{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_66204/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_66204","id":"gutenberg_66204","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/66204","summary":null,"tags":["African American Baptists -- Alabama","African Americans -- Alabama","Baptists -- Alabama","Category: Biographies","Category: History - American","Category: Religion/Spirituality"],"text":"[Illustration:\n\n REV. C. O. BOOTHE, D. D.\n Author of \u201cPlain Theology.\u201d]\n\n\n\n\n THE\n CYCLOPEDIA\n OF THE\n COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA\n THEIR LEADERS AND THEIR WORK\n\n\n BY\n Charles Octavius Boothe, D. D.\n\n Author of \u201cPlain Theology for Plain People.\u201d\n\n\n BIRMINGHAM:\n Alabama Publishing Company.\n 1895\n\n\n\n\n Copyright 1895\n By Rev. C. O. Boothe, D. D.\n\n\n\n\nINDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS.\n\n\n                                                    PAGE.\n Rev. C. O. Boothe                           Frontispiece\n Rev. J. Q. A. Wilhite                                 12\n Hon. A. H. Curtis                                     19\n Mrs. A. A. Bowie                                      26\n Rev. L. S. Steinback in the act of Baptism            33\n Mrs. D. S. Jordan                                     36\n Shiloh Church, Birmingham                      Facing 45\n Rev. F. R. Kennedy                                    56\n Selma University                               Facing 61\n Mrs. M. D. Duncan                                     66\n Rev. J. P. Barton                                     75\n Miss H. Martin                                        82\n Rev. W. R. Pettiford                                  91\n Rev. J. L. Frazier                                    99\n Rev. P. S. L. Hutchins                               106\n Rev. W. T. Bibb                                      110\n Sixteenth Street Church, Birmingham           Facing 120\n Rev. S. L. Belser                                    129\n Dr. U. G. Mason                                      136\n Rev. J. P. O\u2019Riley                                   144\n Miss Ella Knapp                                      151\n Rev. J. H. Eason                                     158\n Miss A. L. Bowman                                    165\n Rev. M. Tyler                                        172\n Mrs. Rebecca Pitts                                   179\n Rev. W. C. Bradford                                  186\n Rev. H. Woodsmall                                    194\n Rev. J. E. Wilson                                    203\n Rev. W. A. Shirley                            Facing 207\n Rev. L. S. Steinback                                 212\n St. Louis Street Church, Mobile               Facing 221\n Rev. T. W. Walker                                    228\n Rev. J. W. Jackson                                   238\n First Church, Selma                                  244\n Miss Joanna P. Moore, Nashville               Facing 249\n Rev. C. J. Hardy                                     254\n Rev. S. L. Ross                                      259\n Dexter Avenue Church, Montgomery              Facing 262\n Rev. C. L. Purce                                     265\n\n\n\n\nTABLE OF CONTENTS.\n\n\n CHAP.                              PAGE.\n       Autobiography of the Author      9\n       Preface                         13\n   I.--Introduction                    17\n  II.--The State Conventions           37\n III.--Associations                    55\n  IV.--Biographic Sketches            111\n       Biographic Supplement          223\n   V.--Summary                        237\n       Final Remarks                  263\n\n\n\n\nAUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nPossibly some one may desire at some time and for some reason to know\nsomething of the author of this book, and therefore he submits the\nfollowing short statement:\n\nLINEAGE AND NATIVITY.--His great-grandmother was born on the west coast\nof Africa and was brought a slave to Virginia, where his grandmother\nwas born. Ere his grandmother had reached her maturity of womanhood,\nshe was sold into Georgia, where his mother was born. While his mother\nwas still a child, she and her mother were carried to Mobile county,\nAla., by a Mr. Nathan Howard. In this county, on a lonely looking sand\nhill amid pine forests, on June 13, 1845, the writer made his advent\ninto this world. (In this year, 1845, the Baptists of America divided.)\n\nEARLY RECOLLECTIONS.--Stored away in my earliest memories I find: (1)\nThe songs and family prayers of my step-grandfather, a pure African,\nwho had not only learned to read his Bible and hymn book, but had also\nlearned the rudiments of vocal music sufficiently well to teach the\nart of singing. (2) The tender and constant attention of an old white\nlady (the only white person on the place), who took my hand as she\nwent out to look after the nests of the domestic fowls and to gather\na dish of ripe fruit. (3) A Baptist church in the forest, where white\nand colored people sat together to commune and to wash each other\u2019s\nfeet. (4) The saintly face and pure life of my grandmother, to whom\nwhite and black went for prayer and for comfort in the times of their\nsorrows. (5) A tin-plate containing the alphabet, from which at the\nage of 3 years, I learned the English letters. (6) The death of the\nold white lady, and the severing from dear grandmother and the old\nhome. (7) My introduction at the age of 6 years to the family of Nathan\nHoward, Jr., where things were not altogether as tender toward me as\nat the old home, and where I came more into associations with books\nand with life\u2019s sterner facts. The teachers who boarded here at my\nnew home became my instructors, and so I was soon reading and writing\nfairly well. Here, listening to the reading of the Bible, I was drawn\ntoward it, and began to read it for myself. The gospel story bound me\nto it with cords which nothing has been able to break. At the close of\nmy eighth year I began to seek the Lord by prayer and supplication,\nand have, from that time to this, continued my secret devotions and\nstrivings after truth. My association with Col. James S. Terrel, the\nbrother of Judge S. H. Terrel, of Clark county, Miss., at the age of\n14, as office boy in his law office, gave me a still broader range of\nbooks. I think I can say that the Colonel and I really loved each other.\n\nI am not sure that I know just when I was regenerated, as my childhood\nprayers were often attended with refreshing seasons of love and\njoy. But my life was too often very un-christian, breaking out into\nthe wildest rages of bad temper, which was followed by weeping and\nremorse. In 1865, however, I reached an experience of grace which\nso strengthened me as to fix me on the side of the people of God. I\nwent at once to reading the scriptures in public and leading prayer\nmeetings; notwithstanding this, I was not baptized until March, 1866,\nby Rev. O. D. Bowen, of Shubuta, Miss. I was ordained in the St. Louis\nStreet Church, Mobile, December, 1868, by Revs. Charles Leavens and\nPhilip Gambrell.\n\nI taught school for the Freedmen\u2019s Bureau in 1867--taught various\nschools under our public school system. I have been pastor of the\nFirst Colored Baptist Church, Meridian, Miss., Dexter Avenue Church,\nMontgomery, and held various State positions. The only time I have\nspent at school was spent in Meharry, the medical department of the\nCentral Tennessee College.\n\n      C. O. BOOTHE.\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n[Illustration: Rev. J. Q. A. Wilhite, Pastor Sixth Avenue Baptist\nChurch, Birmingham, Ala.]\n\n\n\n\nPREFACE.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nThis effort to give substantial and favorable testimony in the interest\nof the men and work of the Colored Baptists of Alabama grows out of\ncertain aims and purposes, such as:\n\n1. The desire to produce a picture of the negro associated with the\ngospel under the regime of slavery. Such a picture will serve to turn\nour eyes upon the social, moral and religious forces of the dark times\nand their fruits in the negro\u2019s life.\n\n2. The desire to make comparisons--to compare the colored man of 1865\nwith the colored man of 1895. Such a comparison will help the black man\nhimself to see whether or not he is a _growing_ man or a _waning_ man.\nIt will also serve to show the same thing to the friend and to the foe.\n\u201cAppeals to Pharaoh and to C\u00e6sar\u201d are not so wise as appeals to facts,\nwhich prove the negro to be man just as other races are man.\n\nThe book is not all history, nor is it all biography; it is something\nof both and it is more. It gives certain information which can\nneither rank as history nor as biography: it is the record of special\noperations in the denomination in different sections of the State with\na view to showing the mental _status_ now prevailing. I have been\nengaged with the book for the past seven years, during which time I\nhave searched and gleaned as best I could; I have not tried to obtain\neverything, nor have I had space to talk of every person who deserved\nhonorable mention. To do this would require too large a book. I could\nnot do more than get enough together to \u201cround out\u201d my testimony. Where\nI have spoken of anything that touches our white brethren or the white\npeople, it has been in tenderest love for them, though my language has\nbeen plain and seemingly bold. I think I can risk the statement that I\nhave no \u201crace prejudice:\u201d all men are in a sense my brethren and I am\nbrother to all men--akin to Christ, akin to me.\n\nIf a brother among us deserving mention should not appear, remember\nthat many failed to report to me as I desired them to do, and that I\nfelt I could not do more than give what would make a full showing of\nour State. Those names that came after the work was done had to be put\ninto a supplement.\n\nIt will be seen, therefore, that the purpose which gives birth to\nthis little book is not a desire to present a \u201cvain show\u201d of names,\nappealing to pride for the sake of gain; but, that it is an humble aim\nto accomplish some good. It is an attempt to answer the questions:\n\u201cFrom whence have we come? What have we done? What have we attained\nto? What are the possibilities before us?\u201d The book is intended to\nbe a simple statement of facts; which facts, it is believed, will be\na sufficient apology for their appearance in book form. The reader\nmay expect faults in arrangement and errors in composition, but it is\nto be hoped that the sweetness and beauty of the flower will not be\nrejected because of the thorns upon the stem which bears them. I have\nnot tried to tell everything. If I speak of individuals, it is with\na view to giving some of their best things, best deeds, etc. \u201cStraws\nshow which way the wind is blowing,\u201d it is said; hence only enough\nof each biographical sketch is given to show the status and trend of\nthe person spoken of. We are too young, as a people, to make lengthy\nbiography. Coming times will give us this form of literature. It will\nbe remembered that this short period suffices to give only a nucleal\npoint in the matter of writings. I have churned the milk with an eye\nto obtaining the butter--the richest and best we have. My selection\nof material may not be the very best, but something is better than\nnothing, and I have done the best I could under the circumstances.\n\nWith these prefatory remarks, I present you the rose with its thorns,\ntrusting that God will give sweetness and beauty to the former and\nallow the latter to do no harm. I cheerfully record my debt of\ngratitude to my faithful wife, Mattie Alice, who has been in this\nlabor, as in all others, my abiding, sure support.\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\n HISTORY\n OF THE\n COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA.\n\n\n\n\n_I. INTRODUCTION._\n\n\nORIGIN.\n\nIn turning to the subject under consideration it seems fitting that\nwe should first review those facts and events which gave us our\ndenominational existence. Such a course, it seems to the writer, will\nserve to give us a proper \u201csetting.\u201d It is not definitely known just\nwhen, where and by whom, Baptist principles were first propagated upon\nthe American continent; it is, however, an historic fact that these\nprinciples assumed organic form in Providence, R. I., in 1639, in the\nconstitution of a Baptist church under Roger Williams as pastor. Other\nchurches soon followed, out of the union of which there early rose\nAssociations, Conventions and Missionary Societies.\n\nIn 1620, nineteen years before the organization of the church in\nProvidence, the African was brought into Virginia as a slave. The\nNorth and the South joined heartily in the work of binding their black\nbrother with the chains of cruel bondage. Thus the naked savage was\ntaken from his freedom and from his gods and chained to the chariot\nwheels of Christian (?) civilization to be coerced, dragged into new\nobservations, new experiences, and a new life.\n\n\nCHANGES.\n\nIn order to give a glancing look at the progress and decline of slavery\nin the North, and at the sort of fruit the gospel was bearing in the\nsoul and conduct of the slave, I copy the following from the \u201cBaptist\nHome Missions in America\u201d (Jubilee volume):\n\n\u201cBy 1776 there were about 300,000 slaves in America. In 1793 there were\ncomparatively few slaves to be found in the Northern States. * * * In\n1790 there were 697,897 slaves in the United States; of this number\nthere were 17 in Vermont, 158 in New Hampshire, 2,759 in Connecticut,\n3,707 in Pennsylvania, 11,423 in New Jersey, and 20,000 in New York.\n* * * Before 1830 slavery disappeared from all the Northern States. In\nVermont it was abolished in 1777; in Massachusetts in 1780; while acts\nfor the gradual emancipation of slaves were passed in other States--in\nNew York, 1799; in New Jersey, 1804. The final act of abolition in New\nYork being passed in 1817, declaring all slaves free on July 4, 1827.\n\n\u201cThe native African, fresh from his fetich worship, and incapable of\ncomprehending even common religious statements, seemed an unpromising\nsubject even for the Christian philanthropist. But, though degraded,\nhe is recognized as human, sinful, accountable, in need and capable of\nredemption through Christ. The obligation to bring him to a knowledge\nof the truth as it is in Christ, is practically recognized by many\nChristian ministers as well as by many pious masters and mistresses.\nAt family devotions in many Christian households the domestics are\ncalled in to hear the Scriptures read and bow reverently as prayer is\noffered to God. On Sunday in the same meeting house master and slave\nlisten to the same sermon. Those who give evidence of conversion are\nreceived into the church on relation of their experience after baptism,\nand sit with their masters at the Lord\u2019s table.\n\n\u201cThe First Colored Baptist Church of Savannah, Ga., dates its\norganization from 1788. Other colored Baptist churches appear in\nvarious parts of the country; in Portsmouth, Va., in 1798; the Second\nAfrican of Savannah, in 1803; the Abysinian Church of New York City, in\n1803; the African or Independent Church, Boston, Mass., in 1805; First\nAfrican of Philadelphia, Pa., in 1809; the First African of St. Louis,\nin 1827; the Ebenezer of New York City, in 1825; the Union Church of\nPhiladelphia, and a church in the District of Columbia, in 1832.\u201d One\nin Mobile in 1839, of which in 1848, it is said: \u201cThey have a fine\nhouse of worship built by themselves, and some excellent leaders or\nlicensed preachers among them.\u201d\n\n[Illustration: Hon. A. H. Curtis, Ex-Senator to Alabama Legislature\nfrom Perry County.]\n\nWe have it on good authority, that in 1850, there were in America about\n150,000 negro Baptists. Thus we see that in 230 years the gospel of\nChrist, though hampered by the institution of slavery, had done much to\nredeem the fetich worshiper from his midnight darkness and consequent\nspiritual ruin--had done much to induce the black man to obtain and\nretain God in his knowledge.\n\nOften we come upon plants which refuse to give out their sweetness\nso long as their parts are unbroken and unbleeding, but which will\nquickly yield up their odors when bruised. So it is with men. It is\nworthy of notice that these dark days of slavery gave birth to some\nstrong colored preachers. Among others, the following are mentioned\nby their white brethren: Rev. George Leile, of South Carolina, who\nvisiting Savannah, Ga., about 1782 or 1783, baptized the famous Rev.\nAndrew Bryan, of whom the Savannah Association, (white) in 1812, made\nthe following mention: \u201cThe association is sensibly affected by the\ndeath of the Rev. Andrew Bryan, a man of color, and pastor of the\nFirst Colored Church in Savannah. This son of Africa, after suffering\ninexpressible persecutions in the cause of his Divine Master, was\nat length permitted to discharge the duties of the ministry among\nhis colored friends in peace and quiet, hundreds of whom through his\ninstrumentality were brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in\nJesus.\u201d\n\nIn 1820, the Board of the Baptist General Convention of America adopted\nas their missionaries Revs. Collin Teague and Lot Cary, brethren of\ncolor, from the Baptist church of Richmond, Va. These men sailed from\nNorfolk, Va., to Liberia, Africa, in January, 1821. Rev. Thomas Paul,\nwho was pastor of the church in Boston from 1805 to 1830, is spoken of\nafter a very praiseworthy manner. Touching our own State, we begin at\nMobile.\n\n\nMOBILE.\n\nThe rise of the work in the Southern section of Alabama appears in the\nfollowing, copied from Brother Holcombe\u2019s work, and originally written\nfor the _Christian Index_, March 10, 1836:\n\n\u201cAbout 120 years ago a few Frenchmen came here and made the first\nlittle opening in the pine forest. Previously to 1817 it was occupied\nprincipally as a place of deposit and trade with the Indians. Now\nits population is not far from 10,000. Eighteen years ago a single\nsteamboat found her way to this port, now forty-five are employed in\nthe Mobile trade. The Baptist church was constituted March, 1835, by\nJ. G. Collins, R. L. Barnes and P. Stout with ten members. Rev. G. F.\nHeard was called to begin the pastorate February 14, 1836.\n\n\u201cAt that time they had no house of worship, but met in the court house,\nand for a time they met in the house belonging to the African Baptist\nChurch. The African Church is in a prosperous condition; their number\nis about 90.\u201d\n\nIn this city and county the colored people had more liberty and better\ntreatment than in any other section of the State. The free people and\nthose who hired their time often supported schools for the education of\ntheir children. Revs. Wm. Dossey, P. Stout, A. Travis, J. H. Schroebel,\nMr. Hawthorne and Mr. Spence (all white) are mentioned as pioneers and\nfathers of the work at this point. Near this old French town, June\n13, 1845, the writer was born, and in this county and city he spent\nthe first fourteen years of his life, and many years since. For some\nyears prior to the late civil war, the Stone Street and St. Louis\nStreet churches (colored) were both noted for their numbers and their\nfinancial strength.\n\n\nSTONE STREET CHURCH.\n\nThis is the \u201cmother church.\u201d The father of the Rev. J. B. Hawthorne,\nin the early part of their history, served them as pastor, receiving\na regular salary of them. At the close of the war, Mr. Spence was\ntheir pastor, since which time they have been under the leadership\nof the Rev. B. J. Burke, a man who in many regards is as strong as\nhe is peculiar. This church, however, has not done much in the way\nof missions, and not a great deal for education. One of the peculiar\ncustoms of the pastor is to \u201cbless children.\u201d Standing in the pulpit,\nhe holds the child up in his arms while he prays God\u2019s blessings upon\nit.\n\nA case of discipline which came up in this church many years ago, led\nto the formation of the St. Louis Street Church, and I am sorry to say\ngave birth to a very bitter sectional feeling between the two bodies,\nwhich feeling has long been a blight to the Baptist cause in South\nAlabama.\n\nThis church is stubbornly set against all secret societies, so that\nno secret society people are allowed in its membership. The pastor is\nelected for life. For the support of its poor it has a fund which is\ncalled the \u201cChurch Treasury.\u201d\n\n\nST. LOUIS STREET CHURCH.\n\nThis church was for many years especially noted for its missionary\nenterprise. To this church Alabama owes many of her pioneer preachers.\nThe late Rev. Charles Leavens, who was pastor just after the close of\nthe war, sought to send a pioneer, an organizer, into every section\nof the State. Their present house of worship cost, I am told, about\n$24,000, and is a two-story brick structure. Since the war their\npastors have been: Revs. Charles Leavens, I. Grant, A. Butler, C. C.\nRichardson, and the present occupant, Rev. Mr. Frazier. This church\nseems now in full sympathy with its past missionary record, over which\nno one rejoices more than the writer, since it is from this church that\nhe, under God, received his commission to preach the gospel of the Son\nof Righteousness.\n\n\nST. ANTHONY STREET CHURCH--NOW FRANKLYN STREET.\n\nThis church deserves honorable mention. Rev. A. F. Owens led to the\npurchase of the property on St. Anthony street, and served as pastor\nfor several years--1878 to 1889. Rev. A. N. McEwen, the present pastor,\nadvised the church to sell and purchase at a more desirable point. They\nare now buying a building on Franklyn street. This church has had an\nearnest class of workers, who have made great and painful sacrifices\nfor the cause.\n\n\nUNION CHURCH.\n\nThis church is another secession from Stone Street. It, too, has some\nstrong people in it. Rev. A. F. Owens is pastor.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nThere are other churches around worthy of mention. So much is said only\nto show the rise and progress of the Baptist cause in this section\nof Alabama. The great need here is more brotherly love, instead of\nthe bitter prejudice which withers every hope of united effort. Of\ncourse, many of the good people are already free from its fearful\ninfluence, but far too many are still slaves to it.\n\nAmong the founders, or ante-bellum members of the colored Baptist work\nin Mobile, we find the names of Rev. Charles Leavens and wife, James\nSomerville, Judge Europe, Thomas Sawyer, Rev. B. J. Burke, and Crawley\nJohnson.\n\n\nHUNTSVILLE, MADISON COUNTY.\n\nHere is where our Statehood was born, the Constitution being formed\nhere in 1819. Huntsville is our State\u2019s first capital. Taking Mr.\nHosea Holcombe as authority, the first Baptist church organized in\nAlabama was constituted within a few miles of Huntsville, in 1808.\nTheir constitutional membership was eleven, and Rev. John Nicholson\nwas their first pastor. The first negro Baptist church constituted in\nthis section of the State was the African Baptist Church of Huntsville,\norganized about the year 1820. I say 1820, for the reason that in 1821\nthey are recorded as entering into the Flint River Association, with\nseventy-six members. Rev. William Harris, \u201ca free colored man,\u201d is\nmentioned as their first pastor. It seems that Brother Harris soon fell\nunder the influence of a white preacher, William Crutcher, and became\nestablished in the faith of the Primitive Baptists. Over seventy\nyears have passed away, and still Rev. Bartlett Harris, a grandson of\nRev. William Harris, is preaching the \u201celection of grace.\u201d Instead\nof seventy-six Missionary members, there are now about two thousand\nPrimitives. The Rev. W. H. Gaston is the leading educator among them.\nHe is a man of quiet and humble spirit, and is now trying to establish\na school at Huntsville. How we Missionaries need a school in Madison\ncounty! Our little Missionary church seems bound hand and foot. At\nthis writing, Rev. Oscar Gray is pastor, and he seems to do as well as\ncircumstances allow.\n\nPerhaps I cannot close this notice of Madison county more profitably\nthan by directing the attention of the reader to the vast consequences,\nin the form of false views and false practices, which came of one man\u2019s\ndecisions. Rev. William Harris decided to follow Mr. Crutcher, and now\nthousands of people walk in his track as anti-Missionaries.\n\n\nPERRY AND HALE COUNTIES.\n\nAt Salem Church, near Greensboro, the Alabama State Convention (white)\nwas organized October, 1823, not quite forty-five years before the\norganization of the Colored Baptist Convention in 1868, and its first\nanniversary was held at Marion, in Perry county.\n\nReference is made to these facts in order to introduce other facts\nbearing a closer relation to ourselves. Within a circle of twenty-five\nmiles of Marion--and Greensboro, is near this point--some of the\nmightiest influences in support of Baptist views have risen up and\ngone forth upon the colored Baptists of Alabama. The colored people of\nMarion, and throughout the country around, are hardly less noted for\ntheir refinement than they are for their Baptistic opinions. In this\nsection arose those colored men of power and of pioneer fame--Revs.\nJames Childs, the first pastor of the Marion Church (colored); Henry\nStevens, first pastor of the Greensboro Church, and John Dosier,\nso long pastor of the church in Uniontown. This point, till right\nrecently, has been the educational center of our white brethren, and\nhere in Marion, the first colored State Normal school began, as the\nresult of the influence of the late Hon. A. H. Curtis, of Baptist fame.\n\n[Illustration: Mrs. A. A. Bowie, Instructress in Dressmaking, Selma\nUniversity.]\n\n\nMONTGOMERY CITY AND COUNTY.\n\nBaptist principles manifested themselves in this part of Alabama\nabout 1818-19 in the constitution of the Elim Church, near the city\nof Montgomery, and Messrs. J. McLemore, S. Ray, and W. J. Larkin, are\nmentioned as pioneers.\n\n\nA STRAW WHICH SHOWS WHICH WAY THE WIND BLOWS.\n\nIn Dr. Riley\u2019s \u201cHistory of Alabama Baptists,\u201d we have the following:\n\u201cA negro slave, named C\u00e6sar, a bright, smart, robust fellow * * * was\nordained to preach. His ability was so marked, and the confidence which\nhe enjoyed was so profound, that Rev. James McLemore would frequently\nhave C\u00e6sar attend him upon his preaching tours. He was sometimes taken\nby Mr. McLemore into the pulpit, and never failed of commanding the\nmost rapt and respectful attention.\u201d\n\nTo the credit of the Alabama Association, it is written that they\nbought this man and gave him his liberty that he might preach among\nthem the gospel of Christ; and it is said, that though he was as black\nas a crow, he traveled alone and unharmed on the mission of life. Thus\nthe negro appears in the foundation of gospel operations in Central\nAlabama. Here also appear the victories of the gospel leaven, the\ntriumphs of the love of God over those hearts wherein Christ was king.\n\nThe price paid for Brother C\u00e6sar Blackwell is given as $625. Catching\ninspiration from the encouragement before them in the form of their\nbrother C\u00e6sar Blackwell\u2019s success, and the good will of the Christian\nwhite people to whose fellowship they belonged, Nathan Ashby and Jacob\nBelser (colored) soon became active workers.\n\n\nTUSCALOOSA AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.\n\nPerhaps the first church (white) organized in Jefferson county was\norganized about the year 1818. Dr. Holcombe\u2019s history tells us that\nin 1823 the \u201cRock Creek Church,\u201d in Tuscaloosa county, received into\nits membership from South Carolina an African preacher, Job Davis. Mr.\nHolcombe says of him: \u201cHe was an acceptable preacher, a man of deep\nthought, sound judgment, and was well skilled in the Scriptures of\nDivine Truth.\u201d\n\nThe venerable Mr. A. J. Waldrop, of Birmingham, informed the writer\nthat when a little boy he heard Job preach in a camp meeting. He said:\n\u201cThe meeting had been in progress a week or so, and mother and father\nwent to the camp on Sunday morning. The meeting was very cold. Brother\nHolcombe was wondering who would be the fit preacher to open the day\u2019s\nservices, as Job, now free from his daily toil, walked into camp. As\nBrother Holcombe saw him, he remarked: \u2018There is our man.\u2019 Job was led\nup to the stand and invited to go up and take a seat. Job replied: \u2018No,\nI\u2019ll stand down here in front of it.\u2019 Job then reached back to the top\nof the stand and took off the Bible and opened it. I can never forget\nthe deep thrill of devotion which Job\u2019s person and manner turned in\nupon the audience that day; something of the feeling is with me yet. He\nhad hardly parted his lips before men and women began to sob. When he\nwas through with his sermon, it was plain to all that the meeting was\nno longer a dead meeting. This was the beginning of a revival which\naffected much of Tuscaloosa county.\u201d\n\nMr. Holcombe says of Job, in another place in his book: \u201cJob was\nbrought from Africa to Charleston, S. C., in 1806; professed religion\nin 1812; soon learned to read and write; taught Sunday school for two\nsummers in Abbeville district, S. C.; licensed to preach in 1818; came\nto Alabama in 1822; died November 17, 1835, in Pickens county. He lived\nthe Christian, he died a saint.\u201d\n\nFurther, Mr. Holcombe says: \u201cIn those days we had but few better\npreachers than Job.\u201d\n\nThus it appears that not only in wars for independence, but in gospel\nlabors as well, the negro is in the foundations of this country.\n\nRev. Prince Murrell, who had bought himself some time before the days\nof the Emancipation, opened the work at Tuscaloosa on the dawn of\nfreedom. Rev. Messrs. M. Tyler and M. D. Alexander came into the van at\nLowndesboro.\n\n\nLEE, MACON, BULLOCK AND BARBOUR COUNTIES.\n\nAt Tuskegee, in Macon, was the Rev. Doc. Phillips (a blacksmith), a man\nwho, it seems, refused to accept his freedom at the hands of his white\nbrethren in order that his preaching might be more acceptable to his\npeople in slavery.\n\nAt Auburn, in Lee, was the Rev. Thomas Glenn, a man respected and\ntrusted no less by his white neighbors than by his own people for his\ngenuine piety and honorable life.\n\nIn Barbour and Bullock, Revs. Jerry Shorter, M. Coleman, William McCoo\nand Deacon J. E. Timothy possessed the spirit of leadership, and moved\nforward in the work of organization upon the appearance of liberty.\nRev. E. Thornton soon appears.\n\n\nGREENVILLE, BUTLER COUNTY.\n\nIn this town and county the Rev. Stewart Adams is the pioneer. In 1872\nor 1873, he was appointed missionary under the American Baptist Home\nMission Society, and was thus enabled to extend his operations, which\nresulted in the organization of one of the first associations (Union).\n\n\nSELMA.\n\nSomewhere between 1840-45, a colored church was organized in Selma,\nthe first colored leader of which was a Mr. Samuel Phillips, a man who\nobtained his liberty (so the late Mr. A. Goldsby reported) by some\nservice he rendered the country in the Mexican war. A. Goldsby and\nCharles White (late treasurer of our Convention) were principal persons\nin the organization.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nSo much has been said to show the ante-liberty growths. It seems\nfitting to close this chapter with the appearance of freedom as the\nwriter saw it.\n\nFrom the days of my earliest recollection, freedom\u2019s shadowy forms\nmoved before the eyes of the Southern slave. He felt or thought that\nhe felt--he saw or thought he saw--the touch and visage of approaching\nliberty. In subdued tones it was whispered upon ears that could be\ntrusted, that slavery, with all its accompanying horrors, was soon\nto be a thing of the past. Praying bands were organized and met in\ndistant groves to pray for liberty. Gathered beneath the sighing trees\nand nightly skies, they whispered their agonies upon the ears of the\nAlmighty--whispered _lowly_, lest the passing winds should bear their\npetitions to the ears of the overseer or master. And often--as with\nDaniel and his companions in Babylon--the God who reveals secrets to\nthem that love him, uncovered before our minds coming events, which\ncaused us to laugh and cry. But we kept these things in our hearts, and\nit was a wonder to all around that the slave could sing in his furnace\nof hot afflictions. God, in unfolding hope, was with us in the fire,\nand so we were sustained.\n\n\nDREAM TELLING.\n\nThey fall to dreaming: Contending armies are seen in battle, and the\none favorable to the liberty of the slave is seen to prevail. Old trees\nappear to wither and disappear before trees of new sort.\n\nThe war cloud bursts and the slave mingles his prayers with the roar of\nthe booming cannon, tarrying on his knees while the American soldiery\ncontend in mortal strife. It was understood to mean liberty. At last\nthe deadly struggle ceased, and emancipation was declared. It was only\nthe dawning, and therefore the light was dim.\n\n\nTHE BITTER BUD.\n\nOne of the saddest mistakes of the slave was, that he thought _so\nmuch_ of the _pleasures_ of freedom and _so little of its weighty\nobligations_. To him, freedom meant mansions, lands, teams, money,\nposition, educated sons and refined daughters, with the liberty to\ngo and to act as he pleased. If he might have burdened his mind with\nthoughts of his sore destitution of heart, of intellect, of purse; if\nhe might have thought of his poverty as to skill in the arts, sciences\nand professions of life, as to social status, as to domestic relations,\nas to opportunities to succeed in a wrestle for life by the side of\nthe victorious white man--if he might have seen that to make himself a\n_strong manhood_ was his first and his most important duty--if his mind\nmight have been full of these thoughts, it had been a thousand fold\nbetter for him. But, as his mind was on pleasures, he was disappointed\nwhen they proved only phantoms, and hence the bud of liberty was bitter.\n\nIndeed, to those who had the ability to discern, the first view of\nliberty was frightful in proportion as it was seriously considered.\nNaturally, as the shackles suddenly fell off, there was such a forcible\nrebounding of life, as in many cases made liberty mean license to live\nidle and lewd.\n\nI can never forget my first impressions at the full view of freedom. O,\nwhat helplessness appeared in our condition!\n\nEvery day, for weeks, shoeless and hatless men and women, with half\nnaked, hungry children, passed through the little town where I lived,\nnot knowing whither they went, what were their names, nor what they\nsought. A certain man, when I first met him, was introduced to me as\nMr. M----. A little after this, I was surprised to find that he was\nnot Mr. M----, but was Mr. R----. And my ability to be surprised was\nconsiderably lessened when I finally learned that Mr. R---- was now Mr.\nH----.\n\nLong and anxiously I waited for the appearance of some _great_ colored\nmen to assume leadership in matters of religion and education, but I\nwaited in vain. My heart ached as though it would break, and was at\nlast only partially relieved of its weight when my brother (Rev. J.\nGomez) and I had built an humble house in which to worship God and\nteach the children. Into this we, boys though we were, called the\npeople to meet to hear the reading of the Scriptures and to pray.\n\n\nORGANIZATION IN ALABAMA.\n\nIn 1864 there were four Colored Missionary Baptist Churches in Alabama,\nowning property worth about $10,000. Two of these were located in\nMobile city--the Stone and the St. Louis Street Churches. Another was\nlocated in Selma, and is now known as the First Colored Baptist Church.\n\n[Illustration: Rev. L. S. Steinback in the Act of Baptism.]\n\nOf course there was no association, no convention, no graded school\nof learning. The colored people of Mobile enjoyed superior advantages\nover those of other sections of the State and hence many of them had\nmade fair attainments in letters. But in all the State there was but\none Baptist preacher, to the writer\u2019s knowledge, in April, 1865, who\ncould, with any degree of honesty, claim to be an educated Baptist\nnegro preacher. This was one Rev. Moses B. Avery. I think he is now\nin Mississippi. Anyhow I know that soon after the close of the war he\njoined the Methodist brethren and left the State. It will be seen,\ntherefore, that he was no help to the Colored Baptists of Alabama.\n\nThe change which the war had wrought as to the civil status of the\nblack man, changing him from slave to freedman, affected his church\nstanding, so that ex-master and ex-slave did not quite fit each other\nin the old \u201cmeeting house,\u201d as they had done in days of yore. There\nwas restlessness on one side, and suspicion on the other. The black\nman wanted to go out and set up housekeeping for himself, while the\nwhite man in most cases feared and hesitated to lay on the hands of\nordination. We did not know each other. The \u201cnegro preacher\u201d on one\nside of the river had but little opportunity to know his brother on the\nother side. Truly our beginning was dark and chaotic.\n\nIt is said that necessity is the mother of invention. In all ages\nof the world, and with all peoples, want--a sense of need--has gone\nbefore human creations. The black man of the South was like, in this,\nthe balance of human kind. When set at liberty, he was for some time\nlost in looking upon the wonderful changes that had passed over him.\nBut when he came to himself he began slowly to realize his needs.\nHe began, for example, to feel the need of church and of school,\nand out of this feeling of want on these lines there arose thought,\ndiscussion, plan, action. Those who were of like faith and gospel\npractice began to meet for prayer and for conference, and at last to\nunite in church covenant, forming churches. Then churches, under the\nleadership of progressive men, were joined in associational compacts.\nThey met first only to sing and pray, and listen to talks from white\nbrethren. Want increased; burdens increased; the horizon of duty and\npossibility widened. Under a sense of duty and repeated exercise, mind\nand heart developed into greater strength and into greater capacity\nfor thought, plan, speech, and execution. Kindred spirits sought each\nother\u2019s fellowship and counsel, and talked about the work which might\nbe done. Soon it was felt by some that a general State Convention\nwas both necessary and possible. The desire, plan and call for such\nan organization ripened among the brethren at and around the Capital\nCity. Perhaps Montgomery was foremost, for the reason that here was\nthe legislature, and here the colored people saw most of deliberative\nbodies, and heard most about their needs and opportunities.\n\n[Illustration: Mrs. Dinah Smith Jordan, Birmingham, Ala.]\n\n\n\n\n_II. THE STATE CONVENTIONS_\n\n\nFIRST SESSION.\n\nTHE Colored Baptist Convention of Alabama was constituted December 17,\n1868, in the Columbus Street Baptist Church, in the city of Montgomery.\n\nThe officers elected were: Rev. Nathan Ashby, president; Rev. J. W.\nStevens, of Montgomery, vice-president, and Bro. H. Thompson, secretary.\n\nThe following appear in the roll of this session: Revs. N. Ashby,\nJ. W. Stevens, Jacob Belser, J. Epperson, and Bro. H. Thompson, of\nMontgomery county; Revs. E. Wright and S. Adams, of Greenville; Rev.\nW. Farris, of Monroeville; Rev. S. Weaver, of Dallas county; Revs. P.\nGill and Samuel Morse, of Notasulga; James Finly, of Fayette; Revs.\nI. Glenn and A. Blackburn, of Auburn; Rev. M. D. Alexander and M.\nTyler, of Lowndesboro; Rev. B. Nelson, of Lee county; Rev. Mr. Wood, of\nMacon county; Rev. H. Coleman, of Union Springs; Rev. W. H. McAlpin,\nof Talladega; Revs. John Dosier and Henry Stevens, of Uniontown; P.\nUnderwood, Thomas Smith, Ned Atkinson, and Rev. D. M. Phillips, of\nTuskegee.\n\nAbout twenty-seven churches were represented. About $150 was collected,\nand Rev. Washington Stevens was made Missionary.\n\n\nSECOND SESSION.\n\nThis session was held in Montgomery in 1869, and the officers of the\nprevious year being re-elected to their several positions. Revs. Wm.\nMcCoo, of Bullock county; P. Murrell, of Tuskaloosa; John P. Lucas,\npastor of Mt. Meigs; Henry Clark, of Opelika; B. Burke, of Mobile;\nFrank Quarles, of Georgia, and H. E. Talliaferro (white), agent for\nthe American Baptist Home Missionary Society; Lewis Brown, of Sumter\ncounty; A. Cunningham, of Conecuh county, and James Caldwell, of\nMarengo county, appear in the roll of this session. Fifty or sixty\nchurches were represented; several hundred dollars were raised; the\nmissionary was short in his collections; Home Mission Society was\nendorsed.\n\n\nTHIRD SESSION.\n\nThis session was also held in Montgomery on October 5, 1870. As Rev. N.\nAshby was sick, Rev. W. Stevens, the Missionary, was elected president,\nand Rev. M. Tyler vice-president. Rev. Charles Leavens, of Mobile, and\nSenator A. H. Curtis were enrolled. The ordained ministers present\nwere: N. Ashby, James A. Foster, W. Stevens, F. Brooks, T. Glenn,\nChas. Leavens, S. Adams, H. Stokes, C. Blunt, Wm. McCoo, J. Caldwell,\nS. Weaver, J. Cole, J. W. McLeod, M. Tyler, B. Burke, P. Murrell, J.\nDosier, D. M. Phillips, J. Wood, Ned Watkins, B. Bibb, H. Stevens, R.\nMason.\n\n\nFOURTH SESSION.\n\nHeld in Selma November 1-4, 1871. Brother W. H. McAlpine was prominent.\nThe officers elected were: Rev. P. Murrell, president; Rev. Stewart\nAdams, vice-president; Rev. W. Stevens, recording secretary; and H.\nThompson, clerk.\n\nRevs. D. Alexander, B. Bibb, J. Caldwell and J. Belser have passed\naway.\n\nAbout $300 sent in by the churches: twenty-eight churches report Sunday\nSchools; three Associations appear by their messengers.\n\n\nFIFTH SESSION.\n\nHeld in Selma, November, 1872. Officers of previous year re-elected. A\ncommittee is appointed to confer with the white Convention in session\nin Eufaula. Two more Associations are enrolled. $300 or $400 collected.\n\n\nSIXTH SESSION.\n\nHeld in Tuscaloosa, November, 1873. The officers elected were: Rev.\nJ. A. Foster, Montgomery, president; Rev. M. Tyler, Lowndesboro,\nvice-president; Rev. P. Murrell, treasurer; and Bro. H. J. Europe,\nof Mobile, clerk. Three other Associations reported. Rev. A. Butler,\nMobile, joined at this session. Rev. W. H. McAlpine introduced the\nfollowing, which was adopted:\n\n\u201c_Resolved_, That we plant in the State of Alabama a theological school\nto educate our young men.\u201d\n\nThis threw life and aim into the Convention and the signs of activity\nimmediately appeared. Four other Associations entered. Lively\ndiscussions ensued. The white Baptist Convention assembled in the\nsame city at the same time advised against the educational scheme.\nThe question whether God needed help in preparing his ministry--the\nquestion which fifty years before had agitated the white Convention of\nAlabama--was now stirring the souls of black men. Sunday Schools were\nallowed representation in the body.\n\n\nSEVENTH SESSION.\n\nHeld in Mobile, in the St. Louis Street Church, November, 1874.\nOfficers of previous year were re-elected. Brother McAlpine\u2019s school\nresolution was endorsed and ordered on the minutes. On motion of\nBrother McAlpine the following persons were appointed a committee to\nmanage the school project: Revs. A. Butler, W. H. McAlpine, H. J.\nEurope, H. Thompson and the writer. Brother McAlpine was authorized\nand requested to spend six months as missionary and agent of the\nConvention. Much praying.\n\n\nEIGHTH SESSION.\n\nHeld in Mobile, November, 1875. The officers elected were as follows:\nRev. J. A. Foster, president; Rev. M. Tyler, vice-president; Rev. J.\nW. Stevens, corresponding secretary; Rev. Thomas Smith, treasurer,\nand Rev. C. O. Boothe, clerk. Ten Associations were enrolled this\nyear. Brother McAlpine reported $90 in favor of the Convention as the\nresult of six months\u2019 work. The body was never so much aroused as\nduring this session. Some trouble arose over contentions among the\nchurches in Mobile. Rev. W. H. McAlpine was appointed missionary and\nagent of the Convention for the ensuing conventional year. Rev. C. O.\nBoothe was appointed, with Brother McAlpine, to aid in searching for a\nsuitable location for the proposed school, and was authorized to call\nthe attention of our Northern brethren to our needs and operations\nregarding educational facilities in Alabama. Never did any set of men\nappear to be more earnest and enthusiastic. Every eye was on McAlpine\nas the leader.\n\n\nNINTH SESSION.\n\nHeld with the Mount Canaan Church, Talladega, November 15-20, 1876.\nOfficers: Rev. M. Tyler, president; Rev. B. J. Burke, vice-president;\nRev. I. Smith, treasurer; Rev. G. C. Casby, Montgomery, corresponding\nsecretary, and Rev. C. O. Boothe, at this time pastor in Talladega,\nwas continued as clerk.\n\nThis session of the body may be denominated \u201cThe Eventful Session.\u201d\nHere the sainted Woodsmall was met for the first time, and bore the\nConvention the following:\n\n  \u201cIndianapolis, Ind., November 11, 1876.\n\n \u201c_Dear Brethren of the Convention_: On behalf of the Indiana Baptist\n State Convention, I greet you with this epistle, bearing their\n congratulations and sympathy. We are engaged in a common cause with\n you--the cause of our blessed Lord and Master. * * * So we strike glad\n hands with you for a renewal and continuance of the gospel warfare\n till Jesus comes.\u201d\n\nThis bore the signature of Dr. Wyeth, editor of the _Journal and\nMessenger_, and the Secretary of the Indiana Convention. This was\n_good_ tidings, and the information that Brother Woodsmall had come\nto hold Ministers\u2019 Institutes among us was still _better_ tidings.\nThenceforward we were to drink from a very high type of manhood.\n\nRevs. W. J. White, F. Quarles, and Bryan, of Georgia, came with\npropositions from the Georgia Convention that Alabama should give up\nher school project and join Georgia in building a school at Atlanta.\n\nA letter received from Dr. S. S. Cutting, corresponding secretary of\nthe Home Mission Society, to the clerk, informed the Convention that\nhis board had no help for our school enterprise in Alabama, and favored\nour union with Georgia.\n\nA communication from the white Baptist Convention containing the\nfollowing, was read before the body:\n\n\u201c_Resolved_, That we deem this a suitable occasion to express to our\ncolored brethren an abiding interest in their welfare, both temporal\nand spiritual.\n\n  \u201cJohn Haralson, President.\u201d\n\nBrother McAlpine turned over $1,000, which he had raised for the\nproposed school, and again took the field.\n\nThe clerk, as committee on location of the proposed school, reported\nthat if the school should be located at Marion, Ala., our students\ncould obtain scientific and literary training in the State school at\nthat point, in which case, the Convention would only be obliged to\nfurnish theological instruction. The Convention did not decide as to\nthe course it would be best to pursue. Brothers Pettiford and Barton\njoined the work in this session, and the former took a prominent\nposition at once.\n\n\nTENTH SESSION.\n\nHeld in Eufaula, November, 1877. The officers of the last convention\nwere re-elected. The school project was turned into the hands of the\nBoard of Trustees elected at the session of 1875. The report of the\nBoard of Trustees recommended that the school be located at Montgomery.\nWhen a motion by Hon. A. H. Curtis to substitute Marion had been lost,\nRev. E. K. Love, of Georgia, moved to substitute Selma, which was\ncarried by a majority of three. The Board was authorized and instructed\nto begin operations. Revs. W. H. McAlpine and W. J. Stevens were put\nout as missionaries. Before leaving Eufaula, the Board appointed a\ncommittee to act on their behalf with regard to the management of the\nschool. At a meeting of the Board held in Selma, December 20, the\ncommittee reported: \u201cYour committee has been unable to find a suitable\nhouse for rent in which to commence school for less than $27 per month.\nThere are one or more buildings here that may be purchased at quite a\nreasonable figure. W. H. McAlpine, J. Blevins, H. Stevens, committee.\u201d\n\nAt this meeting there were present the following trustees, besides\nthose above mentioned: M. Tyler, C. Blunt, J. W. Stevens, J. Dosier\nand A. H. Curtis. Revs. W. H. McAlpine and J. Blevins, with Bro. A.\nH. Curtis, were empowered to act as Executive Committee of the Board.\nAfter some discussion as to whether to rent or purchase, it was voted\nto rent, and not to pay over $15 per month. The Committee was so\ninstructed, and was further instructed not to assume over $50 per month\nfor teaching force. The Committee elected Mr. H. Woodsmall, of Indiana,\nand he at once opened the school in the St. Phillip Street Baptist\nChurch.\n\nOn May 30, 1878, the Board held another meeting in Selma. Present:\nRevs. M. Tyler, J. Blevins, G. C. Casby, Thomas Smith, J. Dosier,\nH. Stevens, W. H. McAlpine and C. O. Boothe. At this meeting the\nCommittee were authorized to purchase the \u201cOld Fair Grounds\u201d for\n$3,000. The _Baptist Pioneer_ was started, with W. H. McAlpine, editor;\nJ. Dosier and C. O. Boothe as assistants. The Committee, to the great\nsatisfaction of the Board, reported that the St. Phillips Street Church\nhad donated to the school the use of their audience room, the oil for\nlights, and fuel, and also that the services of Bro. W. R. Pettiford\nhad been secured at a cost of $20 per month, allowing him time to take\nlessons in theology.