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diff --git a/old/66204-0.txt b/old/66204-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 0aca98a..0000000 --- a/old/66204-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8182 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Cyclopedia of the Colored Baptists -of Alabama, by Charles Octavius Boothe - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Cyclopedia of the Colored Baptists of Alabama - Their Leaders and Their Work - -Author: Charles Octavius Boothe - -Release Date: September 2, 2021 [eBook #66204] - -Language: English - -Produced by: hekula03, sf2001, and the Online Distributed Proofreading - Team at https://www.pgdp.net - - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CYCLOPEDIA OF THE COLORED -BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA *** - - - - - -[Illustration: - - REV. C. O. BOOTHE, D. D. - Author of “Plain Theology.”] - - - - - THE - CYCLOPEDIA - OF THE - COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA - THEIR LEADERS AND THEIR WORK - - - BY - Charles Octavius Boothe, D. D. - - Author of “Plain Theology for Plain People.” - - - BIRMINGHAM: - Alabama Publishing Company. - 1895 - - - - - Copyright 1895 - By Rev. C. O. Boothe, D. D. - - - - -INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. - - - PAGE. - Rev. C. O. Boothe Frontispiece - Rev. J. Q. A. Wilhite 12 - Hon. A. H. Curtis 19 - Mrs. A. A. Bowie 26 - Rev. L. S. Steinback in the act of Baptism 33 - Mrs. D. S. Jordan 36 - Shiloh Church, Birmingham Facing 45 - Rev. F. R. Kennedy 56 - Selma University Facing 61 - Mrs. M. D. Duncan 66 - Rev. J. P. Barton 75 - Miss H. Martin 82 - Rev. W. R. Pettiford 91 - Rev. J. L. Frazier 99 - Rev. P. S. L. Hutchins 106 - Rev. W. T. Bibb 110 - Sixteenth Street Church, Birmingham Facing 120 - Rev. S. L. Belser 129 - Dr. U. G. Mason 136 - Rev. J. P. O’Riley 144 - Miss Ella Knapp 151 - Rev. J. H. Eason 158 - Miss A. L. Bowman 165 - Rev. M. Tyler 172 - Mrs. Rebecca Pitts 179 - Rev. W. C. Bradford 186 - Rev. H. Woodsmall 194 - Rev. J. E. Wilson 203 - Rev. W. A. Shirley Facing 207 - Rev. L. S. Steinback 212 - St. Louis Street Church, Mobile Facing 221 - Rev. T. W. Walker 228 - Rev. J. W. Jackson 238 - First Church, Selma 244 - Miss Joanna P. Moore, Nashville Facing 249 - Rev. C. J. Hardy 254 - Rev. S. L. Ross 259 - Dexter Avenue Church, Montgomery Facing 262 - Rev. C. L. Purce 265 - - - - -TABLE OF CONTENTS. - - - CHAP. PAGE. - Autobiography of the Author 9 - Preface 13 - I.--Introduction 17 - II.--The State Conventions 37 - III.--Associations 55 - IV.--Biographic Sketches 111 - Biographic Supplement 223 - V.--Summary 237 - Final Remarks 263 - - - - -AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR. - - * * * * * - -Possibly some one may desire at some time and for some reason to know -something of the author of this book, and therefore he submits the -following short statement: - -LINEAGE AND NATIVITY.--His great-grandmother was born on the west coast -of Africa and was brought a slave to Virginia, where his grandmother -was born. Ere his grandmother had reached her maturity of womanhood, -she was sold into Georgia, where his mother was born. While his mother -was still a child, she and her mother were carried to Mobile county, -Ala., by a Mr. Nathan Howard. In this county, on a lonely looking sand -hill amid pine forests, on June 13, 1845, the writer made his advent -into this world. (In this year, 1845, the Baptists of America divided.) - -EARLY RECOLLECTIONS.--Stored away in my earliest memories I find: (1) -The songs and family prayers of my step-grandfather, a pure African, -who had not only learned to read his Bible and hymn book, but had also -learned the rudiments of vocal music sufficiently well to teach the -art of singing. (2) The tender and constant attention of an old white -lady (the only white person on the place), who took my hand as she -went out to look after the nests of the domestic fowls and to gather -a dish of ripe fruit. (3) A Baptist church in the forest, where white -and colored people sat together to commune and to wash each other’s -feet. (4) The saintly face and pure life of my grandmother, to whom -white and black went for prayer and for comfort in the times of their -sorrows. (5) A tin-plate containing the alphabet, from which at the -age of 3 years, I learned the English letters. (6) The death of the -old white lady, and the severing from dear grandmother and the old -home. (7) My introduction at the age of 6 years to the family of Nathan -Howard, Jr., where things were not altogether as tender toward me as -at the old home, and where I came more into associations with books -and with life’s sterner facts. The teachers who boarded here at my -new home became my instructors, and so I was soon reading and writing -fairly well. Here, listening to the reading of the Bible, I was drawn -toward it, and began to read it for myself. The gospel story bound me -to it with cords which nothing has been able to break. At the close of -my eighth year I began to seek the Lord by prayer and supplication, -and have, from that time to this, continued my secret devotions and -strivings after truth. My association with Col. James S. Terrel, the -brother of Judge S. H. Terrel, of Clark county, Miss., at the age of -14, as office boy in his law office, gave me a still broader range of -books. I think I can say that the Colonel and I really loved each other. - -I am not sure that I know just when I was regenerated, as my childhood -prayers were often attended with refreshing seasons of love and -joy. But my life was too often very un-christian, breaking out into -the wildest rages of bad temper, which was followed by weeping and -remorse. In 1865, however, I reached an experience of grace which -so strengthened me as to fix me on the side of the people of God. I -went at once to reading the scriptures in public and leading prayer -meetings; notwithstanding this, I was not baptized until March, 1866, -by Rev. O. D. Bowen, of Shubuta, Miss. I was ordained in the St. Louis -Street Church, Mobile, December, 1868, by Revs. Charles Leavens and -Philip Gambrell. - -I taught school for the Freedmen’s Bureau in 1867--taught various -schools under our public school system. I have been pastor of the -First Colored Baptist Church, Meridian, Miss., Dexter Avenue Church, -Montgomery, and held various State positions. The only time I have -spent at school was spent in Meharry, the medical department of the -Central Tennessee College. - - C. O. BOOTHE. - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration: Rev. J. Q. A. Wilhite, Pastor Sixth Avenue Baptist -Church, Birmingham, Ala.] - - - - -PREFACE. - - * * * * * - -This effort to give substantial and favorable testimony in the interest -of the men and work of the Colored Baptists of Alabama grows out of -certain aims and purposes, such as: - -1. The desire to produce a picture of the negro associated with the -gospel under the regime of slavery. Such a picture will serve to turn -our eyes upon the social, moral and religious forces of the dark times -and their fruits in the negro’s life. - -2. The desire to make comparisons--to compare the colored man of 1865 -with the colored man of 1895. Such a comparison will help the black man -himself to see whether or not he is a _growing_ man or a _waning_ man. -It will also serve to show the same thing to the friend and to the foe. -“Appeals to Pharaoh and to Cæsar” are not so wise as appeals to facts, -which prove the negro to be man just as other races are man. - -The book is not all history, nor is it all biography; it is something -of both and it is more. It gives certain information which can -neither rank as history nor as biography: it is the record of special -operations in the denomination in different sections of the State with -a view to showing the mental _status_ now prevailing. I have been -engaged with the book for the past seven years, during which time I -have searched and gleaned as best I could; I have not tried to obtain -everything, nor have I had space to talk of every person who deserved -honorable mention. To do this would require too large a book. I could -not do more than get enough together to “round out” my testimony. Where -I have spoken of anything that touches our white brethren or the white -people, it has been in tenderest love for them, though my language has -been plain and seemingly bold. I think I can risk the statement that I -have no “race prejudice:” all men are in a sense my brethren and I am -brother to all men--akin to Christ, akin to me. - -If a brother among us deserving mention should not appear, remember -that many failed to report to me as I desired them to do, and that I -felt I could not do more than give what would make a full showing of -our State. Those names that came after the work was done had to be put -into a supplement. - -It will be seen, therefore, that the purpose which gives birth to -this little book is not a desire to present a “vain show” of names, -appealing to pride for the sake of gain; but, that it is an humble aim -to accomplish some good. It is an attempt to answer the questions: -“From whence have we come? What have we done? What have we attained -to? What are the possibilities before us?” The book is intended to -be a simple statement of facts; which facts, it is believed, will be -a sufficient apology for their appearance in book form. The reader -may expect faults in arrangement and errors in composition, but it is -to be hoped that the sweetness and beauty of the flower will not be -rejected because of the thorns upon the stem which bears them. I have -not tried to tell everything. If I speak of individuals, it is with -a view to giving some of their best things, best deeds, etc. “Straws -show which way the wind is blowing,” it is said; hence only enough -of each biographical sketch is given to show the status and trend of -the person spoken of. We are too young, as a people, to make lengthy -biography. Coming times will give us this form of literature. It will -be remembered that this short period suffices to give only a nucleal -point in the matter of writings. I have churned the milk with an eye -to obtaining the butter--the richest and best we have. My selection -of material may not be the very best, but something is better than -nothing, and I have done the best I could under the circumstances. - -With these prefatory remarks, I present you the rose with its thorns, -trusting that God will give sweetness and beauty to the former and -allow the latter to do no harm. I cheerfully record my debt of -gratitude to my faithful wife, Mattie Alice, who has been in this -labor, as in all others, my abiding, sure support. - -[Illustration] - - - - - HISTORY - OF THE - COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. - - - - -_I. INTRODUCTION._ - - -ORIGIN. - -In turning to the subject under consideration it seems fitting that -we should first review those facts and events which gave us our -denominational existence. Such a course, it seems to the writer, will -serve to give us a proper “setting.” It is not definitely known just -when, where and by whom, Baptist principles were first propagated upon -the American continent; it is, however, an historic fact that these -principles assumed organic form in Providence, R. I., in 1639, in the -constitution of a Baptist church under Roger Williams as pastor. Other -churches soon followed, out of the union of which there early rose -Associations, Conventions and Missionary Societies. - -In 1620, nineteen years before the organization of the church in -Providence, the African was brought into Virginia as a slave. The -North and the South joined heartily in the work of binding their black -brother with the chains of cruel bondage. Thus the naked savage was -taken from his freedom and from his gods and chained to the chariot -wheels of Christian (?) civilization to be coerced, dragged into new -observations, new experiences, and a new life. - - -CHANGES. - -In order to give a glancing look at the progress and decline of slavery -in the North, and at the sort of fruit the gospel was bearing in the -soul and conduct of the slave, I copy the following from the “Baptist -Home Missions in America” (Jubilee volume): - -“By 1776 there were about 300,000 slaves in America. In 1793 there were -comparatively few slaves to be found in the Northern States. * * * In -1790 there were 697,897 slaves in the United States; of this number -there were 17 in Vermont, 158 in New Hampshire, 2,759 in Connecticut, -3,707 in Pennsylvania, 11,423 in New Jersey, and 20,000 in New York. -* * * Before 1830 slavery disappeared from all the Northern States. In -Vermont it was abolished in 1777; in Massachusetts in 1780; while acts -for the gradual emancipation of slaves were passed in other States--in -New York, 1799; in New Jersey, 1804. The final act of abolition in New -York being passed in 1817, declaring all slaves free on July 4, 1827. - -“The native African, fresh from his fetich worship, and incapable of -comprehending even common religious statements, seemed an unpromising -subject even for the Christian philanthropist. But, though degraded, -he is recognized as human, sinful, accountable, in need and capable of -redemption through Christ. The obligation to bring him to a knowledge -of the truth as it is in Christ, is practically recognized by many -Christian ministers as well as by many pious masters and mistresses. -At family devotions in many Christian households the domestics are -called in to hear the Scriptures read and bow reverently as prayer is -offered to God. On Sunday in the same meeting house master and slave -listen to the same sermon. Those who give evidence of conversion are -received into the church on relation of their experience after baptism, -and sit with their masters at the Lord’s table. - -“The First Colored Baptist Church of Savannah, Ga., dates its -organization from 1788. Other colored Baptist churches appear in -various parts of the country; in Portsmouth, Va., in 1798; the Second -African of Savannah, in 1803; the Abysinian Church of New York City, in -1803; the African or Independent Church, Boston, Mass., in 1805; First -African of Philadelphia, Pa., in 1809; the First African of St. Louis, -in 1827; the Ebenezer of New York City, in 1825; the Union Church of -Philadelphia, and a church in the District of Columbia, in 1832.” One -in Mobile in 1839, of which in 1848, it is said: “They have a fine -house of worship built by themselves, and some excellent leaders or -licensed preachers among them.” - -[Illustration: Hon. A. H. Curtis, Ex-Senator to Alabama Legislature -from Perry County.] - -We have it on good authority, that in 1850, there were in America about -150,000 negro Baptists. Thus we see that in 230 years the gospel of -Christ, though hampered by the institution of slavery, had done much to -redeem the fetich worshiper from his midnight darkness and consequent -spiritual ruin--had done much to induce the black man to obtain and -retain God in his knowledge. - -Often we come upon plants which refuse to give out their sweetness -so long as their parts are unbroken and unbleeding, but which will -quickly yield up their odors when bruised. So it is with men. It is -worthy of notice that these dark days of slavery gave birth to some -strong colored preachers. Among others, the following are mentioned -by their white brethren: Rev. George Leile, of South Carolina, who -visiting Savannah, Ga., about 1782 or 1783, baptized the famous Rev. -Andrew Bryan, of whom the Savannah Association, (white) in 1812, made -the following mention: “The association is sensibly affected by the -death of the Rev. Andrew Bryan, a man of color, and pastor of the -First Colored Church in Savannah. This son of Africa, after suffering -inexpressible persecutions in the cause of his Divine Master, was -at length permitted to discharge the duties of the ministry among -his colored friends in peace and quiet, hundreds of whom through his -instrumentality were brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in -Jesus.” - -In 1820, the Board of the Baptist General Convention of America adopted -as their missionaries Revs. Collin Teague and Lot Cary, brethren of -color, from the Baptist church of Richmond, Va. These men sailed from -Norfolk, Va., to Liberia, Africa, in January, 1821. Rev. Thomas Paul, -who was pastor of the church in Boston from 1805 to 1830, is spoken of -after a very praiseworthy manner. Touching our own State, we begin at -Mobile. - - -MOBILE. - -The rise of the work in the Southern section of Alabama appears in the -following, copied from Brother Holcombe’s work, and originally written -for the _Christian Index_, March 10, 1836: - -“About 120 years ago a few Frenchmen came here and made the first -little opening in the pine forest. Previously to 1817 it was occupied -principally as a place of deposit and trade with the Indians. Now -its population is not far from 10,000. Eighteen years ago a single -steamboat found her way to this port, now forty-five are employed in -the Mobile trade. The Baptist church was constituted March, 1835, by -J. G. Collins, R. L. Barnes and P. Stout with ten members. Rev. G. F. -Heard was called to begin the pastorate February 14, 1836. - -“At that time they had no house of worship, but met in the court house, -and for a time they met in the house belonging to the African Baptist -Church. The African Church is in a prosperous condition; their number -is about 90.” - -In this city and county the colored people had more liberty and better -treatment than in any other section of the State. The free people and -those who hired their time often supported schools for the education of -their children. Revs. Wm. Dossey, P. Stout, A. Travis, J. H. Schroebel, -Mr. Hawthorne and Mr. Spence (all white) are mentioned as pioneers and -fathers of the work at this point. Near this old French town, June -13, 1845, the writer was born, and in this county and city he spent -the first fourteen years of his life, and many years since. For some -years prior to the late civil war, the Stone Street and St. Louis -Street churches (colored) were both noted for their numbers and their -financial strength. - - -STONE STREET CHURCH. - -This is the “mother church.” The father of the Rev. J. B. Hawthorne, -in the early part of their history, served them as pastor, receiving -a regular salary of them. At the close of the war, Mr. Spence was -their pastor, since which time they have been under the leadership -of the Rev. B. J. Burke, a man who in many regards is as strong as -he is peculiar. This church, however, has not done much in the way -of missions, and not a great deal for education. One of the peculiar -customs of the pastor is to “bless children.” Standing in the pulpit, -he holds the child up in his arms while he prays God’s blessings upon -it. - -A case of discipline which came up in this church many years ago, led -to the formation of the St. Louis Street Church, and I am sorry to say -gave birth to a very bitter sectional feeling between the two bodies, -which feeling has long been a blight to the Baptist cause in South -Alabama. - -This church is stubbornly set against all secret societies, so that -no secret society people are allowed in its membership. The pastor is -elected for life. For the support of its poor it has a fund which is -called the “Church Treasury.” - - -ST. LOUIS STREET CHURCH. - -This church was for many years especially noted for its missionary -enterprise. To this church Alabama owes many of her pioneer preachers. -The late Rev. Charles Leavens, who was pastor just after the close of -the war, sought to send a pioneer, an organizer, into every section -of the State. Their present house of worship cost, I am told, about -$24,000, and is a two-story brick structure. Since the war their -pastors have been: Revs. Charles Leavens, I. Grant, A. Butler, C. C. -Richardson, and the present occupant, Rev. Mr. Frazier. This church -seems now in full sympathy with its past missionary record, over which -no one rejoices more than the writer, since it is from this church that -he, under God, received his commission to preach the gospel of the Son -of Righteousness. - - -ST. ANTHONY STREET CHURCH--NOW FRANKLYN STREET. - -This church deserves honorable mention. Rev. A. F. Owens led to the -purchase of the property on St. Anthony street, and served as pastor -for several years--1878 to 1889. Rev. A. N. McEwen, the present pastor, -advised the church to sell and purchase at a more desirable point. They -are now buying a building on Franklyn street. This church has had an -earnest class of workers, who have made great and painful sacrifices -for the cause. - - -UNION CHURCH. - -This church is another secession from Stone Street. It, too, has some -strong people in it. Rev. A. F. Owens is pastor. - - * * * * * - -There are other churches around worthy of mention. So much is said only -to show the rise and progress of the Baptist cause in this section -of Alabama. The great need here is more brotherly love, instead of -the bitter prejudice which withers every hope of united effort. Of -course, many of the good people are already free from its fearful -influence, but far too many are still slaves to it. - -Among the founders, or ante-bellum members of the colored Baptist work -in Mobile, we find the names of Rev. Charles Leavens and wife, James -Somerville, Judge Europe, Thomas Sawyer, Rev. B. J. Burke, and Crawley -Johnson. - - -HUNTSVILLE, MADISON COUNTY. - -Here is where our Statehood was born, the Constitution being formed -here in 1819. Huntsville is our State’s first capital. Taking Mr. -Hosea Holcombe as authority, the first Baptist church organized in -Alabama was constituted within a few miles of Huntsville, in 1808. -Their constitutional membership was eleven, and Rev. John Nicholson -was their first pastor. The first negro Baptist church constituted in -this section of the State was the African Baptist Church of Huntsville, -organized about the year 1820. I say 1820, for the reason that in 1821 -they are recorded as entering into the Flint River Association, with -seventy-six members. Rev. William Harris, “a free colored man,” is -mentioned as their first pastor. It seems that Brother Harris soon fell -under the influence of a white preacher, William Crutcher, and became -established in the faith of the Primitive Baptists. Over seventy -years have passed away, and still Rev. Bartlett Harris, a grandson of -Rev. William Harris, is preaching the “election of grace.” Instead -of seventy-six Missionary members, there are now about two thousand -Primitives. The Rev. W. H. Gaston is the leading educator among them. -He is a man of quiet and humble spirit, and is now trying to establish -a school at Huntsville. How we Missionaries need a school in Madison -county! Our little Missionary church seems bound hand and foot. At -this writing, Rev. Oscar Gray is pastor, and he seems to do as well as -circumstances allow. - -Perhaps I cannot close this notice of Madison county more profitably -than by directing the attention of the reader to the vast consequences, -in the form of false views and false practices, which came of one man’s -decisions. Rev. William Harris decided to follow Mr. Crutcher, and now -thousands of people walk in his track as anti-Missionaries. - - -PERRY AND HALE COUNTIES. - -At Salem Church, near Greensboro, the Alabama State Convention (white) -was organized October, 1823, not quite forty-five years before the -organization of the Colored Baptist Convention in 1868, and its first -anniversary was held at Marion, in Perry county. - -Reference is made to these facts in order to introduce other facts -bearing a closer relation to ourselves. Within a circle of twenty-five -miles of Marion--and Greensboro, is near this point--some of the -mightiest influences in support of Baptist views have risen up and -gone forth upon the colored Baptists of Alabama. The colored people of -Marion, and throughout the country around, are hardly less noted for -their refinement than they are for their Baptistic opinions. In this -section arose those colored men of power and of pioneer fame--Revs. -James Childs, the first pastor of the Marion Church (colored); Henry -Stevens, first pastor of the Greensboro Church, and John Dosier, -so long pastor of the church in Uniontown. This point, till right -recently, has been the educational center of our white brethren, and -here in Marion, the first colored State Normal school began, as the -result of the influence of the late Hon. A. H. Curtis, of Baptist fame. - -[Illustration: Mrs. A. A. Bowie, Instructress in Dressmaking, Selma -University.] - - -MONTGOMERY CITY AND COUNTY. - -Baptist principles manifested themselves in this part of Alabama -about 1818-19 in the constitution of the Elim Church, near the city -of Montgomery, and Messrs. J. McLemore, S. Ray, and W. J. Larkin, are -mentioned as pioneers. - - -A STRAW WHICH SHOWS WHICH WAY THE WIND BLOWS. - -In Dr. Riley’s “History of Alabama Baptists,” we have the following: -“A negro slave, named Cæsar, a bright, smart, robust fellow * * * was -ordained to preach. His ability was so marked, and the confidence which -he enjoyed was so profound, that Rev. James McLemore would frequently -have Cæsar attend him upon his preaching tours. He was sometimes taken -by Mr. McLemore into the pulpit, and never failed of commanding the -most rapt and respectful attention.” - -To the credit of the Alabama Association, it is written that they -bought this man and gave him his liberty that he might preach among -them the gospel of Christ; and it is said, that though he was as black -as a crow, he traveled alone and unharmed on the mission of life. Thus -the negro appears in the foundation of gospel operations in Central -Alabama. Here also appear the victories of the gospel leaven, the -triumphs of the love of God over those hearts wherein Christ was king. - -The price paid for Brother Cæsar Blackwell is given as $625. Catching -inspiration from the encouragement before them in the form of their -brother Cæsar Blackwell’s success, and the good will of the Christian -white people to whose fellowship they belonged, Nathan Ashby and Jacob -Belser (colored) soon became active workers. - - -TUSCALOOSA AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES. - -Perhaps the first church (white) organized in Jefferson county was -organized about the year 1818. Dr. Holcombe’s history tells us that -in 1823 the “Rock Creek Church,” in Tuscaloosa county, received into -its membership from South Carolina an African preacher, Job Davis. Mr. -Holcombe says of him: “He was an acceptable preacher, a man of deep -thought, sound judgment, and was well skilled in the Scriptures of -Divine Truth.” - -The venerable Mr. A. J. Waldrop, of Birmingham, informed the writer -that when a little boy he heard Job preach in a camp meeting. He said: -“The meeting had been in progress a week or so, and mother and father -went to the camp on Sunday morning. The meeting was very cold. Brother -Holcombe was wondering who would be the fit preacher to open the day’s -services, as Job, now free from his daily toil, walked into camp. As -Brother Holcombe saw him, he remarked: ‘There is our man.’ Job was led -up to the stand and invited to go up and take a seat. Job replied: ‘No, -I’ll stand down here in front of it.’ Job then reached back to the top -of the stand and took off the Bible and opened it. I can never forget -the deep thrill of devotion which Job’s person and manner turned in -upon the audience that day; something of the feeling is with me yet. He -had hardly parted his lips before men and women began to sob. When he -was through with his sermon, it was plain to all that the meeting was -no longer a dead meeting. This was the beginning of a revival which -affected much of Tuscaloosa county.” - -Mr. Holcombe says of Job, in another place in his book: “Job was -brought from Africa to Charleston, S. C., in 1806; professed religion -in 1812; soon learned to read and write; taught Sunday school for two -summers in Abbeville district, S. C.; licensed to preach in 1818; came -to Alabama in 1822; died November 17, 1835, in Pickens county. He lived -the Christian, he died a saint.” - -Further, Mr. Holcombe says: “In those days we had but few better -preachers than Job.” - -Thus it appears that not only in wars for independence, but in gospel -labors as well, the negro is in the foundations of this country. - -Rev. Prince Murrell, who had bought himself some time before the days -of the Emancipation, opened the work at Tuscaloosa on the dawn of -freedom. Rev. Messrs. M. Tyler and M. D. Alexander came into the van at -Lowndesboro. - - -LEE, MACON, BULLOCK AND BARBOUR COUNTIES. - -At Tuskegee, in Macon, was the Rev. Doc. Phillips (a blacksmith), a man -who, it seems, refused to accept his freedom at the hands of his white -brethren in order that his preaching might be more acceptable to his -people in slavery. - -At Auburn, in Lee, was the Rev. Thomas Glenn, a man respected and -trusted no less by his white neighbors than by his own people for his -genuine piety and honorable life. - -In Barbour and Bullock, Revs. Jerry Shorter, M. Coleman, William McCoo -and Deacon J. E. Timothy possessed the spirit of leadership, and moved -forward in the work of organization upon the appearance of liberty. -Rev. E. Thornton soon appears. - - -GREENVILLE, BUTLER COUNTY. - -In this town and county the Rev. Stewart Adams is the pioneer. In 1872 -or 1873, he was appointed missionary under the American Baptist Home -Mission Society, and was thus enabled to extend his operations, which -resulted in the organization of one of the first associations (Union). - - -SELMA. - -Somewhere between 1840-45, a colored church was organized in Selma, -the first colored leader of which was a Mr. Samuel Phillips, a man who -obtained his liberty (so the late Mr. A. Goldsby reported) by some -service he rendered the country in the Mexican war. A. Goldsby and -Charles White (late treasurer of our Convention) were principal persons -in the organization. - - * * * * * - -So much has been said to show the ante-liberty growths. It seems -fitting to close this chapter with the appearance of freedom as the -writer saw it. - -From the days of my earliest recollection, freedom’s shadowy forms -moved before the eyes of the Southern slave. He felt or thought that -he felt--he saw or thought he saw--the touch and visage of approaching -liberty. In subdued tones it was whispered upon ears that could be -trusted, that slavery, with all its accompanying horrors, was soon -to be a thing of the past. Praying bands were organized and met in -distant groves to pray for liberty. Gathered beneath the sighing trees -and nightly skies, they whispered their agonies upon the ears of the -Almighty--whispered _lowly_, lest the passing winds should bear their -petitions to the ears of the overseer or master. And often--as with -Daniel and his companions in Babylon--the God who reveals secrets to -them that love him, uncovered before our minds coming events, which -caused us to laugh and cry. But we kept these things in our hearts, and -it was a wonder to all around that the slave could sing in his furnace -of hot afflictions. God, in unfolding hope, was with us in the fire, -and so we were sustained. - - -DREAM TELLING. - -They fall to dreaming: Contending armies are seen in battle, and the -one favorable to the liberty of the slave is seen to prevail. Old trees -appear to wither and disappear before trees of new sort. - -The war cloud bursts and the slave mingles his prayers with the roar of -the booming cannon, tarrying on his knees while the American soldiery -contend in mortal strife. It was understood to mean liberty. At last -the deadly struggle ceased, and emancipation was declared. It was only -the dawning, and therefore the light was dim. - - -THE BITTER BUD. - -One of the saddest mistakes of the slave was, that he thought _so -much_ of the _pleasures_ of freedom and _so little of its weighty -obligations_. To him, freedom meant mansions, lands, teams, money, -position, educated sons and refined daughters, with the liberty to -go and to act as he pleased. If he might have burdened his mind with -thoughts of his sore destitution of heart, of intellect, of purse; if -he might have thought of his poverty as to skill in the arts, sciences -and professions of life, as to social status, as to domestic relations, -as to opportunities to succeed in a wrestle for life by the side of -the victorious white man--if he might have seen that to make himself a -_strong manhood_ was his first and his most important duty--if his mind -might have been full of these thoughts, it had been a thousand fold -better for him. But, as his mind was on pleasures, he was disappointed -when they proved only phantoms, and hence the bud of liberty was bitter. - -Indeed, to those who had the ability to discern, the first view of -liberty was frightful in proportion as it was seriously considered. -Naturally, as the shackles suddenly fell off, there was such a forcible -rebounding of life, as in many cases made liberty mean license to live -idle and lewd. - -I can never forget my first impressions at the full view of freedom. O, -what helplessness appeared in our condition! - -Every day, for weeks, shoeless and hatless men and women, with half -naked, hungry children, passed through the little town where I lived, -not knowing whither they went, what were their names, nor what they -sought. A certain man, when I first met him, was introduced to me as -Mr. M----. A little after this, I was surprised to find that he was -not Mr. M----, but was Mr. R----. And my ability to be surprised was -considerably lessened when I finally learned that Mr. R---- was now Mr. -H----. - -Long and anxiously I waited for the appearance of some _great_ colored -men to assume leadership in matters of religion and education, but I -waited in vain. My heart ached as though it would break, and was at -last only partially relieved of its weight when my brother (Rev. J. -Gomez) and I had built an humble house in which to worship God and -teach the children. Into this we, boys though we were, called the -people to meet to hear the reading of the Scriptures and to pray. - - -ORGANIZATION IN ALABAMA. - -In 1864 there were four Colored Missionary Baptist Churches in Alabama, -owning property worth about $10,000. Two of these were located in -Mobile city--the Stone and the St. Louis Street Churches. Another was -located in Selma, and is now known as the First Colored Baptist Church. - -[Illustration: Rev. L. S. Steinback in the Act of Baptism.] - -Of course there was no association, no convention, no graded school -of learning. The colored people of Mobile enjoyed superior advantages -over those of other sections of the State and hence many of them had -made fair attainments in letters. But in all the State there was but -one Baptist preacher, to the writer’s knowledge, in April, 1865, who -could, with any degree of honesty, claim to be an educated Baptist -negro preacher. This was one Rev. Moses B. Avery. I think he is now -in Mississippi. Anyhow I know that soon after the close of the war he -joined the Methodist brethren and left the State. It will be seen, -therefore, that he was no help to the Colored Baptists of Alabama. - -The change which the war had wrought as to the civil status of the -black man, changing him from slave to freedman, affected his church -standing, so that ex-master and ex-slave did not quite fit each other -in the old “meeting house,” as they had done in days of yore. There -was restlessness on one side, and suspicion on the other. The black -man wanted to go out and set up housekeeping for himself, while the -white man in most cases feared and hesitated to lay on the hands of -ordination. We did not know each other. The “negro preacher” on one -side of the river had but little opportunity to know his brother on the -other side. Truly our beginning was dark and chaotic. - -It is said that necessity is the mother of invention. In all ages -of the world, and with all peoples, want--a sense of need--has gone -before human creations. The black man of the South was like, in this, -the balance of human kind. When set at liberty, he was for some time -lost in looking upon the wonderful changes that had passed over him. -But when he came to himself he began slowly to realize his needs. -He began, for example, to feel the need of church and of school, -and out of this feeling of want on these lines there arose thought, -discussion, plan, action. Those who were of like faith and gospel -practice began to meet for prayer and for conference, and at last to -unite in church covenant, forming churches. Then churches, under the -leadership of progressive men, were joined in associational compacts. -They met first only to sing and pray, and listen to talks from white -brethren. Want increased; burdens increased; the horizon of duty and -possibility widened. Under a sense of duty and repeated exercise, mind -and heart developed into greater strength and into greater capacity -for thought, plan, speech, and execution. Kindred spirits sought each -other’s fellowship and counsel, and talked about the work which might -be done. Soon it was felt by some that a general State Convention -was both necessary and possible. The desire, plan and call for such -an organization ripened among the brethren at and around the Capital -City. Perhaps Montgomery was foremost, for the reason that here was -the legislature, and here the colored people saw most of deliberative -bodies, and heard most about their needs and opportunities. - -[Illustration: Mrs. Dinah Smith Jordan, Birmingham, Ala.] - - - - -_II. THE STATE CONVENTIONS_ - - -FIRST SESSION. - -THE Colored Baptist Convention of Alabama was constituted December 17, -1868, in the Columbus Street Baptist Church, in the city of Montgomery. - -The officers elected were: Rev. Nathan Ashby, president; Rev. J. W. -Stevens, of Montgomery, vice-president, and Bro. H. Thompson, secretary. - -The following appear in the roll of this session: Revs. N. Ashby, -J. W. Stevens, Jacob Belser, J. Epperson, and Bro. H. Thompson, of -Montgomery county; Revs. E. Wright and S. Adams, of Greenville; Rev. -W. Farris, of Monroeville; Rev. S. Weaver, of Dallas county; Revs. P. -Gill and Samuel Morse, of Notasulga; James Finly, of Fayette; Revs. -I. Glenn and A. Blackburn, of Auburn; Rev. M. D. Alexander and M. -Tyler, of Lowndesboro; Rev. B. Nelson, of Lee county; Rev. Mr. Wood, of -Macon county; Rev. H. Coleman, of Union Springs; Rev. W. H. McAlpin, -of Talladega; Revs. John Dosier and Henry Stevens, of Uniontown; P. -Underwood, Thomas Smith, Ned Atkinson, and Rev. D. M. Phillips, of -Tuskegee. - -About twenty-seven churches were represented. About $150 was collected, -and Rev. Washington Stevens was made Missionary. - - -SECOND SESSION. - -This session was held in Montgomery in 1869, and the officers of the -previous year being re-elected to their several positions. Revs. Wm. -McCoo, of Bullock county; P. Murrell, of Tuskaloosa; John P. Lucas, -pastor of Mt. Meigs; Henry Clark, of Opelika; B. Burke, of Mobile; -Frank Quarles, of Georgia, and H. E. Talliaferro (white), agent for -the American Baptist Home Missionary Society; Lewis Brown, of Sumter -county; A. Cunningham, of Conecuh county, and James Caldwell, of -Marengo county, appear in the roll of this session. Fifty or sixty -churches were represented; several hundred dollars were raised; the -missionary was short in his collections; Home Mission Society was -endorsed. - - -THIRD SESSION. - -This session was also held in Montgomery on October 5, 1870. As Rev. N. -Ashby was sick, Rev. W. Stevens, the Missionary, was elected president, -and Rev. M. Tyler vice-president. Rev. Charles Leavens, of Mobile, and -Senator A. H. Curtis were enrolled. The ordained ministers present -were: N. Ashby, James A. Foster, W. Stevens, F. Brooks, T. Glenn, -Chas. Leavens, S. Adams, H. Stokes, C. Blunt, Wm. McCoo, J. Caldwell, -S. Weaver, J. Cole, J. W. McLeod, M. Tyler, B. Burke, P. Murrell, J. -Dosier, D. M. Phillips, J. Wood, Ned Watkins, B. Bibb, H. Stevens, R. -Mason. - - -FOURTH SESSION. - -Held in Selma November 1-4, 1871. Brother W. H. McAlpine was prominent. -The officers elected were: Rev. P. Murrell, president; Rev. Stewart -Adams, vice-president; Rev. W. Stevens, recording secretary; and H. -Thompson, clerk. - -Revs. D. Alexander, B. Bibb, J. Caldwell and J. Belser have passed -away. - -About $300 sent in by the churches: twenty-eight churches report Sunday -Schools; three Associations appear by their messengers. - - -FIFTH SESSION. - -Held in Selma, November, 1872. Officers of previous year re-elected. A -committee is appointed to confer with the white Convention in session -in Eufaula. Two more Associations are enrolled. $300 or $400 collected. - - -SIXTH SESSION. - -Held in Tuscaloosa, November, 1873. The officers elected were: Rev. -J. A. Foster, Montgomery, president; Rev. M. Tyler, Lowndesboro, -vice-president; Rev. P. Murrell, treasurer; and Bro. H. J. Europe, -of Mobile, clerk. Three other Associations reported. Rev. A. Butler, -Mobile, joined at this session. Rev. W. H. McAlpine introduced the -following, which was adopted: - -“_Resolved_, That we plant in the State of Alabama a theological school -to educate our young men.” - -This threw life and aim into the Convention and the signs of activity -immediately appeared. Four other Associations entered. Lively -discussions ensued. The white Baptist Convention assembled in the -same city at the same time advised against the educational scheme. -The question whether God needed help in preparing his ministry--the -question which fifty years before had agitated the white Convention of -Alabama--was now stirring the souls of black men. Sunday Schools were -allowed representation in the body. - - -SEVENTH SESSION. - -Held in Mobile, in the St. Louis Street Church, November, 1874. -Officers of previous year were re-elected. Brother McAlpine’s school -resolution was endorsed and ordered on the minutes. On motion of -Brother McAlpine the following persons were appointed a committee to -manage the school project: Revs. A. Butler, W. H. McAlpine, H. J. -Europe, H. Thompson and the writer. Brother McAlpine was authorized -and requested to spend six months as missionary and agent of the -Convention. Much praying. - - -EIGHTH SESSION. - -Held in Mobile, November, 1875. The officers elected were as follows: -Rev. J. A. Foster, president; Rev. M. Tyler, vice-president; Rev. J. -W. Stevens, corresponding secretary; Rev. Thomas Smith, treasurer, -and Rev. C. O. Boothe, clerk. Ten Associations were enrolled this -year. Brother McAlpine reported $90 in favor of the Convention as the -result of six months’ work. The body was never so much aroused as -during this session. Some trouble arose over contentions among the -churches in Mobile. Rev. W. H. McAlpine was appointed missionary and -agent of the Convention for the ensuing conventional year. Rev. C. O. -Boothe was appointed, with Brother McAlpine, to aid in searching for a -suitable location for the proposed school, and was authorized to call -the attention of our Northern brethren to our needs and operations -regarding educational facilities in Alabama. Never did any set of men -appear to be more earnest and enthusiastic. Every eye was on McAlpine -as the leader. - - -NINTH SESSION. - -Held with the Mount Canaan Church, Talladega, November 15-20, 1876. -Officers: Rev. M. Tyler, president; Rev. B. J. Burke, vice-president; -Rev. I. Smith, treasurer; Rev. G. C. Casby, Montgomery, corresponding -secretary, and Rev. C. O. Boothe, at this time pastor in Talladega, -was continued as clerk. - -This session of the body may be denominated “The Eventful Session.” -Here the sainted Woodsmall was met for the first time, and bore the -Convention the following: - - “Indianapolis, Ind., November 11, 1876. - - “_Dear Brethren of the Convention_: On behalf of the Indiana Baptist - State Convention, I greet you with this epistle, bearing their - congratulations and sympathy. We are engaged in a common cause with - you--the cause of our blessed Lord and Master. * * * So we strike glad - hands with you for a renewal and continuance of the gospel warfare - till Jesus comes.” - -This bore the signature of Dr. Wyeth, editor of the _Journal and -Messenger_, and the Secretary of the Indiana Convention. This was -_good_ tidings, and the information that Brother Woodsmall had come -to hold Ministers’ Institutes among us was still _better_ tidings. -Thenceforward we were to drink from a very high type of manhood. - -Revs. W. J. White, F. Quarles, and Bryan, of Georgia, came with -propositions from the Georgia Convention that Alabama should give up -her school project and join Georgia in building a school at Atlanta. - -A letter received from Dr. S. S. Cutting, corresponding secretary of -the Home Mission Society, to the clerk, informed the Convention that -his board had no help for our school enterprise in Alabama, and favored -our union with Georgia. - -A communication from the white Baptist Convention containing the -following, was read before the body: - -“_Resolved_, That we deem this a suitable occasion to express to our -colored brethren an abiding interest in their welfare, both temporal -and spiritual. - - “John Haralson, President.” - -Brother McAlpine turned over $1,000, which he had raised for the -proposed school, and again took the field. - -The clerk, as committee on location of the proposed school, reported -that if the school should be located at Marion, Ala., our students -could obtain scientific and literary training in the State school at -that point, in which case, the Convention would only be obliged to -furnish theological instruction. The Convention did not decide as to -the course it would be best to pursue. Brothers Pettiford and Barton -joined the work in this session, and the former took a prominent -position at once. - - -TENTH SESSION. - -Held in Eufaula, November, 1877. The officers of the last convention -were re-elected. The school project was turned into the hands of the -Board of Trustees elected at the session of 1875. The report of the -Board of Trustees recommended that the school be located at Montgomery. -When a motion by Hon. A. H. Curtis to substitute Marion had been lost, -Rev. E. K. Love, of Georgia, moved to substitute Selma, which was -carried by a majority of three. The Board was authorized and instructed -to begin operations. Revs. W. H. McAlpine and W. J. Stevens were put -out as missionaries. Before leaving Eufaula, the Board appointed a -committee to act on their behalf with regard to the management of the -school. At a meeting of the Board held in Selma, December 20, the -committee reported: “Your committee has been unable to find a suitable -house for rent in which to commence school for less than $27 per month. -There are one or more buildings here that may be purchased at quite a -reasonable figure. W. H. McAlpine, J. Blevins, H. Stevens, committee.” - -At this meeting there were present the following trustees, besides -those above mentioned: M. Tyler, C. Blunt, J. W. Stevens, J. Dosier -and A. H. Curtis. Revs. W. H. McAlpine and J. Blevins, with Bro. A. -H. Curtis, were empowered to act as Executive Committee of the Board. -After some discussion as to whether to rent or purchase, it was voted -to rent, and not to pay over $15 per month. The Committee was so -instructed, and was further instructed not to assume over $50 per month -for teaching force. The Committee elected Mr. H. Woodsmall, of Indiana, -and he at once opened the school in the St. Phillip Street Baptist -Church. - -On May 30, 1878, the Board held another meeting in Selma. Present: -Revs. M. Tyler, J. Blevins, G. C. Casby, Thomas Smith, J. Dosier, -H. Stevens, W. H. McAlpine and C. O. Boothe. At this meeting the -Committee were authorized to purchase the “Old Fair Grounds” for -$3,000. The _Baptist Pioneer_ was started, with W. H. McAlpine, editor; -J. Dosier and C. O. Boothe as assistants. The Committee, to the great -satisfaction of the Board, reported that the St. Phillips Street Church -had donated to the school the use of their audience room, the oil for -lights, and fuel, and also that the services of Bro. W. R. Pettiford -had been secured at a cost of $20 per month, allowing him time to take -lessons in theology. - -The following financial report was submitted: - -RECEIPTS. - - Uniontown Association $150 00 - Alabama District Association 40 00 - Rev. A. Cunningham, Conecuh county 30 00 - Deacon A. Scott, Montevallo 15 65 - Rev. Thomas Smith, Treasurer Convention 100 00 - Mr. H. Woodsmall, for tuition 82 10 - Rev. W. H. McAlpine 20 00 - -Donations from the North were also reported. - - -ELEVENTH SESSION. - -Held in Marion, November, 1878. The officers of the previous year were -re-elected, with the exception of Rev. C. O. Boothe, who had been -appointed Sunday school missionary for the State, under the American -Baptist Publishing