest things that has happened in America.
The Church is needed and needed very much to make
religion function more fully in the lives of the people.
When the Church proves that she has something
more to offer than doctrine and prayers and that
that something includes all that will make for full,
rounded, efficient leadership in American citizenship,
then she puts herself in the position to fulfil that
need, not in part, but wholly. In developing a
fully accredited college among her schools, the
Church has taken the step nearest to that position.
The final step, of course, will be the university. This,
I trust, is the final objective of the Church in its
educational program. Otherwise, she will be stopping
at the “half-way house” regardless of the fine work
of all her schools.
However, congratulations are in order and here
with extended on St. Augustine’s coming Into recog
nized, full, collegiate maturity. As an alumnus, I
am exceedingly proud of the fact. And, in extending
congratulations and expressing my own pride, I feel
that I speak also for my parents and my mother’s
mother, all of whom were very devout Churchmen
and also pioneers in the earliest development of the
school, my grandmother having acted, at one time,
as matron or, as we would say to day. Dean of
Women. The late Bishop Delany received some of
his first instructions at the then St. Augustine’s
Normal and Collegiate Institute under my mother
as a student-teacher. Knowing my parents’ loyalty
as alumni, I am sure. If they were living, they would
join me heartily In wishing for St. Augustine’s Col
lege the full support of every kind necessary to carry
forward her advanced program for all time.
Sincerely yours,
Wm. Augustine PERRy.
MEMORIAL WINDOW
There has recently been placed in St. Augustine’s
Chapel a beautiful stained glass window, depicting
St. Simon of Cyrene aiding the Saviour In carrying
the Cross, given as a memorial to the Rev. George
A. C. Cooper by his widow. Dr. Anna J. Cooper, of
Washington, D. C.
Mr. Cooper was at one time a beloved teacher at
St. Augustine’s. He was the first Negro clergyman
ordained in the Diocese of North Carolina.
The artist and designer of the window is Mr. Prank
J. Dillon, at one time a student at St. Augustine’s,
who has been for more than ten years employed in
that capacity by the firm of Fred S. Oesterle and Co.,
of Philadelphia.
We print below a short sketch of the late Mr.
Cooper, written, at our request, by his widow.
The Rev. George A, C. C. Cooper
Rev. George A. C. Cooper was born at Grand
Bahama in the British West Indies In 1845. His
mother Is mentioned in a brochure on the Bahamas
by Bishop Venables, English Bishop of the Islands,
as a “Mother In Israel,” in reference to her good
offices In caring for the needy, and In promoting the
work of the Church In her Island. It was In her
home that the Bishop always stopped in making the
rounds of the Bahamas, and the ample church of
mahogany logs there was erected by her four stalwart
sons, of whom George was the second.
In Nassau, the capital of the Island of New Provi
dence, the young George was apprenticed to a tailor
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