\n\nThe following financial report was submitted:\n\nRECEIPTS.\n\n Uniontown Association                   $150 00\n Alabama District Association              40 00\n Rev. A. Cunningham, Conecuh county        30 00\n Deacon A. Scott, Montevallo               15 65\n Rev. Thomas Smith, Treasurer Convention  100 00\n Mr. H. Woodsmall, for tuition             82 10\n Rev. W. H. McAlpine                       20 00\n\nDonations from the North were also reported.\n\n\nELEVENTH SESSION.\n\nHeld in Marion, November, 1878. The officers of the previous year were\nre-elected, with the exception of Rev. C. O. Boothe, who had been\nappointed Sunday school missionary for the State, under the American\nBaptist Publishing Society. Bro. N. R. Nickerson was elected clerk.\n\nThe Trustees reported that the Old Fair Grounds had been secured, and\nthat the school was in operation. One thousand dollars had been paid\non the grounds; $545 had come from the North. Three teachers were\nsupported without charge to the State--Misses Emma Jordan and Emma\nHeustis, and Mr. M. W. Alston.\n\nThus the school began. About $2,000 reported.\n\n\nTWELFTH SESSION.\n\nHeld in Opelika, November 12-15, 1879. In this session Rev. A. F. Owens\njoined, and Revs. A. Butler and B. Burke forsook the Convention. Rev.\nD. M. Phillips, of Tuskegee, had left the cross for the crown.\n\nThe second $1,000 had been paid on our campus, and $700 worth of\nimprovements had been added to the buildings. A missionary society\norganized by President Woodsmall and operating in the St. Philip Street\nChurch, is reported as giving partial support to Profs. Alston and\nPettiford, and to students D. T. Gulley and J. C. Curry.\n\n\nTHIRTEENTH SESSION.\n\nHeld in Marion, November 17-20, 1880. The officers elected were: M.\nTyler, president; J. A. Foster, vice-president; N. R. Nickerson, clerk;\nG. C. Casby, corresponding secretary, and C. White, treasurer.\nExcept a small balance due Brother Woodsmall the school was now free\nfrom debt, besides owning thirty-six acres of land and temporary\nbuildings.\n\n[Illustration: Shiloh Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala., Rev. T. W.\nWalker, Pastor.]\n\nRev. S. Adams had gone to the other world.\n\nAided by the Selma Missionary Society, Bros. M. W. Alston, L.\nEllington, D. T. Gulley, D. L. Prentice, C. Travis, C. R. Rodgers, L.\nJ. Green and J. C. Curry had done effective missionary work.\n\nBrother Woodsmall reported that the _Baptist Pioneer_ is free of debt\nand has $321.03 in cash. He had received $2,399--$899 had come from\nAlabama in tuition and donations, and $1,500 from the North.\n\nThe American Baptist Home Mission Society at this time adopted the\nschool and engaged to give it $2,000 during its session of 1880-81.\nAbout $400 were spent on improvements of school grounds. Rev. Wm. A.\nBurch, late of Philadelphia, now pastor of the First Baptist Church\nin Selma, and Rev. W. W. Cully, a returned African Missionary, were\nmembers of this Convention. Brother McAlpine had raised from all\nsources $1,976.85. Before the next session Brother McAlpine, at Brother\nWoodsmall\u2019s request, became president of the school.\n\n\nFOURTEENTH SESSION.\n\nHeld in Mobile, November, 1881. The officers of the previous year were\nre-elected. Revs. A. Cunningham, Belleville, J. Blevins, Selma, and J.\nCole, Montgomery, are no longer on earth.\n\nThe Home Mission Society gave $3,000 to the present school session. Dr.\nM. Stone, of Ohio, taught in the school without cost to the board of\ntrustees.\n\nBefore the next session Rev. H. N. Bouey, from South Carolina, became\nState Sunday School Missionary.\n\n\nFIFTEENTH SESSION.\n\nHeld in Tuscaloosa, November, 1882. Former officers re-elected, except\nthat Rev. J. Dosier was made vice-president.\n\nThis year, the same as last, Brother McAlpine was retained president of\nthe school.\n\nTotal receipts from Alabama, including tuition fees, were $2,588.\nDonation from Home Mission Society $3,350. The last session made\nBrother Pettiford financial agent, and the present session was greatly\nencouraged in view of his excellent success.\n\n\nSIXTEENTH SESSION.\n\nHeld in Selma, November, 1883, in the First Colored Baptist Church,\nof which the writer was pastor. Rev. E. M. Brawley, late of South\nCarolina, was made president of our school, Rev. W. H. McAlpine having\nresigned in his favor.\n\nAlabama paid $2,511 towards our educational work. Bro. Woodsmall was\nnot present. Rev. A. N. McEwen, late of Tennessee, now pastor of Dexter\nAvenue Church, Montgomery, was present this session. Rev. H. N. Bouey\nwas made financial agent.\n\n\nSEVENTEENTH SESSION.\n\nHeld in Mobile, November, 1884. Officers of 1882 and 1883 were\nre-elected; $3,224 reported as coming from the State.\n\nBefore the next session \u201cThe Minister\u2019s Union\u201d was organized in\nTalladega, with Rev. C. O. Boothe as secretary, and W. H. McAlpine,\npresident.\n\n\nEIGHTEENTH SESSION.\n\nHeld in the Sixteenth Street Church, Birmingham, November, 1885.\nOfficers of previous session re-elected. On the 10th of November, one\nday prior to the sitting of the Convention, the Ministers\u2019 Union\nmet and appointed a committee on the character of the author of this\npamphlet, and which reported the following:\n\n\u201cWe, your committee appointed on Bro. C. O. Boothe, beg leave to\nsubmit the following: On account of the complications of his marriage\nrelations, his oppositions to the State work, and on account of his\nwant of loyalty to truth, we recommend that we withdraw from him the\nhand of fellowship as a minister. C. S. Dinkins, J. Q. A. Wilhite, J.\nDosier, committee.\u201d\n\nThe brother, who was excluded (?) by the adoption of this report, asked\nand was allowed to put in the minutes of the Convention the following:\n\u201cTo all who may read the resolution passed by the Alabama Baptist\nMinisters\u2019 Union bearing upon me, I affirm my innocence of each and all\nthe charges therein presented, and appeal to the King of Kings, whose\njust judgment I patiently await.\n\n  \u201cC. O. Boothe.\u201d\n\nDark times follow upon the work and upon many individuals. The total\nreceipts for this year, as reported by Bro. Bouey, were $2,200. Rev. J.\nP. Barton was made State missionary, and Rev. J. Q. A. Wilhite was made\nfinancial agent of the school.\n\nThe school was getting into debt, and serious losses threatened. The\nfounders of the work were not sufficiently willing to confer with each\nother.\n\n\nNINETEENTH SESSION.\n\nHeld in Opelika, November, 1886. The same officers were re-elected,\nexcept Rev. J. A. Foster replaced Rev. John Dosier as vice-president.\nRev. C. L. Purce was made president of the school, Dr. Brawley having\nresigned. The school was $6,000 or $7,000 in debt. A resolution looking\ntoward moving the University from Selma was adopted. Marion was\nproposed instead of Selma, and the larger cash donation was to fix\nthe location. The contest was heated, and here and there rather ugly.\nThe _Baptist Leader_ favored Marion. Finances were rather short. Revs.\nG. W. Berry, from South Carolina, and E. J. Fisher, of Georgia, were\npresent at this session.\n\n\nTWENTIETH SESSION.\n\nHeld in Montgomery, in the Columbus Street Church, July, 1887. The\nMinisters\u2019 Union rescinded their vote passed in Birmingham in 1885,\nbearing upon the character of Rev. C. O. Boothe. Rev. W. R. Pettiford,\nof Birmingham, was elected president, and Rev. R. T. Pollard, clerk.\nRev. William J. Simmons, of Louisville, district secretary of the\nAmerican Baptist Home Mission Society, and Bro. Woodsmall, were\npresent. Mrs. M. A. Boothe, president of the State W. C. T. U.,\naddressed the Convention. Mrs. C. Thompson, agent in Alabama for the\nWomen\u2019s Home Missionary Society of Chicago, also spoke. Stormy time,\nand no small amount of bitter feeling. The financial vote sustained\nSelma, and the University remained at the home of her childhood.\n\nDebts were threatening our property. Mr. Purce endeavored to prevent\nany increase of debts.\n\n\nTWENTY-FIRST SESSION.\n\nHeld in Tuscaloosa, July, 1888. Officers of previous year were\nre-elected. About $4,000 was raised this year. Dr. W. J. Simmons,\ndistrict secretary of the Home Mission Society, was present with plans\nfor missionary co-operation with our State, which were endorsed. Some\nof the school grounds had been sold to meet debts, six acres having\ngone to meet the $7,000.\n\nRev. W. R. Forbes, of Virginia, pastor at Eufaula, was present. The\nboard recommended Rev. W. H. McAlpine as State Missionary under the\njoint plan with the Home Mission Society.\n\n\nTWENTY-SECOND SESSION.\n\nHeld in Selma, July, 1889. Officers of previous session were\nre-elected. Rev. C. S. Dinkins, having severed his connection with the\nfaculty of the University, was successfully operating an academy at\nMarion in connection with his pastorate. This project the Convention,\non motion of Rev. A. N. McEwen, endorsed. Rev. C. O. Boothe was\nappointed General Missionary of Alabama on the joint plan with the Home\nMission Society. This year our women, under the leadership of Miss S.\nA. Stone, gloriously rallied to the support of the University. About\n$5,700 was raised in the State. Rev. Washington Stevens, Montgomery,\nand Deacon D. Lane, Greensboro, had passed away. Time of session was\nagain changed to November. Brethren R. T. Pollard and D. T. Gulley made\nSunday Missionaries under the Publication Society on the joint plan.\nDuring this year, in May, a jubilee meeting was held in Selma and over\n$2,000 was raised. In this jubilee meeting we met Rev. H. Stevens the\nlast time on earth.\n\n\nTWENTY-THIRD SESSION.\n\nHeld in Sixth Avenue Church, Birmingham, November, 1890. The officers\nof the previous session and all the missionaries were re-elected.\nThe Home Mission Society gave about $6,000 to Alabama, including\n$2,600 given for University buildings. The financial agent, President\nPurce, and the missionaries all made very encouraging financial\nreports--thousands of dollars having been collected ($5,400). Dr. W. J.\nSimmons and Rev. Henry Stevens crossed the dark river this year. Drs.\nClanton and Brawley were present. This was a good session--debts fast\ndisappearing under the industrious and wise financiering of President\nPurce and Agent Wilhite. The missionaries were continued.\n\nThe _Baptist Leader_ (once _The Baptist Pioneer_), which for several\nyears had been successfully run by Editor McEwen, was continued under\nits old management.\n\nThis year, in July, a Baptist Congress was held in Montgomery in the\nDexter Avenue Church. It was entertaining and instructive. Also in\nAugust a State Sunday School Convention was organized in Union Springs,\nwith Rev. S. Jones as president, and is still doing a grand work,\nBrother Wells being still presiding officer.\n\n\nTWENTY-FOURTH SESSION.\n\nHeld in Peace Baptist Church, Talladega, November, 1891. The same\nofficers were re-elected, and also the same missionaries, except that\nRev. C. R. Rodgers was chosen to fill the place made vacant by Bro.\nPollard\u2019s resignation. A grand session--never before in our history\nhad our business seemed to be so much in the hands and hearts of wise,\ncultivated men and women. The Rev. Mr. Parks and Hon. James White,\nof Chattanooga, were with us. The mayor of Talladega, pastors of\nwhite churches, and everybody else, gave us a word of encouragement\nand expressed themselves as pleased and profited by our presence.\nProf. Peterson, a recent member of the faculty of Selma University,\nwas introduced to Alabama Baptists. One hundred and fifty churches\nand forty associations, besides Sunday school conventions and Sunday\nschools, were represented by two hundred messengers. The year\u2019s income\nfrom all sources was reported by financial agents as footing up to\n$12,440. Statistical secretary reported as follows: \u201cSeven hundred\nand eighteen churches and fifty-eight associations. Twenty-eight\nof the associations give an aggregate membership of 83,000. Thirty\nassociations have failed to report their numbers.\u201d\n\nDr. C. S. Dinkins had been operating an academy at Marion, for the\nuse of which he had paid $1,000. Our school property increased in\nvalue from $3,000 to $30,000. The president of our Convention, W.\nR. Pettiford, was at this time president of a successful banking\nenterprise. Last, and perhaps least, one of our number had made an\nhumble contribution to the literature of the denomination in the form\nof a little book entitled \u201c_Plain Theology for Plain People_.\u201d Thus had\nwe grown in twenty-four years.\n\nBefore the next session Dr. McAlpine was made teacher of institutes,\nunder the Southern Board.\n\n\nTWENTY-FIFTH SESSION.\n\nHeld in Franklyn Street Church, Mobile, November, 1892. Dr. Dinkins was\nelected president, and Rev. J. P. Barton, vice-president. With these\nexceptions, the old officers, as well as missionaries, were continued.\nEditor W. H. Stewart, of Kentucky; Dr. Clanton, of Louisiana; the Rev.\nMr. Luke, field secretary of the Foreign Mission Convention; Revs.\nT. L. Jordan and C. L. Fisher, of Mississippi, were present. For the\nmost part, this was a good session. However, there were signs of a\nrising stormcloud, which, it was feared, foretold approaching evil;\nand perhaps a clogging of our educational and missionary operations\nwould then soon come. A good money showing was made, and new financial\nplans were adopted. Dr. Pettiford was appointed financial agent and\nsecretary. It was decided to attempt to establish two academies--one\nin Mobile and the other somewhere in Northern Alabama. Before the next\nsession of the Convention, Rev. C. O. Boothe resigned his position\nas general missionary of the State and pastor at Meridian, Miss. Dr.\nPurce severed his connection with the University, and Dr. C. S. Dinkins\nwas elected president in his stead. A division of the denomination was\nthreatened in consequence of the presidential changes.\n\nAgain our debts were beginning to be a menace.\n\n\nTWENTY-SIXTH SESSION.\n\nHeld in Eufaula, November, 1893. Rev. J. P. Barton, of Talladega, was\nelected president, and Rev. R. T. Pollard, secretary. Hon. Ad. Wimbs,\nof Greensboro, was a member of this Convention. Drs. Morehouse and\nMcVicar, of New York, were with us; also Dr. Crumpton, who represented\nthe Southern Baptists. Many changes were made upon the Board of\nTrustees. A committee was appointed to plan a change in our school\ncharter. The session was stormy and far from pleasant. Dr. Pettiford\nmade a good financial report. Rev. S. L. Ross was Sunday school\nmissionary. Dr. Dinkins made a good beginning as president of Selma\nUniversity. Rev. Lewis Brown was elected treasurer.\n\n\nTWENTY-SEVENTH SESSION.\n\nHeld in Mt. Zion Church, Anniston, Ala., November, 1894. Rev. J. P.\nBarton was again elected president, and Rev. R. T. Pollard continued\nas secretary. Times peculiar and money scarce. President Dinkins had\nprevented any increase of the debt of the university, and continued\nto grow in favor with all sections. The session, however, was not so\norderly as it might have been, if there had been less personal feeling\nand ambition, and more real humility and consecration.\n\n\nCOMPARISONS.\n\nTrue, our white brethren were hindered by the wild forests, which were\npathless and bridgeless, fieldless and cribless, and by the savage\nbeasts and friendless red men, as well as by the slowness of travel,\nbut after all, we may be permitted to compare our progress with our\nwhite brethrens\u2019 struggles on educational and missionary lines; and I\nthink the foe will feel more hopeful of us, while the friend will see\nreason for encouragement and pleasure. The white Convention organized\nin Salem Church, near Greensboro, in October, 1823, but they did not\nbegin a school till 1834--eleven years. We organized in 1868 and\nstarted a school in 1878--ten years. Their school continued only about\nfive years, when their property was sold to pay their school debts.\nOur school still continues at this writing--1895. In 1839, they passed\na resolution to encourage young men to study for the ministry under\ncapable pastors, and the money of the Convention was ordered to be paid\nout in support of operations on this line.\n\nThey now owe on Howard College, so I am informed, some $30,000 or\n$40,000 in the form of a bonded debt, the interest on which they find\nit hard to pay. Indeed, I very much regret to hear that they are\nthinking of making an assignment in the interest of their creditors. On\ncareful examination of the records of the Convention, we come upon the\nfollowing important facts and lessons:\n\n1. _The blindness of the leadership as to the work to be done._\n\nIn the jubilee meeting, Rev. H. Stevens, said: \u201cWhen I resolved in\n1868 to meet the call of the Montgomery Church for a Convention of\ndelegates, I didn\u2019t see what we could do. I went only out of some sort\nof curiosity to meet other brethren and to look on. I got a little\nlight before I reached Montgomery, as I listened to some things Brother\nMcAlpine had to say along the way. And I was not much better off when\nthe Convention closed. I did not know what they were talking about\none-half the time.\u201d But few saw one inch ahead. The horizon increased\nonly as we advanced. We grew up with the growth of the work.\n\n2. _The power of faith to give form and fixedness to ponderous\nenterprises._\n\nWe vacillated till Brother Woodsmall appeared, so far at least as our\nschool project was concerned. As the queen bee draws together her\nwandering swarm and fixes them in settled habitation and orderly toil,\nso did this saintly man do for the colored Baptists of Alabama. And his\nspirit is still among us.\n\n3. _Progress is born of progress._\n\nBecause we gained one step, we gained another step. Because we made it\nto the top of one mountain, we could therefore make it to the top of\nanother.\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\n_III. ASSOCIATIONS._\n\n[Under this head appear many points and facts of local interest.]\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n\nALABAMA DISTRICT.\n\nThis District was organized in 1869 by Revs. N. Ashby, M. Tyler, W.\nStevens, J. A. Foster, Wm. Jenkins and other leading men of Montgomery\nand Lowndes counties. From their birth to this time, as an Association,\nthey have been leaders in missionary and educational operations.\n\n\nLEADING MEN.\n\nAmong the leading men of this body we may mention: Rev. M. Tyler,\nLowndesboro; Revs. R. T. Pollard, M. D. Brooks, E. W. Picket, A. Moore,\nG. McKinney, A. Campbell, and D. Ware, Montgomery; Revs. M. C. Merrell,\nJames Davis, and A. J. Knight, Fort Deposit; Revs. P. Gilchrist and\nB. Moss, Hayneville: Revs. C. H. Payne, S. M. Reeves, and C. P. Cain,\nLetohatchie; Revs. J. H. Smith and E. Elias, Tallassee; Revs. E. W.\nJones, M. Snowdon, L. Barnett, A. Dansey, M. C. Williams, L. Calvary,\nD. Hall, J. Morris, H. W. Tarrant, W. Harris, D. S. Adams, M. E.\nPleasant, postoffice unknown.\n\nThey report about 12,000 members. Their annual donation for general\npurposes averages $300 or $400. This body contributed largely toward\nthe purchase of our school property, and now liberally supports\nthe school. Rev. S. Jones, Mt. Meigs, is a strong man in this\nAssociation, and no man in Alabama has done more for the education of\nhis parishioners than he. Rev. J. C. Curry, also of Mt. Meigs, is one\nof their most scholarly men and most able preachers. They talk of\ndividing into two bodies, hoping thereby to accomplish more for the\nfurtherance of the gospel.\n\n[Illustration: Rev. F. R. Kennedy, Pastor Galilee Baptist Church,\nAnniston, Ala.]\n\n\nALABAMA MIDLAND ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1889, is a small body operating chiefly in Montgomery\ncounty. They report six churches. Could not ascertain the membership.\n\nRevs. B. Bible, B. Coles, W. Harrison and T. L. Lewis lead them. I\nsubmit the following as good supplementary matter to what has been said\nof the above Associations:\n\n\nMONTGOMERY.\n\n\nTHE FIRST COLORED BAPTIST CHURCH\n\nWas organized in the basement of the white Baptist Church (First\nBaptist Church) just after the close of the war. The corner stone of\ntheir present building on Columbus street was laid in 1867. Their\nfirst pastor was the late Rev. Nathan Ashby, who, prior to the war,\nhad preached to the colored membership on Sundays in the afternoon,\nin the basement of the white church. Mr. Ashby being stricken down\nby paralysis, closed his pastorate in 1870. Under his pastorate this\nchurch issued the call for the first session of the State Convention in\n1868; hence this church is the source--the mother--of our Convention.\n\nFor a few months the Rev. J. W. Stevens supplied the pulpit.\n\nIn 1871 the late Rev. James H. Foster was called to the pastoral\noffice, which he served for the space of twenty years, leaving it only\nto answer the summons of his Master to appear in purer and higher\nspheres. Under his administration the church increased its membership\nfrom a few hundred to several thousand. He expended some $10,000 or\n$12,000 on the present edifice. Under his pastorate the Foreign Mission\nConvention was organized in 1880.\n\nAfter Mr. Foster\u2019s death, December 1, 1891, Rev. A. J, Stokes, then\npastor at Fernandina, Fla., was called to their pulpit, and now\nserves with great success, having added within the last two months\nabout 500 by baptism. So far, his success is a wonder to the people\nof Montgomery. The special item under his administration is the\norganization of the young people for training and work.\n\nOld Brother Boykin (about 85 years old) in speaking of the work about\nMontgomery, said: \u201cThe first colored preacher I saw after coming from\nCharleston, was Bro. Cyrus Hale. He came from South Carolina. He was an\nold man when I first met him. He was well read, was a good preacher,\nand the white people \u2019lowed him to go anywhere there was a call for\nhim. He was the father of the work in this section. Following him, was\nBro. Jacob Belser, and then came Bro. Nathan Ashby. Brother Hale must\nhave been ordained, for he used to baptize in slavery time.\n\n\u201cWhile we were worshiping in the white church, we had some \u2019sistant\ndeacons--Bros. Fayette Vandeville, Jerry Fye, Peter Miles and Abe\nBlackshear.\u201d\n\nRev. William Jenkins relates the following: \u201cI was born in Montgomery\nin 1835, and have been here every since. I began to speak in public in\n1852, and continued to speak in the city and on neighboring plantations\nall the while. I was allowed to read the Bible, but I had rather been\ncaught with a hog than with a newspaper; because, for the hog, I was\nlikely to get a whipping; but for the newspaper I might get a hanging.\nAnd there was some faith them times. On a plantation out here where I\nused to preach, there was a balloon coming down one day. The overseer\nand the people saw it, and as that was a new thing with them, it\nfrightened them, and everybody fled except one brother, who, on seeing\nthe man in the balloon, and believing that it was the Lord, ran towards\nthe descending balloon, exclaiming as he looked up: \u2018Lord, I\u2019s been\nlooking for you for so long a time, and now you\u2019s come at last!\u2019 The\nballoon man said: \u2018Go away, boy; I\u2019m nothing but a man.\u2019\u201d\n\nMontgomery is no longer what it was when, thirty years ago, Bro.\nAshby spoke in the afternoon in the basement of the white church. Six\ncolored Baptist churches now worship within the city and suburbs of\nMontgomery. The edifice of Dexter Avenue Church, standing near the\nfirst capital of the ex-Confederacy, is one of the most substantial and\nneat brick structures in the city, and the congregation which worships\ntherein are people of money and refinement. Messrs. H. A. Loveless,\nthe coal dealer, William Watkins, the contractor, and Charles Steers,\nthe upholsterer, are owners and managers of large affairs, involving\nthousands of dollars.\n\nThe colored people of this city own many hundred thousand dollars in\nreal estate. Mr. Billingslea, the barber, is said to own $300,000. Dr.\nDorsett runs a successful drug business in one of the lower departments\nof a two-story brick building owned by himself. The widow of the late\nHon. James Hale has built and is maintaining an infirmary for the sick\npoor people of her race.\n\nContrast this state of things with thirty years ago, when the colored\npeople, like \u201cdumb driven cattle\u201d before hound and lash, wended their\nway in the \u201cdeath march\u201d of slavery, and ask if the negro of to-day is\nthe negro of thirty years ago. There is on Dexter avenue, in the\ncity of Montgomery, an old brick building wherein the \u201cnegro trader\u201d\nused to pen his slaves to await his purchasers. Herein the writer\norganized the Dexter Avenue Church. Compare the occupants of the slave\npen with the audience in Dexter Avenue Church.\n\n\nDEXTER AVENUE CHURCH.\n\nThis church is a secession from the Columbus Street Church, occurring\nin the latter part of the year 1877. Its first meeting, with a view\nto organization, took place in the parlor of Mr. Samuel Phillips. The\nchief persons in the constitutional membership were Messrs. Samuel\nPhillips, John Phillips, Alfred Thomas (the father of Mrs. S. H.\nWright), C. Sterrs, William Watkins and H. A. Loveless. The meeting\nfor the recognition of the church was held in a hall on Dexter avenue,\nJanuary, 1878, which in former days had been used as a slave trader\u2019s\npen. Dr. J. B. Hawthorne, pastor of the First Church (White), with his\ndeacons, represented the white brethren, and Rev. J. A. Foster, pastor\nof the Columbus Street Church, represented his church.\n\nThe writer was the first pastor, but owing to embarrassments which\nsoon followed, he did not remain long in charge of the work. Revs. J.\nW. Stevens, F. McDonald, J. C. Curry, A. F. Owens, T. Fryerson, A. N.\nMcEwen, Dr. Langridge, and others followed in the pastoral charge. The\nprogress of the church was rather slow till the time of Mr. McEwen,\nunder whom their present beautiful building was erected. The present\npastor, Rev. R. T. Pollard, seems to be appointed the task of leading\nnot so much on lines of material development as in lines of spiritual\ngrowth. Many other good and pious persons have been added to their\nnumber, so that no church in the State can now boast of a people more\nthrifty, aspiring and refined.\n\n\nAUBURN ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1870 by Revs. T. Glenn, D. Phillips, I. M. Pollard and\nothers. This body operates chiefly in Lee, Macon and Tallapoosa\ncounties. In the beginning of Selma University they contributed largely\ntoward its establishment, and have since given it liberal support.\nLately, however, they are struggling, under the leadership of Mr. and\nMrs. Wells, to plant a school in Opelika. They number about 8,000\nmembers.\n\n[Illustration: Selma University, Selma, Ala.]\n\n\nLEADING MEN.\n\nRevs. Glenn and Phillips have left the cross for the crown. Among the\npresent leadership we have the names of Revs. J. R. Howard, M. M.\nArcher, A. Walton, K. T. Young, T. N. Huguely, J. Wood, G. Germany, H.\nClark, A. M. McArthur, G. Moore, H. Jones, J. Thomas, J. T. Torbert, E.\nL. Goer, M. M. Ross, E. White, E. L. Simms, F. T. Holmes, D. Upshaw,\nC. Young, E. Cain, R. Burton, J. David, P. Davis. Rev. I. T. Simpson,\none of the strongest men in the State, is now in this body as pastor at\nOpelika.\n\nThe school project in Opelika speaks well of its supporters and\ndeserves to succeed. May God bring them in the path of success. The\nwriter regrets to record that he saw something at one session of\nthis body that was by no means creditable to it. It was this selling\nbusiness. The grounds about the church were almost covered with\ncake stands, etc., and the sermons could scarcely be heard for the\nnoise made by the salesmen. Associations ought not to meet with any\nchurch which does not pledge itself to keep such off the grounds. The\nAssociations of our white brethren are not troubled with such ugly\nconduct. The communities in which religious bodies convene should do\nall in their power to bring about the devotional spirit, the spirit of\nsincere worship.\n\n\nAUTAUGA COUNTY ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1882, reports about 2,000 members.\n\n\nLEADING MEN.\n\n _Jones\u2019 Switch Post Office_--Rev. M. Clark.\n _Milton_--M. Underwood, J. C. Parker, D. Love, H. Taylor.\n _Independence_--William Mims.\n _Prattville_--William McLinn.\n _Verbena_--C. Price, P. Dejarnet, D. Gresham.\n _Birmingham_--E. Goodson.\n _Deatville_--A. C. Roundtree, A. J. Jones.\n _Autaugaville_--E. Nun.\n _Bozeman_--J. H. Brumby.\n\nMessrs. J. Coles, W. Cooper and J. W. Carroll have served as clerks.\nThey, too, are recorded as contributing for educational purposes.\n\n\nBETHLEHEM ASSOCIATION.\n\nThis association was organized in 1868, and has given more students to\nSelma University than any other association in the State, nor has any\nother been more liberal in its gifts of money. A calculation would,\nperhaps, show that they had not paid so much as the Alabama District\nand the Uniontown, but it will be remembered that those are the _giant_\nassociations, having 10,000 or 12,000 members, while this body has not\nmore than 6,000. Rev. C. Roberts, one of the founders of this body, in\nhis opening speech before the session of 1892, said: \u201cWhen we began,\nnot one among us could write. We organized in Tuscaloosa, and when the\nwork was done, it seemed so insignificant an idea that we had attempted\nto constitute and operate an _association_ that it took us two days\nto accept and recognize what we had done. But see what we are now,\nand what we have done! Of our own sons and daughters, we have with\nus to-day teachers of the State schools, teachers in universities,\nteachers of music, persons of character and of learning. I never in\nmy life, thought I would see so much education in black people.\u201d\nThe \u201cJones Creek Church,\u201d the church with which the association had\nconvened in the above named session, was the name borne by the white\nchurch organized about 1830, which long ago had become extinct. Rev.\nL. Brown, who now owns a good part of his old master\u2019s plantation,\npresided at this session, and Rev. I. Dawson was clerk.\n\nTheir minutes give the following churches and ministers:\n\n  _Sherman Post Office_--Galilee, Antioch, Little Zion, Mount Tabor.\n  _Warsaw_--Mount Pleasant, Union Grove.\n  _Cahaba_--Christian Valley, Friendship, Mt. Tabor, Mt. Pleasant.\n  _Whitfield_--Ebenezer.\n  _Boligee_--Mt. Zion, Bethlehem, St. Paul, St. James, Mt. Olive.\n  _Eutaw_--Elizabeth, Eutaw, Zion, Friendship.\n  _Ramsey_--St. Mark, Dowsey, Mary Winston, Jerusalem, Livingston,\n    Shiloh, Pine Grove, New Prospect.\n  _Sumpterville_--Sumpterville, Mt. Zion.\n  _Mt. Hebron_--Mt. Zion, St. John.\n  _Vianna_--New Providence.\n  _York Station_--Rock Chapel, York Chapel, Mt. Harmon.\n  _Curl\u2019s Station_--Mt. Zion, Fourth Creek.\n  _Gaston_--Friendship.\n  _West Green_--Pleasant Valley.\n  _Tishabee_--Christian Valley, Little Zion.\n  _Gainsville_--Gainsville Second, New Bethel, Longford,\n    Spring Valley, Gainsville.\n  _Epes Station_--New Hope, Jones Creek, Miller\u2019s Hill.\n  _Clinton_--Mt. Common.\n\n\nLEADING MEN.\n\nRevs. G. Young, T. Grant, G. Lowe, J. S. Boatright, I. Dawson, L.\nBrown, C. Roberts, E. Grant.\n\nThere are other strong men among them whose names I could not obtain.\n\nRev. Daniel Griffin, pastor at Gainsville, has especially commended\nhimself for his studiousness, spotless name, and earnest work. Many of\nour best young men, teachers and preachers, come of this association.\n\n\nBIBB COUNTY ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1885, report a membership of about 3,000. The post\noffices of their several churches are given as follows: Calera,\nJemison, Strasburg, Lomax, Clayton, Shiloh, Randolph, Traveler\u2019s Rest,\nMaplesville, Briarfield, and Ashley.\n\n\nLEADING MEN.\n\nThe list which the writer found was not full, but we have the\nfollowing: Revs. H. Zimmerman, Clanton; H. E. Doake and A. Thomas,\nCalera; C. Gentry, Randolph. I am informed that Revs. J. R. Scott, J.\nS. Printice, J. W. Witherspoon and W. T. Goodson are also members of\nthis body.\n\n\nBLADEN SPRINGS ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1876, reports about 2,000 members.\n\n\nPOST OFFICES OF CHURCHES.\n\nBladen Springs, Cunningham, West Bend, Rescueville, Coffeeville, Dead\nLevel, Mt. Sterling, Frankville, Ararat, Campbell, St. Stevens.\n\n\nLEADING MEN.\n\nRevs. C. Long, of Bladen Springs, P. D. Alford, of Cunningham; R.\nLewis, F. White, R. Whitley, O. S. Yorke, J. Whigman, B. White, E. A.\nReed, B. Woodson, A. S. Cessions, C. L. Davis, and L. W. Morris. The\nwriter baptized Rev. P. D. Alford about twenty-five years ago, while\ndoing mission work in Mississippi.\n\nRev. Charles Long was one of the first colored men to begin teaching\nand preaching after the war. He stands as an honest business man, as\nwell as preacher of the gospel.\n\n\nBROWNVILLE ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1883, is a small body composed of about twenty churches,\nwhich have the following post offices: Phenix City, Gerard, Motts,\nColumbus, Ga., Hatchechubbee, Ladonia, Crawford, Uchee.\n\n\nOFFICERS LAST REPORTED.\n\n _Moderator_--Rev. L. D. Harris, Gerard.\n _Clerk_--Rev. J. F. Torbert, Hatchechubbee.\n _Treasurer_--Bro. H. Dixon, Phenix City.\n\nThey number about 2,000 members.\n\n\nCANAAN (PICKENSVILLE) ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1876, is operating chiefly in Fayette county. The writer\ncannot give their membership, but they report eighteen or twenty\nchurches.\n\n\nLEADING MEN.\n\nRevs. G. H. Prewett, W. Bozelle, J. P. Neal, J. M. Maddox, S. Clements,\nG. W. Brent, A. G. Johnson, J. H. Evey, I. Bizzell, L. W. Bridges, R.\nL. Gorden, L. Neal, A. B. Richardson.\n\nRevs. J. M. Maddox and J. W. Glasscox seem to be at least the peers of\nany in their ranks.\n\n[Illustration: Mrs. M. D. Duncan, Principal Female Academy, Demopolis,\nAla.]\n\n\nTHE COLORED BETHLEHEM ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1871, reports about 3,500 members. This is the body so\nlong guided by the late Rev. Armstead Cunningham, Bellville. This aided\nin the purchase of our property at Selma.\n\n\nPOST OFFICES OF CHURCHES.\n\nEustis, Grove Hill, Dixon\u2019s Mill, Whatley, Thomasville, Glover,\nAtkerson, Choctaw Corner, Myrtlewood, Putman, Clifton, Octagon.\n\n\nLEADING MEN.\n\nRevs. C. L. Robertson, H. W. Mitchell, C. L. Davis, E. P. Yow, W.\nThomas, P. Kimbrough, J. Williams, M. Dosey, J. M. Houston, R. F.\nForman, F. Johnson, A. L. Cleveland, A. Charles, W. M. Kimbrough.\n\n\nDALLAS COUNTY ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized 1872, is a large body, operating in the \u201cBlack Belt.\u201d They\nhave about 4,000 members. Support educational enterprises.\n\n\nPOST OFFICES OF THEIR CHURCHES.\n\nCrumpton, Gee\u2019s Bend, Lasso, Linden, Cylonia, Orrville, Portland,\nCahaba, Lower Peach Tree, Selma, Brown\u2019s Station, Gaston, Rehoboth,\nHazen, Uniontown, Martin Station, Boguechitto, Hamburg.\n\n\nLEADING MEN.\n\nD. Boyd, W. C. Richards, G. W. Jones, T. Mosely, P. Underwood, W.\nSprague, H. Robertson, R. D. Vassar, T. B. Goldsby, E. B. Smith, H.\nWiller, A. C. Collin, S. Thompson, A. Hardaway, D. M. Coleman, A.\nWaller, J. Watts, N. Jones, R. Murry, L. Bryant.\n\nRev. D. M. Coleman deserves praise for his persistent struggles after\neducation. In spite of every hindrance he, at rather a late point in\nhis young manhood, started and completed a course in Selma University.\n\n\nEAST PERRY COUNTY ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1885, is a small body, and the writer has learned but\nlittle of them.\n\n\nLEADING MEN.\n\nRevs. J. A. Jemison, C. Casby, G. S. Bolling, F. Chandler, S. Morse, C.\nMcCord.\n\n\nEVERGREEN ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized 1878, reports about 3,500 members. They liberally support\neducational and missionary enterprises.\n\n\nPOST OFFICES OF THEIR CHURCHES.\n\nEvergreen, Dunham, Joyville, Fairfield, Red Level, Mason, Brooklyn,\nGrovella, Garland, Andalusia, Castleberry, Brewton, Williams\u2019 Station,\nPollard.\n\n\nLEADING MEN.\n\nRevs. L. and N. Hawthorne, G. Donald, J. Wallace, R. Monroe, A.\nClairborne, S. Union, J. McCrery, S. I. Shannon, Z. Michael, J. Salter,\nR. McCrery, D. May, R. Ingraham, D. Shepard, C. C. Lucious, and C.\nJackson. They want to establish a high school at Evergreen, where Rev.\nL. Hawthorne is now engaged in teaching and preaching.\n\n\nTHE EUFAULA ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1867, is perhaps the oldest Colored Association in\nAlabama. Its chief founders were: Revs. William McCoo and Jerry\nShorter, and Deacons J. E. Timothy, of Eufaula, and Byrd Day, of\nGlennville. This body is peculiarly organized on some lines. For\nexample: Their Sunday School work is divided into districts, which\ndistricts, under their several leaders, hold so many meetings a year at\ndifferent centers of the population. A carefully prepared program is\ncarried out, led on by certain persons who have been previously named\nand informed. And they have a preachers\u2019 association.\n\n\nPOST OFFICES OF CHURCHES.\n\nEufaula, Clayton, Glennville, Hurtsboro, Lofton, Pittsboro, Midway,\nHatchechubbee, Seale, Jerigan, Cowikee, Oatston, Oswichee, Coal Ridge,\nLouisville, Hawkinsville, Guerryton, Abbeville, Three-Notch, Enon,\nCochran, Batesville. Eufaula is the leading point in the district.\n\n\nLEADING MEN.\n\nRevs. G. W. Webb, J. D. Maddox, Wm. Williams, James Peterson, L. F.\nO\u2019Bryant, I. Bostic, N. Bostic, Eufaula.\n\nRevs. W. R. Forbes, E. A. McCall, Columbus, Ga.\n\nRevs. Wm. Pattrick, E. P. Pattrick, Wm. Blakely, Clayton.\n\nRev. J. Q. A. Wilhite, Selma.\n\nRevs. J. H. Upshaw, T. H. Mitchell, Hatchechubbee.\n\nRevs. A. A. Rivers, J. J. Young, Midway.\n\nThe author has been unable to obtain the post office address of the\nfollowing names: Revs. S. Allen, R. H. Wright, T. Thomas, C. H. Ammons,\nP. Shorter, J. Torbert, M. Davis, P. Battle, G. W. Moore, L. B.\nMitchell, R. Turpin, P. Johnson, E. R. Joseph, E. Crawford. For several\nyears Rev. L. P. Foster has been the missionary for this body.\n\nBro. Byrd Day, a pioneer in this part of the State, relates the\nfollowing interesting story: \u201cAs I could read in the days of slavery,\nand as the people on the place wanted to know the sayings of God, as\nthey called the Bible, they bought me a Bible and got me to read for\nthem. We slaves were allowed night farms in those days. An acre or\nso of land was given to each person wanting to work at night. Well,\nin order that I might study the Bible, the other slaves on the place\nworked my patch for me. So I studied the book and read it to them.\u201d\n\nThe writer once spent a month in Eufaula giving Bible instruction to\nministers, and was paid by the \u201cMinisters\u2019 Association.\u201d\n\n\nFLINT RIVER ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1884, is a small body of less than 1,000 members, and is\nthe result of a secession from the Muscle Shoals Association. Rev. F.\nA. Chapman is its principal founder and perhaps is their strongest man.\n\n\nMINISTERS.\n\nRevs. F. A. Chapman, C. M. Davis, C. C. Matthews, Flint Station; G. W.\nGarth, Crowton; R. Wilhoit, Cedar Plains; B. M. Key, D. Ward, S. M.\nRobinson, Somerville; A. Brown, S. Gains, A. R. Eason, Huntsville; C.\nDavis, Whitesburg; W. T. Connor, Madison; E. Powell, Hillsboro.\n\nThe writer has greatly enjoyed their quiet spirit and earnest labors.\nHowever, he saw at their last session (1894) a rather ludicrous point\nor gesture in the pulpit exercises. A brother, who is known to be an\nupright man, as well as a very earnest and industrious man, was making\nsome remarks on the closing sermon of the session, when, becoming\nvery happy, he made a leap upward, which caused his brethren to fear\nlest there would be a bruise, either in the ceiling, or on top of the\nminister\u2019s head. I would have, if I could have done so with propriety,\nurged the brother to remember that \u201cbodily exercise profits little,\nwhile godliness is profitable unto all things,\u201d and that \u201cthe spirit of\nthe prophet is subject to the prophet,\u201d and \u201clet all things be done\ndecently and in order.\u201d However, I remember the day when most of the\nwhite preachers in Alabama had in their sermons what some people are\ndisposed to call \u201cthe holy tone,\u201d which was often accompanied by quite\na lot of physical exercise. This has become a thing of the past with\nthem in proposition, as they by culture, have been raised to see that\nChristianity is Christly believing and Christly living. By the same\nprocess, the same conditions will come upon us. So, we will still labor\nand still wait.\n\n\nFRIENDSHIP WESTERN UNION ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1891, is a small body operating in a section lying south\nof Anniston and Oxford.\n\n\nPOST OFFICES OF THEIR CHURCHES.\n\nWedowee, Lineville, Rockdale, Graham, Beason\u2019s Mill, Heflin, Louina,\nMicaville, Lamar, Edwardsville, Truet, Gay.\n\n\nLEADING MEN.\n\nRev. A. M. Crawley, Iron City, moderator; and J. W. Goss, Wedowee,\nclerk. Revs. S. A. Banks, L. Dotson, C. T. Early, J. C. Byrd, J.\nD. Austin, J. R. Heard, D. Welsh, C. Sterling, C. Terry, and J.\nCulbertson, are mentioned among the principal pastors.\n\n\nGOOD SAMARITAN ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized 1881, has some eighteen or twenty churches. The copy of the\nminutes in the hand of the writer fails to give the membership of the\nchurches.\n\n\nPOST OFFICES OF CHURCHES.\n\nFarmersville, Gordonville, Selma, Bragg\u2019s, Furman, Montery,\nHaynesville.\n\n\nLEADING MEN.\n\nRevs. Wm. Moss, W. Baskin, H. J. Kelly, M. Lewis, E. Crawford, J. H.\nHartman.\n\n\nHOPE HILL ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1886, reports a membership of about 1,500.\n\n\nPOST OFFICES OF CHURCHES.\n\nVan Dorn, Gallion, Demopolis, Old Spring Hill, Dayton.\n\n\nLEADING MEN.\n\nRevs. F. Gilbert, J. W. Belle, Wm. Allen, W. Reese, A. Wilson, W. H.\nRone, G. C. Roney, W. E. Sharp, A. Collins, and G. V. Spenser.\n\n\nLEBANON ASSOCIATION.\n\nOperating in Pickens county, was organized in 1874, and has a\nmembership of about 2,000.\n\n\nLEADING MEN AND THEIR POST OFFICES.\n\nRevs. J. C. Archibald, Bridgeville; D. C. Salmon, Bridgeville; R.\nRichey, Pickensville; J. Goodwin, Raleigh; J. T. Atty, Memphis, Ala.;\nJ. G. Johnson, Carrollton; J. Clark, Ehren; James Howard, Pickensville.\nBrother Archibald is liberally educated, teaches school, and is a\nprogressive man on all lines.\n\n\nLILY STAR ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1885, contains only about 1,000 members.\n\n\nPOST OFFICES OF CHURCHES.\n\nTrio, Brierfield, Centerville, Harrisburgh, Scottsville, Green Pond,\nBlocton, Vance.\n\nPASTORS.\n\nRevs. T. M. Parker, W. A. Parker, John Bolden, J. A. Foster, S. Page,\nH. S. Thompson, G. W. Glenn, G. Calhoun.\n\n\nMOBILE SUNLIGHT ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1887, operates chiefly in Mobile, Baldwin and Washington\ncounties. The St. Louis Street Church, Mobile, constituted in 1859,\nis the principal church in this body. They have churches at the\nfollowing points: Whistler, Chastang, Calvert\u2019s Station, Scranton,\nMiss., Gondola, Four Mile Post, Moffitsville, Citronelle, Mount Vernon,\nChunchula, Cleveland, Cottage Hill, Kushla, Vancleve.\n\n\nMINISTERS.\n\nRevs. J. L. Frazier, C. C. Richardson, T. H. Morgan, G. W. Cephas, H.\nSims, G. Lewis, A. J. Bolton, E. M. Matthews, S. A. Johnson, M. J.\nThompson, T. Benson, C. L. Roberts, C. Reed, W. S. Forbes.\n\n\nMOUNT PLEASANT ASSOCIATION.\n\nMarengo county, was organized in 1878. They number about 2,500 members.\n\n\nPOST OFFICES.\n\nGallion, Linden, Faunsdale, Dayton, Magnolia, Van Dorn, Demopolis,\nUniontown, Providence, Spring Hill.\n\n\nMINISTERS.\n\nRevs. J. Lawson, H. Shade, James Emmerson, J. Shaw, N. P. Anderson, B.\nGlover, D. S. Thompson, M. D. Agee, James Brock.\n\n\nMORNING STAR ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1874, is operating in Coosa and Elmore counties. Their\nmembership is about 2,000. They have been rather separated from the\ngeneral work, but perhaps it is owing to the fact that their location\nhas made it rather difficult for those who have represented the\nenterprises of the denomination to reach them.\n\n\nLEADING MEN.\n\nRevs. L. W. Whitaker, Rockford; M. C. Crosby, A. L. Swindall, A. M.\nSnowdon, A. Jones, J. A. Baker, E. D. Howell, L. W. McNeely, R. T.\nLewis, J. H. Smith.\n\n\nPOST OFFICES.\n\nLockford, Irma, Central Institute, Dexter, Syke\u2019s Mill, Pentonville,\nEquality, Lauderdale, Nixburgh, Weoka, Crewsville, Goodwater.\n\n\nMOUNT PILGRIM ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1874 by Revs. W. H. McAlpine, J. R. Capers, and William\nWare, with other leading men; occupies the chief mining regions of\nAlabama. Their last minutes give the following churches and ministers:\n\n\nCHURCHES.\n\n_Birmingham_--Sixteenth Street, Shiloh, Sixth Avenue,\nHopewell, Sardis, First Baptist, North Birmingham, Mt. Olive,\nMt. Pilgrim, Healing Springs, Spring Street, St. James, Bethlehem,\nBethel, Vernon.\n\n_Bessemer_--Jerusalem, Canaan, Red Mountain.\n\n_Pratt City_--Mt. Hebron, Pleasant Hill, Rising Star, St. James.\n\n_Coalburg_--Coal Chapel.\n\n_Patton_--Mt. Nebo.\n\n_East Lake_--Mt. Zion, St. Peter.\n\n_Helena_--Mt. Moriah.\n\n_Dolomite_--St. John.\n\n_Avondale_--Mt. Calvary.\n\n_Blossburg_--Mt. Hebron.\n\n_Woodlawn_--Jackson Street.\n\n_Warrior_--New Bethel.\n\n_Rosedale_--Walnut Street.\n\n_Trussville_--Mt. Joy.\n\n_Compton_--Mt. Olive.\n\n_Oxmoor_--Shady Grove.\n\n[Illustration: Rev. J. P. Barton, Pastor Peace Baptist Church,\nTalladega, Ala.\n\nPresident Baptist State Convention.]\n\n\nMINISTERS.\n\nRevs. T. W. Walker, T. L. Jordan, G. W. Parks, William Ware, G. S.\nSmith, W. A. Shirley, A. J. Fikes, R. Donald, P. C. Caddell, W. T.\nBibb, J. A. Peele, S. D. Sanders, William Walker, E. E. Perryman, R.\nH. Vogle, M. C. Adams, J. P. O\u2019Riley, A. A. Scott, L. V. Ellison, J.\nE. A. Wilson, V. Huntington, F. M. Miller, B. P. Palmo, H. Neally, F.\nC. Chandler, S. M. Hall, H. Zimmerman, S. L. Belser, W. E. Craddock,\nJ. B. Gardner, S. A. Latham, Van B. James, P. Woollen, L. J. Green, R.\nJohnson, L. W. Wells, J. M. Anthony, L. C. Jones.\n\nAs educators, they have Messrs. T. H. Posey, J. C. Barker, F. P.\nMcAlpine, and A. J. Edwards.\n\nRev. L. D. James is missionary of their district. Their membership is\nabout 6,000, and their church property is worth not less than $50,000.\n\n\nBIRMINGHAM CHURCHES.\n\nThe oldest church in the city is the Spring Street Church, Rev. L. J.\nGreen\u2019s church, but the Sixteenth Street, Sixth Avenue, and Shiloh\nChurches are the most influential churches. The Sixteenth Street\nChurch was organized in 1873, it appears, and her pastors appear in\nthe following order: Revs. J. Readon, W. Reed, A. C. Jackson, W. R.\nPettiford, and T. L. Jordan. In a property point of view they owe much\nto Rev. A. C. Jackson, under whom they obtained the present church\nlot, three other lots, and a small frame building, say about $5,000.\nThis $4,000 or $5,000 went toward the erection of their brick edifice,\nerected under the pastorate of Rev. W. R. Pettiford. They owe about\n$3,000 on their building, the payment of which has been much hindered\nby the scarcity of money. In all the most progressive plans of gospel\nwork in this section, this church has led the way; and their advance\non these lines is chiefly due to the presence of Dr. Pettiford and the\nmissionary ladies. The Sixth Avenue Church is the next to appear. Its\npastors have been: Revs. Silas Jones, T. W. Walker, J. W. White. They\nhave recently offered the pastoral charge to Rev. J. Q. A. Wilhite, who\nis expected to assume management this month (May, 1895). They are in\ndebt also.\n\nThe church that is the marvel of the city is the Shiloh, under Rev.\nT. W. Walker. This church was organized May 3, 1891, as the result of\npreaching service supported by a society known as the \u201cChristian Relief\nAssociation.\u201d They now have the smallest debt, the largest house and\nthe largest congregation in the city. Often when 1,200 or 1,500 people\nare in the house, a good part of the street is full of persons who are\nanxious to approach near enough to hear. Of course the pastor is the\nsource and center of this successful church, but he has been fortunate\nin drawing about him some very business-like as well as very agreeable\npeople. The following anniversary program, etc., will give an idea of\nthe church\u2019s operations and system. (This program, with facts like it,\nis given for its suggestiveness):\n\n\n  May 3, 1891                                              May 3, 1895\n\n\nFOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALA.\n\nThe anniversary of the above named church will be held on Friday,\nthe above date, at the church on Avenue G, between Eighteenth and\nNineteenth streets.\n\nAll churches in the city and vicinity are cordially invited to be\npresent and take a part in the exercises, as those present will have\nthe privilege to speak on the subjects after they have been submitted\nto the assembly. The following will be the programme for the day.