diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 01:15:53 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 01:15:53 -0700 |
| commit | 5c3043b50a46a4264475be666eebf99b43c58a1c (patch) | |
| tree | 5850652823d09ca19b716136986f0ba4d244194f | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20005-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 101203 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20005-h/20005-h.htm | 2225 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20005-h/images/church.jpg | bin | 0 -> 53395 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20005.txt | 2213 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 20005.zip | bin | 0 -> 42930 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
8 files changed, 4454 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20005-h.zip b/20005-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..dac25e1 --- /dev/null +++ b/20005-h.zip diff --git a/20005-h/20005-h.htm b/20005-h/20005-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..81fde22 --- /dev/null +++ b/20005-h/20005-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2225 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of A narrative of the life of Rev. Noah Davis, a colored man, by Rev. Noah Davis. + </title> + + <style type="text/css"> + /*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ + + <!-- + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + p {margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + line-height: 1.4em; + text-align: justify;} + /* Letter ----------------------------------------------- */ + p.letterDate {text-align: right; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-top: -1.0em;} + p.paraIndent {text-indent: 1.5em;} + p.letterClose1 {text-indent: 6em;} + p.letterClose2 {text-indent: 10em;} + /* Text Blocks ------------------------------------------ */ + blockquote {text-align: justify; font-size: 0.9em;} + .blockquot {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + pre {font-size: 0.9em;} + pre.note {font-size: 1.0em;} + .note, .noteBox {margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + font-size: 1.0em;} + .noteBox {border-style: dashed; + border-width: thin; + padding-left: 1em; + padding-right: 1em} + div.trans-note {border-style: solid; + border-width: 1px; + margin: 3em 15%; + padding: 1em; + text-align: center; + font-size: 0.9em; } + /* Headers ---------------------------------------------- */ + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center; clear: both;} + /* Horizontal Rules ------------------------------------- */ + hr {width: 65%; + margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; + margin-top: 2.0em; margin-bottom: 2.0em; + clear: both;} + hr.full {width: 100%;} + hr.short {width: 20%;} + hr.tiny {width: 10%;} + hr.tight {margin-top: 1.0em; margin-bottom: 1.0em;} + /* General Formatting ---------------------------------- */ + .sc {font-variant: small-caps;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + span.pagenum {position: absolute; + right: 1%; + color: gray; background-color: inherit; + font-variant: normal; + font-style: normal; + font-size: 8pt;} + ins.correction {text-decoration: none; + border-bottom: thin dotted red;} + p.right {text-align: right; margin-right: 5%;} + p.close {margin-top: -1.0em;} + p.center {text-align: center;} + p.heading {text-align: center; font-weight: bold;} + .bbox {border: double; width: 60%; border-width: thick; + margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + dd, li {margin-top: 0.25em; line-height: 1.2em;} + /* Table of Contents ------------------------------------ */ + ul.TOC {list-style-type: none; + position: relative; + width: 65%; + margin-left: 15%;} + span.tocright {position: absolute; right: 0;} + /* Figures ---------------------------------------------- */ + .figure, .figcenter {padding: 1em; margin: 0; + text-align: center; font-size: 0.8em;} + .figure img, .figcenter img {border: none;} + .figure p, .figcenter p + {margin: 0;} + .figcenter {margin: auto; clear: both;} + /* Tables ----------------------------------------------- */ + .center table {margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; + text-align: left;} + table {margin-top: 1em; + caption-side: top; + empty-cells: show; + border-spacing: 2.0em 0.0em; + margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + thead td, tfoot td {text-align: center; font-weight: bold;} + td, td > p {margin-top: 0.25em; + line-height: 1.1em; + font-size: 100%; + text-align: left;} + /* Links ------------------------------------------------ */ + a:link {color: blue; background-color: inherit; text-decoration: none} + link {color: blue; background-color: inherit; text-decoration: none} + a:visited {color: blue; background-color: inherit; text-decoration: none} + a:hover {color: red; background-color: inherit} + --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Narrative of The Life of Rev. Noah Davis, +A Colored Man., by Noah Davis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Narrative of The Life of Rev. Noah Davis, A Colored Man. + Written by Himself, At The Age of Fifty-Four + +Author: Noah Davis + +Release Date: December 23, 2006 [EBook #20005] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NOAH DAVIS *** + + + + +Produced by Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by the +Library of Congress) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<h2 align="center"><i>NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC</i>.</h2><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> + + +<p class="paraIndent">The object of the writer, in preparing this account of himself, is to</p> + +<h3 align="center">RAISE SUFFICIENT MEANS TO FREE HIS LAST<br /> +TWO CHILDREN FROM SLAVERY.</h3> + +<p class="paraIndent">Having already, within twelve years past, purchased himself, his wife, +and five of his children, at a cost, altogether, of over <i>four thousand +dollars</i>, he now earnestly desires a humane and christian public to</p> + + +<h3 align="center">AID HIM IN THE SALE OF THIS BOOK,</h3> + +<p class="paraIndent">for the purpose of finishing the task in which he has so long and +anxiously labored.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">God has blessed him in an extraordinary manner, not only by granting +freedom to him and so large a portion of his family, but by giving him +the hope of the gospel, and permitting him to preach that gospel among +his own people--in which calling he has been engaged for about +twenty-five years.</p> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + +<table summary="Saratoga Church" align="center"> +<tr><td><center><big>THE SARATOGA STREET</big></center><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +<img alt="church (52K)" src="images/church.jpg" height="220" width="322" /><br /> +<center><big>AFRICAN BAPTIST CHAPEL.</big></center></td></tr> +</table> +<br /><br /> +<p class="paraIndent">The building, of which the above cut is an imperfect representation, +fronts as above 100 feet on Saratoga street, and 46 feet on Calvert +street. The house is of brick, and cost over $18,000.--(See page <a href='#Page_45'><b>45</b></a>.)</p> + +<br /><br /><br /><br /> +<h3 align="center">A<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +<br /><br /> +NARRATIVE +<br /><br /> +OF +<br /><br /> +THE LIFE +<br /><br /> +OF +<br /><br /> +REV. NOAH DAVIS, +<br /><br /> +<i>A COLORED MAN.</i> +<br /><br /> +WRITTEN BY HIMSELF, AT THE AGE OF FIFTY-FOUR. +</h3> +<br /><br /> +<h3 align="center">PRINTED SOLELY FOR THE AUTHOR'S BENEFIT.</h3> + + +<h4 align="center"><font face="Old English Text MT">Baltimore</font>:<br /> +<font class="sc" style="font-size: 0.9em;">PUBLISHED BY JOHN F. WEISHAMPEL, JR.,</font><br /> +No. 484 West Baltimore St.</h4> +<hr /> +<h5>E<span class="smcap" style="font-size: 0.9em;">ntered</span> according to the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by N<span class="smcap" style="font-size: 0.9em;">oah</span> +D<span class="smcap" style="font-size: 0.9em;">avis</span>, in the Clerk's office of the District Court of Maryland. +</h5> +<hr /> +<h4>STEREOTYPED BY<br /> +JOHN F. WEISHAMPEL, JR., BOOKSELLER AND PUBLISHER,<br /> +BALTIMORE.</h4> +<hr /> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + + + +<h2>Contents.</h2><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +<hr class="short" /> + + +<h3><a href="#Page_9">CHAPTER I.</a></h3> + +<p class="center">Early Life in Virginia--Example of Pious Parents.</p> + +<h3><a href="#Page_13">CHAPTER II.</a></h3> + +<p class="center">Apprenticed to the Shoe-making--Learns housework--Intemperance--"A negro +can't be trusted"--Learning how to write and cipher.</p> + +<h3><a href="#Page_18">CHAPTER III.</a></h3> + +<p class="center">Religious Experience--Conviction and Conversion.</p> + +<h3><a href="#Page_26">CHAPTER IV.</a></h3> + +<p class="center">Marriage--License to Preach--Purchase of Freedom--Call to Baltimore.</p> + +<h3><a href="#Page_35">CHAPTER V.</a></h3> + +<p class="center">Experience in Baltimore--Education--Purchase of a Wife +and two Children--Great Distress of Mind--Generous Assistance--Church +Matters.</p> + +<h3><a href="#Page_44">CHAPTER VI.</a></h3> + +<p class="center">A New Movement in Baltimore--Erection of a Meeting +House for the African Baptist Church--Heavy Indebtedness--Account +of the Enterprise.</p> + + +<h3><a href='#Page_60'>CHAPTER VII.</a></h3> + +<p class="center">Account of a Visit to the northern Cities--True Friends.</p> + +<h3><a href="#Page_70">CHAPTER VIII.</a></h3> + +<p class="center">Conclusion--Object of this Book.</p> + +<br /><br /><br /><br /> +<h2>NARRATIVE.</h2><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +<br /><br /><br /> + + +<h3>CHAPTER I.</h3> + +<h4>Early Life in Virginia--Example of Pious Parents.</h4> + + +<p class="paraIndent">I was born a slave, in Madison county, Virginia, March, 1804. My father, +John Davis, and his family, belonged to Robert Patten, Esq., a wealthy +merchant, residing in Fredericksburg--who was also owner, in connection +with Mr. John Thom, of a large merchant mill, located on "Crooked Run," +a stream running between Madison and Culpepper counties. My father was +the head miller in that large establishment, in which responsible +station he was much respected.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">There I was born, and remained until I was twelve years old. Mr. Patten +was always considered one of the best of masters, allowing his servants +many privileges; but my father enjoyed more than many others. Both he +and my mother were pious members of a Baptist church, and from their +godly example, I formed a determination, before I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>had reached my +twelfth year, that if I was spared to become a man, I would try to be as +good as my parents. My father could read a little, and make figures, but +could scarcely write at all. His custom, on those Sabbaths when we +remained at home, was to spend his time in instructing his children, or +the neighboring servants, out of a New Testament, sent him from +Fredericksburg by one of his older sons. I fancy I can see him now, +sitting under his bush arbor, reading that precious book to many +attentive hearers around him.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">Such was the esteem I had for my pious father, that I have kept that +blessed book ever since his death, for his sake; and it was the first +New Testament I read, after I felt the pardoning love of God in my soul.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">My father died, August 20, 1826, aged 60 years. My mother, Jane Davis, +at the death of my father, removed from the farm, where my father died, +and spent the remainder of her days in Fredericksburg, with her +children. She lived to good old age, and fell asleep in Jesus, Dec. 24, +1831.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">My father had been allowed to keep a cow and horse, for his own use; and +to raise and feed his hogs and poultry from the mill. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>He had the +privilege of keeping his children with him, until they were old enough +to put out to such trades as they might choose. I had several brothers +and one sister. Two of my brothers, one older, the other younger than +myself, lived with our parents, at this place. My oldest brother worked +in the mill, with my father, while my youngest brother and I did little +else than play about home, and wait upon our mother. I had several +playmates, besides my brothers, and among them were the sons of Col. +Thom, and the servant boys who stayed at his house. Although many years +have passed away since, it gives me pleasure, even now, to recollect the +happy seasons I enjoyed with the playmates of my childhood.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">But this pleasant state of things was not to continue long. The owners +of the mill and farm concluded to sell out the whole concern. My father +and his family then removed to another farm, belonging to our owner, +located in Culpepper county, near Stevensburg. Here I remained nearly two +years, working, part of the time, with a carpenter, who was building a +summer residence for my master; and the rest of the time, assisting <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>my +father to cultivate as much ground as he and his family could tend. Here +I learned something of a farmer's life. The overseer, Mr. Daniel Brown, +had the reputation of being one of the best overseers in the county. But +my father's family was not put under him further than for his +protection; for after our owner sold the mill, he set my parents free, +and allowed them to maintain themselves, by cultivating as much ground +on the farm as they needed.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">Sometimes my father would leave his little place in charge of my brother +Robert and myself, and would hire himself to work in some mill, or go +peddling poultry, vegetables, &c., at some of the market places around.</p> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span><h3>CHAPTER II.</h3> + +<blockquote><h4>Apprenticed to the shoe-making--Learns housework--Intemperance--"A +negro can't be trusted"--Learning<br />how +to write and cipher.</h4></blockquote> + + +<p class="paraIndent">In December, 1818, for the first time in my life, I left my parents, to +go a distance from home; and I was sad at the thought of parting with +those whom I loved and reverenced more than any persons on earth. But +the expectation of seeing Fredericksburg, a place which, from all I had +then learned, I supposed must be the greatest place in the world, +reconciled me somewhat with the necessity of saying Good-bye to the dear +ones at home. I arrived at Fredericksburg, after a day and a half's +travel, in a wagon--a distance of some fifty miles. Having arrived in +town, a boy green from the country, I was astonished and delighted at +what appeared to me the splendor and beauty of the place. I spent a +merry Christmas at my old master's stately mansion, along with my older +brother, and for a while forgot the home on the farm.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">But soon, another home was selected for <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>me, where I might learn a +trade, and as I preferred the boot and shoe-making, I was put to Mr. +Thomas Wright, a man of sterling integrity, who was considered the best +workman in the whole town. Here I had an older brother living, which was +some inducement for my going to live with Mr. Wright. I was bound, to +serve until I should be twenty-one years old. This was in January, 1819.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">Upon entering with Mr. Wright, I learned that the colored boys had to +serve one year with Mrs. Wright, in the house and kitchen. The object of +this was to train them for future usefulness, when called from the shop, +to serve as waiters or cooks. Mrs. Wright was a good manager, and a very +particular housekeeper. I used to think she was too particular. But I +have learned better since. I have often wished, when I have been seeking +homes for my children, that I could find one like Mrs. Wright. She would +spare no pains to teach her servants how she wanted her work done; and +then she would spare no pains to make them do it. I have often looked +back, with feelings of gratitude and veneration, to that pious lady, for +her untiring perseverance in training me up in the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>way I should go. But +she is gone, as I trust, to receive the reward of righteousness, in a +better world.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">After I had been under Mrs. Wright's special charge the first year, she +could leave me to cook a dinner, or clean the house, or do anything she +might set me at, without her being present. I was now considered fit to +take my seat among the hands in the shop.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">Here I found quite a new state of things. The shoemakers, at that time, +in Fredericksburg, were considered the most intemperate of any class of +men in the place; and as the apprentice-boys had always to be very +obliging to the journeymen, in order to get along pleasantly with them, +it was my duty to be runner for the shop; and I was soon trained how to +bring liquor among the men with such secresy as to prevent the boss, who +had forbidden it to come on the premises, from knowing it.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">But, in those days, the drinking of ardent spirits was a common +practice, even among christians. With such examples all around, I soon +learned the habit of drinking, along with every other vile habit to +which my companions were addicted. It was true in my <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>case, that "evil +communications corrupt good manners;" and had it not been for the +strictness with which my boss and his amiable lady watched over me, I +should in all probability have become a confirmed drunkard, before my +time was out. But they held the reins over me, and kept me in, until I +had served out my apprenticeship.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I can say, however, that, much as I was inclined to other vices and +sins, Mr. Wright readily gave me a recommendation for honesty, +truthfulness, and goodness of character. In fact, he had felt such +confidence in me, that he would often leave his shoe store in my care, +when he would have to go to the north, for a supply of stock. And I can +truly say, that I never deceived him, when he thus trusted me. Nothing +would mortify me as much, as to hear it said, "A negro can't be +trusted." This saying would always nerve me with a determination <i>to be +trustworthy</i>.--If I was trusted, I would deserve to be trusted. I wanted +to show that principle was not confined to color. But I have been led to +look at it since, and have thought that perhaps it was more pride than +principle in me, at that time, for I was a wicked sinner.</p> +<p class="paraIndent"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>The first idea I ever got of writing, was from trying to imitate my +employer, who used to write the names of his customers on the lining of +the boots and shoes, as he gave them out to be made. So I tried to make +letters, and soon succeeded in writing my name, and then the word +Fredericksburg, and so on. My father had previously taught me the +alphabet, in the spelling book, before I had left the mill. After I +became religious, I would carry my father's New Testament to church, and +always try to get to meeting in time to hear the preacher read a chapter +before sermon. If he named the chapter before reading it, I would soon +find it. In this way, I gathered much information in pronouncing many +hard words in the Scriptures.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">It was a long time before I learned the meaning of the numeral letters +put in the Bible over the chapters. I had often seen them in the +spelling book running alongside a column of figures; but no one ever +told me that they were put there for the same use as the figures.</p> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span><h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> + +<h4>Religious Experience--Conviction--Conversion.</h4> + + +<p class="paraIndent">Just about the close of my apprenticeship, and as I began to feel myself +a man, I commenced to visit the girls, which induced me {to} go still +more frequently to church.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">At that time, there were four churches in Fredericksburg. The colored +people had apartments for worship with the white people, at each of +these churches. They were Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian and +Baptist.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I had no particular preference for any one of these denominations, more +than another; but, went wherever my favorites went. One night a young +lady invited me to go to the Methodist church, where a prayer-meeting +was to be held. During the meeting, a venerable old gentleman rose to +his feet, and related an account of the sudden death of a young lady, +which he had read in a newspapers. When he related that solemn +circumstance, it so affected me, that I felt as if I was about to die, +in a sudden manner also.</p> +<p class="paraIndent"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>Having always, from parental training, purposed in my mind to become +religious before I died, I thought that now was the time to begin to +pray. But I could not try to pray in the church, for I was afraid that +the girls would laugh at me. Yet I became so troubled, that I left the +house, girls and all, intending to seek some place where I might pray. +But to my horror and surprise, when I got out of the church, this +reflection occurred to me, "God is in heaven, and you are on earth:--how +can He hear you?" O, what distress of mind I now felt! I began to wonder +how God could hear my prayer; for, sure enough, He was in heaven, and I +on the earth. In my perplexity, I started for home.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">Just before I reached the shop, where I slept, this thought struck me, +if possible with more force than the former reflection: "God does see +you!" It really appeared to me as if I could see that God was indeed +looking at me; and not only so, but I felt that He had been looking at +me all my life. I now said to myself, "It is of no use for me to +pray.--If God has seen all my wickedness, as I feel that He has, then +there is no mercy for me."</p> +<p class="paraIndent">So I ran to my lodging-place, and tried to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>hide myself in a dark room. +But this was useless; for it appeared that God could see me in the dark, +as well as in the light.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I now felt constrained to beg for mercy, and spent the time in trying to +obtain pardon for my sins. But the morning came, and the hour drew near +for the hands to go to work, and I was still unhappy.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I felt so very different to what I had always felt, that I tried to +examine my impressions of the previous night, to learn if it was true +that God did see me or not; for I thought my imagination might have +deceived me.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">Up to this time, I was not fully convinced that God knew all about me. +So I began to study about the matter. As I sat on the shoe-bench, I +picked up a bunch of bristles, and selecting one of the smallest, I +began to wonder, if God could see an object so small as that. No sooner +had this inquiry arose in my heart, than it appeared to me, that the +Lord could not only see the bristle, but that He beheld me, as plainly +as I saw the little object in my hand; and not only so, but that God was +then looking through me, just as I would hold up a tumbler of clear +water to the sun and look through it. This was enough. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>I felt that I +must pray, or perish; and now I began to pray.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">But it really seemed, that the more I prayed the less hope there was for +me. Still I could not stop praying; for I felt that God was angry with +me. I had sinned against his holy laws; and now, if He should cut me +off, and send me to hell, it was but right. These thoughts followed me +day and night, for five weeks, before I felt relief. At length, one day, +while sitting on my shoe bench, I felt that my time had come when I must +die. What troubled me most, was that I should have to appear before God, +in all my sins;--O, what horror filled my soul at the thought!</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I began to wonder what I must do. I knew I was not prepared for death +and the Judgment. It is true that two of my shopmates, at that time, +were members of the church; but they did not seem to care for my soul. +All the rest of the hands were as wicked as myself. "What shall I do?" +was in my mind, all the time I sat at work.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">The reflection occurred to me, "Your mother is a christian; it may be +she can save you." But this suggestion appeared to be offensive to God. +Then came another thought,--"As <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>my master was a rich man, could he not +do something to help me?" But I found no relief in either ... and while +I sat thus, hoping and praying, light broke into my mind--all my trouble +left me in an instant.