Biography of Thomas Rand, Jr., St. Landry Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Jim Conway ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** THOMAS RAND, Jr.: Early St. Landry Parish Baptist Minister and Educator [Editors note; In a previous article, Thomas Rand Institution which appeared in La Voix des Prafrie, Vol.13, No.50, (July 1992), p.53, mention was made and a list of students attending the school in 1860, was presented. Since that article appeared we have received a Biographical sketch of the Reverend Thomas Rand, professor ot the school. The sketch was taken from Rev. W. E. Paxion, History of the Baptists of Louisiana trom the Earliest Times to the Present, C. R. Publishing Co., St. Louis, (1888). The sketch written by Rev. F. Courtney, M.D. We thank Kathleen Stagg for the submission.] Elder Thomas Rand, Jr. "The subject of this sketch was born in West Springfield, Mass., July 10th 1813. His father, Thomas Rand, Sr., was also a Baptist preacher, and had an academy at West Springfield, where many men afterwards distinguished received the rudiments of learning. The son was brought up in a literary atmosphere, and imbibed an ardent thirst for knowledge. He improved the opportunities he enjoyed, and became a ripe scholar. At an early age he became the subject of diving grace; and in 1836 he was licensed to preach. That he might the better qualify himself for the sacred calling he entered Hamilton Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 1838. Not long afterwards he came to Louisiana and engaged in teaching, in St. Landry Parish. He was ordained in 1841. He devoted his life to preaching and teaching, and both by precept and example encouraged a higher standard of ministerial attainments. The fact that the Louisiana Association fostered ministerial education was largely due to his influence. He encouraged the Association to raise a library fund and purchase books for the use of her ministers. A valuable library was thus accumulated to which all her ministers had access and by which they were greatly benefited. He was for some time missionary of the Association, and enjoyed the confidence of the Creole population among whom he labored; and was instrumental in bringing many to the light of the Gospel. He died at Lake Charles, in the Parish of Calcasieu, July 1 st, 1869."