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[[image: photo of Dr. Robert Threatt]]
Dr. Robert Threatt
Morris Brown College

Morris Brown College
Legacy of Wesley John Gaines
by George Sewell

398

The scenario seems unbelievable! 

In 1881, almost two decades after Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation, a group of ex-bondsmen, most of whom were illiterate, and impoverished, determined under the bold leadership of a fellow ex-slave, the Reverend Wesley John Gaines, to build yet another college for blacks in Atlanta. 

Atlanta had three such schools of higher education - Atlanta University, Clark College, and Morehouse. Another one - Spelman - was gestating in the womb of white missionary organizations. But Rev. Gaines and his small band of tattered followers were marching to a different drummer. They knew that each of the existing institutions had been founded and was supported primarily by whites. But these pioneers, member of independent African Methodist Episcopal Church, and unschooled though they were, felt a need to have a school of their own, on that was financed and supported by blacks.

They were poor, but proud. Though intellectually deprived, unable in most instances to count the pennies of a day's work, they nonetheless believed that education was the single most important means by which their plight could be improved. But who could best provide the desired type of education? Their conclusion was blacks themselves!

 "A School of Our Own"
Meanwhile, the trustees of Clark College sent out letters to various religious leaders seeking funds to furnish a room in their new dormitories. Wesley John Gaines received such a letter. He considered the request of sufficient import to assemble the leaders of his flock in the Wheat Street (Big Bethel) A.M.E. Church, to consider the matter. "Many speeches were made pro and con, until at last one Steward Wylie...arose and states, 'Mr. Chairman, if we can furnish a room at Clark University why can't we build a school ourselves?' "

That statement was a revelation, inspired by the mystical genius of African Methodism. Gaines discerned it immediately and hastened to respond, "we can!" The thought caught fire. "In a few moments the matter of furnishing a room was tabled and the meeting adjourned. But so impressed was Gaines, that he declared, "By God's help we'll build a school of our own."

Days, weeks, months, indeed, years passed, but the thought of building a school wouldn't go away. On January 5, 1881, Rev. Gaines, who had never attended school a day in his life, introduced a resolution to the North Georgia Annual Conference in session at Big Bethel Church, urging the founding of a school or college for the education of Negroes by Negroes. The resolution was adopted, with Bishop W.F. Dickerson presiding. Trustees were elected, and, not surprisingly, the Reverend Wesley J. Gaines was the first one selected. 

A month later, the trustees of both the North Georgia Conference and the (old) Georgia Conference met to decide upon the location of the school. "Being guided by Wesley J. Gaines, they decided to build a college, and upon his suggestion they agreed to purchase six and a half acres, high and beautifully situated with comfortable four-room house ready for immediate occupancy at the cost of $3,500." It is alleged that the owner advised his agent not to stipulate the amount of payments nor specify a time limit in which the mortgage had to be paid. Rather, because of his personal knowledge of Gaines, the owner felt certain he would pay as promised. 

Further testimony to Gaines' character is revealed in the final paragraph of the resolution read at the North Georgia Conference, January, 1881:

"Be it further resolved, that we mean to push this work to completion, erect a suitable building and establish a school of high grade for the benefit of the young men and women of our race; and in furtherance of this end we ask all good citizens and friends to aid us by their prayers and monies." 

Foundation Laid
In 1884 the foundation of the first wing of the college was laid under Gaines' supervision and completed at a cost of $9,000. Equipment cost another $600. A total cost of $13,100 had been paid for the grounds, building and equipment by illiterate blacks who washed and ironed clothes, picked cotton, sold fish, fruits and vegetables, and contributed their nickels, dimes, and quarters to help build a college of their own. The building, designated "Gaines Hall," was dedicated on November 26, 1885.

Thus Morris Brown College was conceived and implemented as a direct result of the willingness and determination of black people to help themselves. The college was named for the second bishop of the A.M.E. Church - the Reverend Morris Brown, who was born in Charleston, South Carolina, January 8, 1770. Rev. Brown had organized an A.M.E. church in that coastal city with a membership of over 1,500. He and his congregation rejoiced over their success in being able to worship God "under their own vine and fig tree," but their rejoicing was short lived.

Following the slave uprising of 1822 in Charleston, the authorities deemed it wise to suppress all assemblies of free colored people and slaves. Though neither Rev. Brown nor any of his associates were implicated in the uprising, rather than submit to being deprived of the right to worship according to their own dictates, Morris Brown and other churchmen migrated to Philadelphia. 

Morris Brown was incorporated on May 23, 1885, by the Superior Court, State of Georgia, Fulton County, under the name of Morris Brown College of the African Methodist Episcopal Church of Georgia, "and endowed with all corporate rights and powers suitable to such an enterprise" required for the certificate of incorporation. 

A parishioner, Mrs. Mary McCree, had a private school in the basement of Big Bethel Church. Rev. Gaines succeeded in getting her to close that operation, bring her students to Morris Brown and become the school's first principal. He also engaged Miss Annie B. Thomas, who like Mrs. McCree was a graduate of the Normal Department of Atlanta University, as her assistant. On October 15, 1885, Mrs. McCree