\n\n9:30 to 10 A. M.--Opening.\n\nDevotional exercises and responsive Scripture reading.--Psalm 24.\n\n10 to 10:30--\u201cThe Work of the School,\u201d by Mrs. Laura Emmons. Discussed\nby Rev. J. A. Peel, of North Birmingham.\n\n10:30 to 11--\u201cThe Work of the B.Y.P.U.,\u201d by Miss Georgia Battles.\nDiscussed by Rev. J. E. A. Wilson, of Pratt City.\n\n11 to 11:30--\u201cThe Work of the Missionary,\u201d by Miss A. L. Bowman.\nDiscussed by Rev. V. B. James, of Avondale.\n\n11:30 to 12--\u201cChildren\u2019s Mission Band Society,\u201d by Miss Sallie Bates.\nDiscussed by Rev. L. V. Ellison.\n\n12 to 1 P. M.--\u201cThe History of the Church,\u201d by J. M. Ross. Discussed by\nRev. T. W. Walker.\n\nAdjourn to reassemble at 3 P. M.\n\n3 to 3:15--Devotional exercises by Rev. William Winters.\n\n3:15 to 3:45--\u201cChristian Relief Society,\u201d by J. W. Sampson. Discussed\nby Rev. G. W. Parks.\n\n3:45 to 4:30--Sermon on \u201cThe Progress of the Baptists,\u201d by Rev. W. E.\nPerryman, of Pratt City.\n\n\nCOLLECTION.\n\n4:30 to 5--\u201cChurch Unity,\u201d by Rev. L. J. Green. Discussed by Rev. T. L.\nJordan.\n\n5 to 5:45--\u201cThe Church in the Present Struggle,\u201d by Rev. S. L. Belser.\nDiscussed by Syl. D. Jones.\n\nAdjourn to reassemble at 7:30.\n\n7:30 to 8--Devotional exercises by Rev. C. H. Hopkins.\n\n8--Anniversary sermon by Rev. J. Q. A. Wilhite.\n\n\nCOLLECTION.\n\nAll are requested to bring their Bibles, as they will be needed.\n\n                                J. W. Sampson,\n                                J. M. Ross,\n Rev. T. W. Walker, Pastor.         Committee.\n\nThe above exercises took place on Friday, and the author of this book\nwas present to gather evidence of progress.\n\nClosing the chapter on the Mount Pilgrim Association, I submit the\nfollowing programs in order to give further light on the general\noperations in their field.\n\n\nMT. PILGRIM WOMEN\u2019S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.\n\nTOPICS.\n\n 1894.  November--Women of the Bible.\n        December--The Mother\u2019s pledge.\n 1895.  January--Our State work.\n        February--How to make happy homes.\n        March--Our duty to our country.\n        April--Ways of elevating of our race.\n        May--Our duty to the heathen.\n        June--What should we teach our children.\n        July--Qualifications needed for Christian usefulness.\n        August--Economy.\n        September--Fireside schools.\n        October--Review of the year\u2019s studies.\n\nThe above gives the topics of the local monthly meetings.\n\n\nWOMEN\u2019S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.\n\nJackson Street Baptist Church, Woodlawn, May 3, 1895.\n\nPROGRAM.\n\n  9:00 A. M.--Praise service.\n  9:30 A. M.--President\u2019s address.\n  9:45 A. M.--Hinderances to Christian usefulness.\n 10:15 A. M.--Best methods for governing children.\n 10:45 A. M.--Has each Christian a responsibility in\n              bringing the world to Christ?\n 11:15 A. M.--Reports of local societies.\n  2:00 P. M.--Praise service.\n  2:15 P. M.--The true women.\n  2:45 P. M.--Africa\u2019s need.\n  3:30 P. M.--The model missionary society.\n  4:00 P. M.--Business.\n\nIn this meeting the following names appear: Mesdames P. F. Clark,\nSallie Hall, R. Callier, A. McKesson, L. Tyrus, E. C. Bellmy, L. Dean,\nS. Ceephas, A. L. Billheimer, S. A. Donald, M. J. Walker, with the\nnames of the missionaries, Misses Knapp and Boorman.\n\n\nFIFTH GENERAL MEETING OF THE BAPTIST YOUNG PEOPLE\u2019S UNION OF MT.\nPILGRIM ASSOCIATION.\n\nDecember 7, 1894.\n\n 10:00 A. M.--Praise service.\n 10:15 A. M.--President\u2019s address.\n 10:30 A. M.--What is necessary to Christian growth?\n 11:00 A. M.--How to make a success of B.Y.P.U. in country churches.\n 11:30 A. M.--The importance of good reading matter.\n 12:00 P. M.--Literature.\n  2:00 P. M.--A model meeting.\n  2:30 P. M.--Address: The work of the B.Y.P.U. in evangelizing the\n              world.\n  3:00 P. M.--Best methods for promoting temperance.\n  3:30 P. M.--Report of local Unions.\n  4:00 P. M.--Business.\n  7:00 P. M.--Praise and conference and collection.\n  8:00 P. M.--Echoes from the Toronto Convention.\n\nThese topics, etc., show the lines of thought upon which the mind is\nworking. How different things are now from what they were in 1835,\nwhen Job Davis, the African preacher, toiled by the side of his fellow\nslaves all day and dreamed at night of his far off home over the great\nsea! Now in the valley where his famous camp-meeting sermon melted the\nheart of the white people into a condition of submission to Jesus and\ninto hope of the coming world--where the black man knew only spade,\nplow and hoe--we have the Negro M. D., Negro druggist, Negro dentist,\nNegro banker, Negro author, Negro merchant, Negroes worshiping in brick\nchurches, Negro scientists, and white people using Negro inventions.\nHere are Banker B. H. Hudson, Druggist I. B. Kigh, Drs. Goin, Brown,\nand U. G. Mason, Inventor Andrew Beard, with orators and educators\nmany. \u201cWhat shall the harvest be?\u201d\n\n[Illustration: Miss Hardie Martin, Teacher in Public School,\nMontgomery, Ala.]\n\n\nTHE MULBERRY ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1882, is composed of only a few churches, chief among\nwhich we may mention: New Zion, Mt. Pleasant and Spring Hill, Elba\npost office; Mt. Calvary, Damascus and Antioch, Rose Hill post office;\nFriendship and Pleasant Ridge, Henderson post office; Mt. Olive and St.\nJohn, Luverne post office. They have between 1,200 and 1,500 members.\n\n\nLEADING MEN.\n\nRevs. G. Stringer, M. H. Henderson, G. B. Gibson, C. P. Larkin, D. F.\nWhite and J. S. Lee.\n\n\nMUD CREEK ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1873, is a small body of very poor churches, located in\nJackson county. There were a few rich slaveholders in said county,\namong whom was the Rev. Charles Roach, Sr. On his plantation there were\nthree preachers, one Methodist and two Baptist. The Baptist preachers\nwere Thomas and Perkins. Like many other ex-slaves, they retained the\nname of their master, and became known as Revs. Thomas and Perkins\nRoach. Rev. Robert Caver, at an early date after the close of the\nwar, came into the county a Baptist preacher. These men became the\norganizers of the work in this county. The county is no longer so full\nof colored people as once it was, and hence the churches are very small\nand can\u2019t support their pastors. Revs. James Larkin, Lewis Roach, T.\nJ. Roach, Lewis Henshaw, F. Cobb, C. L. Lovelady, J. W. Robinson are\ndoing what they can to keep up the work but they labor under great\ndifficulties. It is the purpose of some to attempt to establish a\nschool at Hollywood. If this project should mature there is a prophecy\nof better conditions in time to come.\n\n\nMUSCLE SHOALS ASSOCIATION\n\nIs among the largest and oldest Associations in the State, having\nbeen organized in 1869 by Revs. Henry Bynum, Wm. Coleman and W. E.\nNorthcross, aided by Dr. Joseph Shackelford (white), of Trinity. I was\nwith them as they met in the session of 1893 in the Courtland Church.\nIn 1827, a Mr. D. P. Bestor, a white minister, preached in this section\nand began the work of organizing among the whites. I was told that the\nwhite church, constituted in Courtland in 1827, had long passed away\nand that of their building \u201cone stone was not left upon another.\u201d Only\nthe vacant church lot remained to tell of what had been. The white\npeople were gone we knew not how nor whither, but that the gospel which\nthey had preached was blooming like a green bay tree in the hearts of\ntheir ex-slaves, this large Association was tangible evidence. The Rev.\nJohn Belle reminded his brethren that the time had been when he was the\nonly man in the body who could write and when committees went out to\nconsult and agree, and then returned to submit verbal reports, which he\nas clerk was expected to formulate. He compared this state of things\nwith the present condition, wherein the _writer_ was the _rule_ and the\n_non_-writer the _exception_.\n\nThis body is noted for church building. The people in Huntsville and\nSheffield owe their buildings to the plan and liberality of this\nAssociation. The Rev. Paul Jones, for many years their moderator,\nwas full of missionary zeal and wise plans, and pushed things in all\ndirections. His death caused them a great loss.\n\nTheir minutes give the following churches and pastors: Tuscumbia\nchurch, Rev. W. E. Northcross; Courtland and Sheffield, Rev. G.\nB. Johnson, of Courtland; Red Bank and Iuka, Rev. John Belle, of\nCourtland; Pleasant Grove, Mt. Zion and Little Zion, Rev. E. M. James,\nof Courtland; Russellville and Florence churches, Rev. E. C. White, of\nTuscumbia; Mount Olive, Rev. L. Warren, of Leighton; Palmetto, Rev. M.\nJones, of Russellville; Galilee and Mount Pleasant, Rev. B. King, of\nLeighton; Town Creek and Moulton, Rev. A. J. Owens, of Moulton; Mount\nMoriah, Rev. H. R. Baker, of Tuscumbia; Macedonia, Rev. A. Troupe, of\nTown Creek; Elm Grove, Rev. William Weaver, of Oakland; Mount New Home,\nRev. William Morris, of Leighton; Huntsville Church, Rev. O. Gray,\nof Huntsville; Cave Springs, Zion and Bethel, Rev. James Hampton, of\nLeighton; Zion No. 2., Rev. J. H. Betts, of Florence; Cater\u2019s Branch,\nRev. A. Davis; St. Peter\u2019s, Rev. H. L. Ellis, of Flint; Jerusalem and\nSalem, Rev. D. Jackson, of Tuscumbia; Mt. Olive, Rev. G. S. Ricks, of\nLeighton; Decatur Church, Rev. M. J. Hooks; Hillsboro, Rev. B. Swoope;\nBaptist Chapel, Rev. James Young, of Florence; St. Paul and Hopewell,\nRev. S. Wadkins, Tuscumbia.\n\nThey report church property worth about $25,000. Their principal work\nhas been in the way of starting missions and building churches. They\nhave 6,000 members, and an excellent territory, but they greatly need\na school. Professors H. H. Stewart, of Courtland, and J. P. Gettis, of\nDecatur, and Dr. Sterrs, of the same place, are the most advanced men\nof their fellowship. Dr. Sterrs is a successful young physician as well\nas preacher.\n\n\nNEW PINE GROVE ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1878 and is a secession from the old Pine Grove. They\nhave, perhaps, about 2,000 members in the following churches: At\nTroy--Pine Grove, Holly Springs, High Ridge, Mt. Olive; Union\nSprings--Sardis, Low\u2019s Field, Lime Creek; Brundidge--Post Oak, New\nHope, Mt. Pilgrim.\n\n\nLEADING MEN.\n\nRev. A. Martin, Union Springs; Wm. Mullen and M. Flournoy, Troy; W. H.\nCopeland and E. Mayer, Brundidge.\n\n\nNEW CAHABA ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1871, has about 2,000 members, and are generous supporters\nof missionary and educational enterprises. Their work is managed by\nsuch men as Revs. P. S. L. Hutchins, B. N. Tubbs, R. E. Brown, L.\nAbercrombie, T. Chandler and A. L. Huggins.\n\nThey have churches at or near Marion, Hamburg and Selma. The copy of\ntheir minutes which came to the writer\u2019s hand is not sufficiently full\nto make a good record, as is the case with regard to other minutes in\nhand.\n\n\nOLD PINE GROVE ASSOCIATION.\n\nWith headquarters at Union Springs, Bullock county, was organized in\n1870. No section of Alabama affords better talent than is found within\nthe territory of this Association. The people of Union Springs are\nnoted for their ability and skill in business affairs--merchandise, etc.\n\nThe brick church edifice recently erected by Rev. W. C. Bradford and\nhis church in Union Springs, as well as the large and successfully\noperated stores, is testimony on this line.\n\nThe officers of this body are: Rev. E. Thornton, Union Springs,\nmoderator; Prof. F. L. Todd, Union Springs, clerk; Rev. W. C. Crawford,\ntreasurer.\n\nThey have about 2,000 members, and the following churches:\n\n  _Aberfoil_--Elizabeth.\n  _Union Springs_--First Baptist, Mt. Pleasant, St. John, and\n    Mt. Hilliard.\n  _Cotton Valley_--Elizabeth.\n  _Thompson Station_--Mt. Pleasant and Second Baptist.\n  _Fitzpatrick Station_--Greenwood.\n  _McLemore_--Mt. Common.\n  _Bug Hall_--Bethlehem and Mt. Carmel.\n  _Indian Creek_--Mt. Calvary.\n  _Goshen Hill_--Mt. Zion.\n  _China Grove_--Mt. Zion.\n  _Linwood_--Mt. Pleasant.\n  _Flora_--Mt. Sinai.\n  _Suspension_--Mt. Canaan.\n  _Orion_--Bethlehem.\n\nThey have the following pastors:\n\n  _Union Springs_--Revs. W. C. Bradford, E. Thornton, L. Lawson, and\n    E. Moore.\n  _Aberfoil_--Revs. C. H. Thornton and J. C. Jett.\n  _Flora_--Rev. R. Allen.\n  _Fitzpatrick_--Rev. William Thompkins.\n  _Cotton Valley_--Revs. M. Ellington and W. Crawford.\n\nFor general purposes the Association raises from $50 to $100 a year.\n\n_Post Offices Unknown_--Revs. T. Hendrix, G. Youngblood, P. Johnson, S.\nM. Dawson, J. M. Faison, R. Jole, S. Barnes.\n\nRev. J. W. Jett, a man of Virginia birth, is the oldest member of the\nbody; he was associated with those pioneers of this section, Revs.\nPeter Johnson and William Townsend. Mr. Jett is still strong and\nactive, and is ready for any good work. Rev. E. Thornton leads this\nbody, and it could not be otherwise, as no man among them is a mightier\nand more conspicuous individuality.\n\n\nPEROTE ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1880, is not so well known as some other bodies. From the\nminutes of 1888 I glean the following: They have a church at Perote,\none at Mt. Andrew, one at Fresco, two at Victoria, one at Midway, and\none at Pine Grove. Their membership at this time was small, and the\nnames of some of their chief men appear as follows: Rev. J. H. Burks,\nW. B. Grubbs, C. G. Wheeler, R. Allen, and R. Dix.\n\n\nPIKE COUNTY ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1887, rose, it seems, in Pike County.\n\n\nPASTORS.\n\nRevs. J. S. Adair, T. Diggs, G. Whaley, W. S. Pollard, H. Broxton, M.\nStinson, W. F. Williams, J. O. Davis, and others.\n\nCHURCHES.\n\n  _Troy Post Office_--Troy Church.\n  _Clayton_--Mt. Moriah.\n  _Burk\u2019s_--Antioch.\n  _Buck Horn_--Mt. Olive.\n  _Elba_--Friendship and Harmony.\n  _Linwood_--Benevolent.\n  They endorse educational enterprises.\n\n\nRUSHING SPRINGS ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1870. Revs. Henry Woods, W. H. McAlpine, and Isham\nRobinson were the chief founders of this body. Talladega county is\ntheir main territory, though they have churches in Coosa, St. Clair and\nCalhoun counties.\n\nRev. E. C. Rivers has been for years their efficient moderator, and\nRev. A. A. Battle is clerk. They report their churches and ministers as\nfollows:\n\n  _Jenifer Post Office_--Shady Grove and Shiloh.\n  _Renfroe_--New Salem, Antioch and Bethel.\n  _Talladega_--Pleasant Grove, Mt. Pilgrim, Mt. Cleveland, Rocky Mount,\n    Sycamore, Mt. Canaan, Mt. Moriah, Mt. Zion.\n  _Eureka_--Pleasant Hill, Rushing Springs.\n  _Kilnulga_--Mt. Carmel.\n  _Goodwater_--Marietta.\n  _Kelley\u2019s Creek_--Mt. Zion.\n  _Sylacauga_--Harper Springs, New Hope, Rising Star.\n  _Silver Run_--Sweet Home.\n  _Cropwell_--Cropwell.\n  _Regan_--Macedonia.\n  _Sycamore_--Mt. Olive, Pleasant Hill, Salem.\n  _Sedan_--Blooming Light.\n  _Birney\u2019s_--African Church.\n  _Lincoln_--Pine Grove.\n  _Mt. Olive_--New Shiloh.\n  _Alpine_--New Maryland, Kingston.\n  _Rendalia_--Zion Hill.\n  _Oxford_--Rocky Mount.\n  _Eastaboga_--Salem.\n  _Anniston_--Mt. Zion.\n  _Ironaton_--Ironaton.\n  _Stewardsville_--Union.\n  _Miles_--Lebanon.\n\n\nMINISTERS.\n\nD. Savage, of Mumford; A. Z. Wilson, N. Jemison, B. Jackson, A. Bibb,\nS. Rivers, P. Jordan, C. C. Curry, R. Garrett, A. J. Vincent, A.\nO\u2019Neal, A. G. Walker, James Headen, M. H. Cunningham, H. Wood, J.\nChapman, A. A. Battle, S. Burt, R. B. McClellen, J. L. Looney, A.\nBryant, A. Davis, S. Marbry, J. P. Barton, M. C. B. Oden.\n\nThis body is led chiefly by men who have attended Talladega College,\nsome of whom are not only graduates and scholars, but are strong\npreachers of the plain old gospel story.\n\nThey number about 6,500 members. Talladega and Anniston are their chief\npoints. Talladega is the \u201cOld Indian battle ground,\u201d and here the white\nBaptists formed a church in 1835. Sister Cain, a member of the Mount\nCanaan Church, Talladega, said to the writer: \u201cThere was no town here\nwhen I came. The Indians lived here and it was all nothing but wild\nwoods.\u201d As she was talking, the Talladega College bell loudly rang\nout some orders or notice upon the ears of Negro students. I mused:\n\u201cHow the world changes! About the years 1820-1830, negro slavery is\nestablished in Talladega county. In 1835 a white church rises up and,\nunknowingly, begins to prepare to give birth to a Negro church, which\nwill give birth to a Negro Association. In 1865 the slave is free, and\nin 1870 the white church constitutes the Mt. Canaan Church (colored),\nout of which comes the Rushing Springs Association. And Negro men and\nNegro women are carrying diplomas from buildings erected by white\nBaptists for the education of white people. All this in less than fifty\nyears.\u201d\n\n\nTHE AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH.\n\nIn Talladega county, has a rather peculiar history. The lot was donated\nin 1849, it appears, by a Mr. William Jenkins, a wealthy slave owner,\nwho lived about eight miles south of the town of Talladega. It is said\nthat in addition to the gift of land and building, he paid a man to\nteach the catechism to the colored children, and paid annually $150\ntoward the salary of a minister for the colored people who worshiped\nwith this church. Samuel Jenkins, a slave from South Carolina, was\none of their first deacons.\n\n[Illustration: Rev. W. R. Pettiford, D. D., President Penny Savings and\nLoan Co., President Alabama Publishing Co., Birmingham, Ala.]\n\n_Pastors._--It appears that the following brethren served the church at\ndifferent times in the capacity of pastor: Revs. D. Reynolds, S. Boils,\nD. Peeples, W. H. McAlpine, Phil. Davis, A. Lawler, and Jordan Chapman.\n\nThe origin of this church is full of suggestion. It shows that in spite\nof the brutalizing influences of the horrible institution of slavery,\nhumanity and Christianity in the master often triumphed in deeds of\nlove and mercy in behalf of the helpless slave. The memory of such men\nas Mr. Jenkins inscribed upon such times will be fragrant forever. The\nplantation to which the above named lot belonged has changed hands\nseveral times, but this lot is fixed on the records as the property of\nthe African Church.\n\nHonorable mention is made of Rev. Chesley Johnson and Joe Walker. The\nlatter, it is said, was allowed to give Bible lessons on his master\u2019s\nplantation. The manliness which characterizes Mr. Henry Barclay (Mr.\nWalker\u2019s son) and other descendants, marks Mr. Walker\u2019s rare talent.\n\n\nSANDY RIDGE ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1887, is composed of the following churches:\n\n  _Burnesville Post Office_--Lily Zion and Lily Grove.\n  _Selma_--St. James, New Liberty, Cahaba, and Elyton.\n  _Vine Hill_--Pleasant Grove and Mt. Pilgrim.\n  _Stateville_--New Mt. Moriah, Autaugaville, New Hope, Pleasant Valley,\n    and St. Paul.\n  _Jones\u2019 Switch_--New Providence.\n  _Augustine_--Oak Grove.\n\nRevs. A. Clay, J. and E. Mixom, M. Bishop, H. W. Peeples, and E. W.\nDeampart are mentioned among their leading men. Their church property\nis reported at $8,000.\n\n\nSALEM ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1871, is a small body in southeast Alabama. I have been\nunable to obtain data from this body. I learn that they have churches\nat the following points: Brundidge, Clintonville, Enterprise, and Cox\nMills.\n\n\nSHELBY SPRINGS ASSOCIATION.\n\nWas organized in 1869. Rev. Berry Ware, it seems, was one of its\nleading founders. They have a membership of about 3,000. They have\nsome excellent men, among whom may be mentioned: Revs. B. M. Mallory,\nF. Youngblood, H. D. Leathers, of Childersburg; Rev. D. L. Prentice,\nAldrich; Rev. J. P. Barton, Talladega; Rev. E. E. Perryman, Helena;\nRevs. G. R. Nash, F. R. Kenedy, B. F. Singleton, and P. Caddell,\nColumbiana; Rev. F. Cahill, Harpersville; Revs. J. L. Looney and P.\nFancher, Fayetteville; Revs. W. C. Owens and J. H. Moseley, Calera.\n\nThe minutes of 1890 give the following post offices and churches:\n\n  _Childersburg_--Enon.\n  _Kymulga_--Mt. Olive.\n  _Aldrich_--Hepzibah.\n  _Blocton_--Liberty.\n  _Talladega_--Peace Baptist.\n  _Wilsonville_--Bethlehem, Scott Grove, Mt. Grove, and Dry Branch.\n  _Harpersville_--Mt. Olive.\n  _Helena_--Mt. Pleasant.\n  _Fayetteville_--Shady Grove, Friendship.\n  _Columbiana_--Zion, Friendship, and Macedonia.\n  _Mt. Pinson_--Mt. Bradford.\n  _Siluria_--Union Hill, Liberty No. 1.\n  _Shelby_--Providence.\n  _Long View_--Galilee.\n  _Calera_--Moseley Chapel, New Mt. Moriah, Bethel.\n\nRev. D. L. Prentice, Aldrich, is doing a very effective work in the\nschool room, and the people of his town bear the marks of his pedagogic\nlabors. Their meetings, I mean associational meetings, are enjoyable\nand they give evidence of piety, promise and power.\n\nThis body liberally aided in the purchase of Selma University, and has\never been ready for any and every good work.\n\n\nSOUTHEAST ALABAMA ASSOCIATION.\n\nThis Association operates in the extreme southeast portion of the\nState. I have not been able to secure a full statistical table from\nthem.\n\nThey report thirty churches, with a membership of about 2,000. From a\nmutilated copy of their minutes for 1892 the following names are given\nas the ordained ministers of the body: J. Craddock, G. Christinar, J.\nStith, Thomas Slaughter, M. Spencer, E. P. Langston, J. Cotton, E.\nAlford, T. Rollins, A. L. Koonce, J. C. Green, Wm. Carter, A. Powell,\nJ. Foston, J. Sampson, James Humphrey, G. R. Hall, R. C. Liferedge, and\nA. Turner.\n\nPart of the statistical table is torn away, but the following appears\nas the list of their post offices: Cowarts, Otho, Crosby, Balkum,\nHeadland, Gordon, Shorterville, Halesburg, Zornville, Hardwicksburg,\nBrackins, Choctawhatchie, Columbia, Lawrenceville, Abbeville, Fort\nGaines, Cottonwood, Dothan, Hilliardsville, Ashford. I give this list\nbecause to know the post offices of the churches is better than to know\nnothing at all. They are all right on temperance, and they say they\nwill license no man to preach who cannot read the New Testament.\n\n\nSNOW CREEK ASSOCIATION.\n\nIs chiefly located in Calhoun and Etowah counties. At present their\nofficers are as follows:\n\n  Rev. H. W. Whatley, White Plains, moderator.\n  Rev. William Munds, Anniston, assistant moderator.\n  Prof. Lydden Green, Oxford, clerk.\n\nThis body was organized in 1869 by Rev. Burrell Snow (whose name it\nbears) and a few others, aided by the late Rev. Mr. Jinkins, a white\nBaptist minister, whose heart and hand seemed ever ready to help on\nevery good work among the colored people.\n\nRev. H. J. Hoke, the efficient missionary of Arkansas, went out from\nthis association. They have something above 2,000 members belonging to\nthe following churches:\n\nOhatchee, Ohatchee; New Mount Gilead, Markston; New Prospect,\nChoccolocco; Oconee, New Hope, Oxford; Spring Hill, Bynum; Bates\nSprings, Cane Creek, Greensport; Mount Olive, Oxanna; Mount Zion,\nCoat\u2019s Bend; Galilee, Friendship, Anniston; Bethany, Iron City; New\nMount Silla, Peaceburg; Shiloh, Dukes; Zion Hill, White Plains;\nAntioch, Friendship, Gadsden; New Hope, First Colored, Jacksonville;\nNew Hope, Rock Run; Pleasant Gap, Stock\u2019s Mills; Pine Grove, Knotville;\nBethel, Alexandria; Mount Sinai, Weaver\u2019s Station; Patona, Piedmont;\nSt. Jacob, Tecumseh, and beautiful Borden Springs.\n\nThe following are the pastors: Revs. H. Middleton, J. J. Johnson, B.\nJackson, H. Green, Thomas Ivory, A. F. Alexander, T. L. Douglass, S.\nWalker, J. S. Simmons, Gadsden; H. W. Whatley, White Plains; William\nMunds, N. P. Pullum, Anniston; C. Pyles, Oxford; G. W. Brewton,\nAlexandria; James Denson, Talladega.\n\nThese brethren are all O. K. on the leading issues of the day. Brother\nWhatley is, in many regards, a very strong man, hospitable as a host,\nand genial as a companion, a good citizen and successful business man.\n\n\nSOUTHEAST DISTRICT ASSOCIATION.\n\nConfined chiefly to Crenshaw county; was organized in 1879. The writer\nhas attended one of their sessions held east of Greenville, a few miles\nfrom Luverne.\n\n\nLEADING MEN.\n\nRevs. James Barrett, Bolling; E. Dunklin, J. H. Henderson, Greenville;\nM. C. Lowery, E. D. Wallace, Bolling; S. M. Ransom, Oak Streak; S. M.\nLowery, Salsoda; Bro. Walter Williams, Glascow and Bro. Henry McLain,\nOaky Streak.\n\n\nPOST OFFICES OF CHURCHES.\n\nLuverne, Greenville, Glascow, Oaky Streak, Salsoda, Rutledge, Pontus,\nShell, Bradleyton, Pigeon Creek. They hope to begin a high school, for\nwhich purpose they have raised about $300. It is to be hoped that they\nwill secure their money against loss. Far too many times money has been\nraised for church and school purposes and put into the hands of men who\nlost it (?) or loaned it out. Such loose management of funds destroys\nthe confidence of the people and injures the cause of Christ. I regret\nto say that they, at the session referred to, did not unanimously\nendorse the temperance movement of the day, though there was a strong\nsentiment in the right direction. They number about 2,000 members.\nI was impressed with the natural power of some of their leaders. In\ntheir number I saw some rising young men, who I think will attain to\nknowledge of books.\n\n\nSPRING HILL ASSOCIATION.\n\nOperating south of Montgomery, was organized in 1874 by Brethren W. W.\nLane, Lewis Witherspoon, George Jones, D. Carter, O. Blue, and others.\n\n\nCHURCHES IN 1891.\n\n  _Pine Level Post Office_--Spring Hill.\n  _Woodley_--White Cloud.\n  _Center Point_--Mt. Pleasant and Macedonia.\n  _Helicon_--Mt. Gilead and Ramer.\n  _LeGrand_--Little Roxanna.\n  _Snowdown_--Snowdown Valley.\n  _Meadville_--Pilgrim, Hickory Chapel, Galilee.\n  _Pine Level_--Warrior Hill, Bethlehem, and Elizabeth.\n  _Shellhorn_--Israel.\n  _Montgomery_--Columbus Street Church, Baptist Lily.\n  _Fitzpatrick_--Philadelphia, Mount Moriah.\n  _Woodley_--Jerusalem.\n  _Chambers_--Calvary.\n\n\nMINISTERS.\n\nRevs. S. Adams, T. Ervin, A. Garner, R. Borden, M. Jackson, F. Nichols,\nWilliam Rollins, William Day, O. Blue, J. Mitchell, W. Mullens, D. S.\nAdams, I. Davis, John Smith, and E. M. Burkett.\n\nDr. A. J. Stokes, of Montgomery, has for several years been their\nmoderator. In the session of 1891 they rejected the temperance report;\nbut this year (1893) they vote by a large majority in favor of it. A\nfew, however, claim that they \u201chave a right\u201d to use alcohol if they\ndesire to do so. They have a membership of 5,000 or 6,000. A Rev.\nMr. Pollard has been in their employ as missionary, so the writer is\ninformed.\n\n\nSTAR OF HOPE ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1877 and operating chiefly in Wilcox county, presents the\nfollowing roll of churches:\n\nAntioch, Magnolia, New Hope No. 2, New Hope No. 4, Ruk West, Emanuel\nStreet, and Union Baptist, Camden Post Office; Cedar Grove and\nStarling, Furman; Little Rock, Tilden; Little Zion, St. Emanuel,\nSt. Peter, Nellie; Mt. Gilead and Magnolia, Bell\u2019s Landing; Morning\nStar and Shady Grove, Miller\u2019s Ferry; New Hope No. 3 and St. Wisdom,\nCanton\u2019s Bend; New Hill, Butler\u2019s Springs; Oak Valley, Monterey; Pine\nFlat, Tinela; St. Francis, Caledonia; St. Peter, River Ridge. Antioch\nof Camden, Cedar Grove of Furman, and Little Rock of Tilden, are the\noldest churches in this body, having been organized in 1868.\n\nTheir number is between 1,700 and 2,000. Their pastors are Revs. S. B.\nMcCall, George Earl, M. Boykin, V. Pruit, K. Wolfe, F. Williams, W. H.\nRay, Jr., L. D. Johnson, M. Lewis, L. Jefferson, S. Boyd, C. L. George,\nJ. C. Blackburn, John Poe, N. Hill, George Earl, M. Ervin, W. G. King,\nJ. A. Lawson. The venerable Henry Allen has been in this section as \u201ca\nfather in Israel.\u201d\n\nThey are trying to support a high school at Camden. Rev. J. A. Lawson\nis especially active in educational matters, and all seem ready for any\nand every good work.\n\n\nTOWN CREEK ASSOCIATION.\n\nIs a new body, organized in 1889. The minutes of 1891 give the\nfollowing:\n\nMagnolia Church, Warrior Stand, Rev. E. Moore, pastor; Bethlehem\nChurch, Cotton Valley, Rev. M. Ellington, pastor; Sweet Pilgrim\nChurch, Union Springs, Rev. E. Thornton, pastor; St. Paul Church,\nCotton Valley, Rev. C. Johnson, pastor; Town Creek Church, Union\nSprings, Rev. J. Germany, pastor; Antioch Church, Columbus, Ga., Rev.\nE. A. McCall, pastor; Mt. Nebo Church,----, Rev. J. Germany, pastor;\nMt. Pisgah Church, Dick Creek, Rev. W. M. Walker, pastor; Perry Hill\nChurch, Warrior Stand, Rev. J. S. Tatum, pastor; Mt. Calvary Church,\nUnion Springs, Rev. H. Jones, pastor; Oak Grove Church, Cotton Valley,\nRev. Mac. Wright, pastor.\n\nThey have a membership of about 1,500.\n\nRev. E. Thornton, of Union Springs, is moderator, and E. A. McCall, of\nColumbus, Ga., is clerk.\n\nThe writer has been unable to ascertain all desirable facts. Judging,\nhowever, from the character of the men whose names appear in the\nlead of their work, we may feel sure that they have organized the\nAssociation in order to advance educational and missionary interests.\n\n[Illustration: Rev. J. L. Frazier, Pastor St. Louis St. Baptist Church,\nMobile, Ala.]\n\n\nUNION ASSOCIATION.\n\nWas organized in 1874 of churches which seceded from the Alabama\nDistrict Association.\n\nThey have the following churches and ministers: Greenville--First\nColored, Pine Top, Salem, Old Elm, Pine Level; Pineapple--Arkadelphia,\nNew Virgin; Monterey--Ridgeville, Spring Hill, Mt. Moriah, Rosemary;\nBugville--Friendship; Dunham--Long Creek; Simkinsville--Pleasant\nHill; Starlington--Pine Level; Allenton--Siloam and Mt. Zion;\nMinter--Hopewell; Pleasant Hill--Good Hope, Cedar Grove; Snow\nHill--Shiloh; Georgiana--Friendship; Furman--Antioch; Manningham--Mt.\nOlive; Luverne--New Hope; Daisy--Union; Vidette--Star of Hope; New\nProvidence--Mt. Ida; Farmerville--Cedar Grove; Oakfield--Oakfield;\nForest Home--Rockwest; Sepulga--Spring Hill; Camden--St. Mary. Rev. J.\nNichols, Greenville, is moderator; Rev. J. W. Smith is treasurer, and\nMr. I. N. Carter, of Monterey, is clerk.\n\nTheir sessions are rather stormy, as may be said of other bodies.\n\n\nLEADING MEN.\n\nRevs. L. Adams, H. Thompson, I. Young, W. Morast, S. Albrighton, J.\nBeverly, Q. C. Craig, J. Scott, L. McKee, W. Anderson, J. Barrett, G.\nPugh, J. Henderson, S. Skanes, R. Palmer, E. Perdue, M. McLowery, J.\nRicks, J. Moss, E. Wallace, E. Stallworth, William Scott, E. Pickett,\nJ. Blackman, R. C. Crane.\n\nProf. I. N. Carter is a strong man in this body, whose confidence and\ngood will he seems still to hold. They have many naturally fine young\nmen, but they need a school very much.\n\n\nUNIONTOWN ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1872 by the late Revs. Henry Stephens, John Dosier and\nJohn Blevins, is reported to be next numerically to the Alabama\nDistrict, containing a membership of about 11,500. They raise annually\nfor general purposes from $200 to $400. Their \u201cStatistical Table\u201d gives\nthe following list of churches and ministers:\n\n\nPOST OFFICES AND CHURCHES.\n\nSelma--St. Philip Street, Tabernacle, Mount Zion, Little Rock, St.\nPaul, New Center, Mount Ararat, Beach Island, Everdale, Providence,\nElbethel, Mount Zion; Newbern--Newbern, Holly Chapel, Oak Grove;\nGreensboro--St. John, St. Peter, St. Paul, Mount Moriah, Willow\nSprings, Salem, Pleasant Grove, Mount Zion; Safford\u2019s--New Hebron,\nMount Lebanon, Concord; Boiling Springs--First Baptist, New Boiling\nSprings; Hamburg--Green Liberty; Brown\u2019s--Trinity, Good Hope;\nSawyersville--Bethlehem, Springfield, New Hope; Perryville--Pleasant\nHill, Perryville; Uniontown--Mount Calvary, Woodlawn, St. James,\nUniontown; Kimbrough--Jerusalem; Prairie Bluff--St. Mitchell;\nCatherine--Salem, Dixon Grove, Mount Olive; Marion--Second\nBaptist, Springfield, Willow Grove, Hopewell, Bethel, Eagle Grove;\nLamison--Macedonia; Scott\u2019s Station--Green Leaf, McKinley, Bethel Hill;\nFaunsdale--Faunsdale, Camden, Rehoboth; Summerfield--Macedonia,\nOrrville, Peace and Love; Alberta--Macedonia, Christian Light;\nFelix--Center, Bethany, Marion Junction, Pernell, Colerine, Shiloh;\nPleasant Hill--Bethel, Whitsets, Pickens.\n\n\nMINISTERS.\n\nSelma--Revs. C. J. Hardy, I. T. Simpson, D. M. Coleman, L. J. Green,\nG. H. Hobdy, Q. C. Craig, C. J. Davis, J. B. Russell; Newbern--W.\nH. Reddick, G. Frost. W. H. Huckabee; Greensboro--Wm. Madison, P.\nCottrell, P. Umphrey, S. Abrams; Marion--C. S. Dinkins, D. D., A.\nBillingley; Uniontown--Rev. A. F. Owens, H. Alexander, Wm. Boon;\nFaunsdale--F. A. E. Beck; Gallion--P. S. L. Hutchins, A. M.; Marion\nJunction--A. W. Ragland; Hamburg--Y. R. White; Prairie Bluff--W. H.\nGreen; Boiling Springs--E. Slone; Kimbrough--A. Gladen; Camden--J. A.\nLawson; Lamison--R. Estridge; Brown\u2019s Station--W. L. Lawson; Pleasant\nHill--J. R. Scott; Perryville--R. Z. Deyampert; Sawyersville--I. J.\nJones; Orrville--G. M. Jones; Post Offices unknown--R. Christian, J. G.\nFlood, L. E. Hobson, A. Gladen, W. W. Richardson, R. T. Bowden, E. C.\nBorroughs, W. H. Hatcher, G. M. Jones, G. King, and others. This body\nhas quite a number of pastors from Selma University.\n\nToo much cannot be said in praise of these brethren for the manner in\nwhich they have stood by the Selma University under all its changes.\nAnd yet we would have been surprised if such a grand set of men as\nlead this body should have acted otherwise. Rev. J. Dosier, quite an\nold man, reads Greek fairly well. Rev. C. B. Davis is a young man of\nmuch ability and promise. Rev. F. A. E. Beck appreciates the value of\neducation, is a natural magnet, and draws the people after him. Rev. A.\nW. Ragland is loved by all for his brotherly, quiet manners. But space\nfails me or I would speak of Revs. Y. R. White, R. Z. Deyampert, J. R.\nScott, and others, who are pillars in this organization.\n\n\nSALEM MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, GREENSBORO.\n\nThe white Baptists had for many years prior to the late war a\nprosperous church at this place, with a large membership of white\npeople and colored people--the slaves of their masters. Just about the\ntime of the war the larger portion of the white membership moved away,\nand from one cause and another, the close of the war found but a few\nwhite members remaining, but a large colored membership.\n\nThe white members, to whom the property belonged, sold the building and\ndonated $2,000 of the proceeds to the colored members for them to build\na church with. This church is the same church that the white people had\norganized more than fifty years ago.\n\nRev. H. Stephens was the first pastor of the colored congregation,\nafter they moved their church site, and was pastor for twenty years.\n\nRev. L. J. Green was pastor for about four years, and Rev W. M.\nMadison, the present pastor, has been there five years, has built a\nnice parsonage and greatly increased the membership.\n\nThere were 300 members (colored) when the church moved to its present\nsite. They have now a membership of 800.\n\nThis is the mother church of nearly every church in Hale county and\nthey have a great many large and prosperous churches in the county. The\nchurch property is worth $2,500.\n\nThis is saying good things for the white Baptists of Greensboro.\nDeacon Dock Lane, one of the most honorable and consecrated among men,\ndeserves mention as a pillar in this church. Among the leaders of this\nchurch appears the name of Mr. A. Wimbs.\n\nDesiring to make honorable mention of this worthy young man, I\nrequested of him something of his history, and he sends me the\nfollowing:\n\n\u201cI was born in Greensboro, Ala., September 23, 1860. My mother was\nnamed Josephine; she was brought from Washington and sold to Mr. A.\nL. Stollenwerck, of this town. My father was named Addison Wimbs\nand resided in Washington; he was a slave on account of his mother\nbeing a slave, but his father was a free man, and had bought nearly\nall of his children and sent them to Canada. What education I have,\nI received at the town school here--Tullibody Academy--under the\nmanagement of Prof. W. B. Patterson. I have served my church in the\ncapacity of superintendent of the Sabbath School and clerk of the\nchurch; was secretary of the Sabbath School Convention of the Uniontown\nAssociation; am a member of the Executive Board of the Convention. I\nwas at one time editor of a small paper here called the _Voice_.\n\n\u201cI have been for many years the bookkeeper and general clerk in the law\noffice of Governor Seay. I was, I am quite confident, the first Negro\nin Alabama, if not in the entire South, to operate on the typewriter,\nand now I think, I am the first Negro to manage the Edison phonograph\nfor busi-purposes.\u201d\n\nI know of no ex-slave and ex-slaveholder, between whom there is more\nconfidence on one side and high regard on the other, than exist between\nGovernor Seay and Addison Wimbs. This means for Brother Wimbs quietness\nof spirit and solid worth, as well as a conservative, genial soul in\nGovernor Seay.\n\n\nTHE ST. PHILLIP STREET CHURCH, SELMA.\n\nThis church was organized about the year 1845. The church was composed\nof the white membership and the church which was composed of the\ncolored membership, agreed to build together, with the understanding\nthat the former should occupy the upper story and the latter should\noccupy the basement. This agreement was kept until some time after\nthe close of the war, when the white brethren bought the claims of\nthe colored church, paying $2,000 for possession of the basement.\nTheir first colored pastor was the Rev. Samuel Phillips, a man who\nhad received his liberty as a reward for his services in the Mexican\nwar. Deacon A. Goldsby told the writer that Bro. Phillips was a very\nearnest, worthy man. Nothing is known of the time and place of his\nbirth, and nothing special is said of his death.\n\nThe Rev. John Blevens, who was born in Madison county, Ala., was the\nnext pastor, and served from 1866 to 1878. Under his administration\nthe present property on St. Phillip street was obtained. The Rev.\nMr. Blevens was followed by Rev. G. J. Brooks, who, after a short\npastorate, resigned, and was followed by Rev. W. A. Burch, from\nPhiladelphia, Pa. Mr. Burch gathered a larger congregation than any\nother previous pastor, and did more than any other man in teaching the\npeople to give for the support of the church. After two years, he was\ncalled to a pastorate in Boston, Mass., and was followed in the Selma\npastorate by the writer, who remained with the church during 1882-87.\nExcept the addition of about 350 members and the secession of the\nTabernacle Church, nothing transpired that merits mention. The writer\nwas followed by Rev. S. S. Sisson. At this writing, the Rev. C. J.\nHardy, late of Florida, is their successful leader, under whose strong\nadministration they have just completed a two-story brick structure on\nSylvan Street. Their property is worth not less than $20,000--finest\ncolored church edifice in Alabama.\n\nIt is worthy of mention and praise that the Selma University came to\nits birth under the fostering care of this church. In the old frame\nbuilding on St. Phillip street the sainted Woodsmall began to turn upon\nthe negro Baptists of Alabama the morning light, the early dawning, of\nour denominational school. And this church gave him quarters, fuel and\nlights without money and regardless of costs, so that in May, 1878, it\nwas reported that the school had paid out nothing for these things.\nWhat a good deed is set down to their credit on high! But, in addition\nto this, they organized a missionary society, which gave regular\ncontributions for support of teachers and other workers in the school.\n\nDeacon A. Goldsby related the following to the writer: \u201cForty or fifty\nyears ago we organized a prayer band to pray for our freedom. We met\noutside of the little town, under a large oak tree, on every Friday\nnight. That we might know when a friend came beneath the tree, we\nagreed upon a password, which was \u2018The hindering cause.\u2019 Each uttered\nthis softly as he came under the boughs of the tree, and was answered\nby any other who had come ahead of him. Then he seated himself in the\nbushes to await the hour for united supplications.\u201d\n\nIf in years to come the University should desire a picture of itself\nas it made its advent from the world of hope to the world of fact, it\nmay paint this: A frame structure, the roof of which is supported by a\nrow of upright posts extending the whole length of the building, which\nis seventy-five or eighty feet in length. On the morning for opening,\nthere enters this building a white man, whose face bears signs of\nsuffering, but is all aglow with the rays of faith and love. He is the\nfaculty. Also, there enters a short, fat, brown-skinned young man, with\nhigh, broad forehead. He has heard of the purpose to begin a school on\nthis day at this place, and, hungering for learning, he has come up to\nenter. This teacher and this student usher in our beloved institution.\n\nIt was good for the denomination that our lot was cast among such a\npeople, and that we had in Bro. Woodsmall a man who did not faint in\n\u201cthe day of small things.\u201d\n\n[Illustration: Rev. P. S. L. Hutchins, Pastor Churches at Newberne and\nGallion, Ala.]\n\n\nWILL\u2019S CREEK ASSOCIATION.\n\nOrganized in 1873, and operating in \u201cWill\u2019s Valley\u201d and St. Clair\ncounty, reports the following churches and ministers:\n\nAt Collinsville Post Office--Pleasant Grove Church; Lebanon--Lebanon;\nFort Payne--Fort Payne; Valley Head--Bethlehem; Attalla--Mt. Zion,\nPilgrim, Bethlehem; Keener--New Hope; Beaver Valley--Pleasant Hill;\nAshville--Mt. Zion; Springville--Springville; Whitney--Evergreen;\nGuntersville--Bethlehem and Hooper Chapel; Trenton--Trenton; North\nAlabama--Clogville. Rev. G. Neeley, Ashville, is moderator; Mr. J.\nR. Dean, Ashville, is treasurer; and Prof. P. R. Sibert, Keener, is\nsecretary. Their pastors are: Revs. N. Kerley, R. Berry, M. Edwards,\nof Fort Payne; G. W. Brewton, of Alexandria; H. Massey, J. Griffin, A.\nJackson, and James M. Stevens. They have about 1,500 members.\n\nElder A. Kerley and his brother are the chief founders of this body.\nThey greatly need an infusion of light from without. Rev. James Kerley,\nthe pastor at Springville, is an ex-student of Talladega College. While\nthey were in session in Ashville in 1892 the white people gave them the\nuse of their church, and pastors, mayor of the city, and other leading\npeople, turned out to encourage them and to financially strengthen\ntheir enterprises. While there, a white minister related to the writer\nthe following story: \u201cWhen the late Dr. Renfroe was a young man he was\nvery poor, though, as later in his life, he was a powerful preacher.\nIn the height of a glorious revival, the grass in his crop called him\nto his field. A colored brother who wanted the meeting to continue,\nrequested his master to allow him to prolong the meeting. His master\nreplied: \u2018Jim, you can\u2019t read, you can\u2019t preach.\u2019 The slave replied: \u2018I\ncan _plow_ and _kill grass_--can do these _for Brother Renfroe_.\u2019\u201d\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nGleaning from the associational chapter, we obtain:\n\n1. The origin and field of each Association.\n\n2. The names of the pioneers in each section in the State.\n\n3. The location and something of the history of churches and\ncommunities.\n\n4. Something of the lines of thought and action prevailing in the\nvarious gospel enterprises of the denomination.\n\nIt was not thought well to try to tell the same things many times over;\nhence, some things are given in connection with _one_ Association and\nother things in connection with _another_--all aiming at the same\nend, namely: THE GIVING OF A TRUE PICTURE OF THE COLORED BAPTISTS OF\nALABAMA.\n\n[Illustration: Rev. W. T. Bibb, A. B., Pastor Baptist Church, Oxmoor,\nAla.]\n\n\n\n\n_IV. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES._\n\n\nAdams, Rev. Stewart, of Greenville, Butler county, was the chief leader\nand organizer in that section of the State for the first seventeen\nor eighteen years of freedom. He was a pure-blooded Negro, and was\npossessed of a fine personal appearance. His forehead was large and\nbroad, and the sparkle of his eye indicated the presence of mental\npower. He could read and write fairly well, and in his speeches always\nsucceeded in conveying his thoughts to others. He was for some years\nmissionary in that part of the State under the American Baptist Home\nMission Society of New York, during which time he organized many\nchurches, which were united to form the Union Baptist Association.\nHis neatness in dress and caution in the use of words were everywhere\nnoticeable. It was sometimes thought that he was rather tenacious of\nhis opinions, but I think all his brethren credited him with honesty of\npurpose, and hence he died in the love and respect of the denomination.\n\n\nAllen, Rev. Wallace, of Greenville, was a very pious, hard-working\npreacher in the Union Association. The young men delight to honor his\nmemory. The author has been unable to learn anything of his history or\nlineage.\n\n\nAnderson, Rev. N. P., is pastor at Ensley City.\n\n\nAshby, Rev. Nathan, of Montgomery, was born in Fredericksburg, Va.,\nAugust 5, 1810. He knew nothing of his parents, and to the age of 16\nhe was under the care and direction of his grandmother. At this point\nin his life he was sold, with some horses, to traders, who brought him\nto Alabama. He says of this trip: \u201cAt first I was not aware that I was\nsold, but thought (as I had been told so) that I was only helping the\nman to put his horses well into the way. When informed that I was among\nthe stock sold, I wept bitterly at the thought that I could see my dear\ngrandmother no more. While in this state of grief, an old cake woman\ncame on, selling cakes. She, looking into my hand, professed to read as\nfollows: \u2018Don\u2019t cry, for you are born for good luck. The man who will\nbuy you will be more a brother than a master. Fear God and be obedient,\nand you will do well.\u2019 This counsel, no matter whence it came, removed\nmy fears, and I left off crying.\u201d\n\nWhen about 32 years of age he bought his liberty, paying for the same\nthe sum of $900. His good wife, Mrs. Nancy Ashby, had been freed a few\nyears before by a Mrs. Tate. Both being of an intellectual, industrious\nand economical turn of mind, it was not long before they were well\nunder way to notoriety and prosperity. Touching her experience in\nservitude, Mrs. Ashby tells the following: \u201cWhen I was 16 years old,\nmy mistress, in urging me to be pure and faithful, promised that if I\nwould obey I should serve no one after her. So, when I was 24, she set\nme free, giving me a daughter that had been born to me.\u201d\n\nBro. Ashby was baptized by Mr. Shrovell in Monroe county, Ala., and\nwas ordained to the full charge of the gospel ministry just after the\nclose of the war, by Rev. I. T. Tichenor, D. D., and others. His labors\nin the ministry, however, began about the year 1845, from which time\nhe increased in favor with God and man to the day of his death, in\n1887. He led to the organization of the First Colored Baptist Church\n(Columbus street) of Montgomery, in which, under his presidency, the\nColored Baptist State Convention was constituted in 1868. The last\nseventeen years of his life he was an invalid from paralysis, and four\nyears of this time he was blind. During this time the writer frequently\nvisited him, and it would seem that his faith in God was mightier in\nthe days of his weakness than in the days of his strength. Heavenly\nsunshine illumined all the way of the dark valley, even to the day of\nhis departure.\n\nBro. Ashby was a man of naturally fine parts. His sermons and speeches\nwere characterized by order, thought and doctrine. He was not an\nemotionalist nor dreamer; with him Christianity was faith in the gospel\nand right-doing. It affords the writer much pleasure to record that\neach member of his family not only receives, but also contributes honor\nto his valuable life and honored name.\n\nMr. Ashby was by trade a carpenter, by which means he was able to earn\nfair wages, and was not long in coming into the possession of valuable\nreal estate.\n\nIn order to show the condition of a free colored man in Alabama prior\nto the close of the late civil war, I submit a legal document here,\nbearing upon the good man whose name is now before us:\n\n\nA STRAW WHICH SHOWS THE DIRECTION OF THE WIND.\n\n \u201cThe State of Alabama, }\n Montgomery County.     }\n\n \u201cKnow all men by these presents, That whereas, heretofore, to-wit: on\n the 1st day of April, A. D. 1859, Charles T. Pollard sold and conveyed\n to Wm. B. Bell, as guardian or trustee for Nathan Ellis (now called\n Nathan Ashby), a certain lot in the city of Montgomery, State and\n county aforesaid, which is described in the deed of said Pollard as\n \u2018Lots number three and four in square number fourteen, Scott\u2019s plat,\n in the city of Montgomery.