furnishes indisputable evidence that merit wins success, and
that industry, joined with native and acquired ability,
cannot be denied pre-eminence. His is a story of a man, who,
starting life with a definite goal in view, has allowed
neither the blandishments of flattery nor the frosts of
discouragement to hinder his progress; but, impressing his
great personality upon all with whom he came in contact, he
moved steadily forward, and is now one of the best examples
of erudition, eloquence and practicability in the Negro
pulpit.

This remarkable man was born March 28, 1859, in Lancaster
County, South Carolina. As a child he was religiously
inclined and thoughtful beyond his years, and none who knew
him was surprised, when at the age of ten years, he became a
member of the A. M. E. Zion Church. When quite young he was
sent to the public school, and afterwards to a private
school where he remained until 1874, when he entered the
South Carolina University. In 1876 when the Democrats
succeeded in electing Wade Hampton governor, all the colored
students were forced to withdraw from said university and
thus, after finishing the Junior Classical year he went to
Brainard Institute, Chester, S. C., from which he graduated
with very high honors.

Young Clinton finished his education by taking Theology,
Greek and Hebrew at Livingstone College. Realizing that the
urgent need of his people was education, he became a
successful and conspicuous educator. For ten years, with all
his energy, he was engaged in the public education of his
people, being at one time Principal of Lancaster (S. C.)
High School and Industrial Institute; and he held a similar
position in the Howard Graded School of Union, S. C. Both of
the above schools made marvelous advancement while under his
management. He founded a private school at Rock Hill, S. C.,
out of which has come the widely known Clinton Institute. As
a writer, Bishop Clinton is easily among the best which the
race has produced. In his style there is wonderful richness,
energy and variety. His chaste, pleasing and conservative
writings made the leading papers of his State seek his
contributions.

He founded the A. M. E. Zion Quarterly Review, which he
issued for two years with increasing success;