Education and missions have always been an integral part of Baptist tradition and emphasis. This was brought out in the initial forming of the Alabama Baptist State Convention in October of 1823 near Greensboro. During that first convention, a constitution was drawn up and adopted. Article 4 of the Constitution stated that "the Convention shall be to promote missions, and religious instruction throughout the state...and in improving the Education of the Gospel ministers."
In additional actions the Convention voted to donate to the endowment of an Alabama scholarship and for a professor of Columbia College and Washington City Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. Money was also received and designated by the Convention for missions, Bibles, tracts, and education.
In the September 1833 meeting of the Convention, the desire for an educational institution of higher learning in Alabama was forwarded with a resolution, "That we will use our exertions to promote the education of pious young men called to the ministry, and that we earnestly recommend to the churches of our union, to take the subject under their consideration."
A committee was appointed and assigned "the duty of devising and adopting some arrangements for the establishment of learning in the state of Alabama, on the Manual Labor Plan, for the education of indigent young men to the ministry. That in their opinion, the cause of science and religion imperiously demand such Instruction."
There upon, an act was passed by the Alabama Legislature, on January 17, 1834, to incorporate the school under the name of the Alabama Institute of Literature and Industry. While this was the official name, it was also referred to as the Manual Labor Institute, Manual Labor Seminary, Baptist Institute of Greensborough, and Green County Institute of Literature and Industry in subsequent reports and newspaper articles.
It is interesting to note that, at the same time, there was an effort to create a college in nearby Marion on the manual labor concept, also combining classical education with work, whereby students could earn tuition and board money and also provide a source of income for the school. On December 16, 1833, the Alabama Legislature passed an act incorporating the Manual Labor Institute of South Alabama. This Institute was located three miles west of Marion.
In 1834, a 355 acre farm was purchased one mile east of Greensboro for the new Baptist institution. Work started on buildings to accommodate students and faculty. The first faculty members were W. J. Williford as Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy and D. P. Bestor as Professor of Theology. James Parker was chosen as "Steward and Farmer." And so the Institute went into operation.
According to the 1836 Report to the Convention, it reported " a flourishing condition, and flattering prospects of future usefulness to the community." The report goes on to say that "in the present session it has increased from thirty to fifty students," and " they have raised on the farm this year about seven hundred bushels of corn and about one hundred and fifty bushels of potatoes."
The Alabama Sentinel ( Greensboro newspaper) of April 9, 1836, reported that the labor performed by students amounted to eleven hours per week and that the money would be applied to tuition and board. On the other hand, "the course of instruction is similar to that of other universities." An Examination of students was scheduled for July and the "friends of learning are invited to attend."
Unfortunately, financial difficulties seemed to exist and 1837 seems to seal the fate of the Institute. The national economy declined and efforts to raise funds across the state had limited success. Then, according to the 1837 Convention Report, "that this Convention notice with much regard that a number of our brethren who subscribed to the Manual Labor Institute, have removed from the State and have not paid their subscription." This was followed by a resolution to consider "removing the Manual Labor Institute, now located in Greensborough, to some place in the northern part of the State."
A special session was held on December 20 in Marion to sell the property as creditors had started lawsuits. The land was sold and the library collection was given to the Convention and stored in Greensboro until it later was transferred to Howard College in Marion. Thus ended the Alabama Institute of Literature and Industry.
While the concept of a manual labor institute was a noble one, it not only failed in Greensboro but also with the Institute in Marion, which ceased operation in 1841. However, the idea of having an institution of higher learning did not die with the Greensboro Institute. Baptists rallied to create the Judson Female Institute in 1838 for young women and to create Howard College in 1842 for the education and ministerial training of young men.
--Paul G. Reitzer
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