\u2019\n\n \u201cAnd, whereas, the said Nathan Ellis (or Ashby), is now capable in law\n of holding property in his own name, and desires to hold the title to\n said lot and premises in his own name; and the said William B. Bell\n also desires to relinquish and give up the duties and responsibilities\n devolved on him by the said deed as the trustee or guardian of said\n Nathan Ellis (or Ashby);\n\n \u201cNow, therefore, in consideration of the premises and for the\n further consideration of five dollars, to the said Wm. B. Bell in\n hand paid by the said Nathan Ellis (or Ashby), at or before the\n sealing and delivery of these presents (the receipt whereof is\n hereby acknowledged), I, the said Wm. B. Bell, do hereby release,\n relinquish, transfer and convey by quit-claim unto the said Nathan\n Ellis (or Ashby), and unto his heirs and assigns, all my right, title\n and interest both at law and in equity of every kind or description\n whatever, in and to the said lot and premises herein above described.\n\n \u201cIn witness whereof, I, the said Wm. B. Bell, have hereunto set my\n hand and seal, this ---- day of January, A. D. 1872.\n\n  \u201cAttest:                       \u201cWilliam B. Bell.\u201d\n\n\u201cA. R. Bell.\u201d\n\n\n\nThis manuscript is recorded in \u201cBook 4 of Deeds, page 314,\u201d March 26,\n1872.\n\nNOTE.--Seven years elapsed after freedom was declared before Mr. Ashby\nreceived from his \u201ctrustee\u201d the transfer of his property. He had been\nfree ever since 1842, but his \u201ctrustee\u201d must hold and manage both him\nand his.\n\n\nArcher, Rev. Maurice M., son of Mr. A. and Mrs. Mary Archer, was born\nin Camden, Ala., in 1858. He and his parents were the property (?) of\nMrs. R. J. Adams. He entered the free public schools at an early age,\nbut did not long remain, because of his father\u2019s death and because of\nthe demands made upon him as the eldest son in a large family. Mr.\nand Mrs. J. S. McBryde, seeing that he was a very capable boy, kindly\naided him in his studies while he was in their employ. Thus he learned\nto read and write. At 14 Mr. Archer left Mr. McBryde determined on\nsecuring an education. Advancing by various means, he was soon able to\nteach school. In November, 1881, he was baptized into Siloam Church\nby Rev. A. Gould, which church he served as clerk and superintendent\nof the Sunday School. Feeling a call to the ministry and desiring to\nprepare himself for the same, he entered Selma University October,\n1883, and passed the session of 1884-5, as he says starting with only\n20 cents. By severe sacrifice, by push, pluck and self-reliance, he\npressed onward, till in May, 1887, he graduated at the head of his\nclass. He was ordained at Opelika, September, 1889, Revs. G. C. Casby,\nC. R. Rodgers and others officiating. He has been principal of the\nAuburn City School. Mr. Archer is one of our clearest thinkers and most\nfluent speakers, and his language is especially good.\n\n\nBarker, Joseph C.--This patient and cool-headed young man was born\nDecember 20, 1863, near Laneville, Hale county, Ala. His parents,\nSherrod and Caroline Barker, are both living and members of the Spring\nStreet Missionary Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala. They are living\nmonuments of temperance, patience and obedience. Young Joseph was sent\nto school when still quite young. Filled with self, family and race\npride, and feeling grateful toward his parents for their strenuous\nefforts to educate himself, his sister and brothers, and desiring\nto help them in return, at their consent, he sought employment with\na benevolent merchant, who, after noting his higher qualities, gave\nhim every advantage and privilege available. After three years of\npleasant and profitable services, he left his beloved employer (Mr. J.\nM. Manders), who gave him a final settlement accompanied by a worthy\nrecommendation and valuable presents. He is widely experienced in\nmercantile enterprises.\n\nHe had two years experience on the United States jetty and log boats\nunder Capt. J. McKee Gould, who gave him such an honorable and\nflattering recommendation as would have been more suitable for a pilot\nthan for a cabin boy. By studying at home and attending summer schools,\nhe was prepared to enter Selma University in the session of 1884,\nremaining two scholastic years. Under President E. M. Brawley, D. D.,\nhe won a prize for map-drawing over forty-eight competitors. He has\ntaught successfully in the schools of Jefferson and other counties.\nWas four years secretary of the Jefferson County Teachers\u2019 Institute.\nRe-entered Selma University in 1893, and won the only prize offered\nfor drawing over twenty or thirty competitors under President Dinkins,\nD. D. He is now preparing specimens to exhibit at the Atlanta Cotton\nExposition in September.\n\nHe is employed by the Monarch Book Company, of Chicago, Ill. To know\nhim, is to know a man possessed of a great soul, affable, and naturally\ngifted in making friends. He is a financier, and is rapidly acquiring\nmeans. As an artist and penman, he is a prodigy. In the session of\n1884 he was converted to the Christian religion, and was baptized in\nthe University pool by Rev. E. M. Brawley, D. D., and joined the St.\nPhillip Street Baptist Church under Rev. C. O. Boothe, D. D. On removal\nto Birmingham in 1886, he united with the Sixteenth Street Baptist\nChurch, of which Rev. Dr. Pettiford was pastor.\n\nLast term, he was principal of the Oxmoor public school. He is now\ncorresponding secretary of the Mt. Pilgrim Sunday School Convention. On\nall lines of manhood, Mr. Barker is a genuine success.\n\n\nBarton, Rev. J. P., of Talladega, comes of Virginia parentage, and was\nborn in Colbert county, Ala., October, 1844.\n\nIn 1871 he united with the Little Zion Baptist Church in said county,\nand was baptized by Rev. W. E. Northcross, of Tuscumbia. In 1877 he\nentered the work of the gospel ministry in his native section, doing\nvaluable service within the bounds of the Muscle Shoals Association,\nespecially in line with the Sunday School work. He has led to the\norganization of two Sunday School Conventions and eight churches, and\nbuilt five houses of worship. His speeches before our State Convention\nhave been largely conducive of the sentiment and system which have\ngiven birth to our women\u2019s work and State mission operations. He has\nheld official positions in connection with our State Convention and\nUniversity, and is now chairman of the Board of Visitors of the Colored\nDeaf and Dumb Asylum of Alabama. He is easy in society and pleasing in\naddress. He carries the youth and the masses, and so uses everything at\nhis command as to impress one that he is an excellent general as well\nas a successful pastor. He is full of movement and plan, and is quick\nof discernment and clear in expression. He is a lover of science. He\nobtained his education in the Talladega College. Mr. Barton says that\nhe owes much to his wife, whom the writer would honor as one of our\nnoble women. Mr. Barton is still full of life and growth.\n\nOur general work has always found in Brother Barton a ready and\ngenerous helper. He deserves credit for his industry and enterprise--in\nmaterial as well as in church affairs. He relates the following: \u201cIn\nthe winter of 1876-77 I chanced for the first time to meet the late\nHarry Woodsmall in one of his Ministers\u2019 Institutes. He remarked: \u2018On\nto-morrow we will discuss the subject of sanctification; and here is\na little book worth only 15 cents which will be of service to you.\u2019 I\nsaid to myself: \u2018What is _sanctification_?\u2019 I never heard of such a\nthing before. I bought the book from Brother Woodsmall, and, coming\nupon my subject, I read till late at night, in order that I might be in\nline with things next day. When the hour came I was up on the subject\nof sanctification, much to the pleasure of the teacher.\u201d\n\nMr. Barton is ever ready to contend for his views, but is remarkably\nfree from bitterness in discussion, is hardly ever wrong in his opinion\non things, and is a remarkably winning preacher with the masses. Mr.\nBarton is now president of our State Convention.\n\n\nBacotes, Rev. Mr.--As the Cyclopedia goes to press the Rev. Mr. Bacotes\ncomes to the charge of the Marion Academy and Marion Church. The writer\nwishes he knew something of the history of one so much favored and so\nhighly recommended as Mr. Bacotes is. He has important trusts in hand.\n\n\nBattle, Rev. Augustus A., of Hurtsboro, Russell county, the son of\nDeacon A. A. and Mrs. Jennie Battle, was born in Tuskegee, July 4,\n1860. As his parents were pious people, he was very early the subject\nof religious impressions, which in 1881 culminated in a public\nprofession of faith in Christ. On the third Sunday in August he was\nbaptized by the Rev. Richard Lloyd, of Georgia. In the year 1879,\naspiring for a liberal education, he entered the Talladega College, in\nwhich he graduated from the normal and the theological courses.\n\nHe is a young man of high moral tone, and his agreeable manners have\nwon for him many friends. At present he is pastor at Sylacauga, and\nteacher of the city school in Talladega.\n\nP. S.--Since the above was written, our good Bro. Battle has been\ncalled to the Mt. Zion Church in Anniston, and under his industrious\nand wise leadership his people have constructed a two-story brick\nedifice. To do what he has done in these hard times, in the way of\nraising and expending money, is to prove himself a man of no ordinary\nparts. The writer has enjoyed the hospitality of his quiet Christian\nhome, where he has learned that the young minister has found helpful\ncompanionship in the person of a modest, intelligent wife.\n\n\nBatts, Rev. J. H., of Florence, is an aspiring young man, and is very\nactive in the enterprises of the Muscle Shoals Association and Sunday\nSchool Convention. Evidently, he has not enjoyed early access to books\nand schools, but his thoughts are orderly and clear, and he does not\nhesitate to give expression to his views.\n\n\nBeavers, Rev. Jasper, was born May 9, 1825, in St. Clair county, Ala.\nHis father and mother were slaves, and of course, he inherited their\nlot. He now lives at Easonville, in the county in which he was born,\nand is still a useful, as well as a very pious man. In 1851, he was\nbaptized by the Rev. Jesse Collins (white), and in 1868 was ordained to\nthe work of the gospel ministry by Revs. Henry Wood, J. Collins and T.\nBush.\n\nHe was the first moderator of the Rushing Springs Association. In\nspite of the laws of the master forbidding such things, he, in slavery\ntime, learned to read and write. By his industry and economy he has\nobtained real estate worth about $2,000. Brother Beavers is a man of\nfine personal appearance, is modest, genial, industrious, honest, firm.\nIn the early days of our work, there was no more efficient man in St.\nClair County than he. A large family of children are the support of his\nold age.\n\nSince the above was penned, Brother Beavers has passed to the world\nthat lies beyond. He was the most self-possessed and of the most\ncommanding figure of any man in the Rushing Springs Association,\nthough no man among them was more modest and humble.\n\n\nBelle, Rev. John, of Courtland, was born in the State of Georgia\nand came to Alabama after the close of the war. He says: \u201cIn Stuart\ncounty, Ga., in the first part of 1861, I followed the white preacher\nto his different preaching stations, and he would preach to the white\npeople in the morning and I would speak to the colored people in\nthe evening. I could not say anything about Moses and the children of\nIsrael.\n\n\u201cI went on preaching without any trouble for some little time, till at\nlast, as I could read a little, it was decided that I should be hung.\nAs I was ready for execution, and as I was praying God for help, a\ndispute arose between the white people which resulted in my release. I\nagain went on, till on one occasion when I had displeased my mistress\nwith reference to some garden work, and when, as she started to strike\nme with the rake, and I fled, she reported to her husband that I had\ntried to kill her and that she only saved her life by running into\nthe house out of my reach. Of course, it was decided at once that I\nought to and should die. On the night before I was to be executed, the\nlady became very ill and owned that she was only angry with me for\ngetting out of her way, and that I had done nothing. She died that\nnight. However, her dying words had set me free and so I returned to\nmy work for God, feeling that I could not die till my work should be\naccomplished.\u201d\n\nBrother Belle has labored in different States, but his principal labors\nhave been in Northern Alabama, where he has been one of the chief\norganizers of our work in this section, beginning his operations here\nin 1868.\n\nIt appears that Brother Belle was ordained in Helena, Ark., sometime\nin 1867, the late Rev. J. T. White, who was then pastor of the First\nColored Baptist Church, being one of the officiating presbytery.\n\nHe is still a strong man. For several years past he has been pastor\nat Iuka, Miss., and of the Red Bank Church in Lawrence county. His\npleasant manners have always made him an agreeable companion to his\nbrethren.\n\n[Illustration: Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala.]\n\n\nBelser, Rev. S. L., pastor of the First Church, Bessemer, deserves the\nrespect and love of the denomination for his beautiful brotherly spirit\nand unassuming manners.\n\n\nBerry, Rev. G. W.--Although this good man is no longer among us, his\nname is still fragrant with his exalted faith and pious life. Like his\nstay on earth, his stay in Alabama was short, but useful and endearing.\nHe was the son of Pickens and Mary Berry, and was born in Edgefield\ncounty, S. C., in 1859. Having studied some time in the Benedict\nInstitute in that State, he, after doing some effective work in that\nState, came to Alabama to take the pastoral oversight of the church\nin Eufaula. Here it was that after a short illness he exchanged the\ncross for the crown, singing as his soul retired from the earth, \u201cMy\nLord calls me and I must go.\u201d To know him was to love him, for his\ngentleness of spirit was beautiful to look upon.\n\n\nBetts, Rev. J. W., of Huntsville, Ala., son of John and Edith Betts,\nwas born June 4, 1851, near Courtland, in Lawrence county, Ala. In the\nfall of 1873 he was baptized into the Courtland Church by the Rev.\nGabriel B. Johnson. Brother Betts is among the younger men of the\nMuscle Shoals Association. He is a clear thinker and a lover of books.\nHe is a business man, industrious and economical, and does not live of\nthe donations of his people, but the labors of his own hands. His style\nis rather didactic for the masses, but it is plain and his doctrine is\nin line with the teachings of the \u201cGood Book.\u201d\n\n\nBerry, Prof. J. S., son of Jack and Clara Berry, of Uniontown, is one\namong the most proficient Sunday School workers in Alabama. He is\npresident of the Sunday School Convention of the Uniontown Association.\nHis happy, unselfish spirit fills all his work with pleasantness and\nsunshine. He is now about 35 years of age.\n\n\nBlevins, Rev. John, long the leading man and pioneer of Dallas county,\nthe first pastor of the St. Phillip Street Church after the close of\nthe war, was for his opportunities and times a very strong man in\nthe work of organization. May it ever be told of him that he led his\npeople--his church, to become the foster mother of Selma University in\nthe time of its infancy and weakness. This fact is one of the brightest\nspots upon his memory, and should never be forgotten.\n\nThe buildings in which the St. Phillip Street and the Green Street\nChurches now worship were built by Mr. Blevins. He died eight or ten\nyears ago at the age of 65.\n\n\nBibb, Rev. Wm. T., son of Linzy and Caroline Bibb, was born in\nMontgomery, Ala., in 1853. Brother Bibb is one of the most worthy of\nour rising young men. He is not noted for brilliancy, but for constant\napplication in the race for knowledge, for pushing things to a finish\nin search for truth, for the purest life and loftiest piety, he is\nhardly to be excelled. Already he has been entrusted with various\npastorates, including one at Marion and another near Birmingham. I\nhad the best opportunity to learn him while I was pastor at Selma.\nHere he was superintendent of my Sunday School and aided me in my ward\nprayer-meetings. He completed two courses at the Selma University,\ngraduating with the title of A. B., and with the highest confidence\nof all the faculty. In looking upon his open countenance one\ninstinctively feels the impress of an honest, earnest man--a man free\nfrom hypocrisy and guile.\n\n\nBradford, Rev. William C., pastor of the First Colored Baptist Church,\nUnion Springs, son of Henry and Elizabeth Bradford, was born in\nMontgomery, Ala., in 1862. His early years were spent in the Swayne\nschool in said city, in which he succeeded in laying the foundation\nof a liberal English education. In his eighteenth year, and two years\nafter his father\u2019s death, he was baptized into the fellowship of the\nColumbus Street Baptist Church, Montgomery, by the late Rev. James A.\nFoster. Feeling a call to the work of the gospel ministry, he, with\na view to fitting himself for this solemn charge, entered Atlanta\nTheological Seminary. In school as well as out among his brethren, he\nhas managed to occupy a place with those who formed the van.\n\nIn the person of his good wife, once Miss M. H. Allen, of Georgia\n(daughter of Rev. T. M. Allen, ex-member of the Georgia Legislature),\nwhom he wedded in 1884, he has found happy and efficient help in his\nstudies as well as in his calling. For a while Mr. Bradford followed\nthe tailor\u2019s trade, but at the call of the Gilfield Church in Wetumpka,\nthe Dexter Avenue Church, Montgomery, in 1886 set him apart to the\nwork of the gospel ministry. At Wetumpka he built a church edifice\nworth about $700. While pastor at Clayton he led to the erection of a\nbuilding worth $1,000, and just now is rejoicing with the good people\nof Union Springs on his entrance into the new brick structure which was\ndedicated on the second Sunday in October, 1892. He was principal of\nthe city school while in Clayton, and now holds several positions of\nhonor and trust. Mr. Bradford is one of the strongest and is among the\nmost successful young men in Alabama. His affable manner commends him\nto all. He is now at Tuscaloosa.\n\n\nBrooks, Rev. G. J., of Selma, Ala., son of Joseph and Nancy Brooks,\nwas born in 1830 near Richmond, Va., in which city he lived till his\neighteenth year, when he was carried to New Orleans, La., and from\nthence to Texas. 1849 was spent in St. Louis, Mo., and in 1850 he was\nbrought to Huntsville, Ala. In this same year he was baptized into the\nPrimitive Baptist Church of Huntsville by Rev. Wm. Harris (colored).[1]\nOf this period of his life Mr. Brooks says: \u201cBy the will of a Mr.\nKenedy I was left free, but as the administrator of the will, a Mr.\nClark, refused to execute this point in the will, I remained a slave.\u201d\nIn 1867 he united with the Marion Church, under the pastorate of the\nRev. James Childs. Near this town he taught school, till in 1872 he\nwent to Kentucky, where, in 1873, he was ordained to the work of the\nministry. After serving various offices in the work in Kentucky, he\ncame to Selma in 1875, where, after a few years, he became pastor of\nthe St. Philip Street Church. By the assistance of the white family he\nlearned to read at the age of 14. In Marion he extended his studies\nunder Prof. Card, and under Presidents Woodsmall, McAlpine and Brawley\nhe further prosecuted his studies in the Selma University. Brother\nBrooks has held various offices of trust under the State Convention and\nthe Uniontown Association. His health is now rather below his usual\nstrength, but his love for the Master\u2019s cause seems nothing abated. His\nwife, Mrs. Anna, is among the leading women of Alabama.\n\n[1] It appears that this denomination, Primitive Baptists, had some one\nor two ordained colored ministers.\n\n\nBrown, Rev. Lewis, of Epes, Sumter county, was born near St. Louis,\nMo., March 23, 1835, and came to Alabama in his tenth year. He united\nwith the church in 1863, and was baptized by a Mr. Edmonds into the\nfellowship of the Jones\u2019 Creek Church, by which church he was called to\nordination in the fall of 1868. The chief persons in the presbytery\nwere Revs. Abner Scarber (white) and Mr. Wright. Mr. Brown\u2019s main\npastoral charges have been Jones\u2019 Creek, nine years; Sumterville,\nthirteen years; New Bethel, thirteen years; and Mount Olive, four\nyears. He has long been moderator of the Bethlehem Association, and\nis known and recognized as a firm and tried friend of education and\nmissions; and his children give evidence of pure and wise aspirations.\n\nMr. Brown was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, a slave girl on the same\nplantation with himself, in 1852. Seven sons and one daughter are the\nfruit of the marriage. He is a very industrious and economical man,\nand has possession of valuable property, worth $15,000. Seven or eight\nhundred acres of his farm once formed part of the plantation on which\nhe (with 500 others) worked as a slave till 1865. He says that his\nmaster, Mr. Brown, was a Christian, and that after the close of the war\nthis plantation gave to this county most of its religious leaders.\n\n\nBurwell, L. L., M. D., the son of Charles and Amanda Burwell, was born\nin Marengo county, Ala., October 25, 1867. At the age of seven years he\nwas given to his brother, Charles A. Burwell, of whom the Doctor says:\n\u201cTo him my success is largely due.\u201d For quite a while he lived with\nthis brother on a farm in Perry county. He attended the county schools\ntill he entered Selma University in the winter of 1883-84. His love for\nbooks and his quickness of apprehension were early manifestations of\nnative talent which, if properly cultivated, would unfold to his own\nhonor and to the profit of his people. Each vacation found him upon the\nfarm, earning money with which to re-enter school. During his entire\ncourse at Selma University his mother was able to spend upon him but\n$30. In 1886, he graduated from the above named school with the honors\nof valedictorian, and in the fall of the same year he entered Leonard\nMedical College, Raleigh, N. C., to take a course in medicine. The\ncourse extended through four years, but he completed it and received\nhis diploma at the close of the third year, again receiving the honors\nof valedictorian of his class. In 1889, he passed an examination before\nthe State Board of Medical Examiners of Alabama, and began the practice\nof medicine in the city of Selma, where he now resides amidst many\nfriends, a paying practice, and a successful drug business. Commencing\nwithout a dollar, he has saved from his income about $4,000. In school\nhe was called artist, orator, scholar. He says: \u201cAs a doctor I have for\nmy motto: _Crurare Cito_.\u201d\n\n\nBrown, Rev. R. E., of Selma, the pushing, energetic leader of several\nassociations, deserves honorable mention as a man of pluck and push--a\nman of courage and observation.\n\n\nBynum, Rev. Henry, of Leighton, Ala., was born in Baltimore, Md.,\nJanuary, 1820. In 1851, in Colbert county, Ala., he was led to\nexercise faith in Christ by the humble conversation and pious life of\na fellow-slave by the name of Isaac. As his master did not believe in\nthe Bible and its Christianity, his baptism was delayed till 1854. In\n1867 he was set apart to the office of the gospel ministry by two white\nministers, one of whom was Dr. Joseph Shackelford, of Trinity, Ala. He\nand Rev. Steven Coleman were the first ordained colored preachers in\nnorthern Alabama. He was married the first time in 1857, but his family\nwere soon taken from him and he has never seen them since. His present\nwife is a most excellent lady, and affords him that help which only a\ngood woman can bestow. He has good property, and he and his wife keep\none of the most hospitable homes in northern Alabama. Bro. Bynum was\nthe first colored minister in this section to administer the rite of\nbaptism. He is now awaiting his change with triumphant hope, and still\nenjoys fair health.\n\n\nCaddell, Rev. Perry, pastor in Shelby, Ala., son of Edmond and Edie\nCaddell, was born September 9, 1859, in Centreville, Bibb county, Ala.\nHe was baptized into the Bethel Baptist Church, Calera, by Rev. John\nTrainholm, in February, 1873, and was set apart to the work of the\ngospel ministry, December, 1877, by Revs. Henry Wood and Mack Jackson.\nHe learned his letters at the age of 12 years, and, though he has never\nhad any help from teachers except such as he could get at night school,\nhe has been a steadily growing man till the present time. He feels that\nhe owes his beginning in letters to his mistress (Mrs. Caddell), who,\nafter the close of the war, taught him to read, and to write his name.\nOf his father he says: \u201cHe was, no doubt, a believer; but in slavery\ntime he refused to unite with the church for the reason that he felt\nthat master and slave all the week could not be brothers on Sunday. And\nafter the close of the war, he would not join for the reason that there\nwas no colored Baptist church near his home.\u201d\n\nBro. Caddell is an exemplary man in his family. I have found no family\nwhere the mother and children study the Word of God with more system\nand regularity. He has a ready command of language, both in speech and\nwith pen, and is sociable and genial everywhere.\n\n\nCapers, Rev. J. R., of Elyton (since gone to Oklahoma), was born in\nCamden, S. C., April 22, 1828. In 1845 he was baptized into the Marion\nBaptist Church (white) by the Rev. Mr. Devotie, and in 1869 he was\nsolemnly set apart to the sacred office of the gospel ministry by Revs.\nHenry Wood, of Talladega, and Arthur Hall, of Jonesboro. He, with Revs.\nW. H. McAlpine, Berry Ware, Jasper Beavers, and others, organized\nthe Mt. Pilgrim Association, in Mt. Pilgrim Church, in 1868. Of this\nassociation he was the moderator for eleven years. Bro. Capers is known\namong his brethren and neighbors as an intelligent, industrious,\nthoughtful, faithful, Christian man and earnest gospel preacher. He\nis a successful carpenter, and by industry, skill and economy has\nattained to the possession of a good deal of choice property. No doubt\nhe owes much to his good wife, whom he married in 1850, and by whom he\nhas a large family of thrifty children. Bro. Capers was an organizer\nin the Jefferson county work, and has left the impress of his decided\ncharacter upon the workers of this section. He is now in Oklahoma\nTerritory.\n\n\nChapman, Rev. F. A., of Flint, Morgan county, Ala., was born in the\ncounty and State in which he now lives, November 12, 1843. In 1861 he\nwas baptized into the Sand Hill Church by Rev. M. A. Verser, and in\nApril, 1868, he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by a\npresbytery which was presided over by the brother who about eight years\nbefore had administered the rite of baptism.\n\nMr. Chapman is one of the most sober, quiet, pious, earnest,\nhard-working preachers in the valley of the Tennessee river. He aided\nin the organization of the Muscle Shoals and Flint River Associations.\nMost of his time has been spent in mission and pioneer operations. In\n1868 he was wedded to Miss Alabama Garth, by whom he has a large family\nof interesting children. Their home is a retreat for weary preachers\nand a Christian example in their community.\n\nIn a speech which he made before our last State Convention, he\nsaid: \u201cThe brethren ordained me in 1868, not because of my fitness for\nthe work, but in recognition of a necessity. There was need for a Negro\nto baptize Negro believers, and I was chosen as an answer to this want\nwithout any examination.\u201d\n\n\nChandler, Rev. F. C., is pastor of Walnut Street Church, Rosedale, and\nbears a good name.\n\n[Illustration: Rev. S. L. Belser, Pastor Red Mountain Baptist Church,\nBessemer, Ala.]\n\n\nClark, Rev. Henry, of Opelika, son of David and Patience Clark, both of\nVirginia birth, is one of the fathers of the work in Lee county.\n\nBrother Clark was baptized at Auburn, Ala., by Rev. H. C. Toliver, of\nTuskegee, in 1860. He was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry\nJune 27, 1868, by Revs. W. E. Lloyd, D. D., and Thomas Glenn, since\nwhich time he has been busy going about and doing good. He has been a\nharmless, industrious, pioneer preacher, laying foundations upon which\nothers have builded. He is a tried and faithful friend of missions and\neducation. The writer has always felt that his every pledge was worth\nevery cent it promised. Notwithstanding he has had no educational\nadvantages, still he has, by study of books and by association with men\nof letters, obtained no inconsiderable store of knowledge.\n\nThe churches of Lee county and the Alabama Association owe much to the\nfaithful, efficient labors of Brother Clark. His loving heart ever\nadorns his face with the smiles of peace and good will. Truly, he is a\nharmless man, ever ready to do a brotherly deed.\n\n\nColley, Rev. Moses, of Talladega, son of Rev. Boney Sawyer, who\nwas a preacher over fifty years ago, is about 55 years of age. He\nhas never had any school advantages, but has attained to a fair\nknowledge of books. He is a remarkably clear headed man, dignified and\nself-possessed. Mr. Colley is a hard working, successful farmer, and\nby this calling, he has obtained a comfortable support for himself and\nfamily. He was baptized by Dr. Renfroe in 1856, and was ordained to the\nministry in 1872. He held several important pastorates in Talladega,\nand was once moderator of Rushing Springs Association. He is guarded\nin speech, but his manners are always affable. No act of folly or\ncrime mars his good name. For many years he has held the pastorate at\nMardisville, where he is esteemed no less for his piety than for his\nsound doctrine.\n\n\nCollins, Rev. Asa Cyrus, of Hazen, Ala., was born November 1, 1861, in\nDallas county of this State. Lost both parents at the age of 8 years.\nWas baptized by Rev. A. Waller in his sixteenth year, and soon began\npreaching. In September, 1881, he was officially set apart to the work\nof the gospel ministry. Mr. Collins has been pastor at various points,\nand is held in high esteem by his brethren. For several years he has\nbeen moderator of the Dallas County Association, over which he presides\nwith credit to himself and with pleasure to the body. Brother Collins\nis still a rising young man.\n\n\nCurry, Rev. J. C., of Mount Meigs, Montgomery county, the son of Rev.\nPhilip and Venus Curry, was born in Marion, Ala., October 17, 1852.\nHe was baptized at Felix, Ala., by Rev. D. R. Willis in 1873. On the\noccasion of his call to the pastorate of the Friendship Church, Shelby,\nAla., he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry by Revs. P.\nCaddell, M. Jackson, and Henry Scott. Mr. Curry is liberally educated,\nhaving been among the first students of Selma University. He is a\nclose, clear thinker, a forcible speaker and a good preacher. He has\nbeen pastor at Shelby, pastor of the Dexter Avenue Church, Montgomery,\nand is now pastor at Mt. Meigs and Tuskegee.\n\nAt different times he has been engaged in the newspaper business;\nand I am informed that he is now assisting Prof. B. T. Washington\nin collecting certain statistics for the Tuskegee school. Mr. Curry\nis a man of rare energy and will force, and being endowed with good\nintellectual gifts there is no reason why he may not become one among\nthe strongest men of the State.\n\n\nCurtis, Hon. A. H., of Marion, Ala., was born in Raleigh, N. C.,\nDecember 29, 1829. He came to Alabama in 1839 with the Haywood family.\nHe was the property (?) of E. Haywood, and served as a waiting boy in\nthe store of Stockton & Hunt for many years. He moved to Marion in\n1848 and was the body servant of R. T. Goree for two years. After this\nhe was barber for some years. Succeeding by industry and economy in\nobtaining some cash, he, in 1859, paid Mrs. E. Haywood $2,000 for his\nfreedom, and during the same year went to New York and was emancipated.\nAfter the war he engaged in mercantile pursuits and the barber\nbusiness. In 1870 he was elected to the lower house of the General\nAssembly of Alabama, and in 1872 he was elected State Senator from the\nTwenty-second senatorial district. No other colored man ever presided\nover the Senate of Alabama. He was connected with the legislature\nof the State for eight years, and not only enjoyed the respect of\nhis fellow legislators of all parties but closed his service in this\nconnection with growing confidence in his integrity. He was baptized\nin 1851. In 1850 his marriage occurred. His wife was a suitable helper\nfor him and is still alive enjoying the honors and success which\njustly crown their offspring. The Curtis brothers and sisters are a\npraise to their parents. The senator was a strong man in society, in\nchurch, in State. He died near Marion, July 20, 1878, as the result of\na bruise from a fall from his buggy. Three of his sons are successful\nphysicians; two are north; Dr. A. J. Curtis is in Montgomery.\n\n\nDavis, Rev. Philip, late of Talladega, was born in 1813, in the State\nof Virginia, near the North Carolina line. He was baptized in 1841,\nand about the year 1843 he began to speak to his neighbors of the\ndoctrines and hope of the gospel. Early in life he married, and became\nthe father of a large family. After he was brought to Calhoun county,\nAla., he continued his labors in the ministry of the gospel, as he had\nopportunity, constantly increasing in favor with both God and man; and\nthis was true of him to the day of his death, which occurred December\n30, 1881. I first met this pious man in December, 1875, in Talladega.\nHe was not a learned man, but he knew the holy scriptures, and was\nwise in the things of salvation. The more he was known the better he\nwas loved; and his unassuming, gentle, chastened, self-forgetting\nspirit, as exhibited at home and abroad, was simply charming. As I have\nlooked upon this unmixed, full-blooded representative of the Negro\nrace, arrayed in the beauty of the Christian spirit, I have felt proud\nof him as a witness for my people. He was not fully installed in the\nministry until the close of the war. The late Dr. J. J. D. Renfroe was\nthe leading man in the presbytery who officially set him apart to the\nsacred office. His last words were: \u201cLike one of old, I have finished\nmy course and am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure\nis come.\u201d He left a pleasant home for his family.\n\n\nDavis, Rev. C. M., of Flint, Morgan county, was born in the State of\nTennessee. He was led to faith in Christ and was baptized by the Rev.\nF. A. Chapman. He says that his early life was rather wild, but when\nhis eyes were opened he turned with all his heart. In 1885, in May,\nhe was set apart to the ministry by Revs. F. A. Chapman and C. C.\nMatthews. Mr. Davis is one among the most promising young men in the\nFlint River Association. He is a discerning, aspiring man, who believes\nin studying to know the truth, so that he may not have reason to feel\nashamed of his teaching, nor spend his time and energies without\nproducing effects. The writer had special opportunity to know him at\nthe State school, where the former was teacher and the latter was\nstudent. He is clear-headed, kind and conscientious.\n\n\nDawson, Rev. Iverson, of Eutaw, is a man rich in natural endowments,\nboth of body and mind. Upon no man in Alabama has nature been\nmore profuse in the bestowment of choice gifts. He is tall, well\nproportioned, kind hearted, genial, sociable, magnetic, clear-headed\nand ever sanguine. He is, no doubt, the strongest man in the Bethlehem\nAssociation, of which body he has been clerk for many years; and in\nevery section of the State, and in every phase of business, he is\nrecognized as a man of power and character. As a public speaker, he is\nboth pleasing and instructive.\n\nThe vote, which in 1887 retained our university at Selma, was largely\nowing to his influence and labors.\n\nMr. Dawson has a pleasant home and an interesting family in the town of\nEutaw, where he now serves as pastor. His home is placed on the roll of\nasylums for tired missionaries. He is a brave, fearless opponent and a\ntrue and trusty friend. At this time, he is editing a paper in his town\nin the interest of the republican party. The writer sincerely wishes\nthat every motion of his strong manhood might be laid wholly upon the\nchurch\u2019s altar, and that he could consent to leave the running of\npolitical papers to others.\n\n\nDinkins, Charles Spencer, D. D., general Sunday School missionary\nof Alabama for the American Baptist Publication Society, was born\nSeptember 15, 1856, near Canton, Miss. Mr. Dinkins never knew his\nfather, and his mother, Mrs. Sarah Dinkins, died when he was only 13\nyears of age. One year prior to her death, he was led to faith in the\nsalvation of God as presented in the gospel, under the preaching of\nRev. Jordan Williams, by whom he was baptized into the fellowship of\nthe Mount Zion Church, Canton, in the fall of 1868. For such a boy,\nat such a time, to make the favorable acquaintance of such a man as\nMr. Williams, was a peculiar providence. As in the cases of Saul and\nAnanias, and Philip and the eunuch, God brought the parties together.\n\nMr. Williams, perceiving the superior talents of the youth, privately\ninquired of him whether or not he desired to educate himself, and when\nthe affirmative reply was obtained, he at once influenced his church to\nprovide the means.\n\nOn Friday night, January 28, 1870, Mr. Dinkins took the cars for\nNashville, Tenn., arriving at that point on Sunday morning. That day\nhe met the good Dr. Phillips, who cordially accepted him at once, and\nremained his admiring friend to the close of his (Dr. Phillips\u2019) long\nand useful life.\n\nIn referring to his early life, Mr. Dinkins says: \u201cWhen I was 9\nyears old, my mother bought me a blue back speller and taught me the\nalphabet, which I learned in one night. My first teachers were Mrs.\nand Miss Highgate, of Philadelphia, and Hon. J. J. Spellman, now of\nJackson, Miss. Before leaving the old plantation, I saw something of\nthe horrors of slavery, which I can never forget.\u201d\n\nAt the age of 16 he began teaching, which work he pursued during\nsummer, returning to Nashville to continue his studies in the fall and\nwinter. He graduated from the classical course of the Roger Williams\nUniversity, Nashville, in the spring of 1877, as valedictorian of his\nclass, among whom were Messrs. N. H. Ensley and H. M. G. Spenser. In\n1878 he returned to take a post-graduate course and was appointed a\nmember of the faculty. In the latter part of this same year he entered\nNewton Theological Seminary, near Boston, Mass., where, during the time\nof a full course, from which he graduated in 1881, he was associated\nwith some of the most prominent educators of the country. In this\ncourse he took theology, church history, Hebrew, Greek, homiletics,\netc. How Mr. Dinkins was seen by this institution, the following story\nmay be allowed to signify:\n\nJust before the death of Dr. Phillips, the writer met him in Nashville.\n\n_Dr. Phillips_--How is Brother Dinkins?\n\n_The Writer_--He is well and _doing_ well.\n\n_Dr. P._--He is a very capable and worthy person. Dr. Hovey, the\npresident of Newton, said to me on one occasion when I asked after some\nstudents who had gone from us to him, \u201cMr. ---- is very _sensitive_, but\nMr. Dinkins is very _sensible_.\u201d\n\nDr. Dinkins has held various prominent positions, among which may be\nmentioned: Member of the faculty of the State University of Kentucky;\npastor York Street Church, Louisville, Ky.; teacher of languages in\nSelma University; pastor Second Baptist Church of Marion, Ala.; and\nprincipal of the Marion Baptist Academy; and has been tendered the\npresidency of the University of Kentucky, and many times he has been\nearnestly solicited to return to the faculty of Selma University. His\nexamination for ordination before the ministers of Louisville, Ky.,\nin 1883, was an occasion of much comment by both white and colored\npastors, in praise of his ability. The writer has had occasion to watch\nhim very closely since his entrance upon work in Alabama, and he does\nnot hesitate to write that Charles S. Dinkins, in point of scholarship,\nindustry and high sense of honor, is not excelled by any man we have\nhad among us. In 1890 the State University of Louisville, Ky., then\nunder the presidency of the late Dr. W. J. Simmons, conferred on him\nthe title of D. D. On the day which closed his twenty-fifth year, the\n15th day of September, 1881, he was wedded to Miss Pauline E. Fears,\nthe friend and classmate of Miss M. A. Roach (now Mrs. M. A. Boothe),\nby his fatherly instructor and faithful friend, Dr. D. W. Phillips.\nThe marriage took place in the Roger Williams University, Nashville,\nTenn., a school of which they are both graduates. Perhaps some future\nhistorian will write of Mr. Dinkins: \u201cAn eventful life, not the least\neventful point in which is the finding and wedding of a woman so well\nsuited to a man of such rare gifts.\u201d\n\nFive children--two boys and three girls--grace their home as the fruit\nof the marriage.\n\nClosing this sketch, the writer would remark that if Mr. Dinkins\nhas a fault, it may be described thus: _An exceeding tenderness of\nconscience_, whereby one may be so entirely possessed by present views\nof law and duty as to forget that new light and other views may modify\nappearances.\n\nP. S.--He is now the trusted president of Selma University, and none\nof his predecessors have made, in the same length of time, a better\nmark than he has made. His personality moves in lofty purposes and\nis a source of pure thoughts and pious emotions which affect all his\nsurroundings.\n\n[Illustration: Dr. U. G. Mason, Physician and Surgeon, Birmingham,\nAla.]\n\n\nDosier, Rev. John, the founder and for twenty years pastor of the\nchurch in Uniontown, was a man of great moral worth. I once heard a\npolitician who was associated with him in the legislature of Alabama,\nremark:\n\n\u201cJohn Dosier was an honorable man _everywhere_, and I never saw a man\nwho did not believe _every word he said_.\u201d\n\nHe, like Mr. A. H. Curtis, passed through his political preferments\nwith stainless reputation.\n\nHe was a very old man at the time of his death, which occurred only a\nfew years ago. He was born somewhere near the beginning of the present\ncentury. By some means he, during the days of his bondage, learned\nto read Greek, which knowledge he turned to good results upon his\nstudy and interpretation of the Scriptures. He was one of Alabama\u2019s\nmost worthy pioneers. He was a temperance man. Upon one occasion in\na session of the Uniontown Association, some one complained that he\nsmelled a very disagreeable whiskey odor in the house.\n\nMr. Dosier remarked: \u201cWith the consent of the body I will find the man\nwho has been drinking.\u201d It was agreed that he might make the search.\nAccordingly, he passed from man to man, requesting that he might smell\nhis breath. He located the man, who, for lying about it, was excluded\nfrom the body.\n\nThe writer never met a man for whose veracity he had a higher regard.\n\n\nDonald, Rev. R., of Birmingham, was born in Alabama June 10, 1854. He\nis the founder of the Tabernacle Church, Birmingham, and the builder of\nthe First Church, Pratt Mines. He has worked hard and sacrificed much\nfor the cause. His name will remain in many churches. He owes much to\nhis noble, patient wife.\n\n\nEdwards, Rev. A. J., of Lowndes county, is a teacher as well as a\npreacher, and in different sections of the State he has labored with\ngood results in the interest of morality, education and religion. Mr.\nEdwards is blessed with much body as well as with much soul. Good\nhealth and jovial spirits abound, and hence he is ever an enjoyable\ncompanion. He is still a young man, full of manly pride, commendable\nambition, and a love for the pure and charitable, in view of which we\nmay hope that his day is only in its dawning, and that a brighter noon\nand evening are before him.\n\n\nEllis, Rev. Henry, of Flint, Morgan county, son of William and Martha\nEllis, was born in May, 1856. He was baptized in 1871, and in 1875 he\nwas ordained to the ministry by Revs. Charles Davis and M. J. Hooks.\nHe is now pastor of St. Peter\u2019s Church, which is composed of some of\nMorgan county\u2019s best citizens. He deserves special praise for his\nattention to his Sunday School. Mr. Ellis also preaches to a church\nnear Courtland. This brother is a warm friend to missionaries and\ndelights to aid good causes.\n\n\nFisher, Rev. C. L., B. D., son of Alexander and Elizabeth Fisher,\nwas born in St. Bernard parish, twenty miles below New Orleans, La.,\nFebruary 16, 1866.\n\nOn the first Sunday in February, 1875, he was baptized into the\nBroadway Street Baptist Church, New Orleans, La.\n\n_Ordained_--He was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by the\nSecond Baptist Church in Evanston, Ill., September 29, 1887, where he\nwas student-pastor.\n\n_Educated_--He graduated from the college department of Leland\nUniversity, New Orleans, La., May 28, 1884, with the degree of B. A.,\nand graduated from the Baptist Union Theological Seminary, Morgan\nPark, Ill., May 5, 1887, with the degree of B. D. On May 27, 1891, he\nreceived from Leland University the degree of Master of Arts.\n\n_Positions_--In 1888 pastor of Mt. Zion Church, Little Rock, Ark. In\n1889-92 he is teacher of languages and instructor of ministers in Selma\nUniversity, Selma, Ala. For the last two years of this time he is\npastor of the Tabernacle Church of the city of Selma. In the office of\nState Sunday School Missionary, under the American Baptist Publication\nSociety of Philadelphia, he has for several years rendered very\nprofitable service for the Baptists of Alabama as well as Mississippi.\nHe has recently been recalled to the pastorate of the Tabernacle\nChurch, Selma.\n\nThan is Charles Lewis Fisher, Alabama Baptists have no more thorough\nscholar, profound logician and industrious pastor. His physical form\nis a little frail. Should this not hinder length of days, early future\nyears must present him to the world as one of our greatest theologians\nand metaphysicians. He is not less modest than he is learned, not less\nbenevolent and respectful than he is self-reliant and dignified.\n\n\nFykes, Rev. A. J., of Pratt City, is the much beloved pastor of the\nCanaan Church, Bessemer.\n\n\nFluker, Rev. Solomon, of Sylacauga, Talladega county, was born in\nMarch, 1833; was baptized in 1866 by a Rev. Mr. Smith (white), of\nTalladega. He soon began to preach, and ere long he had become a\nleading minister in his section of the country. For nine years he was\npastor of the church in his town. He is a very meek, unassuming man,\ncareful for the welfare of his family, and hospitable towards his\nbrethren. Of late he has been a great but patient sufferer, and hence\nhas been compelled to cease from active labors in the ministry. We owe\nmuch of our success in this section of the State to the industry and\nexemplary character of this faithful man. He has left the cross for the\ncrown.\n\n\nFoster, Rev. L. P., of Selma, was baptized by Rev. Jerry Shorter in\nEufaula in 1876. Mr. Foster, some time after his marriage and mature\nmanhood, moved to Selma and graduated from the normal course of Selma\nUniversity. He is a stirring, industrious, self-reliant man, who\npurposes to make his own way in the world without striding the back of\nany other man. He has occupied different pastorates and has served as\nmissionary of the Eufaula Association. He has a comfortable home--free\nof debt--and lends a helping hand to missionary and educational\nenterprises.\n\n\nFoster, Rev. James A., late of Montgomery, was born in the State of\nKentucky, in which he grew to young manhood. He died in the city of\nMontgomery in December of 1891--died as he had lived, in love and\nhonor with men and in peace with God. Twenty-five of his fifty-four\nyears had been spent in the gospel ministry, from the sacred offices\nof which he retired in great joy. He was ordained to the work of the\ngospel ministry by Revs. I. T. Tichenor, D. D., Nathan Ashby and\nJacob Bellser, in the city of Montgomery, in the year 1867. His first\npastoral charge was the church at Mt. Meigs, which he served till he\nresigned to accept the call of the Columbus Street Church in 1871. He\nwas the first recording secretary of the State Convention, and was the\nnext man to Mr. Ashby to preside over the Convention as president. He\nwas trustee of the State Normal and Swayne Schools, and moderator of\nthe Spring Hill Association.\n\nMr. Foster was a man whom nature had variously and richly endowed. Had\nhe possessed early educational advantages--advantages suited to his\nrich natural resources--he would have held a place among the sons of\nthe giants. His sermons were always earnest, and frequently his vast\naudiences were melted into weeping by a pathos that was as mysterious\nas it was mighty. He was loved, honored, followed, and obeyed. In the\ntwo churches in which he was pastor he, it is said, baptized 10,000\npersons, married 600 couples, and preached 4,000 sermons. His loving,\ncourtly manners won and maintained for him such a tender regard as few\nmen ever possess. Nor was this confined to his own flock and race, but\nit was shared more or less by the whole people, white and black. The\nfollowing will show something of his liberality:\n\n      \u201cMontgomery, May --, 1891.\n\n\n \u201c_Dear Bro. Boothe_: On hearing that you need some money for your\n work, I look over my account with the Lord and find that I owe him\n five dollars. Enclosed you will find this amount. May God bless you.