,illustration3 ,,rev4 ,c4 ,o4 ,,boothe1 ,d4 ,d4 ,author of 8,plain ,theology40 ,,the ,,cyclopedia ,,of ,,the ,,colored ,,baptists ,,of ,,alabama ,,their ,,leaders ,,and ,,their ,,work ,,by ,charles ,octavius ,boothe1 ,d4 ,d4 ,author of 8,plain ,theology for ,plain ,people40 ,,birmingham3 ,alabama ,publishing ,company4 #ahie ,copyright #ahie ,by ,rev4 ,c4 ,o4 ,boothe1 ,d4 ,d4 ,,index ,,to ,,illustrations4 ,,page4 ,rev4 ,c4 ,o4 ,boothe ,frontispiece ,rev4 ,j4 ,q4 ,a4 ,wilhite #ab ,hon4 ,a4 ,h4 ,curtis #ai ,mrs4 ,a4 ,a4 ,bowie #bf ,rev4 ,l4 ,s4 ,steinback in the act of ,baptism #cc ,mrs4 ,d4 ,s4 ,jordan #cf ,shiloh ,church1 ,birmingham ,facing #de ,rev4 ,f4 ,r4 ,kennedy #ef ,selma ,university ,facing #fa ,mrs4 ,m4 ,d4 ,duncan #ff ,rev4 ,j4 ,p4 ,barton #ge ,miss ,h4 ,martin #hb ,rev4 ,w4 ,r4 ,pettiford #ia ,rev4 ,j4 ,l4 ,frazier #ii ,rev4 ,p4 ,s4 ,l4 ,hutchins #ajf ,rev4 ,w4 ,t4 ,bibb #aaj ,sixteenth ,street ,church1 ,birmingham ,facing #abj ,rev4 ,s4 ,l4 ,belser #abi ,dr4 ,u4 ,g4 ,mason #acf ,rev4 ,j4 ,p4 ,o',riley #add ,miss ,ella ,knapp #aea ,rev4 ,j4 ,h4 ,eason #aeh ,miss ,a4 ,l4 ,bowman #afe ,rev4 ,m4 ,tyler #agb ,mrs4 ,rebecca ,pitts #agi ,rev4 ,w4 ,c4 ,bradford #ahf ,rev4 ,h4 ,woodsmall #aid ,rev4 ,j4 ,e4 ,wilson #bjc ,rev4 ,w4 ,a4 ,shirley ,facing #bjg ,rev4 ,l4 ,s4 ,steinback #bab ,st4 ,louis ,street ,church1 ,mobile ,facing #bba ,rev4 ,t4 ,w4 ,walker #bbh ,rev4 ,j4 ,w4 ,jackson #bch ,first ,church1 ,selma #bdd ,miss ,joanna ,p4 ,moore1 ,nashville ,facing #bdi ,rev4 ,c4 ,j4 ,hardy #bed ,rev4 ,s4 ,l4 ,ross #bei ,dexter ,avenue ,church1 ,montgomery ,facing #bfb ,rev4 ,c4 ,l4 ,purce #bfe ,,table ,,of ,,contents4 ,,chap4 ,,page4 ,autobiography of the ,author #i ,preface #ac ,i4--,introduction #ag ,,ii4--,the ,state ,conventions #cg ,,iii4--,associations #ee ,,iv4--,biographic ,sketches #aaa ,biographic ,supplement #bbc ,v4--,summary #bcg ,final ,remarks #bfc ,,autobiography ,,of ,,the ,,author4 99 99 99 99 99 ,possibly some one may desire at some time and for some reason to know something of the author of this book1 and therefore he submits the following short statement3 ,,lineage ,,and ,,nativity4--,his great-grandmother was born on the west coast of ,africa and was brought a slave to ,virginia1 where his grandmother was born4 ,ere his grandmother had reached her maturity of womanhood1 she was sold into ,georgia1 where his mother was born4 ,while his mother was still a child1 she and her mother were carried to ,mobile county1 ,ala41 by a ,mr4 ,nathan ,howard4 ,in this county1 on a lonely looking sand hill amid pine forests1 on ,june #ac1 #ahde1 the writer made his advent into this world4 7,in this year1 #ahde1 the ,baptists of ,america divided47 ,,early ,,recollections4--,stored away in my earliest memories ,i find3 7#a7 ,the songs and family prayers of my step-grandfather1 a pure ,african1 who had not only learned to read his ,bible and hymn book1 but had also learned the rudiments of vocal music sufficiently well to teach the art of singing4 7#b7 ,the tender and constant attention of an old white lady 7the only white person on the place71 who took my hand as she went out to look after the nests of the domestic fowls and to gather a dish of ripe fruit4 7#c7 ,a ,baptist church in the forest1 where white and colored people sat together to commune and to wash each other's feet4 7#d7 ,the saintly face and pure life of my grandmother1 to whom white and black went for prayer and for comfort in the times of their sorrows4 7#e7 ,a tin-plate containing the alphabet1 from which at the age of #c years1 ,i learned the ,english letters4 7#f7 ,the death of the old white lady1 and the severing from dear grandmother and the old home4 7#g7 ,my introduction at the age of #f years to the family of ,nathan ,howard1 ,jr41 where things were not altogether as tender toward me as at the old home1 and where ,i came more into associations with books and with life's sterner facts4 ,the teachers who boarded here at my new home became my instructors1 and so ,i was soon reading and writing fairly well4 ,here1 listening to the reading of the ,bible1 ,i was drawn toward it1 and began to read it for myself4 ,the gospel story bound me to it with cords which nothing has been able to break4 ,at the close of my eighth year ,i began to seek the ,lord by prayer and supplication1 and have1 from that time to this1 continued my secret devotions and strivings after truth4 ,my association with ,col4 ,james ,s4 ,terrel1 the brother of ,judge ,s4 ,h4 ,terrel1 of ,clark county1 ,miss41 at the age of #ad1 as office boy in his law office1 gave me a still broader range of books4 ,i think ,i can say that the ,colonel and ,i really loved each other4 ,i am not sure that ,i know just when ,i was regenerated1 as my childhood prayers were often attended with refreshing seasons of love and joy4 ,but my life was too often very un-christian1 breaking out into the wildest rages of bad temper1 which was followed by weeping and remorse4 ,in #ahfe1 however1 ,i reached an experience of grace which so strengthened me as to fix me on the side of the people of ,god4 ,i went at once to reading the scriptures in public and leading prayer meetings2 notwithstanding this1 ,i was not baptized until ,march1 #ahff1 by ,rev4 ,o4 ,d4 ,bowen1 of ,shubuta1 ,miss4 ,i was ordained in the ,st4 ,louis ,street ,church1 ,mobile1 ,december1 #ahfh1 by ,revs4 ,charles ,leavens and ,philip ,gambrell4 ,i taught school for the ,freedmen's ,bureau in #ahfg--taught various schools under our public school system4 ,i have been pastor of the ,first ,colored ,baptist ,church1 ,meridian1 ,miss41 ,dexter ,avenue ,church1 ,montgomery1 and held various ,state positions4 ,the only time ,i have spent at school was spent in ,meharry1 the medical department of the ,central ,tennessee ,college4 ,c4 ,o4 ,,boothe4 ,illustration ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,j4 ,q4 ,a4 ,wilhite1 ,pastor ,sixth ,avenue ,baptist ,church1 ,birmingham1 ,ala4 ,,preface4 99 99 99 99 99 ,this effort to give substantial and favorable testimony in the interest of the men and work of the ,colored ,baptists of ,alabama grows out of certain aims and purposes1 such as3 #a4 ,the desire to produce a picture of the negro associated with the gospel under the regime of slavery4 ,such a picture will serve to turn our eyes upon the social1 moral and religious forces of the dark times and their fruits in the negro's life4 #b4 ,the desire to make comparisons--to compare the colored man of #ahfe with the colored man of #ahie4 ,such a comparison will help the black man himself to see whether or not he is a growing man or a waning man4 ,it will also serve to show the same thing to the friend and to the foe4 8,appeals to ,pharaoh and to ,csar0 are not so wise as appeals to facts1 which prove the negro to be man just as other races are man4 ,the book is not all history1 nor is it all biography2 it is something of both and it is more4 ,it gives certain information which can neither rank as history nor as biography3 it is the record of special operations in the denomination in different sections of the ,state with a view to showing the mental status now prevailing4 ,i have been engaged with the book for the past seven years1 during which time ,i have searched and gleaned as best ,i could2 ,i have not tried to obtain everything1 nor have ,i had space to talk of every person who deserved honorable mention4 ,to do this would require too large a book4 ,i could not do more than get enough together to 8round out0 my testimony4 ,where ,i have spoken of anything that touches our white brethren or the white people1 it has been in tenderest love for them1 though my language has been plain and seemingly bold4 ,i think ,i can risk the statement that ,i have no 8race prejudice30 all men are in a sense my brethren and ,i am brother to all men--akin to ,christ1 akin to me4 ,if a brother among us deserving mention should not appear1 remember that many failed to report to me as ,i desired them to do1 and that ,i felt ,i could not do more than give what would make a full showing of our ,state4 ,those names that came after the work was done had to be put into a supplement4 ,it will be seen1 therefore1 that the purpose which gives birth to this little book is not a desire to present a 8vain show0 of names1 appealing to pride for the sake of gain2 but1 that it is an humble aim to accomplish some good4 ,it is an attempt to answer the questions3 8,from whence have we come8 ,what have we done8 ,what have we attained to8 ,what are the possibilities before us80 ,the book is intended to be a simple statement of facts2 which facts1 it is believed1 will be a sufficient apology for their appearance in book form4 ,the reader may expect faults in arrangement and errors in composition1 but it is to be hoped that the sweetness and beauty of the flower will not be rejected because of the thorns upon the stem which bears them4 ,i have not tried to tell everything4 ,if ,i speak of individuals1 it is with a view to giving some of their best things1 best deeds1 etc4 8,straws show which way the wind is blowing10 it is said2 hence only enough of each biographical sketch is given to show the status and trend of the person spoken of4 ,we are too young1 as a people1 to make lengthy biography4 ,coming times will give us this form of literature4 ,it will be remembered that this short period suffices to give only a nucleal point in the matter of writings4 ,i have churned the milk with an eye to obtaining the butter--the richest and best we have4 ,my selection of material may not be the very best1 but something is better than nothing1 and ,i have done the best ,i could under the circumstances4 ,with these prefatory remarks1 ,i present you the rose with its thorns1 trusting that ,god will give sweetness and beauty to the former and allow the latter to do no harm4 ,i cheerfully record my debt of gratitude to my faithful wife1 ,mattie ,alice1 who has been in this labor1 as in all others1 my abiding1 sure support4 ,illustration ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,colored ,,baptists ,,of ,,alabama4 ,i4 ,,introduction4 ,,origin4 ,in turning to the subject under consideration it seems fitting that we should first review those facts and events which gave us our denominational existence4 ,such a course1 it seems to the writer1 will serve to give us a proper 8setting40 ,it is not definitely known just when1 where and by whom1 ,baptist principles were first propagated upon the ,american continent2 it is1 however1 an historic fact that these principles assumed organic form in ,providence1 ,r4 ,i41 in #afci1 in the constitution of a ,baptist church under ,roger ,williams as pastor4 ,other churches soon followed1 out of the union of which there early rose ,associations1 ,conventions and ,missionary ,societies4 ,in #afbj1 nineteen years before the organization of the church in ,providence1 the ,african was brought into ,virginia as a slave4 ,the ,north and the ,south joined heartily in the work of binding their black brother with the chains of cruel bondage4 ,thus the naked savage was taken from his freedom and from his gods and chained to the chariot wheels of ,christian 787 civilization to be coerced1 dragged into new observations1 new experiences1 and a new life4 ,,changes4 ,in order to give a glancing look at the progress and decline of slavery in the ,north1 and at the sort of fruit the gospel was bearing in the soul and conduct of the slave1 ,i copy the following from the 8,baptist ,home ,missions in ,america0 7,jubilee volume73 8,by #aggf there were about #cjj1jjj slaves in ,america4 ,in #agic there were comparatively few slaves to be found in the ,northern ,states4 99 99 99 ,in #agij there were #fig1hig slaves in the ,united ,states2 of this number there were #ag in ,vermont1 #aeh in ,new ,hampshire1 #b1gei in ,connecticut1 #c1gjg in ,pennsylvania1 #aa1dbc in ,new ,jersey1 and #bj1jjj in ,new ,york4 99 99 99 ,before #ahcj slavery disappeared from all the ,northern ,states4 ,in ,vermont it was abolished in #aggg2 in ,massachusetts in #aghj2 while acts for the gradual emancipation of slaves were passed in other ,states--in ,new ,york1 #agii2 in ,new ,jersey1 #ahjd4 ,the final act of abolition in ,new ,york being passed in #ahag1 declaring all slaves free on ,july #d1 #ahbg4 8,the native ,african1 fresh from his fetich worship1 and incapable of comprehending even common religious statements1 seemed an unpromising subject even for the ,christian philanthropist4 ,but1 though degraded1 he is recognized as human1 sinful1 accountable1 in need and capable of redemption through ,christ4 ,the obligation to bring him to a knowledge of the truth as it is in ,christ1 is practically recognized by many ,christian ministers as well as by many pious masters and mistresses4 ,at family devotions in many ,christian households the domestics are called in to hear the ,scriptures read and bow reverently as prayer is offered to ,god4 ,on ,sunday in the same meeting house master and slave listen to the same sermon4 ,those who give evidence of conversion are received into the church on relation of their experience after baptism1 and sit with their masters at the ,lord's table4 8,the ,first ,colored ,baptist ,church of ,savannah1 ,ga41 dates its organization from #aghh4 ,other colored ,baptist churches appear in various parts of the country2 in ,portsmouth1 ,va41 in #agih2 the ,second ,african of ,savannah1 in #ahjc2 the ,abysinian ,church of ,new ,york ,city1 in #ahjc2 the ,african or ,independent ,church1 ,boston1 ,mass41 in #ahje2 ,first ,african of ,philadelphia1 ,pa41 in #ahji2 the ,first ,african of ,st4 ,louis1 in #ahbg2 the ,ebenezer of ,new ,york ,city1 in #ahbe2 the ,union ,church of ,philadelphia1 and a church in the ,district of ,columbia1 in #ahcb40 ,one in ,mobile in #ahci1 of which in #ahdh1 it is said3 8,they have a fine house of worship built by themselves1 and some excellent leaders or licensed preachers among them40 ,illustration3 ,hon4 ,a4 ,h4 ,curtis1 ,ex-,senator to ,alabama ,legislature from ,perry ,county4 ,we have it on good authority1 that in #ahej1 there were in ,america about #aej1jjj negro ,baptists4 ,thus we see that in #bcj years the gospel of ,christ1 though hampered by the institution of slavery1 had done much to redeem the fetich worshiper from his midnight darkness and consequent spiritual ruin--had done much to induce the black man to obtain and retain ,god in his knowledge4 ,often we come upon plants which refuse to give out their sweetness so long as their parts are unbroken and unbleeding1 but which will quickly yield up their odors when bruised4 ,so it is with men4 ,it is worthy of notice that these dark days of slavery gave birth to some strong colored preachers4 ,among others1 the following are mentioned by their white brethren3 ,rev4 ,george ,leile1 of ,south ,carolina1 who visiting ,savannah1 ,ga41 about #aghb or #aghc1 baptized the famous ,rev4 ,andrew ,bryan1 of whom the ,savannah ,association1 7white7 in #ahab1 made the following mention3 8,the association is sensibly affected by the death of the ,rev4 ,andrew ,bryan1 a man of color1 and pastor of the ,first ,colored ,church in ,savannah4 ,this son of ,africa1 after suffering inexpressible persecutions in the cause of his ,divine ,master1 was at length permitted to discharge the duties of the ministry among his colored friends in peace and quiet1 hundreds of whom through his instrumentality were brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in ,jesus40 ,in #ahbj1 the ,board of the ,baptist ,general ,convention of ,america adopted as their missionaries ,revs4 ,collin ,teague and ,lot ,cary1 brethren of color1 