Master of divinity degree

When Eugene Florence wanted to become a preacher in the 1940s, he had to attend seminary at night because Black students weren't allowed to take day classes.

Now, 53 years after he graduated with a theology degree, the 100-year-old Florence was recently awarded a master of divinity degree at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX.

Officials said they were correcting the injustice he endured at the then-segregated institution. "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.'"

Patterson said Florence actually earned the master's degree in 1951 after he took classes two nights a week for eight years. Patterson said the previous race policy, which barred Black students from receiving master's degrees, was "unbiblical, ungodly and unchristian in every way."

As Florence leaned on his cane and slowly walked up the steps at the front of Travis Avenue Baptist Church to receive his diploma, the crowd of more than 2,000 rose to its feet and applauded loudly.

Florence 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.