Women of distinction/Chapter 11
CHAPTER XI.
MRS. H. M. GARNET BARBOZA.
Mrs. Barboza was born to Henry Highland Garnet and his wife, February 11, 1845, Troy, N. Y., and graduated from Hopedale, Mass., 1861. We have not been able to learn much as to her early life. She was an educated, consecrated woman who ever thought out the best possible means of lifting up her down-trodden race. In 1881 her father. Dr. Garnet, was appointed Minister to Liberia by the United States government; the document of his appointment was the last official document signed by the lamented President Garfield. Dr. Garnet arrived in Africa in December, and died in a few weeks thereafter of African fever. Then came up the question of erecting for him some fitting monument to be dedicated as a permanent memorial of this noble, race-loving man. This memorial was to be erected in Liberia. It was also decided to make it a training school for girls. This school was to reach four classes of Liberians: the Americo-Liberians, the Veys, the Mandingoes, and the Galahs. The next thing to do was to find some one who could make the project a success. That one was found in the person of our subject. To this work she joyfully consecrated her life, sailing from America in November, 1880, having married in 1866. The project was endorsed in this country by the New York State Colonization Society and by the National Afro-American Union for Home and Foreign Missions, and in Africa by the State Legislature of Liberia; in England by the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, the Ladies' Negro Friend Society, the British Women's Temperance Association. As societies they took great interest in the memoriaL And many prominent individuals, such as Sir John J. Howard, Oliver Haywood, Joseph Mabins, and the Dowager Lady Kinnaird, gave also material aid to the project. The institution was called "The Garnet Memorial School," followed by this inscription: "For the Domestic, Scholastic, Artistic and Christian Training for Girls. Founded in Memory of the late Rev. Henry Highland Garnet, D. D.; a Negro Clergyman, appointed by the late President Garfield United States Minister Resident and Consul-General to the Negro Republic of Liberia." The Legislature of Liberia, upon application, at once chartered the institution, and endowed it with a hundred acres of land at Brewerville, where it was situated, as well as an annual grant of three hundred dollars to assist in the operations. When our noble sister had gotten the work well on footing she returned to this country, leaving a hundred and twenty-five students in charge of Mrs. C. L. Parsons, wife of the Chief Justice. Here she solicited aid to make the institution all it was meant to be. On leaving America to return to her work she purposed visiting England also to solicit aid. On hearing this some of her prominent American friends gave her recommendations to Julia Colman, Secretary of the Afro-American Union, and said of her: "We commend our sister, Mrs. M. H. Barboza, who is to visit you on the way to Africa, where she has established the Garnet Memorial School at Brewerville. This is a school with industrial training—just what Africa needs so much." Her visit in England excited a great deal of interest. Here is what some of the newspapers said about her:
Mrs. Garnet Barboza is not only the daughter of a negro who achieved distinction, Dr. Henry Highland Garnet, but is herself an educated, fluent and graceful speaker. Naturally she is interested in the education of women, and seeks the aid of philanthropists in Europe to help her in that work. The education of women has lagged behind that of men in Liberia.—Manchester Guardian, August 21, 1888.
We trust that the appeal made by Mrs, Garnet Barboza, in the Manchester Town Hall yesterday, for English sympathy on behalf of her educational work in the African Republic of Liberia, will not remain without response. Mrs. Barboza, who is herself a lady of color, succeeded in thoroughly carrying with her a most influential and intelligent audience. Her work seems to be of a thorough and satisfactory character, and is carried on at an expense which may be regarded as almost insignificant when compared with the substantial advantages which it promises to confer upon the native women of Liberia.—Manchester Courier, August 21, 1888.
An Illustrious Visitor from Liberia.—An interesting visit has just been paid to Birmingham by a talented and highly educated negro lady, Mrs. M. H. Garnet Barboza, an ardent worker in the cause of educational training among colored people of the negro Republic of Liberia. A large circle of friends in Birmingham was invited to meet her and take tea at the Garden Restaurant, Paradise Street, on Monday evening last.—Birmingham Daily Post, September 5, 1888.
On reaching her home in lyiberia this noble educator had fresh courage for the work, and carried forward not only educational work, but also that of soul-winning. In seeking a special fitness for the latter service Mrs. Barboza saw the truth of baptism, and applied to the Baptist Church, of which Rev. J. O. Hays, of North Carolina, was pastor, for baptism. The faithful missionary administered the sacred ordinance and became pastor to this great woman.
Not long was this star to shine as a blessing to dark Africa, for in 1890 the death angel was commissioned from Heaven to take her from labor to reward. She fell at her post and with her father rests from her labor, awaiting in Africa to hear the sound of the first trump when she shall be forever with the Lord.
May the works of her hand be established among the children of men in Africa "until He comes"!
L. C. Flemmings.