from the ,baptist church of ,richmond1 ,va4 ,these men sailed from ,norfolk1 ,va41 to ,liberia1 ,africa1 in ,january1 #ahba4 ,rev4 ,thomas ,paul1 who was pastor of the church in ,boston from #ahje to #ahcj1 is spoken of after a very praiseworthy manner4 ,touching our own ,state1 we begin at ,mobile4 ,,mobile4 ,the rise of the work in the ,southern section of ,alabama appears in the following1 copied from ,brother ,holcombe's work1 and originally written for the ,christian ,index1 ,march #aj1 #ahcf3 8,about #abj years ago a few ,frenchmen came here and made the first little opening in the pine forest4 ,previously to #ahag it was occupied principally as a place of deposit and trade with the ,indians4 ,now its population is not far from #aj1jjj4 ,eighteen years ago a single steamboat found her way to this port1 now forty-five are employed in the ,mobile trade4 ,the ,baptist church was constituted ,march1 #ahce1 by ,j4 ,g4 ,collins1 ,r4 ,l4 ,barnes and ,p4 ,stout with ten members4 ,rev4 ,g4 ,f4 ,heard was called to begin the pastorate ,february #ad1 #ahcf4 8,at that time they had no house of worship1 but met in the court house1 and for a time they met in the house belonging to the ,african ,baptist ,church4 ,the ,african ,church is in a prosperous condition2 their number is about #ij40 ,in this city and county the colored people had more liberty and better treatment than in any other section of the ,state4 ,the free people and those who hired their time often supported schools for the education of their children4 ,revs4 ,wm4 ,dossey1 ,p4 ,stout1 ,a4 ,travis1 ,j4 ,h4 ,schroebel1 ,mr4 ,hawthorne and ,mr4 ,spence 7all white7 are mentioned as pioneers and fathers of the work at this point4 ,near this old ,french town1 ,june #ac1 #ahde1 the writer was born1 and in this county and city he spent the first fourteen years of his life1 and many years since4 ,for some years prior to the late civil war1 the ,stone ,street and ,st4 ,louis ,street churches 7colored7 were both noted for their numbers and their financial strength4 ,,stone ,,street ,,church4 ,this is the 8mother church40 ,the father of the ,rev4 ,j4 ,b4 ,hawthorne1 in the early part of their history1 served them as pastor1 receiving a regular salary of them4 ,at the close of the war1 ,mr4 ,spence was their pastor1 since which time they have been under the leadership of the ,rev4 ,b4 ,j4 ,burke1 a man who in many regards is as strong as he is peculiar4 ,this church1 however1 has not done much in the way of missions1 and not a great deal for education4 ,one of the peculiar customs of the pastor is to 8bless children40 ,standing in the pulpit1 he holds the child up in his arms while he prays ,god's blessings upon it4 ,a case of discipline which came up in this church many years ago1 led to the formation of the ,st4 ,louis ,street ,church1 and ,i am sorry to say gave birth to a very bitter sectional feeling between the two bodies1 which feeling has long been a blight to the ,baptist cause in ,south ,alabama4 ,this church is stubbornly set against all secret societies1 so that no secret society people are allowed in its membership4 ,the pastor is elected for life4 ,for the support of its poor it has a fund which is called the 8,church ,treasury40 ,,st4 ,,louis ,,street ,,church4 ,this church was for many years especially noted for its missionary enterprise4 ,to this church ,alabama owes many of her pioneer preachers4 ,the late ,rev4 ,charles ,leavens1 who was pastor just after the close of the war1 sought to send a pioneer1 an organizer1 into every section of the ,state4 ,their present house of worship cost1 ,i am told1 about #bd1jjj1 and is a two-story brick structure4 ,since the war their pastors have been3 ,revs4 ,charles ,leavens1 ,i4 ,grant1 ,a4 ,butler1 ,c4 ,c4 ,richardson1 and the present occupant1 ,rev4 ,mr4 ,frazier4 ,this church seems now in full sympathy with its past missionary record1 over which no one rejoices more than the writer1 since it is from this church that he1 under ,god1 received his commission to preach the gospel of the ,son of ,righteousness4 ,,st4 ,,anthony ,,street ,,church--,,now ,,franklyn ,,street4 ,this church deserves honorable mention4 ,rev4 ,a4 ,f4 ,owens led to the purchase of the property on ,st4 ,anthony street1 and served as pastor for several years--#ahgh to #ahhi4 ,rev4 ,a4 ,n4 ,mc,ewen1 the present pastor1 advised the church to sell and purchase at a more desirable point4 ,they are now buying a building on ,franklyn street4 ,this church has had an earnest class of workers1 who have made great and painful sacrifices for the cause4 ,,union ,,church4 ,this church is another secession from ,stone ,street4 ,it1 too1 has some strong people in it4 ,rev4 ,a4 ,f4 ,owens is pastor4 99 99 99 99 99 ,there are other churches around worthy of mention4 ,so much is said only to show the rise and progress of the ,baptist cause in this section of ,alabama4 ,the great need here is more brotherly love1 instead of the bitter prejudice which withers every hope of united effort4 ,of course1 many of the good people are already free from its fearful influence1 but far too many are still slaves to it4 ,among the founders1 or ante-bellum members of the colored ,baptist work in ,mobile1 we find the names of ,rev4 ,charles ,leavens and wife1 ,james ,somerville1 ,judge ,europe1 ,thomas ,sawyer1 ,rev4 ,b4 ,j4 ,burke1 and ,crawley ,johnson4 ,,huntsville1 ,,madison ,,county4 ,here is where our ,statehood was born1 the ,constitution being formed here in #ahai4 ,huntsville is our ,state's first capital4 ,taking ,mr4 ,hosea ,holcombe as authority1 the first ,baptist church organized in ,alabama was constituted within a few miles of ,huntsville1 in #ahjh4 ,their constitutional membership was eleven1 and ,rev4 ,john ,nicholson was their first pastor4 ,the first negro ,baptist church constituted in this section of the ,state was the ,african ,baptist ,church of ,huntsville1 organized about the year #ahbj4 ,i say #ahbj1 for the reason that in #ahba they are recorded as entering into the ,flint ,river ,association1 with seventy-six members4 ,rev4 ,william ,harris1 8a free colored man10 is mentioned as their first pastor4 ,it seems that ,brother ,harris soon fell under the influence of a white preacher1 ,william ,crutcher1 and became established in the faith of the ,primitive ,baptists4 ,over seventy years have passed away1 and still ,rev4 ,bartlett ,harris1 a grandson of ,rev4 ,william ,harris1 is preaching the 8election of grace40 ,instead of seventy-six ,missionary members1 there are now about two thousand ,primitives4 ,the ,rev4 ,w4 ,h4 ,gaston is the leading educator among them4 ,he is a man of quiet and humble spirit1 and is now trying to establish a school at ,huntsville4 ,how we ,missionaries need a school in ,madison county6 ,our little ,missionary church seems bound hand and foot4 ,at this writing1 ,rev4 ,oscar ,gray is pastor1 and he seems to do as well as circumstances allow4 ,perhaps ,i cannot close this notice of ,madison county more profitably than by directing the attention of the reader to the vast consequences1 in the form of false views and false practices1 which came of one man's decisions4 ,rev4 ,william ,harris decided to follow ,mr4 ,crutcher1 and now thousands of people walk in his track as anti-,missionaries4 ,,perry ,,and ,,hale ,,counties4 ,at ,salem ,church1 near ,greensboro1 the ,alabama ,state ,convention 7white7 was organized ,october1 #ahbc1 not quite forty-five years before the organization of the ,colored ,baptist ,convention in #ahfh1 and its first anniversary was held at ,marion1 in ,perry county4 ,reference is made to these facts in order to introduce other facts bearing a closer relation to ourselves4 ,within a circle of twenty-five miles of ,marion--and ,greensboro1 is near this point--some of the mightiest influences in support of ,baptist views have risen up and gone forth upon the colored ,baptists of ,alabama4 ,the colored people of ,marion1 and throughout the country around1 are hardly less noted for their refinement than they are for their ,baptistic opinions4 ,in this section arose those colored men of power and of pioneer fame--,revs4 ,james ,childs1 the first pastor of the ,marion ,church 7colored72 ,henry ,stevens1 first pastor of the ,greensboro ,church1 and ,john ,dosier1 so long pastor of the church in ,uniontown4 ,this point1 till right recently1 has been the educational center of our white brethren1 and here in ,marion1 the first colored ,state ,normal school began1 as the result of the influence of the late ,hon4 ,a4 ,h4 ,curtis1 of ,baptist fame4 ,illustration3 ,mrs4 ,a4 ,a4 ,bowie1 ,instructress in ,dressmaking1 ,selma ,university4 ,,montgomery ,,city ,,and ,,county4 ,baptist principles manifested themselves in this part of ,alabama about #ahah-ai in the constitution of the ,elim ,church1 near the city of ,montgomery1 and ,messrs4 ,j4 ,mc,lemore1 ,s4 ,ray1 and ,w4 ,j4 ,larkin1 are mentioned as pioneers4 ,a ,,straw ,,which ,,shows ,,which ,,way ,,the ,,wind ,,blows4 ,in ,dr4 ,riley's 8,history of ,alabama ,baptists10 we have the following3 8,a negro slave1 named ,csar1 a bright1 smart1 robust fellow 99 99 99 was ordained to preach4 ,his ability was so marked1 and the confidence which he enjoyed was so profound1 that ,rev4 ,james ,mc,lemore would frequently have ,csar attend him upon his preaching tours4 ,he was sometimes taken by ,mr4 ,mc,lemore into the pulpit1 and never failed of commanding the most rapt and respectful attention40 ,to the credit of the ,alabama ,association1 it is written that they bought this man and gave him his liberty that he might preach among them the gospel of ,christ2 and it is said1 that though he was as black as a crow1 he traveled alone and unharmed on the mission of life4 ,thus the negro appears in the foundation of gospel operations in ,central ,alabama4 ,here also appear the victories of the gospel leaven1 the triumphs of the love of ,god over those hearts wherein ,christ was king4 ,the price paid for ,brother ,csar ,blackwell is given as #fbe4 ,catching inspiration from the encouragement before them in the form of their brother ,csar ,blackwell's success1 and the good will of the ,christian white people to whose fellowship they belonged1 ,nathan ,ashby and ,jacob ,belser 7colored7 soon became active workers4 ,,tuscaloosa ,,and ,,jefferson ,,counties4 ,perhaps the first church 7white7 organized in ,jefferson county was organized about the year #ahah4 ,dr4 ,holcombe's history tells us that in #ahbc the 8,rock ,creek ,church10 in ,tuscaloosa county1 received into its membership from ,south ,carolina an ,african preacher1 ,job ,davis4 ,mr4 ,holcombe says of him3 8,he was an acceptable preacher1 a man of deep thought1 sound judgment1 and was well skilled in the ,scriptures of ,divine ,truth40 ,the venerable ,mr4 ,a4 ,j4 ,waldrop1 of ,birmingham1 informed the writer that when a little boy he heard ,job preach in a camp meeting4 ,he said3 8,the meeting had been in progress a week or so1 and mother and father went to the camp on ,sunday morning4 ,the meeting was very cold4 ,brother ,holcombe was wondering who would be the fit preacher to open the day's services1 as ,job1 now free from his daily toil1 walked into camp4 ,as ,brother ,holcombe saw him1 he remarked3 #8,there is our man4' ,job was led up to the stand and invited to go up and take a seat4 ,job replied3 #8,no1 ,i'll stand down here in front of it4' ,job then reached back to the top of the stand and took off the ,bible and opened it4 ,i can never forget the deep thrill of devotion which ,job's person and manner turned in upon the audience that day2 something of the feeling is with me yet4 ,he had hardly parted his lips before men and women began to sob4 ,when he was through with his sermon1 it was plain to all that the meeting was no longer a dead meeting4 ,this was the beginning of a revival which affected much of ,tuscaloosa county40 ,mr4 ,holcombe says of ,job1 in another place in his book3 8,job was brought from ,africa to ,charleston1 ,s4 ,c41 in #ahjf2 professed religion in #ahab2 soon learned to read and write2 taught ,sunday school for two summers in ,abbeville district1 ,s4 ,c42 licensed to preach in #ahah2 came to ,alabama in #ahbb2 died ,november #ag1 #ahce1 in ,pickens county4 ,he lived the ,christian1 he died a saint40 ,further1 ,mr4 ,holcombe says3 8,in those days we had but few better preachers than ,job40 ,thus it appears that not only in wars for independence1 but in gospel labors as well1 the negro is in the foundations of this country4 ,rev4 ,prince ,murrell1 who had bought himself some time before the days of the ,emancipation1 opened the work at ,tuscaloosa on the dawn of freedom4 ,rev4 ,messrs4 ,m4 ,tyler and ,m4 ,d4 ,alexander came into the van at ,lowndesboro4 ,,lee1 ,,macon1 ,,bullock ,,and ,,barbour ,,counties4 ,at ,tuskegee1 in ,macon1 was the ,rev4 ,doc4 ,phillips 7a blacksmith71 a man who1 it seems1 refused to accept his freedom at the hands of his white brethren in order that his preaching might be more acceptable to his people in slavery4 ,at ,auburn1 in ,lee1 was the ,rev4 ,thomas ,glenn1 a man respected and trusted no less by his white neighbors than by his own people for his genuine piety and honorable life4 ,in ,barbour and ,bullock1 ,revs4 ,jerry ,shorter1 ,m4 ,coleman1 ,william ,mc,coo and ,deacon ,j4 ,e4 ,timothy possessed the spirit of leadership1 and moved forward in the work of organization upon the appearance of liberty4 ,rev4 ,e4 ,thornton soon appears4 ,,greenville1 ,,butler ,,county4 ,in this town and county the ,rev4 ,stewart ,adams is the pioneer4 ,in #ahgb or #ahgc1 he was appointed missionary under the ,american ,baptist ,home ,mission ,society1 and was thus enabled to extend his operations1 which resulted in the organization of one of the first associations 7,union74 ,,selma4 ,somewhere between #ahdj-de1 a colored church was organized in ,selma1 the first colored leader of which was a ,mr4 ,samuel ,phillips1 a man who obtained his liberty 7so the late ,mr4 ,a4 ,goldsby reported7 by some service he rendered the country in the ,mexican war4 ,a4 ,goldsby and ,charles ,white 7late treasurer of our ,convention7 were principal persons in the organization4 99 99 99 99 99 ,so much has been said to show the ante-liberty growths4 ,it seems fitting to close this chapter with the appearance of freedom as the writer saw it4 ,from the days of my earliest recollection1 freedom's shadowy forms moved before the eyes of the ,southern slave4 ,he felt or thought that he felt--he saw or thought he saw--the touch and visage of approaching liberty4 ,in subdued tones it was whispered upon ears that could be trusted1 that slavery1 with all its accompanying horrors1 was soon to be a thing of the past4 ,praying bands were organized and met in distant groves to pray for liberty4 ,gathered beneath the sighing trees and nightly skies1 they whispered their agonies upon the ears of the ,almighty--whispered lowly1 lest the passing winds should bear their petitions to the ears of the overseer or master4 ,and often--as with ,daniel and his companions in ,babylon--the ,god who reveals secrets to them that love him1 uncovered before our minds coming events1 which caused us to laugh and cry4 ,but we kept these things in our hearts1 and it was a wonder to all around that the slave could sing in his furnace of hot afflictions4 ,god1 in unfolding hope1 was with us in the fire1 and so we were sustained4 ,,dream ,,telling4 ,they fall to dreaming3 ,contending armies are seen in battle1 and the one favorable to the liberty of the slave is seen to prevail4 ,old trees appear to wither and disappear before trees of new sort4 ,the war cloud bursts