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I felt such a love and peace flowing in my soul, that I could not sit +longer; I sprang to my feet, and cried out, "Glory to God!" It seemed to +me, that God, whom I had beheld, a few seconds previously, angry with +me, was now well-pleased. I could not tell why this great change had +taken place in me; and my shopmates were surprised at my conduct, +saying, that I must be getting crazy. But, just at this moment, the +thought came into my mind, that I was converted; still, as I felt so +very different from what I had expected to feel, I could not see how +that could be. I concluded to run and see my mother, and ask her how +people felt, when they got converted. So I went, right away, to my +mother's house, some five or six squares from the shop.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">When I reached the door of her house, it appeared to me that everything +was new and bright. I went in, and sat down. Mother asked me how I was. +I told her, I felt <i>right smart</i>. This was a new sound from me; for <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>my +answers to this question had long been--"<i>poorly</i>." But now came the +trial; to ask mother how people felt, when they were converted. I felt +ashamed to ask the question; so I went into another room; and seeing a +hymn book lying on the table, I took it up. The first hymn that struck +my sight began with these words:</p> + + +<p class="blockquot">"When converts first begin to sing,<br /> +Their happy souls are on the wing--<br /> +Their theme is all redeeming love;<br /> +Fain would they be with Christ above.<br /> +With admiration they behold<br /> +The love of Christ, which can't be told," &c.</p> + + +<p class="paraIndent">These lines expressed my feelings precisely, and being encouraged from +them, I went to my mother, and asked her the question--"How do people +feel, when they get converted?" She replied, "Do you think you are +converted?" Now, this was a severe trial; for, although I felt that I +was really changed, yet I wanted to hear from her, before I could decide +whether I was actually converted, or not. I replied, "No." Then she +said, "My son, the devil makes people think themselves converted, +sometimes." I arose, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>left immediately, believing that the devil had +made a fool of me. I returned to my shop, more determined to pray than +ever before.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I arrived, and took my seat, and tried to get under that same weight, +that I had felt pressing me down, but a short while before. But it +seemed to me that I could not; and, instead of feeling sad, I felt +joyful in my heart; and while trying to pray, I thought the Saviour +appeared to me. I thought I saw God smiling upon me, through Christ, His +Son. My soul was filled with love to God and Jesus Christ. It appeared +to me, I saw a fullness in Jesus Christ, to save every sinner who would +come to Him. And I felt, that if I was only converted, I would tell all +sinners how precious the Saviour was. But I could not think myself +converted yet, because I could not see what I had done, for God to +pardon my sins. Still I felt a love to Him for what He had done for my +soul.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">Then I began to think upon my shopmates--and, O what pity ran through my +soul for them. I wished to pray for them; but I felt so unworthy, that I +could not do it. At last I promised the Lord that if He would convert my +soul, I would talk to them.</p> +<p class="paraIndent"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>... It was several months after that, before I was made to realize this to +be the work of God; and when it was made plain, O what joy it did bring +to my poor soul!</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I shortly became a member of the Baptist church, and was baptized, in +company with some twenty others, by Rev. Geo. F. Adams, who was then +pastor of the Baptist church in Fredericksburg--September 19, 1831. This +church then contained about three hundred colored members.</p> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span><h3>CHAPTER IV.</h3> + +<h4>Marriage--License to Preach--Purchase of Freedom--A +Call to Baltimore.</h4> + + +<p class="paraIndent">I had not been a member of the church a great while, before I formed an +attachment to a young woman, who ultimately became my wife. I have ever +regarded her as the special gift of God to me. She embraced religion +about the same time that I did. We had been acquainted with each other +for several years previous, and although we associated frequently in the +same social circle together; yet nothing of a special liking had +manifested itself until the day she was baptized.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">But we were both slaves, and of course had to get the consent of our +owners, before we went further. My wife belonged to the late Carter L. +Stephenson, Esq., who was a brother to Hon. Andrew Stephenson, of Va. My +wife's master was quite indulgent to the servants about the house. He +never restrained visitors from coming on his premises to visit his +domestics. It was said he had the likeliest set of servant girls in the +town; and though <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>I cannot say I got the prettiest, yet I think I got +the best one among them. We have lived happily together, as husband and +wife, for the last twenty-eight years. We have had nine children--seven +born in slavery, and two since my wife's freedom. Five out of the seven +in slavery I have bought--two are still in bondage.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">Before long, the brethren chose me to fill the office of a deacon. But +it never seemed to me to be the place that God designed for me; though I +felt willing to do whatever lay in my power for God's glory and the good +of His people. The impression made upon my mind at my conversion, to +talk to sinners, increased on me, until I could wait no longer.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I related my convictions of duty to my brethren, and particularly to one +who was always held in high esteem for his piety and excellent +character--a colored brother, Armistead Walker. My case was first +brought by him before the colored portion of the church; and after a +full hearing of my statement, by the white brethren, with regard to my +call to preach, &c., I was licensed to preach the gospel, and exhort +sinners to repentance, as opportunity might be afforded. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>I had ample +opportunities at that time, for doing good, by preaching to my fellow +men, both in town and country.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">Several other colored brethren, about this time, gave evidence of having +been called of God, to the work of preaching the gospel. Among these was +a dear brother, named Alexander Daniel. He was a bright and shining +light, among our people, and everything considered, I think he was the +best preacher of color I ever heard. But alas, he is no more! He was +esteemed as a christian minister, and his friends, both white and +colored, united in erecting a monument over his grave.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">In my attempts to preach the gospel to my fellow sinners, I often felt +embarrassed, not knowing how to read a chapter in the Bible correctly. +My desires now increased for such a knowledge of the sacred Scriptures, +as would enable me to read a chapter publicly to my hearers. I thought +that if I had all my time at my own command, I would devote it all to +divine things. This desire I think, led me more than anything else, to +ask permission of my master, Dr. F. Patten, to purchase my freedom. I +made this a subject of prayer, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>both night and day, that God would show +me what he would have me do. I felt encouraged to hope that I should +find favor with my owner, as he had always treated me kindly. But how +shall I get the purchase money, provided he grants my request?--This +appeared a difficult matter, but I thought if my master would give me a +chance, that I should be able to raise the money.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I went to him, and stated my wishes, informing him why I wanted to be +free--that I had been led to believe the Lord had converted my soul, and +had called me to talk to sinners. He granted my request, without a +single objection, fixing my price at five hundred dollars.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">But now I had to tell him that I had no money, and that I desired him to +grant me another request; which was, to let me travel and find friends, +who would give me the money. After learning my wishes fully, he +consented, and told me, when I got ready to start, he would give me a +pass, to go where I pleased.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I thanked him sincerely for this privilege, and after making +arrangements, in the way of obtaining suitable letters of +recommendation,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> I left Fredericksburg, in June, 1845, for Philadelphia, +New York, Boston, &c.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">After spending nearly four months in visiting the northern cities, I +returned home, with about one hundred and fifty dollars, greatly +disheartened.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">Previous to going north, I had raised about a hundred and fifty dollars, +which I had already paid on my debt.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">The cause of my failure to raise all the money, I believe, was that I +was unaccustomed to addressing large congregations of strangers; and +often, when I was favored with an opportunity of presenting my case to +the people, I would feel such embarrassment that I could scarcely say +anything. And I met another obstacle, which discouraged me very much; +which was, that some persons would tell me they sympathized with me, in +my efforts to get free; but they said it was against their principles to +give money, to buy slaves. I confess, this was new to me, and would cut +me down much in my spirits--still I found generous and noble-hearted +friends, who treated me with every mark of kindness.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I began to wonder to myself, whether God was in this matter, or not; and +if so, why I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>had not succeeded. However, having returned home, I went +to work at my trade, for the purpose of earning the remainder of the +money. Having paid what I was able, toward my debt, and reserving enough +to open a shop, upon my own account, my old boss, Mr. Wright, my true +and constant friend, became my protector, so that I might carry on my +business lawfully. In this, however, I was not very successful; but I +had not been long engaged at it, before I received a communication from +my white Baptist friends in Baltimore, through my pastor, Rev. Sam'l +Smith, informing me that if I would come to Baltimore, and accept an +appointment as missionary to the colored people of that city, they would +assist me in raising the balance of the money then due upon myself.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">This was indeed an unexpected, and to me an undesired call. I began to +think, how can I leave my wife and seven small children, to go to +Baltimore to live, a distance of more than a hundred miles from them. +This, I thought, could not be. I thought my children would need my +watchful care, more now than at any other time. It is true, they were +all slaves, belonging to a rich widow lady. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>But she had always given me +the entire control of my family. Now, if I should leave them at their +tender age, mischief might befall them. Still, as the letter from +Baltimore was from gentlemen of the best standing, it became me to give +them an answer. This I could not do, without first consulting my master. +I did so, and after giving the matter a careful consideration, he +thought I had better go and see those gentlemen--he was perfectly +willing to leave the matter to me.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">The result was, that I accepted the offer of the brethren in Baltimore; +and by them I was enabled to pay the debt I owed; and I have never had +cause to repent it--though I had misgivings sometimes, when I would get +into trouble.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">But I have found those who were my friends at first, are my friends +still. In a few weeks after I had arrived in Baltimore, (1847,) the +white Baptists who were favorable to the mission in behalf of the +colored people, secured for me an appointment as missionary of the +Domestic Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, in connection with +the Maryland Baptist Union Association. I now felt a debt of gratitude +to these dear friends, that I could <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>not show more acceptably to them, +than by engaging heartily in the work to which I had been thus called. I +went to work, first, by hiring a room in a private house, where I would +collect what few children I could get together, in a Sabbath school. I +continued in this place for nearly a year, teaching the little children, +and preaching to a few grown persons, who would come in at times to hear +what this Baptist man had to say; and who, after satisfying their +curiosity, would generally leave me. During my stay in this locality, I +could not find half a dozen colored Baptists, who would take hold with +me in this missionary enterprise. There were some few attached to the +white churches; but only two of those showed any disposition to help me +in this great and good work. I found that everybody loved to go with the +multitude, and it was truly up-hill work with me. I found some who are +called Anti-Mission, or Old School Baptists, who, when I called upon +them, would ask of what faith I was,--and when I would reply, that I +belonged to what I understood to be the Regular Baptists, they would +answer, "Then you are not of our faith," &c.</p> +<p class="paraIndent"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>Now I felt lonely indeed, separated far from home, from family, from +dear brethren and friends; thrown among strangers in a strange place. +Those I came to benefit, stood aloof from me, and seemed to look upon +all my movements with distrust and suspicion, and opposed to all I was +trying to do for the moral and spiritual benefit of our degraded race. +But, thanks be to God, all I found in Baltimore were not of this stamp. +Those of the white Baptists who had been the means of calling me to this +field, adhered to me like brethren, indeed. Could I feel at liberty to +mention names, I would bring to notice some dear friends who have ever +stood by me, in all my efforts to do good, and whose acts of +disinterested benevolence have been rarely equaled. But their labors of +love are recorded on high, and I must forbear.</p> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span><h3>CHAPTER V.</h3> + +<blockquote><h4>Experience in Baltimore--Education--Purchase of a Wife +and two Children--Great Distress of Mind--Generous Assistance--Church +Matters.</h4></blockquote> + + +<p class="paraIndent">When I came among the colored people of Baltimore, I found, to my +surprise, that they were advanced in education, quite beyond what I had +conceived of. Of course, as I never had such advantages, I was far +behind the people; and as this did not appear well in a preacher, I felt +very small, when comparing my abilities with others of a superior stamp. +I found that the great mass of colored professors of religion were +Methodists, whose piety and zeal seemed to carry all before them. There +were, at that time, some ten or eleven colored Methodist churches, one +Episcopalian, one Presbyterian; and one little Baptist church, located +upon the outskirts of the city. The most of the Methodist churches were +large and influential; and the Presbyterian church had one of the best +Sabbath schools for colored children in the city.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">But the Baptist colored membership was looked upon as the smallest; and +under these <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>circumstances, I was surrounded with discouragements; +although the ministers and brethren of other denominations have always +treated me with marked christian kindness.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I had never had a day's schooling; and coming to one of the first cities +in the Union, where the colored people had the advantages of schools, +and where their pulpits were occupied, Sabbath after Sabbath, by +comparatively intelligent colored ministers--what could I expect, but +that the people would turn away from one who was trying to preach in the +room of a private house, some fifteen by twenty feet? Yet, there was no +turning back: God had called me to the work, and it was His cause I was +advocating.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I found, that to preach, like other preachers, I must improve my mind, +by reading the Bible and other good books, and by studying my own +language. I started afresh--I got a small stock of books, and the white +brethren loaned and gave me other useful volumes, to which they added a +word of instruction and encouragement, whenever an opportunity offered; +and the ministers cordially invited me to attend their Monday +ministerial conference meeting, which was very useful to me.</p> +<p class="paraIndent"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>... I had now been in Baltimore more than a year. My wife and seven +children were still in Virginia. I went to see them as often as my +circumstances permitted--three or four times a year. About this time, my +wife's mistress agreed to sell to me my wife and our two youngest +children. The price fixed, was eight hundred dollars cash, and she gave +me twelve months to raise the money. The sun rose bright in my sky that +day; but before the year was out, my prospects were again in darkness. +Now I had two great burdens upon my mind: one to attend properly to my +missionary duty, the other to raise eight hundred dollars. During this +time we succeeded in getting a better place for the Sabbath school, and +there was a larger attendance upon my preaching, which demanded reading +and study, and also visiting, and increased my daily labors. On the +other hand, the year was running away, in which I had to raise eight +hundred dollars. So that I found myself at times in a great strait.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">My plan to raise the money was, to secure the amount, first, by pledges, +before I collected any.... Finally, the year was more than passed away, +and I had upon my subscription<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> list about one half of the money +needed. It was now considered that the children had increased in value +one hundred dollars, and I was told that I could have them, by paying in +cash six hundred dollars, and giving a bond, with good security, for +three hundred more, payable in twelve months. I had six weeks, in which +to consummate this matter. I felt deeply, that this was a time to pray +the Lord to help me, and for this my wife's prayers were fervently +offered with my own. I had left my wife in Virginia, and come to +Baltimore, a distance of over a hundred miles; I had been separated thus +for nearly three years; I had been trying to make arrangements to have +her with me, for over twelve months, and as yet had failed. We were +oppressed with the most gloomy forebodings, and could only kneel down +together and pray for God's direction and help.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I was in Fredericksburg, and had but one day longer to stay, and spend +with my wife. What could be done, must be done quickly. I went to my old +friend, Mr. Wright, and stated my case to him. After hearing of all I +had done, and the conditions I had to comply with, he told me that if I +would raise the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>six hundred dollars cash, he would endorse my bond for +the remaining three hundred.--This promise inspired me with new life. +The next thing was, how could the six hundred dollars be obtained in six +weeks. I had upon my subscription list and in pledges nearly four +hundred dollars. But this had to be collected from friends living in +Fredericksburg, Washington city, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I left Fredericksburg, and spent a few days in Washington, to collect +what I could of the money promised to me there; and met much +encouragement, several friends doubling their subscriptions. When I +arrived in Baltimore, and made known the peculiar strait I was in, to my +joyful surprise, some of the friends who had pledged five dollars, gave +me ten; and one dear friend who had promised me ten dollars, for this +object, and who had previously contributed largely in the purchase of +myself, now gave me fifty. I began to count up, and in two weeks from +the time I commenced collecting, I had in hand four hundred dollars. +Presently, another very dear friend enquired of me how I was getting +along; and when I told him, he said, "Bring your money to me." <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span>I did +so. It lacked two hundred dollars to make the purchase. This, the best +friend I ever had in the world, made up the six hundred dollars, and +said, "Go, get your wife; and you can keep on collecting, and repay the +two hundred dollars when you get able."</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I was now overcome with gratitude and joy, and knew not what to say; and +when I began to speak, he would not have any of my thanks. I went to my +boarding house, and shut myself up in my room, where I might give vent +to the gratitude of my heart: and, O, what a melting time I had! It was +to me a day of thanksgiving.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">Having now in hand the six hundred dollars, and the promise of Mr. +Wright's security for three hundred more, I was, by twelve o'clock, next +day in Fredericksburg.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">At first sight, my wife was surprised that I had come back so soon; for +it was only two weeks since I had left her; and when I informed her that +I had come after her and the children, she could hardly believe me. In a +few days, having duly arranged all things relative to the purchase and +removal, we left for Baltimore, with feelings commingled with joy and +sorrow--sorrow at parting with five <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>of our older children, and our many +friends; and rejoicing in the prospect of remaining together permanently +in the missionary field, where God had called me to labor. I arrived in +Baltimore, with my wife and two little ones, November 5th, 1851, and +stopped with sister Hester Ann Hughes, a worthy member of the M. E. +Church, with whom I had been boarding for four years.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">The Md. Baptist Union Association was now in session here, and it became +my duty to prepare my church letter and missionary report, for that +body. The church had now been organized just three years; commencing +with only four members, including the pastor. Our church statistics for +the year, as reported, were: Baptized, 2; Received by letter, 2; Present +number of members, 15.... Sabbath school much revived, under the special +efforts of several white brethren and sisters. Present number of Sunday +scholars, 50.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">This year was a joyful one to me--my little church increasing, and the +Sabbath school flourishing, under the superintendence of the late truly +excellent brother James C. Crane, though he was with us but for a short +season. My wife and little ones were also with <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>me, both in the church +and Sabbath school. I was a happy man, and felt more than ever inclined +to give thanks to God, and serve Him to the best of my ability.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">My salary was only three hundred dollars a year; but with hard exertion +and close economy, together with my wife's taking in washing and going +out at day's work, we were enabled by the first of the year, to pay the +two hundred dollars our dear friend had loaned us, in raising the six +hundred dollars before spoken of. But the bond for three hundred dollars +was now due, and how must this be met? I studied out a plan; which was +to get some gentleman who might want a little servant girl, to take my +child, and advance me three hundred dollars for the purpose of paying my +note, which was now due in Virginia. In this plan I succeeded; and had +my own life insured for seven years for five hundred dollars, and made +it over to this gentleman, as security; until I ultimately paid him the +whole amount; though I was several years in paying it.