Seminary Awards Master's Degree to 100-year-old Preacher
Eugene Florence, a 100-year-old preacher received his master of divinity degree at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas Friday – 53 years after he graduated with a theology degree.
When Eugene Florence wanted to become a preacher in the 1940s, black students were not allowed to receive master’s degrees under the race policies of the time.
The seminary’s president Patterson said the previous race policy was "unbiblical, ungodly and unchristian in every way." Patterson said Florence actually earned the master's degree in 1951 after taking classes two nights a week for eight years.
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"There's no way the seminary could go back and atone for all of its mistakes," said Paige Patterson, the seminary's president. "But we could do at least one thing to say ... `we're sorry for where we got it wrong."'
Officials at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas said they were correcting the injustice Florence had suffered at the then-segregated institution.
More than 2,000 people stood and applauded as Florence slowly made his way up the steps at the front of Travis Avenue Baptist Church to receive his diploma. Some people cheered, and others shouted, "Hallelujah!"
After the ceremony, Florence said he wasn't really bothered by his treatment in the '40s because that's the way society was at the time.
He said he appreciated Patterson's apology because "he meant it from the heart" and was happy to receive his new diploma.
"I feel good about it because it was so long coming," said Florence, who still preaches about twice a month at various churches.