\u201d\n\nThe last letter I received from him, one month before his death,\ncontained a donation to the mission work.\n\nHis wife says of him: \u201cSome time before his sickness, he talked of\nnothing but heaven. I could plainly see that his mind had left the\nworld. I tried to interest him in house and home affairs; but he would\ntalk of nothing but of God\u2019s grace and of the home of the saints.\u201d\n\nHe was a model husband and father, and is sadly missed from his home,\nas well as from his church and community. A good man has gone from\nlabor to reward--from cross to crown. He was thoughtful of the welfare\nof his loved ones, and hence carried an insurance on his life, the\npayment of which has rendered them some assistance since his death.\n\nHe was one of the original incorporators of Selma University, and was a\nlife member of the Home Mission Society.\n\n    \u201cServant of God, well done;\n      Rest from thy sweet employ.\u201d\n\n\nForbes, Rev. W. R., now of Columbus, Ga., is still associated with our\nAlabama work. He is now about 37 years of age, is possessed of a fine\npersonal appearance, is affable, studious, sociable and industrious. He\nis a Virginian by birth and came to Alabama in 1889 to begin work at\nClayton and Eufaula.\n\n\nFranklin, Rev. Samuel, of Mt. Meigs, was born June 4, 1849. He was\nconverted to the Christian faith January, 1866, and ordained to\nthe work of the ministry March, 1876. Brother Franklin is among\nthe energetic enterprising men of his part of Montgomery county.\nNotwithstanding he earns his living at farming, he is busy in the\ninterest of the affairs of the house of God. At present he is pastor at\nPike Road Church.\n\n[Illustration: Rev. J. P. O\u2019Riley, Trussville, Ala., Pastor Compton\nBaptist Church.]\n\n\nFranklin, Rev. William, of Mt. Meigs, was born October 30, 1852. He\nwas baptized by the late Rev. Washington Stevens, of Montgomery, July,\n1871. He was ordained in 1881 by Revs. P. Lucas, W. Stevens and his\nbrother, Rev. Samuel Franklin.\n\nHe is a thoughtful, enterprising man, and has the pastoral charge of\nseveral country churches. Being self-reliant, persevering, as well\nas economical with time and means, he has risen somewhat above the\ncrushing heels of poverty and want. At the age of 25 years, he did not\nknow the English alphabet, but by persistent application to study, he\nnow reads and writes and keeps his own accounts.\n\nHis face bears those hospitable marks which make one feel easy and at\nhome in his company and restful amid his family.\n\nOn a trip to Mobile, our train stopped at the bridge of the Tensas\nRiver to allow a freight train to clear the track. Mr. Franklin\u2019s gaze\nupon the bridge led the writer to think he was frightened. As the\nfreight train left the bridge, Mr. F. remarked: \u201cIf it will hold up\nthat train, it will ours, too.\u201d I said: \u201cMaybe that train has just put\nit into the condition to let us through.\u201d \u201cYes, and I\u2019ll pull my shoes\noff now in time to swim,\u201d said Mr. F.\n\n\nFreeman, Rev. James H., of Moulton, Lawrence county, is one among\nthe very worthy young men of our State. He has had comparatively no\nadvantages for learning, and yet his sober and comprehensive views of\nlife have spurred him onward in search of information, till now we have\nbut few young men in Alabama who use better language, have clearer\nideas of the Christian life, and make a more orderly speech than Mr.\nFreeman. Better still, his neighbors speak of him as a _good man_--a\nman whose conduct is a living epistle of the faith which he professes.\n\n\nFrench.--Of the many substantial people of Talladega county who deserve\nhonorable mention, none are more worthy in all regards than the French\nfamily. Messrs. Emanuel, William, and Prince French would be an honor\nto any race of people, no matter what the degree of their civilization\nand the purity of their moral culture. The two first named teach in\nthe public schools; the latter is a preacher, and all of them are\nprosperous land owners, as well as faithful members of the Baptist\nchurch.\n\n\nGachet, Rev. Adam, of Barbour county, Ala., was born in Randolph\ncounty, Ga., March 10, 1837. At the age of 16 he was carried to the\ncounty and State in which he now lives. His childhood was wholly\ndeprived of parental love and care, and he says he never knew anything\nof a relative. Depressed by his loneliness, he early felt the need of\nthe friendship of God, which he sought and soon obtained, to the great\njoy of his heart. With this sweet peace soon came an impression that he\nwas called upon to speak of this wondrous love to his fellow-slaves.\nIn April, 1854, he was baptized into Enon Church. On June 7, 1869, he\nwas set apart to the work of the gospel ministry. He is one of the\npioneers in the work of the Eufaula Association, having preached the\nintroductory sermon of the first session of that body. From the first\ntill now he has been a member of their executive board, and is now a\nmember of the board of trustees of Selma University. Notwithstanding\nBro. Gachet has had no educational advantages, he reads intelligently\nand writes some. He has labored, and now labors, in some of the most\nimportant churches in his section of Alabama. He is still active on all\nlines of progress. He has a large family, who seem to do him honor.\nBro. Gachet is no more.\n\n\nGoldsby, Alexander, was born February 6, 1819, in Edgefield district,\nS. C. He came to Alabama in 1830. His father, who was a native African,\nwas born on the ocean while his mother was on her way to America. His\nmother was born in Maryland. In 1844 he was baptized into the white\nchurch at Selma, Ala., by the Rev. Mr. Collins. In 1845 he was ordained\nto the office of deacon, in which position he served for thirty-eight\nyears. He was a very honorable man, and was not less respected by\nthe white people than he was loved and followed by his own. He was a\nsuccessful blacksmith, usually hired his time, and hence he was to\na very considerable degree his own master. In 1843 he married Miss\nNicey Goodwin, and a large family of children is the fruit of the\nmarriage. His massive head and deliberate manner, his strong will and\ndauntless spirit, his good sense and genuine piety, made him a leader\nof the people and a pillar in the house of God. A man more capable of\nfriendship at great personal costs, I have never known. Especially from\nhim, aided by Deacons Charles White, Nick Claiborne, Tall Underwood,\nand E. Ross, our cause in Dallas county has risen up. At or near the\nclose of his seventy-third year, \u201cFather Goldsby\u201d bravely, triumphantly\nand peacefully passed from the earth to that city which knows no night\nand needs not the shining of the sun. He was one of the chief leaders\nof the band which met on Friday night, near Selma, forty or fifty years\nago, to pray for freedom. His name is honored in his children.\n\n\nGreen, Rev. Lawson J., son of Lawson and Martha Green, was born near\nLivingston, Sumter county, Ala., August 4, 1859. Though he was so\nyoung, he says his heart still bears the impress of the horrors of\nslavery. Under his father\u2019s direction, he soon learned how to farm.\nNotwithstanding the colored people of this county were greatly hindered\nby the kuklux, Mr. Green utilized every educational facility within his\nreach to attain to a knowledge of letters. After he had gone as far as\nhe could in the schools in and around Livingston, in 1879 he entered\nthe Selma University, then under the management of Rev. H. Woodsmall,\nof Indiana. From this institution, he graduated in 1884 under the\npresidency of Dr. E. M. Brawley. At different times and places he\nhas followed the work of teaching. He taught in his own county, was\nprincipal of Tullabody Academy at Greensboro, was a member of the\nfaculty of Selma University, and was also of the faculty of the Baptist\nAcademy at Marion. His principal pastorates have been at Greensboro,\nAla., and Selma, of the same State. As Brother Green is full of good\nhealth, pluck and mental energy, there is no reason why he should not\nhave a long and useful life as a Christian leader. He has held various\nhonorable positions in the general work, and is now secretary of the\nBoard of Trustees of Selma University.\n\nP. S. He is now in Birmingham, pastor of the Spring Street Church and\nprincipal of an independent school on the south side of the city.\nHe will long be a power in the denomination, if watchfulness and\ntemperance attend him.\n\n\nGulley, Daniel T., of Selma, son of John L. and Amy Gulley, was born\nnear Snow Hill in Wilcox county, Ala. He was the property of James\nGulley, whom he served as \u201cwaiting boy\u201d till the close of the war.\nDoubtless this position was favorable in the direction of refinement\nand culture. A taste and relish for the study of books would naturally\ncome of such environments. Utilizing some school advantages which\ncame to hand, he soon, as the result of hard work, attained to such\na beginning in letters as enabled him to officiate as clerk of the\nAntioch Church.\n\nAt the opening of Selma University on January 1, 1878, he, at 9 o\u2019clock\nA. M., was the only student on the ground. He completed a course in\nthis institution with the class of 1884. On the fourth Sunday in\nFebruary, 1873, he was baptized into the Antioch Baptist Church by the\nRev. Willis Stalworth. Here he served as clerk of the church and as\nsuperintendent of the Sunday School. From the beginning, he has been\na substantial friend of ministerial education. He was ordained in the\nsession of the State Convention held in Selma in November, 1883, Revs.\nM. Tyler, W. H. McAlpine, J. Dosier, E. K. Love, E. M. Brawley, W. R.\nPettiford, H. Stevens and the writer, officiating as presbytery. He has\nheld various pastorates and different positions in the general work,\nand is now Sunday School missionary under the Publication Society.\n\n\nHampton, Rev. James, of Leighton, Ala., was born and reared near where\nhe now lives. On July 25, 1858, he began life\u2019s journey a slave, in\nline with the condition of his race. In 1869--in September--he was\nbaptized into the Mount Pleasant Church by \u201cFather\u201d Henry Bynum,\nand on June 18, 1882, he was solemnly set apart to the work of the\ngospel ministry by Revs. B. King, H. Bynum, O. Jackson and T. W.\nMorris. Brother Hampton is one of the leading men of the Muscle Shoals\nAssociation, and justly so, for added to his natural talent are many\ngraces of character which come only of labor, aspiration, study, faith,\nand exalted purpose.\n\nWithout the aid of schools, he has attained to a creditable knowledge\nof letters. He is a builder, an organizer, a pastor and business man.\nWith him and his family, the tired missionary may find a place for rest\nand refreshment. He lives upon his own fruitful farm near Leighton, in\nLawrence county, and is a light which shines upon all the Christian\nenterprises around him.\n\n\nHawkins, Prof. D. D., of East Lake, Jefferson county, deserves\nhonorable mention for his services for religion and education. The\npeople of East Lake are comparatively prosperous and progressive, and\nto no man are they more indebted for this condition of things than to\nDeacon and Professor Hawkins. As church officer and as school teacher\nhe has long and faithfully served his church and his community, and his\nspirit and labors have been like the leaven which the woman hid in the\nmeal.\n\nThe writer has ever found him a quiet, industrious, hospitable brother,\nwith ready heart and open hand in support of every good work. He is an\nhonor to his school--Selma University.\n\n\nHall, Rev. S. M., pastor of the First Colored Baptist Church at\nWarrior, Ala., is one of our most robust, handsome and spotless young\nmen. He was born in Walker county, Ala., October 26, 1867. Attended\nthe public schools of his community for five years. In October, 1885,\nhe joined the Oak Grove Church in Walker county, receiving baptism\nthe same month. He has attended the Birmingham Institute two years,\nand has given three years to the work of teaching. He is one of those\njovial, happy, friendly souls which one always enjoys. His hard work\nin the study of books shows that he sees and appreciates the value of\nknowledge, and recognizes that there is no easy, lazy road to learning,\nto culture and refinement.\n\n[Illustration: Miss Ella Knapp, Missionary, Birmingham, Ala.]\n\n\nHawthorne, Rev. Lambert, of Evergreen, was born March 15, 1859, in\nPine Apple, Wilcox county, Ala. When he was only six years of age his\nmother, Mrs. Sarah Hawthorne, died and left him and two other sons to\nsuch cold charities as might chance to fall in their way. From the time\nof his mother\u2019s death till he was 18 or 20 he was an apprentice to\nCol. J. R. Hawthorne, of his native county. This gentleman sent him to\nschool, sometimes paying $2 per month to his teacher, thus enabling\nhim in his early years to lay an educational foundation upon which he\nhas continued to build. As might be expected of any person possessing\nhis native talent and industrious turn of mind, he has successfully\ndrawn upon every literary opportunity that has fallen in his way, to\nincrease and beautify his store of knowledge and wisdom. He studied in\nTalladega College, entering that institution 1875 and leaving in 1879.\n\nIn 1879 he was induced, doubtless by denominational influences, to\nenter Selma University.\n\nBoth as teacher and as preacher he has been a very busy man. At\ndifferent times he has been principal of the city schools of Opelika\nand Union Springs, and now he presides over the Evergreen High School.\nHis most prominent pastorates have been the First Church, Union\nSprings, and the Bethel Church, Evergreen. For the latter church Mr.\nHawthorne is now completing a good church edifice. In 1873 he was\nbaptized at Pine Apple by Rev. W. Allen. In 1883 he was ordained to the\nministry in Opelika by Revs. Thomas Glenn, H. Clark, N. B. Robie, D. D.\n(white), and others. In 1880 he was wedded to Miss Laura E. Drake, of\nOpelika, an affable lady, by whom he has six children. Mr. Hawthorne is\nenergetic, sociable and full of work.\n\n\nHolloway, Rev. W. H., who spent two years in the Presbyterian\nTheological School at Tuscaloosa, is preaching and teaching at Thomas.\nAffable and industrious, he is making friends and followers.\n\n\nHunter, Rev. Henry, of Faunsdale, son of Reuben and Abigail Hunter, is\nnow (June, 1892) about 77 years of age. He was baptized by Rev. James\nCaldwell since the close of the war, and in 1866 he was set apart to\nthe work of the gospel ministry in a council of which the Rev. James\nCaldwell was chairman. Speaking of his education Brother Hunter says:\n\u201cBy chance I learned to read the Bible.\u201d He is one of the pioneers of\nMarengo county in the work of the colored Baptists. He is naturally\ntalented, is unassuming, deeply pious, and is known by his brethren as\nbeing sober, upright and honorable. He has property worth about $1,000.\nHe is quietly expecting a peaceable end to his earthly career, and like\nAbraham, has his eyes upon another country where the wicked shall cease\nfrom troubling and the weary shall be at rest.\n\n\nHutchins, Rev. P. S. L., of Gallion, son of Reuben and Sylvia Hutchins,\nwas born October 13, 1862, in Barbour county, Alabama. In 1879 he was\nbaptized into the Eufaula Baptist Church by the Rev. Jerry Shorter.\nHe, in youth, was a person of observing, active mind, and hence by\nthe time he came to early manhood he had fairly prepared himself for\nthe position of school teacher. He took the college course in Selma\nUniversity, from which institution he graduated with the degree of A.\nB. in May, 1890. On May the 31st, of the same year, he was publicly\nand officially set apart to the work of the gospel ministry, Revs. M.\nTyler, C. L. Puree, C. L. Fisher, J. Q. A. Wilhite, R. T. Pollard, L.\nJ. Green, A. N. McEwen and the writer, officiating as presbytery. At\nthe time of this writing Mr. Hutchins is pastor at Gallion and also at\nNewberne. At both these points he has succeeded in leading his flocks\nto the erection of good church edifices. He is full of energy and pluck\nas well as of literary aspiration. Like O\u2019Bryant and other rising men\namong us, he is a _moving_ man, and has muscles as well as brains.\n\nHe is physically as well as mentally strong, and so, if wisdom,\nprudence and Providence shall continue to be his companions, a long\nlife, a growing life, a useful life, an honorable life is to be his.\n\nP. S.--Since writing the above Mr. Hutchins has been abundant in labors\nin building houses of worship at different points. Great physical\nstrength is proving to be a very convenient instrumentality under the\npowers of a strong mind.\n\n\nJackson, Rev. A. C., the son of Roderick and Ellen Jackson, was born\nin Pickens county, Alabama, December 13, 1848. He was baptized into\nthe African Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, Ala., by the late Rev. Prince\nMurrell.\n\nHe was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry at the request of\nthe Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, by Revs. J. R. Capers\n(one of the most worthy organizers of the Alabama work), Henry Wood\nand N. G. Scurlock. The writer first met Brother Jackson in Mobile,\nin 1875, in company with Rev. P. Murrell. His Birmingham work was\ncrowned with success. Beside what he did in the matter of increasing\nthe membership, he laid at the hand of his successor in the pastorate\nof the Sixteenth Street Church about $3,000 worth of salable land and\nthe present church site. He is accepted by his brethren as being an\nhonest, earnest, industrious, studious man, especially noted for his\nhospitality to his brethren. Beside the pastorate above mentioned, he\nhas been a builder and leader of other churches. He is now president\nof the Sunday School Convention of the Mt. Pilgrim Association and\nchairman of the Ministers\u2019 Conference of Birmingham. He has had sore\ntrials, but in all his changes his love for Jesus has been manifest to\nall.\n\n\nJackson, Rev. John W., pastor of the First Colored Baptist Church of\nEufaula, was born at Whitesville, Ga., about thirty years ago.\n\n_Educational Advantages._--He has enjoyed only such advantages as the\nfree public schools of Atlanta, Ga., afforded him, but because of his\nnative talent and studious application to the study of books, and his\nassociation with men of thought, he is possessed of a fair education.\nHis unassuming manner and happy, brotherly spirit win and hold for\nhim the love of his brethren in the ministry as well as the tender,\nconfiding respect of his flock.\n\nHe was led to faith in Christ in his sixteenth year. In December, 1890,\nhe was installed into the work and office of the gospel ministry by a\ncouncil, in which Revs. W. H. Tilman and E. J. Fisher, of Atlanta, Ga.,\nofficiated. He was called to labor in Alabama May, 1892. The Eufaula\nChurch, of which he is pastor, was organized about the year 1867, and\nis therefore one among the oldest churches in the State. This church\nbegan on the river bank in a little board shanty, but they now worship\nin a nice large frame building on a main street of the city. Mr.\nJackson follows in this pastorate Revs. J. Shorter, J. Q. A. Wilhite,\nG. W. Berry, Mr. Forbes, and Mr. Bassett; and he feels gratified with\nthe assurance that he leads a church from which have gone forth some of\nthe best people in the country. \u201c_Be thou strong, therefore, and show\nthyself a man._\u201d\n\n\nJackson, Rev. Dennis, of Tuscumbia, is an honest, industrious man who\nhas a large place in the love of his brethren.\n\n\nJames, Rev. Lewis D., son of James and Priscilla James, was born in\nSumter county, Ala., December 24, 1859. Baptized by Rev. A. Gordon, of\nGainesville, Ala., in August, 1875. Had limited educational advantages\nin youth, but has since his manhood increased his stock of information\nby study, in which labor he has been aided by Prof. E. D. Lord and Dr.\nA. F. Owens, of Mobile, and Dr. Pettiford, of Birmingham.\n\nHe was ordained to take charge of the Bethel Church at Warrior, Ala.,\nOctober, 1888, by Revs. A. C. Jackson, J. W. White, A. D. Jemison and\nW. R. Pettiford, D. D. His brethren of the Mount Pilgrim Association\nhave laid on him various positions of honor, such as president of the\nSunday School Convention, district missionary, etc.\n\n\nJames, Rev. Van B., pastor at Avondale, is a brother of Rev. L. D.\nJames. He is a progressive, industrious young man, whose breast is\nfilled with longings for a higher life for his people. His preaching is\ncharacterized by thought rather than by emotion. In all the interests\nof the devotion he shows himself substantially concerned.\n\n\nJohnson, Rev. Gabriel B., of Courtland, Ala., son of Beverly and Sophia\nJohnson, was born in King George county, Va., in 1849. Two years before\nthe beginning of our civil war, the subject of our sketch, with three\nother children and his mother, were brought to Alabama as slaves. He\nwas led to seek Christ in consequence of a revival conducted near\nCourtland by Revs. F. Bowman and S. Watkins. In 1867, in February, he\nwas baptized by a white brother. Shortly after his baptism, he began to\nspeak for Jesus in the public meetings under the authority of a license\nfrom his church. In 1873 he was solemnly set apart to the sacred office\nof the gospel ministry, Revs. G. Garrett, J. Belle, B. Swope and C. S.\nGibson officiating, after which he was called to the pastoral charge\nof the Courtland Church, in which capacity he now serves. His first\nmarriage was to Miss Millie Davis, daughter of Harry and Susan Davis.\nAs the fruit of this marriage, there were seven children born to him,\nfour of whom still live. In 1887, and some time after death had robbed\nhim of this good woman, he was wedded to Miss Mariah Jarman, daughter\nof John and S. Jarman, of Leighton, Ala.\n\nHe has had but poor educational advantages, but has used to\nconsiderable effect such as have come within his reach. He has had\nsome access to the free public schools and a few months in the Roger\nWilliams University, Nashville, Tenn.\n\nHe has been Sunday School missionary under the joint appointment of the\nMuscle Shoals Association and the American Baptist Publication Society,\nhas for several sessions assisted Prof. H. H. Stewart in the Courtland\npublic school, and is at present the moderator of the Muscle Shoals\nAssociation. He has the confidence and love of his brethren, and will\ndoubtless ascend into still greater things. Being physically strong,\nhe will be a young man for years to come. His kind manner and polite\ndisposition readily commend him to the favor of all persons who are\ninclined to be friendly, and hence a host of friends follow him with\ngood wishes.\n\n\nJohnson, Rev. Daniel, Oakland, Lauderdale county, Ala., son of Lewis\nand Martha Johnson, was born near Florence, Ala., November 11, 1844.\nBaptized by Rev. H. Beckwith in 1872. Ordained by Rev. H. Beckwith,\nThos. Bruhes and A. Davis, in January, 1880.\n\nBrother Johnson has been pastor of Zion No. 1 for some time past and is\na cheerful supporter of all the general enterprises of the denomination.\n\n\nJohnson, Rev. Richard, pastor of St. James Church, Birmingham, is one\nof our worthy pioneers, in the Macon county churches.\n\n[Illustration: Rev. J. H. Eason, A. B., Professor in Selma University.]\n\n\nJones, Rev. C. P., pastor Tabernacle Church, Selma, hails from\nArkansas. We have nothing of his history. He comes to us highly\nrecommended by those who knew him best, and so far he is making an\nexcellent impression in his praise. Beside his moral worth and fine\nintellectual talents he has other personal graces very rarely seen.\n\nThe writer loves especially his earnest devotion to his sacred\ncalling. He is of Georgia nativity, is about 27 years of age and is a\ngood scholar. He has been in Alabama only three months. What he has\naccomplished in books is proof that he is a man of studious habits.\n\nP. S.--Since the above was written Brother Jones has gone to\nMississippi, forcing from Alabama Baptists an acknowledgment of his\nexalted piety, child-like faith, sound sense and superior pulpit\npower. Brother Jones is now in Mississippi, still growing in grace and\npopularity.\n\n\nJones, Rev. Silas, of Mt. Meigs, Montgomery county, son of Jupiter\nand Caroline Jones, was born May 1, 1847. He was baptized into Elam\nChurch, May 1, 1866, by Rev. John Holmes, (white). Was ordained to\nthe work of the gospel ministry May 29, 1870, under the auspices of\nthe white Baptist Church, of Wetumpka, Ala., by Revs. A. Carleton, J.\nCole and Thomas Smith. The writer first met Brother Jones in Mobile\nin 1875--has been with him in his pastorates at Wetumpka, at Sandy\nRidge, at Mt. Meigs and at Calhoun. He did not learn the alphabet until\nafter he was about 18 years of age, and hence his very manly struggles\nfor a knowledge of books have not been attended with the perfection\nwhich comes of early training. But he is a man of natural ability and\nrare tact, and what he knows is most thoroughly utilized. His home\nChristianity includes a system of regular Bible study for children as\nwell as for hired help. He is an exemplary pastor. He is an industrious\nBible student and preaches the truth with telling effect. His urbanity\nand other elements of personal magnetism bind his people about him with\nstrongest cords of confidence and affection. No one man has done more\nfor the education of his people than he, as the schools at Mt. Meigs\nand Calhoun must show. Brother Jones is still young and strong and\npromises a long life. He has good property. His family does him honor.\nHe is a strong man and coming days will give him the honors due him as\na man great in service for home and country.\n\n\nJones, Rev. Pope, of Russellville, was born near Tuscumbia, Ala., June\n15, 1839. He was baptized some time between 1862 and 1866, and was\nset apart to the work of the gospel ministry in 1869 by Revs. Joseph\nShackelford, D. D. (white), and W. E. Northcross. Brother Jones was\nin many respects a very remarkable man--no man in the Muscle Shoals\nAssociation, no man in Northern Alabama, had so much power over the\nmasses of the ministry and the great body of the laity as he. He was\nan executive man and a natural magnet, and men gathered about him and\ncheerfully submitted themselves to the sway of his opinions. He was\nas affable as he was firm, as joyous as he was earnest. He peaceably\npassed from this life in 1888.\n\n\nJones, Rev. Wm. B., of Demopolis, was born in 1847 in Marengo\ncounty, Ala. Was baptized June 16, 1867, by Rev. John Scott. He has\naccomplished some work in the churches.\n\n\nKennedy, Rev. F. R., of Columbiana, was born December 20, 1864, in\nthis State. He was baptized at Calera by the Rev. Henry Clay in 1881,\nand in 1886 he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by\nRevs. P. Fancher and John Tranholm. Mr. Kennedy at the age of 18 did\nnot know his letters, but perceiving at an early age the value of book\nlearning he resolved at the time named to attain to some knowledge on\nthis line. He has availed himself of such facilities and opportunities\nas have fallen in his way, and in consequence he now reads and writes\nfairly well. No doubt much of his advancement and general success are\ndue to the knowledge, aspiration and persistence of Mrs. Kennedy, whose\neducational advantages have been superior to her husband\u2019s. Brother\nKennedy has been pastor in his own town, in Birmingham, at Calera, and\nnow he preaches in Anniston.\n\n\nKennedy, Rev. Samuel, once pastor Union Church, Mobile, is one of those\nunassuming, modest, friendly men whose heart pours forth in kindness\nupon everybody. Like many others his chief misfortune is that he bears\nthe marks which declare his want of early school advantages. However,\nhe deserves praise for many good qualities and commendable labors.\n\n\nKing, Rev. Boling, of Leighton, Ala., was born in Orange county, Va.,\nAugust, 1836. He was converted to faith in Christ under the ministry of\nRev. Henry Bynum, by whom, aided by Dr. Shackleford, he was baptized\ninto the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church near Leighton. In 1868, in same\nchurch and by the same brethren, he was solemnly set apart to the work\nof the gospel ministry. Though he never attended school he can read and\nwrite, and is a natural leader. He is pastor of some of the largest\nchurches in the Muscle Shoals Association. He is an industrious,\nhonorable man and has accumulated about $1,700 worth of real estate. He\nis one of the pioneers of the work in this section of Alabama. He is\nstill of youthful vigor and leads in the Sunday School the same as in\nthe church.\n\n\nKoyton, Prof. Abner C., of Tuscaloosa, son of Henry and Susan Koyton,\nwas born in Marietta, Ga., but was reared in Summerfield, Ala. Mr.\nKoyton graduated from the State Normal School, Marion, Ala., in\n1880, and delivered the first annual address to the alumni of this\ninstitution.\n\nUnder his principalship, and on his plans, so the writer is informed,\nthe city schools (colored) of Tuscaloosa began to operate under their\npresent graded system. He is now just inaugurating the Tuscaloosa\nBaptist Academy. He is young, but studious and progressive. His youth\nis dignified by his gravity and piety.\n\n\nLawson, Rev. A. J., of Camden, son of Mr. A. and Mrs. Julia Lawson,\nis doing a good work at Camden. His chief educational advantages have\ncome of the Camden schools, and what he has accomplished in the way of\nletters, is evidence of his vigilance and application with reference\nto the opportunities which came to his hand. He was baptized by Rev.\nDavid Small, of Clark county, in 1886, two years after which time he\nwas set apart to the work of the gospel ministry at Camden by order of\nthe Camden Church, which was then under the pastoral care of Rev. J. W.\nWhite. His labors are well spoken of by his brethren.\n\n\nLawson, Rev. A., of Union Springs, the pastor of Mount Pleasant Church,\nnow about 45 years of age, is one of the leading men of the \u201cOld Pine\nGrove Association.\u201d Like most of the men of his time, his education has\nbeen hindered. However, he is a very clear-headed man and, having a\nlarge following, has done much good in Bullock county.\n\n\nLeavens, Rev. Charles, the man who led to the erection of the brick\nstructure in which the St. Louis Street Church now worships, was of\nVirginia nativity, and was born about 1805. The writer is of the\nopinion that no man in Alabama did so much in pioneer days to organize\nthe Negro Baptists in the State as Mr. Leavens. At the close of the\nwar he was not ordained, but was the most enterprising, pushing,\nsanguine and influential man in his church. Naturally, therefore, the\nwork of guiding the flock fell upon his shoulders. As he could not get\nordination of his white brethren, he sought it in New Orleans. Finding\nhimself now possessed with the commission of a gospel minister, he\nsought to touch and commission men for the other cities and towns of\nthe State. The Rev. Philip Gambrell was ordained about the same time.\nCalling in this man\u2019s services and assistance, Mr. Leavens ordained\nMessrs. P. Murrell, of Tuscaloosa; J. Bleavens, of Selma; James\nCaldwell, of Demopolis; the writer, and a great company of others, who\nwent out into the various sections of the State to organize the people\ninto churches. Of course, as might have been expected, he sometimes put\nout the wrong man, but it was a time to do and dare. His excuse for\nhasty action was: \u201cThis is a peculiar time whose peculiar circumstances\ncall for bold methods.\u201d His chief questions to applicants were: \u201cCan\nyou and do you read the Bible? Do you believe it, pray about it, and\npractice its teachings? Are you a good, whole Baptist? Are you a\nrepublican?\u201d\n\n\nLeach, Rev. James, of Birmingham, son of Alfred and Elizabeth Leach,\nwas born July 16, 1832, in Marengo county, Ala. In 1846 he was baptized\nby the Rev. Mr. Fox, of Uniontown, and on November 26, 1867, in the\nAfrican Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa, he was set apart to the work of\nthe gospel ministry by Revs. P. Murrell, P. Bowler and James Caldwell.\n\nIn 1855 he was married to Miss Mary Martin. He was once pastor of the\nAfrican Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, and one time presided over the\nBethlehem Association (organized in 1877) as moderator. Mr. Leach has\nheld various pastorates, is a hospitable man, and has a very pleasant\nfamily.\n\nThe writer has often found--when weary and sick--a pleasing and\ninvigorating refuge within the quiet home of these good people.\n\n\nLeftwich, John C., of Montgomery, once editor and now manager of the\n_Baptist Leader_, is noted especially for energy and independence. He\nis, at the time of this writing, temperance lecturer for the State of\nAlabama under the \u201cNational Temperance Society.\u201d Doubtless he inherits\nhis push and ambition from his father, who was at one time a member\nof the Alabama legislature. He is quite a young man, and if wisdom\nshall rule over his purposes and plans in years to come, he will write\nhimself upon the men and the occasions of future years.\n\n\nLewis, Rev. C., is pastor of Macedonia Church, Birmingham. He appears\nready for any good word and work.\n\n\nLooney, Rev. J. T., of Fayetteville, Talladega county, was born\nin Coosa county, Alabama, May 2, 1847. He was baptized into the\nFayetteville Church by Rev. Berry Ware in 1867, and in 1885 he was set\napart to the work of the ministry by Rev. H. Morris and others. At the\ntime of this writing Mr. Looney is pastor at Alpine. He is a quiet and\nunassuming man, ever friendly to education and missions, and hospitable\ntoward his brethren.\n\n\nLofton, Rev. J. B., is pastor at Smithfield, near Birmingham.\n\n\nLovelady, Rev. C. L., of Hollywood, Jackson county, is noted among his\nbrethren for his interest in missions and education. He followed Rev.\nLewis Roach in the moderatorship of the Mud Creek Association. He helps\nin the building of churches, and is a liberal supporter of schools.\n\n\nLow, Rev. Green, of Livingston, is one of the most matter-of-fact sort\nof men with whom the writer has ever had any business. No man can\nbeat him wearing his whole heart right on his face. He is uncovered,\noutspoken and fearless, and yet all seems so natural, so honest and so\nkind, until what would otherwise appear hard and ungenial, is really\nenjoyable. Mr. Low is among the leaders of the Bethlehem Association.\n\n[Illustration: Miss A. L. Bowman, Missionary, Birmingham, Ala.]\n\n\nMcAlpine, Rev. W. H., at present teacher of Ministers\u2019 and Deacons\u2019\nInstitute, under the appointment of the Southern Baptist Mission\nBoard, was born in Buckingham county, Virginia, June, 1847. At the\nage of three years, he, his mother and a younger brother were brought\nto this state by a \u201cNegro speculator,\u201d who sold them to a Rev. Robert\nMcAlpine, of Coosa county. At the age of 8 years and on the occasion\nof the death of this Presbyterian minister, he became the property\n(?) of Dr. McAlpine, with whom he remained till the close of the war.\nIn this family he was the nurse of the white children for about ten\nyears. As Mrs. Dr. McAlpine was very anxious and cautious as to the\nquality of the first moulding influences touching the childhood of her\nchildren, and as the schools around were hardly up to her ideal, she\nhad her children instructed at home. As the nurse\u2019s position placed\nhim and kept him in constant association with the children, and as\nhe was possessed of a literary turn of mind, he soon began to imbibe\na knowledge of letters, advancing into reading, writing, grammar,\ngeography and arithmetic. From 1855 to 1874 he saw nothing of his\nmother, and for sixteen years of this time did not know where she\nwas. Naturally this incident started a train of serious reflections\ntouching the facts and hopes of human life. About the year 1864 or\n1865 he was converted to Christianity and some time after was baptized\ninto the Talladega Church (white) by his friend, Dr. Renfroe. At the\nclose of the war Mr. McAlpine first worked at the carpenters\u2019 trade,\nwhich he left for school teaching. In the winter of 1866 he entered the\nTalladega College, supporting himself by laboring during the morning\nand evening hours--before the opening and after the close of the\nschool. In 1873 he severed his connection with this institution, having\nbeen aroused to undertake the establishment of a similar institution\nfor his own denomination. In 1871 he was ordained to the work of the\ngospel ministry, and accepted a call to the pastorate of the Mt. Canaan\nBaptist Church, Talladega, which he resigned in 1875 in order to give\nhis whole time to his school project.\n\nTo no man in Alabama has been committed trusts more varied and more\nweighty. While connected with the Talladega College he occupied the\nposition of State canvasser under the appointment of Mr. Cravath. He\nhas been pastor at Talladega, Jacksonville, Marion and Anniston, and\npresident of Selma University. His special excellence is not of that\nmental style which gives birth to fine psychological and metaphysical\ndiscernments and distinctiveness: it is that sort of mental something\nwhich strikes with broad side and ponderous weight. The breadth of his\nrear head would seem to indicate that all his faculties are driven\nforward by a force that starts from a broad base. The writer first met\nDr. McAlpine in Mobile, in November, 1874, the year following that in\nwhich he brought forward, at the Tuscaloosa session of the Convention,\nhis school idea. My first impression of him was that he was a man of\nspecial mission, and I immediately sympathized with him and with the\nschool project, throwing myself fully into line with his plans.\n\nIn referring to his childhood life, and while talking with reference\nto the power of secret prayer, he once remarked to the writer: \u201cUpon\none occasion, though without my knowledge, Dr. McAlpine had resolved\nto punish me for a trivial matter on my part which had caused him some\ndispleasure. I had gone to feed the horses, and in the crib I was on\nmy knees at prayer. The doctor had followed me with his whip. I was\nnot aware of his presence or purpose, and hence as he did not speak I\ngot through with my prayer and fed my horse and returned to the house.\nI learned afterward that my prayer had subdued him, and that he had\nexpressed himself as being ashamed of his purpose.\u201d\n\nAlluding once to some mistakes he had made, he observed: \u201cWe grow wiser\nas we grow older.\u201d He has been happily married twice. By his last wife\nhe has a large family of beautiful and promising children. The Rivers\nfamily, into which he married, are a people of very sterling qualities,\nand no doubt these happy associations have conduced to his success in\nall regards.\n\nThe act of the University in conferring upon him the honorary title\nof D. D. is evidence of the high esteem in which he is held by the\ntrustees and faculty of the school. He is now theological instructor in\nthe school and is supported by the Southern Board.\n\n\nMcAlpine, F. Percy, son of J. D. and Jane McAlpine, was born August 1,\n1865, in Forkland, Ala. He entered the world amid that good heritage\nwhich can come only of the exemplary life of parents. Though his early\nlife was spent on the farm, his youthful days were blessed with some\neducational facilities, which his discerning, appreciative mind turned\nto good advantage. After completing primary grades in his home schools,\nhe, against the wish of his mother and protest of brothers, entered\nthe State Normal School at Marion, Ala., with only $15 to begin the\ncourse of study prescribed. The next year he entered Selma University,\nstudying during the school session and teaching in summer till 1888,\nwhen his mother, his only support since the death of his father, fell\nasleep. He says of this time of struggle:\n\n\u201cI owe a lasting debt of gratitude to President Purce, who never left\nme without an encouragement which it was possible for him to bestow.\u201d\n\nIn 1890 while in his junior college year, financial straits forced him\nto give up study and go out to work. Applying for the principalship\nof the Bessemer City School, he made an almost perfect mark in his\nexamination and obtained the position. While in this capacity, aided\nby Mr. J. C. Barker, he edited a paper known as \u201c_The Marvel Age_.\u201d In\n1893, he and Mr. Barker operated a bookstore.\n\nThe writer knows but few young men who equal Mr. McAlpine in modesty,\nindustry, courage, push and beauty of moral character. An honorable\nfuture awaits him, and of friends he shall have many. Talented and\nstudious, he must still advance in scholarship. He became a member\nof the Missionary Baptist Church in 1885, and lives according to his\nprofession. He expects to complete his university course in 1896.\n\n\nMcEwen, Rev. A. N., pastor of Franklin Street Church, Mobile,\nlately editor of the _Baptist Leader_, is a native of the State of\nMississippi, where he was born April, 1849. When he was about 18 years\nof age he went to Nashville, Tenn., in search of better things than\nthose to which slavery had introduced him. Here he entered the Roger\nWilliams University, remaining only a very short while. Here also he\nfound and wedded a wife. Being controlled by industry and economy he\nsoon saved enough from his small wages to purchase a horse and wagon.\nThis was the first of a series of financial successes by means of which\nhe soon rose above poverty and want into comfortable circumstances for\nhimself and family. While attending the services of Mt. Zion Church in\nNashville in 1870 he was led to faith in Christ which he professed by\nreceiving baptism.\n\nShortly after he began religious work, and in 1876 he was ordained\nto take charge of the pastorate at Tullahoma, Tenn. Five or six\nyears after this he came to Alabama to take charge of the Dexter\nAvenue Church. Mr. McEwen, since his entrance into Alabama, has been\nintimately connected with all our state operations, educational and\nmissionary, and no man among us has been more successful as a church\nfinancier. He has bestowed special care upon the education of his\nchildren, all of whom he has reared for the most part without their\nmother\u2019s aid, as she died when they were young. The Dexter Avenue\nChurch building was constructed under his leadership.\n\nMcCall, Rev. E. A., at present pastor in Columbus, Ga., the son of Rev.\nH. A. McCall, was born May 15, 1855, in Russell county, Alabama. In\n1872 he was baptized into the Hawkinsville Baptist Church by the hands\nof his father. In September, in the twentieth year of his age, he was\nset apart to the work of the gospel ministry by Revs. A. Gachet, S.\nFantroy, J. Daniel, J. H. Davis and H. A. McCall. It will be seen that\nhe entered the sacred office at a very early age--at an age rather\nsoon in most cases--rather early for the good of the minister as well\nas for the good of the people and the cause. But though in youth he\nwas possessed of very poor educational advantages, by talent, push,\ncourage, ambition, observation and application to books, he has made\nsurprising advances. He is strictly a self-made man. He speaks with\nease and performs well on the organ.\n\nHe has had a wide range of operation, having been pastor at different\ntimes of eleven different churches, some of them equaling the best\npastorates in the country. Among them the church at Union Springs may\nbe mentioned. No man in Alabama is more companionable than he.\n\n\nMcCord, Rev. C., of Selma, was set apart to the work of the gospel\nministry by the St. Phillip Street Church while the writer was pastor\nin 1884. He started the study of books late in life, but by associating\nwith men of advanced ideas and close application to books he is now\nconsiderably ahead of the masses of the ministry. He is a sober,\njudicious man, peaceable and ever ready for work.\n\n\nMaddox, Rev. J. D., the son of Daniel and Tabitha Maddox, was born in\nBarbour county, Ala., near Midway, in 1854. His father was sold away\nfrom him when he was only three days old, and his mother when he was\nthree years old, and hence he came up without knowing anything either\nof father or mother.\n\nThis friendless condition early impressed him with the desire to obtain\nthe friendship of God, which in his eleventh year, he sought and found.\nHe was baptized into the Rama Church by the Rev. Mr. VanHoose (white)\nduring the same year.\n\nIn his seventeenth year, a desire to read books came into his mind. By\ngood fortune, he came into possession of 25 cents which he invested in\na \u201cblue back speller.\u201d In order that his book and purpose might not\ncome to the notice of the white people he decided that he would tear\nout and learn one leaf at the time. Thus he began to spell, aided by a\nmore fortunate fellow slave. The widow of a Baptist minister encouraged\nhim with the statement that if he could read she would give him a hymn\nbook and a Bible. On _one_ Sabbath he learned the Ten Commandments.\nDoubtless he owes much of his success to his excellent wife, who is\nno less enterprising than she is devout and faithful. He said to the\nwriter: \u201cMy wife _makes_ me study.\u201d\n\nIn 1879 at the call of the Friendship Baptist Church of Barbour county,\nhe was set apart to the ministry by Revs. J. Shorter, A. Gachet and E.\nAlexander. Brother Maddox is a good man, a faithful preacher, and a\nsuccessful builder--a leading man in the Eufaula Association, and is as\ngentle as a woman, and simple hearted as a child.\n\n[Illustration: Rev. M. Tyler, D. D., Lowndesboro, Ala.]\n\n\nMaderson, Rev. William, of Greensboro, was born in Virginia in 1849,\nand came to Alabama in 1866. In the fall of 1872 he was baptized into\nthe Second Baptist Church at Marion, Ala., and in the following year\nbegan to enter upon the work of the ministry, speaking in public as he\nhad opportunity. While the Convention was in session in Marion in 1880,\nthe hands of ordination were laid upon his head by order of the Marion\nChurch, and by the same presbytery that ordained Dr. Pettiford. He\nspent some time in study in the Selma University, under the presidency\nof the late Rev. Harry Woodsmall. Mr. Maderson is a man of fine natural\ngifts which, considering his early, meagre advantages, have been well\ndeveloped. He is remarkably capacitated for imbibing what is pure and\nelevating in good men and good books. He is dearly beloved no less\nfor his stainless character than for his refinement and wisdom. After\nserving various other important pastorates, he was called to the pulpit\nof the Salem Church at Greensboro, where he now serves with success,\ngreatly increasing the membership and purchasing a neat parsonage.\nFor the past seven or eight years he has been the moderator of the\nUniontown Association--the largest Association in the State. Should he\ncontinue as he has begun, coming years must increase his power with God\nand man.\n\n\nMerrell, Rev. Mason C., of Fort Deposit, son of M. C. and Harriet\nMerrell, was born in Dallas county, Ala., June 26, 1849. As his parents\nwere poor, he was apprenticed to the Rev. H. Talbird, D. D., of said\ncounty, who sent him to the schools of the neighborhood. By such\nmeans he was early placed in conditions where he was able to lay the\nfoundation of a liberal English education. Much of Mr. Merrell\u2019s time\nfor many years has been spent in teaching in the State schools. The\nmoney thus earned has been a supplement to the meagre support given\nhim by the small churches of which he is the efficient pastor. He was\nbaptized into the fellowship of the Carlowville Church October, 1867,\nby the hands of his benefactor. In 1879 he was set apart to the work\nof the gospel ministry in the city of Montgomery, Revs. J. A. Foster,\nW. J. Stevens, Wm. Jinkins and R. Aarons officiating as presbytery.\nBrother Merrell is a sociable, genial companion, a careful speaker, an\nearnest Christian, and a firm believer in missions and education. On\nall the moral questions of the times he is as straight as a shingle.\nHe, by his various pastorates, is associated with the Alabama District\nand the Union Associations, and in both bodies he is held in high\nesteem by all the thoughtful and pious persons.\n\nIndeed, he is respected by all who know him, white and black. Because\nof his quietness and sunshine, as well as for his musical talent and\nskill, he is in special demand at our annual and extra meetings.\n\n\nMurrell, Rev. Prince.