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">Among the number that joined our little church, was a young brother, +Jos. M. Harden, who was baptized by Dr. Fuller, but soon <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>became a +valuable member with us, both in the church and Sunday school. He was +born in Baltimore, and had been early taught to read, and though he had +been at ten years old bound out, till he was twenty-one, his love of +books had made him far superior to colored people generally, and he was +very valuable to me. Things had gone on hopefully with me, and my little +church, though our progress was very slow. But we had to suffer a loss +in brother Harden's leaving us for the great missionary field in Africa, +where I trust the Lord has sent him for a great and happy work. But God +has blessed us in the person of brother Samuel W. Madden, whose labors +as a licensed preacher for several years have been invaluable to us.</p> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span><h3>CHAPTER VI.</h3> + +<blockquote><h4>A New Movement in Baltimore--Erection of a Meeting House for the African +Baptist Church--Heavy Indebtedness--Account of the Enterprise--Personal +Troubles.</h4></blockquote> + + +<p class="paraIndent">For several years previous to Jan., 1855, our little church and Sunday +school had occupied a very inconvenient upper room on Courtland street. +Our particular friend, Mr. William Crane, with some other white persons +to aid him, was the devoted superintendent of our Sunday school, and the +unfailing friend of our own little church, as well as of me personally. +Mr. Crane had felt, with us, the great disadvantage of our place of +worship, and had exerted himself much to obtain a more commodious room +for us. But in July, 1853; he commenced an extraordinary effort in our +behalf, by purchasing a lot--one hundred feet by forty-six feet--with +three fronts, on Calvert, Saratoga and Davis streets, on which a chapel +building has been erected for us.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">Our chapel was opened for worship Feb. 18, 1855; and Rev. Dr. Fuller +preached the opening sermon to a crowded audience.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">On this occasion Mr. Wm. Crane read a detailed <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>report of all the facts +relative to this building--a full copy of this report may be interesting +probably to my readers, and I have therefore obtained it, and here +present it, in connection with a picture of the building, which will be +found opposite the title page.</p> +<br /> + + + <h4 style="margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;">HISTORY OF THE SARATOGA STREET AFRICAN BAPTIST CHAPEL.</h4> + +<p class="paraIndent" style="margin-top: 0em;">"The questions have often been asked in this vicinity during the last +six months, Who is putting up that large building called the 'Saratoga +Street African Baptist Chapel?' 'What are they putting it up for?'--'Who +will own it, when finished?' 'How much will it cost? and who will pay +for it?'"</p> +<p class="paraIndent">These questions have often been answered, but it seems proper, and +indeed necessary, at this time to answer them plainly and clearly, for +the information of this large assembly.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">First, then, I reply: This entire building has been reared under my +directions, in the name of the Saratoga street African Baptist Church.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">This Church was organized with only four <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>members, six years ago, with +brother Noah Davis, a missionary of the Md. Baptist Union Association, +as its pastor, who has labored most faithfully in his work. But, +although colored churches of the Baptist denomination in all of our +Southern and Western cities count their members by thousands, this +church has now only thirty members--but our hope and prayer is, that +established here in the centre of a population of full thirty thousand +colored people, God may bless the humble devoted efforts of His people, +and increase their numbers a hundred fold. Four years ago, the 1st of +January, we commenced a Sunday school in Courtland street,--where this +church has always held its regular meetings, which notwithstanding its +many discouragements--mostly from a want of devoted self-denying +teachers--has been unremittingly kept up morning and afternoon, till the +present time, with an attendance varying from thirty to over one hundred +scholars; and we feel assured that the hundreds of Bibles and +Testaments, tracts, &c., with the Sunday school instructions, and the +preaching of brother Davis will have laid the foundation for a lasting +blessing to his people. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>This little church and Sunday school have met +to-day for the first time in this building, and in the language of the +Psalmist David, probably on an occasion like this, we would exclaim, +"Send now, we beseech thee, O Lord--O Lord, we beseech thee, send now +prosperity!"--(Ps. 118: 25.)</p> +<p class="paraIndent">But what are the objects for which this house has been built? I answer, +the first object was, to furnish such a room as this, for the use of +this church, where the gospel might be preached and its ordinances +administered, and where Sunday schools and religious associations might +be properly accommodated. The second was, to furnish rooms in the next +story, for a male high school at one end, and a female high school at +the other, and where colored missionaries for Africa might be educated +for that most important field of labor; with a large hall in the centre, +for a lecture room, or for any other religious, moral, or useful +purposes. The upper story has four separate rooms, finished for renting +to associations of colored people, with a view to paying whatever debt +may remain on the building, and for defraying its current expenses;--and +it is hoped that, at some future day, a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>reading room and a circulating +library for colored people may also be located here--the whole of it +combining a most respectable, central, commodious <i>Colored People's +Home</i>.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">But it is asked, who owns this building? I admit that it is an unusually +mixed up affair; but I will try to explain it. After a great deal of +searching and enquiring after a lot or building, where this Church and +Sunday school could have a settled home, about two years ago, I was +informed that this lot was for sale; and realizing instantly that my +cherished objects could here be accomplished I bought it without +hesitation, for five thousand dollars; but the loss of two years' +interest and the amount paid to tenants to move away, makes the cost of +the lot now full six thousand dollars. I obtained the deed of J. H. B. +Latrobe, Esq., who sold it, as trustee for the estate of Hugh Finley, +deceased, under an order of Court. After a charter of incorporation for +the Church had been made, I got Mr. Latrobe to draw up also this deed, +[here presenting it] which he says is a perfectly good one--from William +Crane and wife, to Geo. F. Adams, J. W. M. Williams, and John W. Ball, +as trustees for all concerned, conveying <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>to this Church all my right +and title forever to all of the proposed building on this lot above the +first story: leaving me the basement and the cellar as my own property +forever, with the proviso, that the Church in its own name should put up +the entire building. But I agreed at the same time to subscribe five +thousand dollars on the subscription book of the Church towards erecting +it. So that I am now sole owner of the store and cellar under the +Chapel--the Church has no ownership there at all--but the Church is +legal owner of this Chapel and all the rooms above it. The Church +appointed me their agent to build the house, and as such I have made all +the contracts, paid out all the monies, and assumed all the liabilities. +Before commencing the building, as before stated, my own subscription<br /> +<font face="Courier New">was...................................$5,000<br /> +My brother, J. C. Crane, from whom I<br /> +expected efficient personal aid, gave..1,000<br /> +Bro. Franklin Wilson,..................1,000<br /> +A. Fuller Crane,.........................500<br /> +John W. Ball,............................250<br /> +J. B. Thomas,............................100<br /> +Among our colored friends, about.........200<br /> + +------<br /> +Amounting to, say,....................$8,050</font></p> +<p class="paraIndent"><font face="Courier New"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>Since that time, the pressure on the money<br /> +market has prevented any general effort to<br /> +obtain subscriptions, but a city pastor has<br /> +subscribed..............................$150<br /> +A sister of the First Baptist Church.....100<br /> +Bro. Jonathan Batchelor, of Lynn, Mass...100<br /> + +------<br /> +Making in all, a total of.............$8,400</font></p> + + +<p class="paraIndent">The entire cost of the building, notwithstanding the most rigid economy, +will be over eighteen thousand dollars, and full half of this amount is +yet unprovided for. The bills are not all presented, but some of the +larger ones which have been settled by notes will be due in a short +time; while the largest one, the lumber bill, has six months to run yet, +so that I am bound to settle up and pay the entire balance of +expenditure on this house, as agent of the Church, within the coming six +months. And whatever amount of money I advance over and above the +subscriptions and collections must, of course, remain as a debt due me +by the Church, and be on interest until paid.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">The last question, how is the money obtained to pay for the building? +has been partly answered; but a full explanation of it will <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>depend on +what the friends of the object will now contribute toward paying for it. +I will subscribe one dollar for every ten dollars that may be subscribed +and paid on account of the Church debt within the year 1855. In other +words, I will add ten per cent to any amount which may be contributed. I +may remark, that in engaging in this project, I had not a dollar which I +wished to put out at interest. I want much more than my capital in my +mercantile business. I am in fact borrowing, to lend to the Church. But +it is God's cause, and I have had to trust in Him to bear me through it. +The failing health of my dear brother, J. C. Crane,<a name="FNanchor_A_A" id="FNanchor_A_A"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_A" class="fnanchor"><sup>[A]</sup></a> and the want of +his invaluable co-operation with me, as well as the lack of hearty, +zealous assistance on the part of many other brethren and friends, has +been painful to me. But I hope, now that the house is finished, the +friends of our Redeemer's cause and of the African race generally, may +not fail in lending their efficient aid.</p> + +<p class="paraIndent">I have only to add, brethren, "the time is short;" we must all of us +soon appear before the judgment seat of Christ, to render an account<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +of all the talents committed to our charge. If God has given me a +talent for the acquisition of money over and above what my duty to my +family requires, I regard myself bound as a good steward to exert that +talent entirely for Him. I am not my own, and I feel perfectly assured +that any individual who possesses the tact and ability for acquiring +money is neccessarily (<i>sic</i>.) the best qualified for a judicious and +proper disbursement of it; and I dare not try to leave my earthly +acquisitions in testamentary charitable bequests--to the inexperienced +and uncertain management of those who may come after me.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">"May God help us to work for Him, and at last may we hear, 'Well done, +good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.'"</p> +<p class="paraIndent">This paper was read to the congregation, probably a thousand people, +immediately after Dr. Fuller had preached the opening sermon, Feb. 18, +1855; and a collection was taken of about one hundred dollars. +Subsequent to this, a venerable widow lady of Baltimore contributed +$500, and other quite liberal donations were made.</p> + + +<p class="paraIndent"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>On the 1st of July, 1855, Mr. Crane rendered a full account to the +Church and trustees, of all the monies received and bills paid on the +building; showing that the entire cost<br /> +<font face="Courier New">of it was,............................$18,207,73<br /> +Total am't of collections credited,.....9,547,86<br /> + +---------<br /> +Leaving balance over-paid by him, .... $8,659,87</font></p> + +<p class="paraIndent">The trustees then gave Mr. Crane a bond for this balance, and a lease on +the building, until this debt, with interest on it, could be paid.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">Our Church now had great cause of gratitude at finding ourselves in a +fine large Chapel, in the centre of our city--a room 100 feet long, and +19 feet high, with a gallery at each end, a baptistery, gas lights, and +sliding partitions, to make two closed rooms under the galleries, when +needed for the changing of clothes on baptismal occasions, as well as +for our Church prayer and conference meetings.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">We were in hopes that we could rent out the large hall, together with +the six other spacious rooms in the two upper stories, for schools, +benevolent societies, &c., so as to pay the interest on our debt, if no +more; but <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>so far, we have not been able to do this. My own trials, with +my family, have greatly retarded my efforts in this matter. We have had +the largest and best week-day school for colored children in the city--a +part of the time with three teachers and over one hundred scholars--but +for four years, no rent has been received from the school. The prices +for tuition have been so low, that they have hardly sustained the +teachers; but we trust that our people have derived much benefit from +them already, and hope they may receive much more good from them in the +future. Since the dedication of our Chapel, our Church has more than +doubled its membership, and the congregation has increased four-fold; +while on our baptizing occasions the hall is generally full. We have +always held three meetings for worship every Sunday, to accommodate many +servants, who have no command of their time, and also regular Wednesday +and Friday evening prayer and conference meetings. Our Sunday school has +always had two sessions a day--an hour and a half in the morning, and an +hour in the afternoon.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I have been necessarily much hindered in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span>my own labors, from pecuniary +embarrassments, arising from the sale of my children, who were left in +Virginia--two daughters and three sons. The first of these, who was +about to be sold, and taken away South, was my oldest daughter; and it +was with great difficulty and the help of friends that I raised eight +hundred and fifty dollars, and got her on to Baltimore. But I was soon +called upon to make a similar effort to save my eldest son from being +sold far from me. Entirely unexpected, I received the painful news that +my boy was in one of the trader's jails in Richmond, and for sale. The +dealer knew me, and was disposed to let me have him, if I could get any +one to purchase him. I was, of course, deeply anxious to help my boy; +but I began to think that I had already drawn so heavily on the +liberality of all my friends, that to appeal to them again seemed out of +the question. I immediately wrote to the owners of my son, and received +an answer--that his price was fixed at seven hundred dollars.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">The fact is, God had already done so much more for me and my family than +we had ever expected, that we could not tell what further <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>help He might +give us, until we had asked Him for it; and we could but pray over this +trying affair. I hardly knew what else to do, but pray. The boy was +twenty years old, and had been accustomed to waiting in the house, for +the most respectable families. It occurred to me, that I might perhaps +get him a home near me, where we might see him and use our parental +influence over him. I thought it was possible, that I might find three +hundred persons among my friends in Baltimore, who would contribute one +dollar each to save my son, and that I might then obtain some friend in +Baltimore to advance four hundred dollars, and let my son work it out +with him: and give this friend a life insurance policy on the boy, as a +security. This plan seemed practicable, and I wrote to his owners, +asking for ten days to raise the money; which they granted me.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I now got my case made known publicly to the different colored +congregations in the city--and was very much surprised to find how many +friends I had, and how kindly they engaged in helping me. The result of +it was, that I obtained the three hundred dollars, and also a kind +friend to advance the four <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>hundred dollars, within the ten days, and +recovered my son; who is now doing well, in working out the money +advanced on him.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">So far, I felt that I had great reason to say, "Hitherto the Lord hath +helped me." I had obtained my own freedom and also that of my wife and +four children.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">But three of my children were still in bondage. In 1856, the mistress of +these remaining ones died; and in settling up her estate, it became +necessary to sell all her servants at auction with her other property. +This was the decision of the Court; and commissioners were appointed to +carry out the sale, on the 1st of January, 1857. I felt now, that I had +gone as far as I could in getting my family free; for I felt very +certain that my daughter, about whom I felt the greatest anxiety, would +sell at auction for more money than I could get any of my friends in +Baltimore to give for her; and I saw no way to do any thing for the two +boys. I thought I had no chance of raising any more money myself, and I +could only pray the Lord to grant us His grace, to reconcile us and the +children, to whatever might come upon us. But before the end of the +year, when the sale was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>to take place, the time was extended six months +by the Court. My hopes now began to revive again; I began to think that +if I could be at the sale, my daughter, though a grown up girl might +possibly not bring over six or seven hundred dollars. In that case, I +might perhaps get six or twelve months time, and get some friend in +Baltimore to help me, as had been the case with my son. The sale was +postponed for six months longer, and finally occurred, Jan. 1, 1858.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">The money panic, of 1857, had partially destroyed my hopes of doing +anything to relieve my daughter;--But I had secured the promise of a +kind friend in Baltimore, to go to Fredericksburg with me, and if he +liked the appearance of the boys, to buy one or both of them. But in +this I was disappointed; for on the day of sale this gentleman was +confined to his house by sickness. The sale went on. My oldest son, aged +twenty-one, sold for $560; and the younger one, just turning his +seventeenth year, brought $570. They were bought in by their young +master. But my daughter was run up to $990, by a slave trader, who after +the sale agreed to let my friends have her, for me, for eleven hundred +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>dollars. These friends were gentlemen of the first standing in the +place, who, out of kindness to me, whom they had well known for years, +gave their bond jointly for the amount, and in this case again I got the +girl's life insured for one thousand dollars as a security for them. The +girl was of course left in the hands of these gentlemen, in whom I had +the most implicit confidence.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I returned to Baltimore, and prepared for the redemption of my child. I +had a circular printed, showing the facts as they were, and scattered it +among my friends.</p> +<br /> + +<p class="note"><a name="Footnote_A_A" id="Footnote_A_A"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_A"><span class="label"><sup>[A]</sup></span></a>Died March 31, 1857. See Memoir of Southern Baptist +Publication Society.</p> + + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span><h3>CHAPTER VII.</h3> + +<h4>Account of A Visit to the northern Cities--True Friends.</h4> + + +<p class="paraIndent">During the winter and spring, I used every effort in my power in the way +of collecting funds, but, though I met with the most generous sympathy +and kindness from all my friends--up to the 1st of June I had in hand +only one hundred and fifty dollars. I then applied to the Mission Board, +for permission to travel and solicit funds to help me out of my +distress. This was readily granted me. Having obtained a certificate, +relative to the objects of my journey, signed by Rev. Franklin Wilson, +Secretary of our State Missionary Board, as well as by the pastors and +other friends in Baltimore, I started once more on this painful business +of begging money, to purchase my fifth child out of slavery. I went to +Philadelphia, and met with marked attention from the ministers of the +Baptist churches generally, and especially from Rev. Messrs. McKean, +Cole, and Griffith, with whom I had been acquainted in Baltimore; as +well as Revs. Messrs Cuthbert and Malcom, and the editors of the +Christian <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>Chronicle, Presbyterian, &c. I obtained in this city nearly +two hundred dollars.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">With a view to meet a particular friend in Boston, I was induced to +visit that city next. The many acts of kindness and sympathy I met with +there can never be effaced from my memory. I had a special introduction +to the Messrs. Gould and Lincoln, book publishers. To the latter, I owe +a lasting obligation.--Through him I obtained a hearing of my case in +Mr. Anderson's church, Roxbury, where I obtained very liberal aid, while +the pastor was absent, as well as in many other cases.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I called on Rev. Dr. Stow, who allowed my case to be presented to his +congregation, at an evening meeting, where I received some fifty +dollars. He also gave me a letter of commendation to the other Baptist +ministers, with a request that they would also sign it, which a large +number did. The article was then published gratuitously for me in the +"Watchman and Reflector" and "Christian Era." Rev. L. A. Grimes, pastor +of the 12th Baptist Church, (colored,) from the respectable position +which he occupied in the community, did much for me, in furthering my +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>cause, and introducing me to others, especially at the daily prayer +meetings.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I had the great privilege and pleasure of mingling with the people of +God of every name, in these blessed meetings. The first I went to, was +at the old South Chapel. Here I felt at first greatly embarrassed when +called on to speak or pray. I thought that those who came to these +meetings must be among the most pious and intelligent people in Boston. +The kind manner in which they treated me, confirmed me in my impressions +of them. But the best meetings, I think I ever enjoyed on earth, for +such a length of time, (nearly two months,) was at what was called the +North street prayer meeting, or Father Mason's. This was in a large +upper room. It really appeared to me, that the most of those who met at +this place each day at twelve o'clock to spend an hour in prayer, to +tell what God had done for their souls, had been made "ready," by the +Spirit of God before they reached that sacred spot.--</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I know, I shall fail to present a true picture of this heavenly place; +for such it was to me, and many others. But, it may be, that my own +peculiar circumstances may <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>have rendered the meetings unusually +precious to me. But they were good to me in many respects. I was a poor +colored man, in distress, and needed christian sympathy. I found it +truly, among the many white friends with whom I met in the North street +prayer meeting. There, in that meeting, the dear friends would pray with +me and for me. In a word, I felt at times it was good for me to be +afflicted, for surely, if it had not been for my peculiar circumstances, +I should never have been inside the Old South Chapel, or North street +prayer meeting, where I enjoyed so much of God's presence, and found so +many real friends, in the midst of strangers. I felt that I realized +what the apostle Peter meant: "If need be, ye are in heaviness, through +manifold temptation, that the trials of your faith, being much more +precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might +be found unto praise and honor and glory, at the appearing of Jesus +Christ."--(1 Peter 1: 6,7.) Also, "For I will show him how +great things he must suffer for my name's sake."