Society. Bro. N. R. Nickerson was elected clerk. - -The Trustees reported that the Old Fair Grounds had been secured, and -that the school was in operation. One thousand dollars had been paid -on the grounds; $545 had come from the North. Three teachers were -supported without charge to the State--Misses Emma Jordan and Emma -Heustis, and Mr. M. W. Alston. - -Thus the school began. About $2,000 reported. - - -TWELFTH SESSION. - -Held in Opelika, November 12-15, 1879. In this session Rev. A. F. Owens -joined, and Revs. A. Butler and B. Burke forsook the Convention. Rev. -D. M. Phillips, of Tuskegee, had left the cross for the crown. - -The second $1,000 had been paid on our campus, and $700 worth of -improvements had been added to the buildings. A missionary society -organized by President Woodsmall and operating in the St. Philip Street -Church, is reported as giving partial support to Profs. Alston and -Pettiford, and to students D. T. Gulley and J. C. Curry. - - -THIRTEENTH SESSION. - -Held in Marion, November 17-20, 1880. The officers elected were: M. -Tyler, president; J. A. Foster, vice-president; N. R. Nickerson, clerk; -G. C. Casby, corresponding secretary, and C. White, treasurer. -Except a small balance due Brother Woodsmall the school was now free -from debt, besides owning thirty-six acres of land and temporary -buildings. - -[Illustration: Shiloh Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala., Rev. T. W. -Walker, Pastor.] - -Rev. S. Adams had gone to the other world. - -Aided by the Selma Missionary Society, Bros. M. W. Alston, L. -Ellington, D. T. Gulley, D. L. Prentice, C. Travis, C. R. Rodgers, L. -J. Green and J. C. Curry had done effective missionary work. - -Brother Woodsmall reported that the _Baptist Pioneer_ is free of debt -and has $321.03 in cash. He had received $2,399--$899 had come from -Alabama in tuition and donations, and $1,500 from the North. - -The American Baptist Home Mission Society at this time adopted the -school and engaged to give it $2,000 during its session of 1880-81. -About $400 were spent on improvements of school grounds. Rev. Wm. A. -Burch, late of Philadelphia, now pastor of the First Baptist Church -in Selma, and Rev. W. W. Cully, a returned African Missionary, were -members of this Convention. Brother McAlpine had raised from all -sources $1,976.85. Before the next session Brother McAlpine, at Brother -Woodsmall’s request, became president of the school. - - -FOURTEENTH SESSION. - -Held in Mobile, November, 1881. The officers of the previous year were -re-elected. Revs. A. Cunningham, Belleville, J. Blevins, Selma, and J. -Cole, Montgomery, are no longer on earth. - -The Home Mission Society gave $3,000 to the present school session. Dr. -M. Stone, of Ohio, taught in the school without cost to the board of -trustees. - -Before the next session Rev. H. N. Bouey, from South Carolina, became -State Sunday School Missionary. - - -FIFTEENTH SESSION. - -Held in Tuscaloosa, November, 1882. Former officers re-elected, except -that Rev. J. Dosier was made vice-president. - -This year, the same as last, Brother McAlpine was retained president of -the school. - -Total receipts from Alabama, including tuition fees, were $2,588. -Donation from Home Mission Society $3,350. The last session made -Brother Pettiford financial agent, and the present session was greatly -encouraged in view of his excellent success. - - -SIXTEENTH SESSION. - -Held in Selma, November, 1883, in the First Colored Baptist Church, -of which the writer was pastor. Rev. E. M. Brawley, late of South -Carolina, was made president of our school, Rev. W. H. McAlpine having -resigned in his favor. - -Alabama paid $2,511 towards our educational work. Bro. Woodsmall was -not present. Rev. A. N. McEwen, late of Tennessee, now pastor of Dexter -Avenue Church, Montgomery, was present this session. Rev. H. N. Bouey -was made financial agent. - - -SEVENTEENTH SESSION. - -Held in Mobile, November, 1884. Officers of 1882 and 1883 were -re-elected; $3,224 reported as coming from the State. - -Before the next session “The Minister’s Union” was organized in -Talladega, with Rev. C. O. Boothe as secretary, and W. H. McAlpine, -president. - - -EIGHTEENTH SESSION. - -Held in the Sixteenth Street Church, Birmingham, November, 1885. -Officers of previous session re-elected. On the 10th of November, one -day prior to the sitting of the Convention, the Ministers’ Union -met and appointed a committee on the character of the author of this -pamphlet, and which reported the following: - -“We, your committee appointed on Bro. C. O. Boothe, beg leave to -submit the following: On account of the complications of his marriage -relations, his oppositions to the State work, and on account of his -want of loyalty to truth, we recommend that we withdraw from him the -hand of fellowship as a minister. C. S. Dinkins, J. Q. A. Wilhite, J. -Dosier, committee.” - -The brother, who was excluded (?) by the adoption of this report, asked -and was allowed to put in the minutes of the Convention the following: -“To all who may read the resolution passed by the Alabama Baptist -Ministers’ Union bearing upon me, I affirm my innocence of each and all -the charges therein presented, and appeal to the King of Kings, whose -just judgment I patiently await. - - “C. O. Boothe.” - -Dark times follow upon the work and upon many individuals. The total -receipts for this year, as reported by Bro. Bouey, were $2,200. Rev. J. -P. Barton was made State missionary, and Rev. J. Q. A. Wilhite was made -financial agent of the school. - -The school was getting into debt, and serious losses threatened. The -founders of the work were not sufficiently willing to confer with each -other. - - -NINETEENTH SESSION. - -Held in Opelika, November, 1886. The same officers were re-elected, -except Rev. J. A. Foster replaced Rev. John Dosier as vice-president. -Rev. C. L. Purce was made president of the school, Dr. Brawley having -resigned. The school was $6,000 or $7,000 in debt. A resolution looking -toward moving the University from Selma was adopted. Marion was -proposed instead of Selma, and the larger cash donation was to fix -the location. The contest was heated, and here and there rather ugly. -The _Baptist Leader_ favored Marion. Finances were rather short. Revs. -G. W. Berry, from South Carolina, and E. J. Fisher, of Georgia, were -present at this session. - - -TWENTIETH SESSION. - -Held in Montgomery, in the Columbus Street Church, July, 1887. The -Ministers’ Union rescinded their vote passed in Birmingham in 1885, -bearing upon the character of Rev. C. O. Boothe. Rev. W. R. Pettiford, -of Birmingham, was elected president, and Rev. R. T. Pollard, clerk. -Rev. William J. Simmons, of Louisville, district secretary of the -American Baptist Home Mission Society, and Bro. Woodsmall, were -present. Mrs. M. A. Boothe, president of the State W. C. T. U., -addressed the Convention. Mrs. C. Thompson, agent in Alabama for the -Women’s Home Missionary Society of Chicago, also spoke. Stormy time, -and no small amount of bitter feeling. The financial vote sustained -Selma, and the University remained at the home of her childhood. - -Debts were threatening our property. Mr. Purce endeavored to prevent -any increase of debts. - - -TWENTY-FIRST SESSION. - -Held in Tuscaloosa, July, 1888. Officers of previous year were -re-elected. About $4,000 was raised this year. Dr. W. J. Simmons, -district secretary of the Home Mission Society, was present with plans -for missionary co-operation with our State, which were endorsed. Some -of the school grounds had been sold to meet debts, six acres having -gone to meet the $7,000. - -Rev. W. R. Forbes, of Virginia, pastor at Eufaula, was present. The -board recommended Rev. W. H. McAlpine as State Missionary under the -joint plan with the Home Mission Society. - - -TWENTY-SECOND SESSION. - -Held in Selma, July, 1889. Officers of previous session were -re-elected. Rev. C. S. Dinkins, having severed his connection with the -faculty of the University, was successfully operating an academy at -Marion in connection with his pastorate. This project the Convention, -on motion of Rev. A. N. McEwen, endorsed. Rev. C. O. Boothe was -appointed General Missionary of Alabama on the joint plan with the Home -Mission Society. This year our women, under the leadership of Miss S. -A. Stone, gloriously rallied to the support of the University. About -$5,700 was raised in the State. Rev. Washington Stevens, Montgomery, -and Deacon D. Lane, Greensboro, had passed away. Time of session was -again changed to November. Brethren R. T. Pollard and D. T. Gulley made -Sunday Missionaries under the Publication Society on the joint plan. -During this year, in May, a jubilee meeting was held in Selma and over -$2,000 was raised. In this jubilee meeting we met Rev. H. Stevens the -last time on earth. - - -TWENTY-THIRD SESSION. - -Held in Sixth Avenue Church, Birmingham, November, 1890. The officers -of the previous session and all the missionaries were re-elected. -The Home Mission Society gave about $6,000 to Alabama, including -$2,600 given for University buildings. The financial agent, President -Purce, and the missionaries all made very encouraging financial -reports--thousands of dollars having been collected ($5,400). Dr. W. J. -Simmons and Rev. Henry Stevens crossed the dark river this year. Drs. -Clanton and Brawley were present. This was a good session--debts fast -disappearing under the industrious and wise financiering of President -Purce and Agent Wilhite. The missionaries were continued. - -The _Baptist Leader_ (once _The Baptist Pioneer_), which for several -years had been successfully run by Editor McEwen, was continued under -its old management. - -This year, in July, a Baptist Congress was held in Montgomery in the -Dexter Avenue Church. It was entertaining and instructive. Also in -August a State Sunday School Convention was organized in Union Springs, -with Rev. S. Jones as president, and is still doing a grand work, -Brother Wells being still presiding officer. - - -TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. - -Held in Peace Baptist Church, Talladega, November, 1891. The same -officers were re-elected, and also the same missionaries, except that -Rev. C. R. Rodgers was chosen to fill the place made vacant by Bro. -Pollard’s resignation. A grand session--never before in our history -had our business seemed to be so much in the hands and hearts of wise, -cultivated men and women. The Rev. Mr. Parks and Hon. James White, -of Chattanooga, were with us. The mayor of Talladega, pastors of -white churches, and everybody else, gave us a word of encouragement -and expressed themselves as pleased and profited by our presence. -Prof. Peterson, a recent member of the faculty of Selma University, -was introduced to Alabama Baptists. One hundred and fifty churches -and forty associations, besides Sunday school conventions and Sunday -schools, were represented by two hundred messengers. The year’s income -from all sources was reported by financial agents as footing up to -$12,440. Statistical secretary reported as follows: “Seven hundred -and eighteen churches and fifty-eight associations. Twenty-eight -of the associations give an aggregate membership of 83,000. Thirty -associations have failed to report their numbers.” - -Dr. C. S. Dinkins had been operating an academy at Marion, for the -use of which he had paid $1,000. Our school property increased in -value from $3,000 to $30,000. The president of our Convention, W. -R. Pettiford, was at this time president of a successful banking -enterprise. Last, and perhaps least, one of our number had made an -humble contribution to the literature of the denomination in the form -of a little book entitled “_Plain Theology for Plain People_.” Thus had -we grown in twenty-four years. - -Before the next session Dr. McAlpine was made teacher of institutes, -under the Southern Board. - - -TWENTY-FIFTH SESSION. - -Held in Franklyn Street Church, Mobile, November, 1892. Dr. Dinkins was -elected president, and Rev. J. P. Barton, vice-president. With these -exceptions, the old officers, as well as missionaries, were continued. -Editor W. H. Stewart, of Kentucky; Dr. Clanton, of Louisiana; the Rev. -Mr. Luke, field secretary of the Foreign Mission Convention; Revs. -T. L. Jordan and C. L. Fisher, of Mississippi, were present. For the -most part, this was a good session. However, there were signs of a -rising stormcloud, which, it was feared, foretold approaching evil; -and perhaps a clogging of our educational and missionary operations -would then soon come. A good money showing was made, and new financial -plans were adopted. Dr. Pettiford was appointed financial agent and -secretary. It was decided to attempt to establish two academies--one -in Mobile and the other somewhere in Northern Alabama. Before the next -session of the Convention, Rev. C. O. Boothe resigned his position -as general missionary of the State and pastor at Meridian, Miss. Dr. -Purce severed his connection with the University, and Dr. C. S. Dinkins -was elected president in his stead. A division of the denomination was -threatened in consequence of the presidential changes. - -Again our debts were beginning to be a menace. - - -TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION. - -Held in Eufaula, November, 1893. Rev. J. P. Barton, of Talladega, was -elected president, and Rev. R. T. Pollard, secretary. Hon. Ad. Wimbs, -of Greensboro, was a member of this Convention. Drs. Morehouse and -McVicar, of New York, were with us; also Dr. Crumpton, who represented -the Southern Baptists. Many changes were made upon the Board of -Trustees. A committee was appointed to plan a change in our school -charter. The session was stormy and far from pleasant. Dr. Pettiford -made a good financial report. Rev. S. L. Ross was Sunday school -missionary. Dr. Dinkins made a good beginning as president of Selma -University. Rev. Lewis Brown was elected treasurer. - - -TWENTY-SEVENTH SESSION. - -Held in Mt. Zion Church, Anniston, Ala., November, 1894. Rev. J. P. -Barton was again elected president, and Rev. R. T. Pollard continued -as secretary. Times peculiar and money scarce. President Dinkins had -prevented any increase of the debt of the university, and continued -to grow in favor with all sections. The session, however, was not so -orderly as it might have been, if there had been less personal feeling -and ambition, and more real humility and consecration. - - -COMPARISONS. - -True, our white brethren were hindered by the wild forests, which were -pathless and bridgeless, fieldless and cribless, and by the savage -beasts and friendless red men, as well as by the slowness of travel, -but after all, we may be permitted to compare our progress with our -white brethrens’ struggles on educational and missionary lines; and I -think the foe will feel more hopeful of us, while the friend will see -reason for encouragement and pleasure. The white Convention organized -in Salem Church, near Greensboro, in October, 1823, but they did not -begin a school till 1834--eleven years. We organized in 1868 and -started a school in 1878--ten years. Their school continued only about -five years, when their property was sold to pay their school debts. -Our school still continues at this writing--1895. In 1839, they passed -a resolution to encourage young men to study for the ministry under -capable pastors, and the money of the Convention was ordered to be paid -out in support of operations on this line. - -They now owe on Howard College, so I am informed, some $30,000 or -$40,000 in the form of a bonded debt, the interest on which they find -it hard to pay. Indeed, I very much regret to hear that they are -thinking of making an assignment in the interest of their creditors. On -careful examination of the records of the Convention, we come upon the -following important facts and lessons: - -1. _The blindness of the leadership as to the work to be done._ - -In the jubilee meeting, Rev. H. Stevens, said: “When I resolved in -1868 to meet the call of the Montgomery Church for a Convention of -delegates, I didn’t see what we could do. I went only out of some sort -of curiosity to meet other brethren and to look on. I got a little -light before I reached Montgomery, as I listened to some things Brother -McAlpine had to say along the way. And I was not much better off when -the Convention closed. I did not know what they were talking about -one-half the time.” But few saw one inch ahead. The horizon increased -only as we advanced. We grew up with the growth of the work. - -2. _The power of faith to give form and fixedness to ponderous -enterprises._ - -We vacillated till Brother Woodsmall appeared, so far at least as our -school project was concerned. As the queen bee draws together her -wandering swarm and fixes them in settled habitation and orderly toil, -so did this saintly man do for the colored Baptists of Alabama. And his -spirit is still among us. - -3. _Progress is born of progress._ - -Because we gained one step, we gained another step. Because we made it -to the top of one mountain, we could therefore make it to the top of -another. - -[Illustration] - - - - -_III. ASSOCIATIONS._ - -[Under this head appear many points and facts of local interest.] - - * * * * * - - -ALABAMA DISTRICT. - -This District was organized in 1869 by Revs. N. Ashby, M. Tyler, W. -Stevens, J. A. Foster, Wm. Jenkins and other leading men of Montgomery -and Lowndes counties. From their birth to this time, as an Association, -they have been leaders in missionary and educational operations. - - -LEADING MEN. - -Among the leading men of this body we may mention: Rev. M. Tyler, -Lowndesboro; Revs. R. T. Pollard, M. D. Brooks, E. W. Picket, A. Moore, -G. McKinney, A. Campbell, and D. Ware, Montgomery; Revs. M. C. Merrell, -James Davis, and A. J. Knight, Fort Deposit; Revs. P. Gilchrist and -B. Moss, Hayneville: Revs. C. H. Payne, S. M. Reeves, and C. P. Cain, -Letohatchie; Revs. J. H. Smith and E. Elias, Tallassee; Revs. E. W. -Jones, M. Snowdon, L. Barnett, A. Dansey, M. C. Williams, L. Calvary, -D. Hall, J. Morris, H. W. Tarrant, W. Harris, D. S. Adams, M. E. -Pleasant, postoffice unknown. - -They report about 12,000 members. Their annual donation for general -purposes averages $300 or $400. This body contributed largely toward -the purchase of our school property, and now liberally supports -the school. Rev. S. Jones, Mt. Meigs, is a strong man in this -Association, and no man in Alabama has done more for the education of -his parishioners than he. Rev. J. C. Curry, also of Mt. Meigs, is one -of their most scholarly men and most able preachers. They talk of -dividing into two bodies, hoping thereby to accomplish more for the -furtherance of the gospel. - -[Illustration: Rev. F. R. Kennedy, Pastor Galilee Baptist Church, -Anniston, Ala.] - - -ALABAMA MIDLAND ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1889, is a small body operating chiefly in Montgomery -county. They report six churches. Could not ascertain the membership. - -Revs. B. Bible, B. Coles, W. Harrison and T. L. Lewis lead them. I -submit the following as good supplementary matter to what has been said -of the above Associations: - - -MONTGOMERY. - - -THE FIRST COLORED BAPTIST CHURCH - -Was organized in the basement of the white Baptist Church (First -Baptist Church) just after the close of the war. The corner stone of -their present building on Columbus street was laid in 1867. Their -first pastor was the late Rev. Nathan Ashby, who, prior to the war, -had preached to the colored membership on Sundays in the afternoon, -in the basement of the white church. Mr. Ashby being stricken down -by paralysis, closed his pastorate in 1870. Under his pastorate this -church issued the call for the first session of the State Convention in -1868; hence this church is the source--the mother--of our Convention. - -For a few months the Rev. J. W. Stevens supplied the pulpit. - -In 1871 the late Rev. James H. Foster was called to the pastoral -office, which he served for the space of twenty years, leaving it only -to answer the summons of his Master to appear in purer and higher -spheres. Under his administration the church increased its membership -from a few hundred to several thousand. He expended some $10,000 or -$12,000 on the present edifice. Under his pastorate the Foreign Mission -Convention was organized in 1880. - -After Mr. Foster’s death, December 1, 1891, Rev. A. J, Stokes, then -pastor at Fernandina, Fla., was called to their pulpit, and now -serves with great success, having added within the last two months -about 500 by baptism. So far, his success is a wonder to the people -of Montgomery. The special item under his administration is the -organization of the young people for training and work. - -Old Brother Boykin (about 85 years old) in speaking of the work about -Montgomery, said: “The first colored preacher I saw after coming from -Charleston, was Bro. Cyrus Hale. He came from South Carolina. He was an -old man when I first met him. He was well read, was a good preacher, -and the white people ’lowed him to go anywhere there was a call for -him. He was the father of the work in this section. Following him, was -Bro. Jacob Belser, and then came Bro. Nathan Ashby. Brother Hale must -have been ordained, for he used to baptize in slavery time. - -“While we were worshiping in the white church, we had some ’sistant -deacons--Bros. Fayette Vandeville, Jerry Fye, Peter Miles and Abe -Blackshear.” - -Rev. William Jenkins relates the following: “I was born in Montgomery -in 1835, and have been here every since. I began to speak in public in -1852, and continued to speak in the city and on neighboring plantations -all the while. I was allowed to read the Bible, but I had rather been -caught with a hog than with a newspaper; because, for the hog, I was -likely to get a whipping; but for the newspaper I might get a hanging. -And there was some faith them times. On a plantation out here where I -used to preach, there was a balloon coming down one day. The overseer -and the people saw it, and as that was a new thing with them, it -frightened them, and everybody fled except one brother, who, on seeing -the man in the balloon, and believing that it was the Lord, ran towards -the descending balloon, exclaiming as he looked up: ‘Lord, I’s been -looking for you for so long a time, and now you’s come at last!’ The -balloon man said: ‘Go away, boy; I’m nothing but a man.’” - -Montgomery is no longer what it was when, thirty years ago, Bro. -Ashby spoke in the afternoon in the basement of the white church. Six -colored Baptist churches now worship within the city and suburbs of -Montgomery. The edifice of Dexter Avenue Church, standing near the -first capital of the ex-Confederacy, is one of the most substantial and -neat brick structures in the city, and the congregation which worships -therein are people of money and refinement. Messrs. H. A. Loveless, -the coal dealer, William Watkins, the contractor, and Charles Steers, -the upholsterer, are owners and managers of large affairs, involving -thousands of dollars. - -The colored people of this city own many hundred thousand dollars in -real estate. Mr. Billingslea, the barber, is said to own $300,000. Dr. -Dorsett runs a successful drug business in one of the lower departments -of a two-story brick building owned by himself. The widow of the late -Hon. James Hale has built and is maintaining an infirmary for the sick -poor people of her race. - -Contrast this state of things with thirty years ago, when the colored -people, like “dumb driven cattle” before hound and lash, wended their -way in the “death march” of slavery, and ask if the negro of to-day is -the negro of thirty years ago. There is on Dexter avenue, in the -city of Montgomery, an old brick building wherein the “negro trader” -used to pen his slaves to await his purchasers. Herein the writer -organized the Dexter Avenue Church. Compare the occupants of the slave -pen with the audience in Dexter Avenue Church. - - -DEXTER AVENUE CHURCH. - -This church is a secession from the Columbus Street Church, occurring -in the latter part of the year 1877. Its first meeting, with a view -to organization, took place in the parlor of Mr. Samuel Phillips. The -chief persons in the constitutional membership were Messrs. Samuel -Phillips, John Phillips, Alfred Thomas (the father of Mrs. S. H. -Wright), C. Sterrs, William Watkins and H. A. Loveless. The meeting -for the recognition of the church was held in a hall on Dexter avenue, -January, 1878, which in former days had been used as a slave trader’s -pen. Dr. J. B. Hawthorne, pastor of the First Church (White), with his -deacons, represented the white brethren, and Rev. J. A. Foster, pastor -of the Columbus Street Church, represented his church. - -The writer was the first pastor, but owing to embarrassments which -soon followed, he did not remain long in charge of the work. Revs. J. -W. Stevens, F. McDonald, J. C. Curry, A. F. Owens, T. Fryerson, A. N. -McEwen, Dr. Langridge, and others followed in the pastoral charge. The -progress of the church was rather slow till the time of Mr. McEwen, -under whom their present beautiful building was erected. The present -pastor, Rev. R. T. Pollard, seems to be appointed the task of leading -not so much on lines of material development as in lines of spiritual -growth. Many other good and pious persons have been added to their -number, so that no church in the State can now boast of a people more -thrifty, aspiring and refined. - - -AUBURN ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1870 by Revs. T. Glenn, D. Phillips, I. M. Pollard and -others. This body operates chiefly in Lee, Macon and Tallapoosa -counties. In the beginning of Selma University they contributed largely -toward its establishment, and have since given it liberal support. -Lately, however, they are struggling, under the leadership of Mr. and -Mrs. Wells, to plant a school in Opelika. They number about 8,000 -members. - -[Illustration: Selma University, Selma, Ala.] - - -LEADING MEN. - -Revs. Glenn and Phillips have left the cross for the crown. Among the -present leadership we have the names of Revs. J. R. Howard, M. M. -Archer, A. Walton, K. T. Young, T. N. Huguely, J. Wood, G. Germany, H. -Clark, A. M. McArthur, G. Moore, H. Jones, J. Thomas, J. T. Torbert, E. -L. Goer, M. M. Ross, E. White, E. L. Simms, F. T. Holmes, D. Upshaw, -C. Young, E. Cain, R. Burton, J. David, P. Davis. Rev. I. T. Simpson, -one of the strongest men in the State, is now in this body as pastor at -Opelika. - -The school project in Opelika speaks well of its supporters and -deserves to succeed. May God bring them in the path of success. The -writer regrets to record that he saw something at one session of -this body that was by no means creditable to it. It was this selling -business. The grounds about the church were almost covered with -cake stands, etc., and the sermons could scarcely be heard for the -noise made by the salesmen. Associations ought not to meet with any -church which does not pledge itself to keep such off the grounds. The -Associations of our white brethren are not troubled with such ugly -conduct. The communities in which religious bodies convene should do -all in their power to bring about the devotional spirit, the spirit of -sincere worship. - - -AUTAUGA COUNTY ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1882, reports about 2,000 members. - - -LEADING MEN. - - _Jones’ Switch Post Office_--Rev. M. Clark. - _Milton_--M. Underwood, J. C. Parker, D. Love, H. Taylor. - _Independence_--William Mims. - _Prattville_--William McLinn. - _Verbena_--C. Price, P. Dejarnet, D. Gresham. - _Birmingham_--E. Goodson. - _Deatville_--A. C. Roundtree, A. J. Jones. - _Autaugaville_--E. Nun. - _Bozeman_--J. H. Brumby. - -Messrs. J. Coles, W. Cooper and J. W. Carroll have served as clerks. -They, too, are recorded as contributing for educational purposes. - - -BETHLEHEM ASSOCIATION. - -This association was organized in 1868, and has given more students to -Selma University than any other association in the State, nor has any -other been more liberal in its gifts of money. A calculation would, -perhaps, show that they had not paid so much as the Alabama District -and the Uniontown, but it will be remembered that those are the _giant_ -associations, having 10,000 or 12,000 members, while this body has not -more than 6,000. Rev. C. Roberts, one of the founders of this body, in -his opening speech before the session of 1892, said: “When we began, -not one among us could write. We organized in Tuscaloosa, and when the -work was done, it seemed so insignificant an idea that we had attempted -to constitute and operate an _association_ that it took us two days -to accept and recognize what we had done. But see what we are now, -and what we have done! Of our own sons and daughters, we have with -us to-day teachers of the State schools, teachers in universities, -teachers of music, persons of character and of learning. I never in -my life, thought I would see so much education in black people.” -The “Jones Creek Church,” the church with which the association had -convened in the above named session, was the name borne by the white -church organized about 1830, which long ago had become extinct. Rev. -L. Brown, who now owns a good part of his old master’s plantation, -presided at this session, and Rev. I. Dawson was clerk. - -Their minutes give the following churches and ministers: - - _Sherman Post Office_--Galilee, Antioch, Little Zion, Mount Tabor. - _Warsaw_--Mount Pleasant, Union Grove. - _Cahaba_--Christian Valley, Friendship, Mt. Tabor, Mt. Pleasant. - _Whitfield_--Ebenezer. - _Boligee_--Mt. Zion, Bethlehem, St. Paul, St. James, Mt. Olive. - _Eutaw_--Elizabeth, Eutaw, Zion, Friendship. - _Ramsey_--St. Mark, Dowsey, Mary Winston, Jerusalem, Livingston, - Shiloh, Pine Grove, New Prospect. - _Sumpterville_--Sumpterville, Mt. Zion. - _Mt. Hebron_--Mt. Zion, St. John. - _Vianna_--New Providence. - _York Station_--Rock Chapel, York Chapel, Mt. Harmon. - _Curl’s Station_--Mt. Zion, Fourth Creek. - _Gaston_--Friendship. - _West Green_--Pleasant Valley. - _Tishabee_--Christian Valley, Little Zion. - _Gainsville_--Gainsville Second, New Bethel, Longford, - Spring Valley, Gainsville. - _Epes Station_--New Hope, Jones Creek, Miller’s Hill. - _Clinton_--Mt. Common. - - -LEADING MEN. - -Revs. G. Young, T. Grant, G. Lowe, J. S. Boatright, I. Dawson, L. -Brown, C. Roberts, E. Grant. - -There are other strong men among them whose names I could not obtain. - -Rev. Daniel Griffin, pastor at Gainsville, has especially commended -himself for his studiousness, spotless name, and earnest work. Many of -our best young men, teachers and preachers, come of this association. - - -BIBB COUNTY ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1885, report a membership of about 3,000. The post -offices of their several churches are given as follows: Calera, -Jemison, Strasburg, Lomax, Clayton, Shiloh, Randolph, Traveler’s Rest, -Maplesville, Briarfield, and Ashley. - - -LEADING MEN. - -The list which the writer found was not full, but we have the -following: Revs. H. Zimmerman, Clanton; H. E. Doake and A. Thomas, -Calera; C. Gentry, Randolph. I am informed that Revs. J. R. Scott, J. -S. Printice, J. W. Witherspoon and W. T. Goodson are also members of -this body. - - -BLADEN SPRINGS ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1876, reports about 2,000 members. - - -POST OFFICES OF CHURCHES. - -Bladen Springs, Cunningham, West Bend, Rescueville, Coffeeville, Dead -Level, Mt. Sterling, Frankville, Ararat, Campbell, St. Stevens. - - -LEADING MEN. - -Revs. C. Long, of Bladen Springs, P. D. Alford, of Cunningham; R. -Lewis, F. White, R. Whitley, O. S. Yorke, J. Whigman, B. White, E. A. -Reed, B. Woodson, A. S. Cessions, C. L. Davis, and L. W. Morris. The -writer baptized Rev. P. D. Alford about twenty-five years ago, while -doing mission work in Mississippi. - -Rev. Charles Long was one of the first colored men to begin teaching -and preaching after the war. He stands as an honest business man, as -well as preacher of the gospel. - - -BROWNVILLE ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1883, is a small body composed of about twenty churches, -which have the following post offices: Phenix City, Gerard, Motts, -Columbus, Ga., Hatchechubbee, Ladonia, Crawford, Uchee. - - -OFFICERS LAST REPORTED. - - _Moderator_--Rev. L. D. Harris, Gerard. - _Clerk_--Rev. J. F. Torbert, Hatchechubbee. - _Treasurer_--Bro. H. Dixon, Phenix City. - -They number about 2,000 members. - - -CANAAN (PICKENSVILLE) ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1876, is operating chiefly in Fayette county. The writer -cannot give their membership, but they report eighteen or twenty -churches. - - -LEADING MEN. - -Revs. G. H. Prewett, W. Bozelle, J. P. Neal, J. M. Maddox, S. Clements, -G. W. Brent, A. G. Johnson, J. H. Evey, I. Bizzell, L. W. Bridges, R. -L. Gorden, L. Neal, A. B. Richardson. - -Revs. J. M. Maddox and J. W. Glasscox seem to be at least the peers of -any in their ranks. - -[Illustration: Mrs. M. D. Duncan, Principal Female Academy, Demopolis, -Ala.] - - -THE COLORED BETHLEHEM ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1871, reports about 3,500 members. This is the body so -long guided by the late Rev. Armstead Cunningham, Bellville. This aided -in the purchase of our property at Selma. - - -POST OFFICES OF CHURCHES. - -Eustis, Grove Hill, Dixon’s Mill, Whatley, Thomasville, Glover, -Atkerson, Choctaw Corner, Myrtlewood, Putman, Clifton, Octagon. - - -LEADING MEN. - -Revs. C. L. Robertson, H. W. Mitchell, C. L. Davis, E. P. Yow, W. -Thomas, P. Kimbrough, J. Williams, M. Dosey, J. M. Houston, R. F. -Forman, F. Johnson, A. L. Cleveland, A. Charles, W. M. Kimbrough. - - -DALLAS COUNTY ASSOCIATION. - -Organized 1872, is a large body, operating in the “Black Belt.” They -have about 4,000 members. Support educational enterprises. - - -POST OFFICES OF THEIR CHURCHES. - -Crumpton, Gee’s Bend, Lasso, Linden, Cylonia, Orrville, Portland, -Cahaba, Lower Peach Tree, Selma, Brown’s Station, Gaston, Rehoboth, -Hazen, Uniontown, Martin Station, Boguechitto, Hamburg. - - -LEADING MEN. - -D. Boyd, W. C. Richards, G. W. Jones, T. Mosely, P. Underwood, W. -Sprague, H. Robertson, R. D. Vassar, T. B. Goldsby, E. B. Smith, H. -Willer, A. C. Collin, S. Thompson, A. Hardaway, D. M. Coleman, A. -Waller, J. Watts, N. Jones, R. Murry, L. Bryant. - -Rev. D. M. Coleman deserves praise for his persistent struggles after -education. In spite of every hindrance he, at rather a late point in -his young manhood, started and completed a course in Selma University. - - -EAST PERRY COUNTY ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1885, is a small body, and the writer has learned but -little of them. - - -LEADING MEN. - -Revs. J. A. Jemison, C. Casby, G. S. Bolling, F. Chandler, S. Morse, C. -McCord. - - -EVERGREEN ASSOCIATION. - -Organized 1878, reports about 3,500 members. They liberally support -educational and missionary enterprises. - - -POST OFFICES OF THEIR CHURCHES. - -Evergreen, Dunham, Joyville, Fairfield, Red Level, Mason, Brooklyn, -Grovella, Garland, Andalusia, Castleberry, Brewton, Williams’ Station, -Pollard. - - -LEADING MEN. - -Revs. L. and N. Hawthorne, G. Donald, J. Wallace, R. Monroe, A. -Clairborne, S. Union, J. McCrery, S. I. Shannon, Z. Michael, J. Salter, -R. McCrery, D. May, R. Ingraham, D. Shepard, C. C. Lucious, and C. -Jackson. They want to establish a high school at Evergreen, where Rev. -L. Hawthorne is now engaged in teaching and preaching. - - -THE EUFAULA ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1867, is perhaps the oldest Colored Association in -Alabama. Its chief founders were: Revs. William McCoo and Jerry -Shorter, and Deacons J. E. Timothy, of Eufaula, and Byrd Day, of -Glennville. This body is peculiarly organized on some lines. For -example: Their Sunday School work is divided into districts, which -districts, under their several leaders, hold so many meetings a year at -different centers of the population. A carefully prepared program is -carried out, led on by certain persons who have been previously named -and informed. And they have a preachers’ association. - - -POST OFFICES OF CHURCHES. - -Eufaula, Clayton, Glennville, Hurtsboro, Lofton, Pittsboro, Midway, -Hatchechubbee, Seale, Jerigan, Cowikee, Oatston, Oswichee, Coal Ridge, -Louisville, Hawkinsville, Guerryton, Abbeville, Three-Notch, Enon, -Cochran, Batesville. Eufaula is the leading point in the district. - - -LEADING MEN. - -Revs. G. W. Webb, J. D. Maddox, Wm. Williams, James Peterson, L. F. -O’Bryant, I. Bostic, N. Bostic, Eufaula. - -Revs. W. R. Forbes, E. A. McCall, Columbus, Ga. - -Revs. Wm. Pattrick, E. P. Pattrick, Wm. Blakely, Clayton. - -Rev. J. Q. A. Wilhite, Selma. - -Revs. J. H. Upshaw, T. H. Mitchell, Hatchechubbee. - -Revs. A. A. Rivers, J. J. Young, Midway. - -The author has been unable to obtain the post office address of the -following names: Revs. S. Allen, R. H. Wright, T. Thomas, C. H. Ammons, -P. Shorter, J. Torbert, M. Davis, P. Battle, G. W. Moore, L. B. -Mitchell, R. Turpin, P. Johnson, E. R. Joseph, E. Crawford. For several -years Rev. L. P. Foster has been the missionary for this body. - -Bro. Byrd Day, a pioneer in this part of the State, relates the -following interesting story: “As I could read in the days of slavery, -and as the people on the place wanted to know the sayings of God, as -they called the Bible, they bought me a Bible and got me to read for -them. We slaves were allowed night farms in those days. An acre or -so of land was given to each person wanting to work at night. Well, -in order that I might study the Bible, the other slaves on the place -worked my patch for me. So I studied the book and read it to them.” - -The writer once spent a month in Eufaula giving Bible instruction to -ministers, and was paid by the “Ministers’ Association.” - - -FLINT RIVER ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1884, is a small body of less than 1,000 members, and is -the result of a secession from the Muscle Shoals Association. Rev. F. -A. Chapman is its principal founder and perhaps is their strongest man. - - -MINISTERS. - -Revs. F. A. Chapman, C. M. Davis, C. C. Matthews, Flint Station; G. W. -Garth, Crowton; R. Wilhoit, Cedar Plains; B. M. Key, D. Ward, S. M. -Robinson, Somerville; A. Brown, S. Gains, A. R. Eason, Huntsville; C. -Davis, Whitesburg; W. T. Connor, Madison; E. Powell, Hillsboro. - -The writer has greatly enjoyed their quiet spirit and earnest labors. -However, he saw at their last session (1894) a rather ludicrous point -or gesture in the pulpit exercises. A brother, who is known to be an -upright man, as well as a very earnest and industrious man, was making -some remarks on the closing sermon of the session, when, becoming -very happy, he made a leap upward, which caused his brethren to fear -lest there would be a bruise, either in the ceiling, or on top of the -minister’s head. I would have, if I could have done so with propriety, -urged the brother to remember that “bodily exercise profits little, -while godliness is profitable unto all things,” and that “the spirit of -the prophet is subject to the prophet,” and “let all things be done -decently and in order.” However, I remember the day when most of the -white preachers in Alabama had in their sermons what some people are -disposed to call “the holy tone,” which was often accompanied by quite -a lot of physical exercise. This has become a thing of the past with -them in proposition, as they by culture, have been raised to see that -Christianity is Christly believing and Christly living. By the same -process, the same conditions will come upon us. So, we will still labor -and still wait. - - -FRIENDSHIP WESTERN UNION ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1891, is a small body operating in a section lying south -of Anniston and Oxford. - - -POST OFFICES OF THEIR CHURCHES. - -Wedowee, Lineville, Rockdale, Graham, Beason’s Mill, Heflin, Louina, -Micaville, Lamar, Edwardsville, Truet, Gay. - - -LEADING MEN. - -Rev. A. M. Crawley, Iron City, moderator; and J. W. Goss, Wedowee, -clerk. Revs. S. A. Banks, L. Dotson, C. T. Early, J. C. Byrd, J. -D. Austin, J. R. Heard, D. Welsh, C. Sterling, C. Terry, and J. -Culbertson, are mentioned among the principal pastors. - - -GOOD SAMARITAN ASSOCIATION. - -Organized 1881, has some eighteen or twenty churches. The copy of the -minutes in the hand of the writer fails to give the membership of the -churches. - - -POST OFFICES OF CHURCHES. - -Farmersville, Gordonville, Selma, Bragg’s, Furman, Montery, -Haynesville. - - -LEADING MEN. - -Revs. Wm. Moss, W. Baskin, H. J. Kelly, M. Lewis, E. Crawford, J. H. -Hartman. - - -HOPE HILL ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1886, reports a membership of about 1,500. - - -POST OFFICES OF CHURCHES. - -Van Dorn, Gallion, Demopolis, Old Spring Hill, Dayton. - - -LEADING MEN. - -Revs. F. Gilbert, J. W. Belle, Wm. Allen, W. Reese, A. Wilson, W. H. -Rone, G. C. Roney, W. E. Sharp, A. Collins, and G. V. Spenser. - - -LEBANON ASSOCIATION. - -Operating in Pickens county, was organized in 1874, and has a -membership of about 2,000. - - -LEADING MEN AND THEIR POST OFFICES. - -Revs. J. C. Archibald, Bridgeville; D. C. Salmon, Bridgeville; R. -Richey, Pickensville; J. Goodwin, Raleigh; J. T. Atty, Memphis, Ala.; -J. G. Johnson, Carrollton; J. Clark, Ehren; James Howard, Pickensville. -Brother Archibald is liberally educated, teaches school, and is a -progressive man on all lines. - - -LILY STAR ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1885, contains only about 1,000 members. - - -POST OFFICES OF CHURCHES. - -Trio, Brierfield, Centerville, Harrisburgh, Scottsville, Green Pond, -Blocton, Vance. - -PASTORS. - -Revs. T. M. Parker, W. A. Parker, John Bolden, J. A. Foster, S. Page, -H. S. Thompson, G. W. Glenn, G. Calhoun. - - -MOBILE SUNLIGHT ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1887, operates chiefly in Mobile, Baldwin and Washington -counties. The St. Louis Street Church, Mobile, constituted in 1859, -is the principal church in this body. They have churches at the -following points: Whistler, Chastang, Calvert’s Station, Scranton, -Miss., Gondola, Four Mile Post, Moffitsville, Citronelle, Mount Vernon, -Chunchula, Cleveland, Cottage Hill, Kushla, Vancleve. - - -MINISTERS. - -Revs. J. L. Frazier, C. C. Richardson, T. H. Morgan, G. W. Cephas, H. -Sims, G. Lewis, A. J. Bolton, E. M. Matthews, S. A. Johnson, M. J. -Thompson, T. Benson, C. L. Roberts, C. Reed, W. S. Forbes. - - -MOUNT PLEASANT ASSOCIATION. - -Marengo county, was organized in 1878. They number about 2,500 members. - - -POST OFFICES. - -Gallion, Linden, Faunsdale, Dayton, Magnolia, Van Dorn, Demopolis, -Uniontown, Providence, Spring Hill. - - -MINISTERS. - -Revs. J. Lawson, H. Shade, James Emmerson, J. Shaw, N. P. Anderson, B. -Glover, D. S. Thompson, M. D. Agee, James Brock. - - -MORNING STAR ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1874, is operating in Coosa and Elmore counties. Their -membership is about 2,000. They have been rather separated from the -general work, but perhaps it is owing to the fact that their location -has made it rather difficult for those who have represented the -enterprises of the denomination to reach them. - - -LEADING MEN. - -Revs. L. W. Whitaker, Rockford; M. C. Crosby, A. L. Swindall, A. M. -Snowdon, A. Jones, J. A. Baker, E. D. Howell, L. W. McNeely, R. T. -Lewis, J. H. Smith. - - -POST OFFICES. - -Lockford, Irma, Central Institute, Dexter, Syke’s Mill, Pentonville, -Equality, Lauderdale, Nixburgh, Weoka, Crewsville, Goodwater. - - -MOUNT PILGRIM ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1874 by Revs. W. H. McAlpine, J. R. Capers, and William -Ware, with other leading men; occupies the chief mining regions of -Alabama. Their last minutes give the following churches and ministers: - - -CHURCHES. - -_Birmingham_--Sixteenth Street, Shiloh, Sixth Avenue, -Hopewell, Sardis, First Baptist, North Birmingham, Mt. Olive, -Mt. Pilgrim, Healing Springs, Spring Street, St. James, Bethlehem, -Bethel, Vernon. - -_Bessemer_--Jerusalem, Canaan, Red Mountain. - -_Pratt City_--Mt. Hebron, Pleasant Hill, Rising Star, St. James. - -_Coalburg_--Coal Chapel. - -_Patton_--Mt. Nebo. - -_East Lake_--Mt. Zion, St. Peter. - -_Helena_--Mt. Moriah. - -_Dolomite_--St. John. - -_Avondale_--Mt. Calvary. - -_Blossburg_--Mt. Hebron. - -_Woodlawn_--Jackson Street. - -_Warrior_--New Bethel. - -_Rosedale_--Walnut Street. - -_Trussville_--Mt. Joy. - -_Compton_--Mt. Olive. - -_Oxmoor_--Shady Grove. - -[Illustration: Rev. J. P. Barton, Pastor Peace Baptist Church, -Talladega, Ala. - -President Baptist State Convention.] - - -MINISTERS. - -Revs. T. W. Walker, T. L. Jordan, G. W. Parks, William Ware, G. S. -Smith, W. A. Shirley, A. J. Fikes, R. Donald, P. C. Caddell, W. T. -Bibb, J. A. Peele, S. D. Sanders, William Walker, E. E. Perryman, R. -H. Vogle, M. C. Adams, J. P. O’Riley, A. A. Scott, L. V. Ellison, J. -E. A. Wilson, V. Huntington, F. M. Miller, B. P. Palmo, H. Neally, F. -C. Chandler, S. M. Hall, H. Zimmerman, S. L. Belser, W. E. Craddock, -J. B. Gardner, S. A. Latham, Van B. James, P. Woollen, L. J. Green, R. -Johnson, L. W. Wells, J. M. Anthony, L. C. Jones. - -As educators, they have Messrs. T. H. Posey, J. C. Barker, F. P. -McAlpine, and A. J. Edwards. - -Rev. L. D. James is missionary of their district. Their membership is -about 6,000, and their church property is worth not less than $50,000. - - -BIRMINGHAM CHURCHES. - -The oldest church in the city is the Spring Street Church, Rev. L. J. -Green’s church, but the Sixteenth Street, Sixth Avenue, and Shiloh -Churches are the most influential churches. The Sixteenth Street -Church was organized in 1873, it appears, and her pastors appear in -the following order: Revs. J. Readon, W. Reed, A. C. Jackson, W. R. -Pettiford, and T. L. Jordan. In a property point of view they owe much -to Rev. A. C. Jackson, under whom they obtained the present church -lot, three other lots, and a small frame building, say about $5,000. -This $4,000 or $5,000 went toward the erection of their brick edifice, -erected under the pastorate of Rev. W. R. Pettiford. They owe about -$3,000 on their building, the payment of which has been much hindered -by the scarcity of money. In all the most progressive plans of gospel -work in this section, this church has led the way; and their advance -on these lines is chiefly due to the presence of Dr. Pettiford and the -missionary ladies. The Sixth Avenue Church is the next to appear. Its -pastors have been: Revs. Silas Jones, T. W. Walker, J. W. White. They -have recently offered the pastoral charge to Rev. J. Q. A. Wilhite, who -is expected to assume management this month (May, 1895). They are in -debt also. - -The church that is the marvel of the city is the Shiloh, under Rev. -T. W. Walker. This church was organized May 3, 1891, as the result of -preaching service supported by a society known as the “Christian Relief -Association.” They now have the smallest debt, the largest house and -the largest congregation in the city. Often when 1,200 or 1,500 people -are in the house, a good part of the street is full of persons who are -anxious to approach near enough to hear. Of course the pastor is the -source and center of this successful church, but he has been fortunate -in drawing about him some very business-like as well as very agreeable -people. The following anniversary program, etc., will give an idea of -the church’s operations and system. (This program, with facts like it, -is given for its suggestiveness): - - - May 3, 1891 May 3, 1895 - - -FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALA. - -The anniversary of the above named church will be held on Friday, -the above date, at the church on Avenue G, between Eighteenth and -Nineteenth streets. - -All churches in the city and vicinity are cordially invited to be -present and take a part in the exercises, as those present will have -the privilege to speak on the subjects after they have been submitted -to the assembly. The following will be the programme for the day. - -9:30 to 10 A. M.--Opening. - -Devotional exercises and responsive Scripture reading.--Psalm 24. - -10 to 10:30--“The Work of the School,” by Mrs. Laura Emmons. Discussed -by Rev. J. A. Peel, of North Birmingham. - -10:30 to 11--“The Work of the B.Y.P.U.,” by Miss Georgia Battles. -Discussed by Rev. J. E. A. Wilson, of Pratt City. - -11 to 11:30--“The Work of the Missionary,” by Miss A. L. Bowman. -Discussed by Rev. V. B. James, of Avondale. - -11:30 to 12--“Children’s Mission Band Society,” by Miss Sallie Bates. -Discussed by Rev. L. V. Ellison. - -12 to 1 P. M.