Religious denominations have a long history of benevolent outreach to individuals considered "less fortunate." The institution of slavery in the United States created an opportunity for most denominations in the North to advance an image of "patron saint" to an oppressed African American community. Immediately following the Civil War, the church became a significant conduit for the education of African Americans. In particular, the Methodist Episcopal Church established a number of schools throughout the South that provided both rudimentary and, ultimately, college-level coursework for the newly freed slaves. This article examines the college curriculum of one Methodist-affiliated institution and how it was shaped by the interaction of social and religious ideas of the day.