and the slave mingles his prayers with the roar of the booming cannon1 tarrying on his knees while the ,american soldiery contend in mortal strife4 ,it was understood to mean liberty4 ,at last the deadly struggle ceased1 and emancipation was declared4 ,it was only the dawning1 and therefore the light was dim4 ,,the ,,bitter ,,bud4 ,one of the saddest mistakes of the slave was1 that he thought so much of the pleasures of freedom and so little of its weighty obligations4 ,to him1 freedom meant mansions1 lands1 teams1 money1 position1 educated sons and refined daughters1 with the liberty to go and to act as he pleased4 ,if he might have burdened his mind with thoughts of his sore destitution of heart1 of intellect1 of purse2 if he might have thought of his poverty as to skill in the arts1 sciences and professions of life1 as to social status1 as to domestic relations1 as to opportunities to succeed in a wrestle for life by the side of the victorious white man--if he might have seen that to make himself a strong manhood was his first and his most important duty--if his mind might have been full of these thoughts1 it had been a thousand fold better for him4 ,but1 as his mind was on pleasures1 he was disappointed when they proved only phantoms1 and hence the bud of liberty was bitter4 ,indeed1 to those who had the ability to discern1 the first view of liberty was frightful in proportion as it was seriously considered4 ,naturally1 as the shackles suddenly fell off1 there was such a forcible rebounding of life1 as in many cases made liberty mean license to live idle and lewd4 ,i can never forget my first impressions at the full view of freedom4 ,o1 what helplessness appeared in our condition6 ,every day1 for weeks1 shoeless and hatless men and women1 with half naked1 hungry children1 passed through the little town where ,i lived1 not knowing whither they went1 what were their names1 nor what they sought4 ,a certain man1 when ,i first met him1 was introduced to me as ,mr4 ,m----4 ,a little after this1 ,i was surprised to find that he was not ,mr4 ,m----1 but was ,mr4 ,r----4 ,and my ability to be surprised was considerably lessened when ,i finally learned that ,mr4 ,r---- was now ,mr4 ,h----4 ,long and anxiously ,i waited for the appearance of some great colored men to assume leadership in matters of religion and education1 but ,i waited in vain4 ,my heart ached as though it would break1 and was at last only partially relieved of its weight when my brother 7,rev4 ,j4 ,gomez7 and ,i had built an humble house in which to worship ,god and teach the children4 ,into this we1 boys though we were1 called the people to meet to hear the reading of the ,scriptures and to pray4 ,,organization ,,in ,,alabama4 ,in #ahfd there were four ,colored ,missionary ,baptist ,churches in ,alabama1 owning property worth about #aj1jjj4 ,two of these were located in ,mobile city--the ,stone and the ,st4 ,louis ,street ,churches4 ,another was located in ,selma1 and is now known as the ,first ,colored ,baptist ,church4 ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,l4 ,s4 ,steinback in the ,act of ,baptism4 ,of course there was no association1 no convention1 no graded school of learning4 ,the colored people of ,mobile enjoyed superior advantages over those of other sections of the ,state and hence many of them had made fair attainments in letters4 ,but in all the ,state there was but one ,baptist preacher1 to the writer's knowledge1 in ,april1 #ahfe1 who could1 with any degree of honesty1 claim to be an educated ,baptist negro preacher4 ,this was one ,rev4 ,moses ,b4 ,avery4 ,i think he is now in ,mississippi4 ,anyhow ,i know that soon after the close of the war he joined the ,methodist brethren and left the ,state4 ,it will be seen1 therefore1 that he was no help to the ,colored ,baptists of ,alabama4 ,the change which the war had wrought as to the civil status of the black man1 changing him from slave to freedman1 affected his church standing1 so that ex-master and ex-slave did not quite fit each other in the old 8meeting house10 as they had done in days of yore4 ,there was restlessness on one side1 and suspicion on the other4 ,the black man wanted to go out and set up housekeeping for himself1 while the white man in most cases feared and hesitated to lay on the hands of ordination4 ,we did not know each other4 ,the 8negro preacher0 on one side of the river had but little opportunity to know his brother on the other side4 ,truly our beginning was dark and chaotic4 ,it is said that necessity is the mother of invention4 ,in all ages of the world1 and with all peoples1 want--a sense of need--has gone before human creations4 ,the black man of the ,south was like1 in this1 the balance of human kind4 ,when set at liberty1 he was for some time lost in looking upon the wonderful changes that had passed over him4 ,but when he came to himself he began slowly to realize his needs4 ,he began1 for example1 to feel the need of church and of school1 and out of this feeling of want on these lines there arose thought1 discussion1 plan1 action4 ,those who were of like faith and gospel practice began to meet for prayer and for conference1 and at last to unite in church covenant1 forming churches4 ,then churches1 under the leadership of progressive men1 were joined in associational compacts4 ,they met first only to sing and pray1 and listen to talks from white brethren4 ,want increased2 burdens increased2 the horizon of duty and possibility widened4 ,under a sense of duty and repeated exercise1 mind and heart developed into greater strength and into greater capacity for thought1 plan1 speech1 and execution4 ,kindred spirits sought each other's fellowship and counsel1 and talked about the work which might be done4 ,soon it was felt by some that a general ,state ,convention was both necessary and possible4 ,the desire1 plan and call for such an organization ripened among the brethren at and around the ,capital ,city4 ,perhaps ,montgomery was foremost1 for the reason that here was the legislature1 and here the colored people saw most of deliberative bodies1 and heard most about their needs and opportunities4 ,illustration3 ,mrs4 ,dinah ,smith ,jordan1 ,birmingham1 ,ala4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,state ,,conventions ,,first ,,session4 ,,the ,colored ,baptist ,convention of ,alabama was constituted ,december #ag1 #ahfh1 in the ,columbus ,street ,baptist ,church1 in the city of ,montgomery4 ,the officers elected were3 ,rev4 ,nathan ,ashby1 president2 ,rev4 ,j4 ,w4 ,stevens1 of ,montgomery1 vice-president1 and ,bro4 ,h4 ,thompson1 secretary4 ,the following appear in the roll of this session3 ,revs4 ,n4 ,ashby1 ,j4 ,w4 ,stevens1 ,jacob ,belser1 ,j4 ,epperson1 and ,bro4 ,h4 ,thompson1 of ,montgomery county2 ,revs4 ,e4 ,wright and ,s4 ,adams1 of ,greenville2 ,rev4 ,w4 ,farris1 of ,monroeville2 ,rev4 ,s4 ,weaver1 of ,dallas county2 ,revs4 ,p4 ,gill and ,samuel ,morse1 of ,notasulga2 ,james ,finly1 of ,fayette2 ,revs4 ,i4 ,glenn and ,a4 ,blackburn1 of ,auburn2 ,rev4 ,m4 ,d4 ,alexander and ,m4 ,tyler1 of ,lowndesboro2 ,rev4 ,b4 ,nelson1 of ,lee county2 ,rev4 ,mr4 ,wood1 of ,macon county2 ,rev4 ,h4 ,coleman1 of ,union ,springs2 ,rev4 ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpin1 of ,talladega2 ,revs4 ,john ,dosier and ,henry ,stevens1 of ,uniontown2 ,p4 ,underwood1 ,thomas ,smith1 ,ned ,atkinson1 and ,rev4 ,d4 ,m4 ,phillips1 of ,tuskegee4 ,about twenty-seven churches were represented4 ,about #aej was collected1 and ,rev4 ,washington ,stevens was made ,missionary4 ,,second ,,session4 ,this session was held in ,montgomery in #ahfi1 and the officers of the previous year being re-elected to their several positions4 ,revs4 ,wm4 ,mc,coo1 of ,bullock county2 ,p4 ,murrell1 of ,tuskaloosa2 ,john ,p4 ,lucas1 pastor of ,mt4 ,meigs2 ,henry ,clark1 of ,opelika2 ,b4 ,burke1 of ,mobile2 ,frank ,quarles1 of ,georgia1 and ,h4 ,e4 ,talliaferro 7white71 agent for the ,american ,baptist ,home ,missionary ,society2 ,lewis ,brown1 of ,sumter county2 ,a4 ,cunningham1 of ,conecuh county1 and ,james ,caldwell1 of ,marengo county1 appear in the roll of this session4 ,fifty or sixty churches were represented2 several hundred dollars were raised2 the missionary was short in his collections2 ,home ,mission ,society was endorsed4 ,,third ,,session4 ,this session was also held in ,montgomery on ,october #e1 #ahgj4 ,as ,rev4 ,n4 ,ashby was sick1 ,rev4 ,w4 ,stevens1 the ,missionary1 was elected president1 and ,rev4 ,m4 ,tyler vice-president4 ,rev4 ,charles ,leavens1 of ,mobile1 and ,senator ,a4 ,h4 ,curtis were enrolled4 ,the ordained ministers present were3 ,n4 ,ashby1 ,james ,a4 ,foster1 ,w4 ,stevens1 ,f4 ,brooks1 ,t4 ,glenn1 ,chas4 ,leavens1 ,s4 ,adams1 ,h4 ,stokes1 ,c4 ,blunt1 ,wm4 ,mc,coo1 ,j4 ,caldwell1 ,s4 ,weaver1 ,j4 ,cole1 ,j4 ,w4 ,mc,leod1 ,m4 ,tyler1 ,b4 ,burke1 ,p4 ,murrell1 ,j4 ,dosier1 ,d4 ,m4 ,phillips1 ,j4 ,wood1 ,ned ,watkins1 ,b4 ,bibb1 ,h4 ,stevens1 ,r4 ,mason4 ,,fourth ,,session4 ,held in ,selma ,november #a-d1 #ahga4 ,brother ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpine was prominent4 ,the officers elected were3 ,rev4 ,p4 ,murrell1 president2 ,rev4 ,stewart ,adams1 vice-president2 ,rev4 ,w4 ,stevens1 recording secretary2 and ,h4 ,thompson1 clerk4 ,revs4 ,d4 ,alexander1 ,b4 ,bibb1 ,j4 ,caldwell and ,j4 ,belser have passed away4 ,about #cjj sent in by the churches3 twenty-eight churches report ,sunday ,schools2 three ,associations appear by their messengers4 ,,fifth ,,session4 ,held in ,selma1 ,november1 #ahgb4 ,officers of previous year re-elected4 ,a committee is appointed to confer with the white ,convention in session in ,eufaula4 ,two more ,associations are enrolled4 #cjj or #djj collected4 ,,sixth ,,session4 ,held in ,tuscaloosa1 ,november1 #ahgc4 ,the officers elected were3 ,rev4 ,j4 ,a4 ,foster1 ,montgomery1 president2 ,rev4 ,m4 ,tyler1 ,lowndesboro1 vice-president2 ,rev4 ,p4 ,murrell1 treasurer2 and ,bro4 ,h4 ,j4 ,europe1 of ,mobile1 clerk4 ,three other ,associations reported4 ,rev4 ,a4 ,butler1 ,mobile1 joined at this session4 ,rev4 ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpine introduced the following1 which was adopted3 8,resolved1 ,that we plant in the ,state of ,alabama a theological school to educate our young men40 ,this threw life and aim into the ,convention and the signs of activity immediately appeared4 ,four other ,associations entered4 ,lively discussions ensued4 ,the white ,baptist ,convention assembled in the same city at the same time advised against the educational scheme4 ,the question whether ,god needed help in preparing his ministry--the question which fifty years before had agitated the white ,convention of ,alabama--was now stirring the souls of black men4 ,sunday ,schools were allowed representation in the body4 ,,seventh ,,session4 ,held in ,mobile1 in the ,st4 ,louis ,street ,church1 ,november1 #ahgd4 ,officers of previous year were re-elected4 ,brother ,mc,alpine's school resolution was endorsed and ordered on the minutes4 ,on motion of ,brother ,mc,alpine the following persons were appointed a committee to manage the school project3 ,revs4 ,a4 ,butler1 ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpine1 ,h4 ,j4 ,europe1 ,h4 ,thompson and the writer4 ,brother ,mc,alpine was authorized and requested to spend six months as missionary and agent of the ,convention4 ,much praying4 ,,eighth ,,session4 ,held in ,mobile1 ,november1 #ahge4 ,the officers elected were as follows3 ,rev4 ,j4 ,a4 ,foster1 president2 ,rev4 ,m4 ,tyler1 vice-president2 ,rev4 ,j4 ,w4 ,stevens1 corresponding secretary2 ,rev4 ,thomas ,smith1 treasurer1 and ,rev4 ,c4 ,o4 ,boothe1 clerk4 ,ten ,associations were enrolled this year4 ,brother ,mc,alpine reported #ij in favor of the ,convention as the result of six months' work4 ,the body was never so much aroused as during this session4 ,some trouble arose over contentions among the churches in ,mobile4 ,rev4 ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpine was appointed missionary and agent of the ,convention for the ensuing conventional year4 ,rev4 ,c4 ,o4 ,boothe was appointed1 with ,brother ,mc,alpine1 to aid in searching for a suitable location for the proposed school1 and was authorized to call the attention of our ,northern brethren to our needs and operations regarding educational facilities in ,alabama4 ,never did any set of men appear to be more earnest and enthusiastic4 ,every eye was on ,mc,alpine as the leader4 ,,ninth ,,session4 ,held with the ,mount ,canaan ,church1 ,talladega1 ,november #ae-bj1 #ahgf4 ,officers3 ,rev4 ,m4 ,tyler1 president2 ,rev4 ,b4 ,j4 ,burke1 vice-president2 ,rev4 ,i4 ,smith1 treasurer2 ,rev4 ,g4 ,c4 ,casby1 ,montgomery1 corresponding secretary1 and ,rev4 ,c4 ,o4 ,boothe1 at this time pastor in ,talladega1 was continued as clerk4 ,this session of the body may be denominated 8,the ,eventful ,session40 ,here the sainted ,woodsmall was met for the first time1 and bore the ,convention the following3 8,indianapolis1 ,ind41 ,november #aa1 #ahgf4 8,dear ,brethren of the ,convention3 ,on behalf of the ,indiana ,baptist ,state ,convention1 ,i greet you with this epistle1 bearing their congratulations and sympathy4 ,we are engaged in a common cause with you--the cause of our blessed ,lord and ,master4 99 99 99 ,so we strike glad hands with you for a renewal and continuance of the gospel warfare till ,jesus comes40 ,this bore the signature of ,dr4 ,wyeth1 editor of the ,journal and ,messenger1 and the ,secretary of the ,indiana ,convention4 ,this was good tidings1 and the information that ,brother ,woodsmall had come to hold ,ministers' ,institutes among us was still better tidings4 ,thenceforward we were to drink from a very high type of manhood4 ,revs4 ,w4 ,j4 ,white1 ,f4 ,quarles1 and ,bryan1 of ,georgia1 came with propositions from the ,georgia ,convention that ,alabama should give up her school project and join ,georgia in building a school at ,atlanta4 ,a letter received from ,dr4 ,s4 ,s4 ,cutting1 corresponding secretary of the ,home ,mission ,society1 to the clerk1 informed the ,convention that his board had no help for our school enterprise in ,alabama1 and favored our union with ,georgia4 ,a communication from the white ,baptist ,convention containing the following1 was read before the body3 8,resolved1 ,that we deem this a suitable occasion to express to our colored brethren an abiding interest in their welfare1 both temporal and spiritual4 8,john ,haralson1 ,president40 ,brother ,mc,alpine turned over #a1jjj1 which he had raised for the proposed school1 and again took the field4 ,the clerk1 as committee on location of the proposed school1 reported that if the school should be located at ,marion1 ,ala41 our students could obtain scientific and literary training in the ,state school at that point1 in which case1 the ,convention would only be obliged to furnish theological instruction4 ,the ,convention did not decide as to the course it would be best to pursue4 ,brothers ,pettiford and ,barton joined the work in this session1 and the former took a prominent position at once4 ,,tenth ,,session4 ,held in ,eufaula1 ,november1 #ahgg4 ,the officers of the last convention were re-elected4 ,the school project was turned into the hands of the ,board of ,trustees elected at the session of #ahge4 ,the report of the ,board of ,trustees recommended that the school be located at ,montgomery4 ,when a motion by ,hon4 ,a4 ,h4 ,curtis to substitute ,marion had been lost1 ,rev4 ,e4 ,k4 ,love1 of ,georgia1 moved to substitute ,selma1 which was carried by a majority of three4 ,the ,board was authorized and instructed to begin operations4 ,revs4 ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpine and ,w4 ,j4 ,stevens were put out as missionaries4 ,before leaving ,eufaula1 the ,board appointed a committee to act on their behalf with regard to the management of the school4 ,at a meeting of the ,board held in ,selma1 ,december #bj1 the committee reported3 8,your committee has been unable to find a suitable house for rent in which to commence school for less than #bg per month4 ,there are one or more buildings here that may be purchased at quite a reasonable figure4 ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpine1 ,j4 ,blevins1 ,h4 ,stevens1 committee40 ,at this meeting there were present the following trustees1 besides those above mentioned3 ,m4 ,tyler1 ,c4 ,blunt1 ,j4 ,w4 ,stevens1 ,j4 ,dosier and ,a4 ,h4 ,curtis4 ,revs4 ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpine and ,j4 ,blevins1 with ,bro4 ,a4 ,h4 ,curtis1 were empowered to act as ,executive ,committee of the ,board4 ,after some discussion as to whether to rent or purchase1 it was voted to rent1 and not to pay over #ae per month4 ,the ,committee was so instructed1 and was further instructed not to assume over #ej per month for teaching force4 ,the ,committee elected ,mr4 ,h4 ,woodsmall1 of ,indiana1 and he at once opened the school in the ,st4 ,phillip ,street ,baptist ,church4 ,on ,may #cj1 #ahgh1 the ,board held another meeting in ,selma4 ,present3 ,revs4 ,m4 ,tyler1 ,j4 ,blevins1 ,g4 ,c4 ,casby1 ,thomas ,smith1 ,j4 ,dosier1 ,h4 ,stevens1 ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpine and ,c4 ,o4 ,boothe4 ,at this meeting the ,committee were authorized to purchase the 8,old ,fair ,grounds0 for #c1jjj4 ,the ,baptist ,pioneer was started1 with ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpine1 editor2 ,j4 ,dosier and ,c4 ,o4 ,boothe as assistants4 ,the ,committee1 to the great satisfaction of the ,board1 reported that the ,st4 ,phillips ,street ,church had donated to the school the use of their audience room1 the oil for lights1 and fuel1 and also that the services of ,bro4 ,w4 ,r4 ,pettiford had been secured at a cost of #bj per month1 allowing him time to take lessons in theology4 ,the following financial report was submitted3 ,,receipts4 ,uniontown ,association #aej #jj ,alabama ,district ,association #dj #jj ,rev4 ,a4 ,cunningham1 ,conecuh county #cj #jj ,deacon ,a4 ,scott1 ,montevallo #ae #fe ,rev4 ,thomas ,smith1 ,treasurer ,convention #ajj #jj ,mr4 ,h4 ,woodsmall1 for tuition #hb #aj ,rev4 ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpine #bj #jj ,donations from the ,north were also reported4 ,,eleventh ,,session4 ,held in ,marion1 ,november1 #ahgh4 ,the officers of the previous year were re-elected1 with the exception of ,rev4 ,c4 ,o4 ,boothe1 who had been appointed ,sunday school missionary for the ,state1 under the ,american ,baptist ,publishing ,society4 ,bro4 ,n4 ,r4 ,nickerson was elected clerk4 ,the ,trustees reported that the ,old ,fair ,grounds had been secured1 and that the school was in operation4 ,one thousand dollars had been paid on the grounds2 #ede had come from the ,north4 ,three teachers were supported without charge to the ,state--,misses ,emma ,jordan and ,emma ,heustis1 and ,mr4 ,m4 ,w4 ,alston4 ,thus the school began4 ,about #b1jjj reported4 ,,twelfth ,,session4 ,held in ,opelika1 ,november #ab-ae1 #ahgi4 ,in this session ,rev4 ,a4 ,f4 ,owens joined1 and ,revs4 ,a4 ,butler and ,b4 ,burke forsook the ,convention4 ,rev4 ,d4 ,m4 ,phillips1 of ,tuskegee1 had left the cross for the crown4 ,the second #a1jjj had been paid on our campus1 and #gjj worth of improvements had been added to the buildings4 ,a missionary society organized by ,president ,woodsmall and operating in the ,st4 ,philip ,street ,church1 is reported as giving partial support to ,profs4 ,alston and ,pettiford1 and to students ,d4 ,t4 ,gulley and ,j4 ,c4 ,curry4 ,,thirteenth ,,session4 ,held in ,marion1 ,november #ag-bj1 #ahhj4 ,the officers elected were3 ,m4 ,tyler1 president2 ,j4 ,a4 ,foster1 vice-president2 ,n4 ,r4 ,nickerson1 clerk2 ,g4 ,c4 ,casby1 corresponding secretary1 and ,c4 ,white1 treasurer4 ,except a small balance due ,brother ,woodsmall the school was now free from debt1 besides owning thirty-six acres of land and temporary buildings4 ,illustration3 ,shiloh ,baptist ,church1 ,birmingham1 ,ala41 ,rev4 ,t4 ,w4 ,walker1 ,pastor4 ,rev4 ,s4 ,adams had gone to the other world4 ,aided by the ,selma ,missionary ,society1 ,bros4 ,m4 ,w4 ,alston1 ,l4 ,ellington1 ,d4 ,t4 ,gulley1 ,d4 ,l4 ,prentice1 ,c4 ,travis1 ,c4 ,r4 ,rodgers1 ,l4 ,j4 ,green and ,j4 ,c4 ,curry had done effective missionary work4 ,brother ,woodsmall reported that the ,baptist ,pioneer is free of debt and has #cba4jc in cash4 ,he had received #b1cii--hii had come from ,alabama in tuition and donations1 and #a1ejj from the ,north4 ,the ,american ,baptist ,home ,mission ,society at this time adopted the school and engaged to give it #b1jjj during its session of #ahhj-ha4 ,about #djj were spent on improvements of school grounds4 ,rev4 ,wm4 ,a4 ,burch1 late of ,philadelphia1 now pastor of the ,first ,baptist ,church in ,selma1 and ,rev4 ,w4 ,w4 ,cully1 a returned ,african ,missionary1 were members of this ,convention4 ,brother ,mc,alpine had raised from all sources #a1igf4he4 ,before the next session ,brother ,mc,alpine1 at ,brother ,woodsmall's request1 became president of the school4 ,,fourteenth ,,session4 ,held in ,mobile1 ,november1 #ahha4 ,the officers of the previous year were re-elected4 ,revs4 ,a4 ,cunningham1 ,belleville1 ,j4 ,blevins1 ,selma1 and ,j4 ,cole1 ,montgomery1 are no longer on earth4 ,the ,home ,mission ,society gave #c1jjj to the present school session4 ,dr4 ,m4 ,stone1 of ,ohio1 taught in the school without cost to the board of trustees4 ,before the next session ,rev4 ,h4 ,n4 ,bouey1 from ,south ,carolina1 became ,state ,sunday ,school ,missionary4 ,,fifteenth ,,session4 ,held in ,tuscaloosa1 ,november1 #ahhb4 ,former officers re-elected1 except that ,rev4 ,j4 ,dosier was made vice-president4 ,this year1 the same as last1 ,brother ,mc,alpine was retained president of the school4 ,total receipts from ,alabama1 including tuition fees1 were #b1ehh4 ,donation from ,home ,mission ,society #c1cej4 ,the last session made ,brother ,pettiford financial agent1 and the present session was greatly encouraged in view of his excellent success4 ,,sixteenth ,,session4 ,held in ,selma1 ,november1 #ahhc1 in the ,first ,colored ,baptist ,church1 of which the writer was pastor4 ,rev4 ,e4 ,m4 ,brawley1 late of ,south ,carolina1 was made president of our school1 ,rev4 ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpine having resigned in his favor4 ,alabama paid #b1eaa towards our educational work4 ,bro4 ,woodsmall was not present4 ,rev4 ,a4 ,n4 ,mc,ewen1 late of ,tennessee1 now pastor of ,dexter ,avenue ,church1 ,montgomery1 was present this session4 ,rev4 ,h4 ,n4 ,bouey was made financial agent4 ,,seventeenth ,,session4 ,held in ,mobile1 ,november1 #ahhd4 ,officers of #ahhb and #ahhc were re-elected2 #c1bbd reported as coming from the ,state4 ,before the next session 8,the ,minister's ,union0 was organized in ,talladega1 with ,rev4 ,c4 ,o4 ,boothe as secretary1 and ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpine1 president4 ,,eighteenth ,,session4 ,held in the ,sixteenth ,street ,church1 ,birmingham1 ,november1 #ahhe4 ,officers of previous session re-elected4 ,on the #ajth of ,november1 one day prior to the sitting of the ,convention1 the ,ministers' ,union met and appointed a committee on the character of the author of this pamphlet1 and which reported the following3 8,we1 your committee appointed on ,bro4 ,c4 ,o4 ,boothe1 beg leave to submit the following3 ,on account of the complications of his marriage relations1 his oppositions to the ,state work1 and on account of his want of loyalty to truth1 we recommend that we withdraw from him the hand of fellowship as a minister4 ,c4 ,s4 ,dinkins1 ,j4 ,q4 ,a4 ,wilhite1 ,j4 ,dosier1 committee40 ,the brother1 who was excluded 787 by the adoption of this report1 asked and was allowed to put in the minutes of the ,convention the following3 8,to all who may read the resolution passed by the ,alabama ,baptist ,ministers' ,union bearing upon me1 ,i affirm my innocence of each and all the charges therein presented1 and appeal to the ,king of ,kings1 whose just judgment ,i patiently await4 8,c4 ,o4 ,boothe40 ,dark times follow upon the work and upon many individuals4 ,the total receipts for this year1 as reported by ,bro4 ,bouey1 were #b1bjj4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,p4 ,barton was made ,state missionary1 and ,rev4 ,j4 ,q4 ,a4 ,wilhite was made financial agent of the school4 ,the school was getting into debt1 and serious losses threatened4 ,the founders of the work were not sufficiently willing to confer with each other4 ,,nineteenth ,,session4 ,held in ,opelika1 ,november1 #ahhf4 ,the same officers were re-elected1 except ,rev4 ,j4 ,a4 ,foster replaced ,rev4 ,john ,dosier as vice-president4 ,rev4 ,c4 ,l4 ,purce was made president of the school1 ,dr4 ,brawley having resigned4 ,the school was #f1jjj or #g1jjj in debt4 ,a resolution looking toward moving the ,university from ,selma was adopted4 ,marion was proposed instead of ,selma1 and the larger cash donation was to fix the location4 ,the contest was heated1 and here and there rather ugly4 ,the ,baptist ,leader favored ,marion4 ,finances were rather short4 ,revs4 ,g4 ,w4 ,berry1 from ,south ,carolina1 and ,e4 ,j4 ,fisher1 of ,georgia1 were present at this session4 ,,twentieth ,,session4 ,held in ,montgomery1 in the ,columbus ,street ,church1 ,july1 #ahhg4 ,the ,ministers' ,union rescinded their vote passed in ,birmingham in #ahhe1 bearing upon the character of ,rev4 ,c4 ,o4 ,boothe4 ,rev4 ,w4 ,r4 ,pettiford1 of ,birmingham1 was elected president1 and ,rev4 ,r4 ,t4 ,pollard1 clerk4 ,rev4 ,william ,j4 ,simmons1 of ,louisville1 district secretary of the ,american ,baptist ,home ,mission ,society1 and ,bro4 ,woodsmall1 were present4 ,mrs4 ,m4 ,a4 ,boothe1 president of the ,state ,w4 ,c4 ,t4 ,u41 addressed the ,convention4 ,mrs4 ,c4 ,thompson1 agent in ,alabama for the ,women's ,home ,missionary ,society of ,chicago1 also spoke4 ,stormy time1 and no small amount of bitter feeling4 ,the financial vote sustained ,selma1 and the ,university remained at the home of her childhood4 ,debts were threatening our property4 ,mr4 ,purce endeavored to prevent any increase of debts4 ,,twenty-,,first ,,session4 ,held in ,tuscaloosa1 ,july1 #ahhh4 ,officers of previous year were re-elected4 ,about #d1jjj was raised this year4 ,dr4 ,w4 ,j4 ,simmons1 district secretary of the ,home ,mission ,society1 was present with plans for missionary co-operation with our ,state1 which were endorsed4 ,some of the school grounds had been sold to meet debts1 six acres having gone to meet the #g1jjj4 ,rev4 ,w4 ,r4 ,forbes1 of ,virginia1 pastor at ,eufaula1 was present4 ,the board recommended ,rev4 ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpine as ,state ,missionary under the joint plan with the ,home ,mission ,society4 ,,twenty-,,second ,,session4 ,held in ,selma1 ,july1 #ahhi4 ,officers of previous session were re-elected4 ,rev4 ,c4 ,s4 ,dinkins1 having severed his connection with the faculty of the ,university1 was successfully operating an academy at ,marion in connection with his pastorate4 ,this project the ,convention1 on motion of ,rev4 ,a4 ,n4 ,mc,ewen1 endorsed4 ,rev4 ,c4 ,o4 ,boothe was appointed ,general ,missionary of ,alabama on the joint plan with the ,home ,mission ,society4 ,this year our women1 under the leadership of ,miss ,s4 ,a4 ,stone1 gloriously rallied to the support of the ,university4 ,about #e1gjj was raised in the ,state4 ,rev4 ,washington ,stevens1 ,montgomery1 and ,deacon ,d4 ,lane1 ,greensboro1 had passed away4 ,time of session was again changed to ,november4 ,brethren ,r4 ,t4 ,pollard and ,d4 ,t4 ,gulley made ,sunday ,missionaries under the ,publication ,society on the joint plan4 ,during this year1 in ,may1 a jubilee meeting was held in ,selma and over #b1jjj was raised4 ,in this jubilee meeting we met ,rev4 ,h4 ,stevens the last time on earth4 ,,twenty-,,third ,,session4 ,held in ,sixth ,avenue ,church1 ,birmingham1 ,november1 #ahij4 ,the officers of the previous session and all the missionaries were re-elected4 ,the ,home ,mission ,society gave about #f1jjj to ,alabama1 including #b1fjj given for ,university buildings4 ,the financial agent1 ,president ,purce1 and the missionaries all made very encouraging financial reports--thousands of dollars having been collected 7#e1djj74 ,dr4 ,w4 ,j4 ,simmons and ,rev4 ,henry ,stevens crossed the dark river this year4 ,drs4 ,clanton and ,brawley were present4 ,this was a good session--debts fast disappearing under the industrious and wise financiering of ,president ,purce and ,agent ,wilhite4 ,the missionaries were continued4 ,the ,baptist ,leader 7once ,the ,baptist ,pioneer71 which for several years had been successfully run by ,editor ,mc,ewen1 was continued under its old management4 ,this year1 in ,july1 a ,baptist ,congress was held in ,montgomery in the ,dexter ,avenue ,church4 ,it was entertaining and instructive4 ,also in ,august a ,state ,sunday ,school ,convention was organized in ,union ,springs1 with ,rev4 ,s4 ,jones as president1 and is still doing a grand work1 ,brother ,wells being still presiding officer4 ,,twenty-,,fourth ,,session4 ,held in ,peace ,baptist ,church1 ,talladega1 ,november1 #ahia4 ,the same officers were re-elected1 and also the same missionaries1 except that ,rev4 ,c4 ,r4 ,rodgers was chosen to fill the place made vacant by ,bro4 ,pollard's resignation4 ,a grand session--never before in our history had our business seemed to be so much in the hands and hearts of wise1 cultivated men and women4 ,the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,parks and ,hon4 ,james ,white1 of ,chattanooga1 were with us4 ,the mayor of ,talladega1 pastors of white churches1 and everybody else1 gave us a word of encouragement and expressed themselves as pleased and profited by our presence4 ,prof4 ,peterson1 a recent member of the faculty of ,selma ,university1 was introduced to ,alabama ,baptists4 ,one hundred and fifty churches and forty associations1 besides ,sunday school conventions and ,sunday schools1 were represented by two hundred messengers4 ,the year's income from all sources was reported by financial agents as footing up to #ab1ddj4 ,statistical secretary reported as follows3 8,seven hundred and eighteen churches and fifty-eight associations4 ,twenty-eight of the associations give an aggregate membership of #hc1jjj4 ,thirty associations have failed to report their numbers40 ,dr4 ,c4 ,s4 ,dinkins had been operating an academy at ,marion1 for the use of which he had paid #a1jjj4 ,our school property increased in value from #c1jjj to #cj1jjj4 ,the president of our ,convention1 ,w4 ,r4 ,pettiford1 was at this time president of a successful banking enterprise4 ,last1 and perhaps least1 one of our number had made an humble contribution to the literature of the denomination in the form of a little book entitled 8,plain ,theology for ,plain ,people40 ,thus had we grown in twenty-four years4 ,before the next session ,dr4 ,mc,alpine was made teacher of institutes1 under the ,southern ,board4 ,,twenty-,,fifth ,,session4 ,held in ,franklyn ,street ,church1 ,mobile1 ,november1 #ahib4 ,dr4 ,dinkins was elected president1 and ,rev4 ,j4 ,p4 ,barton1 vice-president4 ,with these exceptions1 the old officers1 as well as missionaries1 were continued4 ,editor ,w4 ,h4 ,stewart1 of ,kentucky2 ,dr4 ,clanton1 of ,louisiana2 