42

10“ It is a credit to Bennett that it

1889 because of failing health. was the only non=college with whom the Woman's Home Missionary Society chose to affiliate.]05 It is also interesting to note at this point that Bennett Seminary and Kent Home were teaching normal and Hindus- trial" courses to Negro girls six years before the state of North Caro- lina opened a similar school, now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, for white girls.106 The second significant event to happen during Steele's term of office was the chartering of the school as Bennett College by the state legislatureo The charter became effective upon its ratification, March ll, l889. Sixteen men, including the Rev° Mr. Steele, Professor Charles

H° Moore, and the Rev° Mr. C. Nn Grandison, to be Steele's successor,

'were named as trustees. The trustees were not to exceed twenty-five in

number and a majority of their number were to be members of the Metho-

dist Episcopal Church. Two trustees were to be elected annually by the North Carolina Conference for terms equal to those of the other trus- tees° The chartering of the college was an important step, because it allowed the following powers: the college, through the trustees, could buy, hold, and convey property under seal; the property was exempt from taxation; the college could sue and be sued in any state court; the col- lege could prescribe courses of study and confer degrees; and the 10L'Ibid , po 36; and Woman' 5 Home Missionary Society, Eighth m M, 18881889, po 63. —_

10Elfreedmen's Aid and Southern Education Society, Twenty- -Second

Annual Report, l889, p. 15

106Arnett, 33. 213°, pp. lO7—l08°