--(Acts 9: 16.) The +arguments I drew from these passages of Scripture were, to show that +when God wanted to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>purify our faith, and strengthen our confidence in +Him, He would send trials upon us. And to let us see how great the +things we must suffer for His name's sake, and to let us see too how +great the grace He gives us, to enable us to endure hardness, as good +soldiers of the cross.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">Suffice it to say, the friends in Boston and its vicinity gave me about +four hundred dollars towards the purchase of my daughter. I had the +privilege of meeting the Baptist ministers in their conference meeting. +Here the Rev. Mr. Tilson, pastor of the First Baptist Church at Hingham, +invited me to spend a Sunday evening at his place, which I did, very +greatly to my own satisfaction and profit. During my stay in Boston, I +visited several of the smaller towns adjacent to it,--Lynn, Cambridge, +Melrose, Malden, Chelsea, and others, and I was kindly received at all +of them. I collected in Lynn something like $50, the most of which was +given to me by the members of the 2nd Baptist Church. Just before +leaving Boston, to my great and agreeable surprise, I met Dr. F. Patten, +surgeon in the U. S. Navy, (my former owner,) in the street, in that +city. I had not seen <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>him for seven or eight years, and had no thought +of seeing him in Boston. He recognized me first, and spoke to me before +I knew he was near; but I instantly knew him. We greeted each other +heartily, and he invited me to visit him at Chelsea. This I did, the +same afternoon, and was kindly treated.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">While I sat there with him and his children, and he was looking over my +subscription book, I was constrained to look back for fifteen years, +over all the way the Lord had brought me, since the day this same +gentleman had given me privilege to purchase my freedom, and handed me a +pass, saying, "I am not afraid of you running away, Noah--you may go +where you please." I reflected, suppose I had stayed away, when I was in +Boston, twelve years ago, begging money to buy myself--how would it be +with me and my family to-day? But I have tried to acknowledge the Lord +in all my ways, always asking counsel of Him, and I now feel that He has +kindly directed and kept me.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I also visited New Bedford, where I met a large number of my old +acquaintances from Virginia, and had the privilege of presenting my +object to several of the Churches, and I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>received in all about $50. I +next went to Providence, Rhode Island, where I spent a couple of weeks +greatly to my advantage. It was indeed "providence" to me. I was +permitted to present my case to nearly all the Baptist Churches in that +city. Five of these aided my cause; but their great kindness deserves +some particular notice. The first one I visited was Rev. Mr. Stone's, +whose congregation, with himself, greatly encouraged me. At the First +Church I told my story before an evening meeting, and shall never forget +the kindness of the pastor, the senior deacon, and others. I obtained +here nearly $100. I was kindly assisted by Rev. Mr. Keyser's Church, as +also the Fourth Baptist Church. But at the Central Baptist Church, Rev. +Mr. Fields', I found unbounded kindness and liberality. After seeing my +letters of recommendation, the pastor invited me to his prayer meeting, +where I was favored with the privilege of telling my story, freely. I +had been from home several months, and had collected in all about seven +hundred dollars, but still lacked about four hundred to accomplish my +object. I was receiving letters every week from my Church and family, +saying that my presence <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>at home was greatly needed; but the idea of +going home without accomplishing my great object, filled me with +distress. While speaking to the meeting, and telling how God had +delivered me from time to time out of trials, I felt such a sense of my +condition, that for the moment I could not restrain my feelings--my +heart became so full, that it stopped all utterance. At the close of the +meeting, the people showed their sympathy for me by giving me a +collection of sixty one dollars.--One dear brother, (may the Lord bless +him!) came forward, and presenting me with a ten dollar bill, said, +"Brother Davis, give yourself no more trouble about that daughter.--You +say you have to stop in New York. Let me say, that when you get home, +whatever you lack of the four hundred dollars, write to me, and I will +send you a check for the balance." This was spoken in the presence of +the whole meeting. I felt completely at a loss for words of gratitude +and thanksgiving; and merely said, the day is broke, and the Lord has +appeared for me indeed!</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I now left Providence, feeling in my heart that the place is rightly +called by that name, as far as I am concerned.</p> +<p class="paraIndent"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span>I then went to New York. In that great city, I met with considerable +assistance. I never started out, but it seemed that the Lord directed my +steps. I was allowed to address a prayer meeting of the First Baptist +Church, whose pastor was the late excellent Rev. A. K. Nott, and was +aided to the amount of over seventy dollars.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">Rev. Dr. Lathrop, with much christian kindness, invited me to his night +meeting; but a severe rain prevented any attendance. He invited me +again, and then he was absent because of illness. I was depressed with +disappointment; but he had sent a request that I might be heard, (as I +afterward learned,) and I was called on to state my case to the +audience. I was taken by surprise, for the pastor's illness had taken +all hope from me of accomplishing anything there. Still I begun, by +telling my experience. I said that when it had pleased God to convert my +soul, I thought that all my trouble was gone, and gone forever; but I +had since learned that I was much mistaken--I had learned that "in the +world we shall have tribulation." I then went on to state my present +trouble and distress--and before I left the meeting, I received <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>with +heart-felt gratitude, one hundred and thirty four dollars. This reminded +me of Providence.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">Rev. Drs. Gillette and Armitage treated me with much generous sympathy, +as also did many others.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I visited Greenport on Long Island, where Rev. Henry Knapp kindly aided +me. Elders Swan and Read, and the brethren generally at New London, +aided me to the amount of about fifty dollars.</p> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + + +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span><h3>CHAPTER VIII.</h3> + +<h4>Conclusion--Object of this Book.</h4> + + +<p class="paraIndent">I now left the north, for home, and arrived there safely. My friends +greeted me cordially on my success in collecting money.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I still lacked, however, one hundred and forty-two dollars of the needed +eleven hundred. I had used every effort in my power to prevent the +necessity of having to call on my generous friend in Providence. But in +spite of all my endeavors, I had to make known to him this deficiency, +which he immediately and generously supplied, by remitting me a check +for the full amount.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I was now prepared to go after my daughter, which I did, December 1st, +1858; thus releasing her within one year from the time she was sold. She +is now with me, and doing well.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">I received a promise from the young master of my two sons, at the time +he purchased them, that if I should succeed in paying for my daughter +during that year, he would let me know what I might have my two boys +for. At the time, my boys were about returning <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>to Richmond, where they +had been hired out for several years. I charged them to let me hear a +good report of their conduct; and if I could do anything for them, after +I had got through with the purchase of their sister, I would do it. This +pledge I made to the boys, in the presence of their master's agent.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">Having, through the aid of a kind Providence, been enabled to pay for my +daughter, I have felt it my duty to turn my attention toward redeeming +my word to my last children now in bondage.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">But this, of course, has called up anxious thought and prayerful +meditation. I have also considered the peculiar condition of my +church--the large outlay of money in the erection of the building, and +the heavy debt hanging upon it, which is increased every year by the +interest. I have also considered how long I have been supported in this +field of labor by the Missionary Board of the Southern Baptist +Convention and the Maryland Baptist Union Association.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">The question then occurred to me, Could I not, by <i>making a book</i>, do +something to relieve myself and my children, and ultimately, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span>by the +same means, help my church, under its heavy debt, and also relieve the +Missionary Board from helping me. This idea struck me with so much +force, that I have yielded to it--that is, to write a short Narrative of +my own life, setting forth the trials and difficulties the Lord has +brought me through to this day, and offer it for sale to my friends +generally, as well as to the public at large; and I hope it may not only +aid me, but may serve to encourage others, who meet with similar +difficulties, to put their trust in God.</p> +<br /><br /><br /> + + +<h3>END OF THE NARRATIVE.</h3> + +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + + +<h1>SERMON.</h1><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> + +<h3>BY REV. NOAH DAVIS</h3> + + +<p class="blockquot">T<span class="smcap" style="font-size: 0.9em;">ext</span>.--"But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of +his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an +infidel."--1 Tim. 5:8.</p> +<br /> +<p class="paraIndent">In this chapter, we have several christian duties set forth by the +apostle Paul, to Timothy, a young preacher of the gospel, who was to +teach other christians to observe them, as evidences of the genuineness +of their faith in Christ.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">That faith which does not produce obedience to the commands of Jesus +must be regarded as defective. Religion requires us to love God, and all +men, and we must show our faith, by a life consistent with our +profession.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">If human nature, fallen as it is, prompts men of the world to labor +zealously to supply their own temporal necessities and the wants of +those whom Providence has made to depend upon them, how much more will +it be expected of those who profess to have drank <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>of that pure Fountain +of love, the Spirit of our blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. God +has indeed doomed man to eat his bread in the sweat of his face; but as +if to reward him, he has connected with it a pleasure in the labor, and +especially, in our efforts to do good to others.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">In speaking from these words, let us first consider what is here meant +by "providing" for "his own;" secondly, "and especially for those of his +own house;" thirdly, what it is to "deny the faith;" and lastly, draw a +comparison between the one who "hath denied the faith" and the +"infidel."</p> +<p class="paraIndent">1. In the first place, we are to consider the duty enjoined in the text, +to provide for our own: which we understand to mean our own temporal +wants, such as food and raiment and every temporal benefit. Every man is +bound by the laws of nature to provide for himself the necessaries of +life, honestly in the sight of God and men, as far as in him lieth. This +both reason and common sense dictate. This religion inspires. "He that +will not work, shall not eat," is the teaching of the word of God. +"Provide things honest in the sight of all men," is the instruction of +the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>great apostle to the Gentiles; at the same time giving them an +example, by working with his own hands, to supply his necessities, and +the wants of those who were with him. I have heard it said that a lazy +person cannot be a christian, and the same idea seems to be supported in +my text.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">"But if any provide not for his own." Religion benefits those who +possess it, by regulating their appetite for temporal things, as well as +giving them a relish for spiritual ones. While we are in love with sin, +we labor hard to enjoy its pleasures. How industriously do wicked men +labor for what they can eat, drink and wear. And shall a christian be +less active to secure for himself the necessaries of life?--he would +prove himself indeed to be worse than the infidel. But we have other +wants to be supplied, beside those of the body. God has given to all men +an intellectual nature--a mind, which distinguishes them from the +brutes. These minds are capable of improvement; and every man is under +obligation to make use of the means and opportunities which God has +given him for cultivating his mind, by educating himself, that he may be +useful to himself and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>those around him. But man is a social being as +well as an intellectual one. "God hath made of one blood, all nations of +men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth."--(Acts 17: 26.) Much of +our happiness, and usefulness in this world arises from this quality +which man possesses over the animal creation. And just in proportion, as +we shall cultivate, and refine our social and intellectual natures, just +in that proportion, shall we rise above the level of the savage and the +heathen.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">But man has a soul, which must be fitted for the enjoyment of God, here +and hereafter. Now to provide for the wants of the soul, is our highest +duty on earth.--Sin has unclothed us of that innocence in which our +Creator first made us, and the responsibility now rests upon every soul, +to provide a clothing which will stand the inspection of God himself. +This clothing, Christ has prepared through His sufferings, and death, +and it is given to all them that believe in Him. And surely, if it be +our duty to provide temporal things for ourselves, and for those of our +own house, how much more are we bound to seek and secure the one thing +needful.</p> +<p class="paraIndent"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>2. But we will consider in the second place, what is meant by providing +for our own house?--"and especially for those of his own house?" House +here means family. First, we will consider the duty devolving upon a +christian parent, in making suitable provision for his own house, or +family. This embraces all we have urged as his duty to himself. It is +the duty of all parents, to provide for their families every temporal +good which adds to their own comfort or usefulness in life. And it is no +less the duty of parents to provide for the spiritual necessities of +their own families. And first--we shall consider the duty of parents, to +provide suitable training for their children. This is a duty which God +has enjoined and approves. He said of Abraham, "For I know him, that he +will command his children and his household after him, and they shall +keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment, that the Lord may +bring upon Abraham, that which He hath spoken of him." The duty of +parents to train their children religiously, is clearly taught under the +gospel dispensation.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">"And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up +in the nurture and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>admonition of the Lord." Here, we have divine +authority, for teaching our children, the things, which make for their +good, both in this life and that which is to come. But it may be asked, +to what extent are parents bound to comply with these high and solemn +obligations? We answer, to the utmost of their ability. To whom much is +given, of him much is required, and to whom little is given, of him +little is required.--But all are bound to train up their children "in +the way they should go, that when they are old, they may not depart from +it." This duty is seen in the judgments which God has visited upon those +parents and children who have neglected to obey the Lord in this +particular.--(1 Samuel 2: 34.)</p> +<p class="paraIndent">3. We are, in the third place, to enquire what it is to "deny the +faith." Much is said in the Scriptures about faith. Much depends upon +it. We are said to be "justified by faith," and "saved by faith;" we +"live by faith." And inasmuch, as such as are spoken of in the text are +said to be worse than an infidel, because they provide not for +themselves and families, thereby showing that they have denied the +faith, therefore let us try to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span>consider what genuine faith is, and what +it is to deny it. This is the most important point in the subject now +before us. "Without faith it is impossible to please God."</p> +<p class="paraIndent">We will consider some of the effects of this distinguishing grace. There +are several kinds of faith spoken of in the Bible. In one case, men are +said to "believe for a while." This faith is shown us in the parable +taught by our blessed Saviour, in the characters represented by the seed +sown upon the rock, "which for a while believe, and in time of +temptation fall away."--(Luke 8: 33.)</p> +<p class="paraIndent">There is a faith which is called dead.--"Even so faith, if it hath not +works, is dead, being alone."--(James 2: 17.) But the faith which +enables the christian to obey the Saviour in all things, is said to +"work by love."--(Gal. 5: 6.) Now we say that those who have this faith, +will never deny it. The counterfeit may deceive, but the genuine cannot. +We say this faith cannot deny itself. All who are spoken of in the Old +Testament as having this faith never denied it. By it Abel made a more +excellent sacrifice to God than Cain. By it, Enoch walked with God, when +the other portion of mankind <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>walked in the vain wicked imaginations of +their own hearts. "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen +as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house." +"Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."</p> +<p class="paraIndent">This is the grace which enables believers to renounce the pleasures of +sin, which are but for a season. It gives them a complete victory over +the world. It abideth with hope and charity. Now, whosoever professes +this faith, and then by his unholy life denies it, by neglecting to +provide for his own, and especially for those of his own house, makes it +manifest that he never had it. It is as unchangeable as its Author, for +it is the gift of God. It prompted Noah to labor over a hundred years, +to build an ark, to save his house. And what it has done, it will +continue to do, for those who have it. This is the principle in religion +which purifies the heart, overcomes the world, and causes christians to +love one another, whatever may be their circumstances, or color or rank +in life.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">4. We are now in the fourth and last place to draw a comparison between +those who deny <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>the faith, and an infidel. Now an infidel, is an +unbeliever in the religion of Christ.--Yet he provides for his own, and +especially for those of his own house. In this he is consistent with +himself. Here he acts from reason, and principles of nature. But the +individual who denies the faith, is one, who has taken upon himself the +solemn vow before God and men, that he will act out what his profession +supposes him to be in possession of, which is superior in its influence, +to the infidel's principles, yet he fails to do as much.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">But again, an infidel is a bad man, and makes no pretensions to hide it. +But he who contradicts his profession, by denying it in the manner here +set forth, is worse for attempting to cover up a character, which in +itself is no better. But consider the effect produced by a false faith, +(and we have shown, that such a faith, as does not come up with the +infidel's, is false,) it does the person no harm. Many persons, when +they make a profession of faith, suppose it is the true faith, but after +a while, they find that their faith does not work by love, it does not +purify their hearts. They love sin secretly, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>as much as before. They +love worldly company as well as ever. And they find the employments, +which their profession enjoins upon them, irksome and dry. Such persons +are greatly deceived, yet they are ashamed to confess it, and throw off +the mask of profession. And such persons are often the greatest +fault-finders with those, whose true faith inspires them to endure +hardness, afflictions and deny themselves and take up their cross, so +that they may glorify their Saviour in their bodies and spirits which +are the Lord's.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">In conclusion, dear brethren, let us, who have made a profession of +faith, examine ourselves, whether we be in the faith of the gospel, or +not. "Know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you, +except ye be reprobates." A<span class="smcap" style="font-size: 0.9em;">men</span>.</p> +<br /> +<br /><br /><br /> + + + +<h2><i>STATISTICAL REPORT</i></h2><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> + +<h4>OF ALL THE</h4> + +<h3>COLORED PROTESTANT CHURCHES<br /> +AND SABBATH SCHOOLS<br /> +IN BALTIMORE.</h3> +<hr style="width: 50%; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 2.0em; margin-bottom: 2.0em; clear: both;" /> + +<p class="paraIndent">(As quoted from the Minutes of their respective +bodies, for the year 1859.)</p> +<hr style="width: 50%; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 2.0em; margin-bottom: 2.0em; clear: both;" /> +<p class="blockquot"> +<font face="Courier New"> +Sharp st. and Wesley Chapel, Meth. Ep., 1812<br /> +Orchard st. and Asbury, " 1508<br /> +Dallas st., " 119<br /> +Ebenezer, Montgomery st., " " 600<br /> +Union Bethel, Fell's Point, " " 100<br /> +Water's Chapel, Spring st., " " 98<br /> +Mission " Tissia st., " " 77<br /> +South Howard st. Chapel, Zion Meth., 200<br /> +St. Thomas', Chesnut st., Meth. Prot., 70<br /> +St. James', Saratoga st., Episcopal, 100<br /> +Presbyterian church, Madison st., 69<br /> +First Baptist, cor. Young and Thomson st., 99<br /> +Union Baptist, Lewis st., 63<br /> +Saratoga st. African Baptist Chapel, 73<br /> + -----<br /> +Total Col'd Prot. Religious Popul'n, 6386</font></p> + + +<h3><i>SABBATH SCHOOL REPORT</i>.</h3><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> + +<h4>(Rendered to the S. S. Union, for 1859.)</h4> +<br /> + +<p class="blockquot"> +<font face="Courier New"> + V<br /> + B C O<br /> + I O L F M<br /> + B N S E A<br /> + L V . M L S<br /> + E E . E C<br /> + R L H<br /> + R S I T T O<br /> + E I B E E L<br /> + A ' R A A A<br /> + D N ' C C R<br /> + S S Y H H S<br /> + . . . . . .<br /> +Sharp st., M.E., 200 15 15 200<br /> +Orchard st., " 6 9 177<br /> +Asbury, " 2 45 259<br /> +Dallas st., " 20 17 250<br /> +John Wesley, " 250 10 10 120<br /> +Bethel, African M.E., 60 15 200 16 16 350<br /> +Ebenezer, " " 27 178<br /> +Spring st., " " 113 13 120<br /> +Allen chapel, " " 6 58<br /> +Union Bethel, " " 11 86<br /> +Good Samaritan, " 6 60<br /> +Tissia st., " " 108 6 30 <br /> +St. Thomas, M.P., 200 3 4 56<br /> +S. How'd st., Zion, 5 7 102<br /> +Mt. Olive, Ind., 3 7 40<br /> +Presbyterian, 20 10 240<br /> +Episcopal, 205 5 5 70<br /> +First Col'd Baptist, 78 3 3 33<br /> +Union, " 11 86<br /> +Saratoga st., " 40 1 250 8 6 150<br /> + ----------------------------------<br /> +Aggregate, 106 18 1604 126 222 2665</font></p> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + + + +<h4>THE SARATOGA STREET</h4><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +<h3><i>INSTITUTE</i>.</h3> + + +<p class="paraIndent">This Seminary for colored people, was opened in the upper rooms of the +African Baptist Chapel building, in December, 1856, and in a few months, +over one hundred scholars, were in attendance. But from circumstances +which need not be narrated, in 1857, the school was removed away, +without any rent having ever been paid for the use of the rooms. A +second time a school has been collected of over one hundred scholars, +but, up to the present time, August, 1859, the trustees of the building +have never received any sort of compensation for the use of the rooms, +occupied by the Institute.