the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,luke1 field secretary of the ,foreign ,mission ,convention2 ,revs4 ,t4 ,l4 ,jordan and ,c4 ,l4 ,fisher1 of ,mississippi1 were present4 ,for the most part1 this was a good session4 ,however1 there were signs of a rising stormcloud1 which1 it was feared1 foretold approaching evil2 and perhaps a clogging of our educational and missionary operations would then soon come4 ,a good money showing was made1 and new financial plans were adopted4 ,dr4 ,pettiford was appointed financial agent and secretary4 ,it was decided to attempt to establish two academies--one in ,mobile and the other somewhere in ,northern ,alabama4 ,before the next session of the ,convention1 ,rev4 ,c4 ,o4 ,boothe resigned his position as general missionary of the ,state and pastor at ,meridian1 ,miss4 ,dr4 ,purce severed his connection with the ,university1 and ,dr4 ,c4 ,s4 ,dinkins was elected president in his stead4 ,a division of the denomination was threatened in consequence of the presidential changes4 ,again our debts were beginning to be a menace4 ,,twenty-,,sixth ,,session4 ,held in ,eufaula1 ,november1 #ahic4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,p4 ,barton1 of ,talladega1 was elected president1 and ,rev4 ,r4 ,t4 ,pollard1 secretary4 ,hon4 ,ad4 ,wimbs1 of ,greensboro1 was a member of this ,convention4 ,drs4 ,morehouse and ,mc,vicar1 of ,new ,york1 were with us2 also ,dr4 ,crumpton1 who represented the ,southern ,baptists4 ,many changes were made upon the ,board of ,trustees4 ,a committee was appointed to plan a change in our school charter4 ,the session was stormy and far from pleasant4 ,dr4 ,pettiford made a good financial report4 ,rev4 ,s4 ,l4 ,ross was ,sunday school missionary4 ,dr4 ,dinkins made a good beginning as president of ,selma ,university4 ,rev4 ,lewis ,brown was elected treasurer4 ,,twenty-,,seventh ,,session4 ,held in ,mt4 ,zion ,church1 ,anniston1 ,ala41 ,november1 #ahid4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,p4 ,barton was again elected president1 and ,rev4 ,r4 ,t4 ,pollard continued as secretary4 ,times peculiar and money scarce4 ,president ,dinkins had prevented any increase of the debt of the university1 and continued to grow in favor with all sections4 ,the session1 however1 was not so orderly as it might have been1 if there had been less personal feeling and ambition1 and more real humility and consecration4 ,,comparisons4 ,true1 our white brethren were hindered by the wild forests1 which were pathless and bridgeless1 fieldless and cribless1 and by the savage beasts and friendless red men1 as well as by the slowness of travel1 but after all1 we may be permitted to compare our progress with our white brethrens' struggles on educational and missionary lines2 and ,i think the foe will feel more hopeful of us1 while the friend will see reason for encouragement and pleasure4 ,the white ,convention organized in ,salem ,church1 near ,greensboro1 in ,october1 #ahbc1 but they did not begin a school till #ahcd--;eleven years4 ,we organized in #ahfh and started a school in #ahgh--ten years4 ,their school continued only about five years1 when their property was sold to pay their school debts4 ,our school still continues at this writing--#ahie4 ,in #ahci1 they passed a resolution to encourage young men to study for the ministry under capable pastors1 and the money of the ,convention was ordered to be paid out in support of operations on this line4 ,they now owe on ,howard ,college1 so ,i am informed1 some #cj1jjj or #dj1jjj in the form of a bonded debt1 the interest on which they find it hard to pay4 ,indeed1 ,i very much regret to hear that they are thinking of making an assignment in the interest of their creditors4 ,on careful examination of the records of the ,convention1 we come upon the following important facts and lessons3 #a4 ,the blindness of the leadership as to the work to be done4 ,in the jubilee meeting1 ,rev4 ,h4 ,stevens1 said3 8,when ,i resolved in #ahfh to meet the call of the ,montgomery ,church for a ,convention of delegates1 ,i didn't see what we could do4 ,i went only out of some sort of curiosity to meet other brethren and to look on4 ,i got a little light before ,i reached ,montgomery1 as ,i listened to some things ,brother ,mc,alpine had to say along the way4 ,and ,i was not much better off when the ,convention closed4 ,i did not know what they were talking about one-half the time40 ,but few saw one inch ahead4 ,the horizon increased only as we advanced4 ,we grew up with the growth of the work4 #b4 ,the power of faith to give form and fixedness to ponderous enterprises4 ,we vacillated till ,brother ,woodsmall appeared1 so far at least as our school project was concerned4 ,as the queen bee draws together her wandering swarm and fixes them in settled habitation and orderly toil1 so did this saintly man do for the colored ,baptists of ,alabama4 ,and his spirit is still among us4 #c4 ,progress is born of progress4 ,because we gained one step1 we gained another step4 ,because we made it to the top of one mountain1 we could therefore make it to the top of another4 ,illustration ,,iii4 ,,associations4 ,under this head appear many points and facts of local interest4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,alabama ,,district4 ,this ,district was organized in #ahfi by ,revs4 ,n4 ,ashby1 ,m4 ,tyler1 ,w4 ,stevens1 ,j4 ,a4 ,foster1 ,wm4 ,jenkins and other leading men of ,montgomery and ,lowndes counties4 ,from their birth to this time1 as an ,association1 they have been leaders in missionary and educational operations4 ,,leading ,,men4 ,among the leading men of this body we may mention3 ,rev4 ,m4 ,tyler1 ,lowndesboro2 ,revs4 ,r4 ,t4 ,pollard1 ,m4 ,d4 ,brooks1 ,e4 ,w4 ,picket1 ,a4 ,moore1 ,g4 ,mc,kinney1 ,a4 ,campbell1 and ,d4 ,ware1 ,montgomery2 ,revs4 ,m4 ,c4 ,merrell1 ,james ,davis1 and ,a4 ,j4 ,knight1 ,fort ,deposit2 ,revs4 ,p4 ,gilchrist and ,b4 ,moss1 ,hayneville3 ,revs4 ,c4 ,h4 ,payne1 ,s4 ,m4 ,reeves1 and ,c4 ,p4 ,cain1 ,letohatchie2 ,revs4 ,j4 ,h4 ,smith and ,e4 ,elias1 ,tallassee2 ,revs4 ,e4 ,w4 ,jones1 ,m4 ,snowdon1 ,l4 ,barnett1 ,a4 ,dansey1 ,m4 ,c4 ,williams1 ,l4 ,calvary1 ,d4 ,hall1 ,j4 ,morris1 ,h4 ,w4 ,tarrant1 ,w4 ,harris1 ,d4 ,s4 ,adams1 ,m4 ,e4 ,pleasant1 postoffice unknown4 ,they report about #ab1jjj members4 ,their annual donation for general purposes averages #cjj or #djj4 ,this body contributed largely toward the purchase of our school property1 and now liberally supports the school4 ,rev4 ,s4 ,jones1 ,mt4 ,meigs1 is a strong man in this ,association1 and no man in ,alabama has done more for the education of his parishioners than he4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,c4 ,curry1 also of ,mt4 ,meigs1 is one of their most scholarly men and most able preachers4 ,they talk of dividing into two bodies1 hoping thereby to accomplish more for the furtherance of the gospel4 ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,f4 ,r4 ,kennedy1 ,pastor ,galilee ,baptist ,church1 ,anniston1 ,ala4 ,,alabama ,,midland ,,association4 ,organized in #ahhi1 is a small body operating chiefly in ,montgomery county4 ,they report six churches4 ,could not ascertain the membership4 ,revs4 ,b4 ,bible1 ,b4 ,coles1 ,w4 ,harrison and ,t4 ,l4 ,lewis lead them4 ,i submit the following as good supplementary matter to what has been said of the above ,associations3 ,,montgomery4 ,,the ,,first ,,colored ,,baptist ,,church ,was organized in the basement of the white ,baptist ,church 7,first ,baptist ,church7 just after the close of the war4 ,the corner stone of their present building on ,columbus street was laid in #ahfg4 ,their first pastor was the late ,rev4 ,nathan ,ashby1 who1 prior to the war1 had preached to the colored membership on ,sundays in the afternoon1 in the basement of the white church4 ,mr4 ,ashby being stricken down by paralysis1 closed his pastorate in #ahgj4 ,under his pastorate this church issued the call for the first session of the ,state ,convention in #ahfh2 hence this church is the source--the mother--of our ,convention4 ,for a few months the ,rev4 ,j4 ,w4 ,stevens supplied the pulpit4 ,in #ahga the late ,rev4 ,james ,h4 ,foster was called to the pastoral office1 which he served for the space of twenty years1 leaving it only to answer the summons of his ,master to appear in purer and higher spheres4 ,under his administration the church increased its membership from a few hundred to several thousand4 ,he expended some #aj1jjj or #ab1jjj on the present edifice4 ,under his pastorate the ,foreign ,mission ,convention was organized in #ahhj4 ,after ,mr4 ,foster's death1 ,december #a1 #ahia1 ,rev4 ,a4 ,j1 ,stokes1 then pastor at ,fernandina1 ,fla41 was called to their pulpit1 and now serves with great success1 having added within the last two months about #ejj by baptism4 ,so far1 his success is a wonder to the people of ,montgomery4 ,the special item under his administration is the organization of the young people for training and work4 ,old ,brother ,boykin 7about #he years old7 in speaking of the work about ,montgomery1 said3 8,the first colored preacher ,i saw after coming from ,charleston1 was ,bro4 ,cyrus ,hale4 ,he came from ,south ,carolina4 ,he was an old man when ,i first met him4 ,he was well read1 was a good preacher1 and the white people 'lowed him to go anywhere there was a call for him4 ,he was the father of the work in this section4 ,following him1 was ,bro4 ,jacob ,belser1 and then came ,bro4 ,nathan ,ashby4 ,brother ,hale must have been ordained1 for he used to baptize in slavery time4 8,while we were worshiping in the white church1 we had some 'sistant deacons--,bros4 ,fayette ,vandeville1 ,jerry ,fye1 ,peter ,miles and ,abe ,blackshear40 ,rev4 ,william ,jenkins relates the following3 8,i was born in ,montgomery in #ahce1 and have been here every since4 ,i began to speak in public in #aheb1 and continued to speak in the city and on neighboring plantations all the while4 ,i was allowed to read the ,bible1 but ,i had rather been caught with a hog than with a newspaper2 because1 for the hog1 ,i was likely to get a whipping2 but for the newspaper ,i might get a hanging4 ,and there was some faith them times4 ,on a plantation out here where ,i used to preach1 there was a balloon coming down one day4 ,the overseer and the people saw it1 and as that was a new thing with them1 it frightened them1 and everybody fled except one brother1 who1 on seeing the man in the balloon1 and believing that it was the ,lord1 ran towards the descending balloon1 exclaiming as he looked up3 #8,lord1 ,i's been looking for you for so long a time1 and now you's come at last6' ,the balloon man said3 #8,go away1 boy2 ,i'm nothing but a man4'0 ,montgomery is no longer what it was when1 thirty years ago1 ,bro4 ,ashby spoke in the afternoon in the basement of the white church4 ,six colored ,baptist churches now worship within the city and suburbs of ,montgomery4 ,the edifice of ,dexter ,avenue ,church1 standing near the first capital of the ex-,confederacy1 is one of the most substantial and neat brick structures in the city1 and the congregation which worships therein are people of money and refinement4 ,messrs4 ,h4 ,a4 ,loveless1 the coal dealer1 ,william ,watkins1 the contractor1 and ,charles ,steers1 the upholsterer1 are owners and managers of large affairs1 involving thousands of dollars4 ,the colored people of this city own many hundred thousand dollars in real estate4 ,mr4 ,billingslea1 the barber1 is said to own #cjj1jjj4 ,dr4 ,dorsett runs a successful drug business in one of the lower departments of a two-story brick building owned by himself4 ,the widow of the late ,hon4 ,james ,hale has built and is maintaining an infirmary for the sick poor people of her race4 ,contrast this state of things with thirty years ago1 when the colored people1 like 8dumb driven cattle0 before hound and lash1 wended their way in the 8death march0 of slavery1 and ask if the negro of to-day is the negro of thirty years ago4 ,there is on ,dexter avenue1 in the city of ,montgomery1 an old brick building wherein the 8negro trader0 used to pen his slaves to await his purchasers4 ,herein the writer organized the ,dexter ,avenue ,church4 ,compare the occupants of the slave pen with the audience in ,dexter ,avenue ,church4 ,,dexter ,,avenue ,,church4 ,this church is a secession from the ,columbus ,street ,church1 occurring in the latter part of the year #ahgg4 ,its first meeting1 with a view to organization1 took place in the parlor of ,mr4 ,samuel ,phillips4 ,the chief persons in the constitutional membership were ,messrs4 ,samuel ,phillips1 ,john ,phillips1 ,alfred ,thomas 7the father of ,mrs4 ,s4 ,h4 ,wright71 ,c4 ,sterrs1 ,william ,watkins and ,h4 ,a4 ,loveless4 ,the meeting for the recognition of the church was held in a hall on ,dexter avenue1 ,january1 #ahgh1 which in former days had been used as a slave trader's pen4 ,dr4 ,j4 ,b4 ,hawthorne1 pastor of the ,first ,church 7,white71 with his deacons1 represented the white brethren1 and ,rev4 ,j4 ,a4 ,foster1 pastor of the ,columbus ,street ,church1 represented his church4 ,the writer was the first pastor1 but owing to embarrassments which soon followed1 he did not remain long in charge of the work4 ,revs4 ,j4 ,w4 ,stevens1 ,f4 ,mc,donald1 ,j4 ,c4 ,curry1 ,a4 ,f4 ,owens1 ,t4 ,fryerson1 ,a4 ,n4 ,mc,ewen1 ,dr4 ,langridge1 and others followed in the pastoral charge4 ,the progress of the church was rather slow till the time of ,mr4 ,mc,ewen1 under whom their present beautiful building was erected4 ,the present pastor1 ,rev4 ,r4 ,t4 ,pollard1 seems to be appointed the task of leading not so much on lines of material development as in lines of spiritual growth4 ,many other good and pious persons have been added to their number1 so that no church in the ,state can now boast of a people more thrifty1 aspiring and refined4 ,,auburn ,,association4 ,organized in #ahgj by ,revs4 ,t4 ,glenn1 ,d4 ,phillips1 ,i4 ,m4 ,pollard and others4 ,this body operates chiefly in ,lee1 ,macon and ,tallapoosa counties4 ,in the beginning of ,selma ,university they contributed largely toward its establishment1 and have since given it liberal support4 ,lately1 however1 they are struggling1 under the leadership of ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,wells1 to plant a school in ,opelika4 ,they number about #h1jjj members4 ,illustration3 ,selma ,university1 ,selma1 ,ala4 ,,leading ,,men4 ,revs4 ,glenn and ,phillips have left the cross for the crown4 ,among the present leadership we have the names of ,revs4 ,j4 ,r4 ,howard1 ,m4 ,m4 ,archer1 ,a4 ,walton1 ,k4 ,t4 ,young1 ,t4 ,n4 ,huguely1 ,j4 ,wood1 ,g4 ,germany1 ,h4 ,clark1 ,a4 ,m4 ,mc,arthur1 ,g4 ,moore1 ,h4 ,jones1 ,j4 ,thomas1 ,j4 ,t4 ,torbert1 ,e4 ,l4 ,goer1 ,m4 ,m4 ,ross1 ,e4 ,white1 ,e4 ,l4 ,simms1 ,f4 ,t4 ,holmes1 ,d4 ,upshaw1 ,c4 ,young1 ,e4 ,cain1 ,r4 ,burton1 ,j4 ,david1 ,p4 ,davis4 ,rev4 ,i4 ,t4 ,simpson1 one of the strongest men in the ,state1 is now in this body as pastor at ,opelika4 ,the school project in ,opelika speaks well of its supporters and deserves to succeed4 ,may ,god bring them in the path of success4 ,the writer regrets to record that he saw something at one session of this body that was by no means creditable to it4 ,it was this selling business4 ,the grounds about the church were almost covered with cake stands1 etc41 and the sermons could scarcely be heard for the noise made by the salesmen4 ,associations ought not to meet with any church which does not pledge itself to keep such off the grounds4 ,the ,associations of our white brethren are not troubled with such ugly conduct4 ,the communities in which religious bodies convene should do all in