--Rev. Prince Murrell was born in Savannah, Ga.,\nJanuary 1, 1817. His mother, who descended of a Congo prince, was born\nin Providence, R. I. His father was the son of an Englishman, of the\nname of Murrell. Some of his youthful years were spent with his parents\nin South Carolina. In the year 1838, his mother with seven children, he\nbeing the youngest, moved to Tuscaloosa, Ala. At this time no member of\nthe family knew anything of the Christian life. In 1839 his mother was\nbaptized, which incident excited such serious impressions in her son as\nresulted in his baptism in August, 1842. About this time he began to\nspeak and exhort as he had opportunity. At the close of the war he had\nbeen a member of the Tuscaloosa Church (white) about ten years, and was\nthe only colored Baptist preacher in Tuscaloosa. This brother has had\na rather remarkable career. In the year 1855 he bought his freedom,\nand in 1856 started to Liberia, Africa, going as far as Savannah,\nGa. His aspiration for liberty, his unaided toiling for the mastery\nof letters and books, his tact and perseverance in organizing the\ncolored Baptists of his section into churches and associations, and his\nsuccess in accumulating property with many other things, mark him as no\nordinary man. His marriage to Miss Mary Drisdell in the year 1842, was\nno doubt largely conducive to his energy and success, for she--even up\ninto old age--was a woman of strength and industry. The first colored\nschool ever taught in Tuscaloosa was taught by him, and taught at a\ntime when to teach a colored school was to put one\u2019s life at the muzzle\nof the shot gun. Touching this phase of work, he related to the writer\nthe following stories: \u201cWhen we were just set at liberty I went to a\nwhite Baptist who had in times of slavery shown himself friendly toward\nblack people, and said, \u2018Mr. S----, we need a school teacher, can\u2019t\nwe secure you?\u2019 He replied, \u2018Do you think I would disgrace myself by\nteaching a negro school? Besides this, it would be only throwing into\nthe waste my time, my talent and my strength. I might as well drive\ninto a room a drove of sheep or a herd of swine, and put books before\nthem as to put books before kinky-headed nigger children.\u2019\n\n\u201cOn one occasion, two white men who had come into town to bring a\nprisoner, walked into my school room with their ropes and chains in\nhand, and teacher and school, feeling sure that the ropes and chains\nwere for their necks, were so dismayed as to excite the pity of the\ndreaded visitors, and they sought to remove our fears and to encourage\nus to continue on in our good way.\u201d\n\nSpeaking of the organization of colored churches in the South, he\nremarked to the writer: \u201cI was in Savannah when the white people were\ndiscussing the propriety of organizing colored churches.\u201d He opened the\nfirst Sunday School for colored people in the city of Tuscaloosa the\nfirst Sunday in December, 1866. He claimed to owe most of his success\nin the study of divine truth to the Rev. Chas. Manly. On July 1 he\norganized the African Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa with 25 members. As\nhe did not begin reading till he was 22 years old he was not faultless\nin his mastery of the English language, but was a good speaker,\nself-possessed and ready in words. Mr. Murrell was one of the leading\nfathers of the Alabama work. His children were a pride to him in his\nold age.\n\nIn the last years of his life he spoke tenderly of his old mistress\nwho encouraged him to learn to read, and of his maiden mistress, who\nin many ways saved him from oppression and aided him in securing his\nliberty.\n\nSince the above sketch was commenced Mr. Murrell and his good wife have\nexchanged the cross for the crown.\n\n\nNichols, Rev. James, of Greenville, moderator and missionary of the\nUnion Association, was born in Virginia May 10, 1842, and was brought\nto Alabama September, 1856, locating at Selma, where he joined the\nchurch and was baptized by the Rev. Mr. McCraw, who was then pastor\nboth of the colored and of the white churches of that city. At this\ntime, as the dates will show, he was a young man. It was in this same\nchurch and city that he began the work of the ministry during the days\nof slavery.\n\nHis first marriage was to Miss Emma Allison, of Dallas county. The\nfruit of this marriage was two sons and one daughter, neither of whom\nis now living. His present wife has two living children. He has an\nhumble home of his own.\n\nMr. Nichols is a man of energy, industry and decision of character;\nhe has opinions and has the courage to express them. No man has any\ntrouble in times of controversy to locate him, and yet in his rulings\nas presiding officer of the above named association, the writer has\nseen evidences of prudence and commendable flexibility.\n\nHis early life was robbed of literary environments, and hence he is not\nan extensive reader of books; but his knowledge of things is superior\nto many whose advantages have been far better than his have been. He\nsays that he knew absolutely nothing of letters till since the close\nof the war, when he had a little opportunity to attend night school at\nUniontown.\n\nHe was ordained in 1873 at Georgiana, Butler county, by Revs. Dan\nShepard, Nelson Briggs, Jesse Holens and others, and he has done a good\nwork in his section.\n\n\nNorthcross, Rev. W. E., of Tuscumbia, Colbert county, was born in\nColbert county, Ala., in 1840, and ordained to the gospel ministry in\n1867 by Rev. Mr. Slater (white) and Rev. Henry Bynum.\n\nMr. Northcross is strictly a pioneer. He, Rev. Stephen Coleman and Rev.\nHenry Bynum, aided by Dr. Joseph Shackleford (white) laid down the\nfoundation stones in Morgan, Franklin, Colbert, Lauderdale and Lawrence\ncounties.\n\nHe is a peculiar man. He is a man of very positive nature--with him it\nis yea and amen.\n\nTo those who do not know him as well as to those who vacillate and\npretend, his sternness is repelling. But behind and below external\nappearances there is a heart that is as tender as it is brave, and as\nkind as it is firm. Except a little time spent in the Roger Williams\nUniversity, he has had no school advantages, but he reads and writes\nfairly well.\n\nThe Tuscumbia, Barton and Sheffield churches were built up under his\nlabors. In the formation of the Muscle Shoals Association at Tuscumbia\nin 1869, he was one of the leading spirits. He relates the following\nincidents:\n\n\u201cBefore the close of the war I was captured by the Federal troops and\ncarried to Decatur, where I joined their army. As I had a crippled foot\nI was allowed to remain with the commissary department. While we were\ncamped at Athens, General Forest came upon us and defeated, captured\nand killed until we were almost literally wiped out of existence. I\nhad been kind to some little white children by which I had won their\nlove and, of course, the love of their parents. Therefore, in the time\nof danger, I rushed to this house, and the good people hid me and\nchanged my clothes. Hence when I was found, I was taken for one of the\ngentleman\u2019s slaves. When I was permitted by the man to try to return\nto Tuscumbia and had gone some distance, I was caught by deserters\nfrom the Southern army, who voted to shoot me. They bound me and kept\nme over night, intending to do away with me the next day. It was in a\nlonely desert on the Tennessee river. I could not sleep, and so all\nnight I prayed to God, and all night the wives of the men prayed for\n\u201cthe poor nigger\u201d--prayed to their cruel husbands. Their cries and\ntears prevailed, and I was robbed and let go after I had vowed not\nto reveal their whereabouts. I left loving God and believing in his\nfaithfulness to his people as I had never done before.\u201d\n\nFor years Mr. Northcross has been the trusted treasurer of the Muscle\nShoals Association. He is the pastor of the largest church, and has the\nbest edifice, in northern Alabama.\n\n\nOden, Rev. M. C. B., of Sylacauga, was born in Charleston, S. C.,\nDecember 24, 1839. He was baptized by Rev. J. J. D. Renfroe, D. D.,\nin September, 1865, and in 1873 he was set apart to the work of the\ngospel ministry, Rev. W. Wilks, and others, officiating as presbytery.\nHe, in speaking of the rise of the work in this section, says: \u201cI came\nfrom South Carolina in 1858, a Methodist. There were nineteen or twenty\nother slaves on our place beside myself. I, and one other, professed\nto be Christians. The master of the place permitted us to hold prayer\nservices, and allowed the slaves of his kin people to attend. The\nLord blessed these meetings and at the close of the war this humble\nbeginning was ready to unfold into the Harpersville Church. At the\nclose of the war, I began to teach night and Sunday Schools, and thus\nintroduced the study of letters, though in the Sunday School as well\nas in the night school, we had nothing but the \u2018blue back speller.\u2019\u201d\nBrother Oden is an honorable, outspoken, industrious, prosperous man,\nwhose hospitality is known far and wide. His home has often been an\nasylum of rest to the writer, as well as to other missionaries of\nAlabama of all denominations.\n\n[Illustration: Mrs. Rebecca Pitts, Member Board of Trustees Woman\u2019s\nState Convention, Uniontown, Ala.]\n\n\nO\u2019Bryant, Rev. L. F., of Eufaula, the son of Frederick and Rose\nO\u2019Bryant, was born on the Dent plantation in Barbour county, Ala., in\nthe year 1860. In 1879 he was converted to the faith of the gospel\nunder the preaching of Rev. Jerry Shorter, and was baptized into the\nPleasant Grove Baptist Church. At the call of the above named church,\nhe was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry in 1885 by Revs.\nJ. Q. A. Wilhite, A. Gachet, J. D. Maddox, E. May and J. A. Alston, of\nArkansas. Notwithstanding his educational advantages have been very\nmeagre, he has, by constant study and observation, advanced to a fair\nknowledge of books. He is a loving husband, a successful pastor, a\nstrong preacher, a genial associate, and carries sunshine everywhere.\nThe writer was associated with him for some weeks in the institute work\nat Eufaula, and was truly delighted with his urbanity and innocent\nwit. He is a young man of hopeful prospects--if his present wise\ncourse should continue to the end. His father before him is a Baptist\nminister, whose life is held in high esteem, and hence the subject\nof this sketch comes into his public career having his own excellent\npersonal graces savored by the good name of his revered ancestor.\n\n\nOwens, Rev. A. J., of Moulton, is an ex-student of Selma University;\nhe is an agreeable companion, a kind father, an orderly thinker and a\nforcible preacher. The writer has greatly enjoyed the hospitalities of\nhis home and the abundance of his good humor.\n\n\nOwens, Rev. Albert Franklyn, editor of the _Baptist Leader_ and pastor\nat Mobile, was born in Wilcox county, Ala., January 1, 1854. Early\nin life he left Alabama for Louisiana, in which state he was led to\nexercise faith in the Son of God and was baptized into Little Mt. Zion\nChurch by the Rev. G. Stemley, of Avoyelles Parish. In April, 1873,\nhe was licensed to enter upon the work of the gospel ministry. At the\ncall of the Third Baptist Church, Mobile, Ala., he was ordained to\nthe functions of the ministerial office by the Common Street Baptist\nChurch, New Orleans, La., May 28, 1877, by a council of which Rev.\nMarsena Stone, D. D., of Ohio, was chairman, and Rev. A. M. Newman was\nsecretary. His longest and hitherto most prosperous pastorate has been\nwith the church who called for his ordination, and whom he led to the\npurchase of their neat brick edifice on St. Anthony street.\n\nBeginning with them in the spring of 1887, he left them for Uniontown,\nSeptember, 1890, in excellent quarters and free from debt. This he did\nat such patient self-sacrifice as may be found in only a very few men\nof his age.\n\nIn 1873 he entered Leland University, New Orleans, where he remained\nfour years pursuing the classical and theological courses under Drs.\nGregory and Stone.\n\nWhile in Louisiana he was engaged in teaching school and was intimately\nassociated with the general Baptist work, being at one time editor of\ntheir state organ, the _Baptist Messenger_. In 1884-85 he was editor\nof the _Baptist Pioneer_, located at Selma, Ala., and has served as\ngeneral superintendent of missions for the State of Alabama. For many\nyears he has been on the Board of Trustees of Selma University, and in\nrecognition of his solid worth and general information he is now the\nbearer of our denominational standard.\n\nMr. Owens is a typical, Christian gentleman. No other man among us\nhas a library so select, so varied and so valuable as he has, nor has\nany man in Alabama a clearer evidence of literary talent and literary\nrelish. He is a many-sided man, and the beauty of his solid personal\nqualities is greatly enhanced by his indigenous vivacity, unstinted\nhospitality, and perennial benevolence. In the hovels of the poor and\nin the times of the sources of disease, no man among us is more welcome\nthan he, neither is there one of his brethren whose duty renders more\nheedless of danger or blind to personal privations and material losses.\nWhether he builds houses of worship, preaches, lectures, teaches,\nwrites--whatever may be the engagement of the hour, that engagement\nfocuses the whole man. The following incidents will show something\nof the style of his mind: On one occasion when severely tried in\nadministering discipline, and when he had allowed his feelings of\nindignation to run too high, he was so distressed that for many nights\nsleep almost entirely forsook him. The writer overheard him on this\noccasion, saying, \u201cAgainst thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done\nthis evil in thy sight.\u201d\n\nUpon another occasion in the midst of a session of the Convention, and\nas one of the policemen of the town walked in and was seated, he arose\nand remarked: \u201cBrother president, I see in our assembly a policeman\nof the city in which we are convened. I think this a fit time to\ngive notice to any who may feel inclined to be unruly that they must\nobserve good order or I\u2019ll have them arrested.\u201d This came in just at a\ncondition of the meeting when a bit of humor was just the thing most\nneeded.\n\nThe St. Anthony Street Church, Mobile, is a tangible memorial of his\nenergy, self-sacrifice and patient industry. Beside the pastorate of\nthe St. Anthony Street Church (the Third Baptist), he has served in the\npastorate of the Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, and in the pastorate of the\nchurch at Uniontown.\n\nHis speeches are characterized by originality, clearness, force and\ndignity. He is still a growing man--growing in worth of manhood and\nin the confidence and love of the denomination; and should his health\nand life continue, the historian who will write of a brighter day than\nthis--a day not far in the future--will point with pride to this man of\nrare gifts, giving more space than is here accorded him. With special\npleasure the writer records the name of Albert F. Owens, D. D., high\nupon the roll of his personal friends.\n\nAnd this short notice of a worthy man can hardly close at a point of\ngreater beauty than in an humble tribute to his other self, Mrs. Mary\nMims Owens (once Mrs. Taylor), whom he wedded in 1882, and who is held\nin high esteem as a leader in church and educational circles.\n\n\nPettiford, Rev. W. R., D. D., son of William and Matilda Pettiford,\nwas born in Granville county, N. C., January 20, 1847. He was, when a\nboy, of an industrious turn of mind, working faithfully at whatever his\nhands found to do. At one time he was with the tanner, and at another\ntime he was running his father\u2019s farm.\n\nAt the age of 21 years he united with the Baptist Church of Rocksboro,\nPerson county, N. C., and was immersed by the Rev. Ezekiel Horton,\nof Salisbury. While he was serving this church as clerk, he told his\nmother, as a secret which he greatly desired she would not reveal, that\nhe felt called to the gospel ministry. As Brother Horton often put\nup at their home he soon got possession of the secret. Dr. Pettiford\nnow says: \u201cWhen I was called into an examining council and learned\nthat my secret was out, I was very much frightened; but the advice\ngiven upon this day has ever been helpful to me.\u201d The writer met the\nsubject of this sketch for the first time at the session of the State\nConvention held in Talladega in November, 1876. He and the late Senator\nA. H. Curtis were messengers from the church at Marion. At this time\nthe only traits that were especially noticeable were the frankness of\nhis countenance and the geniality of his manners. At the commencement\nof Selma University in the winter of 1877-78, he joined Brother\nWoodsmall, becoming a member of the pioneer faculty of the school.\nIt was here that he was seen as the studious, patient, industrious\nman--loved no less by tender youth than he was trusted by riper years.\nHe was called to ordination by the Marion Church, Marion, Ala., and\ndedicating hands were laid upon his head in Marion, Ala., in the midst\nof the conventional session held there in November, 1880. After this\nhe severed his connection with the school as teacher and as financial\nagent, to enter the pastorate in Union Springs. His open, earnest face,\ntact, and urbanity of speech, made him one of the most successful\nfinancial agents the University has ever sent upon the field. He\nrelates the following incident in connection with his field work for\nthe school: \u201cI was about thirty miles southeast of Greenville, Ala. A\ncolored man by the name of Turner had just been mobbed in Clark county.\nThe colored people along the road were exceedingly frightened at the\nthreatening attitude of the whites, and hence refused to entertain any\nstranger. I knew not where I was and it was now dark. My horse was\nbroken down. Family after family turned me off. At last one man agreed\nto entertain my tired horse. Thankful for this little drop of kindness,\nI stopped and fed my animal. Then I started off--I knew not whither.\nAfter awhile I saw through the boughs of the pines a dim light, which\nseemed far away. Turning towards this light I wended my way through\nsage field and bush, until I stood beside an old log hut, a rickety\nrelic of an old time Negro quarter. With ease this tiny spark peeped\nthrough the great opening in the dirty cabin full into my weary face.\nHerein, with husband and wife and babies, and a lot of dirt, I was\nallowed to rest my tired limbs and heavy heart till morning.\n\n\u201cUpon one occasion while Bro. D. T. Gulley and I were on mission work\ntogether, we were delayed in Marengo county. Waters were up, Brother\nGulley was sick, and the people had no money to give for educational\npurposes. I went to begging milk cows and succeeded in getting the\npeople to donate six.\u201d\n\nMr. Pettiford married his present wife, Miss Della Boyd, of Selma,\nAla., November 22, 1880. She is an excellent woman and comes of a fine\nfamily. As might have been expected the marriage has been a happy one\nfor both parties.\n\nDr. Pettiford is a clear thinker, a concise speaker, a firm friend, a\nlover of his race, and a fine presiding officer. Every feature in his\nbearing is indicative of the true gentleman and earnest Christian. He\nis a firm friend of Selma University, and by this school he has been\nhonored with the degree of D. D. He is at this time (1892) president of\nthe \u201cAlabama Penny Savings Bank\u201d and of the Baptist State Convention\nof Alabama. He is further noticed in connection with the chapter on\n\u201cState Convention\u201d and \u201cSelma University\u201d as well as in other chapters.\n\nClosing this sketch, it seems fitting that I should remark that though\nhe excels in many virtues, he is especially peculiar in these:\n\n1. He is abundant in plans and measures, so that the variety of his\noperations almost wholly exclude the monotony so often felt in church\nwork.\n\n2. He is in a peculiar degree a patient man. In all conditions he seems\nto possess his soul in patience.\n\nSince the above was written, he has been elected financial secretary of\nthe State work.\n\nHe is now organizing the Alabama Publishing Company. He is full of\nenterprise.\n\n[Illustration: Rev. W. C. Bradford, Pastor First Baptist Church,\nTuscaloosa, Ala.]\n\n\nPhillips, Rev. D., of Tuskegee, was a \u201cFather in Israel.\u201d Those who are\nold enough to remember him as a slave, say that he sat in council with\nthe white ministers and was permitted to speak in their associational\ngatherings. Nothing seemed to disturb his peace; no amount of heated\ndiscussion ever caused him to break from his strong hiding place of\npious humility. He was a large man with strong will, but every \u201cjot and\ntittle\u201d of his ponderous being was under submission to his consecrated\nwill, which ruled all like the helmsman steers the great ship. He was\nabout the age of Mr. John Dosier, eighty years. He refused to accept\nfreedom till all were free.\n\n\nPeels, Rev. J. A., pastor of the First Colored Baptist Church in North\nBirmingham, is a rising young man in the Mount Pilgrim Association. His\nchurch, though a new enterprise, is a success, and all plans for gospel\naggression find in him a ready and substantial friend. His brethren\nlove him because he is peaceable and benevolent in his dealings with\nthem.\n\n\nPollard, Rev. Robert T., son of Rev. R. T., Sr., and Mrs. Mary F.\nPollard, was born in Gainesville, Ala., October 4, 1860. A few years\nafter the close of the late civil war, Rev. R. T. Pollard, Sr., moved\nwith his family to Enterprise, Miss. There the subject of this sketch\nreceived his first impressions--impressions which were to serve as the\nfoundation of his future character. At the age of 12 his mother left\nhim for the better country. The boy, reflecting over his sad loss in\nthe death of his mother, turned unto the Lord, and was baptized into\nthe fellowship of the Mt. Pleasant Church, in which he immediately\nbecame clerk and Sunday School teacher. Thus, starting right, we are\nnot surprised at the righteousness of the course he now pursues.\n\nBy studying at night under his father\u2019s instruction, he, at the age of\n12, could read and write. At 16 he was known as \u201cthe boy preacher.\u201d\nAt the age of 20 he entered a school taught by Prof. Paul D. Jones\nin Meridian, Miss., in which school he studied arithmetic, algebra,\nEnglish grammar and Latin. He remained here two years. In 1882 he\nentered Selma University, under Prof. Woodsmall. Of this good man he\nsays: \u201cHis consecrated life did much toward fixing my character in the\nspirit and doctrines of Christ.\u201d From this institution he graduated\nwith the class of 1884 as valedictorian. In the same school and in the\nsame year he entered upon the college course and completed the freshman\nand sophomore years. During this time he was assistant teacher in the\nUniversity. By all, and throughout all, he has been and is now accepted\nas a student, a thinker, a rigid moralist and faithful Christian. In\nMarch, 1885, he was ordained to the gospel ministry in Selma, Revs.\nE. M. Brawley, D. D., W. H. McAlpine, H. N. Bouey, A. N. McEwen, C.\nL. Price, and C. R. Rodgers, officiating as presbytery. After this\nhe entered upon and served acceptably different important pastorates\nin Perry county. With credit to himself and with profit to the\ndenomination, he has, as teacher, as moderator, as recording clerk of\nthe State Convention, and as district Sunday School missionary, served\nthe Baptists of Alabama. At this time he is the successful pastor of\nthe Dexter Avenue Church, Montgomery. Thus this quiet, hard working\nyoung man has risen up till there are but few that go before him. Mr.\nPollard is a philosopher, clothed with the spirit of a child. In him a\nfull heart balances a well stored head.\n\n\nPollard, Rev. I. M., of Loachapoka, is one of the few men of whom we\nsometimes feel that they are Nature\u2019s _favored_ children. So evenly\nbalanced are all his tempers and passions, hopes and fears, that we are\nalmost compelled to think that so much self-government must have come\nlargely as the gift of nature. The writer has reasons to know him as an\nhonest man--as a man who can handle the money of his neighbor without\nfault to himself or loss to his friend. Mr. Pollard is held in high\nesteem by all who know him--white and black. He was born about the year\n1840. He possesses a fine personal appearance, a gentlemanly bearing,\nand is a good preacher of the plain old gospel.\n\n\nPosey, Prof. Thomas H., of Bessemer, the son of Wesley and Patience\nPosey, was born September 15, 1854, at Bessemer, Ala. He was baptized\ninto the Canaan Baptist Church about the year 1872 by Rev. William\nWare. Brother Posey deserves honorable mention for his faithful\nservices as an educator. He graduated from the normal course in Selma\nUniversity in the spring of 1884, and has proven himself to be not\nonly a power in the affairs of secular education, but a very efficient,\nfaithful worker in the church and Bible school.\n\n\nPrentice, Rev. D. L., of Selma, Ala., son of James and Caroline\nPrentice, was born in Shelby county, Ala., December 25, 1852. The\nhome of his youthful days, like that of the writer, must have been in\na wild country infested by wolves; for he, in speaking of how he had\nto go after wood and water into the thick swamps before the break of\nday, says: \u201cOn one morning as I found myself surrounded by wolves, I\ncried to God for help and was delivered. In my prayer for deliverance\nI made a vow of consecration, which was the beginning of a new life.\u201d\nIn 1875 he was baptized by Rev. Berry Ware. About the year 1865-66 he\nbegan studying Webster\u2019s speller, and sought information, he says, of\nevery person that he thought had any information to give. He learned to\nread and write and began figuring under the instruction of a Mr. J. W.\nStrong, a man, so it is said, who used to be mayor of Selma, Ala. The\nwriter first met the subject of this sketch while he was student in the\nTalladega College, and since his graduation from the Selma University,\nhis course and success as pastor, teacher, missionary and lecturer, has\nbeen watched with pleasing interest. He was ordained to the ministry\nMay, 1882, by Revs. Joe Smith and Henry Scott. He is a genuine friend\nof religion and education and being young and strong he has a large\nopening for future usefulness and fame.\n\n\nPrince, Rev. J. T., of Gallion, Ala., son of John and Mary A. Prince,\nwas born March, 1853, in Marengo county, Ala. He was baptized into\nthe fellowship of the Bethlehem Church by Rev. D. R. Willis the third\nSunday in April, 1871. In 1884 in the St. Philip\u2019s Church, Selma,\nhe was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by Revs. E. M.\nBrawley, H. N. Bouey, C. R. Rodgers, L. P. Foster and the writer.\nHe attended Selma University under the different presidents--H.\nWoodsmall, W. H. McAlpine, and E. M. Brawley. He began his education\nby studying under a white man, whom he paid $1.00 a week. Attended a\npublic school after he was 23 years of age. He taught in the State\nschool. Is now district missionary. He is an industrious man and owns\ngood property.\n\n\nPullum, Rev. H. P., of Anniston, son of Lawrence and Caroline Pullum,\nwas born in Pickensville, Ala., March 23, 1862; baptized at Carrolton\nAugust, 1882, and entered immediately upon the work of the ministry,\nbut was not ordained until March, 1889. At the request of the First\nColored Baptist Church at Bessemer, which he had organized and built\nup, Mr. Pullum received the hands of ordination from Revs. P. Murrell,\nW. A. Shirley, S. Page, A. J. Austin, D. M. Sewell, and J. C. Crawford.\nHe has a large following wherever he goes.\n\n\nPurce, Rev. C. L., ex-president of Selma University, is noticed in this\nwork only so far as other authors have not been able to see him in his\npeculiar relations to the work in Alabama.\n\nIt was in 1886, I think, in the most trying period of our history,\nthat Dr. Purce was unexpectedly called (upon the resignation of\nDr. E. M. Brawley) to assume the presidential office in the Selma\nUniversity. The school was burdened with $7,000 of debt, its credit was\nabout gone, its debtors were impatient, its supporters divided, and\ndenominational strife was at white heat. The former president was not\nonly a peculiarly brilliant and cultured man, but had enjoyed special\nadvantages looking toward fitness for the presidential chair. Many\nfeared for Mr. Purce.\n\nHowever, it was thought by some that caution and economy were the\nspecial characteristics called for by existing conditions. We needed\na man who could shun the strife of factions, keep cool under severe\npressure, and cause the school\u2019s expenses to drop below its income.\nSome who had watched Mr. Purce, were willing to trust him with the\ndifficult duties of this trying hour, and the writer records with much\npleasure, that he kept clear of the quarrels, and meanwhile did much to\nremove the debt by putting the school on plain and well regulated fare.\n\nDr. Purce has done the Baptists of Alabama very praiseworthy service,\nnot only as an educator, but as an example in the matter of school\nmanagement; and those who follow him will profit by heeding his caution\nand economy. And, to his honor it may be said, we have had no president\nwho has been more generally loved by the school.\n\n\nPyles, Rev. Carter, of Oxford, Ala., born in Talladega county, Alabama,\nDecember 15, 1845, of Christian parents. He was baptized in 1865 by\nRev. Mr. Jenkins, a white minister, who devoted much of his time to\nevangelical work among the colored people. In 1876 he was officially\nset apart to the work of the gospel ministry by the Rev. Mr. Jenkins,\nWilliam Taylor and B. Snow. Mr. Pyles is among the leading men of the\nSnow Creek Association. His pastorates at Jacksonville, Choccolocco and\nother points prove him to be a leader of ability. He is now undertaking\na new work at Oxanna, Ala.\n\n\nRivers, Rev. E. C., of Talladega, Ala., was born January 5, 1847. He is\nthe eldest son of Mr. Edward and Mrs. H. J. Rivers, two very worthy old\ncitizens of Talladega. In his twenty-fourth year he was married to Miss\nJane Moore, of Talladega, by whom he has a large family of children.\n\nHe has a fair English education, having attended the Talladega College\nfor parts of five sessions. In 1867 he united with the Mt. Canaan\nBaptist Church, Talladega, and was baptized by the late Rev. Phil.\nDavis.\n\nHe was called to ordination by the Salem Baptist Church in 1884,\nRevs. J. P. Barton and Moses Colly officiating in the rites. He is an\nindustrious, prudent man, and has accumulated property worth $3,000\nor $4,000. At this time he is the moderator of the Rushing Springs\nAssociation, over which he has presided with dignity for several years.\nHe is a model citizen and substantial man, sociable and aspiring.\n\n\nRivers, Rev. S. A., of Talladega, the son of Mr. Edward and Mrs. H.\nJ. Rivers, was born in Talladega, November 10, 1854. In a series of\nmeetings, held by the writer in Mt. Canaan Church, he was led to\nexercise faith in the religion of Jesus Christ in 1876. In the same\nyear he was united with the church by baptism.\n\nHe immediately began laboring as a leader in Sunday School work,\nin which he at once proved himself to be a very capable person. He\nwas soon appointed Sunday School Missionary for the Rushing Springs\nAssociation, in which position he was remarkably successful. In 1877\nhe married Miss Elizabeth Walker, by whom he has three promising\ndaughters. He is a graduate from the theological department of the\nTalladega College. He is an industrious business man, a Christian\ngentleman, a clear thinker, a ready speaker, a social genius. No\nman among us of his age has brighter prospects than he, none more\nadmired and loved. The manner in which he has succeeded, under trying\ncircumstances in the Mt. Canaan Church, is simply amazing. Toward God\nhe is faithful, toward man he is kind, gentle and full of service. He\nwas ordained in 1889 to take charge of the Mt. Canaan Church.\n\n[Illustration: Rev. H. Woodsmall, of Franklin, Ind., First President\nSelma University.]\n\n\nRivers, Rev. Alexander A., of Midway, Ala., the son of John and\nViolet Rivers, was born near Glennville, Ala., in the year 1851.\n\nIn his twentieth year he was baptized into the Spring Hill Zion Church\nby the Rev. A. Gachet, under whose preaching he had been led into\nrepentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.\n\nIt was not long before he felt that he was called of God to the work\nof the ministry. At the call of the Enon Church he was set apart to\nthe sacred office by the Revs. A. Gachet, P. Johnson and F. Randall.\nBrother Rivers is one of the strong preachers and successful pastors\nof the Eufaula Association. He has had very limited educational\nadvantages, but he is a constant reader of books and a close observer,\nand hence he has made considerable educational attainments. He is\nquiet, unassuming, even and hospitable. The writer enjoyed a very\npleasant stay with Brother and Sister Rivers at their home in Midway.\nHe once held a very fine pastorate in Texas, which he had to give up\nbecause of the poor health of Mrs. Rivers and return to his old home in\nAlabama.\n\n\nRoach, Rev. Perkins, of Stevenson, father of Mrs. M. A. Boothe and\nof Rev. Thomas Jefferson Roach, was born in Tennessee. He, with Rev.\nThomas Roach (who was the first ordained colored minister in Jackson\ncounty), and Rev. Robert Caver, organized the work in northeast\nAlabama. He was noted for his magnanimity and joyfulness of heart.\nIt is said that his life was as one continuous song of gladness.\nWhen a child he was a house boy, which position brought him into\ncontinual contact with persons who knew books. He so far utilized this\nadvantage as to learn to read, but his knowledge of writing was delayed\ntill since the close of the war his daughter (now Mrs. Boothe) had\nsufficiently advanced in her studies to instruct him. This story is\ntold of him: During the war his mistress, the widow of Rev. Charles\nRoach, Sr., fearing the Federal soldiers, left home and fled across the\nTennessee river into Sand Mountain. The slave remained at home to care\nfor things about the place. With the view of preventing want to the\nwidow and those who were with her, he, regardless of the dangers of his\nundertaking, and while the shades of night hid his operations, would\nbear across the river and up the mountain such things as he thought\nthey might need.\n\nHe has been dead some eighteen years. His widow, Mrs. Charlotte Roach,\nhas done nobly in rearing and educating the children.\n\n\nRoach, Rev. Lewis, of Fackler, deserves mention as a hard working,\npoorly paid gospel preacher. Many years he led the Mud Creek\nAssociation as moderator. He, Rev. James Larkin, Rev. Lewis Henshaw,\nand others, are trying to build an academy at Hollywood, Ala. They\ndeserve success.\n\n\nRoach, Rev. T. J., of Hollywood, is an industrious and honorable man.\nHe has served the Mud Creek Association as missionary, has been pastor\nat Bridgeport, and now preaches at Paint Rock.\n\n\nRobinson, Rev. Isham, of Eureka, Talladega county, was born in\nGreenville, S. C., October 10, 1814. While he was the property (?) of\nMr. John Truss (in 1833) he took to wife Miss Aggie Truss, by whom\nthere has been born unto him a large family of sons and daughters, who\nare now grown and are honorable members of society. Brother Robinson\nwas baptized by a Rev. Mr. Joseph Byers in 1840. He said to the writer:\n\u201cI was licensed in 1850, but could not preach except when I could\nsecure the presence of two slaveholders. I was licensed by the Mount\nJoy Church, the first church organized in our section of the State.\nI was ordained in 1865, by a council over which Rev. A. J. Waldrop\npresided. I was so hindered in my ministry in slavery time that Brother\nHenry Wood and I covenanted together to take our case to God and beg\nfor liberty. We agreed that we would go at sunrise at least once each\nweek and pray to God for freedom. It was eighteen years before the\nvictory came, and often appearances caused our faith to waver.\u201d Mr.\nRobinson is now quite old, but is still in fair health. His sons are\nleaders in the Baptist church and helpers in every good cause.\n\n\nRodgers, Rev. C. R., missionary for the western district of Alabama\nunder the American Baptist Publication Society, was born at Hamburg,\nPerry county, Ala., August 4, 1859.\n\nIn early life he had opportunity to attend the country school of his\nneighborhood, beginning under the instruction of Rev. G. J. Brooks, now\nof Selma.\n\nLiving on the farm, his early activities were in line with his calling.\nHe was a farmer boy, and hence he drew his bread and bed from the\nhandles of the plow and the hoe.\n\nIn November, 1878, he entered Selma University, graduating from the\nnormal course in 1884, with Messrs. R. T. Pollard, L. J. Green, R.\nB. Hudson, D. T. Gulley,--Hines, Miss S. A. Stone and Miss Eliza\nWashington (now Mrs. R. T. Pollard). The next year he began the college\ncourse and completed with Messrs. Pollard and Hines the sophomore year.\n\nMr. Rodgers was converted in his fifteenth year, and was baptized by\nRev. R. Windham September, 1874.\n\nOn June 11, 1884, he was set apart to the full work of the gospel\nministry in the St. Philip Street Church, Selma, by Drs. E. M. Brawley,\nC. L. Purce and C. O. Boothe, aided by Revs. H. N. Bouey and G. J.\nBrooks. From the time of his ordination till December, 1890, he served\nthe pastorate of the First Colored Baptist Church, Tuskegee, but\nsince this last date he has been successfully operating in his present\nposition.\n\nIn January, 1889, he was wedded to Miss Lily B. Foreman, of Opelika.\nBro. R. is a man of excellent spirit, quiet, unassuming, and makes\nchanges in men more on the order of the sunshine than in the manner of\nthe storm spoken of in the fable of the contest between sun and wind.\nPerhaps no man among us has so few enemies as he has.\n\nFrom 1889 to 1892, he has presided over the Auburn Association. He is\nan easy, pleasant speaker, and a choice man.\n\n\nRoss, Rev. S. L.--It was March 9, 1861, when the subject of this sketch\nwas born of slave parents--Luckie and Emily Ross--near Rehoboth, Wilcox\ncounty, Ala.\n\nHe had the advantage of a pious, Christian mother, and was hopefully\nconverted at the age of 12 years, and united with the Pine Grove\nBaptist Church by baptism, Rev. Wallace Richardson, pastor, officiating.\n\nHe was taught his \u201cA B C\u2019s\u201d by his mother and grandfather. As soon as\nfree schools opened he was placed in school, which were simply poor,\n_for schools in those days were kept, not taught_.\n\nIn December, 1879, he was sent to Selma for the purpose of attending\nschool. He united with the St. Philip Street Baptist Church--Rev. W.\nA. Burch, pastor. For a number of years he was clerk of the church and\nsuperintendent of the Sunday School.\n\nIt was while he was superintendent of the Sunday School that Mr. Ross\nfelt called to the gospel ministry, in order to a better preparation\nfor which he entered (1883) the Alabama Baptist Normal and Theological\nSchool (now Selma University), where he spent a number of years.\n\nHaving received a call to the pastorate of the Hamburg Baptist Church,\nnear Marion, Mr. Ross was accordingly ordained March 31, 1889.\nOrdaining council: Revs. Charles L. Purce, president Selma University;\nR. T. Pollard, Sunday School Missionary; William Madison, J. H. Hunter\nand L. J. Green. Dr. C. O. Boothe and Rev. Charles L. Fisher were also\npresent and participated.\n\nRev. Ross was married to Miss Emily C. Boyd, of Selma, August 7,\n1889. October 1, of the same year he resigned the Hamburg Church, the\nForkland School, which he had taught for a number of years, to accept\nthe principalship of the Eutaw public schools, Eutaw; Mt. Olive Baptist\nChurch, Boligee, and Liberty Baptist Church, Blocton.\n\nOwing to her thorough training and long experience as instructress\nin the city schools of Selma, Mrs. Ross has contributed much to the\nsuccess of her husband.\n\nAgainst the wishes of friends, patrons and churches he resigned his\nschool of 350 pupils and the two churches named, to accept the position\nas treasurer and instructor in the State Colored Normal School, Normal,\nAla.\n\nJuly 1, 1893, he severed his connection with that school and became\npastor of the Steele Street Baptist Church, Huntsville.\n\nOctober 1 of the same year he resigned the pastorate of the Steele\nStreet Church to take charge of the Sunday School Missionary work in\nthe State under the American Baptist Publication Society, Philadelphia,\nPa., which position he now holds.\n\n\nSavage, Rev. Daniel, of Mumford, pastor of several large churches,\ndeserves to be mentioned among the praiseworthy, busy men of the\nRushing Springs Association. He is held in high esteem for his\nself-reliance, stainless reputation, agreeable manners, public spirit\nand earnest Christian labors. He preaches for Shady Grove Church,\nJenifer, and Sycamore Church, Talladega. The writer has seen him during\nthe past fifteen years--in many meetings where there were hot words and\nhotter feelings and yet with him there was the same quiet spirit, the\nsame smiling face. \u201cHe that ruleth his own spirit is better than he\nthat taketh a city.\u201d\n\n\nSampson, Mr. James William, son of Rev. Green Sampson, of Wetumpka,\nis a young man of high rank in the order of the Knights of Pythias,\nbut is no less a solid efficient member of the Shiloh Baptist Church,\nof Birmingham. He deserves consideration as a man of discernment and\nenterprise concerning racial questions and denominational interests.\n\n\nScott, Rev. John, late of Demopolis, led to the erection of the edifice\nin which the First Colored Baptist Church of Demopolis now worships.\nAfter the Rev. James Caldwell, Rev. Scott was the chief leader of the\npeople in his section. He died five or six years ago at about 50 years\nof age, and his pastorate is now filled by the Rev. Mr. Wallace.\n\n\nScott, Rev. Anderson, is at this writing pastor of the Tabernacle\nChurch, in Birmingham, but began his ministry at Selma, where he\nappears among the organizers of the work. He has undergone a good many\nchanges, but because of the presence of a very large amount of vitality\nand will force he is still pushing on among his brethren. His life may\ngive this useful lesson, namely, \u201ckeep the face to the lion, never\ngive the back to the foe\u201d--forgetting the things that lie behind us,\nvigorously reach for the good that lies before us. Brother Scott is one\nof the pioneers and his name lies in the foundations.\n\n\nScott, Rev. Henry, of Blocton, is of Maryland parentage. He is a man of\npiety, of integrity and industry. He has labored as a missionary of\nthe Shelby Springs Association, and has rendered valuable services in\nsupport of Selma University. He is an uncompromising foe of low morals.\nRecently his health has been poor, and hence his work has been hindered.\n\nWhen Selma University existed only in purpose he very substantially\naided the purpose toward materialization. He and Rev. D. L. Prentice\ncollected over a hundred dollars from one church and sent it up to the\nwriter in Talladega in 1876.\n\n\nShirley, Rev. W. A., was born in Tuscaloosa, Ala., June 12, 1857. He\nbegan the work of mastering letters in his native city at the age of\nseven years, by attending the public schools provided for by the State.\nLater he attended three sessions (of nine months) of the city school\nin Columbus, Miss. For seven years he worked in a whiskey saloon,\nwhere, he says, that while at work behind the bar, he was converted\nto the faith of the Christian religion. Joined the church in 1878 in\nMississippi, under the pastorate of Rev. T. L. Jordan. Studied theology\nin the Presbyterian school at Tuscaloosa. Was ordained in the African\nBaptist Church of Tuscaloosa under the pastorate of the Rev. J. M.\nMason. His pastorates have been at Hull\u2019s and Birmingham, Ala.\n\nFor ten years he served the Antioch, Bethlehem Association, as clerk.\nHe has built three church edifices.\n\nMr. Shirley is possessed of that easy, joyous, friendly turn in manners\nand address, which make him agreeable to all classes of reasonable\npeople. He is studious and observing, which fact, coupled with his\nnative talent, offers him an ever broadening field of operation as\nthe years shall come and go \u201cWatch and pray that ye enter not into\ntemptation.\u201d\n\n\nSimmons, Rev. J. S., at present pastor of the Gadsden Church, son of\nJames and Annie Simmons, was born in Alabama August 16, 1859. He was\nbaptized by the Rev. Henry Stevens into the Greensboro Church May\n27, 1878. Mr. Simmons is a man of talent, and is a graduate of the\nLincoln University, once located at Marion. He was set apart to the\nwork of the gospel ministry by the Sixteenth Street Church, Birmingham,\nin April, 1889, Revs. W. R. Pettiford, D. D., A. C. Jackson, and R.\nDonald, officiating as presbytery. Since his ordination he has served\nthe Galilee Church at Anniston, and now serves the church at Gadsden,\nwhere his labors have been especially successful. Everywhere he has\nborne the reputation of an honorable and pious man. He has been\nfortunate in finding and winning a helpmeet for him in his spiritual\nand intellectual labors in the person of a very excellent lady.\n\n\nSimpson, Rev. I. T., of Selma, Ala., was born in this State August 1,\n1858. He was baptized into the Belleville Church December, 1876, and in\n1883, he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry by Revs. D.\nShepherd and C. Travis. He attended the State University at Montgomery\nand is now soon to close a course in Selma University. Brother Simpson\nis a man of fine sense, is a good speaker, and with heed on his own\npart, sympathy on the part of his people, and blessing from above, his\nopportunities for increasing usefulness and honor are very encouraging.\nAlready he has attained a reputation as a pastor and builder as well as\norator.\n\nP. S. Since the above was written, Brother Simpson has completed his\ncourse at the University, and is now pastor at Opelika, where he is\nalready the peerless preacher and successful leader.\n\nThe writer has the good fortune to know something about the good order\nof his home, and of the hospitality of his refined and agreeable\nwife. He is peculiarly himself and not another--clear headed,\ncomprehensive, reasonable, self-reliant, genial, in his home as well as\nin the public harness. Doubtless the historian who comes after, will\ntell of the fruits which shall hang upon the ripened years of this\nstrong man. May God help him to remember that Sampson\u2019s strength was\nthe source of his ruin. \u201cEternal vigilance is the price of liberty.\u201d\n\n[Illustration: Rev. J. E. A. Wilson, Pastor Rising Star Baptist Church,\nPratt City, Ala.]\n\nSmith, Rev. G. S., is pastor of the Red Mountain Church Bessemer.\n\n\nSteinback, Rev. L. S., ex-pastor African Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa,\nwas born in Marengo county, Ala., March 12, 1852. He was set free at 12\nyears of age.\n\nHe says: \u201cOne year, all the wages I received above my scanty meals and\nrough clothes, was one dozen apples. Often I was glad to obtain a good\nmeal of parched corn. At 19 I worked in Uniontown for 50 cents a day.\u201d\n\nIt was at this time that he learned his alphabet, studying at night\nschool. He says that as he went to his meals and to his work, his\nspelling book was ever with him. He attended school after he had\nmarried--using such time as he could spare after crops were \u201claid by.\u201d\n\nHe was ordained to the ministry in October, 1883, Revs. John Scott,\nF. Gilbert and A. Wright officiating as presbytery. By industry and\nperseverance, he has been able to teach in the free public schools of\nthe State, has been missionary in his association, and is now pastor of\none of our largest churches. He lives, he says, on his own plantation,\nfor which he has paid three thousand dollars.\n\nThis is an example which is well calculated to encourage poor,\nstruggling young men to overcome difficulties and rise anyhow--rise in\nspite of difficulties. Brother Steinback has served the pastorate of\nthe Tuscaloosa Church and also edits a newspaper, _The Christian Hope_.\n\n\nStevens, Rev. Henry, of Uniontown, son of Harry and Agnes Stevens,\nwas born near Port Royal, Va., May 5, 1820. At the age of 21 he was\nbaptized into Flat Run Church, Orange county, Va., by the Rev. B.\nHodge. He came to Alabama in 1843, at which time he began to speak\nconcerning the grace of God in the redemption of sinners. In 1845 he\nbegan for the first time to read the sacred Scriptures, and in the same\nyear he married Miss Clarissa Clay, by whom ten children were born to\nhim.\n\nMr. Stevens was one of nature\u2019s noblemen. He was an honest, outspoken\nman, an orderly citizen, and a very forcible preacher of the plain old\ngospel.\n\nIn 1868 he was fully set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by\nhis white brethren, Revs. T. M. Bailey and Drs. McIntosh and Curry.\n\nHis every word was believed by all who knew him, and his perfect\nhonesty no man doubted. For nine consecutive years he was moderator\nof the Uniontown Association. He was one of the founders of the State\nConvention, and also of the Selma University. In 1890 he exchanged the\ncross for the crown, dying as he had lived, loved and respected by all.\nHe left his family in possession of good property, worth about $5,000,\nand, above all, a name that has no blemish. Often our school sought\nrefuge from want in the purse of Elder Stevens. He was two years older\nthan his brother Washington, who died before him in Montgomery.