Lane College - Lanite Yearbook (Jackson, TN)

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Lane College History 565W Forty-five years ago Lane College was founded by the Colored Methodist Church in America. Looking to the establishment of this enterprise, Novem- ber, 1878, a resolution was presented by the Rev. J. K. Daniel to the Tennessee Annual Conference, held in Nashville, Tennessee, and conducted by the sainted Bishop Miles, of the C. M. E. Church. The resolution was filed. A committee was appointed by the Conference and plans were inaugurated to advance the intended work. A severe epidemic of 1878 hindered the progress of the committee. Dur- ing this time Bishop Isaac Lane was appointed as presiding Bishop of the Tennessee Conference. He met the committee, gave advice and helped to form plans for the founding of the school. After having met with a number of difficulties, those assembled decided, at the Conference in 1879, with their small sum of finance, to purchase a lot at Jackson, Tennessee, as a con- venient location for this institution. Four acres of land were purchased Jan- uary 15, 1880, with 8240.00 Thus the work had its beginning which has been a religious and an educational factor to a great mass of uprising humanity throughout the Southland. After a lot was purchased, a greater task made its appearance, which task was the construction of a comfortable building for instruction. Through efforts put forth by Bishop Lane and his co-workers, funds were obtained and a building was begun in November of the same year. Miss Jennie E. Lane was the first teacher in this C. M. E. High School. It was instructed by her until January of the next year, when the term was successfully completed by Professor J. H. Harper, LL. D., of Jackson, Tennessee. In 1883 the school was chartered under the laws of the State of Tennes- see. This resulted in a change of title, from the C. M. E. High School to Lane Institute . The progress of the school was wonderful. The increasing number of students in 1889 was greater than the accommodating capacityg which resulted in the erection of a two-story frame building at a cost of S2,500.00. This also served as a girls' dormitory for some years. Demands grew greater as the time continued, causing a central auditorium to be erected, having beautiful towers with trimmings of stone, at a cost of 825,000.00 Rev. J. F. Saunders, D. D., was appointed in 1887 as Lane's first presi- dent. A member of the Memphis Conference, he served as president for fifteen years. His work was successful and pleasing to the Board of Trustees. In 1896, to meet a long-felt need, the College Department was organized and its name became Lane College-which name may it ever retain, and sur- round with moral and religious intelligence many thousands of Ham's sable sons. Rev. J. A. Bray, A. M., LL. D., was selected as second president. He was a member of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. His term began the 17th day of November, 1903. Within a year'the outstanding building was consumed by fire. Appeals were made to friends everywhere to help, and in 1906 the main hall was constructed, which cost 525,000.00 Three years as president Rev. Bray labored successfully. During this time many changes were made in respect to the progress of the institution. Rev. Bray retired at the close of the third term and took up work elsewhere. Page fwenfy-hvo

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BISHOP 1. LANE Lives of Great Men Lives of great men, all remind us, We can make our lives sublimef And departing leave behind us, -Foot prints on the sands of lime. The life of our own Bishop Isaac Lane has indeed been an example to us as that of a great man. As one glances back into the history of this, our beloved institution, he is convinced that Bishop Lane has left his foot-prints on the sands of time. Blessed above many is this great man, because he has built for himself a monument and now he lives and sees it grow. The life of Washington reminds us of bravery, truth and loyalty. The life of Lincoln reminds us of honesty and freedom. We may recall the lives of an innumerable number of great men and the impression that they have left, yet none have made a greater impression on the students, graduates and former students of Lane College than this man whose name carries with it morality, self-sacrifice, perseverance and humanitarianism. I -KARLINE HARDY. Page twenty-one

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Lane College ' ll'llis1tcrywCcm1tin1u1cd The Trustees met in May, 1907, and elected J. F. Lane, A. M., Ph. D., president. He now stands at the head of the College. Knowing thoroughly the hardships which the school had come through, as well as its objective purposes, he has contributed much to the advancement of the seat of learning. The Girls' Hall was built in 1908, with a dining hall, kitchen, bath rooms, reception hall, and with a metal roof, having beautiful stone trimmings. This is a handsome three-story building with modern conveniences, costing about 5B16,000.00. During the winter of 1908-1909 a steam heating plant was installed at a cost of 57,000.00 All buildings are steam heated and electrically lighted. Through the Educational Board of New York in 1911, President Lane received 87,000.00 to build the Boy's Dormitory. Immediately the work began and was completed in 1914, a three-story brick building, with all modern equip- ment. It is the home of the College Dean, young men, and also contains a Y. M. C. A. room and guest room. The school grew with such rapidity that in 1919 it was discovered that another building was needed, and the conclusion of this. discovery was the erection of the Cleaves' Hall. This Hall is a three-story, brick construction, with all modern conveniences, containing domestic art, science and music departments. This hall is also occupied by the upper class young ladies. It was completed in 1921 at a cost of 370,000.00 X For vocational training of ex-service men at the close of the world war, the U. S. Veterans' Bureau selected Lane College for this purpose. This necessitated a trades building and in 1923 a building was erected at a cost of 315,000.00 and dedicated to the service of the people. It is a two-story brick structure. It serves now as the Science Hall. The College auditorium was destroyed in 1921. In 1924, by the faithful efforts of interested men, the college auditorium was completed, a brick building which has a balcony and has a seating capacity of about 1,500 people. The location of these buildings is on a campus that is enticing to every one. The campus presents a beautiful inclined view. It is beautifully decorated with trees and flowers of different species. Behind the buildings the babbling brook makes its way across the campus. The attraction and beauty of the campus is made wonderful to beholdtby these various objects. Health is vigorous, attraction is unequalled, and the environment and mental conditions are unsurpassed. The pleasure that one is able to obtain from the breeezes of the balmy air on this beautiful campus prompts one with a desire to come back after he has gone away. JWWSZSQWR Prescription llfcr Success Give twelve f12J ounces of common sense. Give twelve C125 ounces of consideration. Put over a gentle fire of self-respect. Boil down to two C21 ounces of forgetfulness. Sweeten with humanity. Take nine Q93 drops, 3 times a day before meals. ' This prescription can be filled at the House of Understanding, next door to Reason on Independent Street. Pray to God three times cz day on bowed knees in the City of Contentment. ISAAC LANE, Jackson, Tenn. Page twenty- three