PROFESSOR O. L. COLEMAN, A. M., EDUCATIONAL APOSTLE OF NORTH LOUISIANA BAPTISTS.

        This educator stands among the first in his state and in his race. He came into Louisiana from Mississippi twenty-seven years ago, after graduating from the following schools: High School, Livingston, Miss., and Alcorn College, Alcorn, Miss. In addition to completed work at these two schools he has spent six or more sessions doing post work in Northern schools, frequently being the only Negro in his classes, but always "holding his own," reflecting credit on his race.

        The Home Mission Society of New York and the Women's Home Mission Society of Boston, Mass., conferred a signal honor upon Professor Coleman when they jointly elected him to represent the Negro educationally of four Southern States, viz., Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Arkansas, in Northern Conventions held in the states of Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire, respectively.

        Brother Coleman's paramount contribution to the Baptist cause in the state is an interesting Christian family and Coleman College, one of the leading Negro Baptist institutions in the South. This school is his life work. It is a big demonstration of what a man can do when he finds HIS job, gets on it, and Coleman-like stays on it with a dogged determination until he wins out.

        His wife, Mrs. Mattie A. Coleman, stood by him with Spartan courage as he labored on through frost and snow, through encouragements and discouragements, through well days and sick days in the accomplishment of his great work. The oldest son of this noted educator is at this writing a student of Medicine at Shaw University, Raleigh, N. C., and his eldest daughter is pursuing higher studies at Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn. As a testimonial of the work and worth of this great man Leland University has honored him with the M. A. degree.

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