CHAPTER LXIII.
MISS CLARA A. HOWARD.
One of the first eleven daughters of "Spelman Seminary," of whom we may say, "They bore the heat and burden of the day." When Rev. Quarles had gotten his people's brick structure for worship completed he began to pray for a school in Atlanta which would be solely for girls and women of color. One happy day, while he was on his knees praying thus, a rap called him to his feet, and at the door of his study he found two God-sent women. Misses Packard and Giles, whose hearts longed to do just the work for which he had been praying. They told him their desire. He told them his story, and added: "I have had His promise, 'And it shall come to pass that before they call I will answer; and while they are yet speaking I will hear.' I was just on my knees praying for such a school." He then told them that he would open his basement to such a school, and do all in his power to help them. On the eleventh day of April, 1881, Spelman Seminary was born in the above-mentioned basement. Few were present, but they mark the birthday of an institution to be the Alma Mater of this our subject.
This life began at Greenville, Ga. , January 23, 1866. She is the only daughter of King and Mary Ann Howard. The first thing this child astonished her parents in was her advanced conduct as a babe; she appeared to notice everything about her. The day on which she was eight months old she stood on her feet and walked. This was too much for the fond parents to keep to themselves. Their daughter soon showed a disposition to be alone, and this gave them much concern, as they feared she would grow up to make a selfish woman. At the age of six she began her school life, becoming a member of the Haines street public school.
She advanced rapidly as the years rolled on, and after four years here entered a private institution known as the Staw School of Atlanta. Two years fitted this aspiring pupil to enter the well-known Atlanta University. She was studying at this latter when the above ladies arranged with "Father Quarles" to use his church basement as a school-room.
The father of our subject being a deacon in that church at his death, the dear widowed mother had brought up her sons and daughter faithful to the Church, and they had been gathered in while young. "Father Quarles" baptized this Daughter of the King in 1881. Miss Howard left the University to take up her studies with ten humble pupils in the basement. She advanced as Spelman advanced, and graduated with the first class in the history of the school, May, 1887. Being a widow's daughter, Miss Howard had to work hard during her school-days, even working late at night. Her mother and brothers disliked seeing her under such pressure and used to urge her to retire with them. Her reply would always be, "Do not worry about me; I have an object in view, and will have to work to make it; I have to finish my education, and will have to work to do it." This great strain told on the strength of our subject. It was then arranged that she board in the institution. Here she remained a boarder even after her graduation, so attached was she to her "Soelman Home. "Before a graduate Miss Howard taught at Wodley, Ga. Here she was very much loved by parents and pupils. As teacher in the model school at Spelman she distinguished herself as a disciplinarian, as well as an affectionate teacher. She was therefore highly recommended to the Board of Education of the city of Atlanta for a position in the Sommerville Graded School of that city. Here she taught with much acceptance until 1890, when she offered her resignation to take up work in Africa immediately. This was the "object in view" of which she used to so often speak. When first she told her mother what her "object" was the mother laughed her away, saying, "You are going to bed, that is where you are going. You do not know what you are talking about." The devoted daughter would have gone immediately after her graduation but for her health.
April 24th found farewells over and the last preparation made for the long journey. On this day she took a joyful leave of dear ones to begin her long-cherished work in Africa. She was assigned to Lukunga Station, where she found hundreds already gathered in school and church. She took the place as teacher ere she had time to begin the study of the language of this hungering people. English studies had been begun by some of the Lukunga pupils, so it made this immediate beginning possible. Along with Miss Gordon she founded the Lukunga Seminary, and the two have sole charge of the same. Eternity alone will determine the good this consecrated life is doing for this benighted land in lifting up its people by the school and by personal pleading for their salvation. Her peculiar tact in reaching the hearts of children and managing them without apparent effort has made it easy for her to reach older people, and thus gather from all precious souls which must shine forever and ever as the stars. For her we pray a long life in which to engage in this work so blessed in its character and so glorious in its reward.