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">Mr. J. G. Goodridge, lately a teacher of a Public School, in York, Pa, +has now rented the rooms, and his friends feel great confidence in the +success of his labors.</p> +<p class="paraIndent"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>It may be remarked, that the large colored population of Baltimore, now +from thirty to forty thousand souls, have no sort of Public School +provision made for them, by the city or state governments. They are left +entirely to themselves for any education they may obtain.</p> +<p class="paraIndent">The above named Institute combines advantages for the education of +colored children far superior to any other in the city.</p> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + + + + +<center><span style="font-size: .9em;" >INTERESTING <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>BOOKS PUBLISHED BY WEISHAMPEL, BALTIMORE.</span></center> +<hr class="full" style="margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: 1.0em;"/> +<h2>Prayer Meeting Hymn Book.</h2> + +<h4><i>Containing over three hundred Hymns, +with many favorite Choruses.</i></h4> + +<h3><i>PRICE TWENTY-FIVE CENTS.</i></h3> + +<hr class="tiny" style="margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;"/> +<p class="paraIndent">This book is bound in leather, it convenient to carry in the pocket, and +has been received with much favor, many thousands having been sold +during the first year of its publication. It contains all the Hymns most +used in Prayer Meetings and Revivals; these have been collected from +many different volumes, no other single book containing all of them. It +is provided at a low price. The retail coat being only twenty-five +cents, it will circulate where larger and costlier volumes are +neglected; and being designed only for the circle of prayer and the +revival, will not interfere with the use of the regular Church Hymn +Books.</p> +<br /> +<center>The Cheap Edition is furnished at the following prices:</center> + +<p class="blockquot" style="width: 50%; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 2.0em; margin-bottom: 2.0em; clear: both;"><font face="Courier New"><i>Single copies</i>, 25 <i>cts.</i><br/> +<i>One dozen copies</i>, $2,25<br/> +<i>One hundred copies</i>, $17,00</font></p> + +<p class="paraIndent">To please the various tastes of purchasers, three editions +in fine binding have been prepared, at the annexed prices:</p> + +<center><i>Roan</i>, 40 <i>cts</i>., <i>Full Gilt</i>, 60 <i>cts</i>., <i>Turkey mor</i>., 75 <i>cts</i>.</center> + +<p class="paraIndent">The following lots are arranged for convenience:</p> + +<center>LOT NO. 1, FOR FIVE DOLLARS:<br /> +16 plain at 25 cts., 4 roan at 40 cts., 2 gilt at 60 cts.<br /> +Being $6,80 worth of books for $5.<br /> +<br /> +LOT NO. 2, FOR TEN DOLLARS:<br /> +30 plain at 25 cts., 8 roan at 40 cts., 5 gilt at 60 cts.<br /> +Being $13,70 worth of books for $10.<br /> +<br /> +LOT NO. 3, FOR TWENTY DOLLARS:<br /> +60 plain at 25 cts., 16 roan at 40 cts., 11 gilt at 60 cts.</center> +<br /> +<p class="paraIndent">These packages can go by Express, or any means directed.</p> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + + + +<h1 style="margin-top: 0em;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>Character Book:</h1> + +<h3>FOR</h3> + +<h2>HIGH SCHOOLS, ACADEMIES, +AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS.</h2> + +<h3><i>PRICE SIX CENTS.</i></h3> +<hr class="tiny" style="margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: .3em;" /> +<p class="paraIndent">The object of this Book is to give a weekly report to parents of the +studies, attendance, deportment, standing and progress of pupils at +school. T<span class="smcap" style="font-size: 0.9em;">he</span> C<span class="smcap" style="font-size: 0.9em;">onduct</span> of the pupil is marked under the head of General +Deportment, with the following degrees: Excellent, Good, Tolerable, +Unsatisfactory, Inattentive, Idle, Disorderly, Disrespectful, Careless. +A written excuse is required for every exercise omitted, or for leaving +school before the hour of dismissal. Parents or guardians are requested +to examine the weekly reports of the Character Book, sign their names to +them, and return the Book on Monday morning. A <i>good name</i> is rather to +be chosen than great riches.</p> + +<h3><i>Price to Teachers: Fifty cts. a dozen.</i></h3> +<hr class="full" style="margin-top: -1em; margin-bottom: 1.0em;"/> + + +<h1 style="margin-top: 0em;">The First School Book.</h1> + +<h3><font face="New York">Illustrated with numerous Engravings.</font></h3> + +<h3 style="margin-top: 0.25em; 1.1em;"><i>PRICE TWELVE CENTS.</i></h3> +<hr class="tiny" style="margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: .3em;" /> +<p class="paraIndent">This is an instructive Primer, for children, combining a series of +progressive spelling lessons, commencing with the alphabet, and +interspersed with simple rhymes and easy sentences in prose, accompanied +with many pictures. The Primer contains Dr. Watts' celebrated Cradle +Hymn, the verses entitled "Mary and her Lamb," the "Busy Bee," &c. Those +who wish to change from the heavy and badly printed "Spelling Books" in +present use, will find this to be more attractive to the young beginner, +and more likely to coax him a step forward in his first lessons.</p> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + + + +<h1><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>The Testimony of a Hundred +Witnesses:</h1> + +<h2><i>Or, the Instrumentalities by which +Sinners are brought to Embrace +the Religion of Jesus Christ.</i></h2> + +<h3><i>PRICE FIFTY CENTS.</i></h3> +<hr class="tiny" style="margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: .3em;" /> +<p class="paraIndent" style="font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0em;">This Volume contains the history of One Hundred Conversions, written +mostly expressly for this publication, by Christian individuals in the +various evangelical denominations. It is, in a word,</p> + +<center>AN "EXPERIENCE MEETING" IN A BOOK,</center> + +<p class="paraIndent" style="margin-top: 0.2em;">In which each person relates briefly the experience of his own heart +concerning the great salvation. Among the number are about fifty +ministers, some of the most able and renowned of the past and present +ages. These interesting narratives show some of the causes which lead +sinners to become concerned for their eternal welfare,--their resistance +to the force of the Truth and the strivings of the Holy Spirit,--their +subsequent struggles against their own evil dispositions, or "carnal +mind,"--and their final perseverance toward the way of life, by true +repentance, and an acceptance through faith in Christ, of the blessings +which follow the love of God shed abroad in the soul.</p> + +<p class="paraIndent" style="font-size: 1em;">Place this book in your family, and cause it to be circulated among your +neighbors, that it may awaken many sinners, and edify the saints of God. +Form clubs of a dozen or more, and send for the work, which will be +forwarded at $4.00 per dozen, cash, in any way directed. A single copy +sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of fifty cents.</p> +<p class="paraIndent" style="font-size: 1em;">Canvassers can make good wages in selling this popular book. All orders +must be acccompanied (<i>sic</i>.) by the cash, and addressed to the +Publisher.</p> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + + + + +<h1><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>The Career of John Mortal,</h1> + +<h2>A MAN WHO ENJOYED THIS LIFE.</h2> + +<h3><font face="New York">Illustrated with numerous Engravings.</font></h3> + +<h2><i>PRICE TWENTY-FIVE CENTS.</i></h2> +<hr class="tiny" style="margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: .3em;" /> +<p class="paraIndent" style="margin-top: 0em;">This volume presents several rapid and startling pictures of the career +of a man who enjoyed all the pleasures and profits of this world, and +neglected to honor God. John Mortal gained the whole world, and lost his +own soul. The style of the composition is partly allegorical and partly +narrative. It claims no credit for literary excellence, but is published +with the hope of arresting the attention of those who neglect to read +works of a heavier and more solemn appearance, and impressing their +minds with the worthlessness of human vanities and honors.</p> + +<h3 style="margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;"><i>Table of Contents.</i></h3> + +<h4>PART I.</h4> + +<p class="paraIndent">The beginning of Life.--The first +disappointment.--Apprenticeship.--Follies of Youth.--Sin.</p> + +<h4>PART II.</h4> + +<p class="paraIndent">The Child has become a young Man.--He dissipates.--The revelers of +Vagrant Island.--Religion scoffed.--Follies and pains of an irregular +life.--Sickness.--The Friend in need.--Tempter.--"R<span class="smcap" style="font-size: 0.9em;">ecruits</span> +W<span class="smcap" style="font-size: 0.9em;">anted.</span>"--Enlistment in a regiment of soldiers.--Col. Blood's speech.</p> + +<h4>PART III.</h4> + +<p class="paraIndent">The Army.--Advancement.--Mortal succeeds Col. Blood.--The fury of +War.--The slaughter.--Glory.--Unhappiness.--Honor to the brave.--Major +Sharper.</p> + +<h4>PART IV.</h4> + +<p class="paraIndent">Mortal in love.--He becomes wealthy.--He travels.--Vesuvius.--The grave +of General Gog.--Gambling.--Ruin.</p> + +<h4>PART V.</h4> + +<p class="paraIndent">The last scene of all.--Dr. Popular Gospel.--Dimelover and Sharp die +hopefully.--John Mortal's last conversation with Mentor and +Tempter.--Despair and Death.</p> + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Narrative of The Life of Rev. Noah +Davis, A Colored Man., by Noah Davis + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NOAH DAVIS *** + +***** This file should be named 20005-h.htm or 20005-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/0/0/20005/ + +Produced by Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by the +Library of Congress) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/20005-h/images/church.jpg b/20005-h/images/church.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8211851 --- /dev/null +++ b/20005-h/images/church.jpg diff --git a/20005.txt b/20005.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a38caff --- /dev/null +++ b/20005.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2213 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Narrative of The Life of Rev. Noah Davis, +A Colored Man., by Noah Davis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Narrative of The Life of Rev. Noah Davis, A Colored Man. + Written by Himself, At The Age of Fifty-Four + +Author: Noah Davis + +Release Date: December 23, 2006 [EBook #20005] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NOAH DAVIS *** + + + + +Produced by Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by the +Library of Congress) + + + + + + + + + +NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC. + + +The object of the writer, in preparing this account of himself, is to + +RAISE SUFFICIENT MEANS TO FREE HIS LAST TWO CHILDREN FROM SLAVERY. + +Having already, within twelve years past, purchased himself, his wife, +and five of his children, at a cost, altogether, of over _four thousand +dollars_, he now earnestly desires a humane and christian public to + +AID HIM IN THE SALE OF THIS BOOK, + +for the purpose of finishing the task in which he has so long and +anxiously labored. + +God has blessed him in an extraordinary manner, not only by granting +freedom to him and so large a portion of his family, but by giving him +the hope of the gospel, and permitting him to preach that gospel among +his own people--in which calling he has been engaged for about +twenty-five years. + + +[Illustration: THE SARATOGA STREET AFRICAN BAPTIST CHAPEL.] + + +The building, of which the above cut is an imperfect representation, +fronts as above 100 feet on Saratoga street, and 46 feet on Calvert +street. The house is of brick, and cost over $18,000.--(See page 45.) + + + +A + +NARRATIVE + +OF + +THE LIFE + +OF + +REV. NOAH DAVIS, + +_A COLORED MAN._ + +WRITTEN BY HIMSELF, AT THE AGE OF FIFTY-FOUR. + + +PRINTED SOLELY FOR THE AUTHOR'S BENEFIT. + + + +Baltimore: +PUBLISHED BY JOHN F. WEISHAMPEL, JR., +No. 484 West Baltimore St. + + + + +ENTERED according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by NOAH +DAVIS, in the Clerk's office of the District Court of Maryland. + + +STEREOTYPED BY +JOHN F. WEISHAMPEL, JR., BOOKSELLER AND PUBLISHER, +BALTIMORE. + + + + +Contents. + + +CHAPTER I. + +Early Life in Virginia--Example of Pious Parents. + + +CHAPTER II. + +Apprenticed to the Shoe-making--Learns housework--Intemperance--"A negro +can't be trusted"--Learning how to write and cipher. + + +CHAPTER III. + +Religious Experience--Conviction and Conversion. + + +CHAPTER IV. + +Marriage--License to Preach--Purchase of Freedom--Call to Baltimore. + + +CHAPTER V. + +Experience in Baltimore--Education--Purchase of a Wife +and two Children--Great Distress of Mind--Generous Assistance--Church +Matters. + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A New Movement in Baltimore--Erection of a Meeting +House for the African Baptist Church--Heavy Indebtedness--Account +of the Enterprise. + + +CHAPTER VII. + +Account of a Visit to the northern Cities--True Friends. + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +Conclusion--Object of this Book. + + + + +NARRATIVE. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +Early Life in Virginia--Example of Pious Parents. + + +I was born a slave, in Madison county, Virginia, March, 1804. My father, +John Davis, and his family, belonged to Robert Patten, Esq., a wealthy +merchant, residing in Fredericksburg--who was also owner, in connection +with Mr. John Thom, of a large merchant mill, located on "Crooked Run," +a stream running between Madison and Culpepper counties. My father was +the head miller in that large establishment, in which responsible +station he was much respected. + +There I was born, and remained until I was twelve years old. Mr. Patten +was always considered one of the best of masters, allowing his servants +many privileges; but my father enjoyed more than many others. Both he +and my mother were pious members of a Baptist church, and from their +godly example, I formed a determination, before I had reached my +twelfth year, that if I was spared to become a man, I would try to be as +good as my parents. My father could read a little, and make figures, but +could scarcely write at all. His custom, on those Sabbaths when we +remained at home, was to spend his time in instructing his children, or +the neighboring servants, out of a New Testament, sent him from +Fredericksburg by one of his older sons. I fancy I can see him now, +sitting under his bush arbor, reading that precious book to many +attentive hearers around him. + +Such was the esteem I had for my pious father, that I have kept that +blessed book ever since his death, for his sake; and it was the first +New Testament I read, after I felt the pardoning love of God in my soul. + +My father died, August 20, 1826, aged 60 years. My mother, Jane Davis, +at the death of my father, removed from the farm, where my father died, +and spent the remainder of her days in Fredericksburg, with her +children. She lived to good old age, and fell asleep in Jesus, Dec. 24, +1831. + +My father had been allowed to keep a cow and horse, for his own use; and +to raise and feed his hogs and poultry from the mill. He had the +privilege of keeping his children with him, until they were old enough +to put out to such trades as they might choose. I had several brothers +and one sister. Two of my brothers, one older, the other younger than +myself, lived with our parents, at this place. My oldest brother worked +in the mill, with my father, while my youngest brother and I did little +else than play about home, and wait upon our mother. I had several +playmates, besides my brothers, and among them were the sons of Col. +Thom, and the servant boys who stayed at his house. Although many years +have passed away since, it gives me pleasure, even now, to recollect the +happy seasons I enjoyed with the playmates of my childhood. + +But this pleasant state of things was not to continue long. The owners +of the mill and farm concluded to sell out the whole concern. My father +and his family then removed to another farm, belonging to our owner, +located in Culpepper county, near Stevensburg. Here I remained nearly two +years, working, part of the time, with a carpenter, who was building a +summer residence for my master; and the rest of the time, assisting my +father to cultivate as much ground as he and his family could tend. Here +I learned something of a farmer's life. The overseer, Mr. Daniel Brown, +had the reputation of being one of the best overseers in the county. But +my father's family was not put under him further than for his +protection; for after our owner sold the mill, he set my parents free, +and allowed them to maintain themselves, by cultivating as much ground +on the farm as they needed. + +Sometimes my father would leave his little place in charge of my brother +Robert and myself, and would hire himself to work in some mill, or go +peddling poultry, vegetables, &c., at some of the market places around. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +Apprenticed to the shoe-making--Learns housework--Intemperance--"A negro +can't be trusted"--Learning how to write and cipher. + + +In December, 1818, for the first time in my life, I left my parents, to +go a distance from home; and I was sad at the thought of parting with +those whom I loved and reverenced more than any persons on earth. But +the expectation of seeing Fredericksburg, a place which, from all I had +then learned, I supposed must be the greatest place in the world, +reconciled me somewhat with the necessity of saying Good-bye to the dear +ones at home. I arrived at Fredericksburg, after a day and a half's +travel, in a wagon--a distance of some fifty miles. Having arrived in +town, a boy green from the country, I was astonished and delighted at +what appeared to me the splendor and beauty of the place. I spent a +merry Christmas at my old master's stately mansion, along with my older +brother, and for a while forgot the home on the farm. + +But soon, another home was selected for me, where I might learn a +trade, and as I preferred the boot and shoe-making, I was put to Mr. +Thomas Wright, a man of sterling integrity, who was considered the best +workman in the whole town. Here I had an older brother living, which was +some inducement for my going to live with Mr. Wright. I was bound, to +serve until I should be twenty-one years old. This was in January, 1819. + +Upon entering with Mr. Wright, I learned that the colored boys had to +serve one year with Mrs. Wright, in the house and kitchen. The object of +this was to train them for future usefulness, when called from the shop, +to serve as waiters or cooks. Mrs. Wright was a good manager, and a very +particular housekeeper. I used to think she was too particular. But I +have learned better since. I have often wished, when I have been seeking +homes for my children, that I could find one like Mrs. Wright. She would +spare no pains to teach her servants how she wanted her work done; and +then she would spare no pains to make them do it. I have often looked +back, with feelings of gratitude and veneration, to that pious lady, for +her untiring perseverance in training me up in the way I should go. But +she is gone, as I trust, to receive the reward of righteousness, in a +better world. + +After I had been under Mrs. Wright's special charge the first year, she +could leave me to cook a dinner, or clean the house, or do anything she +might set me at, without her being present. I was now considered fit to +take my seat among the hands in the shop. + +Here I found quite a new state of things. The shoemakers, at that time, +in Fredericksburg, were considered the most intemperate of any class of +men in the place; and as the apprentice-boys had always to be very +obliging to the journeymen, in order to get along pleasantly with them, +it was my duty to be runner for the shop; and I was soon trained how to +bring liquor among the men with such secresy as to prevent the boss, who +had forbidden it to come on the premises, from knowing it. + +But, in those days, the drinking of ardent spirits was a common +practice, even among christians. With such examples all around, I soon +learned the habit of drinking, along with every other vile habit to +which my companions were addicted. It was true in my case, that "evil +communications corrupt good manners;" and had it not been for the +strictness with which my boss and his amiable lady watched over me, I +should in all probability have become a confirmed drunkard, before my +time was out. But they held the reins over me, and kept me in, until I +had served out my apprenticeship. + +I can say, however, that, much as I was inclined to other vices and +sins, Mr. Wright readily gave me a recommendation for honesty, +truthfulness, and goodness of character. In fact, he had felt such +confidence in me, that he would often leave his shoe store in my care, +when he would have to go to the north, for a supply of stock. And I can +truly say, that I never deceived him, when he thus trusted me. Nothing +would mortify me as much, as to hear it said, "A negro can't be +trusted." This saying would always nerve me with a determination _to be +trustworthy_.--If I was trusted, I would deserve to be trusted. I wanted +to show that principle was not confined to color. But I have been led to +look at it since, and have thought that perhaps it was more pride than +principle in me, at that time, for I was a wicked sinner. + +The first idea I ever got of writing, was from trying to imitate my +employer, who used to write the names of his customers on the lining of +the boots and shoes, as he gave them out to be made. So I tried to make +letters, and soon succeeded in writing my name, and then the word +Fredericksburg, and so on. My father had previously taught me the +alphabet, in the spelling book, before I had left the mill. After I +became religious, I would carry my father's New Testament to church, and +always try to get to meeting in time to hear the preacher read a chapter +before sermon. If he named the chapter before reading it, I would soon +find it. In this way, I gathered much information in pronouncing many +hard words in the Scriptures. + +It was a long time before I learned the meaning of the numeral letters +put in the Bible over the chapters. I had often seen them in the +spelling book running alongside a column of figures; but no one ever +told me that they were put there for the same use as the figures. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +Religious Experience--Conviction--Conversion. + + +Just about the close of my apprenticeship, and as I began to feel myself +a man, I commenced to visit the girls, which induced me to go still +more frequently to church. + +At that time, there were four churches in Fredericksburg. The colored +people had apartments for worship with the white people, at each of +these churches. They were Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian and +Baptist. + +I had no particular preference for any one of these denominations, more +than another; but, went wherever my favorites went. One night a young +lady invited me to go to the Methodist church, where a prayer-meeting +was to be held. During the meeting, a venerable old gentleman rose to +his feet, and related an account of the sudden death of a young lady, +which he had read in a newspapers. When he related that solemn +circumstance, it so affected me, that I felt as if I was about to die, +in a sudden manner also. + +Having always, from parental training, purposed in my mind to become +religious before I died, I thought that now was the time to begin to +pray. But I could not try to pray in the church, for I was afraid that +the girls would laugh at me. Yet I became so troubled, that I left the +house, girls and all, intending to seek some place where I might pray. +But to my horror and surprise, when I got out of the church, this +reflection occurred to me, "God is in heaven, and you are on earth:--how +can He hear you?" O, what distress of mind I now felt! I began to wonder +how God could hear my prayer; for, sure enough, He was in heaven, and I +on the earth. In my perplexity, I started for home. + +Just before I reached the shop, where I slept, this thought struck me, +if possible with more force than the former reflection: "God does see +you!" It really appeared to me as if I could see that God was indeed +looking at me; and not only so, but I felt that He had been looking at +me all my life. I now said to myself, "It is of no use for me to +pray.