--“The History of the Church,” by J. M. Ross. Discussed by -Rev. T. W. Walker. - -Adjourn to reassemble at 3 P. M. - -3 to 3:15--Devotional exercises by Rev. William Winters. - -3:15 to 3:45--“Christian Relief Society,” by J. W. Sampson. Discussed -by Rev. G. W. Parks. - -3:45 to 4:30--Sermon on “The Progress of the Baptists,” by Rev. W. E. -Perryman, of Pratt City. - - -COLLECTION. - -4:30 to 5--“Church Unity,” by Rev. L. J. Green. Discussed by Rev. T. L. -Jordan. - -5 to 5:45--“The Church in the Present Struggle,” by Rev. S. L. Belser. -Discussed by Syl. D. Jones. - -Adjourn to reassemble at 7:30. - -7:30 to 8--Devotional exercises by Rev. C. H. Hopkins. - -8--Anniversary sermon by Rev. J. Q. A. Wilhite. - - -COLLECTION. - -All are requested to bring their Bibles, as they will be needed. - - J. W. Sampson, - J. M. Ross, - Rev. T. W. Walker, Pastor. Committee. - -The above exercises took place on Friday, and the author of this book -was present to gather evidence of progress. - -Closing the chapter on the Mount Pilgrim Association, I submit the -following programs in order to give further light on the general -operations in their field. - - -MT. PILGRIM WOMEN’S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION. - -TOPICS. - - 1894. November--Women of the Bible. - December--The Mother’s pledge. - 1895. January--Our State work. - February--How to make happy homes. - March--Our duty to our country. - April--Ways of elevating of our race. - May--Our duty to the heathen. - June--What should we teach our children. - July--Qualifications needed for Christian usefulness. - August--Economy. - September--Fireside schools. - October--Review of the year’s studies. - -The above gives the topics of the local monthly meetings. - - -WOMEN’S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION. - -Jackson Street Baptist Church, Woodlawn, May 3, 1895. - -PROGRAM. - - 9:00 A. M.--Praise service. - 9:30 A. M.--President’s address. - 9:45 A. M.--Hinderances to Christian usefulness. - 10:15 A. M.--Best methods for governing children. - 10:45 A. M.--Has each Christian a responsibility in - bringing the world to Christ? - 11:15 A. M.--Reports of local societies. - 2:00 P. M.--Praise service. - 2:15 P. M.--The true women. - 2:45 P. M.--Africa’s need. - 3:30 P. M.--The model missionary society. - 4:00 P. M.--Business. - -In this meeting the following names appear: Mesdames P. F. Clark, -Sallie Hall, R. Callier, A. McKesson, L. Tyrus, E. C. Bellmy, L. Dean, -S. Ceephas, A. L. Billheimer, S. A. Donald, M. J. Walker, with the -names of the missionaries, Misses Knapp and Boorman. - - -FIFTH GENERAL MEETING OF THE BAPTIST YOUNG PEOPLE’S UNION OF MT. -PILGRIM ASSOCIATION. - -December 7, 1894. - - 10:00 A. M.--Praise service. - 10:15 A. M.--President’s address. - 10:30 A. M.--What is necessary to Christian growth? - 11:00 A. M.--How to make a success of B.Y.P.U. in country churches. - 11:30 A. M.--The importance of good reading matter. - 12:00 P. M.--Literature. - 2:00 P. M.--A model meeting. - 2:30 P. M.--Address: The work of the B.Y.P.U. in evangelizing the - world. - 3:00 P. M.--Best methods for promoting temperance. - 3:30 P. M.--Report of local Unions. - 4:00 P. M.--Business. - 7:00 P. M.--Praise and conference and collection. - 8:00 P. M.--Echoes from the Toronto Convention. - -These topics, etc., show the lines of thought upon which the mind is -working. How different things are now from what they were in 1835, -when Job Davis, the African preacher, toiled by the side of his fellow -slaves all day and dreamed at night of his far off home over the great -sea! Now in the valley where his famous camp-meeting sermon melted the -heart of the white people into a condition of submission to Jesus and -into hope of the coming world--where the black man knew only spade, -plow and hoe--we have the Negro M. D., Negro druggist, Negro dentist, -Negro banker, Negro author, Negro merchant, Negroes worshiping in brick -churches, Negro scientists, and white people using Negro inventions. -Here are Banker B. H. Hudson, Druggist I. B. Kigh, Drs. Goin, Brown, -and U. G. Mason, Inventor Andrew Beard, with orators and educators -many. “What shall the harvest be?” - -[Illustration: Miss Hardie Martin, Teacher in Public School, -Montgomery, Ala.] - - -THE MULBERRY ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1882, is composed of only a few churches, chief among -which we may mention: New Zion, Mt. Pleasant and Spring Hill, Elba -post office; Mt. Calvary, Damascus and Antioch, Rose Hill post office; -Friendship and Pleasant Ridge, Henderson post office; Mt. Olive and St. -John, Luverne post office. They have between 1,200 and 1,500 members. - - -LEADING MEN. - -Revs. G. Stringer, M. H. Henderson, G. B. Gibson, C. P. Larkin, D. F. -White and J. S. Lee. - - -MUD CREEK ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1873, is a small body of very poor churches, located in -Jackson county. There were a few rich slaveholders in said county, -among whom was the Rev. Charles Roach, Sr. On his plantation there were -three preachers, one Methodist and two Baptist. The Baptist preachers -were Thomas and Perkins. Like many other ex-slaves, they retained the -name of their master, and became known as Revs. Thomas and Perkins -Roach. Rev. Robert Caver, at an early date after the close of the -war, came into the county a Baptist preacher. These men became the -organizers of the work in this county. The county is no longer so full -of colored people as once it was, and hence the churches are very small -and can’t support their pastors. Revs. James Larkin, Lewis Roach, T. -J. Roach, Lewis Henshaw, F. Cobb, C. L. Lovelady, J. W. Robinson are -doing what they can to keep up the work but they labor under great -difficulties. It is the purpose of some to attempt to establish a -school at Hollywood. If this project should mature there is a prophecy -of better conditions in time to come. - - -MUSCLE SHOALS ASSOCIATION - -Is among the largest and oldest Associations in the State, having -been organized in 1869 by Revs. Henry Bynum, Wm. Coleman and W. E. -Northcross, aided by Dr. Joseph Shackelford (white), of Trinity. I was -with them as they met in the session of 1893 in the Courtland Church. -In 1827, a Mr. D. P. Bestor, a white minister, preached in this section -and began the work of organizing among the whites. I was told that the -white church, constituted in Courtland in 1827, had long passed away -and that of their building “one stone was not left upon another.” Only -the vacant church lot remained to tell of what had been. The white -people were gone we knew not how nor whither, but that the gospel which -they had preached was blooming like a green bay tree in the hearts of -their ex-slaves, this large Association was tangible evidence. The Rev. -John Belle reminded his brethren that the time had been when he was the -only man in the body who could write and when committees went out to -consult and agree, and then returned to submit verbal reports, which he -as clerk was expected to formulate. He compared this state of things -with the present condition, wherein the _writer_ was the _rule_ and the -_non_-writer the _exception_. - -This body is noted for church building. The people in Huntsville and -Sheffield owe their buildings to the plan and liberality of this -Association. The Rev. Paul Jones, for many years their moderator, -was full of missionary zeal and wise plans, and pushed things in all -directions. His death caused them a great loss. - -Their minutes give the following churches and pastors: Tuscumbia -church, Rev. W. E. Northcross; Courtland and Sheffield, Rev. G. -B. Johnson, of Courtland; Red Bank and Iuka, Rev. John Belle, of -Courtland; Pleasant Grove, Mt. Zion and Little Zion, Rev. E. M. James, -of Courtland; Russellville and Florence churches, Rev. E. C. White, of -Tuscumbia; Mount Olive, Rev. L. Warren, of Leighton; Palmetto, Rev. M. -Jones, of Russellville; Galilee and Mount Pleasant, Rev. B. King, of -Leighton; Town Creek and Moulton, Rev. A. J. Owens, of Moulton; Mount -Moriah, Rev. H. R. Baker, of Tuscumbia; Macedonia, Rev. A. Troupe, of -Town Creek; Elm Grove, Rev. William Weaver, of Oakland; Mount New Home, -Rev. William Morris, of Leighton; Huntsville Church, Rev. O. Gray, -of Huntsville; Cave Springs, Zion and Bethel, Rev. James Hampton, of -Leighton; Zion No. 2., Rev. J. H. Betts, of Florence; Cater’s Branch, -Rev. A. Davis; St. Peter’s, Rev. H. L. Ellis, of Flint; Jerusalem and -Salem, Rev. D. Jackson, of Tuscumbia; Mt. Olive, Rev. G. S. Ricks, of -Leighton; Decatur Church, Rev. M. J. Hooks; Hillsboro, Rev. B. Swoope; -Baptist Chapel, Rev. James Young, of Florence; St. Paul and Hopewell, -Rev. S. Wadkins, Tuscumbia. - -They report church property worth about $25,000. Their principal work -has been in the way of starting missions and building churches. They -have 6,000 members, and an excellent territory, but they greatly need -a school. Professors H. H. Stewart, of Courtland, and J. P. Gettis, of -Decatur, and Dr. Sterrs, of the same place, are the most advanced men -of their fellowship. Dr. Sterrs is a successful young physician as well -as preacher. - - -NEW PINE GROVE ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1878 and is a secession from the old Pine Grove. They -have, perhaps, about 2,000 members in the following churches: At -Troy--Pine Grove, Holly Springs, High Ridge, Mt. Olive; Union -Springs--Sardis, Low’s Field, Lime Creek; Brundidge--Post Oak, New -Hope, Mt. Pilgrim. - - -LEADING MEN. - -Rev. A. Martin, Union Springs; Wm. Mullen and M. Flournoy, Troy; W. H. -Copeland and E. Mayer, Brundidge. - - -NEW CAHABA ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1871, has about 2,000 members, and are generous supporters -of missionary and educational enterprises. Their work is managed by -such men as Revs. P. S. L. Hutchins, B. N. Tubbs, R. E. Brown, L. -Abercrombie, T. Chandler and A. L. Huggins. - -They have churches at or near Marion, Hamburg and Selma. The copy of -their minutes which came to the writer’s hand is not sufficiently full -to make a good record, as is the case with regard to other minutes in -hand. - - -OLD PINE GROVE ASSOCIATION. - -With headquarters at Union Springs, Bullock county, was organized in -1870. No section of Alabama affords better talent than is found within -the territory of this Association. The people of Union Springs are -noted for their ability and skill in business affairs--merchandise, etc. - -The brick church edifice recently erected by Rev. W. C. Bradford and -his church in Union Springs, as well as the large and successfully -operated stores, is testimony on this line. - -The officers of this body are: Rev. E. Thornton, Union Springs, -moderator; Prof. F. L. Todd, Union Springs, clerk; Rev. W. C. Crawford, -treasurer. - -They have about 2,000 members, and the following churches: - - _Aberfoil_--Elizabeth. - _Union Springs_--First Baptist, Mt. Pleasant, St. John, and - Mt. Hilliard. - _Cotton Valley_--Elizabeth. - _Thompson Station_--Mt. Pleasant and Second Baptist. - _Fitzpatrick Station_--Greenwood. - _McLemore_--Mt. Common. - _Bug Hall_--Bethlehem and Mt. Carmel. - _Indian Creek_--Mt. Calvary. - _Goshen Hill_--Mt. Zion. - _China Grove_--Mt. Zion. - _Linwood_--Mt. Pleasant. - _Flora_--Mt. Sinai. - _Suspension_--Mt. Canaan. - _Orion_--Bethlehem. - -They have the following pastors: - - _Union Springs_--Revs. W. C. Bradford, E. Thornton, L. Lawson, and - E. Moore. - _Aberfoil_--Revs. C. H. Thornton and J. C. Jett. - _Flora_--Rev. R. Allen. - _Fitzpatrick_--Rev. William Thompkins. - _Cotton Valley_--Revs. M. Ellington and W. Crawford. - -For general purposes the Association raises from $50 to $100 a year. - -_Post Offices Unknown_--Revs. T. Hendrix, G. Youngblood, P. Johnson, S. -M. Dawson, J. M. Faison, R. Jole, S. Barnes. - -Rev. J. W. Jett, a man of Virginia birth, is the oldest member of the -body; he was associated with those pioneers of this section, Revs. -Peter Johnson and William Townsend. Mr. Jett is still strong and -active, and is ready for any good work. Rev. E. Thornton leads this -body, and it could not be otherwise, as no man among them is a mightier -and more conspicuous individuality. - - -PEROTE ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1880, is not so well known as some other bodies. From the -minutes of 1888 I glean the following: They have a church at Perote, -one at Mt. Andrew, one at Fresco, two at Victoria, one at Midway, and -one at Pine Grove. Their membership at this time was small, and the -names of some of their chief men appear as follows: Rev. J. H. Burks, -W. B. Grubbs, C. G. Wheeler, R. Allen, and R. Dix. - - -PIKE COUNTY ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1887, rose, it seems, in Pike County. - - -PASTORS. - -Revs. J. S. Adair, T. Diggs, G. Whaley, W. S. Pollard, H. Broxton, M. -Stinson, W. F. Williams, J. O. Davis, and others. - -CHURCHES. - - _Troy Post Office_--Troy Church. - _Clayton_--Mt. Moriah. - _Burk’s_--Antioch. - _Buck Horn_--Mt. Olive. - _Elba_--Friendship and Harmony. - _Linwood_--Benevolent. - They endorse educational enterprises. - - -RUSHING SPRINGS ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1870. Revs. Henry Woods, W. H. McAlpine, and Isham -Robinson were the chief founders of this body. Talladega county is -their main territory, though they have churches in Coosa, St. Clair and -Calhoun counties. - -Rev. E. C. Rivers has been for years their efficient moderator, and -Rev. A. A. Battle is clerk. They report their churches and ministers as -follows: - - _Jenifer Post Office_--Shady Grove and Shiloh. - _Renfroe_--New Salem, Antioch and Bethel. - _Talladega_--Pleasant Grove, Mt. Pilgrim, Mt. Cleveland, Rocky Mount, - Sycamore, Mt. Canaan, Mt. Moriah, Mt. Zion. - _Eureka_--Pleasant Hill, Rushing Springs. - _Kilnulga_--Mt. Carmel. - _Goodwater_--Marietta. - _Kelley’s Creek_--Mt. Zion. - _Sylacauga_--Harper Springs, New Hope, Rising Star. - _Silver Run_--Sweet Home. - _Cropwell_--Cropwell. - _Regan_--Macedonia. - _Sycamore_--Mt. Olive, Pleasant Hill, Salem. - _Sedan_--Blooming Light. - _Birney’s_--African Church. - _Lincoln_--Pine Grove. - _Mt. Olive_--New Shiloh. - _Alpine_--New Maryland, Kingston. - _Rendalia_--Zion Hill. - _Oxford_--Rocky Mount. - _Eastaboga_--Salem. - _Anniston_--Mt. Zion. - _Ironaton_--Ironaton. - _Stewardsville_--Union. - _Miles_--Lebanon. - - -MINISTERS. - -D. Savage, of Mumford; A. Z. Wilson, N. Jemison, B. Jackson, A. Bibb, -S. Rivers, P. Jordan, C. C. Curry, R. Garrett, A. J. Vincent, A. -O’Neal, A. G. Walker, James Headen, M. H. Cunningham, H. Wood, J. -Chapman, A. A. Battle, S. Burt, R. B. McClellen, J. L. Looney, A. -Bryant, A. Davis, S. Marbry, J. P. Barton, M. C. B. Oden. - -This body is led chiefly by men who have attended Talladega College, -some of whom are not only graduates and scholars, but are strong -preachers of the plain old gospel story. - -They number about 6,500 members. Talladega and Anniston are their chief -points. Talladega is the “Old Indian battle ground,” and here the white -Baptists formed a church in 1835. Sister Cain, a member of the Mount -Canaan Church, Talladega, said to the writer: “There was no town here -when I came. The Indians lived here and it was all nothing but wild -woods.” As she was talking, the Talladega College bell loudly rang -out some orders or notice upon the ears of Negro students. I mused: -“How the world changes! About the years 1820-1830, negro slavery is -established in Talladega county. In 1835 a white church rises up and, -unknowingly, begins to prepare to give birth to a Negro church, which -will give birth to a Negro Association. In 1865 the slave is free, and -in 1870 the white church constitutes the Mt. Canaan Church (colored), -out of which comes the Rushing Springs Association. And Negro men and -Negro women are carrying diplomas from buildings erected by white -Baptists for the education of white people. All this in less than fifty -years.” - - -THE AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH. - -In Talladega county, has a rather peculiar history. The lot was donated -in 1849, it appears, by a Mr. William Jenkins, a wealthy slave owner, -who lived about eight miles south of the town of Talladega. It is said -that in addition to the gift of land and building, he paid a man to -teach the catechism to the colored children, and paid annually $150 -toward the salary of a minister for the colored people who worshiped -with this church. Samuel Jenkins, a slave from South Carolina, was -one of their first deacons. - -[Illustration: Rev. W. R. Pettiford, D. D., President Penny Savings and -Loan Co., President Alabama Publishing Co., Birmingham, Ala.] - -_Pastors._--It appears that the following brethren served the church at -different times in the capacity of pastor: Revs. D. Reynolds, S. Boils, -D. Peeples, W. H. McAlpine, Phil. Davis, A. Lawler, and Jordan Chapman. - -The origin of this church is full of suggestion. It shows that in spite -of the brutalizing influences of the horrible institution of slavery, -humanity and Christianity in the master often triumphed in deeds of -love and mercy in behalf of the helpless slave. The memory of such men -as Mr. Jenkins inscribed upon such times will be fragrant forever. The -plantation to which the above named lot belonged has changed hands -several times, but this lot is fixed on the records as the property of -the African Church. - -Honorable mention is made of Rev. Chesley Johnson and Joe Walker. The -latter, it is said, was allowed to give Bible lessons on his master’s -plantation. The manliness which characterizes Mr. Henry Barclay (Mr. -Walker’s son) and other descendants, marks Mr. Walker’s rare talent. - - -SANDY RIDGE ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1887, is composed of the following churches: - - _Burnesville Post Office_--Lily Zion and Lily Grove. - _Selma_--St. James, New Liberty, Cahaba, and Elyton. - _Vine Hill_--Pleasant Grove and Mt. Pilgrim. - _Stateville_--New Mt. Moriah, Autaugaville, New Hope, Pleasant Valley, - and St. Paul. - _Jones’ Switch_--New Providence. - _Augustine_--Oak Grove. - -Revs. A. Clay, J. and E. Mixom, M. Bishop, H. W. Peeples, and E. W. -Deampart are mentioned among their leading men. Their church property -is reported at $8,000. - - -SALEM ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1871, is a small body in southeast Alabama. I have been -unable to obtain data from this body. I learn that they have churches -at the following points: Brundidge, Clintonville, Enterprise, and Cox -Mills. - - -SHELBY SPRINGS ASSOCIATION. - -Was organized in 1869. Rev. Berry Ware, it seems, was one of its -leading founders. They have a membership of about 3,000. They have -some excellent men, among whom may be mentioned: Revs. B. M. Mallory, -F. Youngblood, H. D. Leathers, of Childersburg; Rev. D. L. Prentice, -Aldrich; Rev. J. P. Barton, Talladega; Rev. E. E. Perryman, Helena; -Revs. G. R. Nash, F. R. Kenedy, B. F. Singleton, and P. Caddell, -Columbiana; Rev. F. Cahill, Harpersville; Revs. J. L. Looney and P. -Fancher, Fayetteville; Revs. W. C. Owens and J. H. Moseley, Calera. - -The minutes of 1890 give the following post offices and churches: - - _Childersburg_--Enon. - _Kymulga_--Mt. Olive. - _Aldrich_--Hepzibah. - _Blocton_--Liberty. - _Talladega_--Peace Baptist. - _Wilsonville_--Bethlehem, Scott Grove, Mt. Grove, and Dry Branch. - _Harpersville_--Mt. Olive. - _Helena_--Mt. Pleasant. - _Fayetteville_--Shady Grove, Friendship. - _Columbiana_--Zion, Friendship, and Macedonia. - _Mt. Pinson_--Mt. Bradford. - _Siluria_--Union Hill, Liberty No. 1. - _Shelby_--Providence. - _Long View_--Galilee. - _Calera_--Moseley Chapel, New Mt. Moriah, Bethel. - -Rev. D. L. Prentice, Aldrich, is doing a very effective work in the -school room, and the people of his town bear the marks of his pedagogic -labors. Their meetings, I mean associational meetings, are enjoyable -and they give evidence of piety, promise and power. - -This body liberally aided in the purchase of Selma University, and has -ever been ready for any and every good work. - - -SOUTHEAST ALABAMA ASSOCIATION. - -This Association operates in the extreme southeast portion of the -State. I have not been able to secure a full statistical table from -them. - -They report thirty churches, with a membership of about 2,000. From a -mutilated copy of their minutes for 1892 the following names are given -as the ordained ministers of the body: J. Craddock, G. Christinar, J. -Stith, Thomas Slaughter, M. Spencer, E. P. Langston, J. Cotton, E. -Alford, T. Rollins, A. L. Koonce, J. C. Green, Wm. Carter, A. Powell, -J. Foston, J. Sampson, James Humphrey, G. R. Hall, R. C. Liferedge, and -A. Turner. - -Part of the statistical table is torn away, but the following appears -as the list of their post offices: Cowarts, Otho, Crosby, Balkum, -Headland, Gordon, Shorterville, Halesburg, Zornville, Hardwicksburg, -Brackins, Choctawhatchie, Columbia, Lawrenceville, Abbeville, Fort -Gaines, Cottonwood, Dothan, Hilliardsville, Ashford. I give this list -because to know the post offices of the churches is better than to know -nothing at all. They are all right on temperance, and they say they -will license no man to preach who cannot read the New Testament. - - -SNOW CREEK ASSOCIATION. - -Is chiefly located in Calhoun and Etowah counties. At present their -officers are as follows: - - Rev. H. W. Whatley, White Plains, moderator. - Rev. William Munds, Anniston, assistant moderator. - Prof. Lydden Green, Oxford, clerk. - -This body was organized in 1869 by Rev. Burrell Snow (whose name it -bears) and a few others, aided by the late Rev. Mr. Jinkins, a white -Baptist minister, whose heart and hand seemed ever ready to help on -every good work among the colored people. - -Rev. H. J. Hoke, the efficient missionary of Arkansas, went out from -this association. They have something above 2,000 members belonging to -the following churches: - -Ohatchee, Ohatchee; New Mount Gilead, Markston; New Prospect, -Choccolocco; Oconee, New Hope, Oxford; Spring Hill, Bynum; Bates -Springs, Cane Creek, Greensport; Mount Olive, Oxanna; Mount Zion, -Coat’s Bend; Galilee, Friendship, Anniston; Bethany, Iron City; New -Mount Silla, Peaceburg; Shiloh, Dukes; Zion Hill, White Plains; -Antioch, Friendship, Gadsden; New Hope, First Colored, Jacksonville; -New Hope, Rock Run; Pleasant Gap, Stock’s Mills; Pine Grove, Knotville; -Bethel, Alexandria; Mount Sinai, Weaver’s Station; Patona, Piedmont; -St. Jacob, Tecumseh, and beautiful Borden Springs. - -The following are the pastors: Revs. H. Middleton, J. J. Johnson, B. -Jackson, H. Green, Thomas Ivory, A. F. Alexander, T. L. Douglass, S. -Walker, J. S. Simmons, Gadsden; H. W. Whatley, White Plains; William -Munds, N. P. Pullum, Anniston; C. Pyles, Oxford; G. W. Brewton, -Alexandria; James Denson, Talladega. - -These brethren are all O. K. on the leading issues of the day. Brother -Whatley is, in many regards, a very strong man, hospitable as a host, -and genial as a companion, a good citizen and successful business man. - - -SOUTHEAST DISTRICT ASSOCIATION. - -Confined chiefly to Crenshaw county; was organized in 1879. The writer -has attended one of their sessions held east of Greenville, a few miles -from Luverne. - - -LEADING MEN. - -Revs. James Barrett, Bolling; E. Dunklin, J. H. Henderson, Greenville; -M. C. Lowery, E. D. Wallace, Bolling; S. M. Ransom, Oak Streak; S. M. -Lowery, Salsoda; Bro. Walter Williams, Glascow and Bro. Henry McLain, -Oaky Streak. - - -POST OFFICES OF CHURCHES. - -Luverne, Greenville, Glascow, Oaky Streak, Salsoda, Rutledge, Pontus, -Shell, Bradleyton, Pigeon Creek. They hope to begin a high school, for -which purpose they have raised about $300. It is to be hoped that they -will secure their money against loss. Far too many times money has been -raised for church and school purposes and put into the hands of men who -lost it (?) or loaned it out. Such loose management of funds destroys -the confidence of the people and injures the cause of Christ. I regret -to say that they, at the session referred to, did not unanimously -endorse the temperance movement of the day, though there was a strong -sentiment in the right direction. They number about 2,000 members. -I was impressed with the natural power of some of their leaders. In -their number I saw some rising young men, who I think will attain to -knowledge of books. - - -SPRING HILL ASSOCIATION. - -Operating south of Montgomery, was organized in 1874 by Brethren W. W. -Lane, Lewis Witherspoon, George Jones, D. Carter, O. Blue, and others. - - -CHURCHES IN 1891. - - _Pine Level Post Office_--Spring Hill. - _Woodley_--White Cloud. - _Center Point_--Mt. Pleasant and Macedonia. - _Helicon_--Mt. Gilead and Ramer. - _LeGrand_--Little Roxanna. - _Snowdown_--Snowdown Valley. - _Meadville_--Pilgrim, Hickory Chapel, Galilee. - _Pine Level_--Warrior Hill, Bethlehem, and Elizabeth. - _Shellhorn_--Israel. - _Montgomery_--Columbus Street Church, Baptist Lily. - _Fitzpatrick_--Philadelphia, Mount Moriah. - _Woodley_--Jerusalem. - _Chambers_--Calvary. - - -MINISTERS. - -Revs. S. Adams, T. Ervin, A. Garner, R. Borden, M. Jackson, F. Nichols, -William Rollins, William Day, O. Blue, J. Mitchell, W. Mullens, D. S. -Adams, I. Davis, John Smith, and E. M. Burkett. - -Dr. A. J. Stokes, of Montgomery, has for several years been their -moderator. In the session of 1891 they rejected the temperance report; -but this year (1893) they vote by a large majority in favor of it. A -few, however, claim that they “have a right” to use alcohol if they -desire to do so. They have a membership of 5,000 or 6,000. A Rev. -Mr. Pollard has been in their employ as missionary, so the writer is -informed. - - -STAR OF HOPE ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1877 and operating chiefly in Wilcox county, presents the -following roll of churches: - -Antioch, Magnolia, New Hope No. 2, New Hope No. 4, Ruk West, Emanuel -Street, and Union Baptist, Camden Post Office; Cedar Grove and -Starling, Furman; Little Rock, Tilden; Little Zion, St. Emanuel, -St. Peter, Nellie; Mt. Gilead and Magnolia, Bell’s Landing; Morning -Star and Shady Grove, Miller’s Ferry; New Hope No. 3 and St. Wisdom, -Canton’s Bend; New Hill, Butler’s Springs; Oak Valley, Monterey; Pine -Flat, Tinela; St. Francis, Caledonia; St. Peter, River Ridge. Antioch -of Camden, Cedar Grove of Furman, and Little Rock of Tilden, are the -oldest churches in this body, having been organized in 1868. - -Their number is between 1,700 and 2,000. Their pastors are Revs. S. B. -McCall, George Earl, M. Boykin, V. Pruit, K. Wolfe, F. Williams, W. H. -Ray, Jr., L. D. Johnson, M. Lewis, L. Jefferson, S. Boyd, C. L. George, -J. C. Blackburn, John Poe, N. Hill, George Earl, M. Ervin, W. G. King, -J. A. Lawson. The venerable Henry Allen has been in this section as “a -father in Israel.” - -They are trying to support a high school at Camden. Rev. J. A. Lawson -is especially active in educational matters, and all seem ready for any -and every good work. - - -TOWN CREEK ASSOCIATION. - -Is a new body, organized in 1889. The minutes of 1891 give the -following: - -Magnolia Church, Warrior Stand, Rev. E. Moore, pastor; Bethlehem -Church, Cotton Valley, Rev. M. Ellington, pastor; Sweet Pilgrim -Church, Union Springs, Rev. E. Thornton, pastor; St. Paul Church, -Cotton Valley, Rev. C. Johnson, pastor; Town Creek Church, Union -Springs, Rev. J. Germany, pastor; Antioch Church, Columbus, Ga., Rev. -E. A. McCall, pastor; Mt. Nebo Church,----, Rev. J. Germany, pastor; -Mt. Pisgah Church, Dick Creek, Rev. W. M. Walker, pastor; Perry Hill -Church, Warrior Stand, Rev. J. S. Tatum, pastor; Mt. Calvary Church, -Union Springs, Rev. H. Jones, pastor; Oak Grove Church, Cotton Valley, -Rev. Mac. Wright, pastor. - -They have a membership of about 1,500. - -Rev. E. Thornton, of Union Springs, is moderator, and E. A. McCall, of -Columbus, Ga., is clerk. - -The writer has been unable to ascertain all desirable facts. Judging, -however, from the character of the men whose names appear in the -lead of their work, we may feel sure that they have organized the -Association in order to advance educational and missionary interests. - -[Illustration: Rev. J. L. Frazier, Pastor St. Louis St. Baptist Church, -Mobile, Ala.] - - -UNION ASSOCIATION. - -Was organized in 1874 of churches which seceded from the Alabama -District Association. - -They have the following churches and ministers: Greenville--First -Colored, Pine Top, Salem, Old Elm, Pine Level; Pineapple--Arkadelphia, -New Virgin; Monterey--Ridgeville, Spring Hill, Mt. Moriah, Rosemary; -Bugville--Friendship; Dunham--Long Creek; Simkinsville--Pleasant -Hill; Starlington--Pine Level; Allenton--Siloam and Mt. Zion; -Minter--Hopewell; Pleasant Hill--Good Hope, Cedar Grove; Snow -Hill--Shiloh; Georgiana--Friendship; Furman--Antioch; Manningham--Mt. -Olive; Luverne--New Hope; Daisy--Union; Vidette--Star of Hope; New -Providence--Mt. Ida; Farmerville--Cedar Grove; Oakfield--Oakfield; -Forest Home--Rockwest; Sepulga--Spring Hill; Camden--St. Mary. Rev. J. -Nichols, Greenville, is moderator; Rev. J. W. Smith is treasurer, and -Mr. I. N. Carter, of Monterey, is clerk. - -Their sessions are rather stormy, as may be said of other bodies. - - -LEADING MEN. - -Revs. L. Adams, H. Thompson, I. Young, W. Morast, S. Albrighton, J. -Beverly, Q. C. Craig, J. Scott, L. McKee, W. Anderson, J. Barrett, G. -Pugh, J. Henderson, S. Skanes, R. Palmer, E. Perdue, M. McLowery, J. -Ricks, J. Moss, E. Wallace, E. Stallworth, William Scott, E. Pickett, -J. Blackman, R. C. Crane. - -Prof. I. N. Carter is a strong man in this body, whose confidence and -good will he seems still to hold. They have many naturally fine young -men, but they need a school very much. - - -UNIONTOWN ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1872 by the late Revs. Henry Stephens, John Dosier and -John Blevins, is reported to be next numerically to the Alabama -District, containing a membership of about 11,500. They raise annually -for general purposes from $200 to $400. Their “Statistical Table” gives -the following list of churches and ministers: - - -POST OFFICES AND CHURCHES. - -Selma--St. Philip Street, Tabernacle, Mount Zion, Little Rock, St. -Paul, New Center, Mount Ararat, Beach Island, Everdale, Providence, -Elbethel, Mount Zion; Newbern--Newbern, Holly Chapel, Oak Grove; -Greensboro--St. John, St. Peter, St. Paul, Mount Moriah, Willow -Springs, Salem, Pleasant Grove, Mount Zion; Safford’s--New Hebron, -Mount Lebanon, Concord; Boiling Springs--First Baptist, New Boiling -Springs; Hamburg--Green Liberty; Brown’s--Trinity, Good Hope; -Sawyersville--Bethlehem, Springfield, New Hope; Perryville--Pleasant -Hill, Perryville; Uniontown--Mount Calvary, Woodlawn, St. James, -Uniontown; Kimbrough--Jerusalem; Prairie Bluff--St. Mitchell; -Catherine--Salem, Dixon Grove, Mount Olive; Marion--Second -Baptist, Springfield, Willow Grove, Hopewell, Bethel, Eagle Grove; -Lamison--Macedonia; Scott’s Station--Green Leaf, McKinley, Bethel Hill; -Faunsdale--Faunsdale, Camden, Rehoboth; Summerfield--Macedonia, -Orrville, Peace and Love; Alberta--Macedonia, Christian Light; -Felix--Center, Bethany, Marion Junction, Pernell, Colerine, Shiloh; -Pleasant Hill--Bethel, Whitsets, Pickens. - - -MINISTERS. - -Selma--Revs. C. J. Hardy, I. T. Simpson, D. M. Coleman, L. J. Green, -G. H. Hobdy, Q. C. Craig, C. J. Davis, J. B. Russell; Newbern--W. -H. Reddick, G. Frost. W. H. Huckabee; Greensboro--Wm. Madison, P. -Cottrell, P. Umphrey, S. Abrams; Marion--C. S. Dinkins, D. D., A. -Billingley; Uniontown--Rev. A. F. Owens, H. Alexander, Wm. Boon; -Faunsdale--F. A. E. Beck; Gallion--P. S. L. Hutchins, A. M.; Marion -Junction--A. W. Ragland; Hamburg--Y. R. White; Prairie Bluff--W. H. -Green; Boiling Springs--E. Slone; Kimbrough--A. Gladen; Camden--J. A. -Lawson; Lamison--R. Estridge; Brown’s Station--W. L. Lawson; Pleasant -Hill--J. R. Scott; Perryville--R. Z. Deyampert; Sawyersville--I. J. -Jones; Orrville--G. M. Jones; Post Offices unknown--R. Christian, J. G. -Flood, L. E. Hobson, A. Gladen, W. W. Richardson, R. T. Bowden, E. C. -Borroughs, W. H. Hatcher, G. M. Jones, G. King, and others. This body -has quite a number of pastors from Selma University. - -Too much cannot be said in praise of these brethren for the manner in -which they have stood by the Selma University under all its changes. -And yet we would have been surprised if such a grand set of men as -lead this body should have acted otherwise. Rev. J. Dosier, quite an -old man, reads Greek fairly well. Rev. C. B. Davis is a young man of -much ability and promise. Rev. F. A. E. Beck appreciates the value of -education, is a natural magnet, and draws the people after him. Rev. A. -W. Ragland is loved by all for his brotherly, quiet manners. But space -fails me or I would speak of Revs. Y. R. White, R. Z. Deyampert, J. R. -Scott, and others, who are pillars in this organization. - - -SALEM MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, GREENSBORO. - -The white Baptists had for many years prior to the late war a -prosperous church at this place, with a large membership of white -people and colored people--the slaves of their masters. Just about the -time of the war the larger portion of the white membership moved away, -and from one cause and another, the close of the war found but a few -white members remaining, but a large colored membership. - -The white members, to whom the property belonged, sold the building and -donated $2,000 of the proceeds to the colored members for them to build -a church with. This church is the same church that the white people had -organized more than fifty years ago. - -Rev. H. Stephens was the first pastor of the colored congregation, -after they moved their church site, and was pastor for twenty years. - -Rev. L. J. Green was pastor for about four years, and Rev W. M. -Madison, the present pastor, has been there five years, has built a -nice parsonage and greatly increased the membership. - -There were 300 members (colored) when the church moved to its present -site. They have now a membership of 800. - -This is the mother church of nearly every church in Hale county and -they have a great many large and prosperous churches in the county. The -church property is worth $2,500. - -This is saying good things for the white Baptists of Greensboro. -Deacon Dock Lane, one of the most honorable and consecrated among men, -deserves mention as a pillar in this church. Among the leaders of this -church appears the name of Mr. A. Wimbs. - -Desiring to make honorable mention of this worthy young man, I -requested of him something of his history, and he sends me the -following: - -“I was born in Greensboro, Ala., September 23, 1860. My mother was -named Josephine; she was brought from Washington and sold to Mr. A. -L. Stollenwerck, of this town. My father was named Addison Wimbs -and resided in Washington; he was a slave on account of his mother -being a slave, but his father was a free man, and had bought nearly -all of his children and sent them to Canada. What education I have, -I received at the town school here--Tullibody Academy--under the -management of Prof. W. B. Patterson. I have served my church in the -capacity of superintendent of the Sabbath School and clerk of the -church; was secretary of the Sabbath School Convention of the Uniontown -Association; am a member of the Executive Board of the Convention. I -was at one time editor of a small paper here called the _Voice_. - -“I have been for many years the bookkeeper and general clerk in the law -office of Governor Seay. I was, I am quite confident, the first Negro -in Alabama, if not in the entire South, to operate on the typewriter, -and now I think, I am the first Negro to manage the Edison phonograph -for busi-purposes.” - -I know of no ex-slave and ex-slaveholder, between whom there is more -confidence on one side and high regard on the other, than exist between -Governor Seay and Addison Wimbs. This means for Brother Wimbs quietness -of spirit and solid worth, as well as a conservative, genial soul in -Governor Seay. - - -THE ST. PHILLIP STREET CHURCH, SELMA. - -This church was organized about the year 1845. The church was composed -of the white membership and the church which was composed of the -colored membership, agreed to build together, with the understanding -that the former should occupy the upper story and the latter should -occupy the basement. This agreement was kept until some time after -the close of the war, when the white brethren bought the claims of -the colored church, paying $2,000 for possession of the basement. -Their first colored pastor was the Rev. Samuel Phillips, a man who -had received his liberty as a reward for his services in the Mexican -war. Deacon A. Goldsby told the writer that Bro. Phillips was a very -earnest, worthy man. Nothing is known of the time and place of his -birth, and nothing special is said of his death. - -The Rev. John Blevens, who was born in Madison county, Ala., was the -next pastor, and served from 1866 to 1878. Under his administration -the present property on St. Phillip street was obtained. The Rev. -Mr. Blevens was followed by Rev. G. J. Brooks, who, after a short -pastorate, resigned, and was followed by Rev. W. A. Burch, from -Philadelphia, Pa. Mr. Burch gathered a larger congregation than any -other previous pastor, and did more than any other man in teaching the -people to give for the support of the church. After two years, he was -called to a pastorate in Boston, Mass., and was followed in the Selma -pastorate by the writer, who remained with the church during 1882-87. -Except the addition of about 350 members and the secession of the -Tabernacle Church, nothing transpired that merits mention. The writer -was followed by Rev. S. S. Sisson. At this writing, the Rev. C. J. -Hardy, late of Florida, is their successful leader, under whose strong -administration they have just completed a two-story brick structure on -Sylvan Street. Their property is worth not less than $20,000--finest -colored church edifice in Alabama. - -It is worthy of mention and praise that the Selma University came to -its birth under the fostering care of this church. In the old frame -building on St. Phillip street the sainted Woodsmall began to turn upon -the negro Baptists of Alabama the morning light, the early dawning, of -our denominational school. And this church gave him quarters, fuel and -lights without money and regardless of costs, so that in May, 1878, it -was reported that the school had paid out nothing for these things. -What a good deed is set down to their credit on high! But, in addition -to this, they organized a missionary society, which gave regular -contributions for support of teachers and other workers in the school. - -Deacon A. Goldsby related the following to the writer: “Forty or fifty -years ago we organized a prayer band to pray for our freedom. We met -outside of the little town, under a large oak tree, on every Friday -night. That we might know when a friend came beneath the tree, we -agreed upon a password, which was ‘The hindering cause.’ Each uttered -this softly as he came under the boughs of the tree, and was answered -by any other who had come ahead of him. Then he seated himself in the -bushes to await the hour for united supplications.” - -If in years to come the University should desire a picture of itself -as it made its advent from the world of hope to the world of fact, it -may paint this: A frame structure, the roof of which is supported by a -row of upright posts extending the whole length of the building, which -is seventy-five or eighty feet in length. On the morning for opening, -there enters this building a white man, whose face bears signs of -suffering, but is all aglow with the rays of faith and love. He is the -faculty. Also, there enters a short, fat, brown-skinned young man, with -high, broad forehead. He has heard of the purpose to begin a school on -this day at this place, and, hungering for learning, he has come up to -enter. This teacher and this student usher in our beloved institution. - -It was good for the denomination that our lot was cast among such a -people, and that we had in Bro. Woodsmall a man who did not faint in -“the day of small things.” - -[Illustration: Rev. P. S. L. Hutchins, Pastor Churches at Newberne and -Gallion, Ala.] - - -WILL’S CREEK ASSOCIATION. - -Organized in 1873, and operating in “Will’s Valley” and St. Clair -county, reports the following churches and ministers: - -At Collinsville Post Office--Pleasant Grove Church; Lebanon--Lebanon; -Fort Payne--Fort Payne; Valley Head--Bethlehem; Attalla--Mt. Zion, -Pilgrim, Bethlehem; Keener--New Hope; Beaver Valley--Pleasant Hill; -Ashville--Mt. Zion; Springville--Springville; Whitney--Evergreen; -Guntersville--Bethlehem and Hooper Chapel; Trenton--Trenton; North -Alabama--Clogville. Rev. G. Neeley, Ashville, is moderator; Mr. J. -R. Dean, Ashville, is treasurer; and Prof. P. R. Sibert, Keener, is -secretary. Their pastors are: Revs. N. Kerley, R. Berry, M. Edwards, -of Fort Payne; G. W. Brewton, of Alexandria; H. Massey, J. Griffin, A. -Jackson, and James M. Stevens. They have about 1,500 members. - -Elder A. Kerley and his brother are the chief founders of this body. -They greatly need an infusion of light from without. Rev. James Kerley, -the pastor at Springville, is an ex-student of Talladega College. While -they were in session in Ashville in 1892 the white people gave them the -use of their church, and pastors, mayor of the city, and other leading -people, turned out to encourage them and to financially strengthen -their enterprises. While there, a white minister related to the writer -the following story: “When the late Dr. Renfroe was a young man he was -very poor, though, as later in his life, he was a powerful preacher. -In the height of a glorious revival, the grass in his crop called him -to his field. A colored brother who wanted the meeting to continue, -requested his master to allow him to prolong the meeting. His master -replied: ‘Jim, you can’t read, you can’t preach.’ The slave replied: ‘I -can _plow_ and _kill grass_--can do these _for Brother Renfroe_.’” - - * * * * * - -Gleaning from the associational chapter, we obtain: - -1. The origin and field of each Association. - -2. The names of the pioneers in each section in the State. - -3. The location and something of the history of churches and -communities. - -4. Something of the lines of thought and action prevailing in the -various gospel enterprises of the denomination. - -It was not thought well to try to tell the same things many times over; -hence, some things are given in connection with _one_ Association and -other things in connection with _another_--all aiming at the same -end, namely: THE GIVING OF A TRUE PICTURE OF THE COLORED BAPTISTS OF -ALABAMA. - -[Illustration: Rev. W. T. Bibb, A. B., Pastor Baptist Church, Oxmoor, -Ala.] - - - - -_IV. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES._ - - -Adams, Rev. Stewart, of Greenville, Butler county, was the chief leader -and organizer in that section of the State for the first seventeen -or eighteen years of freedom. He was a pure-blooded Negro, and was -possessed of a fine personal appearance. His forehead was large and -broad, and the sparkle of his eye indicated the presence of mental -power. He could read and write fairly well, and in his speeches always -succeeded in conveying his thoughts to others. He was for some years -missionary in that part of the State under the American Baptist Home -Mission Society of New York, during which time he organized many -churches, which were united to form the Union Baptist Association. -His neatness in dress and caution in the use of words were everywhere -noticeable. It was sometimes thought that he was rather tenacious of -his opinions, but I think all his brethren credited him with honesty of -purpose, and hence he died in the love and respect of the denomination. - - -Allen, Rev. Wallace, of Greenville, was a very pious, hard-working -preacher in the Union Association. The young men delight to honor his -memory. The author has been unable to learn anything of his history or -lineage. - - -Anderson, Rev. N. P., is pastor at Ensley City. - - -Ashby, Rev. Nathan, of Montgomery, was born in Fredericksburg, Va., -August 5, 1810. He knew nothing of his parents, and to the age of 16 -he was under the care and direction of his grandmother. At this point -in his life he was sold, with some horses, to traders, who brought him -to Alabama. He says of this trip: “At first I was not aware that I was -sold, but thought (as I had been told so) that I was only helping the -man to put his horses well into the way. When informed that I was among -the stock sold, I wept bitterly at the thought that I could see my dear -grandmother no more. While in this state of grief, an old cake woman -came on, selling cakes. She, looking into my hand, professed to read as -follows: ‘Don’t cry, for you are born for good luck. The man who will -buy you will be more a brother than a master. Fear God and be obedient, -and you will do well.’ This counsel, no matter whence it came, removed -my fears, and I left off crying.” - -When about 32 years of age he bought his liberty, paying for the same -the sum of $900. His good wife, Mrs. Nancy Ashby, had been freed a few -years before by a Mrs. Tate. Both being of an intellectual, industrious -and economical turn of mind, it was not long before they were well -under way to notoriety and prosperity. Touching her experience in -servitude, Mrs. Ashby tells the following: “When I was 16 years old, -my mistress, in urging me to be pure and faithful, promised that if I -would obey I should serve no one after her. So, when I was 24, she set -me free, giving me a daughter that had been born to me.” - -Bro. Ashby was baptized by Mr. Shrovell in Monroe county, Ala., and -was ordained to the full charge of the gospel ministry just after the -close of the war, by Rev. I. T. Tichenor, D. D., and others. His labors -in the ministry, however, began about the year 1845, from which time -he increased in favor with God and man to the day of his death, in -1887. He led to the organization of the First Colored Baptist Church -(Columbus street) of Montgomery, in which, under his presidency, the -Colored Baptist State Convention was constituted in 1868. The last -seventeen years of his life he was an invalid from paralysis, and four -years of this time he was blind. During this time the writer frequently -visited him, and it would seem that his faith in God was mightier in -the days of his weakness than in the days of his strength. Heavenly -sunshine illumined all the way of the dark valley, even to the day of -his departure. - -Bro. Ashby was a man of naturally fine parts. His sermons and speeches -were characterized by order, thought and doctrine. He was not an -emotionalist nor dreamer; with him Christianity was faith in the gospel -and right-doing. It affords the writer much pleasure to record that -each member of his family not only receives, but also contributes honor -to his valuable life and honored name. - -Mr. Ashby was by trade a carpenter, by which means he was able to earn -fair wages, and was not long in coming into the possession of valuable -real estate. - -In order to show the condition of a free colored man in Alabama prior -to the close of the late civil war, I submit a legal document here, -bearing upon the good man whose name is now before us: - - -A STRAW WHICH SHOWS THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND. - - “The State of Alabama, } - Montgomery County. } - - “Know all men by these presents, That whereas, heretofore, to-wit: on - the 1st day of April, A. D. 1859, Charles T. Pollard sold and conveyed - to Wm. B. Bell, as guardian or trustee for Nathan Ellis (now called - Nathan Ashby), a certain lot in the city of Montgomery, State and - county aforesaid, which is described in the deed of said Pollard as - ‘Lots number three and four in square number fourteen, Scott’s plat, - in the city of Montgomery.’ - - “And, whereas, the said Nathan Ellis (or Ashby), is now capable in law - of holding property in his own name, and desires to hold the title to - said lot and premises in his own name; and the said William B. Bell - also desires to relinquish and give up the duties and responsibilities - devolved on him by the said deed as the trustee or guardian of said - Nathan Ellis (or Ashby); - - “Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises and for the - further consideration of five dollars, to the said Wm. B. Bell in - hand paid by the said Nathan Ellis (or Ashby), at or before the - sealing and delivery of these presents (the receipt whereof is - hereby acknowledged), I, the said Wm. B. Bell, do hereby release, - relinquish, transfer and convey by quit-claim unto the said Nathan - Ellis (or Ashby), and unto his heirs and assigns, all my right, title - and interest both at law and in equity of every kind or description - whatever, in and to the said lot and premises herein above described. - - “In witness whereof, I, the said Wm. B. Bell, have hereunto set my - hand and seal, this ---- day of January, A. D. 1872. - - “Attest: “William B. Bell.” - -“A. R. Bell.” - - - -This manuscript is recorded in “Book 4 of Deeds, page 314,” March 26, -1872. - -NOTE.