\n\n\nStokes, Rev. A. J., pastor of Columbus Street Church, Montgomery, was\nborn in Orangeburg county, S. C., July 25, 1858. He was led to exercise\nfaith in Christ at the age of twelve and a half years. He entered the\nwork of the ministry in the Methodist church, but soon became convinced\nof the correctness of Baptist views, and, joining the Baptist people,\nhe was baptized by Rev. Edward Green, of Branchwell, S. C., May,\n1871. After studying two terms in Crafting University and two terms\nin the State University, he entered Benedict College, from which he\ngraduated in 1884. In 1874 he was solemnly set apart to the work of\nthe gospel ministry by Revs. E. Green, Jacob Govan, Henry Harvey, and\nHarry Reeves. Brother Stokes has been missionary, editor and school\ncommissioner, and is one of the most successful preachers and pastors\nin all the land. During the two months in which he has been preaching\nin Montgomery he has added, by baptism, about 500 members. The writer\ntried to learn something of his methods, by visiting his meetings\nand young people\u2019s classes, and the following points seem worthy of\nmention; his preaching is characterized:\n\n1. By the idea of salvation by grace through simple faith.\n\n2. By narrative and portraiture and illustration. There is no cold\nobtruse reasoning nor loud emptiness in his speeches.\n\n3. By pointedness and sympathy. Each man seems to feel that the pastor\nis talking to him and that the heart that speaks has a care and\ntenderness for all.\n\nThen he is sociable, approachable to all, from the lowest to the\nhighest, old folks and children, rich and poor, great and small, wise\nand otherwise--all seem to find in him a ready echo. In view of his\npower and of his youth, prayer spontaneously rises to God that he may\nbe kept in watching, in humility, in faith and in faithful service.\n\nIt is worthy of remark that during his short time with Columbus Street\nChurch, he has bought a neat and valuable parsonage for the church from\nmeans raised above the necessary expenses.\n\n\nTaylor, Rev. William, Choccolocco, was born in April, 1836, in the\nState of Georgia. He was the property (?) of a Mr. B. Jenks, whose\ndaughter married a Mr. Taylor. He says, \u201cWhen in my ninth year my\nmother bade me farewell with this charge: \u2018Don\u2019t kill, don\u2019t steal,\ndon\u2019t keep bad company, don\u2019t be impolite to old people, don\u2019t be\ndisobedient to those who own you, and you will never be abused.\u2019 I\nhave never seen her face since, but her words have ever been with me\nto confirm me in the right way.\u201d Brother Taylor has now been in the\nministry about twenty-four years, having entered upon his public career\n1868. He is one of the leading men of the Snow Creek Association, and\nhas attained to a fair knowledge of letters, though he has had no\neducational advantages. Brother Taylor has been careful of the welfare\nof his family and interested in the affairs of the house of God. He\nlives on his own farm near Choccolocco, respected by his neighbors,\nboth white and colored.\n\n[Illustration: Rev. W. A. Shirley, Pastor Sardis Baptist Church, Enon\nRidge.]\n\n\nThornton, Rev. Elbert, of Union Springs, son of E. Thornton and Matilda\nThornton, was born in the State of Georgia, December 8, 1838. In 1853\nhe was moved into Barbour county, Alabama, where he remained till he\nwas emancipated in 1865. In June, 1861, he was baptized into the white\nBaptist Church at Midway, Ala., by the Rev. Mr. Brooks. In 1868 he was\nunited with the church at Union Springs, and was one among the colored\nbrethren who drew out from the white church to organize a colored\nBaptist Church in Union Springs--the first colored church in Bullock\ncounty. He was chosen one of the first deacons. It was not long ere\nhis brethren urged him to enter the work of the ministry, which, under\na deep sense of duty and after some hesitancy, he did. On the 5th day\nof June, 1874, at the call of his church, he was solemnly set apart to\nthe sacred office of the gospel ministry by Revs. C. H. Thornton, B.\nClark and others. When he took charge of the church it was in debt, but\nthis debt was soon removed and the membership was increased, during\nsix years pastorate, from 48 to 188, and the pastor\u2019s salary was raised\nfrom $30 a year to $25 per month. From 1874 to 1881 he was moderator of\nPine Grove Association, and since his return from his gospel labors in\nArkansas he has been re-elected. Brother Thornton is no less commanding\nin his personal appearance than he is in his strong, clear intellect.\nHe is a strong leader.\n\n\nThornton, Rev. C. H., of Aberfoil, Bullock county, was born in North\nCarolina, in 1842. He was baptized in 1862 by a Rev. Mr. Brooks, of\nMidway. In 1869 he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry\nby Revs. R. Wright and J. C. Jett. He organized and built up the\nAberfoil Church. For several years he was moderator of the Pine Grove\nAssociation. Mr. Thornton is a strong, industrious, economical,\npersevering man. He has obtained property worth about $3,000. The\npeople whom he serves at Aberfoil are honorable and aspiring, and hence\neach--pastor and people--finds in the other the elements of success.\n\nIt was within his comfortable home that the writer, weary from overwork\nand exposure in constant travel, found in February, 1890, a quiet\nretreat in which to finish \u201cPlain Theology for Plain People.\u201d\n\n\nTroupe, Rev. Aaron, of Town Creek, Lawrence county, was born February\n14, 1851, in Morgan county, Ala. Immediately after the close of the war\nhis parents moved to Courtland, Ala., where Aaron was brought up. He\nwas baptized in 1869 by Rev. John Bell, the pastor of Red Bank Church.\nFeeling that it was his duty to preach the gospel, and not willing to\nenter upon such a responsible mission without previous preparation, he,\nfor about four sessions, attended the Selma University, known at that\ntime as the Normal and Theological School. On his return home he taught\nin the public schools. On May 16, 1886, he was ordained to the work of\nthe ministry by Revs. G. Garth, M. J. Hooks, A. J. Owens and M. James.\nBrother Troupe has served in the church at Huntsville, and is now the\nsuccessful pastor of Macedonia, near Town Creek. In 1882 he labored as\ndistrict missionary under the Publication Society. He promises well. He\nand his brother, Deacon Troupe, are in the bone and sinew of the north\nAlabama work, and in them every good thing finds a ready echo and a\ntangible response.\n\n\nTyler, Rev. Mansfield, of Lowndesboro, was born about twelve miles from\nAugusta, Ga., in the month of November, 1826. When very young he was\nmoved into the city of Augusta and lived in the family of his great\naunt, the wife of Rev. Jacob Walker. He was early brought under the\ninfluences of the Springfield Baptist Church of that city--a church of\ncolored people, which as early as 1845 was reported as numbering 1,100\nmembers, and it was added: \u201cThis large community, with the pastor and a\nlarge corps of exhorters, are all of the colored race.\u201d Rev. M. Tyler\nremained in this Christian family and attended the services of the\nabove named church till he was 18 years of age. He says: \u201cI was with\nthem when the stars fell.\u201d\n\nAt this time, as he was a slave, he was removed by his master to the\nState of Alabama, where he has remained until this writing. In April,\n1855, he made a public profession of faith in Christ and united with\nthe people of God by baptism. Shortly after this he felt impressed with\na call to enter the work of the gospel ministry. This call he tried to\nobey as far as his condition and fitness would allow. \u201cThe work,\u201d he\nsays, \u201cwas exceeding difficult, as we were not allowed to know books\nand might receive only oral instruction on religious subjects.\u201d When\na very young man he married his first wife, with whom he lived for\ntwenty-six years--till her death.\n\nAt the close of the war he located at Lowndesboro, where he went\nimmediately to work to organize a colored Baptist church. Success\nattended his ministry and many were brought to faith in Christ. In 1867\nhe succeeded in organizing the colored Baptist church in Lowndesboro.\nOn June 27, 1868, he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry,\nsince which time he has baptized 1,000 persons into the Lowndesboro\nchurch and 500 at White Hall.\n\nWhen the Alabama District Association was organized in 1871, he was\nelected moderator, and is moderator at this time. He was a leader\nin the organization of the Baptist State Convention, over which he\npresided from 1876 to 1886. He is one of the originators, stockholders,\nand trustees of the Selma University, and is now, and from the\nbeginning of the University, has been the chairman of the board of\ntrustees. He is a man dearly beloved.\n\nIn recognition of his Christian manliness, his faithful labors, and\nhis knowledge of the word of God, the above named university in 1890\nconferred upon him the honorary title of D. D.\n\nHe is studious, industrious, devout, urbane; and though he is now about\n68 years of age, he is still so full of sunshine as to be acceptable to\nyouth as he is to old age. His present wife heartily joins him in every\ngood word and work.\n\nHe has succeeded in accumulating considerable property, and is greatly\nto be praised for the care he has bestowed upon the culture of his\nsons. He has been among the chief financial supports of all the worthy\nmeasures of the denomination. He is very sociable, and possesses rare\npowers as a preacher. No man in Alabama has so much power over the\nAlabama Baptists as Dr. Tyler; his works as well as words make him the\nbeloved.\n\n\nWalker, Rev. William, of Avondale, was born November 30, 1848, near\nJacksonville, Ala. In August of 1866 he was baptized into Bethel\nBaptist Church, Alexandria, by Rev. George W. Brewton. Mr. Walker\u2019s\nordination took place in August, 1876, Revs. G. W. Brewton, S. L.\nMcLean and James Miller officiating as presbytery. It was late in life\nere he came upon opportunities for book learning, but finally some\ngood white friends, seeing his desire to learn, assisted him in making\na beginning upon which he has made a fair improvement. His preaching\nis characterized by self-abnegation, application to the subject, and\nearnestness of style. Indeed in several regards he is really a strong\npreacher. He is no less forcible in the pulpit than he is agreeable\nin the parlor. He has served the pastorates at Gadsden and Anniston,\nand now presides over the church at Ashville. The following will give\nsome evidence of his standing among all classes: While the Wills Creek\nAssociation was in session a few weeks ago in Ashville the white\nBaptists allowed him the use of the house of worship for the session,\nand the Rev. Mr. Montgomery (white), of this town, informs me that the\nwhite people aid in his support, some of them constantly attending upon\nhis services.\n\n[Illustration: Rev. L. S. Steinback, Pastor Second Baptist Church,\nDemopolis, Ala.]\n\n\nWalker, Rev. T. W., of Birmingham, the son of Rev. Emanuel and\nCharlotte Walker, the property (?) of Benjamin Walker, of Coosa county,\nAlabama, was born in Coosa county, Alabama, September 5, 1852.\n\nHe joined the old Elam Baptist Church, Montgomery county, Alabama, in\nMay, 1879, and was baptized by Rev. Jerry Cole in the same month. On\nFebruary 26, 1884, he was ordained to the gospel ministry at the call\nof the Sixth Avenue Church, in the city of Birmingham, by Revs. W. R.\nPettiford and J. R. Capers. His success has been marvelous.\n\nThe writer first met the subject of this sketch in Montgomery county\nin the year 1879, when, though he was not a Christian, he was acting\nas Sunday School superintendent. He says that on this occasion the\nquestion, \u201cHow can you lead others in the road to heaven when you,\nyourself, are not walking therein?\u201d destroyed all his carnal security\nand false ease, and was the beginning of a change in his life.\n\nI doubt if any man among us has had more power over the masses than\nhe. While he was building the Sixth Avenue Church there was a constant\ndemand for more room for his audiences. And since he has been serving\nat the Shiloh Church, the writer has seen not only the building filled\nto its utmost capacity, but hundreds of eager listeners standing\nwithout at the door.\n\nThose who know him best feel that his power over the masses is largely\nowing to his common sense, goodness of heart, and his simple, steady\nfaith in God, his cool self-reliance and his hard work for and among\nthe masses of the people.\n\nFuture historians will no doubt find reasons for recording his name\nhigh on the best pages of their books.[2]\n\nHe relates the following incidents of his early childhood: \u201cWhen I\nwas five years of age, I, for the first time, enjoyed a ride to town.\nWhen I got off the wagon Mr. Harrison rolled up my shirt sleeves and\nthe legs of my pants and placed me on a block on the street in the\nmiddle of a great crowd of people. I enjoyed it, as I seemed to be the\nperson especially noticed by all. I saw my mother and father weeping,\nbut I could see no reason for it. When I came down from the block, I,\nwith two sisters and a brother, went home with a Mr. House, where the\ncrack of the whip, the yelp of the hound and the howl of the wolf were\nthe most frequent sounds that fell upon my ear. The fact and horrors\nof slavery were first branded into my heart by the tying and whipping\nof my father before my eyes. When I asked father what it meant, he\nreplied: \u2018The lash which I fear will soon fall upon yourself, my son,\nwill too early explain what is meant.\u2019\u201d\n\nA white man to whom he hired himself taught him at night his alphabet,\nand started him to spelling and reading during his eighteenth year, and\nnow he reads, writes, and manages his own figures in business. He is a\ngrand man.\n\nHe has organized a building and loan association with about 2,000\nmembers.\n\n[2] See chapters on Sixth Avenue and Shiloh Churches, Birmingham, and\nthe Mt. Pilgrim Association.\n\n\nWare, Rev. William, of East Lake, Jefferson county, Ala., was born\nin said county October 5, 1837. He was converted to Christianity\nin his thirteenth year, and was baptized into Union Church, near\nBirmingham--that is, where the city now is--by the Rev. Willis Burns\n(white). He was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry November,\n1868, by Revs. Edmond Burris and Allen McAlpine.\n\nThe Rev. A. J. Waldrop (white) says of Bro. Ware: \u201cWe never had in\nJefferson county a man of more stainless character. He is not an\neducated man, but he is earnest, honorable and upright.\u201d\n\nThe writer has found Bro. Ware to be one of the meekest and gentlest\nof men. He, with Rev. Henry Wood, organized the Mt. Zion Church in\n1878, and he was the first moderator of the Mt. Pilgrim Association. He\nhas held various pastorates, and has held them always with credit to\nhimself and profit to the cause.\n\nHe lives on his own pleasant home and quiet farm a few miles northwest\nof East Lake. He is still an active worker, and enjoys the love and\nconfidence of the people among whom his light so long has shone to the\nglory of God.\n\n\nWare, Rev. Berry, was one of the pioneers of the work in Shelby,\nJefferson and Talladega counties. Few men in those early days had more\npower over the masses than he. He died some sixteen or seventeen years\nago, and I have nothing of his history or nativity. He baptized the\nRev. D. L. Prentice, and started the church at Aldrich.\n\n\nWebb, Rev. George W., of Eufaula, Ala., was born in Russell county,\nAla., in 1844. Fortunately for him, Capt. W. H. Redd carried him,\nwhile he was still quite young, to Columbus, Ga., where his perceptive\nmind was permitted to imbibe such ideas of refinement as did not exist\non the plantation. Here, under the advice of his parents, he entered\nupon a sort of irregular course of study, which led to some success in\nbook knowledge. As Gen. Wilson\u2019s army was passing through Georgia, he\nenlisted as a soldier, remaining in service till he was mustered out in\n1866.\n\nHe was baptized into the fellowship of the white Baptist church at\nAbbeville, Ala., by the Rev. L. R. Sims. In 1868 he married Miss Eliza\nCollins, and in 1869 was among those who led in the organization of a\ncolored Baptist church at Abbeville. In 1870 he assisted in organizing\nthe \u201cEast Alabama and West Florida Association.\u201d In 1873 he moved to\nEufaula. He was ordained to the gospel ministry about 1874-75. Mr. Webb\nis a very energetic man and a successful builder of churches. He took a\nleading part in the organization of the Eufaula District Sunday School\nConvention, and much of its success is due to his missionary labors. He\nis a friend of education and missions, and believes in progress on all\nlines.\n\n\nWhatley, Rev. W. H., of White Plains, is of Georgia nativity, but\ncame to Alabama while young. Without doubt Mr. Whatley is the most\ninfluential man in Calhoun county, and yet no man in the county is\nmore modest, deferential and unassuming. He is a man of power, and yet\nhe does not seem to know anything about it. For years he has been the\nmoderator of the Snow Creek Association, and except something unusual\nshall occur he will continue to preside for years to come.\n\nI know of no moderator who has better government in his association\nthan Mr. Whatley, and yet there seems to be no effort to command. He\nexercises an oversight over every branch of his associational work,\nappearing in all the general meetings, whether the interest at stake\npertains to local church work, to missions, to education, or to Sunday\nSchool. He is an ex-student of the Georgia school, and attended while\nit was located at Augusta. And it is a fact, much to the credit of his\nwhite brethren, that they made it possible for him to attend school. He\nlives on his own valuable farm amid his children, who are now maturing,\nhis son Charles being now a young man.\n\n\nWhite, Rev. E. C., of Tuscumbia, was born about the year 1842 in\nChester county, S. C. In 1859 his master brought him to Alabama,\nwhere he has since resided. He was converted the fourth Lord\u2019s day in\nOctober, 1869, and in the same month was baptized into the Russellville\nchurch by the late Rev. P. Jones.\n\nBrother White says: \u201cIn April, 1868, my wife was baptized by the Rev.\nW. E. Northcross, and her devoted life constrained me to desire peace\nwith God. My wife overthrew all my old ways and lovingly compelled me\ninto the ways of the Lord.\u201d At once he became zealous for the cause of\nChrist, and soon began to speak as opportunity offered itself, first at\nRussellville and then at Tuscumbia. At the request of a church which he\nhad built up near Tuscumbia, Rev. W. E. Northcross called a council,\nand on October 8, 1873, solemnly set him apart to the office of the\nministry. He has attained to some knowledge of books, of which he is\nstill an industrious student. Before his whole time was employed in the\nministry he taught in the public schools.\n\nThe good people of Russellville and Florence have long held to him as\npastor.\n\nBrother White owes much to his excellent, Christian wife, who has been\na helpmeet for him since 1865. He is a hospitable brother and faithful\nChristian minister.\n\n\nWhite, Rev. J. W., the son of Claburne and Elizabeth Hatcher, was born\nin Dallas county, Ala., in October, 1839, eleven miles south of Selma,\non the Alabama River. He takes his name from the Mr. White who owned\nhis mother. He was baptized into the St. Phillip Street Baptist Church,\nSelma, by Rev. John Blevins, in September, 1868. He was ordained to the\nwork of the ministry by the above named church, in August, 1875, Revs.\nJ. Dosier, J. Carter, Henry Stevens, and John Blevins, officiating\npresbytery. Bro. White was at one time moderator of the Uniontown\nAssociation; was for some months missionary under the American Baptist\nPublication Society; was pastor, at different times, of the Mt. Zion,\nthe Summerfield, the St. Paul, and the Providence Churches, near Selma;\nwas pastor at Camden, Ala., and recently retired from the pastorate\nof the Sixth Avenue Church, Birmingham. He has from the first been\nofficially connected with the Selma University, in which he studied\nfor about three sessions, being the first ministerial student who was\nenrolled. He is an earnest preacher and a studious man, so that it may\nbe said of him that he is an elevator of the people on all lines. He\nrelates the following story: \u201cDuring the war, and at a time when things\nlooked rather dark for the South, my stepfather and I were attending a\nPresbyterian meeting, when he was called on to pray God to \u2018drive back\nour enemies.\u2019 Father prayed: \u2018O Lord, drive back our enemies.\u2019 When we\nwere at home alone I told him that I found fault with his prayer, for\nit was really against the interest of his people. The old man answered:\n\u2018The _our_ meant the colored people, and the word _enemies_ referred to\nour oppressive chains.\u2019\u201d\n\nAt this time, extending from a time long before, there was an organized\nprayer circle in Selma, which met on every Friday night beneath a great\noak tree in the woods to pray to God to bring liberty to the slave.\nBrethren Alex. Goldsby and Charles White were among the leaders of this\nmeeting. Doubtless Bro. J. W. White knew of this meeting and of its\npurpose, and hence was hardly prepared to hear a prayer so seemingly\ncontrary to the wishes and needs of his people.\n\n\nWilhite, Rev. J. Q. A., of Selma, was born August 13, 1854, in\nLouisville, Ky. He was baptized in 1866, and in 1878 was ordained to\nthe office of the gospel ministry in his native city. The presbytery\nof the occasion was Revs. C. C. Stamm, D. A. Gaddie, W. W. Taylor and\nothers. Shortly after this he entered the gospel work in Alabama,\nbeginning as pastor of the Second Baptist Church, Eufaula. He came to\nsupersede the Rev. Mr. Bassett, who for some reason had returned to\nIndiana. Under his administration the Eufaula Church rose into success\nand beauty unequaled by anything that had passed before. Beginning\nwith 1886 he was for several consecutive years financial agent for\nSelma University. Resigning this work he was for sometime pastor of the\nchurch at Uniontown, where he was attended by his usual prosperity,\nboth in gathering the people and in raising finances. This position he\nresigned in order to assume once more the office of financier for the\nUniversity. At the present writing he is treasurer of the University.\n\nMr. Wilhite\u2019s success is largely owing to the following: Self-reliance,\nindustry, tact, perseverance, adaptability of himself and methods to\nthe condition of the people.\n\nHe is an ex-student of the Roger Williams University, Nashville.\n\nIn 1872 he wedded Miss Kate Talbert, who has presented him with a\nlarge family of promising young folks, to whose education he is giving\nspecial attention. He is to be commended for that economy, as well\nas industry, which has enabled him to possess a comfortable home for\nhimself and loved ones. He has not been forgetful of the welfare of\nthem over whom God has made him guardian. Like very few preachers, he\nis a good business man as well as a good preacher.\n\nP. S.--He has recently built a brick edifice at Uniontown. He is now a\nsuccessful pastor in Birmingham.\n\n\nWilson, Rev. J. E. A., pastor of the First Colored Baptist Church,\nPratt City, comes to our denomination from the Methodist Church. He was\nborn January 1, 1861, in Fayette county, Alabama, and was led to submit\nto Christ as his Savior, September, 1882. He was regularly inducted\ninto the Baptist ministry, September 27, 1887, by the laying on of the\nhands of a council consisting of Revs. A. C. Jackson, V. Huntington\nand others. He has served acceptably at Patton, Corona and Jasper.\nHe is unpretending, quiet, brotherly and has a good report from all\ncircles. His school advantages have been rather meagre, but with his\nyouthful vigor and self-control, coupled with the abundant facilities\nfor an increase of knowledge common to these times, he may yet be a\nman of learning and a leader in letters. Of course no man can hope to\nattain to knowledge beyond his ability to study forever and without any\nthought of tiring or despairing.\n\nNotwithstanding he is a man of strong emotions, he has rare executive\nability and is hard to equal as a leader.\n\n\nWood, Rev. Henry, of Talladega, was born August 15, 1825, in\nGreenville, S. C. His father was a lawyer in South Carolina. He came\nto Alabama with his mother when eleven months old, and was settled in\nJefferson county, near Elyton.\n\nHe was baptized into the white church by Rev. Joseph Bias, who, at the\ntime, gave it as his opinion that \u201cHenry\u201d would be a preacher. Ordained\nto the work of the gospel ministry just after the war (1867), he was a\ntimely instrument in the special mission of organization. Mr. Wood has\nbeen one of the pioneers of our work in Jefferson, Talladega, Calhoun\nand St. Clair counties. In speaking of his struggle after knowledge in\nslavery time, he says: \u201cI had been reading for some time and had begun\nto learn to write fairly well, when the fact came to the notice of the\nwhite people. They tied me up and laid 600 lashes on my back; and, I\ntell you, I lost all my knowledge of writing after this.\u201d Referring\nto his missionary and pioneer work since freedom, he relates the\nfollowing: \u201cFor the most part the white people have treated me well.\nSometimes, however, I have been troubled with drunkards and \u2018negro\nwhippers.\u2019 As I was riding on my missionary work in Blount county, I\nonce met a man who gave me such a crack over my shoulders with his\nhorse whip as almost broke the skin; but as I did not so much as look\ntoward my abuser, he let me go with no further harm. I passed on,\nthanking God that it was no worse with me.\u201d\n\nBrother Wood is a man of excellent spirit--is as jovial as he is\nearnest. His life has been temperate and chaste, and he is approaching\nthe death shadows and the tomb with triumph and in peace. He has\noccupied good pastorates and honorable places in the associations. His\nfirst wife (Miss Dicey Truss, whom he married in 1844), has preceded\nhim to the goodly land, and both their children have passed before him.\nHe now lives in Talladega with his second wife (the widow of Mr. Thomas\nBarclay), in very easy circumstances, and still finds plenty of work to\ndo in the cause of the Master. Few men are more widely known and more\ngenerally beloved than he. For wrath and malice he is entirely a child.\nNothing could more surprise his brethren than to see him in a fit of\nugly temper, or to hear from his lips expressions of ill will. Brother\nWood speaks in praise of Revs. Messrs. McCain, Mynett and Law (white)\nas friends to their colored brethren in the time of the latter\u2019s\nweakness and inexperience in church work.\n\nP. S.--Our dear Brother Wood has gone to his crown on the ever bright\nshore. Peace hover over thy dust, O thou man of God!\n\n[Illustration: St. Louis Street Baptist Church, Mobile, Ala., Rev. J.\nL. Frazier, Pastor.]\n\n\nWood, Rev. R. T., of Huffman, pastor of Pleasant Hill Church, and\nson of Mr. Henderson Wood, of the same place, is the eleventh child\nof a family of thirteen children. While he was still very small two\nolder brothers were killed by the \u201cK. K. K.,\u201d which clan terrorized\nthe country after the close of the war. In consequence of which sad\nincident, it is thought, his father died of mental depression, leaving\nthe subject of our sketch without a father\u2019s presence, guidance and\nsupport. Nothing daunted by this host of sorrows and misfortunes,\nMr. Wood, industriously and with patient spirit, notwithstanding his\ndelicate constitution, gave himself to such engagements as came to his\nhand, making horse collars and brooms as well as aiding his widowed\nmother in spinning, knitting and weaving. In his thirteenth year he was\nminded to seek for peace with God, and, so at an early age, he began to\nattain to experiences of grace which have increased with the growth of\nyears.\n\nEvidently the family is possessed of sterling qualities, as may be seen\nin their aspiration and courage. The other members of the family whom I\nhave met live an independent home life in the mountains near Huffman.\nMr. Wood hopes he may find an opening through which to enter the\nmission field in Africa, and his name has been sent in to the mission\nauthorities. If his life should be spared for a maturer development he\nwill be a tower of strength in good things. He is a graduate from the\nGrammar Department of Selma University, in which institution he expects\nto take a higher course.\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nBIOGRAPHICAL SUPPLEMENT.\n\n\nIt is to be regretted, perhaps, that this volume has in it a feature\nwhich must be considered a supplement. But doubtless the author will be\nexcused when he tells the reader that many have delayed till now--long\nafter the completion of the book--to send in their names. New men,\nstrong men, have lately come to us from other States--men whose names\ncould not well go into the main body of the book, for the reason that\nthis has been done for some time. Also, young men of our own State have\nrisen into such favorable notoriety as to merit honorable notice.\n\nIn the body of the book I have placed the names of persons in their\nalphabetical order. Not so here: I have entered the names as they came\ninto my hands. The printer was hurrying me, and I could not stay for\nproprieties.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n\nClark, Mr. Peter F., son of P. F. and Daphney Clark, was born in\nHale county, Ala., near Gallion, on the Taylor plantation. He first\nattended what in his neighborhood was known as the Vaughn Hill School,\nand afterward studied at a night school taught, he says, \u201cby one who\nwould have been my mistress had slavery continued.\u201d Bro. Clark has\nbeen remarkably successful in business, which is largely due to his\nindustry, economy and courteous manners. He is vice-president of the\nPenny Savings Bank in Birmingham, as well as one of the directors.\nIn speaking of the line of work out of which he derived his start in\nbusiness affairs, he remarked to the writer: \u201cI remained with one firm\ntwelve years.\u201d As we see his success in the light of this statement, we\nare reminded of the old saying, \u201cThe rolling stone gathers no moss.\u201d So\nmany fail on all lines because they move about so much. Mr. Clark is\nsociable, hospitable, and courteous.\n\n\nO\u2019Riley, Rev. J. P., pastor at Compton and Trussville, gives the\nfollowing sketch of himself: \u201cI was born in Saint Croix, Danish\nWest Indies, August 1, 1850. In 1870 I entered a Catholic school\nin Baltimore, with a view to preparing for the priesthood. In 1874\nI joined the Protestant church, and in 1880 I was ordained to the\nministry of the Baptist denomination. My pastorates in Alabama have\nbeen in connection with the St. Paul Church at Greenville, Coalburg\nChapel, Mt. Nebo at Patton, Mt. Joy at Trussville, and Mt. Olive at\nCompton.\u201d\n\nBro. O\u2019Riley is a vigorous worker, and is blessed with social qualities\nwhich make him an agreeable companion.\n\n\nFrazier, Rev. Jeremiah Lemuel, son of Richard and Ph\u0153be Frazier, was\nborn in Abbeville county, S. C., June 18, 1857. He says: \u201cMy parents\nwere among the poorest of the slaves.\u201d In 1867 his parents moved to\nFlorida, where, in 1874, their son was baptized into the Bethlehem\nBaptist Church, near Madison county Court House.\n\n_His Education._--He has had no public school advantages, but being\npossessed of a quiet, appreciative, observing, aspiring turn of mind,\nhe availed himself of such educational facilities as came in his way.\nIn the fall of 1874, he entered a night school and continued his\nstudies during the long nights of the winter, paying the teacher one\ndollar per month. Being called off from this advantage by the demands\nof the farm, he sought knowledge in the Sunday School, and in the study\nof such books as he could command. He speaks with pleasure of the fact\nthat his mother prayed that he might learn to read the Bible, that he\ndid learn to read it, and that he read it to her in her weary hours of\nsickness. The affectionate son is now the affectionate man.\n\n_His Work, etc._--On informing his pastor that he was called to preach,\nhe was advised to take up a course of study, which he did, continuing\nit for about ten years, during which time, 1878, he was wedded to Miss\nIda Paul, a young lady sufficiently skilled in letters to render him\nvaluable service in his books. He was ordained in March, 1885, to take\ncharge of the Zion Baptist Church, Enterprise, Fla., since which time\nhe has been pastor in Sanford, Fla. He is now the beloved, successful\npastor of the St. Louis Street Church, Mobile, Ala. He is a good\npreacher, good pastor, good financier, good man. The above named church\nwas organized in 1854; their building is worth $20,000.\n\n\nKeller, Rev. R. H., of Birmingham. This young man is brought into\nspecial prominence by his missionary operations in the \u201cMagic City.\u201d\nHe began at Avondale as pastor, but seeing that so many people were\nabsenting themselves from the churches, he conceived the idea that\nwhere the people would not or could not go to the gospel, the gospel\nshould go to them. Mr. Keller went to work at his idea, speaking in\nempty store houses, etc., in the most ignorant and most polluted\nneighborhoods or sections of the city, to such of the people as he\ncould induce to attend. At last he stirred such interest in favor of\nhis project and plans as influenced many of the good people of the\nwhite churches to render substantial aid.\n\nAt present all the white and all the colored ministers of\nBirmingham--except the Catholic and Episcopal--are united in Mr.\nKeller\u2019s support. It is rather a strange fact in gospel work that\nthis man should thus represent both races and all creeds. His talks\nbefore the white people, so I\u2019m informed, have caused the white women\nof Birmingham to propose a work upon their part that has for its object\nthe betterment of the home life of the colored people.\n\n\u201cThe Union Conference of the White and Colored Ministers of Birmingham\u201d\nis a result of Mr. Keller\u2019s labors. Evidently he is a man of strong\nhope in and strong grasp upon his purpose as well as patience, amidst\ndiscouragements.\n\n\nLoveless, Hon. H. A., of Montgomery, was born November 24, 1854, near\nUnion Springs, in Bullock county, Ala. His ex-master retained him on\nthe old farm for five years after the war was over on the plea that\nhis mother was unable to assume his management and support. Finally,\nhowever, he escaped to Montgomery, where he found employment for small\nwages. Being industrious and economical, he soon obtained a little\nmoney ahead which he invested in the butcher\u2019s business. His business\ntact, push, courage, kindness of heart, politeness and integrity soon\nwon for him the confidence and respect of his neighbors, who marked him\nas a youth of merit and promise. He soon became an earnest, consistent\nChristian man, from whose hands the poor and needy were daily fed, and\nat whose house pastors and their families were entertained for years\nwithout cost.\n\nNow (1895) in addition to his old business of butcher, he operates\na hack and dray line, a coal and wood yard, and an undertaker\u2019s\nestablishment, giving constant employment to about twenty-five persons\nat a daily outlay of about $25. His wife, once Miss Lucy Arrington,\nwhom he married in 1875, is a suitable help for him, no less in his\nlabors of love than in his business enterprises. He is worth not less\nthan $15,000. His life is an inspiration to poor young men starting\nthe journey of life. Mr. Loveless is an honest man, which in the\nlanguage of another, is the noblest work of God. The character of the\nman may be seen in his advice to his laborers: \u201cPay your debts if it\ntakes the last cent you have.\u201d\n\n\nEason, Rev. James Henry.--Among the younger and scholarly men of\nAlabama is Rev. James Henry Eason. This energetic Christian worker and\nmodel of moral courage was born October 24, 1866, in the \u201cpiney\u201d woods,\neight miles from Sumterville, Sumter county, Ala.--fifteen miles from\nthe railroad.\n\nHis father, Jesse Eason, has served as deacon in the Sumterville\nBaptist Church for a number of years, and is highly respected by both\nraces in his community.\n\nHis mother, Chaney Eason, is a faithful Christian worker in the\nchurch, as well as a devoted wife and mother. Mr. Eason\u2019s strength of\ncharacter, talent and success are, to a large degree, heritages from\nthis good woman. His mother taught him his alphabet one Sabbath when he\nwas only five years of age. The early part of his life was spent with\nhis parents on the farm, and he attended public school near his home.\nHis first teacher was a Mr. Poe, a white man, who said to him, as they\nwere coming from school one day: \u201cYou will be a smart man one of these\ndays.\u201d\n\nJames did not advance very far in his books under this teacher, who\ntaught the old method of going through the spelling book first, next\nthe reader and then review. Besides, the schools only lasted three\nmonths in each year. His marked improvement was not made until his\nparents moved to Sumterville, and he began studying under Rev. C. R.\nRodgers and H. D. Perry from Selma University. It was in the Wednesday\nevening prayer meetings, held in the school by Rev. C. R. Rodgers,\nhe received a deep and effectual religious impression. A year\nafterward--October, 1881--he was baptized into the Sumterville Baptist\nChurch by Rev. G. Lowe. In November of the same year he entered the\nAlabama Baptist Normal and Theological School at Selma, Ala., now Selma\nUniversity. In 1885 he graduated from this institution with the highest\nhonors of his class--his class being the second class to graduate from\nthis institution. Along with the normal course he took the college\npreparatory course, and began his college course in the fall of 1885.\nAfter spending about two years in this course he abandoned it on\naccount of financial embarrassment and other unfavorable circumstances.\nTo this point he had kept himself in school by working on the farm\nduring the summer months.\n\nIn 1883 he took a little school at Ohio, Ala., and in 1886 he canvassed\nand sold the _Colored Chieftain_. In 1887 he was elected principal\nof Garfield Academy, Auburn, Ala. It was in this position his noble\nqualities claimed the attention of the public as a teacher and\npreacher--yes, as a leader. Here the desire of higher education burnt\nagain upon his heart and, against the protest of patrons, he resigned\nthis position and entered Richmond Theological Seminary, Richmond, Va.,\nin 1887. After three years of hard study he graduated ahead of his\nclass in 1890 with the degree of B. D., and returned to Alabama and\nbegan work as professor of mathematics in Selma University--a position\nhe still holds. He was ordained in Tabernacle Baptist Church, Selma,\nAla., in 1891, and took charge of Union Baptist Church, near Marion,\nAla. He has baptized one hundred persons. He is moderator of New Cahaba\nAssociation, and managing editor of the _Baptist Leader_. As a teacher\nhe is admired by the pupils and respected by the faculty. He is a hard\nstudent and takes high rank as a preacher, and excels in persuasive\noratory. He is original, broad minded and good natured, and is much\nrespected among the brethren of the State.\n\n[Illustration: Rev. T. W. Walker, Pastor Shiloh Baptist Church,\nBirmingham, Ala. Moderator Mt. Pilgrim Association.]\n\n\nMason, Dr. Ulysses Grant.--We feel justified in saying, that among the\nrising and foremost young men of Alabama is the one whose name heads\nthis article. He is the youngest son of Mary and Isaac Mason; was born\nNovember 20, 1872, in Birmingham, Ala., which city is still his home.\n\nUntil the age of 16 his school advantages were limited to the rural\ndistricts, where educational facilities were few. But his desire to\nlearn soon exhausted the shallow draughts of the primary school, and\ntherefore he entered the State Normal School at Huntsville, Ala., now\nlocated at Normal, Ala., where he drank more freely from the deeper\nsprings of science and art. Aside from his regular course, he pursued\nthe carpenter\u2019s trade, at which his success was soon apparent; for,\ntwo months after entering, he was advanced to the position of foreman\nover some of his older colleagues. He graduated from the above named\nschool June 1, 1891. As a student and teacher the thought uppermost in\nhis mind was that of serving his race by helping to lift it to a higher\nplane of intellectual culture, for he was not slow to see the moral\nand physical disadvantages under which it was laboring. To effect this\nresult, he dedicated all his energies to the social and educational\nbetterment of his race. After finishing the course at this school, he\ntaught, as a stepping stone to further usefulness, having held with\nhonor and respect the principalship of the Calera public school. He\nresigned this position, much to the regret of the school board and\npatrons, to enter the Meharry Medical College, Nashville. His success\nas a student of medicine surpassed even his previous career, causing\nthe surprise and even the envy of many who claimed to have towered far\nabove him in the literary world. He was appointed prescriptionist\nfor the clinic, and assistant professor of clinical medicine in the\nabsence of Prof. R. F. Boyd, B. S., M. D., D. D. S., in which capacity\nhe proved very efficient. He refused the honor of valedictorian of his\nclass, and was unanimously elected treasurer.\n\nDr. Mason is now located at his home, Birmingham, Ala., and is one of\nour best physicians. His kindly and affable manner has won to him the\nlove and confidence of all. There can be no question as to his future\nsuccess, as this is assured in his good qualities, skill, and the\nconfidence of the people.\n\n\nSisson, Rev. Samuel S.--The subject of this sketch was born in the\nlittle town of White Plains, Calhoun county, Ala., June 11, 1863. He\nlived with his parents on a plantation, helping them in every possible\nway. He was converted and baptized in 1871. He attended the public\nschools as opportunity allowed him. In 1882, being convinced that\nhe was called to preach, he entered the Alabama Baptist Normal and\nTheological School (now Selma University), under the presidency of Dr.\nW. H. McAlpine. Here he studied hard, paying his own way.\n\nIn 1884 he was called as pastor of the Baptist Church at Stock Mill,\nAla., Cherokee county. He served this church four years, during which\ntime he baptized and added to the church 250 persons. Not being\nsatisfied with his education, he returned to Selma University in 1888.\nHe was in school only two months when he was asked to supply the pulpit\nof the St. Philip Street Baptist Church, Selma, Ala., as pastor pro tem.\n\nHe served them in this capacity three months, when he was elected\npastor, in which capacity he served the church about five years. A\ngreat many doubted the ability of the young Timothy to stand in the\nshoes of such noted theologians as Rev. Wm. A. Burch and Dr. C. O.\nBoothe. He himself felt that his task was very difficult. He could only\ntrust in Him whose power is inexhaustible.\n\nIt was not long until his congregation outnumbered any other in the\ncity. He states that during his five years as pastor he added 1,142\nmembers to the church. Six hundred and forty-two by baptism.\n\nHe also laid plans to build a new church. Three thousand three hundred\nand ninety-seven dollars, so he informs the writer, was raised under\nhis administration for the new church building. Feeling that his work\nwas about accomplished in this field, he resigned as pastor in the fall\nof 1893. He was then called to Milton, Fla., to pastor the Mt. Pilgrim\nBaptist Church. He served the church only five months. His own State,\nAlabama, not being willing to give him up, he accepted a call by the\nJerusalem Baptist Church, Bessemer, Ala. He is now serving this church\nand is building up a strong congregation for the Master. He is active\nin church work and much loved by his brethren throughout the State.\n\nIn 1888 he married Mrs. Roxie Drake, of Auburn, Ala., and to this\nfortunate union is due much of his success. She is to-day the organist\nof his church. Rev. Sisson has high hopes for the future of his people\nand does everything possible to advance them. He is friendly and,\ntherefore, has friends everywhere he works. He is a hard student of\nGod\u2019s word. As a preacher he is sound in practice and doctrine.\n\n\nJordan, Mrs. Dinah Smith, was born in Walker county, Ala., March 26,\n1869. Her early days were spent in Arkadelphia, Blount county, and in\n1883 she came with her mother to live in Birmingham, Ala. Mrs. Jordan,\nfrom a child, loved to read that Book of all books the best, the Holy\nBible, and in April, 1885, gave her heart to God. The new-found love\nin her heart now brought new motives and new aspirations into her\nlife. She was in a new kingdom, and wanted to work for her King. A\nsermon preached by her pastor, Rev. W. R. Pettiford, on \u201cChristian\nGrowth and Usefulness,\u201d very deeply impressed this young Christian,\nand to this day is an inspiration to her. Another one whom she dearly\nloved was Mrs. M. A. Ehlers, a missionary under the Women\u2019s Baptist\nHome Mission Society, who was at that time in Birmingham, and who she\nsays will never know the help she has been to her in her Christian\nlife, until the lights of Eternity dawn upon her. She began by doing\nthe little things that came to her hands to do--faithfully attending\nthe services of her church, bringing children to the Sunday school, and\nseeking in her home to honor her Savior. As grand a motive may be had\nin doing those things which in the eyes of the world seem small as in\ndoing that which the world calls great and admires; and Mrs. Jordan, we\nbelieve, had this _true_ motive, the love of Christ constraining her.\n\nHer marriage, which took place on June 7, 1887, to Mr. Andrew Jordan,\nhad been made a subject of special prayer. The husband thinks he has\none of the best of Christians in his wife, and through her consistent\nlife he was led, in the fall of 1892, to say, as did Ruth of old:\n\u201cThy God shall be my God.\u201d The Women\u2019s Missionary Society opened up\nnew avenues of usefulness to her, and as they came she gladly went\nforward--visiting the sick, doing religious visiting in the homes of\nnon-church-goers, and holding fireside schools for the children in\nher neighborhood. She rejoices that in these she has had the blessed\nprivilege of directing the minds of the little ones to Jesus. Her\nwork as teacher in one of the industrial schools conducted by the\nmissionaries has been faithful, earnest, and a means of great strength\nto them, and her gentle ways have won the love of the pupils.\n\nShe loves the work of the young people, and is a member of the board of\nthe associational B.Y.P.U. Her consistent Christian life in her home\nand in the circles in which she moves has made her life a blessing to\nall.\n\n\nDuncan, Mrs. M. D.--This lady who began and is now operating a female\nacademy, was born in the year 1864, March 8, in Jefferson county, Ala.\nShe, for one, has made her mark in life. She professed a hope in the\nLord Jesus Christ, in the year 1876--was baptized by Rev. E. T. Winkler\n(white), and joined the Baptist church of Marion, Ala. She worked her\nway in school. After she finished the primary department (taught by\nMrs. Frances Nickerson,) she entered the Lincoln Normal University,\nwhere she was graduated in 1882. Then she was thrown out on the great\nvoyage of life, to meet the many hindrances and obstacles that fall\nin the pathway of life. But being a brave and persevering woman, she\ntriumphed over them all. She commenced teaching school in 1879, in\nMarion, Perry county. In 1882, she taught a three months\u2019 term in Bibb\ncounty. She was then highly recommended by the President of L. N.\nUniversity to Tuskaloosa, where she taught in the city school for two\nterms; then removed to York Station, Sumter county, and there taught\ntwo terms, and in 1889, taught one term in Forkland, Greene county. She\nwas then called to Demopolis, to take charge of the Female Institute,\nwhere, for five years, and up to the present time, she has given mutual\nsatisfaction to the entire city and community.\n\nThe above is given to show the spirit of enterprise among us and to\nexcite others to work on the same line.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n\nClosing the chapter which brings into prominence notable individuals\nof the denomination, the author feels that it is only just to remark\nthat many of the most cultured and deserving of our number are not\nmentioned. This comes of the facts that limited means made the\nproduction of a large book impossible, while, on the other hand, as the\nauthor was hard pressed with other business, his survey of the field\nwas necessarily imperfect. Such persons as the learned and industrious\nProf. J. W. Beverly, of the State School at Montgomery; Prof. A. H.\nParker, principal of one of the city schools of Birmingham; Prof. R.\nB. Hudson, principal of the City School of Selma; Prof. E. W. Knight,\nof the faculty of Selma University; Prof. Phillips, principal of one\nof the city schools of Montgomery; Mr. Edgar A. Long, the business\nmanager of the \u201cAlabama Publishing Company,\u201d Birmingham; Mrs. A. A.\nBowe, teacher of the sewing department of Selma University; Mrs. M.