--If God has seen all my wickedness, as I feel that He has, then +there is no mercy for me." + +So I ran to my lodging-place, and tried to hide myself in a dark room. +But this was useless; for it appeared that God could see me in the dark, +as well as in the light. + +I now felt constrained to beg for mercy, and spent the time in trying to +obtain pardon for my sins. But the morning came, and the hour drew near +for the hands to go to work, and I was still unhappy. + +I felt so very different to what I had always felt, that I tried to +examine my impressions of the previous night, to learn if it was true +that God did see me or not; for I thought my imagination might have +deceived me. + +Up to this time, I was not fully convinced that God knew all about me. +So I began to study about the matter. As I sat on the shoe-bench, I +picked up a bunch of bristles, and selecting one of the smallest, I +began to wonder, if God could see an object so small as that. No sooner +had this inquiry arose in my heart, than it appeared to me, that the +Lord could not only see the bristle, but that He beheld me, as plainly +as I saw the little object in my hand; and not only so, but that God was +then looking through me, just as I would hold up a tumbler of clear +water to the sun and look through it. This was enough. I felt that I +must pray, or perish; and now I began to pray. + +But it really seemed, that the more I prayed the less hope there was for +me. Still I could not stop praying; for I felt that God was angry with +me. I had sinned against his holy laws; and now, if He should cut me +off, and send me to hell, it was but right. These thoughts followed me +day and night, for five weeks, before I felt relief. At length, one day, +while sitting on my shoe bench, I felt that my time had come when I must +die. What troubled me most, was that I should have to appear before God, +in all my sins;--O, what horror filled my soul at the thought! + +I began to wonder what I must do. I knew I was not prepared for death +and the Judgment. It is true that two of my shopmates, at that time, +were members of the church; but they did not seem to care for my soul. +All the rest of the hands were as wicked as myself. "What shall I do?" +was in my mind, all the time I sat at work. + +The reflection occurred to me, "Your mother is a christian; it may be +she can save you." But this suggestion appeared to be offensive to God. +Then came another thought,--"As my master was a rich man, could he not +do something to help me?" But I found no relief in either ... and while +I sat thus, hoping and praying, light broke into my mind--all my trouble +left me in an instant. + +I felt such a love and peace flowing in my soul, that I could not sit +longer; I sprang to my feet, and cried out, "Glory to God!" It seemed to +me, that God, whom I had beheld, a few seconds previously, angry with +me, was now well-pleased. I could not tell why this great change had +taken place in me; and my shopmates were surprised at my conduct, +saying, that I must be getting crazy. But, just at this moment, the +thought came into my mind, that I was converted; still, as I felt so +very different from what I had expected to feel, I could not see how +that could be. I concluded to run and see my mother, and ask her how +people felt, when they got converted. So I went, right away, to my +mother's house, some five or six squares from the shop. + +When I reached the door of her house, it appeared to me that everything +was new and bright. I went in, and sat down. Mother asked me how I was. +I told her, I felt _right smart_. This was a new sound from me; for my +answers to this question had long been--"_poorly_." But now came the +trial; to ask mother how people felt, when they were converted. I felt +ashamed to ask the question; so I went into another room; and seeing a +hymn book lying on the table, I took it up. The first hymn that struck +my sight began with these words: + + "When converts first begin to sing, + Their happy souls are on the wing-- + Their theme is all redeeming love; + Fain would they be with Christ above. + With admiration they behold + The love of Christ, which can't be told," &c. + +These lines expressed my feelings precisely, and being encouraged from +them, I went to my mother, and asked her the question--"How do people +feel, when they get converted?" She replied, "Do you think you are +converted?" Now, this was a severe trial; for, although I felt that I +was really changed, yet I wanted to hear from her, before I could decide +whether I was actually converted, or not. I replied, "No." Then she +said, "My son, the devil makes people think themselves converted, +sometimes." I arose, and left immediately, believing that the devil had +made a fool of me. I returned to my shop, more determined to pray than +ever before. + +I arrived, and took my seat, and tried to get under that same weight, +that I had felt pressing me down, but a short while before. But it +seemed to me that I could not; and, instead of feeling sad, I felt +joyful in my heart; and while trying to pray, I thought the Saviour +appeared to me. I thought I saw God smiling upon me, through Christ, His +Son. My soul was filled with love to God and Jesus Christ. It appeared +to me, I saw a fullness in Jesus Christ, to save every sinner who would +come to Him. And I felt, that if I was only converted, I would tell all +sinners how precious the Saviour was. But I could not think myself +converted yet, because I could not see what I had done, for God to +pardon my sins. Still I felt a love to Him for what He had done for my +soul. + +Then I began to think upon my shopmates--and, O what pity ran through my +soul for them. I wished to pray for them; but I felt so unworthy, that I +could not do it. At last I promised the Lord that if He would convert my +soul, I would talk to them. + +... It was several months after that, before I was made to realize this to +be the work of God; and when it was made plain, O what joy it did bring +to my poor soul! + +I shortly became a member of the Baptist church, and was baptized, in +company with some twenty others, by Rev. Geo. F. Adams, who was then +pastor of the Baptist church in Fredericksburg--September 19, 1831. This +church then contained about three hundred colored members. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +Marriage--License to Preach--Purchase of Freedom--A Call to Baltimore. + + +I had not been a member of the church a great while, before I formed an +attachment to a young woman, who ultimately became my wife. I have ever +regarded her as the special gift of God to me. She embraced religion +about the same time that I did. We had been acquainted with each other +for several years previous, and although we associated frequently in the +same social circle together; yet nothing of a special liking had +manifested itself until the day she was baptized. + +But we were both slaves, and of course had to get the consent of our +owners, before we went further. My wife belonged to the late Carter L. +Stephenson, Esq., who was a brother to Hon. Andrew Stephenson, of Va. My +wife's master was quite indulgent to the servants about the house. He +never restrained visitors from coming on his premises to visit his +domestics. It was said he had the likeliest set of servant girls in the +town; and though I cannot say I got the prettiest, yet I think I got +the best one among them. We have lived happily together, as husband and +wife, for the last twenty-eight years. We have had nine children--seven +born in slavery, and two since my wife's freedom. Five out of the seven +in slavery I have bought--two are still in bondage. + +Before long, the brethren chose me to fill the office of a deacon. But +it never seemed to me to be the place that God designed for me; though I +felt willing to do whatever lay in my power for God's glory and the good +of His people. The impression made upon my mind at my conversion, to +talk to sinners, increased on me, until I could wait no longer. + +I related my convictions of duty to my brethren, and particularly to one +who was always held in high esteem for his piety and excellent +character--a colored brother, Armistead Walker. My case was first +brought by him before the colored portion of the church; and after a +full hearing of my statement, by the white brethren, with regard to my +call to preach, &c., I was licensed to preach the gospel, and exhort +sinners to repentance, as opportunity might be afforded. I had ample +opportunities at that time, for doing good, by preaching to my fellow +men, both in town and country. + +Several other colored brethren, about this time, gave evidence of having +been called of God, to the work of preaching the gospel. Among these was +a dear brother, named Alexander Daniel. He was a bright and shining +light, among our people, and everything considered, I think he was the +best preacher of color I ever heard. But alas, he is no more! He was +esteemed as a christian minister, and his friends, both white and +colored, united in erecting a monument over his grave. + +In my attempts to preach the gospel to my fellow sinners, I often felt +embarrassed, not knowing how to read a chapter in the Bible correctly. +My desires now increased for such a knowledge of the sacred Scriptures, +as would enable me to read a chapter publicly to my hearers. I thought +that if I had all my time at my own command, I would devote it all to +divine things. This desire I think, led me more than anything else, to +ask permission of my master, Dr. F. Patten, to purchase my freedom. I +made this a subject of prayer, both night and day, that God would show +me what he would have me do. I felt encouraged to hope that I should +find favor with my owner, as he had always treated me kindly. But how +shall I get the purchase money, provided he grants my request?--This +appeared a difficult matter, but I thought if my master would give me a +chance, that I should be able to raise the money. + +I went to him, and stated my wishes, informing him why I wanted to be +free--that I had been led to believe the Lord had converted my soul, and +had called me to talk to sinners. He granted my request, without a +single objection, fixing my price at five hundred dollars. + +But now I had to tell him that I had no money, and that I desired him to +grant me another request; which was, to let me travel and find friends, +who would give me the money. After learning my wishes fully, he +consented, and told me, when I got ready to start, he would give me a +pass, to go where I pleased. + +I thanked him sincerely for this privilege, and after making +arrangements, in the way of obtaining suitable letters of +recommendation, I left Fredericksburg, in June, 1845, for Philadelphia, +New York, Boston, &c. + +After spending nearly four months in visiting the northern cities, I +returned home, with about one hundred and fifty dollars, greatly +disheartened. + +Previous to going north, I had raised about a hundred and fifty dollars, +which I had already paid on my debt. + +The cause of my failure to raise all the money, I believe, was that I +was unaccustomed to addressing large congregations of strangers; and +often, when I was favored with an opportunity of presenting my case to +the people, I would feel such embarrassment that I could scarcely say +anything. And I met another obstacle, which discouraged me very much; +which was, that some persons would tell me they sympathized with me, in +my efforts to get free; but they said it was against their principles to +give money, to buy slaves. I confess, this was new to me, and would cut +me down much in my spirits--still I found generous and noble-hearted +friends, who treated me with every mark of kindness. + +I began to wonder to myself, whether God was in this matter, or not; and +if so, why I had not succeeded. However, having returned home, I went +to work at my trade, for the purpose of earning the remainder of the +money. Having paid what I was able, toward my debt, and reserving enough +to open a shop, upon my own account, my old boss, Mr. Wright, my true +and constant friend, became my protector, so that I might carry on my +business lawfully. In this, however, I was not very successful; but I +had not been long engaged at it, before I received a communication from +my white Baptist friends in Baltimore, through my pastor, Rev. Sam'l +Smith, informing me that if I would come to Baltimore, and accept an +appointment as missionary to the colored people of that city, they would +assist me in raising the balance of the money then due upon myself. + +This was indeed an unexpected, and to me an undesired call. I began to +think, how can I leave my wife and seven small children, to go to +Baltimore to live, a distance of more than a hundred miles from them. +This, I thought, could not be. I thought my children would need my +watchful care, more now than at any other time. It is true, they were +all slaves, belonging to a rich widow lady. But she had always given me +the entire control of my family. Now, if I should leave them at their +tender age, mischief might befall them. Still, as the letter from +Baltimore was from gentlemen of the best standing, it became me to give +them an answer. This I could not do, without first consulting my master. +I did so, and after giving the matter a careful consideration, he +thought I had better go and see those gentlemen--he was perfectly +willing to leave the matter to me. + +The result was, that I accepted the offer of the brethren in Baltimore; +and by them I was enabled to pay the debt I owed; and I have never had +cause to repent it--though I had misgivings sometimes, when I would get +into trouble. + +But I have found those who were my friends at first, are my friends +still. In a few weeks after I had arrived in Baltimore, (1847,) the +white Baptists who were favorable to the mission in behalf of the +colored people, secured for me an appointment as missionary of the +Domestic Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, in connection with +the Maryland Baptist Union Association. I now felt a debt of gratitude +to these dear friends, that I could not show more acceptably to them, +than by engaging heartily in the work to which I had been thus called. I +went to work, first, by hiring a room in a private house, where I would +collect what few children I could get together, in a Sabbath school. I +continued in this place for nearly a year, teaching the little children, +and preaching to a few grown persons, who would come in at times to hear +what this Baptist man had to say; and who, after satisfying their +curiosity, would generally leave me. During my stay in this locality, I +could not find half a dozen colored Baptists, who would take hold with +me in this missionary enterprise. There were some few attached to the +white churches; but only two of those showed any disposition to help me +in this great and good work. I found that everybody loved to go with the +multitude, and it was truly up-hill work with me. I found some who are +called Anti-Mission, or Old School Baptists, who, when I called upon +them, would ask of what faith I was,--and when I would reply, that I +belonged to what I understood to be the Regular Baptists, they would +answer, "Then you are not of our faith," &c. + +Now I felt lonely indeed, separated far from home, from family, from +dear brethren and friends; thrown among strangers in a strange place. +Those I came to benefit, stood aloof from me, and seemed to look upon +all my movements with distrust and suspicion, and opposed to all I was +trying to do for the moral and spiritual benefit of our degraded race. +But, thanks be to God, all I found in Baltimore were not of this stamp. +Those of the white Baptists who had been the means of calling me to this +field, adhered to me like brethren, indeed. Could I feel at liberty to +mention names, I would bring to notice some dear friends who have ever +stood by me, in all my efforts to do good, and whose acts of +disinterested benevolence have been rarely equaled. But their labors of +love are recorded on high, and I must forbear. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +Experience in Baltimore--Education--Purchase of a Wife and two +Children--Great Distress of Mind--Generous Assistance--Church Matters. + + +When I came among the colored people of Baltimore, I found, to my +surprise, that they were advanced in education, quite beyond what I had +conceived of. Of course, as I never had such advantages, I was far +behind the people; and as this did not appear well in a preacher, I felt +very small, when comparing my abilities with others of a superior stamp. +I found that the great mass of colored professors of religion were +Methodists, whose piety and zeal seemed to carry all before them. There +were, at that time, some ten or eleven colored Methodist churches, one +Episcopalian, one Presbyterian; and one little Baptist church, located +upon the outskirts of the city. The most of the Methodist churches were +large and influential; and the Presbyterian church had one of the best +Sabbath schools for colored children in the city. + +But the Baptist colored membership was looked upon as the smallest; and +under these circumstances, I was surrounded with discouragements; +although the ministers and brethren of other denominations have always +treated me with marked christian kindness. + +I had never had a day's schooling; and coming to one of the first cities +in the Union, where the colored people had the advantages of schools, +and where their pulpits were occupied, Sabbath after Sabbath, by +comparatively intelligent colored ministers--what could I expect, but +that the people would turn away from one who was trying to preach in the +room of a private house, some fifteen by twenty feet? Yet, there was no +turning back: God had called me to the work, and it was His cause I was +advocating. + +I found, that to preach, like other preachers, I must improve my mind, +by reading the Bible and other good books, and by studying my own +language. I started afresh--I got a small stock of books, and the white +brethren loaned and gave me other useful volumes, to which they added a +word of instruction and encouragement, whenever an opportunity offered; +and the ministers cordially invited me to attend their Monday +ministerial conference meeting, which was very useful to me. + +... I had now been in Baltimore more than a year. My wife and seven +children were still in Virginia. I went to see them as often as my +circumstances permitted--three or four times a year. About this time, my +wife's mistress agreed to sell to me my wife and our two youngest +children. The price fixed, was eight hundred dollars cash, and she gave +me twelve months to raise the money. The sun rose bright in my sky that +day; but before the year was out, my prospects were again in darkness. +Now I had two great burdens upon my mind: one to attend properly to my +missionary duty, the other to raise eight hundred dollars. During this +time we succeeded in getting a better place for the Sabbath school, and +there was a larger attendance upon my preaching, which demanded reading +and study, and also visiting, and increased my daily labors. On the +other hand, the year was running away, in which I had to raise eight +hundred dollars. So that I found myself at times in a great strait. + +My plan to raise the money was, to secure the amount, first, by pledges, +before I collected any.... Finally, the year was more than passed away, +and I had upon my subscription list about one half of the money +needed. It was now considered that the children had increased in value +one hundred dollars, and I was told that I could have them, by paying in +cash six hundred dollars, and giving a bond, with good security, for +three hundred more, payable in twelve months. I had six weeks, in which +to consummate this matter. I felt deeply, that this was a time to pray +the Lord to help me, and for this my wife's prayers were fervently +offered with my own. I had left my wife in Virginia, and come to +Baltimore, a distance of over a hundred miles; I had been separated thus +for nearly three years; I had been trying to make arrangements to have +her with me, for over twelve months, and as yet had failed. We were +oppressed with the most gloomy forebodings, and could only kneel down +together and pray for God's direction and help. + +I was in Fredericksburg, and had but one day longer to stay, and spend +with my wife. What could be done, must be done quickly. I went to my old +friend, Mr. Wright, and stated my case to him. After hearing of all I +had done, and the conditions I had to comply with, he told me that if I +would raise the six hundred dollars cash, he would endorse my bond for +the remaining three hundred.--This promise inspired me with new life. +The next thing was, how could the six hundred dollars be obtained in six +weeks. I had upon my subscription list and in pledges nearly four +hundred dollars. But this had to be collected from friends living in +Fredericksburg, Washington city, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. + +I left Fredericksburg, and spent a few days in Washington, to collect +what I could of the money promised to me there; and met much +encouragement, several friends doubling their subscriptions. When I +arrived in Baltimore, and made known the peculiar strait I was in, to my +joyful surprise, some of the friends who had pledged five dollars, gave +me ten; and one dear friend who had promised me ten dollars, for this +object, and who had previously contributed largely in the purchase of +myself, now gave me fifty. I began to count up, and in two weeks from +the time I commenced collecting, I had in hand four hundred dollars. +Presently, another very dear friend enquired of me how I was getting +along; and when I told him, he said, "Bring your money to me." I did +so. It lacked two hundred dollars to make the purchase. This, the best +friend I ever had in the world, made up the six hundred dollars, and +said, "Go, get your wife; and you can keep on collecting, and repay the +two hundred dollars when you get able." + +I was now overcome with gratitude and joy, and knew not what to say; and +when I began to speak, he would not have any of my thanks. I went to my +boarding house, and shut myself up in my room, where I might give vent +to the gratitude of my heart: and, O, what a melting time I had! It was +to me a day of thanksgiving. + +Having now in hand the six hundred dollars, and the promise of Mr. +Wright's security for three hundred more, I was, by twelve o'clock, next +day in Fredericksburg. + +At first sight, my wife was surprised that I had come back so soon; for +it was only two weeks since I had left her; and when I informed her that +I had come after her and the children, she could hardly believe me. In a +few days, having duly arranged all things relative to the purchase and +removal, we left for Baltimore, with feelings commingled with joy and +sorrow--sorrow at parting with five of our older children, and our many +friends; and rejoicing in the prospect of remaining together permanently +in the missionary field, where God had called me to labor. I arrived in +Baltimore, with my wife and two little ones, November 5th, 1851, and +stopped with sister Hester Ann Hughes, a worthy member of the M. E. +Church, with whom I had been boarding for four years. + +The Md. Baptist Union Association was now in session here, and it became +my duty to prepare my church letter and missionary report, for that +body. The church had now been organized just three years; commencing +with only four members, including the pastor. Our church statistics for +the year, as reported, were: Baptized, 2; Received by letter, 2; Present +number of members, 15.... Sabbath school much revived, under the special +efforts of several white brethren and sisters. Present number of Sunday +scholars, 50. + +This year was a joyful one to me--my little church increasing, and the +Sabbath school flourishing, under the superintendence of the late truly +excellent brother James C. Crane, though he was with us but for a short +season. My wife and little ones were also with me, both in the church +and Sabbath school. I was a happy man, and felt more than ever inclined +to give thanks to God, and serve Him to the best of my ability. + +My salary was only three hundred dollars a year; but with hard exertion +and close economy, together with my wife's taking in washing and going +out at day's work, we were enabled by the first of the year, to pay the +two hundred dollars our dear friend had loaned us, in raising the six +hundred dollars before spoken of. But the bond for three hundred dollars +was now due, and how must this be met? I studied out a plan; which was +to get some gentleman who might want a little servant girl, to take my +child, and advance me three hundred dollars for the purpose of paying my +note, which was now due in Virginia. In this plan I succeeded; and had +my own life insured for seven years for five hundred dollars, and made +it over to this gentleman, as security; until I ultimately paid him the +whole amount; though I was several years in paying it. + +Among the number that joined our little church, was a young brother, +Jos. M. Harden, who was baptized by Dr. Fuller, but soon became a +valuable member with us, both in the church and Sunday school. He was +born in Baltimore, and had been early taught to read, and though he had +been at ten years old bound out, till he was twenty-one, his love of +books had made him far superior to colored people generally, and he was +very valuable to me. Things had gone on hopefully with me, and my little +church, though our progress was very slow. But we had to suffer a loss +in brother Harden's leaving us for the great missionary field in Africa, +where I trust the Lord has sent him for a great and happy work. But God +has blessed us in the person of brother Samuel W. Madden, whose labors +as a licensed preacher for several years have been invaluable to us. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A New Movement in Baltimore--Erection of a Meeting House for the African +Baptist Church--Heavy Indebtedness--Account of the Enterprise--Personal +Troubles. + + +For several years previous to Jan., 1855, our little church and Sunday +school had occupied a very inconvenient upper room on Courtland street. +Our particular friend, Mr. William Crane, with some other white persons +to aid him, was the devoted superintendent of our Sunday school, and the +unfailing friend of our own little church, as well as of me personally. +Mr. Crane had felt, with us, the great disadvantage of our place of +worship, and had exerted himself much to obtain a more commodious room +for us. But in July, 1853; he commenced an extraordinary effort in our +behalf, by purchasing a lot--one hundred feet by forty-six feet--with +three fronts, on Calvert, Saratoga and Davis streets, on which a chapel +building has been erected for us. + +Our chapel was opened for worship Feb. 18, 1855; and Rev. Dr. Fuller +preached the opening sermon to a crowded audience. + +On this occasion Mr. Wm. Crane read a detailed report of all the facts +relative to this building--a full copy of this report may be interesting +probably to my readers, and I have therefore obtained it, and here +present it, in connection with a picture of the building, which will be +found opposite the title page. + + + HISTORY OF THE SARATOGA STREET AFRICAN BAPTIST CHAPEL. + +"The questions have often been asked in this vicinity during the last +six months, Who is putting up that large building called the 'Saratoga +Street African Baptist Chapel?' 'What are they putting it up for?'--'Who +will own it, when finished?' 'How much will it cost? and who will pay +for it?'" + +These questions have often been answered, but it seems proper, and +indeed necessary, at this time to answer them plainly and clearly, for +the information of this large assembly. + +First, then, I reply: This entire building has been reared under my +directions, in the name of the Saratoga street African Baptist Church. + +This Church was organized with only four members, six years ago, with +brother Noah Davis, a missionary of the Md. Baptist Union Association, +as its pastor, who has labored most faithfully in his work. But, +although colored churches of the Baptist denomination in all of our +Southern and Western cities count their members by thousands, this +church has now only thirty members--but our hope and prayer is, that +established here in the centre of a population of full thirty thousand +colored people, God may bless the humble devoted efforts of His people, +and increase their numbers a hundred fold. Four years ago, the 1st of +January, we commenced a Sunday school in Courtland street,--where this +church has always held its regular meetings, which notwithstanding its +many discouragements--mostly from a want of devoted self-denying +teachers--has been unremittingly kept up morning and afternoon, till the +present time, with an attendance varying from thirty to over one hundred +scholars; and we feel assured that the hundreds of Bibles and +Testaments, tracts, &c., with the Sunday school instructions, and the +preaching of brother Davis will have laid the foundation for a lasting +blessing to his people. This little church and Sunday school have met +to-day for the first time in this building, and in the language of the +Psalmist David, probably on an occasion like this, we would exclaim, +"Send now, we beseech thee, O Lord--O Lord, we beseech thee, send now +prosperity!"--(Ps. 118: 25.) + +But what are the objects for which this house has been built? I answer, +the first object was, to furnish such a room as this, for the use of +this church, where the gospel might be preached and its ordinances +administered, and where Sunday schools and religious associations might +be properly accommodated. The second was, to furnish rooms in the next +story, for a male high school at one end, and a female high school at +the other, and where colored missionaries for Africa might be educated +for that most important field of labor; with a large hall in the centre, +for a lecture room, or for any other religious, moral, or useful +purposes. The upper story has four separate rooms, finished for renting +to associations of colored people, with a view to paying whatever debt +may remain on the building, and for defraying its current expenses;--and +it is hoped that, at some future day, a reading room and a circulating +library for colored people may also be located here--the whole of it +combining a most respectable, central, commodious _Colored People's +Home_. + +But it is asked, who owns this building? I admit that it is an unusually +mixed up affair; but I will try to explain it. After a great deal of +searching and enquiring after a lot or building, where this Church and +Sunday school could have a settled home, about two years ago, I was +informed that this lot was for sale; and realizing instantly that my +cherished objects could here be accomplished I bought it without +hesitation, for five thousand dollars; but the loss of two years' +interest and the amount paid to tenants to move away, makes the cost of +the lot now full six thousand dollars. I obtained the deed of J. H. B. +Latrobe, Esq., who sold it, as trustee for the estate of Hugh Finley, +deceased, under an order of Court. After a charter of incorporation for +the Church had been made, I got Mr. Latrobe to draw up also this deed, +[here presenting it] which he says is a perfectly good one--from William +Crane and wife, to Geo. F. Adams, J. W. M. Williams, and John W. Ball, +as trustees for all concerned, conveying to this Church all my right +and title forever to all of the proposed building on this lot above the +first story: leaving me the basement and the cellar as my own property +forever, with the proviso, that the Church in its own name should put up +the entire building. But I agreed at the same time to subscribe five +thousand dollars on the subscription book of the Church towards erecting +it. So that I am now sole owner of the store and cellar under the +Chapel--the Church has no ownership there at all--but the Church is +legal owner of this Chapel and all the rooms above it. The Church +appointed me their agent to build the house, and as such I have made all +the contracts, paid out all the monies, and assumed all the liabilities. +Before commencing the building, as before stated, my own subscription +was...................................$5,000 + +My brother, J. C. Crane, from whom I +expected efficient personal aid, gave..1,000 + +Bro. Franklin Wilson,..................1,000 + +A. Fuller Crane,.........................500 + +John W. Ball,............................250 + +J. B. Thomas,............................100 + +Among our colored friends, about.........200 + ------ +Amounting to, say,....................$8,050 + +Since that time, the pressure on the money +market has prevented any general effort to +obtain subscriptions, but a city pastor has +subscribed..............................$150 + +A sister of the First Baptist Church.....100 + +Bro. Jonathan Batchelor, of Lynn, Mass...100 + ------ +Making in all, a total of.............$8,400 + +The entire cost of the building, notwithstanding the most rigid economy, +will be over eighteen thousand dollars, and full half of this amount is +yet unprovided for. The bills are not all presented, but some of the +larger ones which have been settled by notes will be due in a short +time; while the largest one, the lumber bill, has six months to run yet, +so that I am bound to settle up and pay the entire balance of +expenditure on this house, as agent of the Church, within the coming six +months. And whatever amount of money I advance over and above the +subscriptions and collections must, of course, remain as a debt due me +by the Church, and be on interest until paid. + +The last question, how is the money obtained to pay for the building? +has been partly answered; but a full explanation of it will depend on +what the friends of the object will now contribute toward paying for it. +I will subscribe one dollar for every ten dollars that may be subscribed +and paid on account of the Church debt within the year 1855. In other +words, I will add ten per cent to any amount which may be contributed. I +may remark, that in engaging in this project, I had not a dollar which I +wished to put out at interest. I want much more than my capital in my +mercantile business. I am in fact borrowing, to lend to the Church. But +it is God's cause, and I have had to trust in Him to bear me through it. +The failing health of my dear brother, J. C. Crane,[A] and the want of +his invaluable co-operation with me, as well as the lack of hearty, +zealous assistance on the part of many other brethren and friends, has +been painful to me. But I hope, now that the house is finished, the +friends of our Redeemer's cause and of the African race generally, may +not fail in lending their efficient aid. + +[Footnote A: Died March 31, 1857. See Memoir of Southern Baptist +Publication Society.] + +I have only to add, brethren, "the time is short;" we must all of us +soon appear before the judgment seat of Christ, to render an account of +all the talents committed to our charge. If God has given me a talent +for the acquisition of money over and above what my duty to my family +requires, I regard myself bound as a good steward to exert that talent +entirely for Him. I am not my own, and I feel perfectly assured that any +individual who possesses the tact and ability for acquiring money is +neccessarily (_sic._) the best qualified for a judicious and proper +disbursement of it; and I dare not try to leave my earthly acquisitions +in testamentary charitable bequests--to the inexperienced and uncertain +management of those who may come after me. + +"May God help us to work for Him, and at last may we hear, 'Well done, +good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.'" + +This paper was read to the congregation, probably a thousand people, +immediately after Dr. Fuller had preached the opening sermon, Feb. 18, +1855; and a collection was taken of about one hundred dollars. +Subsequent to this, a venerable widow lady of Baltimore contributed +$500, and other quite liberal donations were made. + +On the 1st of July, 1855, Mr. Crane rendered a full account to the +Church and trustees, of all the monies received and bills paid on the +building; showing that the entire cost +of it was,............................$18,207,73 + +Total am't of collections credited,.....9,547,86 + ---------- +Leaving balance over-paid by him, .... $8,659,87 + +The trustees then gave Mr. Crane a bond for this balance, and a lease on +the building, until this debt, with interest on it, could be paid. + +Our Church now had great cause of gratitude at finding ourselves in a +fine large Chapel, in the centre of our city--a room 100 feet long, and +19 feet high, with a gallery at each end, a baptistery, gas lights, and +sliding partitions, to make two closed rooms under the galleries, when +needed for the changing of clothes on baptismal occasions, as well as +for our Church prayer and conference meetings. + +We were in hopes that we could rent out the large hall, together with +the six other spacious rooms in the two upper stories, for schools, +benevolent societies, &c., so as to pay the interest on our debt, if no +more; but so far, we have not been able to do this. My own trials, with +my family, have greatly retarded my efforts in this matter. We have had +the largest and best week-day school for colored children in the city--a +part of the time with three teachers and over one hundred scholars--but +for four years, no rent has been received from the school. The prices +for tuition have been so low, that they have hardly sustained the +teachers; but we trust that our people have derived much benefit from +them already, and hope they may receive much more good from them in the +future. Since the dedication of our Chapel, our Church has more than +doubled its membership, and the congregation has increased four-fold; +while on our baptizing occasions the hall is generally full. We have +always held three meetings for worship every Sunday, to accommodate many +servants, who have no command of their time, and also regular Wednesday +and Friday evening prayer and conference meetings. Our Sunday school has +always had two sessions a day--an hour and a half in the morning, and an +hour in the afternoon. + +I have been necessarily much hindered in my own labors, from pecuniary +embarrassments, arising from the sale of my children, who were left in +Virginia--two daughters and three sons. The first of these, who was +about to be sold, and taken away South, was my oldest daughter; and it +was with great difficulty and the help of friends that I raised eight +hundred and fifty dollars, and got her on to Baltimore. But I was soon +called upon to make a similar effort to save my eldest son from being +sold far from me. Entirely unexpected, I received the painful news that +my boy was in one of the trader's jails in Richmond, and for sale. The +dealer knew me, and was disposed to let me have him, if I could get any +one to purchase him. I was, of course, deeply anxious to help my boy; +but I began to think that I had already drawn so heavily on the +liberality of all my friends, that to appeal to them again seemed out of +the question. I immediately wrote to the owners of my son, and received +an answer--that his price was fixed at seven hundred dollars. + +The fact is, God had already done so much more for me and my family than +we had ever expected, that we could not tell what further help He might +give us, until we had asked Him for it; and we could but pray over this +trying affair. I hardly knew what else to do, but pray. The boy was +twenty years old, and had been accustomed to waiting in the house, for +the most respectable families. It occurred to me, that I might perhaps +get him a home near me, where we might see him and use our parental +influence over him. I thought it was possible, that I might find three +hundred persons among my friends in Baltimore, who would contribute one +dollar each to save my son, and that I might then obtain some friend in +Baltimore to advance four hundred dollars, and let my son work it out +with him: and give this friend a life insurance policy on the boy, as a +security. This plan seemed practicable, and I wrote to his owners, +asking for ten days to raise the money; which they granted me. + +I now got my case made known publicly to the different colored +congregations in the city--and was very much surprised to find how many +friends I had, and how kindly they engaged in helping me. The result of +it was, that I obtained the three hundred dollars, and also a kind +friend to advance the four hundred dollars, within the ten days, and +recovered my son; who is now doing well, in working out the money +advanced on him. + +So far, I felt that I had great reason to say, "Hitherto the Lord hath +helped me." I had obtained my own freedom and also that of my wife and +four children. + +But three of my children were still in bondage. In 1856, the mistress of +these remaining ones died; and in settling up her estate, it became +necessary to sell all her servants at auction with her other property. +This was the decision of the Court; and commissioners were appointed to +carry out the sale, on the 1st of January, 1857. I felt now, that I had +gone as far as I could in getting my family free; for I felt very +certain that my daughter, about whom I felt the greatest anxiety, would +sell at auction for more money than I could get any of my friends in +Baltimore to give for her; and I saw no way to do any thing for the two +boys. I thought I had no chance of raising any more money myself, and I +could only pray the Lord to grant us His grace, to reconcile us and the +children, to whatever might come upon us. But before the end of the +year, when the sale was to take place, the time was extended six months +by the Court. My hopes now began to revive again; I began to think that +if I could be at the sale, my daughter, though a grown up girl might +possibly not bring over six or seven hundred dollars. In that case, I +might perhaps get six or twelve months time, and get some friend in +Baltimore to help me, as had been the case with my son. The sale was +postponed for six months longer, and finally occurred, Jan. 1, 1858. + +The money panic, of 1857, had partially destroyed my hopes of doing +anything to relieve my daughter;--But I had secured the promise of a +kind friend in Baltimore, to go to Fredericksburg with me, and if he +liked the appearance of the boys, to buy one or both of them. But in +this I was disappointed; for on the day of sale this gentleman was +confined to his house by sickness. The sale went on. My oldest son, aged +twenty-one, sold for $560; and the younger one, just turning his +seventeenth year, brought $570. They were bought in by their young +master. But my daughter was run up to $990, by a slave trader, who after +the sale agreed to let my friends have her, for me, for eleven hundred +dollars. These friends were gentlemen of the first standing in the +place, who, out of kindness to me, whom they had well known for years, +gave their bond jointly for the amount, and in this case again I got the +girl's life insured for one thousand dollars as a security for them. The +girl was of course left in the hands of these gentlemen, in whom I had +the most implicit confidence. + +I returned to Baltimore, and prepared for the redemption of my child. I +had a circular printed, showing the facts as they were, and scattered it +among my friends. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +Account of A Visit to the northern Cities--True Friends. + + +During the winter and spring, I used every effort in my power in the way +of collecting funds, but, though I met with the most generous sympathy +and kindness from all my friends--up to the 1st of June I had in hand +only one hundred and fifty dollars. I then applied to the Mission Board, +for permission to travel and solicit funds to help me out of my +distress. This was readily granted me. Having obtained a certificate, +relative to the objects of my journey, signed by Rev. Franklin Wilson, +Secretary of our State Missionary Board, as well as by the pastors and +other friends in Baltimore, I started once more on this painful business +of begging money, to purchase my fifth child out of slavery. I went to +Philadelphia, and met with marked attention from the ministers of the +Baptist churches generally, and especially from Rev. Messrs. McKean, +Cole, and Griffith, with whom I had been acquainted in Baltimore; as +well as Revs. Messrs Cuthbert and Malcom, and the editors of the +Christian Chronicle, Presbyterian, &c. I obtained in this city nearly +two hundred dollars. + +With a view to meet a particular friend in Boston, I was induced to +visit that city next. The many acts of kindness and sympathy I met with +there can never be effaced from my memory. I had a special introduction +to the Messrs. Gould and Lincoln, book publishers. To the latter, I owe +a lasting obligation.--Through him I obtained a hearing of my case in +Mr. Anderson's church, Roxbury, where I obtained very liberal aid, while +the pastor was absent, as well as in many other cases. + +I called on Rev. Dr. Stow, who allowed my case to be presented to his +congregation, at an evening meeting, where I received some fifty +dollars. He also gave me a letter of commendation to the other Baptist +ministers, with a request that they would also sign it, which a large +number did. The article was then published gratuitously for me in the +"Watchman and Reflector" and "Christian Era." Rev. L. A. Grimes, pastor +of the 12th Baptist Church, (colored,) from the respectable position +which he occupied in the community, did much for me, in furthering my +cause, and introducing me to others, especially at the daily prayer +meetings. + +I had the great privilege and pleasure of mingling with the people of +God of every name, in these blessed meetings. The first I went to, was +at the old South Chapel. Here I felt at first greatly embarrassed when +called on to speak or pray. I thought that those who came to these +meetings must be among the most pious and intelligent people in Boston. +The kind manner in which they treated me, confirmed me in my impressions +of them. But the best meetings, I think I ever enjoyed on earth, for +such a length of time, (nearly two months,) was at what was called the +North street prayer meeting, or Father Mason's. This was in a large +upper room. It really appeared to me, that the most of those who met at +this place each day at twelve o'clock to spend an hour in prayer, to +tell what God had done for their souls, had been made "ready," by the +Spirit of God before they reached that sacred spot.-- + +I know, I shall fail to present a true picture of this heavenly place; +for such it was to me, and many others. But, it may be, that my own +peculiar circumstances may have rendered the meetings unusually +precious to me. But they were good to me in many respects. I was a poor +colored man, in distress, and needed christian sympathy. I found it +truly, among the many white friends with whom I met in the North street +prayer meeting. There, in that meeting, the dear friends would pray with +me and for me. In a word, I felt at times it was good for me to be +afflicted, for surely, if it had not been for my peculiar circumstances, +I should never have been inside the Old South Chapel, or North street +prayer meeting, where I enjoyed so much of God's presence, and found so +many real friends, in the midst of strangers. I felt that I realized +what the apostle Peter meant: "If need be, ye are in heaviness, through +manifold temptation, that the trials of your faith, being much more +precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might +be found unto praise and honor and glory, at the appearing of Jesus +Christ."--(1 Peter 1: 6,7.) Also, "For I will show him how +great things he must suffer for my name's sake."--(Acts 9: 16.) The +arguments I drew from these passages of Scripture were, to show that +when God wanted to purify our faith, and strengthen our confidence in +Him, He would send trials upon us. And to let us see how great the +things we must suffer for His name's sake, and to let us see too how +great the grace He gives us, to enable us to endure hardness, as good +soldiers of the cross. + +Suffice it to say, the friends in Boston and its vicinity gave me about +four hundred dollars towards the purchase of my daughter. I had the +privilege of meeting the Baptist ministers in their conference meeting. +Here the Rev. Mr. Tilson, pastor of the First Baptist Church at Hingham, +invited me to spend a Sunday evening at his place, which I did, very +greatly to my own satisfaction and profit. During my stay in Boston, I +visited several of the smaller towns adjacent to it,--Lynn, Cambridge, +Melrose, Malden, Chelsea, and others, and I was kindly received at all +of them. I collected in Lynn something like $50, the most of which was +given to me by the members of the 2nd Baptist Church. Just before +leaving Boston, to my great and agreeable surprise, I met Dr. F. Patten, +surgeon in the U. S. Navy, (my former owner,) in the street, in that +city. I had not seen him for seven or eight years, and had no thought +of seeing him in Boston. He recognized me first, and spoke to me before +I knew he was near; but I instantly knew him. We greeted each other +heartily, and he invited me to visit him at Chelsea. This I did, the +same afternoon, and was kindly treated. + +While I sat there with him and his children, and he was looking over my +subscription book, I was constrained to look back for fifteen years, +over all the way the Lord had brought me, since the day this same +gentleman had given me privilege to purchase my freedom, and handed me a +pass, saying, "I am not afraid of you running away, Noah--you may go +where you please." I reflected, suppose I had stayed away, when I was in +Boston, twelve years ago, begging money to buy myself--how would it be +with me and my family to-day? But I have tried to acknowledge the Lord +in all my ways, always asking counsel of Him, and I now feel that He has +kindly directed and kept me. + +I also visited New Bedford, where I met a large number of my old +acquaintances from Virginia, and had the privilege of presenting my +object to several of the Churches, and I received in all about $50. I +next went to Providence, Rhode Island, where I spent a couple of weeks +greatly to my advantage. It was indeed "providence" to me. I was +permitted to present my case to nearly all the Baptist Churches in that +city. Five of these aided my cause; but their great kindness deserves +some particular notice. The first one I visited was Rev. Mr. Stone's, +whose congregation, with himself, greatly encouraged me. At the First +Church I told my story before an evening meeting, and shall never forget +the kindness of the pastor, the senior deacon, and others. I obtained +here nearly $100. I was kindly assisted by Rev. Mr. Keyser's Church, as +also the Fourth Baptist Church. But at the Central Baptist Church, Rev. +Mr. Fields', I found unbounded kindness and liberality. After seeing my +letters of recommendation, the pastor invited me to his prayer meeting, +where I was favored with the privilege of telling my story, freely. I +had been from home several months, and had collected in all about seven +hundred dollars, but still lacked about four hundred to accomplish my +object. I was receiving letters every week from my Church and family, +saying that my presence at home was greatly needed; but the idea of +going home without accomplishing my great object, filled me with +distress. While speaking to the meeting, and telling how God had +delivered me from time to time out of trials, I felt such a sense of my +condition, that for the moment I could not restrain my feelings--my +heart became so full, that it stopped all utterance. At the close of the +meeting, the people showed their sympathy for me by giving me a +collection of sixty one dollars.