--Seven years elapsed after freedom was declared before Mr. Ashby -received from his “trustee” the transfer of his property. He had been -free ever since 1842, but his “trustee” must hold and manage both him -and his. - - -Archer, Rev. Maurice M., son of Mr. A. and Mrs. Mary Archer, was born -in Camden, Ala., in 1858. He and his parents were the property (?) of -Mrs. R. J. Adams. He entered the free public schools at an early age, -but did not long remain, because of his father’s death and because of -the demands made upon him as the eldest son in a large family. Mr. -and Mrs. J. S. McBryde, seeing that he was a very capable boy, kindly -aided him in his studies while he was in their employ. Thus he learned -to read and write. At 14 Mr. Archer left Mr. McBryde determined on -securing an education. Advancing by various means, he was soon able to -teach school. In November, 1881, he was baptized into Siloam Church -by Rev. A. Gould, which church he served as clerk and superintendent -of the Sunday School. Feeling a call to the ministry and desiring to -prepare himself for the same, he entered Selma University October, -1883, and passed the session of 1884-5, as he says starting with only -20 cents. By severe sacrifice, by push, pluck and self-reliance, he -pressed onward, till in May, 1887, he graduated at the head of his -class. He was ordained at Opelika, September, 1889, Revs. G. C. Casby, -C. R. Rodgers and others officiating. He has been principal of the -Auburn City School. Mr. Archer is one of our clearest thinkers and most -fluent speakers, and his language is especially good. - - -Barker, Joseph C.--This patient and cool-headed young man was born -December 20, 1863, near Laneville, Hale county, Ala. His parents, -Sherrod and Caroline Barker, are both living and members of the Spring -Street Missionary Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala. They are living -monuments of temperance, patience and obedience. Young Joseph was sent -to school when still quite young. Filled with self, family and race -pride, and feeling grateful toward his parents for their strenuous -efforts to educate himself, his sister and brothers, and desiring -to help them in return, at their consent, he sought employment with -a benevolent merchant, who, after noting his higher qualities, gave -him every advantage and privilege available. After three years of -pleasant and profitable services, he left his beloved employer (Mr. J. -M. Manders), who gave him a final settlement accompanied by a worthy -recommendation and valuable presents. He is widely experienced in -mercantile enterprises. - -He had two years experience on the United States jetty and log boats -under Capt. J. McKee Gould, who gave him such an honorable and -flattering recommendation as would have been more suitable for a pilot -than for a cabin boy. By studying at home and attending summer schools, -he was prepared to enter Selma University in the session of 1884, -remaining two scholastic years. Under President E. M. Brawley, D. D., -he won a prize for map-drawing over forty-eight competitors. He has -taught successfully in the schools of Jefferson and other counties. -Was four years secretary of the Jefferson County Teachers’ Institute. -Re-entered Selma University in 1893, and won the only prize offered -for drawing over twenty or thirty competitors under President Dinkins, -D. D. He is now preparing specimens to exhibit at the Atlanta Cotton -Exposition in September. - -He is employed by the Monarch Book Company, of Chicago, Ill. To know -him, is to know a man possessed of a great soul, affable, and naturally -gifted in making friends. He is a financier, and is rapidly acquiring -means. As an artist and penman, he is a prodigy. In the session of -1884 he was converted to the Christian religion, and was baptized in -the University pool by Rev. E. M. Brawley, D. D., and joined the St. -Phillip Street Baptist Church under Rev. C. O. Boothe, D. D. On removal -to Birmingham in 1886, he united with the Sixteenth Street Baptist -Church, of which Rev. Dr. Pettiford was pastor. - -Last term, he was principal of the Oxmoor public school. He is now -corresponding secretary of the Mt. Pilgrim Sunday School Convention. On -all lines of manhood, Mr. Barker is a genuine success. - - -Barton, Rev. J. P., of Talladega, comes of Virginia parentage, and was -born in Colbert county, Ala., October, 1844. - -In 1871 he united with the Little Zion Baptist Church in said county, -and was baptized by Rev. W. E. Northcross, of Tuscumbia. In 1877 he -entered the work of the gospel ministry in his native section, doing -valuable service within the bounds of the Muscle Shoals Association, -especially in line with the Sunday School work. He has led to the -organization of two Sunday School Conventions and eight churches, and -built five houses of worship. His speeches before our State Convention -have been largely conducive of the sentiment and system which have -given birth to our women’s work and State mission operations. He has -held official positions in connection with our State Convention and -University, and is now chairman of the Board of Visitors of the Colored -Deaf and Dumb Asylum of Alabama. He is easy in society and pleasing in -address. He carries the youth and the masses, and so uses everything at -his command as to impress one that he is an excellent general as well -as a successful pastor. He is full of movement and plan, and is quick -of discernment and clear in expression. He is a lover of science. He -obtained his education in the Talladega College. Mr. Barton says that -he owes much to his wife, whom the writer would honor as one of our -noble women. Mr. Barton is still full of life and growth. - -Our general work has always found in Brother Barton a ready and -generous helper. He deserves credit for his industry and enterprise--in -material as well as in church affairs. He relates the following: “In -the winter of 1876-77 I chanced for the first time to meet the late -Harry Woodsmall in one of his Ministers’ Institutes. He remarked: ‘On -to-morrow we will discuss the subject of sanctification; and here is -a little book worth only 15 cents which will be of service to you.’ I -said to myself: ‘What is _sanctification_?’ I never heard of such a -thing before. I bought the book from Brother Woodsmall, and, coming -upon my subject, I read till late at night, in order that I might be in -line with things next day. When the hour came I was up on the subject -of sanctification, much to the pleasure of the teacher.” - -Mr. Barton is ever ready to contend for his views, but is remarkably -free from bitterness in discussion, is hardly ever wrong in his opinion -on things, and is a remarkably winning preacher with the masses. Mr. -Barton is now president of our State Convention. - - -Bacotes, Rev. Mr.--As the Cyclopedia goes to press the Rev. Mr. Bacotes -comes to the charge of the Marion Academy and Marion Church. The writer -wishes he knew something of the history of one so much favored and so -highly recommended as Mr. Bacotes is. He has important trusts in hand. - - -Battle, Rev. Augustus A., of Hurtsboro, Russell county, the son of -Deacon A. A. and Mrs. Jennie Battle, was born in Tuskegee, July 4, -1860. As his parents were pious people, he was very early the subject -of religious impressions, which in 1881 culminated in a public -profession of faith in Christ. On the third Sunday in August he was -baptized by the Rev. Richard Lloyd, of Georgia. In the year 1879, -aspiring for a liberal education, he entered the Talladega College, in -which he graduated from the normal and the theological courses. - -He is a young man of high moral tone, and his agreeable manners have -won for him many friends. At present he is pastor at Sylacauga, and -teacher of the city school in Talladega. - -P. S.--Since the above was written, our good Bro. Battle has been -called to the Mt. Zion Church in Anniston, and under his industrious -and wise leadership his people have constructed a two-story brick -edifice. To do what he has done in these hard times, in the way of -raising and expending money, is to prove himself a man of no ordinary -parts. The writer has enjoyed the hospitality of his quiet Christian -home, where he has learned that the young minister has found helpful -companionship in the person of a modest, intelligent wife. - - -Batts, Rev. J. H., of Florence, is an aspiring young man, and is very -active in the enterprises of the Muscle Shoals Association and Sunday -School Convention. Evidently, he has not enjoyed early access to books -and schools, but his thoughts are orderly and clear, and he does not -hesitate to give expression to his views. - - -Beavers, Rev. Jasper, was born May 9, 1825, in St. Clair county, Ala. -His father and mother were slaves, and of course, he inherited their -lot. He now lives at Easonville, in the county in which he was born, -and is still a useful, as well as a very pious man. In 1851, he was -baptized by the Rev. Jesse Collins (white), and in 1868 was ordained to -the work of the gospel ministry by Revs. Henry Wood, J. Collins and T. -Bush. - -He was the first moderator of the Rushing Springs Association. In -spite of the laws of the master forbidding such things, he, in slavery -time, learned to read and write. By his industry and economy he has -obtained real estate worth about $2,000. Brother Beavers is a man of -fine personal appearance, is modest, genial, industrious, honest, firm. -In the early days of our work, there was no more efficient man in St. -Clair County than he. A large family of children are the support of his -old age. - -Since the above was penned, Brother Beavers has passed to the world -that lies beyond. He was the most self-possessed and of the most -commanding figure of any man in the Rushing Springs Association, -though no man among them was more modest and humble. - - -Belle, Rev. John, of Courtland, was born in the State of Georgia -and came to Alabama after the close of the war. He says: “In Stuart -county, Ga., in the first part of 1861, I followed the white preacher -to his different preaching stations, and he would preach to the white -people in the morning and I would speak to the colored people in -the evening. I could not say anything about Moses and the children of -Israel. - -“I went on preaching without any trouble for some little time, till at -last, as I could read a little, it was decided that I should be hung. -As I was ready for execution, and as I was praying God for help, a -dispute arose between the white people which resulted in my release. I -again went on, till on one occasion when I had displeased my mistress -with reference to some garden work, and when, as she started to strike -me with the rake, and I fled, she reported to her husband that I had -tried to kill her and that she only saved her life by running into -the house out of my reach. Of course, it was decided at once that I -ought to and should die. On the night before I was to be executed, the -lady became very ill and owned that she was only angry with me for -getting out of her way, and that I had done nothing. She died that -night. However, her dying words had set me free and so I returned to -my work for God, feeling that I could not die till my work should be -accomplished.” - -Brother Belle has labored in different States, but his principal labors -have been in Northern Alabama, where he has been one of the chief -organizers of our work in this section, beginning his operations here -in 1868. - -It appears that Brother Belle was ordained in Helena, Ark., sometime -in 1867, the late Rev. J. T. White, who was then pastor of the First -Colored Baptist Church, being one of the officiating presbytery. - -He is still a strong man. For several years past he has been pastor -at Iuka, Miss., and of the Red Bank Church in Lawrence county. His -pleasant manners have always made him an agreeable companion to his -brethren. - -[Illustration: Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala.] - - -Belser, Rev. S. L., pastor of the First Church, Bessemer, deserves the -respect and love of the denomination for his beautiful brotherly spirit -and unassuming manners. - - -Berry, Rev. G. W.--Although this good man is no longer among us, his -name is still fragrant with his exalted faith and pious life. Like his -stay on earth, his stay in Alabama was short, but useful and endearing. -He was the son of Pickens and Mary Berry, and was born in Edgefield -county, S. C., in 1859. Having studied some time in the Benedict -Institute in that State, he, after doing some effective work in that -State, came to Alabama to take the pastoral oversight of the church -in Eufaula. Here it was that after a short illness he exchanged the -cross for the crown, singing as his soul retired from the earth, “My -Lord calls me and I must go.” To know him was to love him, for his -gentleness of spirit was beautiful to look upon. - - -Betts, Rev. J. W., of Huntsville, Ala., son of John and Edith Betts, -was born June 4, 1851, near Courtland, in Lawrence county, Ala. In the -fall of 1873 he was baptized into the Courtland Church by the Rev. -Gabriel B. Johnson. Brother Betts is among the younger men of the -Muscle Shoals Association. He is a clear thinker and a lover of books. -He is a business man, industrious and economical, and does not live of -the donations of his people, but the labors of his own hands. His style -is rather didactic for the masses, but it is plain and his doctrine is -in line with the teachings of the “Good Book.” - - -Berry, Prof. J. S., son of Jack and Clara Berry, of Uniontown, is one -among the most proficient Sunday School workers in Alabama. He is -president of the Sunday School Convention of the Uniontown Association. -His happy, unselfish spirit fills all his work with pleasantness and -sunshine. He is now about 35 years of age. - - -Blevins, Rev. John, long the leading man and pioneer of Dallas county, -the first pastor of the St. Phillip Street Church after the close of -the war, was for his opportunities and times a very strong man in -the work of organization. May it ever be told of him that he led his -people--his church, to become the foster mother of Selma University in -the time of its infancy and weakness. This fact is one of the brightest -spots upon his memory, and should never be forgotten. - -The buildings in which the St. Phillip Street and the Green Street -Churches now worship were built by Mr. Blevins. He died eight or ten -years ago at the age of 65. - - -Bibb, Rev. Wm. T., son of Linzy and Caroline Bibb, was born in -Montgomery, Ala., in 1853. Brother Bibb is one of the most worthy of -our rising young men. He is not noted for brilliancy, but for constant -application in the race for knowledge, for pushing things to a finish -in search for truth, for the purest life and loftiest piety, he is -hardly to be excelled. Already he has been entrusted with various -pastorates, including one at Marion and another near Birmingham. I -had the best opportunity to learn him while I was pastor at Selma. -Here he was superintendent of my Sunday School and aided me in my ward -prayer-meetings. He completed two courses at the Selma University, -graduating with the title of A. B., and with the highest confidence -of all the faculty. In looking upon his open countenance one -instinctively feels the impress of an honest, earnest man--a man free -from hypocrisy and guile. - - -Bradford, Rev. William C., pastor of the First Colored Baptist Church, -Union Springs, son of Henry and Elizabeth Bradford, was born in -Montgomery, Ala., in 1862. His early years were spent in the Swayne -school in said city, in which he succeeded in laying the foundation -of a liberal English education. In his eighteenth year, and two years -after his father’s death, he was baptized into the fellowship of the -Columbus Street Baptist Church, Montgomery, by the late Rev. James A. -Foster. Feeling a call to the work of the gospel ministry, he, with -a view to fitting himself for this solemn charge, entered Atlanta -Theological Seminary. In school as well as out among his brethren, he -has managed to occupy a place with those who formed the van. - -In the person of his good wife, once Miss M. H. Allen, of Georgia -(daughter of Rev. T. M. Allen, ex-member of the Georgia Legislature), -whom he wedded in 1884, he has found happy and efficient help in his -studies as well as in his calling. For a while Mr. Bradford followed -the tailor’s trade, but at the call of the Gilfield Church in Wetumpka, -the Dexter Avenue Church, Montgomery, in 1886 set him apart to the -work of the gospel ministry. At Wetumpka he built a church edifice -worth about $700. While pastor at Clayton he led to the erection of a -building worth $1,000, and just now is rejoicing with the good people -of Union Springs on his entrance into the new brick structure which was -dedicated on the second Sunday in October, 1892. He was principal of -the city school while in Clayton, and now holds several positions of -honor and trust. Mr. Bradford is one of the strongest and is among the -most successful young men in Alabama. His affable manner commends him -to all. He is now at Tuscaloosa. - - -Brooks, Rev. G. J., of Selma, Ala., son of Joseph and Nancy Brooks, -was born in 1830 near Richmond, Va., in which city he lived till his -eighteenth year, when he was carried to New Orleans, La., and from -thence to Texas. 1849 was spent in St. Louis, Mo., and in 1850 he was -brought to Huntsville, Ala. In this same year he was baptized into the -Primitive Baptist Church of Huntsville by Rev. Wm. Harris (colored).[1] -Of this period of his life Mr. Brooks says: “By the will of a Mr. -Kenedy I was left free, but as the administrator of the will, a Mr. -Clark, refused to execute this point in the will, I remained a slave.” -In 1867 he united with the Marion Church, under the pastorate of the -Rev. James Childs. Near this town he taught school, till in 1872 he -went to Kentucky, where, in 1873, he was ordained to the work of the -ministry. After serving various offices in the work in Kentucky, he -came to Selma in 1875, where, after a few years, he became pastor of -the St. Philip Street Church. By the assistance of the white family he -learned to read at the age of 14. In Marion he extended his studies -under Prof. Card, and under Presidents Woodsmall, McAlpine and Brawley -he further prosecuted his studies in the Selma University. Brother -Brooks has held various offices of trust under the State Convention and -the Uniontown Association. His health is now rather below his usual -strength, but his love for the Master’s cause seems nothing abated. His -wife, Mrs. Anna, is among the leading women of Alabama. - -[1] It appears that this denomination, Primitive Baptists, had some one -or two ordained colored ministers. - - -Brown, Rev. Lewis, of Epes, Sumter county, was born near St. Louis, -Mo., March 23, 1835, and came to Alabama in his tenth year. He united -with the church in 1863, and was baptized by a Mr. Edmonds into the -fellowship of the Jones’ Creek Church, by which church he was called to -ordination in the fall of 1868. The chief persons in the presbytery -were Revs. Abner Scarber (white) and Mr. Wright. Mr. Brown’s main -pastoral charges have been Jones’ Creek, nine years; Sumterville, -thirteen years; New Bethel, thirteen years; and Mount Olive, four -years. He has long been moderator of the Bethlehem Association, and -is known and recognized as a firm and tried friend of education and -missions; and his children give evidence of pure and wise aspirations. - -Mr. Brown was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, a slave girl on the same -plantation with himself, in 1852. Seven sons and one daughter are the -fruit of the marriage. He is a very industrious and economical man, -and has possession of valuable property, worth $15,000. Seven or eight -hundred acres of his farm once formed part of the plantation on which -he (with 500 others) worked as a slave till 1865. He says that his -master, Mr. Brown, was a Christian, and that after the close of the war -this plantation gave to this county most of its religious leaders. - - -Burwell, L. L., M. D., the son of Charles and Amanda Burwell, was born -in Marengo county, Ala., October 25, 1867. At the age of seven years he -was given to his brother, Charles A. Burwell, of whom the Doctor says: -“To him my success is largely due.” For quite a while he lived with -this brother on a farm in Perry county. He attended the county schools -till he entered Selma University in the winter of 1883-84. His love for -books and his quickness of apprehension were early manifestations of -native talent which, if properly cultivated, would unfold to his own -honor and to the profit of his people. Each vacation found him upon the -farm, earning money with which to re-enter school. During his entire -course at Selma University his mother was able to spend upon him but -$30. In 1886, he graduated from the above named school with the honors -of valedictorian, and in the fall of the same year he entered Leonard -Medical College, Raleigh, N. C., to take a course in medicine. The -course extended through four years, but he completed it and received -his diploma at the close of the third year, again receiving the honors -of valedictorian of his class. In 1889, he passed an examination before -the State Board of Medical Examiners of Alabama, and began the practice -of medicine in the city of Selma, where he now resides amidst many -friends, a paying practice, and a successful drug business. Commencing -without a dollar, he has saved from his income about $4,000. In school -he was called artist, orator, scholar. He says: “As a doctor I have for -my motto: _Crurare Cito_.” - - -Brown, Rev. R. E., of Selma, the pushing, energetic leader of several -associations, deserves honorable mention as a man of pluck and push--a -man of courage and observation. - - -Bynum, Rev. Henry, of Leighton, Ala., was born in Baltimore, Md., -January, 1820. In 1851, in Colbert county, Ala., he was led to -exercise faith in Christ by the humble conversation and pious life of -a fellow-slave by the name of Isaac. As his master did not believe in -the Bible and its Christianity, his baptism was delayed till 1854. In -1867 he was set apart to the office of the gospel ministry by two white -ministers, one of whom was Dr. Joseph Shackelford, of Trinity, Ala. He -and Rev. Steven Coleman were the first ordained colored preachers in -northern Alabama. He was married the first time in 1857, but his family -were soon taken from him and he has never seen them since. His present -wife is a most excellent lady, and affords him that help which only a -good woman can bestow. He has good property, and he and his wife keep -one of the most hospitable homes in northern Alabama. Bro. Bynum was -the first colored minister in this section to administer the rite of -baptism. He is now awaiting his change with triumphant hope, and still -enjoys fair health. - - -Caddell, Rev. Perry, pastor in Shelby, Ala., son of Edmond and Edie -Caddell, was born September 9, 1859, in Centreville, Bibb county, Ala. -He was baptized into the Bethel Baptist Church, Calera, by Rev. John -Trainholm, in February, 1873, and was set apart to the work of the -gospel ministry, December, 1877, by Revs. Henry Wood and Mack Jackson. -He learned his letters at the age of 12 years, and, though he has never -had any help from teachers except such as he could get at night school, -he has been a steadily growing man till the present time. He feels that -he owes his beginning in letters to his mistress (Mrs. Caddell), who, -after the close of the war, taught him to read, and to write his name. -Of his father he says: “He was, no doubt, a believer; but in slavery -time he refused to unite with the church for the reason that he felt -that master and slave all the week could not be brothers on Sunday. And -after the close of the war, he would not join for the reason that there -was no colored Baptist church near his home.” - -Bro. Caddell is an exemplary man in his family. I have found no family -where the mother and children study the Word of God with more system -and regularity. He has a ready command of language, both in speech and -with pen, and is sociable and genial everywhere. - - -Capers, Rev. J. R., of Elyton (since gone to Oklahoma), was born in -Camden, S. C., April 22, 1828. In 1845 he was baptized into the Marion -Baptist Church (white) by the Rev. Mr. Devotie, and in 1869 he was -solemnly set apart to the sacred office of the gospel ministry by Revs. -Henry Wood, of Talladega, and Arthur Hall, of Jonesboro. He, with Revs. -W. H. McAlpine, Berry Ware, Jasper Beavers, and others, organized -the Mt. Pilgrim Association, in Mt. Pilgrim Church, in 1868. Of this -association he was the moderator for eleven years. Bro. Capers is known -among his brethren and neighbors as an intelligent, industrious, -thoughtful, faithful, Christian man and earnest gospel preacher. He -is a successful carpenter, and by industry, skill and economy has -attained to the possession of a good deal of choice property. No doubt -he owes much to his good wife, whom he married in 1850, and by whom he -has a large family of thrifty children. Bro. Capers was an organizer -in the Jefferson county work, and has left the impress of his decided -character upon the workers of this section. He is now in Oklahoma -Territory. - - -Chapman, Rev. F. A., of Flint, Morgan county, Ala., was born in the -county and State in which he now lives, November 12, 1843. In 1861 he -was baptized into the Sand Hill Church by Rev. M. A. Verser, and in -April, 1868, he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by a -presbytery which was presided over by the brother who about eight years -before had administered the rite of baptism. - -Mr. Chapman is one of the most sober, quiet, pious, earnest, -hard-working preachers in the valley of the Tennessee river. He aided -in the organization of the Muscle Shoals and Flint River Associations. -Most of his time has been spent in mission and pioneer operations. In -1868 he was wedded to Miss Alabama Garth, by whom he has a large family -of interesting children. Their home is a retreat for weary preachers -and a Christian example in their community. - -In a speech which he made before our last State Convention, he -said: “The brethren ordained me in 1868, not because of my fitness for -the work, but in recognition of a necessity. There was need for a Negro -to baptize Negro believers, and I was chosen as an answer to this want -without any examination.” - - -Chandler, Rev. F. C., is pastor of Walnut Street Church, Rosedale, and -bears a good name. - -[Illustration: Rev. S. L. Belser, Pastor Red Mountain Baptist Church, -Bessemer, Ala.] - - -Clark, Rev. Henry, of Opelika, son of David and Patience Clark, both of -Virginia birth, is one of the fathers of the work in Lee county. - -Brother Clark was baptized at Auburn, Ala., by Rev. H. C. Toliver, of -Tuskegee, in 1860. He was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry -June 27, 1868, by Revs. W. E. Lloyd, D. D., and Thomas Glenn, since -which time he has been busy going about and doing good. He has been a -harmless, industrious, pioneer preacher, laying foundations upon which -others have builded. He is a tried and faithful friend of missions and -education. The writer has always felt that his every pledge was worth -every cent it promised. Notwithstanding he has had no educational -advantages, still he has, by study of books and by association with men -of letters, obtained no inconsiderable store of knowledge. - -The churches of Lee county and the Alabama Association owe much to the -faithful, efficient labors of Brother Clark. His loving heart ever -adorns his face with the smiles of peace and good will. Truly, he is a -harmless man, ever ready to do a brotherly deed. - - -Colley, Rev. Moses, of Talladega, son of Rev. Boney Sawyer, who -was a preacher over fifty years ago, is about 55 years of age. He -has never had any school advantages, but has attained to a fair -knowledge of books. He is a remarkably clear headed man, dignified and -self-possessed. Mr. Colley is a hard working, successful farmer, and -by this calling, he has obtained a comfortable support for himself and -family. He was baptized by Dr. Renfroe in 1856, and was ordained to the -ministry in 1872. He held several important pastorates in Talladega, -and was once moderator of Rushing Springs Association. He is guarded -in speech, but his manners are always affable. No act of folly or -crime mars his good name. For many years he has held the pastorate at -Mardisville, where he is esteemed no less for his piety than for his -sound doctrine. - - -Collins, Rev. Asa Cyrus, of Hazen, Ala., was born November 1, 1861, in -Dallas county of this State. Lost both parents at the age of 8 years. -Was baptized by Rev. A. Waller in his sixteenth year, and soon began -preaching. In September, 1881, he was officially set apart to the work -of the gospel ministry. Mr. Collins has been pastor at various points, -and is held in high esteem by his brethren. For several years he has -been moderator of the Dallas County Association, over which he presides -with credit to himself and with pleasure to the body. Brother Collins -is still a rising young man. - - -Curry, Rev. J. C., of Mount Meigs, Montgomery county, the son of Rev. -Philip and Venus Curry, was born in Marion, Ala., October 17, 1852. -He was baptized at Felix, Ala., by Rev. D. R. Willis in 1873. On the -occasion of his call to the pastorate of the Friendship Church, Shelby, -Ala., he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry by Revs. P. -Caddell, M. Jackson, and Henry Scott. Mr. Curry is liberally educated, -having been among the first students of Selma University. He is a -close, clear thinker, a forcible speaker and a good preacher. He has -been pastor at Shelby, pastor of the Dexter Avenue Church, Montgomery, -and is now pastor at Mt. Meigs and Tuskegee. - -At different times he has been engaged in the newspaper business; -and I am informed that he is now assisting Prof. B. T. Washington -in collecting certain statistics for the Tuskegee school. Mr. Curry -is a man of rare energy and will force, and being endowed with good -intellectual gifts there is no reason why he may not become one among -the strongest men of the State. - - -Curtis, Hon. A. H., of Marion, Ala., was born in Raleigh, N. C., -December 29, 1829. He came to Alabama in 1839 with the Haywood family. -He was the property (?) of E. Haywood, and served as a waiting boy in -the store of Stockton & Hunt for many years. He moved to Marion in -1848 and was the body servant of R. T. Goree for two years. After this -he was barber for some years. Succeeding by industry and economy in -obtaining some cash, he, in 1859, paid Mrs. E. Haywood $2,000 for his -freedom, and during the same year went to New York and was emancipated. -After the war he engaged in mercantile pursuits and the barber -business. In 1870 he was elected to the lower house of the General -Assembly of Alabama, and in 1872 he was elected State Senator from the -Twenty-second senatorial district. No other colored man ever presided -over the Senate of Alabama. He was connected with the legislature -of the State for eight years, and not only enjoyed the respect of -his fellow legislators of all parties but closed his service in this -connection with growing confidence in his integrity. He was baptized -in 1851. In 1850 his marriage occurred. His wife was a suitable helper -for him and is still alive enjoying the honors and success which -justly crown their offspring. The Curtis brothers and sisters are a -praise to their parents. The senator was a strong man in society, in -church, in State. He died near Marion, July 20, 1878, as the result of -a bruise from a fall from his buggy. Three of his sons are successful -physicians; two are north; Dr. A. J. Curtis is in Montgomery. - - -Davis, Rev. Philip, late of Talladega, was born in 1813, in the State -of Virginia, near the North Carolina line. He was baptized in 1841, -and about the year 1843 he began to speak to his neighbors of the -doctrines and hope of the gospel. Early in life he married, and became -the father of a large family. After he was brought to Calhoun county, -Ala., he continued his labors in the ministry of the gospel, as he had -opportunity, constantly increasing in favor with both God and man; and -this was true of him to the day of his death, which occurred December -30, 1881. I first met this pious man in December, 1875, in Talladega. -He was not a learned man, but he knew the holy scriptures, and was -wise in the things of salvation. The more he was known the better he -was loved; and his unassuming, gentle, chastened, self-forgetting -spirit, as exhibited at home and abroad, was simply charming. As I have -looked upon this unmixed, full-blooded representative of the Negro -race, arrayed in the beauty of the Christian spirit, I have felt proud -of him as a witness for my people. He was not fully installed in the -ministry until the close of the war. The late Dr. J. J. D. Renfroe was -the leading man in the presbytery who officially set him apart to the -sacred office. His last words were: “Like one of old, I have finished -my course and am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure -is come.” He left a pleasant home for his family. - - -Davis, Rev. C. M., of Flint, Morgan county, was born in the State of -Tennessee. He was led to faith in Christ and was baptized by the Rev. -F. A. Chapman. He says that his early life was rather wild, but when -his eyes were opened he turned with all his heart. In 1885, in May, -he was set apart to the ministry by Revs. F. A. Chapman and C. C. -Matthews. Mr. Davis is one among the most promising young men in the -Flint River Association. He is a discerning, aspiring man, who believes -in studying to know the truth, so that he may not have reason to feel -ashamed of his teaching, nor spend his time and energies without -producing effects. The writer had special opportunity to know him at -the State school, where the former was teacher and the latter was -student. He is clear-headed, kind and conscientious. - - -Dawson, Rev. Iverson, of Eutaw, is a man rich in natural endowments, -both of body and mind. Upon no man in Alabama has nature been -more profuse in the bestowment of choice gifts. He is tall, well -proportioned, kind hearted, genial, sociable, magnetic, clear-headed -and ever sanguine. He is, no doubt, the strongest man in the Bethlehem -Association, of which body he has been clerk for many years; and in -every section of the State, and in every phase of business, he is -recognized as a man of power and character. As a public speaker, he is -both pleasing and instructive. - -The vote, which in 1887 retained our university at Selma, was largely -owing to his influence and labors. - -Mr. Dawson has a pleasant home and an interesting family in the town of -Eutaw, where he now serves as pastor. His home is placed on the roll of -asylums for tired missionaries. He is a brave, fearless opponent and a -true and trusty friend. At this time, he is editing a paper in his town -in the interest of the republican party. The writer sincerely wishes -that every motion of his strong manhood might be laid wholly upon the -church’s altar, and that he could consent to leave the running of -political papers to others. - - -Dinkins, Charles Spencer, D. D., general Sunday School missionary -of Alabama for the American Baptist Publication Society, was born -September 15, 1856, near Canton, Miss. Mr. Dinkins never knew his -father, and his mother, Mrs. Sarah Dinkins, died when he was only 13 -years of age. One year prior to her death, he was led to faith in the -salvation of God as presented in the gospel, under the preaching of -Rev. Jordan Williams, by whom he was baptized into the fellowship of -the Mount Zion Church, Canton, in the fall of 1868. For such a boy, -at such a time, to make the favorable acquaintance of such a man as -Mr. Williams, was a peculiar providence. As in the cases of Saul and -Ananias, and Philip and the eunuch, God brought the parties together. - -Mr. Williams, perceiving the superior talents of the youth, privately -inquired of him whether or not he desired to educate himself, and when -the affirmative reply was obtained, he at once influenced his church to -provide the means. - -On Friday night, January 28, 1870, Mr. Dinkins took the cars for -Nashville, Tenn., arriving at that point on Sunday morning. That day -he met the good Dr. Phillips, who cordially accepted him at once, and -remained his admiring friend to the close of his (Dr. Phillips’) long -and useful life. - -In referring to his early life, Mr. Dinkins says: “When I was 9 -years old, my mother bought me a blue back speller and taught me the -alphabet, which I learned in one night. My first teachers were Mrs. -and Miss Highgate, of Philadelphia, and Hon. J. J. Spellman, now of -Jackson, Miss. Before leaving the old plantation, I saw something of -the horrors of slavery, which I can never forget.” - -At the age of 16 he began teaching, which work he pursued during -summer, returning to Nashville to continue his studies in the fall and -winter. He graduated from the classical course of the Roger Williams -University, Nashville, in the spring of 1877, as valedictorian of his -class, among whom were Messrs. N. H. Ensley and H. M. G. Spenser. In -1878 he returned to take a post-graduate course and was appointed a -member of the faculty. In the latter part of this same year he entered -Newton Theological Seminary, near Boston, Mass., where, during the time -of a full course, from which he graduated in 1881, he was associated -with some of the most prominent educators of the country. In this -course he took theology, church history, Hebrew, Greek, homiletics, -etc. How Mr. Dinkins was seen by this institution, the following story -may be allowed to signify: - -Just before the death of Dr. Phillips, the writer met him in Nashville. - -_Dr. Phillips_--How is Brother Dinkins? - -_The Writer_--He is well and _doing_ well. - -_Dr. P._--He is a very capable and worthy person. Dr. Hovey, the -president of Newton, said to me on one occasion when I asked after some -students who had gone from us to him, “Mr. ---- is very _sensitive_, but -Mr. Dinkins is very _sensible_.” - -Dr. Dinkins has held various prominent positions, among which may be -mentioned: Member of the faculty of the State University of Kentucky; -pastor York Street Church, Louisville, Ky.; teacher of languages in -Selma University; pastor Second Baptist Church of Marion, Ala.; and -principal of the Marion Baptist Academy; and has been tendered the -presidency of the University of Kentucky, and many times he has been -earnestly solicited to return to the faculty of Selma University. His -examination for ordination before the ministers of Louisville, Ky., -in 1883, was an occasion of much comment by both white and colored -pastors, in praise of his ability. The writer has had occasion to watch -him very closely since his entrance upon work in Alabama, and he does -not hesitate to write that Charles S. Dinkins, in point of scholarship, -industry and high sense of honor, is not excelled by any man we have -had among us. In 1890 the State University of Louisville, Ky., then -under the presidency of the late Dr. W. J. Simmons, conferred on him -the title of D. D. On the day which closed his twenty-fifth year, the -15th day of September, 1881, he was wedded to Miss Pauline E. Fears, -the friend and classmate of Miss M. A. Roach (now Mrs. M. A. Boothe), -by his fatherly instructor and faithful friend, Dr. D. W. Phillips. -The marriage took place in the Roger Williams University, Nashville, -Tenn., a school of which they are both graduates. Perhaps some future -historian will write of Mr. Dinkins: “An eventful life, not the least -eventful point in which is the finding and wedding of a woman so well -suited to a man of such rare gifts.” - -Five children--two boys and three girls--grace their home as the fruit -of the marriage. - -Closing this sketch, the writer would remark that if Mr. Dinkins -has a fault, it may be described thus: _An exceeding tenderness of -conscience_, whereby one may be so entirely possessed by present views -of law and duty as to forget that new light and other views may modify -appearances. - -P. S.--He is now the trusted president of Selma University, and none -of his predecessors have made, in the same length of time, a better -mark than he has made. His personality moves in lofty purposes and -is a source of pure thoughts and pious emotions which affect all his -surroundings. - -[Illustration: Dr. U. G. Mason, Physician and Surgeon, Birmingham, -Ala.] - - -Dosier, Rev. John, the founder and for twenty years pastor of the -church in Uniontown, was a man of great moral worth. I once heard a -politician who was associated with him in the legislature of Alabama, -remark: - -“John Dosier was an honorable man _everywhere_, and I never saw a man -who did not believe _every word he said_.” - -He, like Mr. A. H. Curtis, passed through his political preferments -with stainless reputation. - -He was a very old man at the time of his death, which occurred only a -few years ago. He was born somewhere near the beginning of the present -century. By some means he, during the days of his bondage, learned -to read Greek, which knowledge he turned to good results upon his -study and interpretation of the Scriptures. He was one of Alabama’s -most worthy pioneers. He was a temperance man. Upon one occasion in -a session of the Uniontown Association, some one complained that he -smelled a very disagreeable whiskey odor in the house. - -Mr. Dosier remarked: “With the consent of the body I will find the man -who has been drinking.” It was agreed that he might make the search. -Accordingly, he passed from man to man, requesting that he might smell -his breath. He located the man, who, for lying about it, was excluded -from the body. - -The writer never met a man for whose veracity he had a higher regard. - - -Donald, Rev. R., of Birmingham, was born in Alabama June 10, 1854. He -is the founder of the Tabernacle Church, Birmingham, and the builder of -the First Church, Pratt Mines. He has worked hard and sacrificed much -for the cause. His name will remain in many churches. He owes much to -his noble, patient wife. - - -Edwards, Rev. A. J., of Lowndes county, is a teacher as well as a -preacher, and in different sections of the State he has labored with -good results in the interest of morality, education and religion. Mr. -Edwards is blessed with much body as well as with much soul. Good -health and jovial spirits abound, and hence he is ever an enjoyable -companion. He is still a young man, full of manly pride, commendable -ambition, and a love for the pure and charitable, in view of which we -may hope that his day is only in its dawning, and that a brighter noon -and evening are before him. - - -Ellis, Rev. Henry, of Flint, Morgan county, son of William and Martha -Ellis, was born in May, 1856. He was baptized in 1871, and in 1875 he -was ordained to the ministry by Revs. Charles Davis and M. J. Hooks. -He is now pastor of St. Peter’s Church, which is composed of some of -Morgan county’s best citizens. He deserves special praise for his -attention to his Sunday School. Mr. Ellis also preaches to a church -near Courtland. This brother is a warm friend to missionaries and -delights to aid good causes. - - -Fisher, Rev. C. L., B. D., son of Alexander and Elizabeth Fisher, -was born in St. Bernard parish, twenty miles below New Orleans, La., -February 16, 1866. - -On the first Sunday in February, 1875, he was baptized into the -Broadway Street Baptist Church, New Orleans, La. - -_Ordained_--He was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by the -Second Baptist Church in Evanston, Ill., September 29, 1887, where he -was student-pastor. - -_Educated_--He graduated from the college department of Leland -University, New Orleans, La., May 28, 1884, with the degree of B. A., -and graduated from the Baptist Union Theological Seminary, Morgan -Park, Ill., May 5, 1887, with the degree of B. D. On May 27, 1891, he -received from Leland University the degree of Master of Arts. - -_Positions_--In 1888 pastor of Mt. Zion Church, Little Rock, Ark. In -1889-92 he is teacher of languages and instructor of ministers in Selma -University, Selma, Ala. For the last two years of this time he is -pastor of the Tabernacle Church of the city of Selma. In the office of -State Sunday School Missionary, under the American Baptist Publication -Society of Philadelphia, he has for several years rendered very -profitable service for the Baptists of Alabama as well as Mississippi. -He has recently been recalled to the pastorate of the Tabernacle -Church, Selma. - -Than is Charles Lewis Fisher, Alabama Baptists have no more thorough -scholar, profound logician and industrious pastor. His physical form -is a little frail. Should this not hinder length of days, early future -years must present him to the world as one of our greatest theologians -and metaphysicians. He is not less modest than he is learned, not less -benevolent and respectful than he is self-reliant and dignified. - - -Fykes, Rev. A. J., of Pratt City, is the much beloved pastor of the -Canaan Church, Bessemer. - - -Fluker, Rev. Solomon, of Sylacauga, Talladega county, was born in -March, 1833; was baptized in 1866 by a Rev. Mr. Smith (white), of -Talladega. He soon began to preach, and ere long he had become a -leading minister in his section of the country. For nine years he was -pastor of the church in his town. He is a very meek, unassuming man, -careful for the welfare of his family, and hospitable towards his -brethren. Of late he has been a great but patient sufferer, and hence -has been compelled to cease from active labors in the ministry. We owe -much of our success in this section of the State to the industry and -exemplary character of this faithful man. He has left the cross for the -crown. - - -Foster, Rev. L. P., of Selma, was baptized by Rev. Jerry Shorter in -Eufaula in 1876. Mr. Foster, some time after his marriage and mature -manhood, moved to Selma and graduated from the normal course of Selma -University. He is a stirring, industrious, self-reliant man, who -purposes to make his own way in the world without striding the back of -any other man. He has occupied different pastorates and has served as -missionary of the Eufaula Association. He has a comfortable home--free -of debt--and lends a helping hand to missionary and educational -enterprises. - - -Foster, Rev. James A., late of Montgomery, was born in the State of -Kentucky, in which he grew to young manhood. He died in the city of -Montgomery in December of 1891--died as he had lived, in love and -honor with men and in peace with God. Twenty-five of his fifty-four -years had been spent in the gospel ministry, from the sacred offices -of which he retired in great joy. He was ordained to the work of the -gospel ministry by Revs. I. T. Tichenor, D. D., Nathan Ashby and -Jacob Bellser, in the city of Montgomery, in the year 1867. His first -pastoral charge was the church at Mt. Meigs, which he served till he -resigned to accept the call of the Columbus Street Church in 1871. He -was the first recording secretary of the State Convention, and was the -next man to Mr. Ashby to preside over the Convention as president. He -was trustee of the State Normal and Swayne Schools, and moderator of -the Spring Hill Association. - -Mr. Foster was a man whom nature had variously and richly endowed. Had -he possessed early educational advantages--advantages suited to his -rich natural resources--he would have held a place among the sons of -the giants. His sermons were always earnest, and frequently his vast -audiences were melted into weeping by a pathos that was as mysterious -as it was mighty. He was loved, honored, followed, and obeyed. In the -two churches in which he was pastor he, it is said, baptized 10,000 -persons, married 600 couples, and preached 4,000 sermons. His loving, -courtly manners won and maintained for him such a tender regard as few -men ever possess. Nor was this confined to his own flock and race, but -it was shared more or less by the whole people, white and black. The -following will show something of his liberality: - - “Montgomery, May --, 1891. - - - “_Dear Bro. Boothe_: On hearing that you need some money for your - work, I look over my account with the Lord and find that I owe him - five dollars. Enclosed you will find this amount. May God bless you.” - -The last letter I received from him, one month before his death, -contained a donation to the mission work. - -His wife says of him: “Some time before his sickness, he talked of -nothing but heaven. I could plainly see that his mind had left the -world. I tried to interest him in house and home affairs; but he would -talk of nothing but of God’s grace and of the home of the saints.” - -He was a model husband and father, and is sadly missed from his home, -as well as from his church and community. A good man has gone from -labor to reward--from cross to crown. He was thoughtful of the welfare -of his loved ones, and hence carried an insurance on his life, the -payment of which has rendered them some assistance since his death. - -He was one of the original incorporators of Selma University, and was a -life member of the Home Mission Society. - - “Servant of God, well done; - Rest from thy sweet employ.” - - -Forbes, Rev. W. R., now of Columbus, Ga., is still associated with our -Alabama work. He is now about 37 years of age, is possessed of a fine -personal appearance, is affable, studious, sociable and industrious. He -is a Virginian by birth and came to Alabama in 1889 to begin work at -Clayton and Eufaula. - - -Franklin, Rev. Samuel, of Mt. Meigs, was born June 4, 1849. He was -converted to the Christian faith January, 1866, and ordained to -the work of the ministry March, 1876. Brother Franklin is among -the energetic enterprising men of his part of Montgomery county. -Notwithstanding he earns his living at farming, he is busy in the -interest of the affairs of the house of God. At present he is pastor at -Pike Road Church. - -[Illustration: Rev. J. P. O’Riley, Trussville, Ala., Pastor Compton -Baptist Church.] - - -Franklin, Rev. William, of Mt. Meigs, was born October 30, 1852. He -was baptized by the late Rev. Washington Stevens, of Montgomery, July, -1871. He was ordained in 1881 by Revs. P. Lucas, W. Stevens and his -brother, Rev. Samuel Franklin. - -He is a thoughtful, enterprising man, and has the pastoral charge of -several country churches. Being self-reliant, persevering, as well -as economical with time and means, he has risen somewhat above the -crushing heels of poverty and want. At the age of 25 years, he did not -know the English alphabet, but by persistent application to study, he -now reads and writes and keeps his own accounts. - -His face bears those hospitable marks which make one feel easy and at -home in his company and restful amid his family. - -On a trip to Mobile, our train stopped at the bridge of the Tensas -River to allow a freight train to clear the track. Mr. Franklin’s gaze -upon the bridge led the writer to think he was frightened. As the -freight train left the bridge, Mr. F. remarked: “If it will hold up -that train, it will ours, too.” I said: “Maybe that train has just put -it into the condition to let us through.” “Yes, and I’ll pull my shoes -off now in time to swim,” said Mr. F. - - -Freeman, Rev. James H., of Moulton, Lawrence county, is one among -the very worthy young men of our State. He has had comparatively no -advantages for learning, and yet his sober and comprehensive views of -life have spurred him onward in search of information, till now we have -but few young men in Alabama who use better language, have clearer -ideas of the Christian life, and make a more orderly speech than Mr. -Freeman. Better still, his neighbors speak of him as a _good man_--a -man whose conduct is a living epistle of the faith which he professes. - - -French.