IN RECOGNITION OF MOREHOUSE COLLEGE'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY
April 2, 2020
Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to
rise today to recognize my alma mater, Morehouse College in Atlanta,
Georgia, as it celebrates 150 years of educating, training, and
empowering outstanding leaders. The year-long Sesquicentennial
Celebration began in January 2017 and will include many events for
students, faculty, staff, administrators, donors, families, and friends
of Morehouse College. The theme of the Celebration is A House United,
which highlights Morehouse's position as a unifying force around the
globe and here at home.
rise today to recognize my alma mater, Morehouse College in Atlanta,
Georgia, as it celebrates 150 years of educating, training, and
empowering outstanding leaders. The year-long Sesquicentennial
Celebration began in January 2017 and will include many events for
students, faculty, staff, administrators, donors, families, and friends
of Morehouse College. The theme of the Celebration is A House United,
which highlights Morehouse's position as a unifying force around the
globe and here at home.
Tracing its roots back to the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War,
Morehouse College was founded in 1867 as the Augusta Theological
Institute in Augusta, Georgia. The school was founded by Rev. William
Jefferson White with the encouragement of Rev. Richard Coulter and Rev.
Edmund Turney, and it aimed to prepare black men for ministry and
teaching.
Morehouse College was founded in 1867 as the Augusta Theological
Institute in Augusta, Georgia. The school was founded by Rev. William
Jefferson White with the encouragement of Rev. Richard Coulter and Rev.
Edmund Turney, and it aimed to prepare black men for ministry and
teaching.
In 1879, the Augusta Theological Institute moved to the basement of
Friendship Baptist Church in Atlanta and was renamed the Atlanta Baptist Seminary. In
1885, the institution relocated to its current site in Atlanta's West
End community. The seminary became a liberal arts college and was
subsequently renamed the Atlanta Baptist College. During these early
years in Morehouse history, the institution expanded its curriculum and
established the tradition of educating leaders for all areas of life.
In 1913, Atlanta Baptist College was renamed Morehouse College after
the corresponding secretary of the Northern Baptist Home Mission
Society, Henry L. Morehouse.
Friendship Baptist Church in Atlanta and was renamed the Atlanta Baptist Seminary. In
1885, the institution relocated to its current site in Atlanta's West
End community. The seminary became a liberal arts college and was
subsequently renamed the Atlanta Baptist College. During these early
years in Morehouse history, the institution expanded its curriculum and
established the tradition of educating leaders for all areas of life.
In 1913, Atlanta Baptist College was renamed Morehouse College after
the corresponding secretary of the Northern Baptist Home Mission
Society, Henry L. Morehouse.
Throughout its 150-year history, Morehouse College has made a
significant mark on our state, our nation, and the world. Here, many
notable men gained the knowledge and training that enabled them to
become some of the greatest influencers of our time, including Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.; noted theologian, Dr. Howard Thurman; civil
rights leader, Julian Bond; filmmaker Shelton ``Spike'' Lee; Olympic
gold medalist Edwin Moses; CEO of the Silicon Valley Community
Foundation, Emmitt Carson; and many more.
significant mark on our state, our nation, and the world. Here, many
notable men gained the knowledge and training that enabled them to
become some of the greatest influencers of our time, including Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.; noted theologian, Dr. Howard Thurman; civil
rights leader, Julian Bond; filmmaker Shelton ``Spike'' Lee; Olympic
gold medalist Edwin Moses; CEO of the Silicon Valley Community
Foundation, Emmitt Carson; and many more.
Morehouse principles often instill a desire for public service to
benefit mankind. In the United States Congress, Representative Cedric
Richmond, Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, as well as many
staff members and former Members of Congress, hold degrees from
Morehouse. U.S. Presidents have relied on alumni such as former
Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson; former Secretary of Health
and Human Services, Dr. Louis Sullivan; former Surgeon General, Dr.
David Satcher; and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, James
Nabrit. Around the country, state and local governments have been led
by alumni such as Maynard H. Jackson, the first African-American mayor
of Atlanta, Georgia.
benefit mankind. In the United States Congress, Representative Cedric
Richmond, Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, as well as many
staff members and former Members of Congress, hold degrees from
Morehouse. U.S. Presidents have relied on alumni such as former
Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson; former Secretary of Health
and Human Services, Dr. Louis Sullivan; former Surgeon General, Dr.
David Satcher; and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, James
Nabrit. Around the country, state and local governments have been led
by alumni such as Maynard H. Jackson, the first African-American mayor
of Atlanta, Georgia.
As a 1968 graduate of Morehouse College, this one-of-a-kind
institution has a special place in my heart. During my matriculation, I
got to know on a personal level the late Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, the
most renowned President of Morehouse who was a mentor to Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Through him, I met Dr. King during his life, followed
him in protest marches, and sang at his funeral, which was held on the
campus and attended by many national and international luminaries.
institution has a special place in my heart. During my matriculation, I
got to know on a personal level the late Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, the
most renowned President of Morehouse who was a mentor to Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Through him, I met Dr. King during his life, followed
him in protest marches, and sang at his funeral, which was held on the
campus and attended by many national and international luminaries.
Today, under the leadership of the 11th President of Morehouse
College, Dr. John Silvanus Wilson, Jr., also an alumnus, the school
continues to be consistently ranked as one of the top colleges in the
nation and among the highest respected Historically Black Colleges and
Universities. As the nation's largest liberal arts college for men,
Morehouse has conferred more bachelor's degrees on black men than any
other institution in the world.
College, Dr. John Silvanus Wilson, Jr., also an alumnus, the school
continues to be consistently ranked as one of the top colleges in the
nation and among the highest respected Historically Black Colleges and
Universities. As the nation's largest liberal arts college for men,
Morehouse has conferred more bachelor's degrees on black men than any
other institution in the world.
Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing
Morehouse College for 150 years of preparing young men to aspire to
unique and distinctive goals while leading lives of leadership and
service. This institution was born out of the death of slavery in
America, it guided young black men through the era of segregation in
the South, and it continues to empower marginalized populations against
the oppression still prevalent in the world today. It is my hope that
the generations of Morehouse Men of today and tomorrow will continue
the progress and continue to leave their marks on our nation and the
world.
Morehouse College for 150 years of preparing young men to aspire to
unique and distinctive goals while leading lives of leadership and
service. This institution was born out of the death of slavery in
America, it guided young black men through the era of segregation in
the South, and it continues to empower marginalized populations against
the oppression still prevalent in the world today. It is my hope that
the generations of Morehouse Men of today and tomorrow will continue
the progress and continue to leave their marks on our nation and the
world.