--One dear brother, (may the Lord bless +him!) came forward, and presenting me with a ten dollar bill, said, +"Brother Davis, give yourself no more trouble about that daughter.--You +say you have to stop in New York. Let me say, that when you get home, +whatever you lack of the four hundred dollars, write to me, and I will +send you a check for the balance." This was spoken in the presence of +the whole meeting. I felt completely at a loss for words of gratitude +and thanksgiving; and merely said, the day is broke, and the Lord has +appeared for me indeed! + +I now left Providence, feeling in my heart that the place is rightly +called by that name, as far as I am concerned. + +I then went to New York. In that great city, I met with considerable +assistance. I never started out, but it seemed that the Lord directed my +steps. I was allowed to address a prayer meeting of the First Baptist +Church, whose pastor was the late excellent Rev. A. K. Nott, and was +aided to the amount of over seventy dollars. + +Rev. Dr. Lathrop, with much christian kindness, invited me to his night +meeting; but a severe rain prevented any attendance. He invited me +again, and then he was absent because of illness. I was depressed with +disappointment; but he had sent a request that I might be heard, (as I +afterward learned,) and I was called on to state my case to the +audience. I was taken by surprise, for the pastor's illness had taken +all hope from me of accomplishing anything there. Still I begun, by +telling my experience. I said that when it had pleased God to convert my +soul, I thought that all my trouble was gone, and gone forever; but I +had since learned that I was much mistaken--I had learned that "in the +world we shall have tribulation." I then went on to state my present +trouble and distress--and before I left the meeting, I received with +heart-felt gratitude, one hundred and thirty four dollars. This reminded +me of Providence. + +Rev. Drs. Gillette and Armitage treated me with much generous sympathy, +as also did many others. + +I visited Greenport on Long Island, where Rev. Henry Knapp kindly aided +me. Elders Swan and Read, and the brethren generally at New London, +aided me to the amount of about fifty dollars. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +Conclusion--Object of this Book. + + +I now left the north, for home, and arrived there safely. My friends +greeted me cordially on my success in collecting money. + +I still lacked, however, one hundred and forty-two dollars of the needed +eleven hundred. I had used every effort in my power to prevent the +necessity of having to call on my generous friend in Providence. But in +spite of all my endeavors, I had to make known to him this deficiency, +which he immediately and generously supplied, by remitting me a check +for the full amount. + +I was now prepared to go after my daughter, which I did, December 1st, +1858; thus releasing her within one year from the time she was sold. She +is now with me, and doing well. + +I received a promise from the young master of my two sons, at the time +he purchased them, that if I should succeed in paying for my daughter +during that year, he would let me know what I might have my two boys +for. At the time, my boys were about returning to Richmond, where they +had been hired out for several years. I charged them to let me hear a +good report of their conduct; and if I could do anything for them, after +I had got through with the purchase of their sister, I would do it. This +pledge I made to the boys, in the presence of their master's agent. + +Having, through the aid of a kind Providence, been enabled to pay for my +daughter, I have felt it my duty to turn my attention toward redeeming +my word to my last children now in bondage. + +But this, of course, has called up anxious thought and prayerful +meditation. I have also considered the peculiar condition of my +church--the large outlay of money in the erection of the building, and +the heavy debt hanging upon it, which is increased every year by the +interest. I have also considered how long I have been supported in this +field of labor by the Missionary Board of the Southern Baptist +Convention and the Maryland Baptist Union Association. + +The question then occurred to me, Could I not, by _making a book_, do +something to relieve myself and my children, and ultimately, by the +same means, help my church, under its heavy debt, and also relieve the +Missionary Board from helping me. This idea struck me with so much +force, that I have yielded to it--that is, to write a short Narrative of +my own life, setting forth the trials and difficulties the Lord has +brought me through to this day, and offer it for sale to my friends +generally, as well as to the public at large; and I hope it may not only +aid me, but may serve to encourage others, who meet with similar +difficulties, to put their trust in God. + + + +END OF THE NARRATIVE. + + + + +SERMON. + +BY REV. NOAH DAVIS + + +TEXT.--"But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of +his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an +infidel."--1 Tim. 5:8. + +In this chapter, we have several christian duties set forth by the +apostle Paul, to Timothy, a young preacher of the gospel, who was to +teach other christians to observe them, as evidences of the genuineness +of their faith in Christ. + +That faith which does not produce obedience to the commands of Jesus +must be regarded as defective. Religion requires us to love God, and all +men, and we must show our faith, by a life consistent with our +profession. + +If human nature, fallen as it is, prompts men of the world to labor +zealously to supply their own temporal necessities and the wants of +those whom Providence has made to depend upon them, how much more will +it be expected of those who profess to have drank of that pure Fountain +of love, the Spirit of our blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. God +has indeed doomed man to eat his bread in the sweat of his face; but as +if to reward him, he has connected with it a pleasure in the labor, and +especially, in our efforts to do good to others. + +In speaking from these words, let us first consider what is here meant +by "providing" for "his own;" secondly, "and especially for those of his +own house;" thirdly, what it is to "deny the faith;" and lastly, draw a +comparison between the one who "hath denied the faith" and the +"infidel." + +1. In the first place, we are to consider the duty enjoined in the text, +to provide for our own: which we understand to mean our own temporal +wants, such as food and raiment and every temporal benefit. Every man is +bound by the laws of nature to provide for himself the necessaries of +life, honestly in the sight of God and men, as far as in him lieth. This +both reason and common sense dictate. This religion inspires. "He that +will not work, shall not eat," is the teaching of the word of God. +"Provide things honest in the sight of all men," is the instruction of +the great apostle to the Gentiles; at the same time giving them an +example, by working with his own hands, to supply his necessities, and +the wants of those who were with him. I have heard it said that a lazy +person cannot be a christian, and the same idea seems to be supported in +my text. + +"But if any provide not for his own." Religion benefits those who +possess it, by regulating their appetite for temporal things, as well as +giving them a relish for spiritual ones. While we are in love with sin, +we labor hard to enjoy its pleasures. How industriously do wicked men +labor for what they can eat, drink and wear. And shall a christian be +less active to secure for himself the necessaries of life?--he would +prove himself indeed to be worse than the infidel. But we have other +wants to be supplied, beside those of the body. God has given to all men +an intellectual nature--a mind, which distinguishes them from the +brutes. These minds are capable of improvement; and every man is under +obligation to make use of the means and opportunities which God has +given him for cultivating his mind, by educating himself, that he may be +useful to himself and those around him. But man is a social being as +well as an intellectual one. "God hath made of one blood, all nations of +men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth."--(Acts 17: 26.) Much of +our happiness, and usefulness in this world arises from this quality +which man possesses over the animal creation. And just in proportion, as +we shall cultivate, and refine our social and intellectual natures, just +in that proportion, shall we rise above the level of the savage and the +heathen. + +But man has a soul, which must be fitted for the enjoyment of God, here +and hereafter. Now to provide for the wants of the soul, is our highest +duty on earth.--Sin has unclothed us of that innocence in which our +Creator first made us, and the responsibility now rests upon every soul, +to provide a clothing which will stand the inspection of God himself. +This clothing, Christ has prepared through His sufferings, and death, +and it is given to all them that believe in Him. And surely, if it be +our duty to provide temporal things for ourselves, and for those of our +own house, how much more are we bound to seek and secure the one thing +needful. + +2. But we will consider in the second place, what is meant by providing +for our own house?--"and especially for those of his own house?" House +here means family. First, we will consider the duty devolving upon a +christian parent, in making suitable provision for his own house, or +family. This embraces all we have urged as his duty to himself. It is +the duty of all parents, to provide for their families every temporal +good which adds to their own comfort or usefulness in life. And it is no +less the duty of parents to provide for the spiritual necessities of +their own families. And first--we shall consider the duty of parents, to +provide suitable training for their children. This is a duty which God +has enjoined and approves. He said of Abraham, "For I know him, that he +will command his children and his household after him, and they shall +keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment, that the Lord may +bring upon Abraham, that which He hath spoken of him." The duty of +parents to train their children religiously, is clearly taught under the +gospel dispensation. + +"And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up +in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Here, we have divine +authority, for teaching our children, the things, which make for their +good, both in this life and that which is to come. But it may be asked, +to what extent are parents bound to comply with these high and solemn +obligations? We answer, to the utmost of their ability. To whom much is +given, of him much is required, and to whom little is given, of him +little is required.--But all are bound to train up their children "in +the way they should go, that when they are old, they may not depart from +it." This duty is seen in the judgments which God has visited upon those +parents and children who have neglected to obey the Lord in this +particular.--(1 Samuel 2: 34.) + +3. We are, in the third place, to enquire what it is to "deny the +faith." Much is said in the Scriptures about faith. Much depends upon +it. We are said to be "justified by faith," and "saved by faith;" we +"live by faith." And inasmuch, as such as are spoken of in the text are +said to be worse than an infidel, because they provide not for +themselves and families, thereby showing that they have denied the +faith, therefore let us try to consider what genuine faith is, and what +it is to deny it. This is the most important point in the subject now +before us. "Without faith it is impossible to please God." + +We will consider some of the effects of this distinguishing grace. There +are several kinds of faith spoken of in the Bible. In one case, men are +said to "believe for a while." This faith is shown us in the parable +taught by our blessed Saviour, in the characters represented by the seed +sown upon the rock, "which for a while believe, and in time of +temptation fall away."--(Luke 8: 33.) + +There is a faith which is called dead.--"Even so faith, if it hath not +works, is dead, being alone."--(James 2: 17.) But the faith which +enables the christian to obey the Saviour in all things, is said to +"work by love."--(Gal. 5: 6.) Now we say that those who have this faith, +will never deny it. The counterfeit may deceive, but the genuine cannot. +We say this faith cannot deny itself. All who are spoken of in the Old +Testament as having this faith never denied it. By it Abel made a more +excellent sacrifice to God than Cain. By it, Enoch walked with God, when +the other portion of mankind walked in the vain wicked imaginations of +their own hearts. "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen +as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house." +"Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." + +This is the grace which enables believers to renounce the pleasures of +sin, which are but for a season. It gives them a complete victory over +the world. It abideth with hope and charity. Now, whosoever professes +this faith, and then by his unholy life denies it, by neglecting to +provide for his own, and especially for those of his own house, makes it +manifest that he never had it. It is as unchangeable as its Author, for +it is the gift of God. It prompted Noah to labor over a hundred years, +to build an ark, to save his house. And what it has done, it will +continue to do, for those who have it. This is the principle in religion +which purifies the heart, overcomes the world, and causes christians to +love one another, whatever may be their circumstances, or color or rank +in life. + +4. We are now in the fourth and last place to draw a comparison between +those who deny the faith, and an infidel. Now an infidel, is an +unbeliever in the religion of Christ.--Yet he provides for his own, and +especially for those of his own house. In this he is consistent with +himself. Here he acts from reason, and principles of nature. But the +individual who denies the faith, is one, who has taken upon himself the +solemn vow before God and men, that he will act out what his profession +supposes him to be in possession of, which is superior in its influence, +to the infidel's principles, yet he fails to do as much. + +But again, an infidel is a bad man, and makes no pretensions to hide it. +But he who contradicts his profession, by denying it in the manner here +set forth, is worse for attempting to cover up a character, which in +itself is no better. But consider the effect produced by a false faith, +(and we have shown, that such a faith, as does not come up with the +infidel's, is false,) it does the person no harm. Many persons, when +they make a profession of faith, suppose it is the true faith, but after +a while, they find that their faith does not work by love, it does not +purify their hearts. They love sin secretly, as much as before. They +love worldly company as well as ever. And they find the employments, +which their profession enjoins upon them, irksome and dry. Such persons +are greatly deceived, yet they are ashamed to confess it, and throw off +the mask of profession. And such persons are often the greatest +fault-finders with those, whose true faith inspires them to endure +hardness, afflictions and deny themselves and take up their cross, so +that they may glorify their Saviour in their bodies and spirits which +are the Lord's. + +In conclusion, dear brethren, let us, who have made a profession of +faith, examine ourselves, whether we be in the faith of the gospel, or +not. "Know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you, +except ye be reprobates." AMEN. + + + + +STATISTICAL REPORT + +OF ALL THE + +COLORED PROTESTANT CHURCHES +AND SABBATH SCHOOLS +IN BALTIMORE. + + +(As quoted from the Minutes of their respective +bodies, for the year 1859.) + +Sharp st. and Wesley Chapel, Meth. Ep., 1812 +Orchard st. and Asbury, " 1508 +Dallas st., " 119 +Bethel, Saratoga st., African M.E., 1398 +Ebenezer, Montgomery st., " " 600 +Union Bethel, Fell's Point, " " 100 +Water's Chapel, Spring st., " " 98 +Mission " Tissia st., " " 77 +South Howard st. Chapel, Zion Meth., 200 +St. Thomas', Chesnut st., Meth. Prot., 70 +St. James', Saratoga st., Episcopal, 100 +Presbyterian church, Madison st., 69 +First Baptist, cor. Young and Thomson st., 99 +Union Baptist, Lewis st., 63 +Saratoga st. African Baptist Chapel, 73 + ----- +Total Col'd Prot. Religious Popul'n, 6386 + + +SABBATH SCHOOL REPORT. + +(Rendered to the S. S. Union, for 1859.) + + + V + B C O + I O L F M + B N S E A + L V . M L S + E E . E C + R L H + R S I T T O + E I B E E L + A ' R A A A + D N ' C C R + S S Y H H S + . . . . . . +Sharp st., M.E., 200 15 15 200 +Orchard st., " 6 9 177 +Asbury, " 2 45 259 +Dallas st., " 20 17 250 +John Wesley, " 250 10 10 120 +Bethel, African M.E., 60 15 200 16 16 350 +Ebenezer, " " 27 178 +Spring st., " " 113 13 120 +Allen chapel, " " 6 58 +Union Bethel, " " 11 86 +Good Samaritan, " 6 60 +Tissia st., " " 108 6 30 +St. Thomas, M.P., 200 3 4 56 +S. How'd st., Zion, 5 7 102 +Mt. Olive, Ind., 3 7 40 +Presbyterian, 20 10 240 +Episcopal, 205 5 5 70 +First Col'd Baptist, 78 3 3 33 +Union, " 11 86 +Saratoga st., " 40 1 250 8 6 150 + ---------------------------------- +Aggregate, 106 18 1604 126 222 2665 + + + + +THE SARATOGA STREET +_INSTITUTE._ + + +This Seminary for colored people, was opened in the upper rooms of the +African Baptist Chapel building, in December, 1856, and in a few months, +over one hundred scholars, were in attendance. But from circumstances +which need not be narrated, in 1857, the school was removed away, +without any rent having ever been paid for the use of the rooms. A +second time a school has been collected of over one hundred scholars, +but, up to the present time, August, 1859, the trustees of the building +have never received any sort of compensation for the use of the rooms, +occupied by the Institute. + +Mr. J. G. Goodridge, lately a teacher of a Public School, in York, Pa, +has now rented the rooms, and his friends feel great confidence in the +success of his labors. + +It may be remarked, that the large colored population of Baltimore, now +from thirty to forty thousand souls, have no sort of Public School +provision made for them, by the city or state governments. They are left +entirely to themselves for any education they may obtain. + +The above named Institute combines advantages for the education of +colored children far superior to any other in the city. + + + + +INTERESTING BOOKS PUBLISHED BY WEISHAMPEL, BALTIMORE. + +Prayer Meeting Hymn Book. + +_Containing over three hundred Hymns, with many favorite Choruses._ + +_PRICE TWENTY-FIVE CENTS._ + + +This book is bound in leather, it convenient to carry in the pocket, and +has been received with much favor, many thousands having been sold +during the first year of its publication. It contains all the Hymns most +used in Prayer Meetings and Revivals; these have been collected from +many different volumes, no other single book containing all of them. It +is provided at a low price. The retail coat being only twenty-five +cents, it will circulate where larger and costlier volumes are +neglected; and being designed only for the circle of prayer and the +revival, will not interfere with the use of the regular Church Hymn +Books. + +The Cheap Edition is furnished at the following prices: + +_Single copies_, 25 _cts._ +_One dozen copies_, $2,25 +_One hundred copies_, $17,00 + +To please the various tastes of purchasers, three editions +in fine binding have been prepared, at the annexed prices: + +_Roan_, 40 _cts._, _Full Gilt_, 60 _cts._, _Turkey mor._, 75 _cts._ + +The following lots are arranged for convenience: + +LOT NO. 1, FOR FIVE DOLLARS: +16 plain at 25 cts., 4 roan at 40 cts., 2 gilt at 60 cts. +Being $6,80 worth of books for $5. + +LOT NO. 2, FOR TEN DOLLARS: +30 plain at 25 cts., 8 roan at 40 cts., 5 gilt at 60 cts. +Being $13,70 worth of books for $10. + +LOT NO. 3, FOR TWENTY DOLLARS: +60 plain at 25 cts., 16 roan at 40 cts., 11 gilt at 60 cts. + +These packages can go by Express, or any means directed. + + + + +Character Book: + +FOR + +HIGH SCHOOLS, ACADEMIES, +AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS. + +_PRICE SIX CENTS._ + +The object of this Book is to give a weekly report to parents of the +studies, attendance, deportment, standing and progress of pupils at +school. The CONDUCT of the pupil is marked under the head of General +Deportment, with the following degrees: Excellent, Good, Tolerable, +Unsatisfactory, Inattentive, Idle, Disorderly, Disrespectful, Careless. +A written excuse is required for every exercise omitted, or for leaving +school before the hour of dismissal. Parents or guardians are requested +to examine the weekly reports of the Character Book, sign their names to +them, and return the Book on Monday morning. A _good name_ is rather to +be chosen than great riches. + +_Price to Teachers: Fifty cts. a dozen._ + + +The First School Book. + +_Illustrated with numerous Engravings._ + +_PRICE TWELVE CENTS._ + +This is an instructive Primer, for children, combining a series of +progressive spelling lessons, commencing with the alphabet, and +interspersed with simple rhymes and easy sentences in prose, accompanied +with many pictures. The Primer contains Dr. Watts' celebrated Cradle +Hymn, the verses entitled "Mary and her Lamb," the "Busy Bee," &c. Those +who wish to change from the heavy and badly printed "Spelling Books" in +present use, will find this to be more attractive to the young beginner, +and more likely to coax him a step forward in his first lessons. + + + + +The Testimony of a Hundred Witnesses: + +_Or, the Instrumentalities by which Sinners are brought to Embrace the +Religion of Jesus Christ._ + +_PRICE FIFTY CENTS._ + +This Volume contains the history of One Hundred Conversions, written +mostly expressly for this publication, by Christian individuals in the +various evangelical denominations. It is, in a word, + +AN "EXPERIENCE MEETING" IN A BOOK, + +In which each person relates briefly the experience of his own heart +concerning the great salvation. Among the number are about fifty +ministers, some of the most able and renowned of the past and present +ages. These interesting narratives show some of the causes which lead +sinners to become concerned for their eternal welfare,--their resistance +to the force of the Truth and the strivings of the Holy Spirit,--their +subsequent struggles against their own evil dispositions, or "carnal +mind,"--and their final perseverance toward the way of life, by true +repentance, and an acceptance through faith in Christ, of the blessings +which follow the love of God shed abroad in the soul. + +Place this book in your family, and cause it to be circulated among your +neighbors, that it may awaken many sinners, and edify the saints of God. +Form clubs of a dozen or more, and send for the work, which will be +forwarded at $4.00 per dozen, cash, in any way directed. A single copy +sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of fifty cents. + +Canvassers can make good wages in selling this popular book. All orders +must be acccompanied (_sic._) by the cash, and addressed to the +Publisher. + + + + +The Career of John Mortal, + +A MAN WHO ENJOYED THIS LIFE. + +_Illustrated with several Engravings._ + +_PRICE TWENTY-FIVE CENTS._ + +This volume presents several rapid and startling pictures of the career +of a man who enjoyed all the pleasures and profits of this world, and +neglected to honor God. John Mortal gained the whole world, and lost his +own soul. The style of the composition is partly allegorical and partly +narrative. It claims no credit for literary excellence, but is published +with the hope of arresting the attention of those who neglect to read +works of a heavier and more solemn appearance, and impressing their +minds with the worthlessness of human vanities and honors. + +_Table of Contents._ + +PART I. + +The beginning of Life.--The first +disappointment.--Apprenticeship.--Follies of Youth.--Sin. + +PART II. + +The Child has become a young Man.--He dissipates.--The revelers of +Vagrant Island.--Religion scoffed.--Follies and pains of an irregular +life.--Sickness.--The Friend in need.--Tempter.--"RECRUITS +WANTED."--Enlistment in a regiment of soldiers.--Col. Blood's speech. + +PART III. + +The Army.--Advancement.--Mortal succeeds Col. Blood.--The fury of +War.--The slaughter.--Glory.--Unhappiness.--Honor to the brave.--Major +Sharper. + +PART IV. + +Mortal in love.--He becomes wealthy.--He travels.--Vesuvius.--The grave +of General Gog.--Gambling.--Ruin. + +PART V. + +The last scene of all.--Dr. Popular Gospel.--Dimelover and Sharp die +hopefully.--John Mortal's last conversation with Mentor and +Tempter.--Despair and Death. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Narrative of The Life of Rev. Noah +Davis, A Colored Man., by Noah Davis + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NOAH DAVIS *** + +***** This file should be named 20005.txt or 20005.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/0/0/20005/ + +Produced by Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by the +Library of Congress) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/20005.zip b/20005.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..12aa935 --- /dev/null +++ b/20005.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..70e94bd --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #20005 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20005) |