\nA. Boothe, the first president of the Colored W. C. T. U. of Alabama,\nand Mrs. S. L. Ross, the first secretary; Mrs. S. A. Hardy (once\nMiss Stone) who led the women in their successful money effort in\ninterest of our brick school building at Selma; Mrs. C. Copeland\nand Miss Octavia B. Boothe, who have been in the employ of the\nBaptist Women\u2019s Home Mission Societies as missionaries; Mrs. Amanda\nTyler, of Lowndesboro; Mrs. R. T. Pollard and Mrs. S. H. Wright, of\nMontgomery; Mrs. Rebecca E. Pitts, of Uniontown; Mrs. Alice Gray, of\nTalladega; Mrs. Lula Patterson (once Miss Lula Watkins), the very\ncapable teacher of music in Selma University; Doctors Robert and\nFelix Tyler, of Lowndesboro; Prof. Samuel Roebuck, of Elyton; Rev. T.\nW. Robinson, of Gurleys; Rev. H. Zimmerman, the efficient leader of\nBibb County Association; Mrs. Nancy Nickerson, the first teacher of\ncolored children in Perry county; Rev. F. L. Jordan, pastor of the\nSixteenth Street Church, Birmingham--of all these, with many other\nworthy persons, our book fails to give any notice. Their absence from\nthe biographic sketches is to be accounted for solely in the reasons\nmentioned, namely, that means were limited and the author\u2019s time\nand energy were divided between so many different lines of work as\nnecessitated an imperfect survey of the field.\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\nV. SUMMARY.\n\n\nWe now turn our pen toward the conclusion, on our way to which we will\nbriefly consider: (1) From whence we have come; (2) How we have come;\n(3) The point we now occupy.\n\n\nI. FROM WHENCE WE HAVE COME.\n\nWe have seen the tree--dwarfed and yellow-leafed--in the sterile\nrock-bound soil of the mountain peak, and we have felt that its life\nwas a mere existence, a mere hair\u2019s-breadth remove from death. The\nfearful regime of slavery had reduced the mental life of the Negro\nto the point where its activity was a simple, natural struggle for\nexistence. By the terms mental life are designated especially the\nknowing faculties and voluntary powers, as well as that part of the\nemotional nature that has to do with character-making. I mean to\nsay that in his intellect, will, and moral sense, the Negro was, by\nslavery, reduced to the minimum. It could not be otherwise for these\nreasons: (_a_) It was unlawful for him to know books; he must know\nnothing save what his master told him, and must never ask for a reason.\n(_b_) He was not allowed to have any will of his own except in minor\npoints, with reference to a brute or a fellow slave. His master\u2019s will\nwas substituted for his, and out of his master\u2019s choice his words and\ndeeds must proceed, even as concerned the most sacred relations of\nlife. At his master\u2019s choice he took the wife, and at his choice he\ngave up the wife. (_c_) He was not allowed to have any conscience,\nexcept where his master had no choice. Whatever the master _said_ the\nslave must do, that he _must do_, conscience or no conscience. Now this\nstate of things had gone on for over 200 years. From this condition\nwe came forth into liberty, and with this eking existence of wilted\nlife we must make a beginning as freemen. With nothing of that sort of\nmanhood which comes only of the well ordered domestic circle, we had to\nput our shoulders beneath burdens which come of the family institution.\nThe duties of citizenship were imposed upon us, notwithstanding we had\nnever felt or studied anything of the privileges and obligations which\ncenter in individual sovereignty. Though we were ignorant of the gospel\nfor the most part and knew nothing of the order of business in church\nmeetings, we found ourselves suddenly forced into the management of\nchurch affairs. We had now to look to our own heads for light, to our\nown hearts for courage, and to our own consciences for moral dictation.\nSo much for the hinderances from within ourselves.\n\n[Illustration: Rev. J. W. Jackson, Pastor Eufaula Baptist Church.]\n\n\nCHANGE IN THE SOCIAL STATUS OF THE SOUTH.\n\nThe master and the slave were each pulled from his place as by a mighty\nforce--a force which did no little tearing on both sides, especially\non the side of master. For this reason the master was sore. The South\nhad grown rich in slaves. This property the war pulled from its fists,\nand left in its midst. The Southern people who were rich one day were\npoor the next day. That the presence of the former slave, clothed in\nthe sovereignty of citizenship, amidst his ex-master\u2019s poverty, should\nchafe and madden the master, there can be no wonder. Well, it did\nmadden him, and because of this fact the pioneer Negro leader often\nfound himself \u201cheaded off\u201d or hindered with reference to some church or\nschool project in his mind. Often did he hide or turn from his course\nto escape punishment or death by the hands of persons who suspicioned\nhim as a bad man to be among \u201cthe Negroes of the neighborhood.\u201d The\nwriter has had many narrow escapes and painful experiences.\n\nWe needed help, but whither should we go to obtain it? Thank God for\nthe few white people who had grace in such a time to extend a helping\nhand to us in our and in their time of weakness.\n\n\nII. HOW WE HAVE COME.\n\n(_a_) Not long since a white merchant of this state remarked to me:\n\u201cNo people have ever improved so much in so short a time as your\npeople have.\u201d I replied: \u201cI think no people ever had a more faithful,\nself-sacrificing leadership.\u201d I think it may be said of us that we have\ndone what we could. The work began when we owned neither land for home\nnor land for church house--when there was no church, no association,\nno mission board to offer any pay for labor. I speak of course of\nthe rule. True, there were a few colored churches in \u201cslavery time,\u201d\nthree missionary and one primitive; but what were three churches in\nthe midst of such a vast population, scattered over so much territory?\nWhat could they do in their poverty and want of training to support 400\nor 500 pioneer organizers? We went to the battle at our own charges.\nWith homeless mothers and fathers, with homeless wives and children,\nand with oppression on every side--with all these burdens and much\nmore which cannot be told, upon us--we bravely undertook the work of\nbuilding the walls of Zion. The writer knows a minister who, (between\n1866 and 1875, especially between \u201966-\u201977, during the reign of the \u201cK.\nK. Klan,\u201d when the people could not in many places be induced to open\ntheir doors after dark for fear of being shot), has endured some of\nthe severest privations and performed some of the hardest toils known\nto the ministry, at his own charges. This case is only one in hundreds.\nOur ministry, whatever the faults and imperfections which have attended\nthem, have wrought nobly and wrought to good results.\n\nThe following will serve to show why the writer is inclined to\nbelieve these early pioneers were often especially favored of God in\ncontrolling the people for good: On one occasion two preachers met for\nthe first time. The younger man spoke, and the elder was one of the\nhearers. The sermon was ended. The two preachers, approaching each\nother and grasping hands, spoke to each other thus: The younger man:\n\u201cI feel the Lord wants me to preach, but I am not able to preach.\u201d The\nelder man: \u201cGod has called you to preach the gospel, but you are not\nnow in the spirit of the ministry. You are proud and \u2019pend too much\nupon yourself. You get self out so God can fill you up with his spirit.\nGo and pray to God for the spirit of the gospel ministry.\u201d This advice\nwas heeded and the end revealed the correctness of the elder man\u2019s\nviews. Another case:\n\nA young man of some attainment in letters, who taught school under the\n\u201cFreedmen\u2019s Bureau,\u201d being anxious to rid himself of a sense of duty\nto preach the gospel, decided to go off to another state where his\nchurch connections were unknown. He did so. After he had quit the train\nand put down his baggage at the home of a family who had consented to\nentertain him, and as evening drew on, he was requested by his hostess\nto attend the preaching which was to come off at a neighbor\u2019s house\nthat evening (there was no church house). The young man went. A pen\npicture of the preacher is given after this fashion: Lean, brown skin\nman, whose shirt showed much of his breast; whose feet were sockless\nand in shoes which left the toes uncovered; whose stiff locks held a\ncomb. He told us of a wicked city that was laying beneath the pending\njudgments of God.\n\nIt needed a message of warning--only this, and it would face about\nand clothe itself in humble penitence. God had the message, and He\nimparted it to the messenger and ordered him to go. Here the preacher\ndrew a picture of Jonah: He is shrinking from his glorious charge--has\nhis back toward Nineveh, and is fleeing in an opposite direction; is\nboarding a ship that he may go to regions over the sea; is going down\ninto the hold of the ship; is fast asleep. Here the storm and the\nraging deep receive notice: A cloud rises and quickly covers the skies;\nwinds attend it with a fury hitherto unknown to the shipmen, who seem\nat once to discern in the storm the tokens of judgment; the sea is\nwild; the sailors, as a last resort, awake Jonah and cast lots; the lot\nfalls upon Jonah, and he is cast into the maddened sea, where a sea\nmonster swallows him. At this point, changing his voice more into the\nimperative tone, the preacher said: \u201cI \u2019spect there is a Jonah here\nto-night, and I warn him to take the message of his God and carry it to\npoor, lost sinners who do not know their right hands from their left;\nI warn him to go before he shall be in the belly of hell.\u201d The reader\nis left to imagine how this affected the young school teacher who was\nfleeing from his duty. In some parts of Limestone county the people use\nan improvised lamp, the oil vessel of which is a snuff bottle. This\nis a rough vessel, but it holds the oil which feeds the flame. This\nreminds us of Mr. Spurgeon\u2019s beer-bottle candlestick. Well, I want to\nsay that God used these men, whatever were their imperfections--they\nhad power. But we have had help from without.\n\n(_a_) Our white neighbors--some of them, at least--have aided us. They\nhave helped us build our church houses and, in some cases, contributed\nto our schools. They have taught in our Sunday schools, preached in\nour pulpits, helped us in the work of organizing associations, etc.\nThey have taught ministers\u2019 classes and held ministers\u2019 institutes\namong us. The writer once held the position of teacher of institutes\nunder the appointment and support of the white Baptist Convention of\nAlabama, and Dr. McAlpine now serves under the appointment of the\nSouthern Board. Several of our best men were enabled to attend the Home\nMission schools on money given by their white brethren.\n\n(_b_) We have been improved by our public schools. It is a strange\nprovidence which, in our public school system, now returns upon the\nblack man something of the interest due him in consideration of\nunrewarded labors. These schools have given us some choice men and\nwomen, who are strong in the work of the church. However, it is in\nplace to say that we have not derived from our public school system all\nthe good which it is capable of bestowing, first, because poor teachers\nhave far too often been put upon the people. But, on the other hand,\nthere has been loss because we have not properly appreciated our needs\nand opportunities, as considered from an educational point of view. The\nsessions of the public schools could be supplemented and extended in\nmost cases so as to cover six or eight months of each year.\n\n(_c_) The Publication Society has rendered substantial aid in the gift\nof books to our ministers and Sunday Schools as well as by the personal\ntouch and teaching of their Sunday School Missionaries.\n\n(_d_) The Missionary Societies of the Baptist women of Chicago and\nBoston have done a great work among us. Their good missionaries, such\nas Misses Moore, Knapp, Voss and others whose names will ever be\nprecious to our people, have given themselves to work among our women\nand girls. They have breathed into our home life their beautiful piety,\nand they have acquainted our mission bands and church workers with\nthe latest and best methods of labor. We have seen with their eyes and\nfelt with their hearts.\n\n[Illustration: First Baptist Church, Selma, Ala. C. J. Hardy, Pastor.]\n\n(_e_) The Selma University, with one exception, is the source of our\ngreatest blessing. It is simply impossible to estimate the good that\nhas come to Alabama Baptists out of this institution. What it has done\nis beyond the power of calculation. Only Omniscience can reckon up the\ngood effects of its power upon the people. God be praised for Selma\nUniversity! When we began the school in 1878, we hadn\u2019t one single\ngraduate in our midst. Since that time graduates have gone forth as\nfollows:\n\n\n1884.\n\nR. T. Pollard, S. A. Stone, W. W. Posey, T. H. Posey, R. B. Hudson, L.\nJ. Green, C. R. Rodgers, A. A. Bowie, D. T. Gully, A. W. Hines, and\nMiss Washington, now Mrs. R. T. Pollard.\n\n\n1885.\n\nJ. A. Anthony, W. E Large, J. H. Eason and Mrs. Thompson.\n\n\n1886.\n\nW. S. Matthews, H. L. Thomas, Dr. L. L. Burwell and Mrs. H. M. Baker.\n\n\n1887.\n\nM. M. Archer, S. H. Campbell, J. C. Copeland, W. T. Bibb, W. A. Watson,\nF. P. Tyler, J. H. Culver, P. A. Kigh, C. H. Patterson, Mrs. R. B.\nHudson, Mrs. A. W. Hines, Vannie Brooks.\n\n\n1888.\n\nS. H. Abrams, D. A. Bible, R. D. Taylor, Mrs. M. F. Wilson, E. J.\nNelson and Mary F. Williams.\n\n\n1889.\n\nR. M. Williams, E. L. Blackman, Mrs. P. F. Clark, Mrs. W. T. Bibb, P.\nE. Gresham, D. L. Prentice, J. R. Willis and Dr. W. R. Pettiford.\n\n\n1890.\n\nW. J. Bryson, R. T. Payne, J. F. Payne, Dr. R. Tyler, Dr. L. Roberts,\nE. W. Knight, J. C. Leftwich, L. A. Sinkler, Mrs. W. B. Johnson, Mrs.\nG. A. Brown, Wm. Cooper, Emma Garrett, M. Turner, Mary L. Smith, P. S.\nL. Hutchins.\n\n\n1891.\n\nP. B. Taylor, C. E. Clayton, Mary Osborne, Lula Gray, Ida M. Wilhite,\nViola Hudson, Mamie C. Welch, A. M. Jackson, J. McConico, J. H.\nHutchinson, M. M. Porter, E. T. Taylor.\n\n\n1892.\n\nR. L. Hill, G. P. Adams, E. M. Carter, W. T. Coleman, I. B. Kigh, B. R.\nSmith, Chas. White Jr., M. J. Brown, A. E. Gilliam, Pattie Richardson,\nAmelia Tyler and Maggie Johnson.\n\n\n1893.\n\nJ. A. Graham, W. M. Montgomery, H. E. Grogan, Eva Green.\n\n\n1894.\n\nI. T. Simpson, C. J. Davis, W. H. Wilhite, Annie Stone, T. W. Calvary\nand Eliza Fuller (Mrs. Knight).\n\n\n1895.\n\nLula E. Ware, Annie L. Jones, Comer E. Carter, Benjamin F. Sanders,\nLila L. Jones, Julia L. Sanders, Mary F. McCord, Emma P. Jones, Earnest\nW. Brown and Donnie E. Hillson.\n\nWe see very little that these names mean except we associate them\nwith the masses of the people in the various walks of social and\nbusiness life. But, associating them thus, we see them as so many stars\nlighting up the dark places around them. However, to do this is by\nno means to place ourselves where we can see the _whole_ truth. What\nhas been wrought upon the thousands of students who failed to finish\nthe prescribed course? They are elevated and they have borne their\nelevation to their neighbors. From their teachers and from the refining\natmosphere of the school, they have drunken purer thoughts, loftier\naims and a stronger manhood. This they have carried to others less\nfavored than themselves, and now it works as the leaven in the dough.\nAgain, the school has strengthened us by its weight upon our hearts and\nhands. Labor, well directed, develops strength in the laborer. We are\ngreater because we have been compelled to care for that institution,\nand it has caused us to have faith in ourselves. We now know that it\nis possible for us to maintain an educational work. It is needless to\nsay that by means of it, we have looked larger in the eyes of others.\nSomehow, he who can _do something good_ and _great_ commands our\nrespect.\n\n(_f_) The Home Mission Society.--This society has served us to greater\nresults than any other agency. To this society the university owes\nabove half the money which has given it support all these years. They\nhave given us missionary aid which has served to produce higher life\nand better order in our churches and associations. And from their\nschools beyond our state we have received many of our most capable\npersons, among whom we may mention Drs. Dinkins, Purce, Stokes, Owens,\nour eloquent Fisher, and Jones, our scholarly Peterson, the urbane\nJackson of Eufaula, the industrious Bradford, and others whose names I\ncannot at this moment recall. Mrs. C. S. Dinkins, as well as Mrs. C. O.\nBoothe, came to us from the Roger Williams University, a Home Mission\nSociety School. But what has been said will suffice to show us how we\nhave come to be a wiser and a better people than we were thirty years\nago. And if we see what has blessed us in the years gone by, no doubt\nwe shall be able to see that the same things may, if we will permit\nthem to do so, bless us in the years to come. May our steps not be\nforgotten by our children.\n\n\nIII. THE POINT WE NOW OCCUPY.\n\nThirty years we have been beneath the opportunities and duties of free\nmanhood, which is to say that for thirty years we have been associated\nwith the family institution as husband, as wife, as parent, as sister,\nas brother, as son, and as daughter. Three decades with the family,\ndeveloping affection and making patience.\n\nThirty years of business life has passed upon us, which is to say\nthat we have for this length of time been associated with those facts\nwhich grow out of our physical wants, such as labor, system, economy,\ncompetition, skill, etc.\n\nWe have had thirty years over our own consciences, over our own wills,\nover our own church affairs. We have had thirty years with books and\nschools. We have had thirty years under the duties of citizenship. What\nhave we attained to in this time? Have these years given us any fruits?\nAre we where we were in 1865? Let us see.\n\n\n(_a_) Church Property.--At the close of the war we owned (?) two frame\nbuildings in Mobile and owned (?) the brick basement of the building\nnow occupied by our white brethren in Selma, worth--all told--about\n$8,000. We now own nine brick buildings, worth not less than $100,000\nabove their indebtedness. And we cannot make an estimate of the church\nproperty whereon are frame structures. The property of this sort in\nthe city of Birmingham and vicinity is worth $15,000, in Montgomery\n$26,000, in Mobile $12,000, in Talladega $10,000, in Greensboro $3,000,\nin Eufaula $6,000, in Tuskegee $2,500, in Opelika $2,500, in Eutaw\n$2,000, in Demopolis $3,000, in Decatur $1,500, in Florence $1,500,\nin Courtland $1,200, in Gadsden $2,000. But, it is not intended, and\nis not necessary, to mention every point, as the aim is to show that\nthroughout the State we have churches in their own quarters, on their\nown land. Everywhere we have put our work not only into mind but we\nhave put it into dirt, brick and stone. Two hundred and fifty thousand\ndollars worth of church property scattered throughout the State, as it\nis, affords a good foundation for future operation.\n\n[Illustration: Miss Joanna P. Moore, Nashville, Tenn., thirty years\nMissionary to the Colored People of the South.]\n\n(_b_) School Property.--Our school at Selma is now worth about $30,000.\nIt was bought in 1878 for $3,000, and has been in constant operation\never since, though at one time a debt of about $8,000 threatened its\nlife. We owe a debt of a little over $3,000 at this time. The Howard\nCollege, the leading school of our white brethren, owes it is said a\ndebt of about $33,000, and lately the report has come to the writer\nthat the management had thought of assigning, because they could not\nsee how they could raise money enough to meet the interest. I mention\nthis only to show that our struggles are similar to the struggles of\nother good people, and that we have abundant cause for rejoicing and\nhope.\n\nWell, we have in Selma University an educational foundation. The Marion\nAcademy, worth about $2,000, begins academies.\n\n\n(_c_) Educated Men and Women.--Over one hundred young people have\nreceived diplomas from Selma University. Graduates have come to Alabama\nfrom other States. Baptists have graduated from other schools in this\nState--schools like Talladega and Tuskegee, the school at Huntsville,\nand the school at Montgomery. This statement of facts is calculated\nto turn our minds toward a possibility and prophecy of the near\napproach--even on the part of the masses--of that state of mind which\nlives and moves in the higher pleasures and to the more sacred ends of\nlife.\n\n\n(_d_) Homes.--The wandering life which characterized the masses of\nthe people in 1865, is fast giving place to settled home life. We\nhave invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in town lots and farm\nlands, where we are quietly and contentedly rearing our loved ones,\nstudying the good of our community, and arranging for the prosperity\nof the house of God. In other words, we are fixtures in the country\nand fixtures in the cities and towns. We have attained to affairs--to\nthe possession of money and other forms of material value--so that we\nhave power in the world of exchange. Prof. B. T. Washington is a wonder\namong men as the builder and manager of the greatest school in Alabama,\nand his friend, Mr. Logan, proves that the colored men can manage\ngreat money schemes, while Mr. B. H. Hudson and others, of Birmingham,\nestablish the Negro as a banker.\n\n\n(_e_) Organizations.--We are now together--acquainted, organized.\nIn the beginning of 1865, the minister in one part of the State did\nnot know the minister in the other part. There was no union, no\nplan of agreement. Now there are about 800 churches, all organized\ninto associations. Each church may be reached and affected through\nits association, with regard to any line of work. We have created a\nstrong sentiment in favor of education and a strong sentiment against\nintemperance, so that the masses of the people may be easily led in\nright directions. The day of pioneering lies behind us, and most of\nthe pioneers are gone to their long home. We are now at the point\nfor action on new lines. As individual Christians we need to turn\nour attention more directly upon the one aim of human life, namely,\n_God-like character building_ in ourselves and in them with whom we\nhave to do. As churches, we need to see to it not only that we win\nsouls, but that we train them in Christian work also. All other points\nbeing equal, the trained soldier is the man to trust with the battle.\nThe Sunday school work and the young people\u2019s unions are very available\nas training institutions. May God put it into the hearts of the leaders\nof this new day and new chapter in our history to see to it that these\norganizations shall serve the ends for which they are so well suited.\nMay their hearts wholly enter into the possibilities and purposes of\nevery sacred organization!\n\nI take courage, and there arises in my mind glorious prospects coming\ndown the future, as I see the faith and push of our Sunday school and\nour women\u2019s conventions. If our present Sunday school leaders should\nsucceed in wrapping their mantles about men who will be as faithful\nunder the midday light as they have been in the dawning, the future\nmust find an ever broadening compass of Bible influence, and an\never-increasing beauty in our words and lives.\n\n\nTHE WOMEN\u2019S CONVENTION--A HIGH POINT.\n\nThe Women\u2019s State Convention organized in 1886, marks a new era in the\nhistory of our denomination. The present brick building on our school\ngrounds owes its existence chiefly to this organization. They came into\nthe field in a dark time, and at a time when the wheels of the school\ndragged heavily. The circumstances which sent Miss S. A. Stone before\nthe people of the State seemed a providence. The time, the conditions,\nneeded the heart of a woman to control them. And the Women\u2019s Convention\nconquered the hardness of heart and the division of opinion, prevailing\namong the people, by sending Miss Stone among them. Most grandly did\nshe conquer. Well, what is the lesson here? It is this: let the women\nstill be encouraged, let them continue to operate. We need all our\nforces in line.\n\nToo much praise cannot be bestowed upon Mesdames G. J. Brooks, R. T.\nPollard, C. J. Hardy, A. A. Bowie, W. R. Pettiford, A. J. Gray, M.\nTyler, S. H. Wright, E. W. Armstead, J. A. Craig and the other noble\nwomen associated with them, for the services they have rendered the\nstate in the support they have given their Convention. The times demand\nthat this work shall still be faithfully continued. I am glad that we\nare up in our ideas of woman, and the fact that we are argues progress\non our part.\n\nIt is a praiseworthy fact that we colored Baptists occupy advanced\nground with regard to the questions which involve the powers and rights\nof women. I remember that upon one occasion just after the close of the\nwar, my mother returned from church rather disgusted because a woman\nhad been called upon to lead in public prayer. Now, too, the singing,\nthe reading and the praying in our congregations, are assuming forms\nsuited to our advanced or advancing state of mind. The song is suited\nto the text and fewer stanzas are sung. The music is not so slow and\nis rendered with more harmony and life. In the sermon, the preacher\naims to give his audience _thoughts_ rather than _feelings_, and\nlongs to make his hearers _wiser_ rather than _happier_. He who reads\nthe Bible to others, whether he reads in family or church, reads by\nparagraphs--taking in a single thought or fact at the time--in place\nof the old custom of reading a whole chapter in connection with which\nno one idea was raised into prominence. In short our gospel reformers\nseem now to realize that saving faith in the truth is that exercise\nof soul regarding truth that satisfies the intellect, impresses the\nsensibilities and bows the will beneath the gospel forms and gospel\nspirit. Of course this is not true of all our teachers, but it is\ntrue of many of them; and the tendency upon the part of the whole\npeople is in this direction. Individual human essence leavened with\nthe Divine essence, is the goal in the eye of the representative\nleader of our people. Largely we have attained to the confidence of\nour white brethren. In the union conference of the white and the\ncolored ministers of Birmingham, recently held, I plainly saw that the\nwhite Baptist ministers were more at ease with the colored brethren\nthan the white ministers of other denominations, except perhaps, the\nPresbyterian brethren. And I think they were not so much disturbed\nabout the social question. I call attention to this fact in order to\nsay that their joint work with us has enabled them to see our good\nqualities and concede to us the claims which belong to intellectual and\nmoral culture. And as our Christian culture shall widen its radius and\ndeepen its impressions upon all who may be touched by us, the prejudice\nand barriers incident to our color must retire behind the curtains of\nthe past.\n\n    \u201cWere I so tall to reach the pole,\n      Could grasp creation in my span;\n    I\u2019d still be measured by my soul--\n      The mind\u2019s the standard of the man.\u201d\n\nI delight to record that we are attaining to humility as a Christian\ngrace. This is the crowning grace. Some years ago the writer called\nat the home of Dr. J. M. Pendleton, in Upland, Pa. The doctor was\nupstairs. A servant answered the door bell, and the visitor was\nconducted to the parlor to await the famous man\u2019s entrance. As the\nvisitor was in every way a very little man, and as he thought of Dr. P.\nas being in every way a very large person, he feared the sound of every\nfootstep. He expected to be over-awed by the majesty and dignity of the\ngreat man. As the door knob turned he was almost annihilated. But how\ndifferent the sight! There stood the noted writer in the spirit of a\nchild. How mighty, yet, how meek and lowly! How charming, how winning\nwas this child-like simplicity and hospitality! With the bewitching\nsmiles and musical tones of childish innocence, he repeated, \u201cBrother\nBoothe, from Alabama, I suppose.\u201d\n\n[Illustration: Rev. C. J. Hardy, Pastor First Baptist Church, Selma,\nAla.]\n\nToward this end we, too, are coming. The time has been when the best\nman among us would air his big words, hang out his learning (?), strut\nbecause of a fine suit, boast of his school advantages, laud his\nsuperior graces, gloat in his empty titles. Not so now. To be meek and\nlowly in heart, to be full of prayer and watchfulness, to be charitable\nand self-abasing, to be pure and pious--these things are before us now.\n\nThe old plan of collecting money for church work regardless of system\nand regardless of the duty associated with Christian giving, must also\nsoon retire to the past; for forces are now appearing which will work\nas the leaven in the dough.\n\nDr. Pettiford has recently brought out a book titled, \u201cGod\u2019s Revenue\nSystem,\u201d wherein the author labors to bring before the people the Bible\nmethods of giving. Arguments are presented and proof texts are given in\ntheir support. This work is being widely circulated among the churches\nand ministers. And the writer served a church where the following plan\nprevailed: At the end of each year the church appointed a committee to\nfigure on the expenses of the ensuing year, and to help the members\nand friends apportion the burden among themselves according to their\nseveral abilities. Each person took upon himself what he thought he\nmight be able to pay, and dividing his share as the church might have\nneed, he paid it in installments. Usually the money was collected in\nthe conference meetings. Another church came under my notice that had\nin it \u201cthe tithe band,\u201d which gave a tenth of their income to the house\nof God. In a session of the Sea Coast Association I witnessed the\nfollowing, it was what they called \u201cWomen\u2019s Day:\u201d\n\nOne woman, holding her money in her hand, said: \u201cI am president of a\nmission band which meets once a month to learn of our duty to missions.\nWe tax ourselves one nickle a month, and this is our donation to the\nwork.\u201d\n\nAnother said: \u201cI raise chickens. One hen in my yard I\u2019ve given to God.\nThis money is from her eggs and chickens.\u201d\n\nStill another: \u201cIn my orange orchard there are some trees which I have\ndedicated to God. The money which comes of the sale of the fruit grown\non these trees goes to the cause of Christ.\u201d And she laid her donation\non the table.\n\nIn a Christian home I saw on the mantelpiece a little box marked,\n\u201cGod\u2019s bank.\u201d Into this money was dropped at stated seasons in order\nthat there might never be any want of consecrated money in the house.\nIn a certain home sickness had cut off income. The missionary secretary\nsent to this home for money. In order that a donation might be sent\nin, the family agreed to leave the sugar off the table for a certain\nlength of time. Thus a small amount was saved for the cause of Christ.\nThank God, that truth on all lines is finding an echo in our souls! We\nare not only learning the value of money and enterprise, but we are\nalso learning that \u201ca man\u2019s life consisteth not in the abundance of the\nthings which he possesses.\u201d\n\nWedlock is becoming more sacred. More and more the people are growing\ninto a responsiveness to the sacredness of the marriage relation. The\nhusband has increased in knowledge regarding his duty to his wife; the\nwife sees better her relation to her husband; the parents more clearly\nperceive what is possible and proper with reference to their children;\nand, therefore, we can claim thousands of homes which are sources of\nrefinement, of love, and of purest pleasure. Music is brought in,\nand in many homes the family choir contributes to the enjoyment of\nchildren and parents, whose hearts feast upon mutual, sweet affection.\nNot long ago the writer had the pleasure of receiving the hospitality\nof a family in which such a choir existed. Each member had his place\nsomewhere on the staff; either he was in the tenor, or in the alto,\nor in the soprano, or in the bass. Mother, father and children\ndelightfully partook of the feast of song. Their Scripture lesson was\nnot a long, disjointed chapter, but a single thought, namely: \u201cThe\nwisdom that is from above.\u201d Its qualities were considered--they were:\n(1) Pure; (2) peaceable; (3) gentle; (4) approachable; (5) merciful;\n(6) fruitful of good works; (7) impartial; and (8) honest. This lesson\nwas in a scheme on the blackboard, kept in the home for such purposes,\nthus:\n\n                    { 1. Purity.\n                    { 2. Peaceableness.\n                    { 3. Gentleness.\n Heavenly Wisdom,   { 4. Approachableness.\n Its Qualities.     { 5. Mercy.\n                    { 6. Fruitfulness in good works.\n                    { 7. Impartiality.\n                    { 8. Honesty.\n\nThis plan gave opportunity to discuss in a few words each designated\nquality. Each person large enough to take part was encouraged to do so.\nOne part of the evening hour was spent in amusing literary games, like\nthe following:\n\nA word was suggested, and so many minutes were allowed to elapse,\nduring which time each member of the family sought to make the greatest\nnumber of words out of the letters composing the word suggested. At the\nclose of this allotted time, spelling was compared, and the difference\nas to the number of words made by each was noted. The exercise was\npleasant, exciting and profitable. The writer mused: \u201cThis is so much\nbetter than gossip, unsociableness, sullen silence, and quarreling.\u201d\nFrom the word _abatement_, for example, came the words: At, mat, bat,\nbet, tab, mate, am, an, ant, tent, beat, abate, Abe. At other times\nproblems in mathematics furnished the wrestling point; then points in\ngeography and history were entertained. \u201cName as many cities as you can\ncontaining so many thousand inhabitants, and tell where they are,\u201d was\nproposed. Thus an hour or so of the early evening was profitably passed\naway in shunning evil and gathering knowledge for good.\n\nWe dare hope that every home will seek to improve on this line. Evil\ncannot be kept out of the home except in proportion as we fill it with\nwhat is good. And the quality of the home life must determine the\nquality of the social life, of the church life, and of the political\nlife, as well as of the business life, of any people.\n\nAs a further illustration of the influences and plans operating among\nus--as a fitting conclusion--we present the following from Miss Knapp,\none of the faithful missionaries of the Women\u2019s Baptist Home Mission\nSociety:\n\n\nMISSIONARY WORK IN BIRMINGHAM DISTRICT.\n\nMany are the blessings God has bestowed upon missionary work in\nBirmingham and it is a real pleasure to state briefly some of the\nmethods employed which have given the workers so much joy, and which\nour Heavenly Father has used to advance his cause.\n\nReligious visiting in the homes of the people is a very important\npart. God\u2019s word never returns unto Him void, and when it is carried\ninto the homes and its truths taught and heart to heart talks given\nonly eternity will reveal its results in leading lost souls to look\nto a loving Savior, and arousing indifferent Christians to the fact\nthat God has chosen them and ordained them that they should go and\nbring forth fruit. Again, the teaching of the children is a work never\nto be overlooked, for the future of any race or nation depends upon\nthe moral and religious instruction given to the young. The Sunday\nschools, children\u2019s meetings and industrial schools are means which\nare accomplishing great good. From two hundred to three hundred meet\neach week in the industrial schools during the school year. We have\none session each week in each of the schools. They are held in the\ndifferent churches. About one half of the time in each session is spent\nteaching different kinds of sewing, and the remainder in giving moral\nand religious instruction. The progress made by many of the pupils\nin sewing and in gaining Bible knowledge is often a marvel to the\nmissionaries. The strong temperance stand taken by many of the children\nis truly a delight, and when one after another professes a hope in\nChrist we are led to say, \u201cBless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is\nwithin me, bless His holy name.\u201d The welfare of the young people also\nhas a large place in our hearts and with the faithful co-operation of\npastors and the young people themselves, there are about forty local B.\nY. P. U.\u2019s which are united in an Asssociational Baptist Young People\u2019s\nUnion. Great things are expected of these young people from the Bible\nknowledge they are acquiring and instruction which they are receiving\nconcerning Christian work.\n\n[Illustration: Rev. S. L. Ross, Sunday School Missionary for Alabama,\nunder Auspices Alabama Baptist Publication Society.]\n\nPerhaps no richer blessings have been given than those which have\nfallen on the efforts which the women are putting forth. Well can\nwe remember when there was but one missionary society in Birmingham\nthat was trying to obey our Savior\u2019s last loving words: \u201cYe shall be\nwitnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria,\nand unto the uttermost parts of the earth.\u201d\n\nThey stood alone, but were inspired to go forward by their pastor,\nRev. W. R. Pettiford. Though few in number, the blessings of God\nrested upon them. After a time they had a public missionary meeting.\nThe subject was \u201cThe Indians.\u201d It was held on Sunday night. Hearts\nwere enlarged; the work was better understood by the membership of the\nchurch, and as a result new members were added to the society. The\nsisters in one church after another organized and joined the ranks. The\nsociety of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church no longer stood alone.\n\nThe object of the work is given as follows in Article II of the\nConstitution: \u201cIts object shall be to promote the purity, intelligence\nand happiness of our homes, and to educate the women of our Baptist\nchurches in a knowledge of missions, to cultivate in them a missionary\nspirit, and thus lead them to help in mission work at home, in the\nState, in our country, and in foreign lands.\u201d\n\nThe following blanks are used by the sisters in reporting their work\nfrom month to month:\n\n  Report of.................................................\n  For the month of....................................189...\n  Have you read the Bible each day?.........................\n  Have you taken the Mother\u2019s Pledge and kept it?...........\n  Number of religious visits................................\n  Number of families helped.................................\n  Number added to the Missionary Society....................\n  Number of meetings conducted..............................\n  Number of new members brought into the Sunday School......\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nOn July 26, 1893, a day memorable in the history of the work, the local\nsocieties were united in a \u201cWomen\u2019s Missionary Association.\u201d Mrs.\nCordelia Taylor was chosen as its president.\n\nThe local societies number about twenty-five. We meet twice a year,\nfor a one day\u2019s meeting. These meetings are largely attended, well\nconducted and of real profit to the work.\n\nThe study of the uniform subjects which have been prepared for the use\nof the local societies have greatly helped the mothers in their great\nwork in the home, in the Church work, and given a more intelligent\nknowledge of missions in ours and other lands. The public missionary\nmeetings are being held on Sunday afternoons or nights in the different\nchurches and are proving the same blessing as the first one.\n\nMiss Moore\u2019s paper, _Hope_, is being taken and read by scores of the\nsisters, and is an untold blessing to all.\n\nThe \u201cMother\u2019s Pledge\u201d has been signed by quite a company and is rich in\nresults to both mother and child.\n\nSeveral of the earnest, Christian women are having fireside schools for\nthe children in their neighborhoods, and the books are being purchased\nby many, thus affording good and helpful reading in many homes.\n\nOur hearts go up to God in gratitude as we call to mind the\nco-operation of pastors and people in the plans suggested by the former\nas well as the present missionaries, and the bountiful way in which\nGod has blessed the efforts which we have together put forth, and we\nwould say in the words of the Psalmist: \u201cMany, O Lord, my God, are thy\nwonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which to usward,\nthey cannot be reckoned up in order to Thee; if I would declare and\nspeak of them they are more than can be numbered.\u201d\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n[Illustration: Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Montgomery, Ala., Rev. R.\nD. Pollard, Pastor.]\n\n\n\n\n_FINAL REMARKS._\n\n\nWe have done well, but we could have done better. George Ruskin gives\nbirth to a great river of thought in the expression, \u201cThe more my\nlife _disappointed_ me, the more _solemn_ and the more _wonderful_\nit became to me.\u201d We have suffered, it is true, and still we suffer,\nbeneath the prejudice of a mighty people, the movings of whose will and\npassions none but God can stay. But, as we remember that the Almighty\ncan rule the hearts of men, and that He has promised that the meek (He\ndoesn\u2019t respect persons) shall inherit the earth; that this prejudice\nabout us is not a human essence, but a mere accretion upon human life,\nrising from abnormal social conditions which are passing away; that\ndisappointment, instead of cowering and disarming us, should rouse us\nto nerve ourselves with a firmer resolution to endure suffering, to\ntoil, to economize, to increase in knowledge and skill, to fill our\nhomes with love and beauty, to be still more pure in heart and upright\nin word and deed--as we remember these things, we must confess that we\ncould have done better.\n\nOur greatest needs now are: (_a_) A closer walk with God; (_b_) more\nlove and peace at home; (_c_) purer thoughts and more prayer in our\nhearts; (_d_) a nearer approach to gospel plans in all departments of\nour church work; (_e_) more race pride and race confidence; (_f_) more\nof the spirit of Christ in our annual meetings; (_g_) co-operation in\nbusiness, such as banking and mercantile enterprises.\n\nWe earn millions of dollars, a large part of which we ought to and can\nkeep among ourselves, and thus strengthen the financial standing of the\nNegro Race.\n\nWe need to establish and maintain money operations among ourselves,\nespecially for the following reasons:\n\n(1) No moneyless people have any power or voice in the solid things\nof life, in those facts which command homes, farms, store houses,\nrailroads, live stock, steamship lines, furnaces, manufactories,\nmerchandise, banks, and the like. We need plans of co-operation which\nwill enable us to come together with our little savings until they\naggregate to an amount that is large enough to support some sort of\nbusiness. Saving societies or circles should be organized all over the\ncountry, for the purpose of studying methods for money saving and money\ninvestment.\n\nOf course, it must be admitted that money raised by our people in this\nway has fallen into the hands of men who have made way with it. But\nthis danger may be put out of the way by compelling the man who holds\nthe money to give good security in the form of a bond, legally made and\nproperly signed. The money thus raised should be deposited in the bank\ntill the amount obtained is large enough for some business project.\nThe Alabama Penny Savings Bank of Birmingham started somewhat after\nthis fashion, with a small beginning, but now they command in one way\nand another nearly one hundred thousand dollars. This bank gives the\ncolored people of Birmingham a power in financial circles that they\ncould obtain by no other means.\n\n(2) Our young people need something to do. When the young white man\ncompletes his course at school, he returns to find a job ready for\nhim--a job as clerk, bookkeeper, collector or something so. Not so with\nthe young black man--he returns to an empty void so far as concerns\nthe business world. He comes home to be a loafer, or a boot-black,\nor a buggy boy, or a cook, or a waiter, or a barber, or a prisoner. He\ncomes home to despair, to temptation, to ruin. And this sad state of\nthings can never change by accident: if a better condition of things\nshall ever be our lot, it must come about as the result of forces which\nthe Negro himself shall put in operation. Our white neighbor looks\nupon the facts that we earn the millions and can\u2019t control the cents,\nas proof that we are an inferior race. They say we can be preachers,\nteachers and doctors, but we can\u2019t manage money and can\u2019t unite in\ngreat business enterprises. We seem not to realize that the handling\nof business affairs conduces to the formation of moral character. The\nwriter dares to hope that there are better things in our hearts on this\nline than have yet appeared, and that ere long they will appear in our\nunited action and in our substantial investments. However, \u201c_Fear God\nand keep His commandments._\u201d\n\n[Illustration: Rev. C. L. Purce, President, Louisville, Ky.]\n\n\nCONCLUSION.\n\nAnd now our book is at its end. How well it serves the purpose for\nwhich it was produced, the reader will determine. We gratefully\nrecognize the substantial services rendered by friends, as during the\npast ten years we have hunted and gleaned for subject matter. The\nauthor is under special obligations to Messrs P. W. Williamson, F. D.\nDavis, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Walker, Rev. T. W. Walker, Dr. Waldrop, Dr.\nand Mrs. Pettiford, Mrs. Rachel Jenkins, Mrs. H. C. Bryant, Mr. and\nMrs. W. S. Simpson, of Birmingham; Mr. Tom Posey, Bessemer, and Hon. H.\nA. Loveless, of Montgomery.\n\nTo such as may feel disposed to credit me with the ability to continue\nat work, I would say that but for the faithful toil and sacrifice of my\nwife, Mrs. M. A., and of my daughter, Miss Octavia B. Boothe, it is\nhardly likely that my name would now appear in its humble place on the\nroll of writers. They have borne the burden with me, and we together\nhave performed these humble tasks. With them I cheerfully divide my\nmeagre honors. The writer lays down his pen at the end of a pleasant\nbut arduous task, fully believing that what we have done is but the bud\nand prophecy of what we can and will do in the years to come. This book\ncan only tell of our infancy and youth while the historian who shall\ncome upon the stage after twenty or thirty years beyond this date, will\nbring forth a book wherein shall appear a portraiture of our ripened\nmanhood, out of which shall have grown great enterprises, manned by\nunity, wisdom, wealth and righteousness.\n\n\n[Illustration]\n\n\n\n\n THE ALABAMA PUBLISHING COMPANY\n PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS\n _111 EIGHTEENTH STREET, BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA._\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n OFFICERS:\n  REV. W. R. PETTIFORD, D. D., Pres.\n  REV. T. W. WALKER, Vice-Pres.\n  I. W. LACY, Treas.\n  J. C. BARKER, Sec\u2019y.\n  E. A. LONG, Bus. Manager.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n \u201c_The School of the People._\u201d\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\nIt is our Object to Act as a Medium Through Which Knowledge of Matters\nof Vital Importance to the Welfare of our Race can be Carried to the\nPeople.\n\n  Are You Interested in Us? - -\n      Are You Interested in Yourselves?\n\nThen see to it that you Order one of the Following Books and get\nSomeone Else to do the Same.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n \u201cDIVINITY IN WEDLOCK,\u201d       By W. R. Pettiford, D. D.\n (25 cents per copy; by mail, 28 cents).\n\n \u201cGOD\u2019S REVENUE SYSTEM,\u201d      By W. R. Pettiford, D. D.\n (15 cents per copy; by mail, 17 cents).\n\n \u201cTHE CYCLOPEDIA OF THE COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA,\u201d\n                              By C. O. Boothe, D. D.\n ($1.50 per copy; by mail, $1.67).\n\n \u201cLIFE AND TIMES OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS.\u201d--\n ($2.50 per copy; by mail, $2.67).\n (Portrait of Douglass, 35 cents; by mail, 37 cents).\n\n \u201cGIANTS OF THE REPUBLIC,\u201d                 $3.00 and $4.50\n\n \u201cDINING ROOM AND KITCHEN,\u201d                          $1.50\n\n \u201cIDEAL WOMANHOOD AND MOTHERHOOD,\u201d         $2.00 and $2.75\n\n \u201cTHE WORLD\u2019S SWEETEST SONGS,\u201d      $2.00, $2.50 and $3.50\n\n         *       *       *       *       *\n\n\nWRITE FOR TERMS TO AGENTS, ENCLOSING 2C. STAMP FOR REPLY\n\n  Confidential Terms Made to Agents on Application.\n    Apply to ALABAMA PUBLISHING CO., Birmingham, Ala.\n\n\n\n\nTranscribers\u2019 Notes\n\n\nA number of typographical errors were corrected silently.\n\nCover image is in the public domain.\n\nHandwritten inscription under Miss Joanna P. Moore picture\nnot transcribed.\n\nAdd Selma University, and Rev. W. A. Shirley to Index to\nIllustrations.","title":"The Cyclopedia of the Colored Baptists of Alabama: Their Leaders and Their Work","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":66819}