--Of the many substantial people of Talladega county who deserve -honorable mention, none are more worthy in all regards than the French -family. Messrs. Emanuel, William, and Prince French would be an honor -to any race of people, no matter what the degree of their civilization -and the purity of their moral culture. The two first named teach in -the public schools; the latter is a preacher, and all of them are -prosperous land owners, as well as faithful members of the Baptist -church. - - -Gachet, Rev. Adam, of Barbour county, Ala., was born in Randolph -county, Ga., March 10, 1837. At the age of 16 he was carried to the -county and State in which he now lives. His childhood was wholly -deprived of parental love and care, and he says he never knew anything -of a relative. Depressed by his loneliness, he early felt the need of -the friendship of God, which he sought and soon obtained, to the great -joy of his heart. With this sweet peace soon came an impression that he -was called upon to speak of this wondrous love to his fellow-slaves. -In April, 1854, he was baptized into Enon Church. On June 7, 1869, he -was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry. He is one of the -pioneers in the work of the Eufaula Association, having preached the -introductory sermon of the first session of that body. From the first -till now he has been a member of their executive board, and is now a -member of the board of trustees of Selma University. Notwithstanding -Bro. Gachet has had no educational advantages, he reads intelligently -and writes some. He has labored, and now labors, in some of the most -important churches in his section of Alabama. He is still active on all -lines of progress. He has a large family, who seem to do him honor. -Bro. Gachet is no more. - - -Goldsby, Alexander, was born February 6, 1819, in Edgefield district, -S. C. He came to Alabama in 1830. His father, who was a native African, -was born on the ocean while his mother was on her way to America. His -mother was born in Maryland. In 1844 he was baptized into the white -church at Selma, Ala., by the Rev. Mr. Collins. In 1845 he was ordained -to the office of deacon, in which position he served for thirty-eight -years. He was a very honorable man, and was not less respected by -the white people than he was loved and followed by his own. He was a -successful blacksmith, usually hired his time, and hence he was to -a very considerable degree his own master. In 1843 he married Miss -Nicey Goodwin, and a large family of children is the fruit of the -marriage. His massive head and deliberate manner, his strong will and -dauntless spirit, his good sense and genuine piety, made him a leader -of the people and a pillar in the house of God. A man more capable of -friendship at great personal costs, I have never known. Especially from -him, aided by Deacons Charles White, Nick Claiborne, Tall Underwood, -and E. Ross, our cause in Dallas county has risen up. At or near the -close of his seventy-third year, “Father Goldsby” bravely, triumphantly -and peacefully passed from the earth to that city which knows no night -and needs not the shining of the sun. He was one of the chief leaders -of the band which met on Friday night, near Selma, forty or fifty years -ago, to pray for freedom. His name is honored in his children. - - -Green, Rev. Lawson J., son of Lawson and Martha Green, was born near -Livingston, Sumter county, Ala., August 4, 1859. Though he was so -young, he says his heart still bears the impress of the horrors of -slavery. Under his father’s direction, he soon learned how to farm. -Notwithstanding the colored people of this county were greatly hindered -by the kuklux, Mr. Green utilized every educational facility within his -reach to attain to a knowledge of letters. After he had gone as far as -he could in the schools in and around Livingston, in 1879 he entered -the Selma University, then under the management of Rev. H. Woodsmall, -of Indiana. From this institution, he graduated in 1884 under the -presidency of Dr. E. M. Brawley. At different times and places he -has followed the work of teaching. He taught in his own county, was -principal of Tullabody Academy at Greensboro, was a member of the -faculty of Selma University, and was also of the faculty of the Baptist -Academy at Marion. His principal pastorates have been at Greensboro, -Ala., and Selma, of the same State. As Brother Green is full of good -health, pluck and mental energy, there is no reason why he should not -have a long and useful life as a Christian leader. He has held various -honorable positions in the general work, and is now secretary of the -Board of Trustees of Selma University. - -P. S. He is now in Birmingham, pastor of the Spring Street Church and -principal of an independent school on the south side of the city. -He will long be a power in the denomination, if watchfulness and -temperance attend him. - - -Gulley, Daniel T., of Selma, son of John L. and Amy Gulley, was born -near Snow Hill in Wilcox county, Ala. He was the property of James -Gulley, whom he served as “waiting boy” till the close of the war. -Doubtless this position was favorable in the direction of refinement -and culture. A taste and relish for the study of books would naturally -come of such environments. Utilizing some school advantages which -came to hand, he soon, as the result of hard work, attained to such -a beginning in letters as enabled him to officiate as clerk of the -Antioch Church. - -At the opening of Selma University on January 1, 1878, he, at 9 o’clock -A. M., was the only student on the ground. He completed a course in -this institution with the class of 1884. On the fourth Sunday in -February, 1873, he was baptized into the Antioch Baptist Church by the -Rev. Willis Stalworth. Here he served as clerk of the church and as -superintendent of the Sunday School. From the beginning, he has been -a substantial friend of ministerial education. He was ordained in the -session of the State Convention held in Selma in November, 1883, Revs. -M. Tyler, W. H. McAlpine, J. Dosier, E. K. Love, E. M. Brawley, W. R. -Pettiford, H. Stevens and the writer, officiating as presbytery. He has -held various pastorates and different positions in the general work, -and is now Sunday School missionary under the Publication Society. - - -Hampton, Rev. James, of Leighton, Ala., was born and reared near where -he now lives. On July 25, 1858, he began life’s journey a slave, in -line with the condition of his race. In 1869--in September--he was -baptized into the Mount Pleasant Church by “Father” Henry Bynum, -and on June 18, 1882, he was solemnly set apart to the work of the -gospel ministry by Revs. B. King, H. Bynum, O. Jackson and T. W. -Morris. Brother Hampton is one of the leading men of the Muscle Shoals -Association, and justly so, for added to his natural talent are many -graces of character which come only of labor, aspiration, study, faith, -and exalted purpose. - -Without the aid of schools, he has attained to a creditable knowledge -of letters. He is a builder, an organizer, a pastor and business man. -With him and his family, the tired missionary may find a place for rest -and refreshment. He lives upon his own fruitful farm near Leighton, in -Lawrence county, and is a light which shines upon all the Christian -enterprises around him. - - -Hawkins, Prof. D. D., of East Lake, Jefferson county, deserves -honorable mention for his services for religion and education. The -people of East Lake are comparatively prosperous and progressive, and -to no man are they more indebted for this condition of things than to -Deacon and Professor Hawkins. As church officer and as school teacher -he has long and faithfully served his church and his community, and his -spirit and labors have been like the leaven which the woman hid in the -meal. - -The writer has ever found him a quiet, industrious, hospitable brother, -with ready heart and open hand in support of every good work. He is an -honor to his school--Selma University. - - -Hall, Rev. S. M., pastor of the First Colored Baptist Church at -Warrior, Ala., is one of our most robust, handsome and spotless young -men. He was born in Walker county, Ala., October 26, 1867. Attended -the public schools of his community for five years. In October, 1885, -he joined the Oak Grove Church in Walker county, receiving baptism -the same month. He has attended the Birmingham Institute two years, -and has given three years to the work of teaching. He is one of those -jovial, happy, friendly souls which one always enjoys. His hard work -in the study of books shows that he sees and appreciates the value of -knowledge, and recognizes that there is no easy, lazy road to learning, -to culture and refinement. - -[Illustration: Miss Ella Knapp, Missionary, Birmingham, Ala.] - - -Hawthorne, Rev. Lambert, of Evergreen, was born March 15, 1859, in -Pine Apple, Wilcox county, Ala. When he was only six years of age his -mother, Mrs. Sarah Hawthorne, died and left him and two other sons to -such cold charities as might chance to fall in their way. From the time -of his mother’s death till he was 18 or 20 he was an apprentice to -Col. J. R. Hawthorne, of his native county. This gentleman sent him to -school, sometimes paying $2 per month to his teacher, thus enabling -him in his early years to lay an educational foundation upon which he -has continued to build. As might be expected of any person possessing -his native talent and industrious turn of mind, he has successfully -drawn upon every literary opportunity that has fallen in his way, to -increase and beautify his store of knowledge and wisdom. He studied in -Talladega College, entering that institution 1875 and leaving in 1879. - -In 1879 he was induced, doubtless by denominational influences, to -enter Selma University. - -Both as teacher and as preacher he has been a very busy man. At -different times he has been principal of the city schools of Opelika -and Union Springs, and now he presides over the Evergreen High School. -His most prominent pastorates have been the First Church, Union -Springs, and the Bethel Church, Evergreen. For the latter church Mr. -Hawthorne is now completing a good church edifice. In 1873 he was -baptized at Pine Apple by Rev. W. Allen. In 1883 he was ordained to the -ministry in Opelika by Revs. Thomas Glenn, H. Clark, N. B. Robie, D. D. -(white), and others. In 1880 he was wedded to Miss Laura E. Drake, of -Opelika, an affable lady, by whom he has six children. Mr. Hawthorne is -energetic, sociable and full of work. - - -Holloway, Rev. W. H., who spent two years in the Presbyterian -Theological School at Tuscaloosa, is preaching and teaching at Thomas. -Affable and industrious, he is making friends and followers. - - -Hunter, Rev. Henry, of Faunsdale, son of Reuben and Abigail Hunter, is -now (June, 1892) about 77 years of age. He was baptized by Rev. James -Caldwell since the close of the war, and in 1866 he was set apart to -the work of the gospel ministry in a council of which the Rev. James -Caldwell was chairman. Speaking of his education Brother Hunter says: -“By chance I learned to read the Bible.” He is one of the pioneers of -Marengo county in the work of the colored Baptists. He is naturally -talented, is unassuming, deeply pious, and is known by his brethren as -being sober, upright and honorable. He has property worth about $1,000. -He is quietly expecting a peaceable end to his earthly career, and like -Abraham, has his eyes upon another country where the wicked shall cease -from troubling and the weary shall be at rest. - - -Hutchins, Rev. P. S. L., of Gallion, son of Reuben and Sylvia Hutchins, -was born October 13, 1862, in Barbour county, Alabama. In 1879 he was -baptized into the Eufaula Baptist Church by the Rev. Jerry Shorter. -He, in youth, was a person of observing, active mind, and hence by -the time he came to early manhood he had fairly prepared himself for -the position of school teacher. He took the college course in Selma -University, from which institution he graduated with the degree of A. -B. in May, 1890. On May the 31st, of the same year, he was publicly -and officially set apart to the work of the gospel ministry, Revs. M. -Tyler, C. L. Puree, C. L. Fisher, J. Q. A. Wilhite, R. T. Pollard, L. -J. Green, A. N. McEwen and the writer, officiating as presbytery. At -the time of this writing Mr. Hutchins is pastor at Gallion and also at -Newberne. At both these points he has succeeded in leading his flocks -to the erection of good church edifices. He is full of energy and pluck -as well as of literary aspiration. Like O’Bryant and other rising men -among us, he is a _moving_ man, and has muscles as well as brains. - -He is physically as well as mentally strong, and so, if wisdom, -prudence and Providence shall continue to be his companions, a long -life, a growing life, a useful life, an honorable life is to be his. - -P. S.--Since writing the above Mr. Hutchins has been abundant in labors -in building houses of worship at different points. Great physical -strength is proving to be a very convenient instrumentality under the -powers of a strong mind. - - -Jackson, Rev. A. C., the son of Roderick and Ellen Jackson, was born -in Pickens county, Alabama, December 13, 1848. He was baptized into -the African Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, Ala., by the late Rev. Prince -Murrell. - -He was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry at the request of -the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, by Revs. J. R. Capers -(one of the most worthy organizers of the Alabama work), Henry Wood -and N. G. Scurlock. The writer first met Brother Jackson in Mobile, -in 1875, in company with Rev. P. Murrell. His Birmingham work was -crowned with success. Beside what he did in the matter of increasing -the membership, he laid at the hand of his successor in the pastorate -of the Sixteenth Street Church about $3,000 worth of salable land and -the present church site. He is accepted by his brethren as being an -honest, earnest, industrious, studious man, especially noted for his -hospitality to his brethren. Beside the pastorate above mentioned, he -has been a builder and leader of other churches. He is now president -of the Sunday School Convention of the Mt. Pilgrim Association and -chairman of the Ministers’ Conference of Birmingham. He has had sore -trials, but in all his changes his love for Jesus has been manifest to -all. - - -Jackson, Rev. John W., pastor of the First Colored Baptist Church of -Eufaula, was born at Whitesville, Ga., about thirty years ago. - -_Educational Advantages._--He has enjoyed only such advantages as the -free public schools of Atlanta, Ga., afforded him, but because of his -native talent and studious application to the study of books, and his -association with men of thought, he is possessed of a fair education. -His unassuming manner and happy, brotherly spirit win and hold for -him the love of his brethren in the ministry as well as the tender, -confiding respect of his flock. - -He was led to faith in Christ in his sixteenth year. In December, 1890, -he was installed into the work and office of the gospel ministry by a -council, in which Revs. W. H. Tilman and E. J. Fisher, of Atlanta, Ga., -officiated. He was called to labor in Alabama May, 1892. The Eufaula -Church, of which he is pastor, was organized about the year 1867, and -is therefore one among the oldest churches in the State. This church -began on the river bank in a little board shanty, but they now worship -in a nice large frame building on a main street of the city. Mr. -Jackson follows in this pastorate Revs. J. Shorter, J. Q. A. Wilhite, -G. W. Berry, Mr. Forbes, and Mr. Bassett; and he feels gratified with -the assurance that he leads a church from which have gone forth some of -the best people in the country. “_Be thou strong, therefore, and show -thyself a man._” - - -Jackson, Rev. Dennis, of Tuscumbia, is an honest, industrious man who -has a large place in the love of his brethren. - - -James, Rev. Lewis D., son of James and Priscilla James, was born in -Sumter county, Ala., December 24, 1859. Baptized by Rev. A. Gordon, of -Gainesville, Ala., in August, 1875. Had limited educational advantages -in youth, but has since his manhood increased his stock of information -by study, in which labor he has been aided by Prof. E. D. Lord and Dr. -A. F. Owens, of Mobile, and Dr. Pettiford, of Birmingham. - -He was ordained to take charge of the Bethel Church at Warrior, Ala., -October, 1888, by Revs. A. C. Jackson, J. W. White, A. D. Jemison and -W. R. Pettiford, D. D. His brethren of the Mount Pilgrim Association -have laid on him various positions of honor, such as president of the -Sunday School Convention, district missionary, etc. - - -James, Rev. Van B., pastor at Avondale, is a brother of Rev. L. D. -James. He is a progressive, industrious young man, whose breast is -filled with longings for a higher life for his people. His preaching is -characterized by thought rather than by emotion. In all the interests -of the devotion he shows himself substantially concerned. - - -Johnson, Rev. Gabriel B., of Courtland, Ala., son of Beverly and Sophia -Johnson, was born in King George county, Va., in 1849. Two years before -the beginning of our civil war, the subject of our sketch, with three -other children and his mother, were brought to Alabama as slaves. He -was led to seek Christ in consequence of a revival conducted near -Courtland by Revs. F. Bowman and S. Watkins. In 1867, in February, he -was baptized by a white brother. Shortly after his baptism, he began to -speak for Jesus in the public meetings under the authority of a license -from his church. In 1873 he was solemnly set apart to the sacred office -of the gospel ministry, Revs. G. Garrett, J. Belle, B. Swope and C. S. -Gibson officiating, after which he was called to the pastoral charge -of the Courtland Church, in which capacity he now serves. His first -marriage was to Miss Millie Davis, daughter of Harry and Susan Davis. -As the fruit of this marriage, there were seven children born to him, -four of whom still live. In 1887, and some time after death had robbed -him of this good woman, he was wedded to Miss Mariah Jarman, daughter -of John and S. Jarman, of Leighton, Ala. - -He has had but poor educational advantages, but has used to -considerable effect such as have come within his reach. He has had -some access to the free public schools and a few months in the Roger -Williams University, Nashville, Tenn. - -He has been Sunday School missionary under the joint appointment of the -Muscle Shoals Association and the American Baptist Publication Society, -has for several sessions assisted Prof. H. H. Stewart in the Courtland -public school, and is at present the moderator of the Muscle Shoals -Association. He has the confidence and love of his brethren, and will -doubtless ascend into still greater things. Being physically strong, -he will be a young man for years to come. His kind manner and polite -disposition readily commend him to the favor of all persons who are -inclined to be friendly, and hence a host of friends follow him with -good wishes. - - -Johnson, Rev. Daniel, Oakland, Lauderdale county, Ala., son of Lewis -and Martha Johnson, was born near Florence, Ala., November 11, 1844. -Baptized by Rev. H. Beckwith in 1872. Ordained by Rev. H. Beckwith, -Thos. Bruhes and A. Davis, in January, 1880. - -Brother Johnson has been pastor of Zion No. 1 for some time past and is -a cheerful supporter of all the general enterprises of the denomination. - - -Johnson, Rev. Richard, pastor of St. James Church, Birmingham, is one -of our worthy pioneers, in the Macon county churches. - -[Illustration: Rev. J. H. Eason, A. B., Professor in Selma University.] - - -Jones, Rev. C. P., pastor Tabernacle Church, Selma, hails from -Arkansas. We have nothing of his history. He comes to us highly -recommended by those who knew him best, and so far he is making an -excellent impression in his praise. Beside his moral worth and fine -intellectual talents he has other personal graces very rarely seen. - -The writer loves especially his earnest devotion to his sacred -calling. He is of Georgia nativity, is about 27 years of age and is a -good scholar. He has been in Alabama only three months. What he has -accomplished in books is proof that he is a man of studious habits. - -P. S.--Since the above was written Brother Jones has gone to -Mississippi, forcing from Alabama Baptists an acknowledgment of his -exalted piety, child-like faith, sound sense and superior pulpit -power. Brother Jones is now in Mississippi, still growing in grace and -popularity. - - -Jones, Rev. Silas, of Mt. Meigs, Montgomery county, son of Jupiter -and Caroline Jones, was born May 1, 1847. He was baptized into Elam -Church, May 1, 1866, by Rev. John Holmes, (white). Was ordained to -the work of the gospel ministry May 29, 1870, under the auspices of -the white Baptist Church, of Wetumpka, Ala., by Revs. A. Carleton, J. -Cole and Thomas Smith. The writer first met Brother Jones in Mobile -in 1875--has been with him in his pastorates at Wetumpka, at Sandy -Ridge, at Mt. Meigs and at Calhoun. He did not learn the alphabet until -after he was about 18 years of age, and hence his very manly struggles -for a knowledge of books have not been attended with the perfection -which comes of early training. But he is a man of natural ability and -rare tact, and what he knows is most thoroughly utilized. His home -Christianity includes a system of regular Bible study for children as -well as for hired help. He is an exemplary pastor. He is an industrious -Bible student and preaches the truth with telling effect. His urbanity -and other elements of personal magnetism bind his people about him with -strongest cords of confidence and affection. No one man has done more -for the education of his people than he, as the schools at Mt. Meigs -and Calhoun must show. Brother Jones is still young and strong and -promises a long life. He has good property. His family does him honor. -He is a strong man and coming days will give him the honors due him as -a man great in service for home and country. - - -Jones, Rev. Pope, of Russellville, was born near Tuscumbia, Ala., June -15, 1839. He was baptized some time between 1862 and 1866, and was -set apart to the work of the gospel ministry in 1869 by Revs. Joseph -Shackelford, D. D. (white), and W. E. Northcross. Brother Jones was -in many respects a very remarkable man--no man in the Muscle Shoals -Association, no man in Northern Alabama, had so much power over the -masses of the ministry and the great body of the laity as he. He was -an executive man and a natural magnet, and men gathered about him and -cheerfully submitted themselves to the sway of his opinions. He was -as affable as he was firm, as joyous as he was earnest. He peaceably -passed from this life in 1888. - - -Jones, Rev. Wm. B., of Demopolis, was born in 1847 in Marengo -county, Ala. Was baptized June 16, 1867, by Rev. John Scott. He has -accomplished some work in the churches. - - -Kennedy, Rev. F. R., of Columbiana, was born December 20, 1864, in -this State. He was baptized at Calera by the Rev. Henry Clay in 1881, -and in 1886 he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by -Revs. P. Fancher and John Tranholm. Mr. Kennedy at the age of 18 did -not know his letters, but perceiving at an early age the value of book -learning he resolved at the time named to attain to some knowledge on -this line. He has availed himself of such facilities and opportunities -as have fallen in his way, and in consequence he now reads and writes -fairly well. No doubt much of his advancement and general success are -due to the knowledge, aspiration and persistence of Mrs. Kennedy, whose -educational advantages have been superior to her husband’s. Brother -Kennedy has been pastor in his own town, in Birmingham, at Calera, and -now he preaches in Anniston. - - -Kennedy, Rev. Samuel, once pastor Union Church, Mobile, is one of those -unassuming, modest, friendly men whose heart pours forth in kindness -upon everybody. Like many others his chief misfortune is that he bears -the marks which declare his want of early school advantages. However, -he deserves praise for many good qualities and commendable labors. - - -King, Rev. Boling, of Leighton, Ala., was born in Orange county, Va., -August, 1836. He was converted to faith in Christ under the ministry of -Rev. Henry Bynum, by whom, aided by Dr. Shackleford, he was baptized -into the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church near Leighton. In 1868, in same -church and by the same brethren, he was solemnly set apart to the work -of the gospel ministry. Though he never attended school he can read and -write, and is a natural leader. He is pastor of some of the largest -churches in the Muscle Shoals Association. He is an industrious, -honorable man and has accumulated about $1,700 worth of real estate. He -is one of the pioneers of the work in this section of Alabama. He is -still of youthful vigor and leads in the Sunday School the same as in -the church. - - -Koyton, Prof. Abner C., of Tuscaloosa, son of Henry and Susan Koyton, -was born in Marietta, Ga., but was reared in Summerfield, Ala. Mr. -Koyton graduated from the State Normal School, Marion, Ala., in -1880, and delivered the first annual address to the alumni of this -institution. - -Under his principalship, and on his plans, so the writer is informed, -the city schools (colored) of Tuscaloosa began to operate under their -present graded system. He is now just inaugurating the Tuscaloosa -Baptist Academy. He is young, but studious and progressive. His youth -is dignified by his gravity and piety. - - -Lawson, Rev. A. J., of Camden, son of Mr. A. and Mrs. Julia Lawson, -is doing a good work at Camden. His chief educational advantages have -come of the Camden schools, and what he has accomplished in the way of -letters, is evidence of his vigilance and application with reference -to the opportunities which came to his hand. He was baptized by Rev. -David Small, of Clark county, in 1886, two years after which time he -was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry at Camden by order of -the Camden Church, which was then under the pastoral care of Rev. J. W. -White. His labors are well spoken of by his brethren. - - -Lawson, Rev. A., of Union Springs, the pastor of Mount Pleasant Church, -now about 45 years of age, is one of the leading men of the “Old Pine -Grove Association.” Like most of the men of his time, his education has -been hindered. However, he is a very clear-headed man and, having a -large following, has done much good in Bullock county. - - -Leavens, Rev. Charles, the man who led to the erection of the brick -structure in which the St. Louis Street Church now worships, was of -Virginia nativity, and was born about 1805. The writer is of the -opinion that no man in Alabama did so much in pioneer days to organize -the Negro Baptists in the State as Mr. Leavens. At the close of the -war he was not ordained, but was the most enterprising, pushing, -sanguine and influential man in his church. Naturally, therefore, the -work of guiding the flock fell upon his shoulders. As he could not get -ordination of his white brethren, he sought it in New Orleans. Finding -himself now possessed with the commission of a gospel minister, he -sought to touch and commission men for the other cities and towns of -the State. The Rev. Philip Gambrell was ordained about the same time. -Calling in this man’s services and assistance, Mr. Leavens ordained -Messrs. P. Murrell, of Tuscaloosa; J. Bleavens, of Selma; James -Caldwell, of Demopolis; the writer, and a great company of others, who -went out into the various sections of the State to organize the people -into churches. Of course, as might have been expected, he sometimes put -out the wrong man, but it was a time to do and dare. His excuse for -hasty action was: “This is a peculiar time whose peculiar circumstances -call for bold methods.” His chief questions to applicants were: “Can -you and do you read the Bible? Do you believe it, pray about it, and -practice its teachings? Are you a good, whole Baptist? Are you a -republican?” - - -Leach, Rev. James, of Birmingham, son of Alfred and Elizabeth Leach, -was born July 16, 1832, in Marengo county, Ala. In 1846 he was baptized -by the Rev. Mr. Fox, of Uniontown, and on November 26, 1867, in the -African Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa, he was set apart to the work of -the gospel ministry by Revs. P. Murrell, P. Bowler and James Caldwell. - -In 1855 he was married to Miss Mary Martin. He was once pastor of the -African Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, and one time presided over the -Bethlehem Association (organized in 1877) as moderator. Mr. Leach has -held various pastorates, is a hospitable man, and has a very pleasant -family. - -The writer has often found--when weary and sick--a pleasing and -invigorating refuge within the quiet home of these good people. - - -Leftwich, John C., of Montgomery, once editor and now manager of the -_Baptist Leader_, is noted especially for energy and independence. He -is, at the time of this writing, temperance lecturer for the State of -Alabama under the “National Temperance Society.” Doubtless he inherits -his push and ambition from his father, who was at one time a member -of the Alabama legislature. He is quite a young man, and if wisdom -shall rule over his purposes and plans in years to come, he will write -himself upon the men and the occasions of future years. - - -Lewis, Rev. C., is pastor of Macedonia Church, Birmingham. He appears -ready for any good word and work. - - -Looney, Rev. J. T., of Fayetteville, Talladega county, was born -in Coosa county, Alabama, May 2, 1847. He was baptized into the -Fayetteville Church by Rev. Berry Ware in 1867, and in 1885 he was set -apart to the work of the ministry by Rev. H. Morris and others. At the -time of this writing Mr. Looney is pastor at Alpine. He is a quiet and -unassuming man, ever friendly to education and missions, and hospitable -toward his brethren. - - -Lofton, Rev. J. B., is pastor at Smithfield, near Birmingham. - - -Lovelady, Rev. C. L., of Hollywood, Jackson county, is noted among his -brethren for his interest in missions and education. He followed Rev. -Lewis Roach in the moderatorship of the Mud Creek Association. He helps -in the building of churches, and is a liberal supporter of schools. - - -Low, Rev. Green, of Livingston, is one of the most matter-of-fact sort -of men with whom the writer has ever had any business. No man can -beat him wearing his whole heart right on his face. He is uncovered, -outspoken and fearless, and yet all seems so natural, so honest and so -kind, until what would otherwise appear hard and ungenial, is really -enjoyable. Mr. Low is among the leaders of the Bethlehem Association. - -[Illustration: Miss A. L. Bowman, Missionary, Birmingham, Ala.] - - -McAlpine, Rev. W. H., at present teacher of Ministers’ and Deacons’ -Institute, under the appointment of the Southern Baptist Mission -Board, was born in Buckingham county, Virginia, June, 1847. At the -age of three years, he, his mother and a younger brother were brought -to this state by a “Negro speculator,” who sold them to a Rev. Robert -McAlpine, of Coosa county. At the age of 8 years and on the occasion -of the death of this Presbyterian minister, he became the property -(?) of Dr. McAlpine, with whom he remained till the close of the war. -In this family he was the nurse of the white children for about ten -years. As Mrs. Dr. McAlpine was very anxious and cautious as to the -quality of the first moulding influences touching the childhood of her -children, and as the schools around were hardly up to her ideal, she -had her children instructed at home. As the nurse’s position placed -him and kept him in constant association with the children, and as -he was possessed of a literary turn of mind, he soon began to imbibe -a knowledge of letters, advancing into reading, writing, grammar, -geography and arithmetic. From 1855 to 1874 he saw nothing of his -mother, and for sixteen years of this time did not know where she -was. Naturally this incident started a train of serious reflections -touching the facts and hopes of human life. About the year 1864 or -1865 he was converted to Christianity and some time after was baptized -into the Talladega Church (white) by his friend, Dr. Renfroe. At the -close of the war Mr. McAlpine first worked at the carpenters’ trade, -which he left for school teaching. In the winter of 1866 he entered the -Talladega College, supporting himself by laboring during the morning -and evening hours--before the opening and after the close of the -school. In 1873 he severed his connection with this institution, having -been aroused to undertake the establishment of a similar institution -for his own denomination. In 1871 he was ordained to the work of the -gospel ministry, and accepted a call to the pastorate of the Mt. Canaan -Baptist Church, Talladega, which he resigned in 1875 in order to give -his whole time to his school project. - -To no man in Alabama has been committed trusts more varied and more -weighty. While connected with the Talladega College he occupied the -position of State canvasser under the appointment of Mr. Cravath. He -has been pastor at Talladega, Jacksonville, Marion and Anniston, and -president of Selma University. His special excellence is not of that -mental style which gives birth to fine psychological and metaphysical -discernments and distinctiveness: it is that sort of mental something -which strikes with broad side and ponderous weight. The breadth of his -rear head would seem to indicate that all his faculties are driven -forward by a force that starts from a broad base. The writer first met -Dr. McAlpine in Mobile, in November, 1874, the year following that in -which he brought forward, at the Tuscaloosa session of the Convention, -his school idea. My first impression of him was that he was a man of -special mission, and I immediately sympathized with him and with the -school project, throwing myself fully into line with his plans. - -In referring to his childhood life, and while talking with reference -to the power of secret prayer, he once remarked to the writer: “Upon -one occasion, though without my knowledge, Dr. McAlpine had resolved -to punish me for a trivial matter on my part which had caused him some -displeasure. I had gone to feed the horses, and in the crib I was on -my knees at prayer. The doctor had followed me with his whip. I was -not aware of his presence or purpose, and hence as he did not speak I -got through with my prayer and fed my horse and returned to the house. -I learned afterward that my prayer had subdued him, and that he had -expressed himself as being ashamed of his purpose.” - -Alluding once to some mistakes he had made, he observed: “We grow wiser -as we grow older.” He has been happily married twice. By his last wife -he has a large family of beautiful and promising children. The Rivers -family, into which he married, are a people of very sterling qualities, -and no doubt these happy associations have conduced to his success in -all regards. - -The act of the University in conferring upon him the honorary title -of D. D. is evidence of the high esteem in which he is held by the -trustees and faculty of the school. He is now theological instructor in -the school and is supported by the Southern Board. - - -McAlpine, F. Percy, son of J. D. and Jane McAlpine, was born August 1, -1865, in Forkland, Ala. He entered the world amid that good heritage -which can come only of the exemplary life of parents. Though his early -life was spent on the farm, his youthful days were blessed with some -educational facilities, which his discerning, appreciative mind turned -to good advantage. After completing primary grades in his home schools, -he, against the wish of his mother and protest of brothers, entered -the State Normal School at Marion, Ala., with only $15 to begin the -course of study prescribed. The next year he entered Selma University, -studying during the school session and teaching in summer till 1888, -when his mother, his only support since the death of his father, fell -asleep. He says of this time of struggle: - -“I owe a lasting debt of gratitude to President Purce, who never left -me without an encouragement which it was possible for him to bestow.” - -In 1890 while in his junior college year, financial straits forced him -to give up study and go out to work. Applying for the principalship -of the Bessemer City School, he made an almost perfect mark in his -examination and obtained the position. While in this capacity, aided -by Mr. J. C. Barker, he edited a paper known as “_The Marvel Age_.” In -1893, he and Mr. Barker operated a bookstore. - -The writer knows but few young men who equal Mr. McAlpine in modesty, -industry, courage, push and beauty of moral character. An honorable -future awaits him, and of friends he shall have many. Talented and -studious, he must still advance in scholarship. He became a member -of the Missionary Baptist Church in 1885, and lives according to his -profession. He expects to complete his university course in 1896. - - -McEwen, Rev. A. N., pastor of Franklin Street Church, Mobile, -lately editor of the _Baptist Leader_, is a native of the State of -Mississippi, where he was born April, 1849. When he was about 18 years -of age he went to Nashville, Tenn., in search of better things than -those to which slavery had introduced him. Here he entered the Roger -Williams University, remaining only a very short while. Here also he -found and wedded a wife. Being controlled by industry and economy he -soon saved enough from his small wages to purchase a horse and wagon. -This was the first of a series of financial successes by means of which -he soon rose above poverty and want into comfortable circumstances for -himself and family. While attending the services of Mt. Zion Church in -Nashville in 1870 he was led to faith in Christ which he professed by -receiving baptism. - -Shortly after he began religious work, and in 1876 he was ordained -to take charge of the pastorate at Tullahoma, Tenn. Five or six -years after this he came to Alabama to take charge of the Dexter -Avenue Church. Mr. McEwen, since his entrance into Alabama, has been -intimately connected with all our state operations, educational and -missionary, and no man among us has been more successful as a church -financier. He has bestowed special care upon the education of his -children, all of whom he has reared for the most part without their -mother’s aid, as she died when they were young. The Dexter Avenue -Church building was constructed under his leadership. - -McCall, Rev. E. A., at present pastor in Columbus, Ga., the son of Rev. -H. A. McCall, was born May 15, 1855, in Russell county, Alabama. In -1872 he was baptized into the Hawkinsville Baptist Church by the hands -of his father. In September, in the twentieth year of his age, he was -set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by Revs. A. Gachet, S. -Fantroy, J. Daniel, J. H. Davis and H. A. McCall. It will be seen that -he entered the sacred office at a very early age--at an age rather -soon in most cases--rather early for the good of the minister as well -as for the good of the people and the cause. But though in youth he -was possessed of very poor educational advantages, by talent, push, -courage, ambition, observation and application to books, he has made -surprising advances. He is strictly a self-made man. He speaks with -ease and performs well on the organ. - -He has had a wide range of operation, having been pastor at different -times of eleven different churches, some of them equaling the best -pastorates in the country. Among them the church at Union Springs may -be mentioned. No man in Alabama is more companionable than he. - - -McCord, Rev. C., of Selma, was set apart to the work of the gospel -ministry by the St. Phillip Street Church while the writer was pastor -in 1884. He started the study of books late in life, but by associating -with men of advanced ideas and close application to books he is now -considerably ahead of the masses of the ministry. He is a sober, -judicious man, peaceable and ever ready for work. - - -Maddox, Rev. J. D., the son of Daniel and Tabitha Maddox, was born in -Barbour county, Ala., near Midway, in 1854. His father was sold away -from him when he was only three days old, and his mother when he was -three years old, and hence he came up without knowing anything either -of father or mother. - -This friendless condition early impressed him with the desire to obtain -the friendship of God, which in his eleventh year, he sought and found. -He was baptized into the Rama Church by the Rev. Mr. VanHoose (white) -during the same year. - -In his seventeenth year, a desire to read books came into his mind. By -good fortune, he came into possession of 25 cents which he invested in -a “blue back speller.” In order that his book and purpose might not -come to the notice of the white people he decided that he would tear -out and learn one leaf at the time. Thus he began to spell, aided by a -more fortunate fellow slave. The widow of a Baptist minister encouraged -him with the statement that if he could read she would give him a hymn -book and a Bible. On _one_ Sabbath he learned the Ten Commandments. -Doubtless he owes much of his success to his excellent wife, who is -no less enterprising than she is devout and faithful. He said to the -writer: “My wife _makes_ me study.” - -In 1879 at the call of the Friendship Baptist Church of Barbour county, -he was set apart to the ministry by Revs. J. Shorter, A. Gachet and E. -Alexander. Brother Maddox is a good man, a faithful preacher, and a -successful builder--a leading man in the Eufaula Association, and is as -gentle as a woman, and simple hearted as a child. - -[Illustration: Rev. M. Tyler, D. D., Lowndesboro, Ala.] - - -Maderson, Rev. William, of Greensboro, was born in Virginia in 1849, -and came to Alabama in 1866. In the fall of 1872 he was baptized into -the Second Baptist Church at Marion, Ala., and in the following year -began to enter upon the work of the ministry, speaking in public as he -had opportunity. While the Convention was in session in Marion in 1880, -the hands of ordination were laid upon his head by order of the Marion -Church, and by the same presbytery that ordained Dr. Pettiford. He -spent some time in study in the Selma University, under the presidency -of the late Rev. Harry Woodsmall. Mr. Maderson is a man of fine natural -gifts which, considering his early, meagre advantages, have been well -developed. He is remarkably capacitated for imbibing what is pure and -elevating in good men and good books. He is dearly beloved no less -for his stainless character than for his refinement and wisdom. After -serving various other important pastorates, he was called to the pulpit -of the Salem Church at Greensboro, where he now serves with success, -greatly increasing the membership and purchasing a neat parsonage. -For the past seven or eight years he has been the moderator of the -Uniontown Association--the largest Association in the State. Should he -continue as he has begun, coming years must increase his power with God -and man. - - -Merrell, Rev. Mason C., of Fort Deposit, son of M. C. and Harriet -Merrell, was born in Dallas county, Ala., June 26, 1849. As his parents -were poor, he was apprenticed to the Rev. H. Talbird, D. D., of said -county, who sent him to the schools of the neighborhood. By such -means he was early placed in conditions where he was able to lay the -foundation of a liberal English education. Much of Mr. Merrell’s time -for many years has been spent in teaching in the State schools. The -money thus earned has been a supplement to the meagre support given -him by the small churches of which he is the efficient pastor. He was -baptized into the fellowship of the Carlowville Church October, 1867, -by the hands of his benefactor. In 1879 he was set apart to the work -of the gospel ministry in the city of Montgomery, Revs. J. A. Foster, -W. J. Stevens, Wm. Jinkins and R. Aarons officiating as presbytery. -Brother Merrell is a sociable, genial companion, a careful speaker, an -earnest Christian, and a firm believer in missions and education. On -all the moral questions of the times he is as straight as a shingle. -He, by his various pastorates, is associated with the Alabama District -and the Union Associations, and in both bodies he is held in high -esteem by all the thoughtful and pious persons. - -Indeed, he is respected by all who know him, white and black. Because -of his quietness and sunshine, as well as for his musical talent and -skill, he is in special demand at our annual and extra meetings. - - -Murrell, Rev. Prince.--Rev. Prince Murrell was born in Savannah, Ga., -January 1, 1817. His mother, who descended of a Congo prince, was born -in Providence, R. I. His father was the son of an Englishman, of the -name of Murrell. Some of his youthful years were spent with his parents -in South Carolina. In the year 1838, his mother with seven children, he -being the youngest, moved to Tuscaloosa, Ala. At this time no member of -the family knew anything of the Christian life. In 1839 his mother was -baptized, which incident excited such serious impressions in her son as -resulted in his baptism in August, 1842. About this time he began to -speak and exhort as he had opportunity. At the close of the war he had -been a member of the Tuscaloosa Church (white) about ten years, and was -the only colored Baptist preacher in Tuscaloosa. This brother has had -a rather remarkable career. In the year 1855 he bought his freedom, -and in 1856 started to Liberia, Africa, going as far as Savannah, -Ga. His aspiration for liberty, his unaided toiling for the mastery -of letters and books, his tact and perseverance in organizing the -colored Baptists of his section into churches and associations, and his -success in accumulating property with many other things, mark him as no -ordinary man. His marriage to Miss Mary Drisdell in the year 1842, was -no doubt largely conducive to his energy and success, for she--even up -into old age--was a woman of strength and industry. The first colored -school ever taught in Tuscaloosa was taught by him, and taught at a -time when to teach a colored school was to put one’s life at the muzzle -of the shot gun. Touching this phase of work, he related to the writer -the following stories: “When we were just set at liberty I went to a -white Baptist who had in times of slavery shown himself friendly toward -black people, and said, ‘Mr. S----, we need a school teacher, can’t -we secure you?’ He replied, ‘Do you think I would disgrace myself by -teaching a negro school? Besides this, it would be only throwing into -the waste my time, my talent and my strength. I might as well drive -into a room a drove of sheep or a herd of swine, and put books before -them as to put books before kinky-headed nigger children.’ - -“On one occasion, two white men who had come into town to bring a -prisoner, walked into my school room with their ropes and chains in -hand, and teacher and school, feeling sure that the ropes and chains -were for their necks, were so dismayed as to excite the pity of the -dreaded visitors, and they sought to remove our fears and to encourage -us to continue on in our good way.” - -Speaking of the organization of colored churches in the South, he -remarked to the writer: “I was in Savannah when the white people were -discussing the propriety of organizing colored churches.” He opened the -first Sunday School for colored people in the city of Tuscaloosa the -first Sunday in December, 1866. He claimed to owe most of his success -in the study of divine truth to the Rev. Chas. Manly. On July 1 he -organized the African Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa with 25 members. As -he did not begin reading till he was 22 years old he was not faultless -in his mastery of the English language, but was a good speaker, -self-possessed and ready in words. Mr. Murrell was one of the leading -fathers of the Alabama work. His children were a pride to him in his -old age. - -In the last years of his life he spoke tenderly of his old mistress -who encouraged him to learn to read, and of his maiden mistress, who -in many ways saved him from oppression and aided him in securing his -liberty. - -Since the above sketch was commenced Mr. Murrell and his good wife have -exchanged the cross for the crown. - - -Nichols, Rev. James, of Greenville, moderator and missionary of the -Union Association, was born in Virginia May 10, 1842, and was brought -to Alabama September, 1856, locating at Selma, where he joined the -church and was baptized by the Rev. Mr. McCraw, who was then pastor -both of the colored and of the white churches of that city. At this -time, as the dates will show, he was a young man. It was in this same -church and city that he began the work of the ministry during the days -of slavery. - -His first marriage was to Miss Emma Allison, of Dallas county. The -fruit of this marriage was two sons and one daughter, neither of whom -is now living. His present wife has two living children. He has an -humble home of his own. - -Mr. Nichols is a man of energy, industry and decision of character; -he has opinions and has the courage to express them. No man has any -trouble in times of controversy to locate him, and yet in his rulings -as presiding officer of the above named association, the writer has -seen evidences of prudence and commendable flexibility. - -His early life was robbed of literary environments, and hence he is not -an extensive reader of books; but his knowledge of things is superior -to many whose advantages have been far better than his have been. He -says that he knew absolutely nothing of letters till since the close -of the war, when he had a little opportunity to attend night school at -Uniontown. - -He was ordained in 1873 at Georgiana, Butler county, by Revs. Dan -Shepard, Nelson Briggs, Jesse Holens and others, and he has done a good -work in his section. - - -Northcross, Rev. W. E., of Tuscumbia, Colbert county, was born in -Colbert county, Ala., in 1840, and ordained to the gospel ministry in -1867 by Rev. Mr. Slater (white) and Rev. Henry Bynum. - -Mr. Northcross is strictly a pioneer. He, Rev. Stephen Coleman and Rev. -Henry Bynum, aided by Dr. Joseph Shackleford (white) laid down the -foundation stones in Morgan, Franklin, Colbert, Lauderdale and Lawrence -counties. - -He is a peculiar man. He is a man of very positive nature--with him it -is yea and amen. - -To those who do not know him as well as to those who vacillate and -pretend, his sternness is repelling. But behind and below external -appearances there is a heart that is as tender as it is brave, and as -kind as it is firm. Except a little time spent in the Roger Williams -University, he has had no school advantages, but he reads and writes -fairly well. - -The Tuscumbia, Barton and Sheffield churches were built up under his -labors. In the formation of the Muscle Shoals Association at Tuscumbia -in 1869, he was one of the leading spirits. He relates the following -incidents: - -“Before the close of the war I was captured by the Federal troops and -carried to Decatur, where I joined their army. As I had a crippled foot -I was allowed to remain with the commissary department. While we were -camped at Athens, General Forest came upon us and defeated, captured -and killed until we were almost literally wiped out of existence. I -had been kind to some little white children by which I had won their -love and, of course, the love of their parents. Therefore, in the time -of danger, I rushed to this house, and the good people hid me and -changed my clothes. Hence when I was found, I was taken for one of the -gentleman’s slaves. When I was permitted by the man to try to return -to Tuscumbia and had gone some distance, I was caught by deserters -from the Southern army, who voted to shoot me. They bound me and kept -me over night, intending to do away with me the next day. It was in a -lonely desert on the Tennessee river. I could not sleep, and so all -night I prayed to God, and all night the wives of the men prayed for -“the poor nigger”--prayed to their cruel husbands. Their cries and -tears prevailed, and I was robbed and let go after I had vowed not -to reveal their whereabouts. I left loving God and believing in his -faithfulness to his people as I had never done before.” - -For years Mr. Northcross has been the trusted treasurer of the Muscle -Shoals Association. He is the pastor of the largest church, and has the -best edifice, in northern Alabama. - - -Oden, Rev. M. C. B., of Sylacauga, was born in Charleston, S. C., -December 24, 1839. He was baptized by Rev. J. J. D. Renfroe, D. D., -in September, 1865, and in 1873 he was set apart to the work of the -gospel ministry, Rev. W. Wilks, and others, officiating as presbytery. -He, in speaking of the rise of the work in this section, says: “I came -from South Carolina in 1858, a Methodist. There were nineteen or twenty -other slaves on our place beside myself. I, and one other, professed -to be Christians. The master of the place permitted us to hold prayer -services, and allowed the slaves of his kin people to attend. The -Lord blessed these meetings and at the close of the war this humble -beginning was ready to unfold into the Harpersville Church. At the -close of the war, I began to teach night and Sunday Schools, and thus -introduced the study of letters, though in the Sunday School as well -as in the night school, we had nothing but the ‘blue back speller.’” -Brother Oden is an honorable, outspoken, industrious, prosperous man, -whose hospitality is known far and wide. His home has often been an -asylum of rest to the writer, as well as to other missionaries of -Alabama of all denominations. - -[Illustration: Mrs. Rebecca Pitts, Member Board of Trustees Woman’s -State Convention, Uniontown, Ala.] - - -O’Bryant, Rev. L. F., of Eufaula, the son of Frederick and Rose -O’Bryant, was born on the Dent plantation in Barbour county, Ala., in -the year 1860. In 1879 he was converted to the faith of the gospel -under the preaching of Rev. Jerry Shorter, and was baptized into the -Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. At the call of the above named church, -he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry in 1885 by Revs. -J. Q. A. Wilhite, A. Gachet, J. D. Maddox, E. May and J. A. Alston, of -Arkansas. Notwithstanding his educational advantages have been very -meagre, he has, by constant study and observation, advanced to a fair -knowledge of books. He is a loving husband, a successful pastor, a -strong preacher, a genial associate, and carries sunshine everywhere. -The writer was associated with him for some weeks in the institute work -at Eufaula, and was truly delighted with his urbanity and innocent -wit. He is a young man of hopeful prospects--if his present wise -course should continue to the end. His father before him is a Baptist -minister, whose life is held in high esteem, and hence the subject -of this sketch comes into his public career having his own excellent -personal graces savored by the good name of his revered ancestor. - - -Owens, Rev. A. J., of Moulton, is an ex-student of Selma University; -he is an agreeable companion, a kind father, an orderly thinker and a -forcible preacher. The writer has greatly enjoyed the hospitalities of -his home and the abundance of his good humor. - - -Owens, Rev. Albert Franklyn, editor of the _Baptist Leader_ and pastor -at Mobile, was born in Wilcox county, Ala., January 1, 1854. Early -in life he left Alabama for Louisiana, in which state he was led to -exercise faith in the Son of God and was baptized into Little Mt. Zion -Church by the Rev. G. Stemley, of Avoyelles Parish. In April, 1873, -he was licensed to enter upon the work of the gospel ministry. At the -call of the Third Baptist Church, Mobile, Ala., he was ordained to -the functions of the ministerial office by the Common Street Baptist -Church, New Orleans, La., May 28, 1877, by a council of which Rev. -Marsena Stone, D. D., of Ohio, was chairman, and Rev. A. M. Newman was -secretary. His longest and hitherto most prosperous pastorate has been -with the church who called for his ordination, and whom he led to the -purchase of their neat brick edifice on St. Anthony street. - -Beginning with them in the spring of 1887, he left them for Uniontown, -September, 1890, in excellent quarters and free from debt. This he did -at such patient self-sacrifice as may be found in only a very few men -of his age. - -In 1873 he entered Leland University, New Orleans, where he remained -four years pursuing the classical and theological courses under Drs. -Gregory and Stone. - -While in Louisiana he was engaged in teaching school and was intimately -associated with the general Baptist work, being at one time editor of -their state organ, the _Baptist Messenger_. In 1884-85 he was editor -of the _Baptist Pioneer_, located at Selma, Ala., and has served as -general superintendent of missions for the State of Alabama. For many -years he has been on the Board of Trustees of Selma University, and in -recognition of his solid worth and general information he is now the -bearer of our denominational standard. - -Mr. Owens is a typical, Christian gentleman. No other man among us -has a library so select, so varied and so valuable as he has, nor has -any man in Alabama a clearer evidence of literary talent and literary -relish. He is a many-sided man, and the beauty of his solid personal -qualities is greatly enhanced by his indigenous vivacity, unstinted -hospitality, and perennial benevolence. In the hovels of the poor and -in the times of the sources of disease, no man among us is more welcome -than he, neither is there one of his brethren whose duty renders more -heedless of danger or blind to personal privations and material losses. -Whether he builds houses of worship, preaches, lectures, teaches, -writes--whatever may be the engagement of the hour, that engagement -focuses the whole man. The following incidents will show something -of the style of his mind: On one occasion when severely tried in -administering discipline, and when he had allowed his feelings of -indignation to run too high, he was so distressed that for many nights -sleep almost entirely forsook him. The writer overheard him on this -occasion, saying, “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done -this evil in thy sight.” - -Upon another occasion in the midst of a session of the Convention, and -as one of the policemen of the town walked in and was seated, he arose -and remarked: “Brother president, I see in our assembly a policeman -of the city in which we are convened. I think this a fit time to -give notice to any who may feel inclined to be unruly that they must -observe good order or I’ll have them arrested.” This came in just at a -condition of the meeting when a bit of humor was just the thing most -needed. - -The St. Anthony Street Church, Mobile, is a tangible memorial of his -energy, self-sacrifice and patient industry. Beside the pastorate of -the St. Anthony Street Church (the Third Baptist), he has served in the -pastorate of the Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, and in the pastorate of the -church at Uniontown. - -His speeches are characterized by originality, clearness, force and -dignity. He is still a growing man--growing in worth of manhood and -in the confidence and love of the denomination; and should his health -and life continue, the historian who will write of a brighter day than -this--a day not far in the future--will point with pride to this man of -rare gifts, giving more space than is here accorded him. With special -pleasure the writer records the name of Albert F. Owens, D. D., high -upon the roll of his personal friends. - -And this short notice of a worthy man can hardly close at a point of -greater beauty than in an humble tribute to his other self, Mrs. Mary -Mims Owens (once Mrs. Taylor), whom he wedded in 1882, and who is held -in high esteem as a leader in church and educational circles. - - -Pettiford, Rev. W. R., D. D., son of William and Matilda Pettiford, -was born in Granville county, N. C., January 20, 1847. He was, when a -boy, of an industrious turn of mind, working faithfully at whatever his -hands found to do. At one time he was with the tanner, and at another -time he was running his father’s farm. - -At the age of 21 years he united with the Baptist Church of Rocksboro, -Person county, N. C., and was immersed by the Rev. Ezekiel Horton, -of Salisbury. While he was serving this church as clerk, he told his -mother, as a secret which he greatly desired she would not reveal, that -he felt called to the gospel ministry. As Brother Horton often put -up at their home he soon got possession of the secret. Dr. Pettiford -now says: “When I was called into an examining council and learned -that my secret was out, I was very much frightened; but the advice -given upon this day has ever been helpful to me.” The writer met the -subject of this sketch for the first time at the session of the State -Convention held in Talladega in November, 1876. He and the late Senator -A. H. Curtis were messengers from the church at Marion. At this time -the only traits that were especially noticeable were the frankness of -his countenance and the geniality of his manners. At the commencement -of Selma University in the winter of 1877-78, he joined Brother -Woodsmall, becoming a member of the pioneer faculty of the school. -It was here that he was seen as the studious, patient, industrious -man--loved no less by tender youth than he was trusted by riper years. -He was called to ordination by the Marion Church, Marion, Ala., and -dedicating hands were laid upon his head in Marion, Ala., in the midst -of the conventional session held there in November, 1880. After this -he severed his connection with the school as teacher and as financial -agent, to enter the pastorate in Union Springs. His open, earnest face, -tact, and urbanity of speech, made him one of the most successful -financial agents the University has ever sent upon the field. He -relates the following incident in connection with his field work for -the school: “I was about thirty miles southeast of Greenville, Ala. A -colored man by the name of Turner had just been mobbed in Clark county. -The colored people along the road were exceedingly frightened at the -threatening attitude of the whites, and hence refused to entertain any -stranger. I knew not where I was and it was now dark. My horse was -broken down. Family after family turned me off. At last one man agreed -to entertain my tired horse. Thankful for this little drop of kindness, -I stopped and fed my animal. Then I started off--I knew not whither. -After awhile I saw through the boughs of the pines a dim light, which -seemed far away. Turning towards this light I wended my way through -sage field and bush, until I stood beside an old log hut, a rickety -relic of an old time Negro quarter. With ease this tiny spark peeped -through the great opening in the dirty cabin full into my weary face. -Herein, with husband and wife and babies, and a lot of dirt, I was -allowed to rest my tired limbs and heavy heart till morning. - -“Upon one occasion while Bro. D. T. Gulley and I were on mission work -together, we were delayed in Marengo county. Waters were up, Brother -Gulley was sick, and the people had no money to give for educational -purposes. I went to begging milk cows and succeeded in getting the -people to donate six.” - -Mr. Pettiford married his present wife, Miss Della Boyd, of Selma, -Ala., November 22, 1880. She is an excellent woman and comes of a fine -family. As might have been expected the marriage has been a happy one -for both parties. - -Dr. Pettiford is a clear thinker, a concise speaker, a firm friend, a -lover of his race, and a fine presiding officer. Every feature in his -bearing is indicative of the true gentleman and earnest Christian. He -is a firm friend of Selma University, and by this school he has been -honored with the degree of D. D. He is at this time (1892) president of -the “Alabama Penny Savings Bank” and of the Baptist State Convention -of Alabama. He is further noticed in connection with the chapter on -“State Convention” and “Selma University” as well as in other chapters. - -Closing this sketch, it seems fitting that I should remark that though -he excels in many virtues, he is especially peculiar in these: - -1. He is abundant in plans and measures, so that the variety of his -operations almost wholly exclude the monotony so often felt in church -work. - -2. He is in a peculiar degree a patient man. In all conditions he seems -to possess his soul in patience. - -Since the above was written, he has been elected financial secretary of -the State work. - -He is now organizing the Alabama Publishing Company. He is full of -enterprise. - -[Illustration: Rev. W. C. Bradford, Pastor First Baptist Church, -Tuscaloosa, Ala.] - - -Phillips, Rev. D., of Tuskegee, was a “Father in Israel.” Those who are -old enough to remember him as a slave, say that he sat in council with -the white ministers and was permitted to speak in their associational -gatherings. Nothing seemed to disturb his peace; no amount of heated -discussion ever caused him to break from his strong hiding place of -pious humility. He was a large man with strong will, but every “jot and -tittle” of his ponderous being was under submission to his consecrated -will, which ruled all like the helmsman steers the great ship. He was -about the age of Mr. John Dosier, eighty years. He refused to accept -freedom till all were free. - - -Peels, Rev. J. A., pastor of the First Colored Baptist Church in North -Birmingham, is a rising young man in the Mount Pilgrim Association. His -church, though a new enterprise, is a success, and all plans for gospel -aggression find in him a ready and substantial friend. His brethren -love him because he is peaceable and benevolent in his dealings with -them. - - -Pollard, Rev. Robert T., son of Rev. R. T., Sr., and Mrs. Mary F. -Pollard, was born in Gainesville, Ala., October 4, 1860. A few years -after the close of the late civil war, Rev. R. T. Pollard, Sr., moved -with his family to Enterprise, Miss. There the subject of this sketch -received his first impressions--impressions which were to serve as the -foundation of his future character. At the age of 12 his mother left -him for the better country. The boy, reflecting over his sad loss in -the death of his mother, turned unto the Lord, and was baptized into -the fellowship of the Mt. Pleasant Church, in which he immediately -became clerk and Sunday School teacher. Thus, starting right, we are -not surprised at the righteousness of the course he now pursues. - -By studying at night under his father’s instruction, he, at the age of -12, could read and write. At 16 he was known as “the boy preacher.” -At the age of 20 he entered a school taught by Prof. Paul D. Jones -in Meridian, Miss., in which school he studied arithmetic, algebra, -English grammar and Latin. He remained here two years. In 1882 he -entered Selma University, under Prof. Woodsmall. Of this good man he -says: “His consecrated life did much toward fixing my character in the -spirit and doctrines of Christ.” From this institution he graduated -with the class of 1884 as valedictorian. In the same school and in the -same year he entered upon the college course and completed the freshman -and sophomore years. During this time he was assistant teacher in the -University. By all, and throughout all, he has been and is now accepted -as a student, a thinker, a rigid moralist and faithful Christian. In -March, 1885, he was ordained to the gospel ministry in Selma, Revs. -E. M. Brawley, D. D., W. H. McAlpine, H. N. Bouey, A. N. McEwen, C. -L. Price, and C. R. Rodgers, officiating as presbytery. After this -he entered upon and served acceptably different important pastorates -in Perry county. With credit to himself and with profit to the -denomination, he has, as teacher, as moderator, as recording clerk of -the State Convention, and as district Sunday School missionary, served -the Baptists of Alabama. At this time he is the successful pastor of -the Dexter Avenue Church, Montgomery. Thus this quiet, hard working -young man has risen up till there are but few that go before him. Mr. -Pollard is a philosopher, clothed with the spirit of a child. In him a -full heart balances a well stored head. - - -Pollard, Rev. I. M., of Loachapoka, is one of the few men of whom we -sometimes feel that they are Nature’s _favored_ children. So evenly -balanced are all his tempers and passions, hopes and fears, that we are -almost compelled to think that so much self-government must have come -largely as the gift of nature. The writer has reasons to know him as an -honest man--as a man who can handle the money of his neighbor without -fault to himself or loss to his friend. Mr. Pollard is held in high -esteem by all who know him--white and black. He was born about the year -1840. He possesses a fine personal appearance, a gentlemanly bearing, -and is a good preacher of the plain old gospel. - - -Posey, Prof. Thomas H., of Bessemer, the son of Wesley and Patience -Posey, was born September 15, 1854, at Bessemer, Ala. He was baptized -into the Canaan Baptist Church about the year 1872 by Rev. William -Ware. Brother Posey deserves honorable mention for his faithful -services as an educator. He graduated from the normal course in Selma -University in the spring of 1884, and has proven himself to be not -only a power in the affairs of secular education, but a very efficient, -faithful worker in the church and Bible school. - - -Prentice, Rev. D. L., of Selma, Ala., son of James and Caroline -Prentice, was born in Shelby county, Ala., December 25, 1852. The -home of his youthful days, like that of the writer, must have been in -a wild country infested by wolves; for he, in speaking of how he had -to go after wood and water into the thick swamps before the break of -day, says: “On one morning as I found myself surrounded by wolves, I -cried to God for help and was delivered. In my prayer for deliverance -I made a vow of consecration, which was the beginning of a new life.” -In 1875 he was baptized by Rev. Berry Ware. About the year 1865-66 he -began studying Webster’s speller, and sought information, he says, of -every person that he thought had any information to give. He learned to -read and write and began figuring under the instruction of a Mr. J. W. -Strong, a man, so it is said, who used to be mayor of Selma, Ala. The -writer first met the subject of this sketch while he was student in the -Talladega College, and since his graduation from the Selma University, -his course and success as pastor, teacher, missionary and lecturer, has -been watched with pleasing interest. He was ordained to the ministry -May, 1882, by Revs. Joe Smith and Henry Scott. He is a genuine friend -of religion and education and being young and strong he has a large -opening for future usefulness and fame. - - -Prince, Rev. J. T., of Gallion, Ala., son of John and Mary A. Prince, -was born March, 1853, in Marengo county, Ala. He was baptized into -the fellowship of the Bethlehem Church by Rev. D. R. Willis the third -Sunday in April, 1871. In 1884 in the St. Philip’s Church, Selma, -he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by Revs. E. M. -Brawley, H. N. Bouey, C. R. Rodgers, L. P. Foster and the writer. -He attended Selma University under the different presidents--H. -Woodsmall, W. H. McAlpine, and E. M. Brawley. He began his education -by studying under a white man, whom he paid $1.00 a week. Attended a -public school after he was 23 years of age. He taught in the State -school. Is now district missionary. He is an industrious man and owns -good property. - - -Pullum, Rev. H. P., of Anniston, son of Lawrence and Caroline Pullum, -was born in Pickensville, Ala., March 23, 1862; baptized at Carrolton -August, 1882, and entered immediately upon the work of the ministry, -but was not ordained until March, 1889. At the request of the First -Colored Baptist Church at Bessemer, which he had organized and built -up, Mr. Pullum received the hands of ordination from Revs. P. Murrell, -W. A. Shirley, S. Page, A. J. Austin, D. M. Sewell, and J. C. Crawford. -He has a large following wherever he goes. - - -Purce, Rev. C. L., ex-president of Selma University, is noticed in this -work only so far as other authors have not been able to see him in his -peculiar relations to the work in Alabama. - -It was in 1886, I think, in the most trying period of our history, -that Dr. Purce was unexpectedly called (upon the resignation of -Dr. E. M. Brawley) to assume the presidential office in the Selma -University. The school was burdened with $7,000 of debt, its credit was -about gone, its debtors were impatient, its supporters divided, and -denominational strife was at white heat. The former president was not -only a peculiarly brilliant and cultured man, but had enjoyed special -advantages looking toward fitness for the presidential chair. Many -feared for Mr. Purce. - -However, it was thought by some that caution and economy were the -special characteristics called for by existing conditions. We needed -a man who could shun the strife of factions, keep cool under severe -pressure, and cause the school’s expenses to drop below its income. -Some who had watched Mr. Purce, were willing to trust him with the -difficult duties of this trying hour, and the writer records with much -pleasure, that he kept clear of the quarrels, and meanwhile did much to -remove the debt by putting the school on plain and well regulated fare. - -Dr. Purce has done the Baptists of Alabama very praiseworthy service, -not only as an educator, but as an example in the matter of school -management; and those who follow him will profit by heeding his caution -and economy. And, to his honor it may be said, we have had no president -who has been more generally loved by the school. - - -Pyles, Rev. Carter, of Oxford, Ala., born in Talladega county, Alabama, -December 15, 1845, of Christian parents. He was baptized in 1865 by -Rev. Mr. Jenkins, a white minister, who devoted much of his time to -evangelical work among the colored people. In 1876 he was officially -set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by the Rev. Mr. Jenkins, -William Taylor and B. Snow. Mr. Pyles is among the leading men of the -Snow Creek Association. His pastorates at Jacksonville, Choccolocco and -other points prove him to be a leader of ability. He is now undertaking -a new work at Oxanna, Ala. - - -Rivers, Rev. E. C., of Talladega, Ala., was born January 5, 1847. He is -the eldest son of Mr. Edward and Mrs. H. J. Rivers, two very worthy old -citizens of Talladega. In his twenty-fourth year he was married to Miss -Jane Moore, of Talladega, by whom he has a large family of children. - -He has a fair English education, having attended the Talladega College -for parts of five sessions. In 1867 he united with the Mt. Canaan -Baptist Church, Talladega, and was baptized by the late Rev. Phil. -Davis. - -He was called to ordination by the Salem Baptist Church in 1884, -Revs. J. P. Barton and Moses Colly officiating in the rites. He is an -industrious, prudent man, and has accumulated property worth $3,000 -or $4,000. At this time he is the moderator of the Rushing Springs -Association, over which he has presided with dignity for several years. -He is a model citizen and substantial man, sociable and aspiring. - - -Rivers, Rev. S. A., of Talladega, the son of Mr. Edward and Mrs. H. -J. Rivers, was born in Talladega, November 10, 1854. In a series of -meetings, held by the writer in Mt. Canaan Church, he was led to -exercise faith in the religion of Jesus Christ in 1876. In the same -year he was united with the church by baptism. - -He immediately began laboring as a leader in Sunday School work, -in which he at once proved himself to be a very capable person. He -was soon appointed Sunday School Missionary for the Rushing Springs -Association, in which position he was remarkably successful. In 1877 -he married Miss Elizabeth Walker, by whom he has three promising -daughters. He is a graduate from the theological department of the -Talladega College. He is an industrious business man, a Christian -gentleman, a clear thinker, a ready speaker, a social genius. No -man among us of his age has brighter prospects than he, none more -admired and loved. The manner in which he has succeeded, under trying -circumstances in the Mt. Canaan Church, is simply amazing. Toward God -he is faithful, toward man he is kind, gentle and full of service. He -was ordained in 1889 to take charge of the Mt. Canaan Church. - -[Illustration: Rev. H. Woodsmall, of Franklin, Ind., First President -Selma University.] - - -Rivers, Rev. Alexander A., of Midway, Ala., the son of John and -Violet Rivers, was born near Glennville, Ala., in the year 1851. - -In his twentieth year he was baptized into the Spring Hill Zion Church -by the Rev. A. Gachet, under whose preaching he had been led into -repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. - -It was not long before he felt that he was called of God to the work -of the ministry. At the call of the Enon Church he was set apart to -the sacred office by the Revs. A. Gachet, P. Johnson and F. Randall. -Brother Rivers is one of the strong preachers and successful pastors -of the Eufaula Association. He has had very limited educational -advantages, but he is a constant reader of books and a close observer, -and hence he has made considerable educational attainments. He is -quiet, unassuming, even and hospitable. The writer enjoyed a very -pleasant stay with Brother and Sister Rivers at their home in Midway. -He once held a very fine pastorate in Texas, which he had to give up -because of the poor health of Mrs. Rivers and return to his old home in -Alabama. - - -Roach, Rev. Perkins, of Stevenson, father of Mrs. M. A. Boothe and -of Rev. Thomas Jefferson Roach, was born in Tennessee. He, with Rev. -Thomas Roach (who was the first ordained colored minister in Jackson -county), and Rev. Robert Caver, organized the work in northeast -Alabama. He was noted for his magnanimity and joyfulness of heart. -It is said that his life was as one continuous song of gladness. -When a child he was a house boy, which position brought him into -continual contact with persons who knew books. He so far utilized this -advantage as to learn to read, but his knowledge of writing was delayed -till since the close of the war his daughter (now Mrs. Boothe) had -sufficiently advanced in her studies to instruct him. This story is -told of him: During the war his mistress, the widow of Rev. Charles -Roach, Sr., fearing the Federal soldiers, left home and fled across the -Tennessee river into Sand Mountain. The slave remained at home to care -for things about the place. With the view of preventing want to the -widow and those who were with her, he, regardless of the dangers of his -undertaking, and while the shades of night hid his operations, would -bear across the river and up the mountain such things as he thought -they might need. - -He has been dead some eighteen years. His widow, Mrs. Charlotte Roach, -has done nobly in rearing and educating the children. - - -Roach, Rev. Lewis, of Fackler, deserves mention as a hard working, -poorly paid gospel preacher. Many years he led the Mud Creek -Association as moderator. He, Rev. James Larkin, Rev. Lewis Henshaw, -and others, are trying to build an academy at Hollywood, Ala. They -deserve success. - - -Roach, Rev. T. J., of Hollywood, is an industrious and honorable man. -He has served the Mud Creek Association as missionary, has been pastor -at Bridgeport, and now preaches at Paint Rock. - - -Robinson, Rev. Isham, of Eureka, Talladega county, was born in -Greenville, S. C., October 10, 1814. While he was the property (?) of -Mr. John Truss (in 1833) he took to wife Miss Aggie Truss, by whom -there has been born unto him a large family of sons and daughters, who -are now grown and are honorable members of society. Brother Robinson -was baptized by a Rev. Mr. Joseph Byers in 1840. He said to the writer: -“I was licensed in 1850, but could not preach except when I could -secure the presence of two slaveholders. I was licensed by the Mount -Joy Church, the first church organized in our section of the State. -I was ordained in 1865, by a council over which Rev. A. J. Waldrop -presided. I was so hindered in my ministry in slavery time that Brother -Henry Wood and I covenanted together to take our case to God and beg -for liberty. We agreed that we would go at sunrise at least once each -week and pray to God for freedom. It was eighteen years before the -victory came, and often appearances caused our faith to waver.” Mr. -Robinson is now quite old, but is still in fair health. His sons are -leaders in the Baptist church and helpers in every good cause. - - -Rodgers, Rev. C. R., missionary for the western district of Alabama -under the American Baptist Publication Society, was born at Hamburg, -Perry county, Ala., August 4, 1859. - -In early life he had opportunity to attend the country school of his -neighborhood, beginning under the instruction of Rev. G. J. Brooks, now -of Selma. - -Living on the farm, his early activities were in line with his calling. -He was a farmer boy, and hence he drew his bread and bed from the -handles of the plow and the hoe. - -In November, 1878, he entered Selma University, graduating from the -normal course in 1884, with Messrs. R. T. Pollard, L. J. Green, R. -B. Hudson, D. T. Gulley,--Hines, Miss S. A. Stone and Miss Eliza -Washington (now Mrs. R. T. Pollard). The next year he began the college -course and completed with Messrs. Pollard and Hines the sophomore year. - -Mr. Rodgers was converted in his fifteenth year, and was baptized by -Rev. R. Windham September, 1874. - -On June 11, 1884, he was set apart to the full work of the gospel -ministry in the St. Philip Street Church, Selma, by Drs. E. M. Brawley, -C. L. Purce and C. O. Boothe, aided by Revs. H. N. Bouey and G. J. -Brooks. From the time of his ordination till December, 1890, he served -the pastorate of the First Colored Baptist Church, Tuskegee, but -since this last date he has been successfully operating in his present -position. - -In January, 1889, he was wedded to Miss Lily B. Foreman, of Opelika. -Bro. R. is a man of excellent spirit, quiet, unassuming, and makes -changes in men more on the order of the sunshine than in the manner of -the storm spoken of in the fable of the contest between sun and wind. -Perhaps no man among us has so few enemies as he has. - -From 1889 to 1892, he has presided over the Auburn Association. He is -an easy, pleasant speaker, and a choice man. - - -Ross, Rev. S. L.--It was March 9, 1861, when the subject of this sketch -was born of slave parents--Luckie and Emily Ross--near Rehoboth, Wilcox -county, Ala. - -He had the advantage of a pious, Christian mother, and was hopefully -converted at the age of 12 years, and united with the Pine Grove -Baptist Church by baptism, Rev. Wallace Richardson, pastor, officiating. - -He was taught his “A B C’s” by his mother and grandfather. As soon as -free schools opened he was placed in school, which were simply poor, -_for schools in those days were kept, not taught_. - -In December, 1879, he was sent to Selma for the purpose of attending -school. He united with the St. Philip Street Baptist Church--Rev. W. -A. Burch, pastor. For a number of years he was clerk of the church and -superintendent of the Sunday School. - -It was while he was superintendent of the Sunday School that Mr. Ross -felt called to the gospel ministry, in order to a better preparation -for which he entered (1883) the Alabama Baptist Normal and Theological -School (now Selma University), where he spent a number of years. - -Having received a call to the pastorate of the Hamburg Baptist Church, -near Marion, Mr. Ross was accordingly ordained March 31, 1889. -Ordaining council: Revs. Charles L. Purce, president Selma University; -R. T. Pollard, Sunday School Missionary; William Madison, J. H. Hunter -and L. J. Green. Dr. C. O. Boothe and Rev. Charles L. Fisher were also -present and participated. - -Rev. Ross was married to Miss Emily C. Boyd, of Selma, August 7, -1889. October 1, of the same year he resigned the Hamburg Church, the -Forkland School, which he had taught for a number of years, to accept -the principalship of the Eutaw public schools, Eutaw; Mt. Olive Baptist -Church, Boligee, and Liberty Baptist Church, Blocton. - -Owing to her thorough training and long experience as instructress -in the city schools of Selma, Mrs. Ross has contributed much to the -success of her husband. - -Against the wishes of friends, patrons and churches he resigned his -school of 350 pupils and the two churches named, to accept the position -as treasurer and instructor in the State Colored Normal School, Normal, -Ala. - -July 1, 1893, he severed his connection with that school and became -pastor of the Steele Street Baptist Church, Huntsville. - -October 1 of the same year he resigned the pastorate of the Steele -Street Church to take charge of the Sunday School Missionary work in -the State under the American Baptist Publication Society, Philadelphia, -Pa., which position he now holds. - - -Savage, Rev. Daniel, of Mumford, pastor of several large churches, -deserves to be mentioned among the praiseworthy, busy men of the -Rushing Springs Association. He is held in high esteem for his -self-reliance, stainless reputation, agreeable manners, public spirit -and earnest Christian labors. He preaches for Shady Grove Church, -Jenifer, and Sycamore Church, Talladega. The writer has seen him during -the past fifteen years--in many meetings where there were hot words and -hotter feelings and yet with him there was the same quiet spirit, the -same smiling face. “He that ruleth his own spirit is better than he -that taketh a city.” - - -Sampson, Mr. James William, son of Rev. Green Sampson, of Wetumpka, -is a young man of high rank in the order of the Knights of Pythias, -but is no less a solid efficient member of the Shiloh Baptist Church, -of Birmingham. He deserves consideration as a man of discernment and -enterprise concerning racial questions and denominational interests. - - -Scott, Rev. John, late of Demopolis, led to the erection of the edifice -in which the First Colored Baptist Church of Demopolis now worships. -After the Rev. James Caldwell, Rev. Scott was the chief leader of the -people in his section. He died five or six years ago at about 50 years -of age, and his pastorate is now filled by the Rev. Mr. Wallace. - - -Scott, Rev. Anderson, is at this writing pastor of the Tabernacle -Church, in Birmingham, but began his ministry at Selma, where he -appears among the organizers of the work. He has undergone a good many -changes, but because of the presence of a very large amount of vitality -and will force he is still pushing on among his brethren. His life may -give this useful lesson, namely, “keep the face to the lion, never -give the back to the foe”--forgetting the things that lie behind us, -vigorously reach for the good that lies before us. Brother Scott is one -of the pioneers and his name lies in the foundations. - - -Scott, Rev. Henry, of Blocton, is of Maryland parentage. He is a man of -piety, of integrity and industry. He has labored as a missionary of -the Shelby Springs Association, and has rendered valuable services in -support of Selma University. He is an uncompromising foe of low morals. -Recently his health has been poor, and hence his work has been hindered. - -When Selma University existed only in purpose he very substantially -aided the purpose toward materialization. He and Rev. D. L. Prentice -collected over a hundred dollars from one church and sent it up to the -writer in Talladega in 1876. - - -Shirley, Rev. W. A., was born in Tuscaloosa, Ala., June 12, 1857. He -began the work of mastering letters in his native city at the age of -seven years, by attending the public schools provided for by the State. -Later he attended three sessions (of nine months) of the city school -in Columbus, Miss. For seven years he worked in a whiskey saloon, -where, he says, that while at work behind the bar, he was converted -to the faith of the Christian religion. Joined the church in 1878 in -Mississippi, under the pastorate of Rev. T. L. Jordan. Studied theology -in the Presbyterian school at Tuscaloosa. Was ordained in the African -Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa under the pastorate of the Rev. J. M. -Mason. His pastorates have been at Hull’s and Birmingham, Ala. - -For ten years he served the Antioch, Bethlehem Association, as clerk. -He has built three church edifices. - -Mr. Shirley is possessed of that easy, joyous, friendly turn in manners -and address, which make him agreeable to all classes of reasonable -people. He is studious and observing, which fact, coupled with his -native talent, offers him an ever broadening field of operation as -the years shall come and go “Watch and pray that ye enter not into -temptation.” - - -Simmons, Rev. J. S., at present pastor of the Gadsden Church, son of -James and Annie Simmons, was born in Alabama August 16, 1859. He was -baptized by the Rev. Henry Stevens into the Greensboro Church May -27, 1878. Mr. Simmons is a man of talent, and is a graduate of the -Lincoln University, once located at Marion. He was set apart to the -work of the gospel ministry by the Sixteenth Street Church, Birmingham, -in April, 1889, Revs. W. R. Pettiford, D. D., A. C. Jackson, and R. -Donald, officiating as presbytery. Since his ordination he has served -the Galilee Church at Anniston, and now serves the church at Gadsden, -where his labors have been especially successful. Everywhere he has -borne the reputation of an honorable and pious man. He has been -fortunate in finding and winning a helpmeet for him in his spiritual -and intellectual labors in the person of a very excellent lady. - - -Simpson, Rev. I. T., of Selma, Ala., was born in this State August 1, -1858. He was baptized into the Belleville Church December, 1876, and in -1883, he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry by Revs. D. -Shepherd and C. Travis. He attended the State University at Montgomery -and is now soon to close a course in Selma University. Brother Simpson -is a man of fine sense, is a good speaker, and with heed on his own -part, sympathy on the part of his people, and blessing from above, his -opportunities for increasing usefulness and honor are very encouraging. -Already he has attained a reputation as a pastor and builder as well as -orator. - -P. S. Since the above was written, Brother Simpson has completed his -course at the University, and is now pastor at Opelika, where he is -already the peerless preacher and successful leader. - -The writer has the good fortune to know something about the good order -of his home, and of the hospitality of his refined and agreeable -wife. He is peculiarly himself and not another--clear headed, -comprehensive, reasonable, self-reliant, genial, in his home as well as -in the public harness. Doubtless the historian who comes after, will -tell of the fruits which shall hang upon the ripened years of this -strong man. May God help him to remember that Sampson’s strength was -the source of his ruin. “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” - -[Illustration: Rev. J. E. A. Wilson, Pastor Rising Star Baptist Church, -Pratt City, Ala.] - -Smith, Rev. G. S., is pastor of the Red Mountain Church Bessemer. - - -Steinback, Rev. L. S., ex-pastor African Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, -was born in Marengo county, Ala., March 12, 1852. He was set free at 12 -years of age. - -He says: “One year, all the wages I received above my scanty meals and -rough clothes, was one dozen apples. Often I was glad to obtain a good -meal of parched corn. At 19 I worked in Uniontown for 50 cents a day.” - -It was at this time that he learned his alphabet, studying at night -school. He says that as he went to his meals and to his work, his -spelling book was ever with him. He attended school after he had -married--using such time as he could spare after crops were “laid by.” - -He was ordained to the ministry in October, 1883, Revs. John Scott, -F. Gilbert and A. Wright officiating as presbytery. By industry and -perseverance, he has been able to teach in the free public schools of -the State, has been missionary in his association, and is now pastor of -one of our largest churches. He lives, he says, on his own plantation, -for which he has paid three thousand dollars. - -This is an example which is well calculated to encourage poor, -struggling young men to overcome difficulties and rise anyhow--rise in -spite of difficulties. Brother Steinback has served the pastorate of -the Tuscaloosa Church and also edits a newspaper, _The Christian Hope_. - - -Stevens, Rev. Henry, of Uniontown, son of Harry and Agnes Stevens, -was born near Port Royal, Va., May 5, 1820. At the age of 21 he was -baptized into Flat Run Church, Orange county, Va., by the Rev. B. -Hodge. He came to Alabama in 1843, at which time he began to speak -concerning the grace of God in the redemption of sinners. In 1845 he -began for the first time to read the sacred Scriptures, and in the same -year he married Miss Clarissa Clay, by whom ten children were born to -him. - -Mr. Stevens was one of nature’s noblemen. He was an honest, outspoken -man, an orderly citizen, and a very forcible preacher of the plain old -gospel. - -In 1868 he was fully set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by -his white brethren, Revs. T. M. Bailey and Drs. McIntosh and Curry. - -His every word was believed by all who knew him, and his perfect -honesty no man doubted. For nine consecutive years he was moderator -of the Uniontown Association. He was one of the founders of the State -Convention, and also of the Selma University. In 1890 he exchanged the -cross for the crown, dying as he had lived, loved and respected by all. -He left his family in possession of good property, worth about $5,000, -and, above all, a name that has no blemish. Often our school sought -refuge from want in the purse of Elder Stevens. He was two years older -than his brother Washington, who died before him in Montgomery. - - -Stokes, Rev. A. J., pastor of Columbus Street Church, Montgomery, was -born in Orangeburg county, S. C., July 25, 1858. He was led to exercise -faith in Christ at the age of twelve and a half years. He entered the -work of the ministry in the Methodist church, but soon became convinced -of the correctness of Baptist views, and, joining the Baptist people, -he was baptized by Rev. Edward Green, of Branchwell, S. C., May, -1871. After studying two terms in Crafting University and two terms -in the State University, he entered Benedict College, from which he -graduated in 1884. In 1874 he was solemnly set apart to the work of -the gospel ministry by Revs. E. Green, Jacob Govan, Henry Harvey, and -Harry Reeves. Brother Stokes has been missionary, editor and school -commissioner, and is one of the most successful preachers and pastors -in all the land. During the two months in which he has been preaching -in Montgomery he has added, by baptism, about 500 members. The writer -tried to learn something of his methods, by visiting his meetings -and young people’s classes, and the following points seem worthy of -mention; his preaching is characterized: - -1. By the idea of salvation by grace through simple faith. - -2. By narrative and portraiture and illustration. There is no cold -obtruse reasoning nor loud emptiness in his speeches. - -3. By pointedness and sympathy. Each man seems to feel that the pastor -is talking to him and that the heart that speaks has a care and -tenderness for all. - -Then he is sociable, approachable to all, from the lowest to the -highest, old folks and children, rich and poor, great and small, wise -and otherwise--all seem to find in him a ready echo. In view of his -power and of his youth, prayer spontaneously rises to God that he may -be kept in watching, in humility, in faith and in faithful service. - -It is worthy of remark that during his short time with Columbus Street -Church, he has bought a neat and valuable parsonage for the church from -means raised above the necessary expenses. - - -Taylor, Rev. William, Choccolocco, was born in April, 1836, in the -State of Georgia. He was the property (?) of a Mr. B. Jenks, whose -daughter married a Mr. Taylor. He says, “When in my ninth year my -mother bade me farewell with this charge: ‘Don’t kill, don’t steal, -don’t keep bad company, don’t be impolite to old people, don’t be -disobedient to those who own you, and you will never be abused.’ I -have never seen her face since, but her words have ever been with me -to confirm me in the right way.” Brother Taylor has now been in the -ministry about twenty-four years, having entered upon his public career -1868. He is one of the leading men of the Snow Creek Association, and -has attained to a fair knowledge of letters, though he has had no -educational advantages. Brother Taylor has been careful of the welfare -of his family and interested in the affairs of the house of God. He -lives on his own farm near Choccolocco, respected by his neighbors, -both white and colored. - -[Illustration: Rev. W. A. Shirley, Pastor Sardis Baptist Church, Enon -Ridge.] - - -Thornton, Rev. Elbert, of Union Springs, son of E. Thornton and Matilda -Thornton, was born in the State of Georgia, December 8, 1838. In 1853 -he was moved into Barbour county, Alabama, where he remained till he -was emancipated in 1865. In June, 1861, he was baptized into the white -Baptist Church at Midway, Ala., by the Rev. Mr. Brooks. In 1868 he was -united with the church at Union Springs, and was one among the colored -brethren who drew out from the white church to organize a colored -Baptist Church in Union Springs--the first colored church in Bullock -county. He was chosen one of the first deacons. It was not long ere -his brethren urged him to enter the work of the ministry, which, under -a deep sense of duty and after some hesitancy, he did. On the 5th day -of June, 1874, at the call of his church, he was solemnly set apart to -the sacred office of the gospel ministry by Revs. C. H. Thornton, B. -Clark and others. When he took charge of the church it was in debt, but -this debt was soon removed and the membership was increased, during -six years pastorate, from 48 to 188, and the pastor’s salary was raised -from $30 a year to $25 per month. From 1874 to 1881 he was moderator of -Pine Grove Association, and since his return from his gospel labors in -Arkansas he has been re-elected. Brother Thornton is no less commanding -in his personal appearance than he is in his strong, clear intellect. -He is a strong leader. - - -Thornton, Rev. C. H., of Aberfoil, Bullock county, was born in North -Carolina, in 1842. He was baptized in 1862 by a Rev. Mr. Brooks, of -Midway. In 1869 he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry -by Revs. R. Wright and J. C. Jett. He organized and built up the -Aberfoil Church. For several years he was moderator of the Pine Grove -Association. Mr. Thornton is a strong, industrious, economical, -persevering man. He has obtained property worth about $3,000. The -people whom he serves at Aberfoil are honorable and aspiring, and hence -each--pastor and people--finds in the other the elements of success. - -It was within his comfortable home that the writer, weary from overwork -and exposure in constant travel, found in February, 1890, a quiet -retreat in which to finish “Plain Theology for Plain People.” - - -Troupe, Rev. Aaron, of Town Creek, Lawrence county, was born February -14, 1851, in Morgan county, Ala. Immediately after the close of the war -his parents moved to Courtland, Ala., where Aaron was brought up. He -was baptized in 1869 by Rev. John Bell, the pastor of Red Bank Church. -Feeling that it was his duty to preach the gospel, and not willing to -enter upon such a responsible mission without previous preparation, he, -for about four sessions, attended the Selma University, known at that -time as the Normal and Theological School. On his return home he taught -in the public schools. On May 16, 1886, he was ordained to the work of -the ministry by Revs. G. Garth, M. J. Hooks, A. J. Owens and M. James. -Brother Troupe has served in the church at Huntsville, and is now the -successful pastor of Macedonia, near Town Creek. In 1882 he labored as -district missionary under the Publication Society. He promises well. He -and his brother, Deacon Troupe, are in the bone and sinew of the north -Alabama work, and in them every good thing finds a ready echo and a -tangible response. - - -Tyler, Rev. Mansfield, of Lowndesboro, was born about twelve miles from -Augusta, Ga., in the month of November, 1826. When very young he was -moved into the city of Augusta and lived in the family of his great -aunt, the wife of Rev. Jacob Walker. He was early brought under the -influences of the Springfield Baptist Church of that city--a church of -colored people, which as early as 1845 was reported as numbering 1,100 -members, and it was added: “This large community, with the pastor and a -large corps of exhorters, are all of the colored race.” Rev. M. Tyler -remained in this Christian family and attended the services of the -above named church till he was 18 years of age. He says: “I was with -them when the stars fell.” - -At this time, as he was a slave, he was removed by his master to the -State of Alabama, where he has remained until this writing. In April, -1855, he made a public profession of faith in Christ and united with -the people of God by baptism. Shortly after this he felt impressed with -a call to enter the work of the gospel ministry. This call he tried to -obey as far as his condition and fitness would allow. “The work,” he -says, “was exceeding difficult, as we were not allowed to know books -and might receive only oral instruction on religious subjects.” When -a very young man he married his first wife, with whom he lived for -twenty-six years--till her death. - -At the close of the war he located at Lowndesboro, where he went -immediately to work to organize a colored Baptist church. Success -attended his ministry and many were brought to faith in Christ. In 1867 -he succeeded in organizing the colored Baptist church in Lowndesboro. -On June 27, 1868, he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry, -since which time he has baptized 1,000 persons into the Lowndesboro -church and 500 at White Hall. - -When the Alabama District Association was organized in 1871, he was -elected moderator, and is moderator at this time. He was a leader -in the organization of the Baptist State Convention, over which he -presided from 1876 to 1886. He is one of the originators, stockholders, -and trustees of the Selma University, and is now, and from the -beginning of the University, has been the chairman of the board of -trustees. He is a man dearly beloved. - -In recognition of his Christian manliness, his faithful labors, and -his knowledge of the word of God, the above named university in 1890 -conferred upon him the honorary title of D. D. - -He is studious, industrious, devout, urbane; and though he is now about -68 years of age, he is still so full of sunshine as to be acceptable to -youth as he is to old age. His present wife heartily joins him in every -good word and work. - -He has succeeded in accumulating considerable property, and is greatly -to be praised for the care he has bestowed upon the culture of his -sons. He has been among the chief financial supports of all the worthy -measures of the denomination. He is very sociable, and possesses rare -powers as a preacher. No man in Alabama has so much power over the -Alabama Baptists as Dr. Tyler; his works as well as words make him the -beloved. - - -Walker, Rev. William, of Avondale, was born November 30, 1848, near -Jacksonville, Ala. In August of 1866 he was baptized into Bethel -Baptist Church, Alexandria, by Rev. George W. Brewton. Mr. Walker’s -ordination took place in August, 1876, Revs. G. W. Brewton, S. L. -McLean and James Miller officiating as presbytery. It was late in life -ere he came upon opportunities for book learning, but finally some -good white friends, seeing his desire to learn, assisted him in making -a beginning upon which he has made a fair improvement. His preaching -is characterized by self-abnegation, application to the subject, and -earnestness of style. Indeed in several regards he is really a strong -preacher. He is no less forcible in the pulpit than he is agreeable -in the parlor. He has served the pastorates at Gadsden and Anniston, -and now presides over the church at Ashville. The following will give -some evidence of his standing among all classes: While the Wills Creek -Association was in session a few weeks ago in Ashville the white -Baptists allowed him the use of the house of worship for the session, -and the Rev. Mr. Montgomery (white), of this town, informs me that the -white people aid in his support, some of them constantly attending upon -his services. - -[Illustration: Rev. L. S. Steinback, Pastor Second Baptist Church, -Demopolis, Ala.] - - -Walker, Rev. T. W., of Birmingham, the son of Rev. Emanuel and -Charlotte Walker, the property (?) of Benjamin Walker, of Coosa county, -Alabama, was born in Coosa county, Alabama, September 5, 1852. - -He joined the old Elam Baptist Church, Montgomery county, Alabama, in -May, 1879, and was baptized by Rev. Jerry Cole in the same month. On -February 26, 1884, he was ordained to the gospel ministry at the call -of the Sixth Avenue Church, in the city of Birmingham, by Revs. W. R. -Pettiford and J. R. Capers. His success has been marvelous. - -The writer first met the subject of this sketch in Montgomery county -in the year 1879, when, though he was not a Christian, he was acting -as Sunday School superintendent. He says that on this occasion the -question, “How can you lead others in the road to heaven when you, -yourself, are not walking therein?” destroyed all his carnal security -and false ease, and was the beginning of a change in his life. - -I doubt if any man among us has had more power over the masses than -he. While he was building the Sixth Avenue Church there was a constant -demand for more room for his audiences. And since he has been serving -at the Shiloh Church, the writer has seen not only the building filled -to its utmost capacity, but hundreds of eager listeners standing -without at the door. - -Those who know him best feel that his power over the masses is largely -owing to his common sense, goodness of heart, and his simple, steady -faith in God, his cool self-reliance and his hard work for and among -the masses of the people. - -Future historians will no doubt find reasons for recording his name -high on the best pages of their books.[2] - -He relates the following incidents of his early childhood: “When I -was five years of age, I, for the first time, enjoyed a ride to town. -When I got off the wagon Mr. Harrison rolled up my shirt sleeves and -the legs of my pants and placed me on a block on the street in the -middle of a great crowd of people. I enjoyed it, as I seemed to be the -person especially noticed by all. I saw my mother and father weeping, -but I could see no reason for it. When I came down from the block, I, -with two sisters and a brother, went home with a Mr. House, where the -crack of the whip, the yelp of the hound and the howl of the wolf were -the most frequent sounds that fell upon my ear. The fact and horrors -of slavery were first branded into my heart by the tying and whipping -of my father before my eyes. When I asked father what it meant, he -replied: ‘The lash which I fear will soon fall upon yourself, my son, -will too early explain what is meant.’” - -A white man to whom he hired himself taught him at night his alphabet, -and started him to spelling and reading during his eighteenth year, and -now he reads, writes, and manages his own figures in business. He is a -grand man. - -He has organized a building and loan association with about 2,000 -members. - -[2] See chapters on Sixth Avenue and Shiloh Churches, Birmingham, and -the Mt. Pilgrim Association. - - -Ware, Rev. William, of East Lake, Jefferson county, Ala., was born -in said county October 5, 1837. He was converted to Christianity -in his thirteenth year, and was baptized into Union Church, near -Birmingham--that is, where the city now is--by the Rev. Willis Burns -(white). He was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry November, -1868, by Revs. Edmond Burris and Allen McAlpine. - -The Rev. A. J. Waldrop (white) says of Bro. Ware: “We never had in -Jefferson county a man of more stainless character. He is not an -educated man, but he is earnest, honorable and upright.” - -The writer has found Bro. Ware to be one of the meekest and gentlest -of men. He, with Rev. Henry Wood, organized the Mt. Zion Church in -1878, and he was the first moderator of the Mt. Pilgrim Association. He -has held various pastorates, and has held them always with credit to -himself and profit to the cause. - -He lives on his own pleasant home and quiet farm a few miles northwest -of East Lake. He is still an active worker, and enjoys the love and -confidence of the people among whom his light so long has shone to the -glory of God. - - -Ware, Rev. Berry, was one of the pioneers of the work in Shelby, -Jefferson and Talladega counties. Few men in those early days had more -power over the masses than he. He died some sixteen or seventeen years -ago, and I have nothing of his history or nativity. He baptized the -Rev. D. L. Prentice, and started the church at Aldrich. - - -Webb, Rev. George W., of Eufaula, Ala., was born in Russell county, -Ala., in 1844. Fortunately for him, Capt. W. H. Redd carried him, -while he was still quite young, to Columbus, Ga., where his perceptive -mind was permitted to imbibe such ideas of refinement as did not exist -on the plantation. Here, under the advice of his parents, he entered -upon a sort of irregular course of study, which led to some success in -book knowledge. As Gen. Wilson’s army was passing through Georgia, he -enlisted as a soldier, remaining in service till he was mustered out in -1866. - -He was baptized into the fellowship of the white Baptist church at -Abbeville, Ala., by the Rev. L. R. Sims. In 1868 he married Miss Eliza -Collins, and in 1869 was among those who led in the organization of a -colored Baptist church at Abbeville. In 1870 he assisted in organizing -the “East Alabama and West Florida Association.” In 1873 he moved to -Eufaula. He was ordained to the gospel ministry about 1874-75. Mr. Webb -is a very energetic man and a successful builder of churches. He took a -leading part in the organization of the Eufaula District Sunday School -Convention, and much of its success is due to his missionary labors. He -is a friend of education and missions, and believes in progress on all -lines. - - -Whatley, Rev. W. H., of White Plains, is of Georgia nativity, but -came to Alabama while young. Without doubt Mr. Whatley is the most -influential man in Calhoun county, and yet no man in the county is -more modest, deferential and unassuming. He is a man of power, and yet -he does not seem to know anything about it. For years he has been the -moderator of the Snow Creek Association, and except something unusual -shall occur he will continue to preside for years to come. - -I know of no moderator who has better government in his association -than Mr. Whatley, and yet there seems to be no effort to command. He -exercises an oversight over every branch of his associational work, -appearing in all the general meetings, whether the interest at stake -pertains to local church work, to missions, to education, or to Sunday -School. He is an ex-student of the Georgia school, and attended while -it was located at Augusta. And it is a fact, much to the credit of his -white brethren, that they made it possible for him to attend school. He -lives on his own valuable farm amid his children, who are now maturing, -his son Charles being now a young man. - - -White, Rev. E. C., of Tuscumbia, was born about the year 1842 in -Chester county, S. C. In 1859 his master brought him to Alabama, -where he has since resided. He was converted the fourth Lord’s day in -October, 1869, and in the same month was baptized into the Russellville -church by the late Rev. P. Jones. - -Brother White says: “In April, 1868, my wife was baptized by the Rev. -W. E. Northcross, and her devoted life constrained me to desire peace -with God. My wife overthrew all my old ways and lovingly compelled me -into the ways of the Lord.” At once he became zealous for the cause of -Christ, and soon began to speak as opportunity offered itself, first at -Russellville and then at Tuscumbia. At the request of a church which he -had built up near Tuscumbia, Rev. W. E. Northcross called a council, -and on October 8, 1873, solemnly set him apart to the office of the -ministry. He has attained to some knowledge of books, of which he is -still an industrious student. Before his whole time was employed in the -ministry he taught in the public schools. - -The good people of Russellville and Florence have long held to him as -pastor. - -Brother White owes much to his excellent, Christian wife, who has been -a helpmeet for him since 1865. He is a hospitable brother and faithful -Christian minister. - - -White, Rev. J. W., the son of Claburne and Elizabeth Hatcher, was born -in Dallas county, Ala., in October, 1839, eleven miles south of Selma, -on the Alabama River. He takes his name from the Mr. White who owned -his mother. He was baptized into the St. Phillip Street Baptist Church, -Selma, by Rev. John Blevins, in September, 1868. He was ordained to the -work of the ministry by the above named church, in August, 1875, Revs. -J. Dosier, J. Carter, Henry Stevens, and John Blevins, officiating -presbytery. Bro. White was at one time moderator of the Uniontown -Association; was for some months missionary under the American Baptist -Publication Society; was pastor, at different times, of the Mt. Zion, -the Summerfield, the St. Paul, and the Providence Churches, near Selma; -was pastor at Camden, Ala., and recently retired from the pastorate -of the Sixth Avenue Church, Birmingham. He has from the first been -officially connected with the Selma University, in which he studied -for about three sessions, being the first ministerial student who was -enrolled. He is an earnest preacher and a studious man, so that it may -be said of him that he is an elevator of the people on all lines. He -relates the following story: “During the war, and at a time when things -looked rather dark for the South, my stepfather and I were attending a -Presbyterian meeting, when he was called on to pray God to ‘drive back -our enemies.’ Father prayed: ‘O Lord, drive back our enemies.’ When we -were at home alone I told him that I found fault with his prayer, for -it was really against the interest of his people. The old man answered: -‘The _our_ meant the colored people, and the word _enemies_ referred to -our oppressive chains.’” - -At this time, extending from a time long before, there was an organized -prayer circle in Selma, which met on every Friday night beneath a great -oak tree in the woods to pray to God to bring liberty to the slave. -Brethren Alex. Goldsby and Charles White were among the leaders of this -meeting. Doubtless Bro. J. W. White knew of this meeting and of its -purpose, and hence was hardly prepared to hear a prayer so seemingly -contrary to the wishes and needs of his people. - - -Wilhite, Rev. J. Q. A., of Selma, was born August 13, 1854, in -Louisville, Ky. He was baptized in 1866, and in 1878 was ordained to -the office of the gospel ministry in his native city. The presbytery -of the occasion was Revs. C. C. Stamm, D. A. Gaddie, W. W. Taylor and -others. Shortly after this he entered the gospel work in Alabama, -beginning as pastor of the Second Baptist Church, Eufaula. He came to -supersede the Rev. Mr. Bassett, who for some reason had returned to -Indiana. Under his administration the Eufaula Church rose into success -and beauty unequaled by anything that had passed before. Beginning -with 1886 he was for several consecutive years financial agent for -Selma University. Resigning this work he was for sometime pastor of the -church at Uniontown, where he was attended by his usual prosperity, -both in gathering the people and in raising finances. This position he -resigned in order to assume once more the office of financier for the -University. At the present writing he is treasurer of the University. - -Mr. Wilhite’s success is largely owing to the following: Self-reliance, -industry, tact, perseverance, adaptability of himself and methods to -the condition of the people. - -He is an ex-student of the Roger Williams University, Nashville. - -In 1872 he wedded Miss Kate Talbert, who has presented him with a -large family of promising young folks, to whose education he is giving -special attention. He is to be commended for that economy, as well -as industry, which has enabled him to possess a comfortable home for -himself and loved ones. He has not been forgetful of the welfare of -them over whom God has made him guardian. Like very few preachers, he -is a good business man as well as a good preacher. - -P. S.--He has recently built a brick edifice at Uniontown. He is now a -successful pastor in Birmingham. - - -Wilson, Rev. J. E. A., pastor of the First Colored Baptist Church, -Pratt City, comes to our denomination from the Methodist Church. He was -born January 1, 1861, in Fayette county, Alabama, and was led to submit -to Christ as his Savior, September, 1882. He was regularly inducted -into the Baptist ministry, September 27, 1887, by the laying on of the -hands of a council consisting of Revs. A. C. Jackson, V. Huntington -and others. He has served acceptably at Patton, Corona and Jasper. -He is unpretending, quiet, brotherly and has a good report from all -circles. His school advantages have been rather meagre, but with his -youthful vigor and self-control, coupled with the abundant facilities -for an increase of knowledge common to these times, he may yet be a -man of learning and a leader in letters. Of course no man can hope to -attain to knowledge beyond his ability to study forever and without any -thought of tiring or despairing. - -Notwithstanding he is a man of strong emotions, he has rare executive -ability and is hard to equal as a leader. - - -Wood, Rev. Henry, of Talladega, was born August 15, 1825, in -Greenville, S. C. His father was a lawyer in South Carolina. He came -to Alabama with his mother when eleven months old, and was settled in -Jefferson county, near Elyton. - -He was baptized into the white church by Rev. Joseph Bias, who, at the -time, gave it as his opinion that “Henry” would be a preacher. Ordained -to the work of the gospel ministry just after the war (1867), he was a -timely instrument in the special mission of organization. Mr. Wood has -been one of the pioneers of our work in Jefferson, Talladega, Calhoun -and St. Clair counties. In speaking of his struggle after knowledge in -slavery time, he says: “I had been reading for some time and had begun -to learn to write fairly well, when the fact came to the notice of the -white people. They tied me up and laid 600 lashes on my back; and, I -tell you, I lost all my knowledge of writing after this.” Referring -to his missionary and pioneer work since freedom, he relates the -following: “For the most part the white people have treated me well. -Sometimes, however, I have been troubled with drunkards and ‘negro -whippers.’ As I was riding on my missionary work in Blount county, I -once met a man who gave me such a crack over my shoulders with his -horse whip as almost broke the skin; but as I did not so much as look -toward my abuser, he let me go with no further harm. I passed on, -thanking God that it was no worse with me.” - -Brother Wood is a man of excellent spirit--is as jovial as he is -earnest. His life has been temperate and chaste, and he is approaching -the death shadows and the tomb with triumph and in peace. He has -occupied good pastorates and honorable places in the associations. His -first wife (Miss Dicey Truss, whom he married in 1844), has preceded -him to the goodly land, and both their children have passed before him. -He now lives in Talladega with his second wife (the widow of Mr. Thomas -Barclay), in very easy circumstances, and still finds plenty of work to -do in the cause of the Master. Few men are more widely known and more -generally beloved than he. For wrath and malice he is entirely a child. -Nothing could more surprise his brethren than to see him in a fit of -ugly temper, or to hear from his lips expressions of ill will. Brother -Wood speaks in praise of Revs. Messrs. McCain, Mynett and Law (white) -as friends to their colored brethren in the time of the latter’s -weakness and inexperience in church work. - -P. S.--Our dear Brother Wood has gone to his crown on the ever bright -shore. Peace hover over thy dust, O thou man of God! - -[Illustration: St. Louis Street Baptist Church, Mobile, Ala., Rev. J. -L. Frazier, Pastor.] - - -Wood, Rev. R. T., of Huffman, pastor of Pleasant Hill Church, and -son of Mr. Henderson Wood, of the same place, is the eleventh child -of a family of thirteen children. While he was still very small two -older brothers were killed by the “K. K. K.,” which clan terrorized -the country after the close of the war. In consequence of which sad -incident, it is thought, his father died of mental depression, leaving -the subject of our sketch without a father’s presence, guidance and -support. Nothing daunted by this host of sorrows and misfortunes, -Mr. Wood, industriously and with patient spirit, notwithstanding his -delicate constitution, gave himself to such engagements as came to his -hand, making horse collars and brooms as well as aiding his widowed -mother in spinning, knitting and weaving. In his thirteenth year he was -minded to seek for peace with God, and, so at an early age, he began to -attain to experiences of grace which have increased with the growth of -years. - -Evidently the family is possessed of sterling qualities, as may be seen -in their aspiration and courage. The other members of the family whom I -have met live an independent home life in the mountains near Huffman. -Mr. Wood hopes he may find an opening through which to enter the -mission field in Africa, and his name has been sent in to the mission -authorities. If his life should be spared for a maturer development he -will be a tower of strength in good things. He is a graduate from the -Grammar Department of Selma University, in which institution he expects -to take a higher course. - -[Illustration] - - - - -BIOGRAPHICAL SUPPLEMENT. - - -It is to be regretted, perhaps, that this volume has in it a feature -which must be considered a supplement. But doubtless the author will be -excused when he tells the reader that many have delayed till now--long -after the completion of the book--to send in their names. New men, -strong men, have lately come to us from other States--men whose names -could not well go into the main body of the book, for the reason that -this has been done for some time. Also, young men of our own State have -risen into such favorable notoriety as to merit honorable notice. - -In the body of the book I have placed the names of persons in their -alphabetical order. Not so here: I have entered the names as they came -into my hands. The printer was hurrying me, and I could not stay for -proprieties. - - * * * * * - - -Clark, Mr. Peter F., son of P. F. and Daphney Clark, was born in -Hale county, Ala., near Gallion, on the Taylor plantation. He first -attended what in his neighborhood was known as the Vaughn Hill School, -and afterward studied at a night school taught, he says, “by one who -would have been my mistress had slavery continued.” Bro. Clark has -been remarkably successful in business, which is largely due to his -industry, economy and courteous manners. He is vice-president of the -Penny Savings Bank in Birmingham, as well as one of the directors. -In speaking of the line of work out of which he derived his start in -business affairs, he remarked to the writer: “I remained with one firm -twelve years.” As we see his success in the light of this statement, we -are reminded of the old saying, “The rolling stone gathers no moss.” So -many fail on all lines because they move about so much. Mr. Clark is -sociable, hospitable, and courteous. - - -O’Riley, Rev. J. P., pastor at Compton and Trussville, gives the -following sketch of himself: “I was born in Saint Croix, Danish -West Indies, August 1, 1850. In 1870 I entered a Catholic school -in Baltimore, with a view to preparing for the priesthood. In 1874 -I joined the Protestant church, and in 1880 I was ordained to the -ministry of the Baptist denomination. My pastorates in Alabama have -been in connection with the St. Paul Church at Greenville, Coalburg -Chapel, Mt. Nebo at Patton, Mt. Joy at Trussville, and Mt. Olive at -Compton.” - -Bro. O’Riley is a vigorous worker, and is blessed with social qualities -which make him an agreeable companion. - - -Frazier, Rev. Jeremiah Lemuel, son of Richard and Phœbe Frazier, was -born in Abbeville county, S. C., June 18, 1857. He says: “My parents -were among the poorest of the slaves.” In 1867 his parents moved to -Florida, where, in 1874, their son was baptized into the Bethlehem -Baptist Church, near Madison county Court House. - -_His Education._--He has had no public school advantages, but being -possessed of a quiet, appreciative, observing, aspiring turn of mind, -he availed himself of such educational facilities as came in his way. -In the fall of 1874, he entered a night school and continued his -studies during the long nights of the winter, paying the teacher one -dollar per month. Being called off from this advantage by the demands -of the farm, he sought knowledge in the Sunday School, and in the study -of such books as he could command. He speaks with pleasure of the fact -that his mother prayed that he might learn to read the Bible, that he -did learn to read it, and that he read it to her in her weary hours of -sickness. The affectionate son is now the affectionate man. - -_His Work, etc._--On informing his pastor that he was called to preach, -he was advised to take up a course of study, which he did, continuing -it for about ten years, during which time, 1878, he was wedded to Miss -Ida Paul, a young lady sufficiently skilled in letters to render him -valuable service in his books. He was ordained in March, 1885, to take -charge of the Zion Baptist Church, Enterprise, Fla., since which time -he has been pastor in Sanford, Fla. He is now the beloved, successful -pastor of the St. Louis Street Church, Mobile, Ala. He is a good -preacher, good pastor, good financier, good man. The above named church -was organized in 1854; their building is worth $20,000. - - -Keller, Rev. R. H., of Birmingham. This young man is brought into -special prominence by his missionary operations in the “Magic City.” -He began at Avondale as pastor, but seeing that so many people were -absenting themselves from the churches, he conceived the idea that -where the people would not or could not go to the gospel, the gospel -should go to them. Mr. Keller went to work at his idea, speaking in -empty store houses, etc., in the most ignorant and most polluted -neighborhoods or sections of the city, to such of the people as he -could induce to attend. At last he stirred such interest in favor of -his project and plans as influenced many of the good people of the -white churches to render substantial aid. - -At present all the white and all the colored ministers of -Birmingham--except the Catholic and Episcopal--are united in Mr. -Keller’s support. It is rather a strange fact in gospel work that -this man should thus represent both races and all creeds. His talks -before the white people, so I’m informed, have caused the white women -of Birmingham to propose a work upon their part that has for its object -the betterment of the home life of the colored people. - -“The Union Conference of the White and Colored Ministers of Birmingham” -is a result of Mr. Keller’s labors. Evidently he is a man of strong -hope in and strong grasp upon his purpose as well as patience, amidst -discouragements. - - -Loveless, Hon. H. A., of Montgomery, was born November 24, 1854, near -Union Springs, in Bullock county, Ala. His ex-master retained him on -the old farm for five years after the war was over on the plea that -his mother was unable to assume his management and support. Finally, -however, he escaped to Montgomery, where he found employment for small -wages. Being industrious and economical, he soon obtained a little -money ahead which he invested in the butcher’s business. His business -tact, push, courage, kindness of heart, politeness and integrity soon -won for him the confidence and respect of his neighbors, who marked him -as a youth of merit and promise. He soon became an earnest, consistent -Christian man, from whose hands the poor and needy were daily fed, and -at whose house pastors and their families were entertained for years -without cost. - -Now (1895) in addition to his old business of butcher, he operates -a hack and dray line, a coal and wood yard, and an undertaker’s -establishment, giving constant employment to about twenty-five persons -at a daily outlay of about $25. His wife, once Miss Lucy Arrington, -whom he married in 1875, is a suitable help for him, no less in his -labors of love than in his business enterprises. He is worth not less -than $15,000. His life is an inspiration to poor young men starting -the journey of life. Mr. Loveless is an honest man, which in the -language of another, is the noblest work of God. The character of the -man may be seen in his advice to his laborers: “Pay your debts if it -takes the last cent you have.” - - -Eason, Rev. James Henry.--Among the younger and scholarly men of -Alabama is Rev. James Henry Eason. This energetic Christian worker and -model of moral courage was born October 24, 1866, in the “piney” woods, -eight miles from Sumterville, Sumter county, Ala.--fifteen miles from -the railroad. - -His father, Jesse Eason, has served as deacon in the Sumterville -Baptist Church for a number of years, and is highly respected by both -races in his community. - -His mother, Chaney Eason, is a faithful Christian worker in the -church, as well as a devoted wife and mother. Mr. Eason’s strength of -character, talent and success are, to a large degree, heritages from -this good woman. His mother taught him his alphabet one Sabbath when he -was only five years of age. The early part of his life was spent with -his parents on the farm, and he attended public school near his home. -His first teacher was a Mr. Poe, a white man, who said to him, as they -were coming from school one day: “You will be a smart man one of these -days.” - -James did not advance very far in his books under this teacher, who -taught the old method of going through the spelling book first, next -the reader and then review. Besides, the schools only lasted three -months in each year. His marked improvement was not made until his -parents moved to Sumterville, and he began studying under Rev. C. R. -Rodgers and H. D. Perry from Selma University. It was in the Wednesday -evening prayer meetings, held in the school by Rev. C. R. Rodgers, -he received a deep and effectual religious impression. A year -afterward--October, 1881--he was baptized into the Sumterville Baptist -Church by Rev. G. Lowe. In November of the same year he entered the -Alabama Baptist Normal and Theological School at Selma, Ala., now Selma -University. In 1885 he graduated from this institution with the highest -honors of his class--his class being the second class to graduate from -this institution. Along with the normal course he took the college -preparatory course, and began his college course in the fall of 1885. -After spending about two years in this course he abandoned it on -account of financial embarrassment and other unfavorable circumstances. -To this point he had kept himself in school by working on the farm -during the summer months. - -In 1883 he took a little school at Ohio, Ala., and in 1886 he canvassed -and sold the _Colored Chieftain_. In 1887 he was elected principal -of Garfield Academy, Auburn, Ala. It was in this position his noble -qualities claimed the attention of the public as a teacher and -preacher--yes, as a leader. Here the desire of higher education burnt -again upon his heart and, against the protest of patrons, he resigned -this position and entered Richmond Theological Seminary, Richmond, Va., -in 1887. After three years of hard study he graduated ahead of his -class in 1890 with the degree of B. D., and returned to Alabama and -began work as professor of mathematics in Selma University--a position -he still holds. He was ordained in Tabernacle Baptist Church, Selma, -Ala., in 1891, and took charge of Union Baptist Church, near Marion, -Ala. He has baptized one hundred persons. He is moderator of New Cahaba -Association, and managing editor of the _Baptist Leader_. As a teacher -he is admired by the pupils and respected by the faculty. He is a hard -student and takes high rank as a preacher, and excels in persuasive -oratory. He is original, broad minded and good natured, and is much -respected among the brethren of the State. - -[Illustration: Rev. T. W. Walker, Pastor Shiloh Baptist Church, -Birmingham, Ala. Moderator Mt. Pilgrim Association.] - - -Mason, Dr. Ulysses Grant.--We feel justified in saying, that among the -rising and foremost young men of Alabama is the one whose name heads -this article. He is the youngest son of Mary and Isaac Mason; was born -November 20, 1872, in Birmingham, Ala., which city is still his home. - -Until the age of 16 his school advantages were limited to the rural -districts, where educational facilities were few. But his desire to -learn soon exhausted the shallow draughts of the primary school, and -therefore he entered the State Normal School at Huntsville, Ala., now -located at Normal, Ala., where he drank more freely from the deeper -springs of science and art. Aside from his regular course, he pursued -the carpenter’s trade, at which his success was soon apparent; for, -two months after entering, he was advanced to the position of foreman -over some of his older colleagues. He graduated from the above named -school June 1, 1891. As a student and teacher the thought uppermost in -his mind was that of serving his race by helping to lift it to a higher -plane of intellectual culture, for he was not slow to see the moral -and physical disadvantages under which it was laboring. To effect this -result, he dedicated all his energies to the social and educational -betterment of his race. After finishing the course at this school, he -taught, as a stepping stone to further usefulness, having held with -honor and respect the principalship of the Calera public school. He -resigned this position, much to the regret of the school board and -patrons, to enter the Meharry Medical College, Nashville. His success -as a student of medicine surpassed even his previous career, causing -the surprise and even the envy of many who claimed to have towered far -above him in the literary world. He was appointed prescriptionist -for the clinic, and assistant professor of clinical medicine in the -absence of Prof. R. F. Boyd, B. S., M. D., D. D. S., in which capacity -he proved very efficient. He refused the honor of valedictorian of his -class, and was unanimously elected treasurer. - -Dr. Mason is now located at his home, Birmingham, Ala., and is one of -our best physicians. His kindly and affable manner has won to him the -love and confidence of all. There can be no question as to his future -success, as this is assured in his good qualities, skill, and the -confidence of the people. - - -Sisson, Rev. Samuel S.--The subject of this sketch was born in the -little town of White Plains, Calhoun county, Ala., June 11, 1863. He -lived with his parents on a plantation, helping them in every possible -way. He was converted and baptized in 1871. He attended the public -schools as opportunity allowed him. In 1882, being convinced that -he was called to preach, he entered the Alabama Baptist Normal and -Theological School (now Selma University), under the presidency of Dr. -W. H. McAlpine. Here he studied hard, paying his own way. - -In 1884 he was called as pastor of the Baptist Church at Stock Mill, -Ala., Cherokee county. He served this church four years, during which -time he baptized and added to the church 250 persons. Not being -satisfied with his education, he returned to Selma University in 1888. -He was in school only two months when he was asked to supply the pulpit -of the St. Philip Street Baptist Church, Selma, Ala., as pastor pro tem. - -He served them in this capacity three months, when he was elected -pastor, in which capacity he served the church about five years. A -great many doubted the ability of the young Timothy to stand in the -shoes of such noted theologians as Rev. Wm. A. Burch and Dr. C. O. -Boothe. He himself felt that his task was very difficult. He could only -trust in Him whose power is inexhaustible. - -It was not long until his congregation outnumbered any other in the -city. He states that during his five years as pastor he added 1,142 -members to the church. Six hundred and forty-two by baptism. - -He also laid plans to build a new church. Three thousand three hundred -and ninety-seven dollars, so he informs the writer, was raised under -his administration for the new church building. Feeling that his work -was about accomplished in this field, he resigned as pastor in the fall -of 1893. He was then called to Milton, Fla., to pastor the Mt. Pilgrim -Baptist Church. He served the church only five months. His own State, -Alabama, not being willing to give him up, he accepted a call by the -Jerusalem Baptist Church, Bessemer, Ala. He is now serving this church -and is building up a strong congregation for the Master. He is active -in church work and much loved by his brethren throughout the State. - -In 1888 he married Mrs. Roxie Drake, of Auburn, Ala., and to this -fortunate union is due much of his success. She is to-day the organist -of his church. Rev. Sisson has high hopes for the future of his people -and does everything possible to advance them. He is friendly and, -therefore, has friends everywhere he works. He is a hard student of -God’s word. As a preacher he is sound in practice and doctrine. - - -Jordan, Mrs. Dinah Smith, was born in Walker county, Ala., March 26, -1869. Her early days were spent in Arkadelphia, Blount county, and in -1883 she came with her mother to live in Birmingham, Ala. Mrs. Jordan, -from a child, loved to read that Book of all books the best, the Holy -Bible, and in April, 1885, gave her heart to God. The new-found love -in her heart now brought new motives and new aspirations into her -life. She was in a new kingdom, and wanted to work for her King. A -sermon preached by her pastor, Rev. W. R. Pettiford, on “Christian -Growth and Usefulness,” very deeply impressed this young Christian, -and to this day is an inspiration to her. Another one whom she dearly -loved was Mrs. M. A. Ehlers, a missionary under the Women’s Baptist -Home Mission Society, who was at that time in Birmingham, and who she -says will never know the help she has been to her in her Christian -life, until the lights of Eternity dawn upon her. She began by doing -the little things that came to her hands to do--faithfully attending -the services of her church, bringing children to the Sunday school, and -seeking in her home to honor her Savior. As grand a motive may be had -in doing those things which in the eyes of the world seem small as in -doing that which the world calls great and admires; and Mrs. Jordan, we -believe, had this _true_ motive, the love of Christ constraining her. - -Her marriage, which took place on June 7, 1887, to Mr. Andrew Jordan, -had been made a subject of special prayer. The husband thinks he has -one of the best of Christians in his wife, and through her consistent -life he was led, in the fall of 1892, to say, as did Ruth of old: -“Thy God shall be my God.” The Women’s Missionary Society opened up -new avenues of usefulness to her, and as they came she gladly went -forward--visiting the sick, doing religious visiting in the homes of -non-church-goers, and holding fireside schools for the children in -her neighborhood. She rejoices that in these she has had the blessed -privilege of directing the minds of the little ones to Jesus. Her -work as teacher in one of the industrial schools conducted by the -missionaries has been faithful, earnest, and a means of great strength -to them, and her gentle ways have won the love of the pupils. - -She loves the work of the young people, and is a member of the board of -the associational B.Y.P.U. Her consistent Christian life in her home -and in the circles in which she moves has made her life a blessing to -all. - - -Duncan, Mrs. M. D.