This week in Christian history: Mojave Cross, Presbyterian university chartered, Augustine baptized

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, April 24, 2022

Presbyterian Church's historically black university chartered – April 29, 1854

John Miller Dickey (1806-1878), a Presbyterian minister who helped found Lincoln University, the first historically black college or university to grant college degrees. | Screengrab: lincoln.edu

This week marks the anniversary of when The Ashmun Institute, a historically black college with ties to the Presbyterian Church, was chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Ashmun was founded by Presbyterian Pastor John Miller Dickey and his wife, Sarah Emlen Cresson, with the support of the Presbytery of New Castle and included theology education as part of its curriculum.

Later changing its name to Lincoln University in honor of the former president, the school eventually became the first historically black university to grant college degrees.

“During our first 100 years, Lincoln graduated approximately 20 percent of the African American physicians and more than 10 percent of the African American attorneys in the nation,” stated Lincoln University on the history section of its website.

“Our alumni have led more than 35 colleges and universities and scores of prominent churches. They also include U.S. ambassadors; mission chiefs; federal, state, and municipal judges; mayors; and city managers.”