--This lady who began and is now operating a female -academy, was born in the year 1864, March 8, in Jefferson county, Ala. -She, for one, has made her mark in life. She professed a hope in the -Lord Jesus Christ, in the year 1876--was baptized by Rev. E. T. Winkler -(white), and joined the Baptist church of Marion, Ala. She worked her -way in school. After she finished the primary department (taught by -Mrs. Frances Nickerson,) she entered the Lincoln Normal University, -where she was graduated in 1882. Then she was thrown out on the great -voyage of life, to meet the many hindrances and obstacles that fall -in the pathway of life. But being a brave and persevering woman, she -triumphed over them all. She commenced teaching school in 1879, in -Marion, Perry county. In 1882, she taught a three months’ term in Bibb -county. She was then highly recommended by the President of L. N. -University to Tuskaloosa, where she taught in the city school for two -terms; then removed to York Station, Sumter county, and there taught -two terms, and in 1889, taught one term in Forkland, Greene county. She -was then called to Demopolis, to take charge of the Female Institute, -where, for five years, and up to the present time, she has given mutual -satisfaction to the entire city and community. - -The above is given to show the spirit of enterprise among us and to -excite others to work on the same line. - - * * * * * - - -Closing the chapter which brings into prominence notable individuals -of the denomination, the author feels that it is only just to remark -that many of the most cultured and deserving of our number are not -mentioned. This comes of the facts that limited means made the -production of a large book impossible, while, on the other hand, as the -author was hard pressed with other business, his survey of the field -was necessarily imperfect. Such persons as the learned and industrious -Prof. J. W. Beverly, of the State School at Montgomery; Prof. A. H. -Parker, principal of one of the city schools of Birmingham; Prof. R. -B. Hudson, principal of the City School of Selma; Prof. E. W. Knight, -of the faculty of Selma University; Prof. Phillips, principal of one -of the city schools of Montgomery; Mr. Edgar A. Long, the business -manager of the “Alabama Publishing Company,” Birmingham; Mrs. A. A. -Bowe, teacher of the sewing department of Selma University; Mrs. M. -A. Boothe, the first president of the Colored W. C. T. U. of Alabama, -and Mrs. S. L. Ross, the first secretary; Mrs. S. A. Hardy (once -Miss Stone) who led the women in their successful money effort in -interest of our brick school building at Selma; Mrs. C. Copeland -and Miss Octavia B. Boothe, who have been in the employ of the -Baptist Women’s Home Mission Societies as missionaries; Mrs. Amanda -Tyler, of Lowndesboro; Mrs. R. T. Pollard and Mrs. S. H. Wright, of -Montgomery; Mrs. Rebecca E. Pitts, of Uniontown; Mrs. Alice Gray, of -Talladega; Mrs. Lula Patterson (once Miss Lula Watkins), the very -capable teacher of music in Selma University; Doctors Robert and -Felix Tyler, of Lowndesboro; Prof. Samuel Roebuck, of Elyton; Rev. T. -W. Robinson, of Gurleys; Rev. H. Zimmerman, the efficient leader of -Bibb County Association; Mrs. Nancy Nickerson, the first teacher of -colored children in Perry county; Rev. F. L. Jordan, pastor of the -Sixteenth Street Church, Birmingham--of all these, with many other -worthy persons, our book fails to give any notice. Their absence from -the biographic sketches is to be accounted for solely in the reasons -mentioned, namely, that means were limited and the author’s time -and energy were divided between so many different lines of work as -necessitated an imperfect survey of the field. - -[Illustration] - - - - -V. SUMMARY. - - -We now turn our pen toward the conclusion, on our way to which we will -briefly consider: (1) From whence we have come; (2) How we have come; -(3) The point we now occupy. - - -I. FROM WHENCE WE HAVE COME. - -We have seen the tree--dwarfed and yellow-leafed--in the sterile -rock-bound soil of the mountain peak, and we have felt that its life -was a mere existence, a mere hair’s-breadth remove from death. The -fearful regime of slavery had reduced the mental life of the Negro -to the point where its activity was a simple, natural struggle for -existence. By the terms mental life are designated especially the -knowing faculties and voluntary powers, as well as that part of the -emotional nature that has to do with character-making. I mean to -say that in his intellect, will, and moral sense, the Negro was, by -slavery, reduced to the minimum. It could not be otherwise for these -reasons: (_a_) It was unlawful for him to know books; he must know -nothing save what his master told him, and must never ask for a reason. -(_b_) He was not allowed to have any will of his own except in minor -points, with reference to a brute or a fellow slave. His master’s will -was substituted for his, and out of his master’s choice his words and -deeds must proceed, even as concerned the most sacred relations of -life. At his master’s choice he took the wife, and at his choice he -gave up the wife. (_c_) He was not allowed to have any conscience, -except where his master had no choice. Whatever the master _said_ the -slave must do, that he _must do_, conscience or no conscience. Now this -state of things had gone on for over 200 years. From this condition -we came forth into liberty, and with this eking existence of wilted -life we must make a beginning as freemen. With nothing of that sort of -manhood which comes only of the well ordered domestic circle, we had to -put our shoulders beneath burdens which come of the family institution. -The duties of citizenship were imposed upon us, notwithstanding we had -never felt or studied anything of the privileges and obligations which -center in individual sovereignty. Though we were ignorant of the gospel -for the most part and knew nothing of the order of business in church -meetings, we found ourselves suddenly forced into the management of -church affairs. We had now to look to our own heads for light, to our -own hearts for courage, and to our own consciences for moral dictation. -So much for the hinderances from within ourselves. - -[Illustration: Rev. J. W. Jackson, Pastor Eufaula Baptist Church.] - - -CHANGE IN THE SOCIAL STATUS OF THE SOUTH. - -The master and the slave were each pulled from his place as by a mighty -force--a force which did no little tearing on both sides, especially -on the side of master. For this reason the master was sore. The South -had grown rich in slaves. This property the war pulled from its fists, -and left in its midst. The Southern people who were rich one day were -poor the next day. That the presence of the former slave, clothed in -the sovereignty of citizenship, amidst his ex-master’s poverty, should -chafe and madden the master, there can be no wonder. Well, it did -madden him, and because of this fact the pioneer Negro leader often -found himself “headed off” or hindered with reference to some church or -school project in his mind. Often did he hide or turn from his course -to escape punishment or death by the hands of persons who suspicioned -him as a bad man to be among “the Negroes of the neighborhood.” The -writer has had many narrow escapes and painful experiences. - -We needed help, but whither should we go to obtain it? Thank God for -the few white people who had grace in such a time to extend a helping -hand to us in our and in their time of weakness. - - -II. HOW WE HAVE COME. - -(_a_) Not long since a white merchant of this state remarked to me: -“No people have ever improved so much in so short a time as your -people have.” I replied: “I think no people ever had a more faithful, -self-sacrificing leadership.” I think it may be said of us that we have -done what we could. The work began when we owned neither land for home -nor land for church house--when there was no church, no association, -no mission board to offer any pay for labor. I speak of course of -the rule. True, there were a few colored churches in “slavery time,” -three missionary and one primitive; but what were three churches in -the midst of such a vast population, scattered over so much territory? -What could they do in their poverty and want of training to support 400 -or 500 pioneer organizers? We went to the battle at our own charges. -With homeless mothers and fathers, with homeless wives and children, -and with oppression on every side--with all these burdens and much -more which cannot be told, upon us--we bravely undertook the work of -building the walls of Zion. The writer knows a minister who, (between -1866 and 1875, especially between ’66-’77, during the reign of the “K. -K. Klan,” when the people could not in many places be induced to open -their doors after dark for fear of being shot), has endured some of -the severest privations and performed some of the hardest toils known -to the ministry, at his own charges. This case is only one in hundreds. -Our ministry, whatever the faults and imperfections which have attended -them, have wrought nobly and wrought to good results. - -The following will serve to show why the writer is inclined to -believe these early pioneers were often especially favored of God in -controlling the people for good: On one occasion two preachers met for -the first time. The younger man spoke, and the elder was one of the -hearers. The sermon was ended. The two preachers, approaching each -other and grasping hands, spoke to each other thus: The younger man: -“I feel the Lord wants me to preach, but I am not able to preach.” The -elder man: “God has called you to preach the gospel, but you are not -now in the spirit of the ministry. You are proud and ’pend too much -upon yourself. You get self out so God can fill you up with his spirit. -Go and pray to God for the spirit of the gospel ministry.” This advice -was heeded and the end revealed the correctness of the elder man’s -views. Another case: - -A young man of some attainment in letters, who taught school under the -“Freedmen’s Bureau,” being anxious to rid himself of a sense of duty -to preach the gospel, decided to go off to another state where his -church connections were unknown. He did so. After he had quit the train -and put down his baggage at the home of a family who had consented to -entertain him, and as evening drew on, he was requested by his hostess -to attend the preaching which was to come off at a neighbor’s house -that evening (there was no church house). The young man went. A pen -picture of the preacher is given after this fashion: Lean, brown skin -man, whose shirt showed much of his breast; whose feet were sockless -and in shoes which left the toes uncovered; whose stiff locks held a -comb. He told us of a wicked city that was laying beneath the pending -judgments of God. - -It needed a message of warning--only this, and it would face about -and clothe itself in humble penitence. God had the message, and He -imparted it to the messenger and ordered him to go. Here the preacher -drew a picture of Jonah: He is shrinking from his glorious charge--has -his back toward Nineveh, and is fleeing in an opposite direction; is -boarding a ship that he may go to regions over the sea; is going down -into the hold of the ship; is fast asleep. Here the storm and the -raging deep receive notice: A cloud rises and quickly covers the skies; -winds attend it with a fury hitherto unknown to the shipmen, who seem -at once to discern in the storm the tokens of judgment; the sea is -wild; the sailors, as a last resort, awake Jonah and cast lots; the lot -falls upon Jonah, and he is cast into the maddened sea, where a sea -monster swallows him. At this point, changing his voice more into the -imperative tone, the preacher said: “I ’spect there is a Jonah here -to-night, and I warn him to take the message of his God and carry it to -poor, lost sinners who do not know their right hands from their left; -I warn him to go before he shall be in the belly of hell.” The reader -is left to imagine how this affected the young school teacher who was -fleeing from his duty. In some parts of Limestone county the people use -an improvised lamp, the oil vessel of which is a snuff bottle. This -is a rough vessel, but it holds the oil which feeds the flame. This -reminds us of Mr. Spurgeon’s beer-bottle candlestick. Well, I want to -say that God used these men, whatever were their imperfections--they -had power. But we have had help from without. - -(_a_) Our white neighbors--some of them, at least--have aided us. They -have helped us build our church houses and, in some cases, contributed -to our schools. They have taught in our Sunday schools, preached in -our pulpits, helped us in the work of organizing associations, etc. -They have taught ministers’ classes and held ministers’ institutes -among us. The writer once held the position of teacher of institutes -under the appointment and support of the white Baptist Convention of -Alabama, and Dr. McAlpine now serves under the appointment of the -Southern Board. Several of our best men were enabled to attend the Home -Mission schools on money given by their white brethren. - -(_b_) We have been improved by our public schools. It is a strange -providence which, in our public school system, now returns upon the -black man something of the interest due him in consideration of -unrewarded labors. These schools have given us some choice men and -women, who are strong in the work of the church. However, it is in -place to say that we have not derived from our public school system all -the good which it is capable of bestowing, first, because poor teachers -have far too often been put upon the people. But, on the other hand, -there has been loss because we have not properly appreciated our needs -and opportunities, as considered from an educational point of view. The -sessions of the public schools could be supplemented and extended in -most cases so as to cover six or eight months of each year. - -(_c_) The Publication Society has rendered substantial aid in the gift -of books to our ministers and Sunday Schools as well as by the personal -touch and teaching of their Sunday School Missionaries. - -(_d_) The Missionary Societies of the Baptist women of Chicago and -Boston have done a great work among us. Their good missionaries, such -as Misses Moore, Knapp, Voss and others whose names will ever be -precious to our people, have given themselves to work among our women -and girls. They have breathed into our home life their beautiful piety, -and they have acquainted our mission bands and church workers with -the latest and best methods of labor. We have seen with their eyes and -felt with their hearts. - -[Illustration: First Baptist Church, Selma, Ala. C. J. Hardy, Pastor.] - -(_e_) The Selma University, with one exception, is the source of our -greatest blessing. It is simply impossible to estimate the good that -has come to Alabama Baptists out of this institution. What it has done -is beyond the power of calculation. Only Omniscience can reckon up the -good effects of its power upon the people. God be praised for Selma -University! When we began the school in 1878, we hadn’t one single -graduate in our midst. Since that time graduates have gone forth as -follows: - - -1884. - -R. T. Pollard, S. A. Stone, W. W. Posey, T. H. Posey, R. B. Hudson, L. -J. Green, C. R. Rodgers, A. A. Bowie, D. T. Gully, A. W. Hines, and -Miss Washington, now Mrs. R. T. Pollard. - - -1885. - -J. A. Anthony, W. E Large, J. H. Eason and Mrs. Thompson. - - -1886. - -W. S. Matthews, H. L. Thomas, Dr. L. L. Burwell and Mrs. H. M. Baker. - - -1887. - -M. M. Archer, S. H. Campbell, J. C. Copeland, W. T. Bibb, W. A. Watson, -F. P. Tyler, J. H. Culver, P. A. Kigh, C. H. Patterson, Mrs. R. B. -Hudson, Mrs. A. W. Hines, Vannie Brooks. - - -1888. - -S. H. Abrams, D. A. Bible, R. D. Taylor, Mrs. M. F. Wilson, E. J. -Nelson and Mary F. Williams. - - -1889. - -R. M. Williams, E. L. Blackman, Mrs. P. F. Clark, Mrs. W. T. Bibb, P. -E. Gresham, D. L. Prentice, J. R. Willis and Dr. W. R. Pettiford. - - -1890. - -W. J. Bryson, R. T. Payne, J. F. Payne, Dr. R. Tyler, Dr. L. Roberts, -E. W. Knight, J. C. Leftwich, L. A. Sinkler, Mrs. W. B. Johnson, Mrs. -G. A. Brown, Wm. Cooper, Emma Garrett, M. Turner, Mary L. Smith, P. S. -L. Hutchins. - - -1891. - -P. B. Taylor, C. E. Clayton, Mary Osborne, Lula Gray, Ida M. Wilhite, -Viola Hudson, Mamie C. Welch, A. M. Jackson, J. McConico, J. H. -Hutchinson, M. M. Porter, E. T. Taylor. - - -1892. - -R. L. Hill, G. P. Adams, E. M. Carter, W. T. Coleman, I. B. Kigh, B. R. -Smith, Chas. White Jr., M. J. Brown, A. E. Gilliam, Pattie Richardson, -Amelia Tyler and Maggie Johnson. - - -1893. - -J. A. Graham, W. M. Montgomery, H. E. Grogan, Eva Green. - - -1894. - -I. T. Simpson, C. J. Davis, W. H. Wilhite, Annie Stone, T. W. Calvary -and Eliza Fuller (Mrs. Knight). - - -1895. - -Lula E. Ware, Annie L. Jones, Comer E. Carter, Benjamin F. Sanders, -Lila L. Jones, Julia L. Sanders, Mary F. McCord, Emma P. Jones, Earnest -W. Brown and Donnie E. Hillson. - -We see very little that these names mean except we associate them -with the masses of the people in the various walks of social and -business life. But, associating them thus, we see them as so many stars -lighting up the dark places around them. However, to do this is by -no means to place ourselves where we can see the _whole_ truth. What -has been wrought upon the thousands of students who failed to finish -the prescribed course? They are elevated and they have borne their -elevation to their neighbors. From their teachers and from the refining -atmosphere of the school, they have drunken purer thoughts, loftier -aims and a stronger manhood. This they have carried to others less -favored than themselves, and now it works as the leaven in the dough. -Again, the school has strengthened us by its weight upon our hearts and -hands. Labor, well directed, develops strength in the laborer. We are -greater because we have been compelled to care for that institution, -and it has caused us to have faith in ourselves. We now know that it -is possible for us to maintain an educational work. It is needless to -say that by means of it, we have looked larger in the eyes of others. -Somehow, he who can _do something good_ and _great_ commands our -respect. - -(_f_) The Home Mission Society.--This society has served us to greater -results than any other agency. To this society the university owes -above half the money which has given it support all these years. They -have given us missionary aid which has served to produce higher life -and better order in our churches and associations. And from their -schools beyond our state we have received many of our most capable -persons, among whom we may mention Drs. Dinkins, Purce, Stokes, Owens, -our eloquent Fisher, and Jones, our scholarly Peterson, the urbane -Jackson of Eufaula, the industrious Bradford, and others whose names I -cannot at this moment recall. Mrs. C. S. Dinkins, as well as Mrs. C. O. -Boothe, came to us from the Roger Williams University, a Home Mission -Society School. But what has been said will suffice to show us how we -have come to be a wiser and a better people than we were thirty years -ago. And if we see what has blessed us in the years gone by, no doubt -we shall be able to see that the same things may, if we will permit -them to do so, bless us in the years to come. May our steps not be -forgotten by our children. - - -III. THE POINT WE NOW OCCUPY. - -Thirty years we have been beneath the opportunities and duties of free -manhood, which is to say that for thirty years we have been associated -with the family institution as husband, as wife, as parent, as sister, -as brother, as son, and as daughter. Three decades with the family, -developing affection and making patience. - -Thirty years of business life has passed upon us, which is to say -that we have for this length of time been associated with those facts -which grow out of our physical wants, such as labor, system, economy, -competition, skill, etc. - -We have had thirty years over our own consciences, over our own wills, -over our own church affairs. We have had thirty years with books and -schools. We have had thirty years under the duties of citizenship. What -have we attained to in this time? Have these years given us any fruits? -Are we where we were in 1865? Let us see. - - -(_a_) Church Property.--At the close of the war we owned (?) two frame -buildings in Mobile and owned (?) the brick basement of the building -now occupied by our white brethren in Selma, worth--all told--about -$8,000. We now own nine brick buildings, worth not less than $100,000 -above their indebtedness. And we cannot make an estimate of the church -property whereon are frame structures. The property of this sort in -the city of Birmingham and vicinity is worth $15,000, in Montgomery -$26,000, in Mobile $12,000, in Talladega $10,000, in Greensboro $3,000, -in Eufaula $6,000, in Tuskegee $2,500, in Opelika $2,500, in Eutaw -$2,000, in Demopolis $3,000, in Decatur $1,500, in Florence $1,500, -in Courtland $1,200, in Gadsden $2,000. But, it is not intended, and -is not necessary, to mention every point, as the aim is to show that -throughout the State we have churches in their own quarters, on their -own land. Everywhere we have put our work not only into mind but we -have put it into dirt, brick and stone. Two hundred and fifty thousand -dollars worth of church property scattered throughout the State, as it -is, affords a good foundation for future operation. - -[Illustration: Miss Joanna P. Moore, Nashville, Tenn., thirty years -Missionary to the Colored People of the South.] - -(_b_) School Property.--Our school at Selma is now worth about $30,000. -It was bought in 1878 for $3,000, and has been in constant operation -ever since, though at one time a debt of about $8,000 threatened its -life. We owe a debt of a little over $3,000 at this time. The Howard -College, the leading school of our white brethren, owes it is said a -debt of about $33,000, and lately the report has come to the writer -that the management had thought of assigning, because they could not -see how they could raise money enough to meet the interest. I mention -this only to show that our struggles are similar to the struggles of -other good people, and that we have abundant cause for rejoicing and -hope. - -Well, we have in Selma University an educational foundation. The Marion -Academy, worth about $2,000, begins academies. - - -(_c_) Educated Men and Women.--Over one hundred young people have -received diplomas from Selma University. Graduates have come to Alabama -from other States. Baptists have graduated from other schools in this -State--schools like Talladega and Tuskegee, the school at Huntsville, -and the school at Montgomery. This statement of facts is calculated -to turn our minds toward a possibility and prophecy of the near -approach--even on the part of the masses--of that state of mind which -lives and moves in the higher pleasures and to the more sacred ends of -life. - - -(_d_) Homes.--The wandering life which characterized the masses of -the people in 1865, is fast giving place to settled home life. We -have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in town lots and farm -lands, where we are quietly and contentedly rearing our loved ones, -studying the good of our community, and arranging for the prosperity -of the house of God. In other words, we are fixtures in the country -and fixtures in the cities and towns. We have attained to affairs--to -the possession of money and other forms of material value--so that we -have power in the world of exchange. Prof. B. T. Washington is a wonder -among men as the builder and manager of the greatest school in Alabama, -and his friend, Mr. Logan, proves that the colored men can manage -great money schemes, while Mr. B. H. Hudson and others, of Birmingham, -establish the Negro as a banker. - - -(_e_) Organizations.--We are now together--acquainted, organized. -In the beginning of 1865, the minister in one part of the State did -not know the minister in the other part. There was no union, no -plan of agreement. Now there are about 800 churches, all organized -into associations. Each church may be reached and affected through -its association, with regard to any line of work. We have created a -strong sentiment in favor of education and a strong sentiment against -intemperance, so that the masses of the people may be easily led in -right directions. The day of pioneering lies behind us, and most of -the pioneers are gone to their long home. We are now at the point -for action on new lines. As individual Christians we need to turn -our attention more directly upon the one aim of human life, namely, -_God-like character building_ in ourselves and in them with whom we -have to do. As churches, we need to see to it not only that we win -souls, but that we train them in Christian work also. All other points -being equal, the trained soldier is the man to trust with the battle. -The Sunday school work and the young people’s unions are very available -as training institutions. May God put it into the hearts of the leaders -of this new day and new chapter in our history to see to it that these -organizations shall serve the ends for which they are so well suited. -May their hearts wholly enter into the possibilities and purposes of -every sacred organization! - -I take courage, and there arises in my mind glorious prospects coming -down the future, as I see the faith and push of our Sunday school and -our women’s conventions. If our present Sunday school leaders should -succeed in wrapping their mantles about men who will be as faithful -under the midday light as they have been in the dawning, the future -must find an ever broadening compass of Bible influence, and an -ever-increasing beauty in our words and lives. - - -THE WOMEN’S CONVENTION--A HIGH POINT. - -The Women’s State Convention organized in 1886, marks a new era in the -history of our denomination. The present brick building on our school -grounds owes its existence chiefly to this organization. They came into -the field in a dark time, and at a time when the wheels of the school -dragged heavily. The circumstances which sent Miss S. A. Stone before -the people of the State seemed a providence. The time, the conditions, -needed the heart of a woman to control them. And the Women’s Convention -conquered the hardness of heart and the division of opinion, prevailing -among the people, by sending Miss Stone among them. Most grandly did -she conquer. Well, what is the lesson here? It is this: let the women -still be encouraged, let them continue to operate. We need all our -forces in line. - -Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon Mesdames G. J. Brooks, R. T. -Pollard, C. J. Hardy, A. A. Bowie, W. R. Pettiford, A. J. Gray, M. -Tyler, S. H. Wright, E. W. Armstead, J. A. Craig and the other noble -women associated with them, for the services they have rendered the -state in the support they have given their Convention. The times demand -that this work shall still be faithfully continued. I am glad that we -are up in our ideas of woman, and the fact that we are argues progress -on our part. - -It is a praiseworthy fact that we colored Baptists occupy advanced -ground with regard to the questions which involve the powers and rights -of women. I remember that upon one occasion just after the close of the -war, my mother returned from church rather disgusted because a woman -had been called upon to lead in public prayer. Now, too, the singing, -the reading and the praying in our congregations, are assuming forms -suited to our advanced or advancing state of mind. The song is suited -to the text and fewer stanzas are sung. The music is not so slow and -is rendered with more harmony and life. In the sermon, the preacher -aims to give his audience _thoughts_ rather than _feelings_, and -longs to make his hearers _wiser_ rather than _happier_. He who reads -the Bible to others, whether he reads in family or church, reads by -paragraphs--taking in a single thought or fact at the time--in place -of the old custom of reading a whole chapter in connection with which -no one idea was raised into prominence. In short our gospel reformers -seem now to realize that saving faith in the truth is that exercise -of soul regarding truth that satisfies the intellect, impresses the -sensibilities and bows the will beneath the gospel forms and gospel -spirit. Of course this is not true of all our teachers, but it is -true of many of them; and the tendency upon the part of the whole -people is in this direction. Individual human essence leavened with -the Divine essence, is the goal in the eye of the representative -leader of our people. Largely we have attained to the confidence of -our white brethren. In the union conference of the white and the -colored ministers of Birmingham, recently held, I plainly saw that the -white Baptist ministers were more at ease with the colored brethren -than the white ministers of other denominations, except perhaps, the -Presbyterian brethren. And I think they were not so much disturbed -about the social question. I call attention to this fact in order to -say that their joint work with us has enabled them to see our good -qualities and concede to us the claims which belong to intellectual and -moral culture. And as our Christian culture shall widen its radius and -deepen its impressions upon all who may be touched by us, the prejudice -and barriers incident to our color must retire behind the curtains of -the past. - - “Were I so tall to reach the pole, - Could grasp creation in my span; - I’d still be measured by my soul-- - The mind’s the standard of the man.” - -I delight to record that we are attaining to humility as a Christian -grace. This is the crowning grace. Some years ago the writer called -at the home of Dr. J. M. Pendleton, in Upland, Pa. The doctor was -upstairs. A servant answered the door bell, and the visitor was -conducted to the parlor to await the famous man’s entrance. As the -visitor was in every way a very little man, and as he thought of Dr. P. -as being in every way a very large person, he feared the sound of every -footstep. He expected to be over-awed by the majesty and dignity of the -great man. As the door knob turned he was almost annihilated. But how -different the sight! There stood the noted writer in the spirit of a -child. How mighty, yet, how meek and lowly! How charming, how winning -was this child-like simplicity and hospitality! With the bewitching -smiles and musical tones of childish innocence, he repeated, “Brother -Boothe, from Alabama, I suppose.” - -[Illustration: Rev. C. J. Hardy, Pastor First Baptist Church, Selma, -Ala.] - -Toward this end we, too, are coming. The time has been when the best -man among us would air his big words, hang out his learning (?), strut -because of a fine suit, boast of his school advantages, laud his -superior graces, gloat in his empty titles. Not so now. To be meek and -lowly in heart, to be full of prayer and watchfulness, to be charitable -and self-abasing, to be pure and pious--these things are before us now. - -The old plan of collecting money for church work regardless of system -and regardless of the duty associated with Christian giving, must also -soon retire to the past; for forces are now appearing which will work -as the leaven in the dough. - -Dr. Pettiford has recently brought out a book titled, “God’s Revenue -System,” wherein the author labors to bring before the people the Bible -methods of giving. Arguments are presented and proof texts are given in -their support. This work is being widely circulated among the churches -and ministers. And the writer served a church where the following plan -prevailed: At the end of each year the church appointed a committee to -figure on the expenses of the ensuing year, and to help the members -and friends apportion the burden among themselves according to their -several abilities. Each person took upon himself what he thought he -might be able to pay, and dividing his share as the church might have -need, he paid it in installments. Usually the money was collected in -the conference meetings. Another church came under my notice that had -in it “the tithe band,” which gave a tenth of their income to the house -of God. In a session of the Sea Coast Association I witnessed the -following, it was what they called “Women’s Day:” - -One woman, holding her money in her hand, said: “I am president of a -mission band which meets once a month to learn of our duty to missions. -We tax ourselves one nickle a month, and this is our donation to the -work.” - -Another said: “I raise chickens. One hen in my yard I’ve given to God. -This money is from her eggs and chickens.” - -Still another: “In my orange orchard there are some trees which I have -dedicated to God. The money which comes of the sale of the fruit grown -on these trees goes to the cause of Christ.” And she laid her donation -on the table. - -In a Christian home I saw on the mantelpiece a little box marked, -“God’s bank.” Into this money was dropped at stated seasons in order -that there might never be any want of consecrated money in the house. -In a certain home sickness had cut off income. The missionary secretary -sent to this home for money. In order that a donation might be sent -in, the family agreed to leave the sugar off the table for a certain -length of time. Thus a small amount was saved for the cause of Christ. -Thank God, that truth on all lines is finding an echo in our souls! We -are not only learning the value of money and enterprise, but we are -also learning that “a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the -things which he possesses.” - -Wedlock is becoming more sacred. More and more the people are growing -into a responsiveness to the sacredness of the marriage relation. The -husband has increased in knowledge regarding his duty to his wife; the -wife sees better her relation to her husband; the parents more clearly -perceive what is possible and proper with reference to their children; -and, therefore, we can claim thousands of homes which are sources of -refinement, of love, and of purest pleasure. Music is brought in, -and in many homes the family choir contributes to the enjoyment of -children and parents, whose hearts feast upon mutual, sweet affection. -Not long ago the writer had the pleasure of receiving the hospitality -of a family in which such a choir existed. Each member had his place -somewhere on the staff; either he was in the tenor, or in the alto, -or in the soprano, or in the bass. Mother, father and children -delightfully partook of the feast of song. Their Scripture lesson was -not a long, disjointed chapter, but a single thought, namely: “The -wisdom that is from above.” Its qualities were considered--they were: -(1) Pure; (2) peaceable; (3) gentle; (4) approachable; (5) merciful; -(6) fruitful of good works; (7) impartial; and (8) honest. This lesson -was in a scheme on the blackboard, kept in the home for such purposes, -thus: - - { 1. Purity. - { 2. Peaceableness. - { 3. Gentleness. - Heavenly Wisdom, { 4. Approachableness. - Its Qualities. { 5. Mercy. - { 6. Fruitfulness in good works. - { 7. Impartiality. - { 8. Honesty. - -This plan gave opportunity to discuss in a few words each designated -quality. Each person large enough to take part was encouraged to do so. -One part of the evening hour was spent in amusing literary games, like -the following: - -A word was suggested, and so many minutes were allowed to elapse, -during which time each member of the family sought to make the greatest -number of words out of the letters composing the word suggested. At the -close of this allotted time, spelling was compared, and the difference -as to the number of words made by each was noted. The exercise was -pleasant, exciting and profitable. The writer mused: “This is so much -better than gossip, unsociableness, sullen silence, and quarreling.” -From the word _abatement_, for example, came the words: At, mat, bat, -bet, tab, mate, am, an, ant, tent, beat, abate, Abe. At other times -problems in mathematics furnished the wrestling point; then points in -geography and history were entertained. “Name as many cities as you can -containing so many thousand inhabitants, and tell where they are,” was -proposed. Thus an hour or so of the early evening was profitably passed -away in shunning evil and gathering knowledge for good. - -We dare hope that every home will seek to improve on this line. Evil -cannot be kept out of the home except in proportion as we fill it with -what is good. And the quality of the home life must determine the -quality of the social life, of the church life, and of the political -life, as well as of the business life, of any people. - -As a further illustration of the influences and plans operating among -us--as a fitting conclusion--we present the following from Miss Knapp, -one of the faithful missionaries of the Women’s Baptist Home Mission -Society: - - -MISSIONARY WORK IN BIRMINGHAM DISTRICT. - -Many are the blessings God has bestowed upon missionary work in -Birmingham and it is a real pleasure to state briefly some of the -methods employed which have given the workers so much joy, and which -our Heavenly Father has used to advance his cause. - -Religious visiting in the homes of the people is a very important -part. God’s word never returns unto Him void, and when it is carried -into the homes and its truths taught and heart to heart talks given -only eternity will reveal its results in leading lost souls to look -to a loving Savior, and arousing indifferent Christians to the fact -that God has chosen them and ordained them that they should go and -bring forth fruit. Again, the teaching of the children is a work never -to be overlooked, for the future of any race or nation depends upon -the moral and religious instruction given to the young. The Sunday -schools, children’s meetings and industrial schools are means which -are accomplishing great good. From two hundred to three hundred meet -each week in the industrial schools during the school year. We have -one session each week in each of the schools. They are held in the -different churches. About one half of the time in each session is spent -teaching different kinds of sewing, and the remainder in giving moral -and religious instruction. The progress made by many of the pupils -in sewing and in gaining Bible knowledge is often a marvel to the -missionaries. The strong temperance stand taken by many of the children -is truly a delight, and when one after another professes a hope in -Christ we are led to say, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is -within me, bless His holy name.” The welfare of the young people also -has a large place in our hearts and with the faithful co-operation of -pastors and the young people themselves, there are about forty local B. -Y. P. U.’s which are united in an Asssociational Baptist Young People’s -Union. Great things are expected of these young people from the Bible -knowledge they are acquiring and instruction which they are receiving -concerning Christian work. - -[Illustration: Rev. S. L. Ross, Sunday School Missionary for Alabama, -under Auspices Alabama Baptist Publication Society.] - -Perhaps no richer blessings have been given than those which have -fallen on the efforts which the women are putting forth. Well can -we remember when there was but one missionary society in Birmingham -that was trying to obey our Savior’s last loving words: “Ye shall be -witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, -and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.” - -They stood alone, but were inspired to go forward by their pastor, -Rev. W. R. Pettiford. Though few in number, the blessings of God -rested upon them. After a time they had a public missionary meeting. -The subject was “The Indians.” It was held on Sunday night. Hearts -were enlarged; the work was better understood by the membership of the -church, and as a result new members were added to the society. The -sisters in one church after another organized and joined the ranks. The -society of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church no longer stood alone. - -The object of the work is given as follows in Article II of the -Constitution: “Its object shall be to promote the purity, intelligence -and happiness of our homes, and to educate the women of our Baptist -churches in a knowledge of missions, to cultivate in them a missionary -spirit, and thus lead them to help in mission work at home, in the -State, in our country, and in foreign lands.” - -The following blanks are used by the sisters in reporting their work -from month to month: - - Report of................................................. - For the month of....................................189... - Have you read the Bible each day?......................... - Have you taken the Mother’s Pledge and kept it?........... - Number of religious visits................................ - Number of families helped................................. - Number added to the Missionary Society.................... - Number of meetings conducted.............................. - Number of new members brought into the Sunday School...... - - * * * * * - -On July 26, 1893, a day memorable in the history of the work, the local -societies were united in a “Women’s Missionary Association.” Mrs. -Cordelia Taylor was chosen as its president. - -The local societies number about twenty-five. We meet twice a year, -for a one day’s meeting. These meetings are largely attended, well -conducted and of real profit to the work. - -The study of the uniform subjects which have been prepared for the use -of the local societies have greatly helped the mothers in their great -work in the home, in the Church work, and given a more intelligent -knowledge of missions in ours and other lands. The public missionary -meetings are being held on Sunday afternoons or nights in the different -churches and are proving the same blessing as the first one. - -Miss Moore’s paper, _Hope_, is being taken and read by scores of the -sisters, and is an untold blessing to all. - -The “Mother’s Pledge” has been signed by quite a company and is rich in -results to both mother and child. - -Several of the earnest, Christian women are having fireside schools for -the children in their neighborhoods, and the books are being purchased -by many, thus affording good and helpful reading in many homes. - -Our hearts go up to God in gratitude as we call to mind the -co-operation of pastors and people in the plans suggested by the former -as well as the present missionaries, and the bountiful way in which -God has blessed the efforts which we have together put forth, and we -would say in the words of the Psalmist: “Many, O Lord, my God, are thy -wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which to usward, -they cannot be reckoned up in order to Thee; if I would declare and -speak of them they are more than can be numbered.” - -[Illustration] - - -[Illustration: Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Montgomery, Ala., Rev. R. -D. Pollard, Pastor.] - - - - -_FINAL REMARKS._ - - -We have done well, but we could have done better. George Ruskin gives -birth to a great river of thought in the expression, “The more my -life _disappointed_ me, the more _solemn_ and the more _wonderful_ -it became to me.” We have suffered, it is true, and still we suffer, -beneath the prejudice of a mighty people, the movings of whose will and -passions none but God can stay. But, as we remember that the Almighty -can rule the hearts of men, and that He has promised that the meek (He -doesn’t respect persons) shall inherit the earth; that this prejudice -about us is not a human essence, but a mere accretion upon human life, -rising from abnormal social conditions which are passing away; that -disappointment, instead of cowering and disarming us, should rouse us -to nerve ourselves with a firmer resolution to endure suffering, to -toil, to economize, to increase in knowledge and skill, to fill our -homes with love and beauty, to be still more pure in heart and upright -in word and deed--as we remember these things, we must confess that we -could have done better. - -Our greatest needs now are: (_a_) A closer walk with God; (_b_) more -love and peace at home; (_c_) purer thoughts and more prayer in our -hearts; (_d_) a nearer approach to gospel plans in all departments of -our church work; (_e_) more race pride and race confidence; (_f_) more -of the spirit of Christ in our annual meetings; (_g_) co-operation in -business, such as banking and mercantile enterprises. - -We earn millions of dollars, a large part of which we ought to and can -keep among ourselves, and thus strengthen the financial standing of the -Negro Race. - -We need to establish and maintain money operations among ourselves, -especially for the following reasons: - -(1) No moneyless people have any power or voice in the solid things -of life, in those facts which command homes, farms, store houses, -railroads, live stock, steamship lines, furnaces, manufactories, -merchandise, banks, and the like. We need plans of co-operation which -will enable us to come together with our little savings until they -aggregate to an amount that is large enough to support some sort of -business. Saving societies or circles should be organized all over the -country, for the purpose of studying methods for money saving and money -investment. - -Of course, it must be admitted that money raised by our people in this -way has fallen into the hands of men who have made way with it. But -this danger may be put out of the way by compelling the man who holds -the money to give good security in the form of a bond, legally made and -properly signed. The money thus raised should be deposited in the bank -till the amount obtained is large enough for some business project. -The Alabama Penny Savings Bank of Birmingham started somewhat after -this fashion, with a small beginning, but now they command in one way -and another nearly one hundred thousand dollars. This bank gives the -colored people of Birmingham a power in financial circles that they -could obtain by no other means. - -(2) Our young people need something to do. When the young white man -completes his course at school, he returns to find a job ready for -him--a job as clerk, bookkeeper, collector or something so. Not so with -the young black man--he returns to an empty void so far as concerns -the business world. He comes home to be a loafer, or a boot-black, -or a buggy boy, or a cook, or a waiter, or a barber, or a prisoner. He -comes home to despair, to temptation, to ruin. And this sad state of -things can never change by accident: if a better condition of things -shall ever be our lot, it must come about as the result of forces which -the Negro himself shall put in operation. Our white neighbor looks -upon the facts that we earn the millions and can’t control the cents, -as proof that we are an inferior race. They say we can be preachers, -teachers and doctors, but we can’t manage money and can’t unite in -great business enterprises. We seem not to realize that the handling -of business affairs conduces to the formation of moral character. The -writer dares to hope that there are better things in our hearts on this -line than have yet appeared, and that ere long they will appear in our -united action and in our substantial investments. However, “_Fear God -and keep His commandments._” - -[Illustration: Rev. C. L. Purce, President, Louisville, Ky.] - - -CONCLUSION. - -And now our book is at its end. How well it serves the purpose for -which it was produced, the reader will determine. We gratefully -recognize the substantial services rendered by friends, as during the -past ten years we have hunted and gleaned for subject matter. The -author is under special obligations to Messrs P. W. Williamson, F. D. -Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Walker, Rev. T. W. Walker, Dr. Waldrop, Dr. -and Mrs. Pettiford, Mrs. Rachel Jenkins, Mrs. H. C. Bryant, Mr. and -Mrs. W. S. Simpson, of Birmingham; Mr. Tom Posey, Bessemer, and Hon. H. -A. Loveless, of Montgomery. - -To such as may feel disposed to credit me with the ability to continue -at work, I would say that but for the faithful toil and sacrifice of my -wife, Mrs. M. A., and of my daughter, Miss Octavia B. Boothe, it is -hardly likely that my name would now appear in its humble place on the -roll of writers. They have borne the burden with me, and we together -have performed these humble tasks. With them I cheerfully divide my -meagre honors. The writer lays down his pen at the end of a pleasant -but arduous task, fully believing that what we have done is but the bud -and prophecy of what we can and will do in the years to come. This book -can only tell of our infancy and youth while the historian who shall -come upon the stage after twenty or thirty years beyond this date, will -bring forth a book wherein shall appear a portraiture of our ripened -manhood, out of which shall have grown great enterprises, manned by -unity, wisdom, wealth and righteousness. - - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE ALABAMA PUBLISHING COMPANY - PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS - _111 EIGHTEENTH STREET, BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA._ - - * * * * * - - OFFICERS: - REV. W. R. PETTIFORD, D. D., Pres. - REV. T. W. WALKER, Vice-Pres. - I. W. LACY, Treas. - J. C. BARKER, Sec’y. - E. A. LONG, Bus. Manager. - - * * * * * - - “_The School of the People._” - - * * * * * -It is our Object to Act as a Medium Through Which Knowledge of Matters -of Vital Importance to the Welfare of our Race can be Carried to the -People. - - Are You Interested in Us? - - - Are You Interested in Yourselves? - -Then see to it that you Order one of the Following Books and get -Someone Else to do the Same. - - * * * * * - - “DIVINITY IN WEDLOCK,” By W. R. Pettiford, D. D. - (25 cents per copy; by mail, 28 cents). - - “GOD’S REVENUE SYSTEM,” By W. R. Pettiford, D. D. - (15 cents per copy; by mail, 17 cents). - - “THE CYCLOPEDIA OF THE COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA,” - By C. O. Boothe, D. D. - ($1.50 per copy; by mail, $1.67). - - “LIFE AND TIMES OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS.”-- - ($2.50 per copy; by mail, $2.67). - (Portrait of Douglass, 35 cents; by mail, 37 cents). - - “GIANTS OF THE REPUBLIC,” $3.00 and $4.50 - - “DINING ROOM AND KITCHEN,” $1.50 - - “IDEAL WOMANHOOD AND MOTHERHOOD,” $2.00 and $2.75 - - “THE WORLD’S SWEETEST SONGS,” $2.00, $2.50 and $3.50 - - * * * * * - - -WRITE FOR TERMS TO AGENTS, ENCLOSING 2C. STAMP FOR REPLY - - Confidential Terms Made to Agents on Application. - Apply to ALABAMA PUBLISHING CO., Birmingham, Ala. - - - - -Transcribers’ Notes - - -A number of typographical errors were corrected silently. - -Cover image is in the public domain. - -Handwritten inscription under Miss Joanna P. Moore picture -not transcribed. - -Add Selma University, and Rev. W. A. 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