their power to bring about the devotional spirit1 the spirit of sincere worship4 ,,autauga ,,county ,,association4 ,organized in #ahhb1 reports about #b1jjj members4 ,,leading ,,men4 ,jones' ,switch ,post ,office--,rev4 ,m4 ,clark4 ,milton--,m4 ,underwood1 ,j4 ,c4 ,parker1 ,d4 ,love1 ,h4 ,taylor4 ,independence--,william ,mims4 ,prattville--,william ,mc,linn4 ,verbena--,c4 ,price1 ,p4 ,dejarnet1 ,d4 ,gresham4 ,birmingham--,e4 ,goodson4 ,deatville--,a4 ,c4 ,roundtree1 ,a4 ,j4 ,jones4 ,autaugaville--,e4 ,nun4 ,bozeman--,j4 ,h4 ,brumby4 ,messrs4 ,j4 ,coles1 ,w4 ,cooper and ,j4 ,w4 ,carroll have served as clerks4 ,they1 too1 are recorded as contributing for educational purposes4 ,,bethlehem ,,association4 ,this association was organized in #ahfh1 and has given more students to ,selma ,university than any other association in the ,state1 nor has any other been more liberal in its gifts of money4 ,a calculation would1 perhaps1 show that they had not paid so much as the ,alabama ,district and the ,uniontown1 but it will be remembered that those are the giant associations1 having #aj1jjj or #ab1jjj members1 while this body has not more than #f1jjj4 ,rev4 ,c4 ,roberts1 one of the founders of this body1 in his opening speech before the session of #ahib1 said3 8,when we began1 not one among us could write4 ,we organized in ,tuscaloosa1 and when the work was done1 it seemed so insignificant an idea that we had attempted to constitute and operate an association that it took us two days to accept and recognize what we had done4 ,but see what we are now1 and what we have done6 ,of our own sons and daughters1 we have with us to-day teachers of the ,state schools1 teachers in universities1 teachers of music1 persons of character and of learning4 ,i never in my life1 thought ,i would see so much education in black people40 ,the 8,jones ,creek ,church10 the church with which the association had convened in the above named session1 was the name borne by the white church organized about #ahcj1 which long ago had become extinct4 ,rev4 ,l4 ,brown1 who now owns a good part of his old master's plantation1 presided at this session1 and ,rev4 ,i4 ,dawson was clerk4 ,their minutes give the following churches and ministers3 ,sherman ,post ,office--,galilee1 ,antioch1 ,little ,zion1 ,mount ,tabor4 ,warsaw--,mount ,pleasant1 ,union ,grove4 ,cahaba--,christian ,valley1 ,friendship1 ,mt4 ,tabor1 ,mt4 ,pleasant4 ,whitfield--,ebenezer4 ,boligee--,mt4 ,zion1 ,bethlehem1 ,st4 ,paul1 ,st4 ,james1 ,mt4 ,olive4 ,eutaw--,elizabeth1 ,eutaw1 ,zion1 ,friendship4 ,ramsey--,st4 ,mark1 ,dowsey1 ,mary ,winston1 ,jerusalem1 ,livingston1 ,shiloh1 ,pine ,grove1 ,new ,prospect4 ,sumpterville--,sumpterville1 ,mt4 ,zion4 ,mt4 ,hebron--,mt4 ,zion1 ,st4 ,john4 ,vianna--,new ,providence4 ,york ,station--,rock ,chapel1 ,york ,chapel1 ,mt4 ,harmon4 ,curl's ,station--,mt4 ,zion1 ,fourth ,creek4 ,gaston--,friendship4 ,west ,green--,pleasant ,valley4 ,tishabee--,christian ,valley1 ,little ,zion4 ,gainsville--,gainsville ,second1 ,new ,bethel1 ,longford1 ,spring ,valley1 ,gainsville4 ,epes ,station--,new ,hope1 ,jones ,creek1 ,miller's ,hill4 ,clinton--,mt4 ,common4 ,,leading ,,men4 ,revs4 ,g4 ,young1 ,t4 ,grant1 ,g4 ,lowe1 ,j4 ,s4 ,boatright1 ,i4 ,dawson1 ,l4 ,brown1 ,c4 ,roberts1 ,e4 ,grant4 ,there are other strong men among them whose names ,i could not obtain4 ,rev4 ,daniel ,griffin1 pastor at ,gainsville1 has especially commended himself for his studiousness1 spotless name1 and earnest work4 ,many of our best young men1 teachers and preachers1 come of this association4 ,,bibb ,,county ,,association4 ,organized in #ahhe1 report a membership of about #c1jjj4 ,the post offices of their several churches are given as follows3 ,calera1 ,jemison1 ,strasburg1 ,lomax1 ,clayton1 ,shiloh1 ,randolph1 ,traveler's ,rest1 ,maplesville1 ,briarfield1 and ,ashley4 ,,leading ,,men4 ,the list which the writer found was not full1 but we have the following3 ,revs4 ,h4 ,zimmerman1 ,clanton2 ,h4 ,e4 ,doake and ,a4 ,thomas1 ,calera2 ,c4 ,gentry1 ,randolph4 ,i am informed that ,revs4 ,j4 ,r4 ,scott1 ,j4 ,s4 ,printice1 ,j4 ,w4 ,witherspoon and ,w4 ,t4 ,goodson are also members of this body4 ,,bladen ,,springs ,,association4 ,organized in #ahgf1 reports about #b1jjj members4 ,,post ,,offices ,,of ,,churches4 ,bladen ,springs1 ,cunningham1 ,west ,bend1 ,rescueville1 ,coffeeville1 ,dead ,level1 ,mt4 ,sterling1 ,frankville1 ,ararat1 ,campbell1 ,st4 ,stevens4 ,,leading ,,men4 ,revs4 ,c4 ,long1 of ,bladen ,springs1 ,p4 ,d4 ,alford1 of ,cunningham2 ,r4 ,lewis1 ,f4 ,white1 ,r4 ,whitley1 ,o4 ,s4 ,yorke1 ,j4 ,whigman1 ,b4 ,white1 ,e4 ,a4 ,reed1 ,b4 ,woodson1 ,a4 ,s4 ,cessions1 ,c4 ,l4 ,davis1 and ,l4 ,w4 ,morris4 ,the writer baptized ,rev4 ,p4 ,d4 ,alford about twenty-five years ago1 while doing mission work in ,mississippi4 ,rev4 ,charles ,long was one of the first colored men to begin teaching and preaching after the war4 ,he stands as an honest business man1 as well as preacher of the gospel4 ,,brownville ,,association4 ,organized in #ahhc1 is a small body composed of about twenty churches1 which have the following post offices3 ,phenix ,city1 ,gerard1 ,motts1 ,columbus1 ,ga41 ,hatchechubbee1 ,ladonia1 ,crawford1 ,uchee4 ,,officers ,,last ,,reported4 ,moderator--,rev4 ,l4 ,d4 ,harris1 ,gerard4 ,clerk--,rev4 ,j4 ,f4 ,torbert1 ,hatchechubbee4 ,treasurer--,bro4 ,h4 ,dixon1 ,phenix ,city4 ,they number about #b1jjj members4 ,,canaan 7,,pickensville7 ,,association4 ,organized in #ahgf1 is operating chiefly in ,fayette county4 ,the writer cannot give their membership1 but they report eighteen or twenty churches4 ,,leading ,,men4 ,revs4 ,g4 ,h4 ,prewett1 ,w4 ,bozelle1 ,j4 ,p4 ,neal1 ,j4 ,m4 ,maddox1 ,s4 ,clements1 ,g4 ,w4 ,brent1 ,a4 ,g4 ,johnson1 ,j4 ,h4 ,evey1 ,i4 ,bizzell1 ,l4 ,w4 ,bridges1 ,r4 ,l4 ,gorden1 ,l4 ,neal1 ,a4 ,b4 ,richardson4 ,revs4 ,j4 ,m4 ,maddox and ,j4 ,w4 ,glasscox seem to be at least the peers of any in their ranks4 ,illustration3 ,mrs4 ,m4 ,d4 ,duncan1 ,principal ,female ,academy1 ,demopolis1 ,ala4 ,,the ,,colored ,,bethlehem ,,association4 ,organized in #ahga1 reports about #c1ejj members4 ,this is the body so long guided by the late ,rev4 ,armstead ,cunningham1 ,bellville4 ,this aided in the purchase of our property at ,selma4 ,,post ,,offices ,,of ,,churches4 ,eustis1 ,grove ,hill1 ,dixon's ,mill1 ,whatley1 ,thomasville1 ,glover1 ,atkerson1 ,choctaw ,corner1 ,myrtlewood1 ,putman1 ,clifton1 ,octagon4 ,,leading ,,men4 ,revs4 ,c4 ,l4 ,robertson1 ,h4 ,w4 ,mitchell1 ,c4 ,l4 ,davis1 ,e4 ,p4 ,yow1 ,w4 ,thomas1 ,p4 ,kimbrough1 ,j4 ,williams1 ,m4 ,dosey1 ,j4 ,m4 ,houston1 ,r4 ,f4 ,forman1 ,f4 ,johnson1 ,a4 ,l4 ,cleveland1 ,a4 ,charles1 ,w4 ,m4 ,kimbrough4 ,,dallas ,,county ,,association4 ,organized #ahgb1 is a large body1 operating in the 8,black ,belt40 ,they have about #d1jjj members4 ,support educational enterprises4 ,,post ,,offices ,,of ,,their ,,churches4 ,crumpton1 ,gee's ,bend1 ,lasso1 ,linden1 ,cylonia1 ,orrville1 ,portland1 ,cahaba1 ,lower ,peach ,tree1 ,selma1 ,brown's ,station1 ,gaston1 ,rehoboth1 ,hazen1 ,uniontown1 ,martin ,station1 ,boguechitto1 ,hamburg4 ,,leading ,,men4 ,d4 ,boyd1 ,w4 ,c4 ,richards1 ,g4 ,w4 ,jones1 ,t4 ,mosely1 ,p4 ,underwood1 ,w4 ,sprague1 ,h4 ,robertson1 ,r4 ,d4 ,vassar1 ,t4 ,b4 ,goldsby1 ,e4 ,b4 ,smith1 ,h4 ,willer1 ,a4 ,c4 ,collin1 ,s4 ,thompson1 ,a4 ,hardaway1 ,d4 ,m4 ,coleman1 ,a4 ,waller1 ,j4 ,watts1 ,n4 ,jones1 ,r4 ,murry1 ,l4 ,bryant4 ,rev4 ,d4 ,m4 ,coleman deserves praise for his persistent struggles after education4 ,in spite of every hindrance he1 at rather a late point in his young manhood1 started and completed a course in ,selma ,university4 ,,east ,,perry ,,county ,,association4 ,organized in #ahhe1 is a small body1 and the writer has learned but little of them4 ,,leading ,,men4 ,revs4 ,j4 ,a4 ,jemison1 ,c4 ,casby1 ,g4 ,s4 ,bolling1 ,f4 ,chandler1 ,s4 ,morse1 ,c4 ,mc,cord4 ,,evergreen ,,association4 ,organized #ahgh1 reports about #c1ejj members4 ,they liberally support educational and missionary enterprises4 ,,post ,,offices ,,of ,,their ,,churches4 ,evergreen1 ,dunham1 ,joyville1 ,fairfield1 ,red ,level1 ,mason1 ,brooklyn1 ,grovella1 ,garland1 ,andalusia1 ,castleberry1 ,brewton1 ,williams' ,station1 ,pollard4 ,,leading ,,men4 ,revs4 ,l4 and ,n4 ,hawthorne1 ,g4 ,donald1 ,j4 ,wallace1 ,r4 ,monroe1 ,a4 ,clairborne1 ,s4 ,union1 ,j4 ,mc,crery1 ,s4 ,i4 ,shannon1 ,z4 ,michael1 ,j4 ,salter1 ,r4 ,mc,crery1 ,d4 ,may1 ,r4 ,ingraham1 ,d4 ,shepard1 ,c4 ,c4 ,lucious1 and ,c4 ,jackson4 ,they want to establish a high school at ,evergreen1 where ,rev4 ,l4 ,hawthorne is now engaged in teaching and preaching4 ,,the ,,eufaula ,,association4 ,organized in #ahfg1 is perhaps the oldest ,colored ,association in ,alabama4 ,its chief founders were3 ,revs4 ,william ,mc,coo and ,jerry ,shorter1 and ,deacons ,j4 ,e4 ,timothy1 of ,eufaula1 and ,byrd ,day1 of ,glennville4 ,this body is peculiarly organized on some lines4 ,for example3 ,their ,sunday ,school work is divided into districts1 which districts1 under their several leaders1 hold so many meetings a year at different centers of the population4 ,a carefully prepared program is carried out1 led on by certain persons who have been previously named and informed4 ,and they have a preachers' association4 ,,post ,,offices ,,of ,,churches4 ,eufaula1 ,clayton1 ,glennville1 ,hurtsboro1 ,lofton1 ,pittsboro1 ,midway1 ,hatchechubbee1 ,seale1 ,jerigan1 ,cowikee1 ,oatston1 ,oswichee1 ,coal ,ridge1 ,louisville1 ,hawkinsville1 ,guerryton1 ,abbeville1 ,three-,notch1 ,enon1 ,cochran1 ,batesville4 ,eufaula is the leading point in the district4 ,,leading ,,men4 ,revs4 ,g4 ,w4 ,webb1 ,j4 ,d4 ,maddox1 ,wm4 ,williams1 ,james ,peterson1 ,l4 ,f4 ,o',bryant1 ,i4 ,bostic1 ,n4 ,bostic1 ,eufaula4 ,revs4 ,w4 ,r4 ,forbes1 ,e4 ,a4 ,mc,call1 ,columbus1 ,ga4 ,revs4 ,wm4 ,pattrick1 ,e4 ,p4 ,pattrick1 ,wm4 ,blakely1 ,clayton4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,q4 ,a4 ,wilhite1 ,selma4 ,revs4 ,j4 ,h4 ,upshaw1 ,t4 ,h4 ,mitchell1 ,hatchechubbee4 ,revs4 ,a4 ,a4 ,rivers1 ,j4 ,j4 ,young1 ,midway4 ,the author has been unable to obtain the post office address of the following names3 ,revs4 ,s4 ,allen1 ,r4 ,h4 ,wright1 ,t4 ,thomas1 ,c4 ,h4 ,ammons1 ,p4 ,shorter1 ,j4 ,torbert1 ,m4 ,davis1 ,p4 ,battle1 ,g4 ,w4 ,moore1 ,l4 ,b4 ,mitchell1 ,r4 ,turpin1 ,p4 ,johnson1 ,e4 ,r4 ,joseph1 ,e4 ,crawford4 ,for several years ,rev4 ,l4 ,p4 ,foster has been the missionary for this body4 ,bro4 ,byrd ,day1 a pioneer in this part of the ,state1 relates the following interesting story3 8,as ,i could read in the days of slavery1 and as the people on the place wanted to know the sayings of ,god1 as they called the ,bible1 they bought me a ,bible and got me to read for them4 ,we slaves were allowed night farms in those days4 ,an acre or so of land was given to each person wanting to work at night4 ,well1 in order that ,i might study the ,bible1 the other slaves on the place worked my patch for me4 ,so ,i studied the book and read it to them40 ,the writer once spent a month in ,eufaula giving ,bible instruction to ministers1 and was paid by the 8,ministers' ,association40 ,,flint ,,river ,,association4 ,organized in #ahhd1 is a small body of less than #a1jjj members1 and is the result of a secession from the ,muscle ,shoals ,association4 ,rev4 ,f4 ,a4 ,chapman is its principal founder and perhaps is their strongest man4 ,,ministers4 ,revs4 ,f4 ,a4 ,chapman1 ,c4 ,m4 ,davis1 ,c4 ,c4 ,matthews1 ,flint ,station2 ,g4 ,w4 ,garth1 ,crowton2 ,r4 ,wilhoit1 ,cedar ,plains2 ,b4 ,m4 ,key1 ,d4 ,ward1 ,s4 ,m4 ,robinson1 ,somerville2 ,a4 ,brown1 ,s4 ,gains1 ,a4 ,r4 ,eason1 ,huntsville2 ,c4 ,davis1 ,whitesburg2 ,w4 ,t4 ,connor1 ,madison2 ,e4 ,powell1 ,hillsboro4 ,the writer has greatly enjoyed their quiet spirit and earnest labors4 ,however1 he saw at their last session 7#ahid7 a rather ludicrous point or gesture in the pulpit exercises4 ,a brother1 who is known to be an upright man1 as well as a very earnest and industrious man1 was making some remarks on the closing sermon of the session1 when1 becoming very happy1 he made a leap upward1 which caused his brethren to fear lest there would be a bruise1 either in the ceiling1 or on top of the minister's head4 ,i would have1 if ,i could have done so with propriety1 urged the brother to remember that 8bodily exercise profits little1 while godliness is profitable unto all things10 and that 8the spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet10 and 8let all things be done decently and in order40 ,however1 ,i remember the day when most of the white preachers in ,alabama had in their sermons what some people are disposed to call 8the holy tone10 which was often accompanied by quite a lot of physical exercise4 ,this has become a thing of the past with them in proposition1 as they by culture1 have been raised to see that ,christianity is ,christly believing and ,christly living4 ,by the same process1 the same conditions will come upon us4 ,so1 we will still labor and still wait4 ,,friendship ,,western ,,union ,,association4 ,organized in #ahia1 is a small body operating in a section lying south of ,anniston and ,oxford4 ,,post ,,offices ,,of ,,their ,,churches4 ,wedowee1 ,lineville1 ,rockdale1 ,graham1 ,beason's ,mill1 ,heflin1 ,louina1 ,micaville1 ,lamar1 ,edwardsville1 ,truet1 ,gay4 ,,leading ,,men4 ,rev4 ,a4 ,m4 ,crawley1 ,iron ,city1 moderator2 and ,j4 ,w4 ,goss1 ,wedowee1 clerk4 ,revs4 ,s4 ,a4 ,banks1 ,l4 ,dotson1 ,c4 ,t4 ,early1 ,j4 ,c4 ,byrd1 ,j4 ,d4 ,austin1 ,j4 ,r4 ,heard1 ,d4 ,welsh1 ,c4 ,sterling1 ,c4 ,terry1 and ,j4 ,culbertson1 are mentioned among the principal pastors4 ,,good ,,samaritan ,,association4 ,organized #ahha1 has some eighteen or twenty churches4 ,the copy of the minutes in the hand of the writer fails to give the membership of the churches4 ,,post ,,offices ,,of ,,churches4 ,farmersville1 ,gordonville1 ,selma1 ,bragg's1 ,furman1 ,montery1 ,haynesville4 ,,leading ,,men4 ,revs4 ,wm4 ,moss1 ,w4 ,baskin1 ,h4 ,j4 ,kelly1 ,m4 ,lewis1 ,e4 ,crawford1 ,j4 ,h4 ,hartman4 ,,hope ,,hill ,,association4 ,organized in #ahhf1 reports a membership of about #a1ejj4 ,,post ,,offices ,,of ,,churches4 ,van ,dorn1 ,gallion1 ,demopolis1 ,old ,spring ,hill1 ,dayton4 ,,leading ,,men4 ,revs4 ,f4 ,gilbert1 ,j4 ,w4 ,belle1 ,wm4 ,allen1 ,w4 ,reese1 ,a4 ,wilson1 ,w4 ,h4 ,rone1 ,g4 ,c4 ,roney1 ,w4 ,e4 ,sharp1 ,a4 ,collins1 and ,g4 ,v4 ,spenser4 ,,lebanon ,,association4 ,operating in ,pickens county1 was organized in #ahgd1 and has a membership of about #b1jjj4 ,,leading ,,men ,,and ,,their ,,post ,,offices4 ,revs4 ,j4 ,c4 ,archibald1 ,bridgeville2 ,d4 ,c4 ,salmon1 ,bridgeville2 ,r4 ,richey1 ,pickensville2 ,j4 ,goodwin1 ,raleigh2 ,j4 ,t4 ,atty1 ,memphis1 ,ala42 ,j4 ,g4 ,johnson1 ,carrollton2 ,j4 ,clark1 ,ehren2 ,james ,howard1 ,pickensville4 ,brother ,archibald is liberally educated1 teaches school1 and is a progressive man on all lines4 ,,lily ,,star ,,association4 ,organized in #ahhe1 contains only about #a1jjj members4 ,,post ,,offices ,,of ,,churches4 ,trio1 ,brierfield1 ,centerville1 ,harrisburgh1 ,scottsville1 ,green ,pond1 ,blocton1 ,vance4 ,,pastors4 ,revs4 ,t4 ,m4 ,parker1 ,w4 ,a4 ,parker1 ,john ,bolden1 ,j4 ,a4 ,foster1 ,s4 ,page1 ,h4 ,s4 ,thompson1 ,g4 ,w4 ,glenn1 ,g4 ,calhoun4 ,,mobile ,,sunlight ,,association4 ,organized in #ahhg1 operates chiefly in ,mobile1 ,baldwin and ,washington counties4 ,the ,st4 ,louis ,street ,church1 ,mobile1 constituted in #ahei1 is the principal church in this body4 ,they have churches at the following points3 ,whistler1 ,chastang1 ,calvert's ,station1 ,scranton1 ,miss41 ,gondola1 ,four ,mile ,post1 ,moffitsville1 ,citronelle1 ,mount ,vernon1 ,chunchula1 ,cleveland1 ,cottage ,hill1 ,kushla1 ,vancleve4 ,,ministers4 ,revs4 ,j4 ,l4 ,frazier1 ,c4 ,c4 ,richardson1 ,t4 ,h4 ,morgan1 ,g4 ,w4 ,cephas1 ,h4 ,sims1 ,g4 ,lewis1 ,a4 ,j4 ,bolton1 ,e4 ,m4 ,matthews1 ,s4 ,a4 ,johnson1 ,m4 ,j4 ,thompson1 ,t4 ,benson1 ,c4 ,l4 ,roberts1 ,c4 ,reed1 ,w4 ,s4 ,forbes4 ,,mount ,,pleasant ,,association4 ,marengo county1 was organized in #ahgh4 ,they number about #b1ejj members4 ,,post ,,offices4 ,gallion1 ,linden1 ,faunsdale1 ,dayton1 ,magnolia1 ,van ,dorn1 ,demopolis1 ,uniontown1 ,providence1 ,spring ,hill4 ,,ministers4 ,revs4 ,j4 ,lawson1 ,h4 ,shade1 ,james ,emmerson1 ,j4 ,shaw1 ,n4 ,p4 ,anderson1 ,b4 ,glover1 ,d4 ,s4 ,thompson1 ,m4 ,d4 ,agee1 ,james ,brock4 ,,morning ,,star ,,association4 ,organized in #ahgd1 is operating in ,coosa and ,elmore counties4 ,their membership is about #b1jjj4 ,they have been rather separated from the general work1 but perhaps it is owing to the fact that their location has made it rather difficult for those who have represented the enterprises of the denomination to reach them4 ,,leading ,,men4 ,revs4 ,l4 ,w4 ,whitaker1 ,rockford2 ,m4 ,c4 ,crosby1 ,a4 ,l4 ,swindall1 ,a4 ,m4 ,snowdon1 ,a4 ,jones1 ,j4 ,a4 ,baker1 ,e4 ,d4 ,howell1 ,l4 ,w4 ,mc,neely1 ,r4 ,t4 ,lewis1 ,j4 ,h4 ,smith4 ,,post ,,offices4 ,lockford1 ,irma1 ,central ,institute1 ,dexter1 ,syke's ,mill1 ,pentonville1 ,equality1 ,lauderdale1 ,nixburgh1 ,weoka1 ,crewsville1 ,goodwater4 ,,mount ,,pilgrim ,,association4 ,organized in #ahgd by ,revs4 ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpine1 ,j4 ,r4 ,capers1 and ,william ,ware1 with other leading men2 occupies the chief mining regions of ,alabama4 ,their last minutes give the following churches and ministers3 ,,churches4 ,birmingham--,sixteenth ,street1 ,shiloh1 ,sixth ,avenue1 ,hopewell1 ,sardis1 ,first ,baptist1 ,north ,birmingham1 ,mt4 ,olive1 ,mt4 ,pilgrim1 ,healing ,springs1 ,spring ,street1 ,st4 ,james1 ,bethlehem1 ,bethel1 ,vernon4 ,bessemer--,jerusalem1 ,canaan1 ,red ,mountain4 ,pratt ,city--,mt4 ,hebron1 ,pleasant ,hill1 ,rising ,star1 ,st4 ,james4 ,coalburg--,coal ,chapel4 ,patton--,mt4 ,nebo4 ,east ,lake--,mt4 ,zion1 ,st4 ,peter4 ,helena--,mt4 ,moriah4 ,dolomite--,st4 ,john4 ,avondale--,mt4 ,calvary4 ,blossburg--,mt4 ,hebron4 ,woodlawn--,jackson ,street4 ,warrior--,new ,bethel4 ,rosedale--,walnut ,street4 ,trussville--,mt4 ,joy4 ,compton--,mt4 ,olive4 ,oxmoor--,shady ,grove4 ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,j4 ,p4 ,barton1 ,pastor ,peace ,baptist ,church1 ,talladega1 ,ala4 ,president ,baptist ,state ,convention4 ,,ministers4 ,revs4 ,t4 ,w4 ,walker1 ,t4 ,l4 ,jordan1 ,g4 ,w4 ,parks1 ,william ,ware1 ,g4 ,s4 ,smith1 ,w4 ,a4 ,shirley1 ,a4 ,j4 ,fikes1 ,r4 ,donald1 ,p4 ,c4 ,caddell1 ,w4 ,t4 ,bibb1 ,j4 ,a4 ,peele1 ,s4 ,d4 ,sanders1 ,william ,walker1 ,e4 ,e4 ,perryman1 ,r4 ,h4 ,vogle1 ,m4 ,c4 ,adams1 ,j4 ,p4 ,o',riley1 ,a4 ,a4 ,scott1 ,l4 ,v4 ,ellison1 ,j4 ,e4 ,a4 ,wilson1 ,v4 ,huntington1 ,f4 ,m4 ,miller1 ,b4 ,p4 ,palmo1 ,h4 ,neally1 ,f4 ,c4 ,chandler1 ,s4 ,m4 ,hall1 ,h4 ,zimmerman1 ,s4 ,l4 ,belser1 ,w4 ,e4 ,craddock1 ,j4 ,b4 ,gardner1 ,s4 ,a4 ,latham1 ,van ,b4 ,james1 ,p4 ,woollen1 ,l4 ,j4 ,green1 ,r4 ,johnson1 ,l4 ,w4 ,wells1 ,j4 ,m4 ,anthony1 ,l4 ,c4 ,jones4 ,as educators1 they have ,messrs4 ,t4 ,h4 ,posey1 ,j4 ,c4 ,barker1 ,f4 ,p4 ,mc,alpine1 and ,a4 ,j4 ,edwards4 ,rev4 ,l4 ,d4 ,james is missionary of their district4 ,their membership is about #f1jjj1 and their church property is worth not less than #ej1jjj4 ,,birmingham ,,churches4 ,the oldest church in the city is the ,spring ,street ,church1 ,rev4 ,l4 ,j4 ,green's church1 but the ,sixteenth ,street1 ,sixth ,avenue1 and ,shiloh ,churches are the most influential churches4 ,the ,sixteenth ,street ,church was organized in #ahgc1 it appears1 and her pastors appear in the following order3 ,revs4 ,j4 ,readon1 ,w4 ,reed1 ,a4 ,c4 ,jackson1 ,w4 ,r4 ,pettiford1 and ,t4 ,l4 ,jordan4 ,in a property point of view they owe much to ,rev4 ,a4 ,c4 ,jackson1 under whom they obtained the present church lot1 three other lots1 and a small frame building1 say about #e1jjj4 ,this #d1jjj or #e1jjj went toward the erection of their brick edifice1 erected under the pastorate of ,rev4 ,w4 ,r4 ,pettiford4 ,they owe about #c1jjj on their building1 the payment of which has been much hindered by the scarcity of money4 ,in all the most progressive plans of gospel work in this section1 this church has led the way2 and their advance on these lines is chiefly due to the presence of ,dr4 ,pettiford and the missionary ladies4 ,the ,sixth ,avenue ,church is the next to appear4 ,its pastors have been3 ,revs4 ,silas ,jones1 ,t4 ,w4 ,walker1 ,j4 ,w4 ,white4 ,they have recently offered the pastoral charge to ,rev4 ,j4 ,q4 ,a4 ,wilhite1 who is expected to assume management this month 7,may1 #ahie74 ,they are in debt also4 ,the church that is the marvel of the city is the ,shiloh1 under ,rev4 ,t4 ,w4 ,walker4 ,this church was organized ,may #c1 #ahia1 as the result of preaching service supported by a society known as the 8,christian ,relief ,association40 ,they now have the smallest debt1 the largest house and the largest congregation in the city4 ,often when #a1bjj or #a1ejj people are in the house1 a good part of the street is full of persons who are anxious to approach near enough to hear4 ,of course the pastor is the source and center of this successful church1 but he has been fortunate in drawing about him some very business-like as well as very agreeable people4 ,the following anniversary program1 etc41 will give an idea of the church's operations and system4 7,this program1 with facts like it1 is given for its suggestiveness73 ,may #c1 #ahia ,may #c1 #ahie ,,fourth ,,anniversary ,,of ,,shiloh ,,baptist ,,church1 ,,of ,,birmingham1 ,,ala4 ,the anniversary of the above named church will be held on ,friday1 the above date1 at the church on ,avenue ,g1 between ,eighteenth and ,nineteenth streets4 ,all churches in the city and vicinity are cordially invited to be present and take a part in the exercises1 as those present will have the privilege to speak on the subjects after they have been submitted to the assembly4 ,the following will be the programme for the day4 #i3cj to #aj ,a4 ,m4--,opening4 ,devotional exercises and responsive ,scripture reading4--,psalm #bd4 #aj to #aj3cj--8,the ,work of the ,school10 by ,mrs4 ,laura ,emmons4 ,discussed by ,rev4 ,j4 ,a4 ,peel1 of ,north ,birmingham4 #aj3cj to #aa--8,the ,work of the ,b4,y4,p4,u410 by ,miss ,georgia ,battles4 ,discussed by ,rev4 ,j4 ,e4 ,a4 ,wilson1 of ,pratt ,city4 #aa to #aa3cj--8,the ,work of the ,missionary10 by ,miss ,a4 ,l4 ,bowman4 ,discussed by ,rev4 ,v4 ,b4 ,james1 of ,avondale4 #aa3cj to #ab--8;,children's ,mission ,band ,society10 by ,miss ,sallie ,bates4 ,discussed by ,rev4 ,l4 ,v4 ,ellison4 #ab to #a ,p4 ,m4--8,the ,history of the ,church10 by ,j4 ,m4 ,ross4 ,discussed by ,rev4 ,t4 ,w4 ,walker4 ,adjourn to reassemble at #c ,p4 ,m4 #c to #c3ae--;,devotional exercises by ,rev4 ,william ,winters4 #c3ae to #c3de--8;,christian ,relief ,society10 by ,j4 ,w4 ,sampson4 ,discussed by ,rev4 ,g4 ,w4 ,parks4 #c3de to #d3cj--,sermon on 8,the ,progress of the ,baptists10 by ,rev4 ,w4 ,e4 ,perryman1 of ,pratt ,city4 ,,collection4 #d3cj to #e--8;,church ,unity10 by ,rev4 ,l4 ,j4 ,green4 ,discussed by ,rev4 ,t4 ,l4 ,jordan4 #e to #e3de--8,the ,church in the ,present ,struggle10 by ,rev4 ,s4 ,l4 ,belser4 ,discussed by ,syl4 ,d4 ,jones4 ,adjourn to reassemble at #g3cj4 #g3cj to #h--;,devotional exercises by ,rev4 ,c4 ,h4 ,hopkins4 #h--;,anniversary sermon by ,rev4 ,j4 ,q4 ,a4 ,wilhite4 ,,collection4 ,all are requested to bring their ,bibles1 as they will be needed4 ,j4 ,w4 ,sampson1 ,j4 ,m4 ,ross1 ,rev4 ,t4 ,w4 ,walker1 ,pastor4 ,committee4 ,the above exercises took place on ,friday1 and the author of this book was present to gather evidence of progress4 ,closing the chapter on the ,mount ,pilgrim ,association1 ,i submit the following programs in order to give further light on the general operations in their field4 ,,mt4 ,,pilgrim ,,women',s ,,missionary ,,association4 ,,topics4 #ahid4 ,november--,women of the ,bible4 ,december--,the ,mother's pledge4 #ahie4 ,january--,our ,state work4 ,february--,how to make happy homes4 ,march--,our duty to our country4 ,april--,ways of elevating of our race4 ,may--,our duty to the heathen4 ,june--,what should we teach our children4 ,july--,qualifications needed for ,christian usefulness4 ,august--,economy4 ,september--,fireside schools4 ,october--,review of the year's studies4 ,the above gives the topics of the local monthly meetings4 ,,women',s ,,missionary ,,association4 ,jackson ,street ,baptist ,church1 ,woodlawn1 ,may #c1 #ahie4 ,,program4 #i3jj ,a4 ,m4--,praise service4 #i3cj ,a4 ,m4--,president's address4 #i3de ,a4 ,m4--,hinderances to ,christian usefulness4 #aj3ae ,a4 ,m4--,best methods for governing children4 #aj3de ,a4 ,m4--,has each ,christian a responsibility in bringing the world to ,christ8 #aa3ae ,a4 ,m4--,reports of local societies4 #b3jj ,p4 ,m4--,praise service4 #b3ae ,p4 ,m4--,the true women4 #b3de ,p4 ,m4--,africa's need4 #c3cj ,p4 ,m4--,the model missionary society4 #d3jj ,p4 ,m4--,business4 ,in this meeting the following names appear3 ,mesdames ,p4 ,f4 ,clark1 ,sallie ,hall1 ,r4 ,callier1 ,a4 ,mc,kesson1 ,l4 ,tyrus1 ,e4 ,c4 ,bellmy1 ,l4 ,dean1 ,s4 ,ceephas1 ,a4 ,l4 ,billheimer1 ,s4 ,a4 ,donald1 ,m4 ,j4 ,walker1 with the names of the missionaries1 ,misses ,knapp and ,boorman4 ,,fifth ,,general ,,meeting ,,of ,,the ,,baptist ,,young ,,people',s ,,union ,,of ,,mt4 ,,pilgrim ,,association4 ,december #g1 #ahid4 #aj3jj ,a4 ,m4--,praise service4 #aj3ae ,a4 ,m4--,president's address4 #aj3cj ,a4 ,m4--,what is necessary to ,christian growth8 #aa3jj ,a4 ,m4--,how to make a success of ,b4,y4,p4,u4 in country churches4 #aa3cj ,a4 ,m4--,the importance of good reading matter4 #ab3jj ,p4 ,m4--,literature4 #b3jj ,p4 ,m4--,a model meeting4 #b3cj ,p4 ,m4--,address3 ,the work of the ,b4,y4,p4,u4 in evangelizing the world4 #c3jj ,p4 ,m4--,best methods for promoting temperance4 #c3cj ,p4 ,m4--,report of local ,unions4 #d3jj ,p4 ,m4--,business4 #g3jj ,p4 ,m4--,praise and conference and collection4 #h3jj ,p4 ,m4--,echoes from the ,toronto ,convention4 ,these topics1 etc41 show the lines of thought upon which the mind is working4 ,how different things are now from what they were in #ahce1 when ,job ,davis1 the ,african preacher1 toiled by the side of his fellow slaves all day and dreamed at night of his far off home over the great sea6 ,now in the valley where his famous camp-meeting sermon melted the heart of the white people into a condition of submission to ,jesus and into hope of the coming world--where the black man knew only spade1 plow and hoe--we have the ,negro ,m4 ,d41 ,negro druggist1 ,negro dentist1 ,negro banker1 ,negro author1 ,negro merchant1 ,negroes worshiping in brick churches1 ,negro scientists1 and white people using ,negro inventions4 ,here are ,banker ,b4 ,h4 ,hudson1 ,druggist ,i4 ,b4 ,kigh1 ,drs4 ,goin1 ,brown1 and ,u4 ,g4 ,mason1 ,inventor ,andrew ,beard1 with orators and educators many4 8,what shall the harvest be80 ,illustration3 ,miss ,hardie ,martin1 ,teacher in ,public ,school1 ,montgomery1 ,ala4 ,,the ,,mulberry ,,association4 ,organized in #ahhb1 is composed of only a few churches1 chief among which we may mention3 ,new ,zion1 ,mt4 ,pleasant and ,spring ,hill1 ,elba post office2 ,mt4 ,calvary1 ,damascus and ,antioch1 ,rose ,hill post office2 ,friendship and ,pleasant ,ridge1 ,henderson post office2 ,mt4 ,olive and ,st4 ,john1 ,luverne post office4 ,they have between #a1bjj and #a1ejj members4 ,,leading ,,men4 ,revs4 ,g4 ,stringer1 ,m4 ,h4 ,henderson1 ,g4 ,b4 ,gibson1 ,c4 ,p4 ,larkin1 ,d4 ,f4 ,white and ,j4 ,s4 ,lee4 ,,mud ,,creek ,,association4 ,organized in #ahgc1 is a small body of very poor churches1 located in ,jackson county4 ,there were a few rich slaveholders in said county1 among whom was the ,rev4 ,charles ,roach1 ,sr4 ,on his plantation there were three preachers1 one ,methodist and two ,baptist4 ,the ,baptist preachers were ,thomas and ,perkins4 ,like many other ex-slaves1 they retained the name of their master1 and became known as ,revs4 ,thomas and ,perkins ,roach4 ,rev4 ,robert ,caver1 at an early date after the close of the war1 came into the county a ,baptist preacher4 ,these men became the organizers of the work in this county4 ,the county is no longer so full of colored people as once it was1 and hence the churches are very small and can't support their pastors4 ,revs4 ,james ,larkin1 ,lewis ,roach1 ,t4 ,j4 ,roach1 ,lewis ,henshaw1 ,f4 ,cobb1 ,c4 ,l4 ,lovelady1 ,j4 ,w4 ,robinson are doing what they can to keep up the work but they labor under great difficulties4 ,it is the purpose of some to attempt to establish a school at ,hollywood4 ,if this project should mature there is a prophecy of better conditions in time to come4 ,,muscle ,,shoals ,,association ,is among the largest and oldest ,associations in the ,state1 having been organized in #ahfi by ,revs4 ,henry ,bynum1 ,wm4 ,coleman and ,w4 ,e4 ,northcross1 aided by ,dr4 ,joseph ,shackelford 7white71 of ,trinity4 ,i was with them as they met in the session of #ahic in the ,courtland ,church4 ,in #ahbg1 a ,mr4 ,d4 ,p4 ,bestor1 a white minister1 preached in this section and began the work of organizing among the whites4 ,i was told that the white church1 constituted in ,courtland in #ahbg1 had long passed away and that of their building 8one stone was not left upon another40 ,only the vacant church lot remained to tell of what had been4 ,the white people were gone we knew not how nor whither1 but that the gospel which they had preached was blooming like a green bay tree in the hearts of their ex-slaves1 this large ,association was tangible evidence4 ,the ,rev4 ,john ,belle reminded his brethren that the time had been when he was the only man in the body who could write and when committees went out to consult and agree1 and then returned to submit verbal reports1 which he as clerk was expected to formulate4 ,he compared this state of things with the present condition1 wherein the writer was the rule and the non-writer the exception4 ,this body is noted for church building4 ,the people in ,huntsville and ,sheffield owe their buildings to the plan and liberality of this ,association4 ,the ,rev4 ,paul ,jones1 for many years their moderator1 was full of missionary zeal and wise plans1 and pushed things in all directions4 ,his death caused them a great loss4 ,their minutes give the following churches and pastors3 ,tuscumbia church1 ,rev4 ,w4 ,e4 ,northcross2 ,courtland and ,sheffield1 ,rev4 ,g4 ,b4 ,johnson1 of ,courtland2 ,red ,bank and ,iuka1 ,rev4 ,john ,belle1 of ,courtland2 ,pleasant ,grove1 ,mt4 ,zion and ,little ,zion1 ,rev4 ,e4 ,m4 ,james1 of ,courtland2 ,russellville and ,florence churches1 ,rev4 ,e4 ,c4 ,white1 of ,tuscumbia2 ,mount ,olive1 ,rev4 ,l4 ,warren1 of ,leighton2 ,palmetto1 ,rev4 ,m4 ,jones1 of ,russellville2 ,galilee and ,mount ,pleasant1 ,rev4 ,b4 ,king1 of ,leighton2 ,town ,creek and ,moulton1 ,rev4 ,a4 ,j4 ,owens1 of ,moulton2 ,mount ,moriah1 ,rev4 ,h4 ,r4 ,baker1 of ,tuscumbia2 ,macedonia1 ,rev4 ,a4 ,troupe1 of ,town ,creek2 ,elm ,grove1 ,rev4 ,william ,weaver1 of ,oakland2 ,mount ,new ,home1 ,rev4 ,william ,morris1 of ,leighton2 ,huntsville ,church1 ,rev4 ,o4 ,gray1 of ,huntsville2 ,cave ,springs1 ,zion and ,bethel1 ,rev4 ,james ,hampton1 of ,leighton2 ,zion ,no4 #b41 ,rev4 ,j4 ,h4 ,betts1 of ,florence2 ,cater's ,branch1 ,rev4 ,a4 ,davis2 ,st4 ,peter's1 ,rev4 ,h4 ,l4 ,ellis1 of ,flint2 ,jerusalem and ,salem1 ,rev4 ,d4 ,jackson1 of ,tuscumbia2 ,mt4 ,olive1 ,rev4 ,g4 ,s4 ,ricks1 of ,leighton2 ,decatur ,church1 ,rev4 ,m4 ,j4 ,hooks2 ,hillsboro1 ,rev4 ,b4 ,swoope2 ,baptist ,chapel1 ,rev4 ,james ,young1 of ,florence2 ,st4 ,paul and ,hopewell1 ,rev4 ,s4 ,wadkins1 ,tuscumbia4 ,they report church property worth about #be1jjj4 ,their principal work has been in the way of starting missions and building churches4 ,they have #f1jjj members1 and an excellent territory1 but they greatly need a school4 ,professors ,h4 ,h4 ,stewart1 of ,courtland1 and ,j4 ,p4 ,gettis1 of ,decatur1 and ,dr4 ,sterrs1 of the same place1 are the most advanced men of their fellowship4 ,dr4 ,sterrs is a successful young physician as well as preacher4 ,,new ,,pine ,,grove ,,association4 ,organized in #ahgh and is a secession from the old ,pine ,grove4 ,they have1 perhaps1 about #b1jjj members in the following churches3 ,at ,troy--,pine ,grove1 ,holly ,springs1 ,high ,ridge1 ,mt4 ,olive2 ,union ,springs--,sardis1 ,low's ,field1 ,lime ,creek2 ,brundidge--,post ,oak1 ,new ,hope1 ,mt4 ,pilgrim4 ,,leading ,,men4 ,rev4 ,a4 ,martin1 ,union ,springs2 ,wm4 ,mullen and ,m4 ,flournoy1 ,troy2 ,w4 ,h4 ,copeland and ,e4 ,mayer1 ,brundidge4 ,,new ,,cahaba ,,association4 ,organized in #ahga1 has about #b1jjj members1 and are generous supporters of missionary and educational enterprises4 ,their work is managed by such men as ,revs4 ,p4 ,s4 ,l4 ,hutchins1 ,b4 ,n4 ,tubbs1 ,r4 ,e4 ,brown1 ,l4 ,abercrombie1 ,t4 ,chandler and ,a4 ,l4 ,huggins4 ,they have churches at or near ,marion1 ,hamburg and ,selma4 ,the copy of their minutes which came to the writer's hand is not sufficiently full to make a good record1 as is the case with regard to other minutes in hand4 ,,old ,,pine ,,grove ,,association4 ,with headquarters at ,union ,springs1 ,bullock county1 was organized in #ahgj4 ,no section of ,alabama affords better talent than is found within the territory of this ,association4 ,the people of ,union ,springs are noted for their ability and skill in business affairs--merchandise1 etc4 ,the brick church edifice recently erected by ,rev4 ,w4 ,c4 ,bradford and his church in ,union ,springs1 as well as the large and successfully operated stores1 is testimony on this line4 ,the officers of this body are3 ,rev4 ,e4 ,thornton1 ,union ,springs1 moderator2 ,prof4 ,f4 ,l4 ,todd1 ,union ,springs1 clerk2 ,rev4 ,w4 ,c4 ,crawford1 treasurer4 ,they have about #b1jjj members1 and the following churches3 ,aberfoil--,elizabeth4 ,union ,springs--,first ,baptist1 ,mt4 ,pleasant1 ,st4 ,john1 and ,mt4 ,hilliard4 ,cotton ,valley--,elizabeth4 ,thompson ,station--,mt4 ,pleasant and ,second ,baptist4 ,fitzpatrick ,station--,greenwood4 ,mc,lemore--,mt4 ,common4 ,bug ,hall--,bethlehem and ,mt4 ,carmel4 ,indian ,creek--,mt4 ,calvary4 ,goshen ,hill--,mt4 ,zion4 ,china ,grove--,mt4 ,zion4 ,linwood--,mt4 ,pleasant4 ,flora--,mt4 ,sinai4 ,suspension--,mt4 ,canaan4 ,orion--,bethlehem4 ,they have the following pastors3 ,union ,springs--,revs4 ,w4 ,c4 ,bradford1 ,e4 ,thornton1 ,l4 ,lawson1 and ,e4 ,moore4 ,aberfoil--,revs4 ,c4 ,h4 ,thornton and ,j4 ,c4 ,jett4 ,flora--,rev4 ,r4 ,allen4 ,fitzpatrick--,rev4 ,william ,thompkins4 ,cotton ,valley--,revs4 ,m4 ,ellington and ,w4 ,crawford4 ,for general purposes the ,association raises from #ej to #ajj a year4 ,post ,offices ,unknown--,revs4 ,t4 ,hendrix1 ,g4 ,youngblood1 ,p4 ,johnson1 ,s4 ,m4 ,dawson1 ,j4 ,m4 ,faison1 ,r4 ,jole1 ,s4 ,barnes4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,w4 ,jett1 a man of ,virginia birth1 is the oldest member of the body2 he was associated with those pioneers of this section1 ,revs4 ,peter ,johnson and ,william ,townsend4 ,mr4 ,jett is still strong and active1 and is ready for any good work4 ,rev4 ,e4 ,thornton leads this body1 and it could not be otherwise1 as no man among them is a mightier and more conspicuous individuality4 ,,perote ,,association4 ,organized in #ahhj1 is not so well known as some other bodies4 ,from the minutes of #ahhh ,i glean the following3 ,they have a church at ,perote1 one at ,mt4 ,andrew1 one at ,fresco1 two at ,victoria1 one at ,midway1 and one at ,pine ,grove4 ,their membership at this time was small1 and the names of some of their chief men appear as follows3 ,rev4 ,j4 ,h4 ,burks1 ,w4 ,b4 ,grubbs1 ,c4 ,g4 ,wheeler1 ,r4 ,allen1 and ,r4 ,dix4 ,,pike ,,county ,,association4 ,organized in #ahhg1 rose1 it seems1 in ,pike ,county4 ,,pastors4 ,revs4 ,j4 ,s4 ,adair1 ,t4 ,diggs1 ,g4 ,whaley1 ,w4 ,s4 ,pollard1 ,h4 ,broxton1 ,m4 ,stinson1 ,w4 ,f4 ,williams1 ,j4 ,o4 ,davis1 and others4 ,,churches4 ,troy ,post ,office--,troy ,church4 ,clayton--,mt4 ,moriah4 ,burk's--,antioch4 ,buck ,horn--,mt4 ,olive4 ,elba--,friendship and ,harmony4 ,linwood--,benevolent4 ,they endorse educational enterprises4 ,,rushing ,,springs ,,association4 ,organized in #ahgj4 ,revs4 ,henry ,woods1 ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpine1 and ,isham ,robinson were the chief founders of this body4 ,talladega county is their main territory1 though they have churches in ,coosa1 ,st4 ,clair and ,calhoun counties4 ,rev4 ,e4 ,c4 ,rivers has been for years their efficient moderator1 and ,rev4 ,a4 ,a4 ,battle is clerk4 ,they report their churches and ministers as follows3 ,jenifer ,post ,office--,shady ,grove and ,shiloh4 ,renfroe--,new ,salem1 ,antioch and ,bethel4 ,talladega--,pleasant ,grove1 ,mt4 ,pilgrim1 ,mt4 ,cleveland1 ,rocky ,mount1 ,sycamore1 ,mt4 ,canaan1 ,mt4 ,moriah1 ,mt4 ,zion4 ,eureka--,pleasant ,hill1 ,rushing ,springs4 ,kilnulga--,mt4 ,carmel4 ,goodwater--,marietta4 ,kelley's ,creek--,mt4 ,zion4 ,sylacauga--,harper ,springs1 ,new ,hope1 ,rising ,star4 ,silver ,run--,sweet ,home4 ,cropwell--,cropwell4 ,regan--,macedonia4 ,sycamore--,mt4 ,olive1 ,pleasant ,hill1 ,salem4 ,sedan--,blooming ,light4 ,birney's--,african ,church4 ,lincoln--,pine ,grove4 ,mt4 ,olive--,new ,shiloh4 ,alpine--,new ,maryland1 ,kingston4 ,rendalia--,zion ,hill4 ,oxford--,rocky ,mount4 ,eastaboga--,salem4 ,anniston--,mt4 ,zion4 ,ironaton--,ironaton4 ,stewardsville--,union4 ,miles--,lebanon4 ,,ministers4 ,d4 ,savage1 of ,mumford2 ,a4 ,z4 ,wilson1 ,n4 ,jemison1 ,b4 ,jackson1 ,a4 ,bibb1 ,s4 ,rivers1 ,p4 ,jordan1 ,c4 ,c4 ,curry1 ,r4 ,garrett1 ,a4 ,j4 ,vincent1 ,a4 ,o',neal1 ,a4 ,g4 ,walker1 ,james ,headen1 ,m4 ,h4 ,cunningham1 ,h4 ,wood1 ,j4 ,chapman1 ,a4 ,a4 ,battle1 ,s4 ,burt1 ,r4 ,b4 ,mc,clellen1 ,j4 ,l4 ,looney1 ,a4 ,bryant1 ,a4 ,davis1 ,s4 ,marbry1 ,j4 ,p4 ,barton1 ,m4 ,c4 ,b4 ,oden4 ,this body is led chiefly by men who have attended ,talladega ,college1 some of whom are not only graduates and scholars1 but are strong preachers of the plain old gospel story4 ,they number about #f1ejj members4 ,talladega and ,anniston are their chief points4 ,talladega is the 8,old ,indian battle ground10 and here the white ,baptists formed a church in #ahce4 ,sister ,cain1 a member of the ,mount ,canaan ,church1 ,talladega1 said to the writer3 8,there was no town here when ,i came4 ,the ,indians lived here and it was all nothing but wild woods40 ,as she was talking1 the ,talladega ,college bell loudly rang out some orders or notice upon the ears of ,negro students4 ,i mused3 8,how the world changes6 ,about the years #ahbj-ahcj1 negro slavery is established in ,talladega county4 ,in #ahce a white church rises up and1 unknowingly1 begins to prepare to give birth to a ,negro church1 which will give birth to a ,negro ,association4 ,in #ahfe the slave is free1 and in #ahgj the white church constitutes the ,mt4 ,canaan ,church 7colored71 out of which comes the ,rushing ,springs ,association4 ,and ,negro men and ,negro women are carrying diplomas from buildings erected by white ,baptists for the education of white people4 ,all this in less than fifty years40 ,,the ,,african ,,baptist ,,church4 ,in ,talladega county1 has a rather peculiar history4 ,the lot was donated in #ahdi1 it appears1 by a ,mr4 ,william ,jenkins1 a wealthy slave owner1 who lived about eight miles south of the town of ,talladega4 ,it is said that in addition to the gift of land and building1 he paid a man to teach the catechism to the colored children1 and paid annually #aej toward the salary of a minister for the colored people who worshiped with this church4 ,samuel ,jenkins1 a slave from ,south ,carolina1 was one of their first deacons4 ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,w4 ,r4 ,pettiford1 ,d4 ,d41 ,president ,penny ,savings and ,loan ,co41 ,president ,alabama ,publishing ,co41 ,birmingham1 ,ala4 ,pastors4--,it appears that the following brethren served the church at different times in the capacity of pastor3 ,revs4 ,d4 ,reynolds1 ,s4 ,boils1 ,d4 ,peeples1 ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpine1 ,phil4 ,davis1 ,a4 ,lawler1 and ,jordan ,chapman4 ,the origin of this church is full of suggestion4 ,it shows that in spite of the brutalizing influences of the horrible institution of slavery1 humanity and ,christianity in the master often triumphed in deeds of love and mercy in behalf of the helpless slave4 ,the memory of such men as ,mr4 ,jenkins inscribed upon such times will be fragrant forever4 ,the plantation to which the above named lot belonged has changed hands several times1 but this lot is fixed on the records as the property of the ,african ,church4 ,honorable mention is made of ,rev4 ,chesley ,johnson and ,joe ,walker4 ,the latter1 it is said1 was allowed to give ,bible lessons on his master's plantation4 ,the manliness which characterizes ,mr4 ,henry ,barclay 7,mr4 ,walker's son7 and other descendants1 marks ,mr4 ,walker's rare talent4 ,,sandy ,,ridge ,,association4 ,organized in #ahhg1 is composed of the following churches3 ,burnesville ,post ,office--,lily ,zion and ,lily ,grove4 ,selma--,st4 ,james1 ,new ,liberty1 ,cahaba1 and ,elyton4 ,vine ,hill--,pleasant ,grove and ,mt4 ,pilgrim4 ,stateville--,new ,mt4 ,moriah1 ,autaugaville1 ,new ,hope1 ,pleasant ,valley1 and ,st4 ,paul4 ,jones' ,switch--,new ,providence4 ,augustine--,oak ,grove4 ,revs4 ,a4 ,clay1 ,j4 and ,e4 ,mixom1 ,m4 ,bishop1 ,h4 ,w4 ,peeples1 and ,e4 ,w4 ,deampart are mentioned among their leading men4 ,their church property is reported at #h1jjj4 ,,salem ,,association4 ,organized in #ahga1 is a small body in southeast ,alabama4 ,i have been unable to obtain data from this body4 ,i learn that they have churches at the following points3 ,brundidge1 ,clintonville1 ,enterprise1 and ,cox ,mills4 ,,shelby ,,springs ,,association4 ,was organized in #ahfi4 ,rev4 ,berry ,ware1 it seems1 was one of its leading founders4 ,they have a membership of about #c1jjj4 ,they have some excellent men1 among whom may be mentioned3 ,revs4 ,b4 ,m4 ,mallory1 ,f4 ,youngblood1 ,h4 ,d4 ,leathers1 of ,childersburg2 ,rev4 ,d4 ,l4 ,prentice1 ,aldrich2 ,rev4 ,j4 ,p4 ,barton1 ,talladega2 ,rev4 ,e4 ,e4 ,perryman1 ,helena2 ,revs4 ,g4 ,r4 ,nash1 ,f4 ,r4 ,kenedy1 ,b4 ,f4 ,singleton1 and ,p4 ,caddell1 ,columbiana2 ,rev4 ,f4 ,cahill1 ,harpersville2 ,revs4 ,j4 ,l4 ,looney and ,p4 ,fancher1 ,fayetteville2 ,revs4 ,w4 ,c4 ,owens and ,j4 ,h4 ,moseley1 ,calera4 ,the minutes of #ahij give the following post offices and churches3 ,childersburg--,enon4 ,kymulga--,mt4 ,olive4 ,aldrich--,hepzibah4 ,blocton--,liberty4 ,talladega--,peace ,baptist4 ,wilsonville--,bethlehem1 ,scott ,grove1 ,mt4 ,grove1 and ,dry ,branch4 ,harpersville--,mt4 ,olive4 ,helena--,mt4 ,pleasant4 ,fayetteville--,shady ,grove1 ,friendship4 ,columbiana--,zion1 ,friendship1 and ,macedonia4 ,mt4 ,pinson--,mt4 ,bradford4 ,siluria--,union ,hill1 ,liberty ,no4 #a4 ,shelby--,providence4 ,long ,view--,galilee4 ,calera--,moseley ,chapel1 ,new ,mt4 ,moriah1 ,bethel4 ,rev4 ,d4 ,l4 ,prentice1 ,aldrich1 is doing a very effective work in the school room1 and the people of his town bear the marks of his pedagogic labors4 ,their meetings1 ,i mean associational meetings1 are enjoyable and they give evidence of piety1 promise and power4 ,this body liberally aided in the purchase of ,selma ,university1 and has ever been ready for any and every good work4 ,,southeast ,,alabama ,,association4 ,this ,association operates in the extreme southeast portion of the ,state4 ,i have not been able to secure a full statistical table from them4 ,they report thirty churches1 with a membership of about #b1jjj4 ,from a mutilated copy of their minutes for #ahib the following names are given as the ordained ministers of the body3 ,j4 ,craddock1 ,g4 ,christinar1 ,j4 ,stith1 ,thomas ,slaughter1 ,m4 ,spencer1 ,e4 ,p4 ,langston1 ,j4 ,cotton1 ,e4 ,alford1 ,t4 ,rollins1 ,a4 ,l4 ,koonce1 ,j4 ,c4 ,green1 ,wm4 ,carter1 ,a4 ,powell1 ,j4 ,foston1 ,j4 ,sampson1 ,james ,humphrey1 ,g4 ,r4 ,hall1 ,r4 ,c4 ,liferedge1 and ,a4 ,turner4 ,part of the statistical table is torn away1 but the following appears as the list of their post offices3 ,cowarts1 ,otho1 ,crosby1 ,balkum1 ,headland1 ,gordon1 ,shorterville1 ,halesburg1 ,zornville1 ,hardwicksburg1 ,brackins1 ,choctawhatchie1 ,columbia1 ,lawrenceville1 ,abbeville1 ,fort ,gaines1 ,cottonwood1 ,dothan1 ,hilliardsville1 ,ashford4 ,i give this list because to know the post offices of the churches is better than to know nothing at all4 ,they are all right on temperance1 and they say they will license no man to preach who cannot read the ,new ,testament4 ,,snow ,,creek ,,association4 ,is chiefly located in ,calhoun and ,etowah counties4 ,at present their officers are as follows3 ,rev4 ,h4 ,w4 ,whatley1 ,white ,plains1 moderator4 ,rev4 ,william ,munds1 ,anniston1 assistant moderator4 ,prof4 ,lydden ,green1 ,oxford1 clerk4 ,this body was organized in #ahfi by ,rev4 ,burrell ,snow 7whose name it bears7 and a few others1 aided by the late ,rev4 ,mr4 ,jinkins1 a white ,baptist minister1 whose heart and hand seemed ever ready to help on every good work among the colored people4 ,rev4 ,h4 ,j4 ,hoke1 the efficient missionary of ,arkansas1 went out from this association4 ,they have something above #b1jjj members belonging to the following churches3 ,ohatchee1 ,ohatchee2 ,new ,mount ,gilead1 ,markston2 ,new ,prospect1 ,choccolocco2 ,oconee1 ,new ,hope1 ,oxford2 ,spring ,hill1 ,bynum2 ,bates ,springs1 ,cane ,creek1 ,greensport2 ,mount ,olive1 ,oxanna2 ,mount ,zion1 ,coat's ,bend2 ,galilee1 ,friendship1 ,anniston2 ,bethany1 ,iron ,city2 ,new ,mount ,silla1 ,peaceburg2 ,shiloh1 ,dukes2 ,zion ,hill1 ,white ,plains2 ,antioch1 ,friendship1 ,gadsden2 ,new ,hope1 ,first ,colored1 ,jacksonville2 ,new ,hope1 ,rock ,run2 ,pleasant ,gap1 ,stock's ,mills2 ,pine ,grove1 ,knotville2 ,bethel1 ,alexandria2 ,mount ,sinai1 ,weaver's ,station2 ,patona1 ,piedmont2 ,st4 ,jacob1 ,tecumseh1 and beautiful ,borden ,springs4 ,the following are the pastors3 ,revs4 ,h4 ,middleton1 ,j4 ,j4 ,johnson1 ,b4 ,jackson1 ,h4 ,green1 ,thomas ,ivory1 ,a4 ,f4 ,alexander1 ,t4 ,l4 ,douglass1 ,s4 ,walker1 ,j4 ,s4 ,simmons1 ,gadsden2 ,h4 ,w4 ,whatley1 ,white ,plains2 ,william ,munds1 ,n4 ,p4 ,pullum1 ,anniston2 ,c4 ,pyles1 ,oxford2 ,g4 ,w4 ,brewton1 ,alexandria2 ,james ,denson1 ,talladega4 ,these brethren are all ,o4 ,k4 on the leading issues of the day4 ,brother ,whatley is1 in many regards1 a very strong man1 hospitable as a host1 and genial as a companion1 a good citizen and successful business man4 ,,southeast ,,district ,,association4 ,confined chiefly to ,crenshaw county2 was organized in #ahgi4 ,the writer has attended one of their sessions held east of ,greenville1 a few miles from ,luverne4 ,,leading ,,men4 ,revs4 ,james ,barrett1 ,bolling2 ,e4 ,dunklin1 ,j4 ,h4 ,henderson1 ,greenville2 ,m4 ,c4 ,lowery1 ,e4 ,d4 ,wallace1 ,bolling2 ,s4 ,m4 ,ransom1 ,oak ,streak2 ,s4 ,m4 ,lowery1 ,salsoda2 ,bro4 ,walter ,williams1 ,glascow and ,bro4 ,henry ,mc,lain1 ,oaky ,streak4 ,,post ,,offices ,,of ,,churches4 ,luverne1 ,greenville1 ,glascow1 ,oaky ,streak1 ,salsoda1 ,rutledge1 ,pontus1 ,shell1 ,bradleyton1 ,pigeon ,creek4 ,they hope to begin a high school1 for which purpose they have raised about #cjj4 ,it is to be hoped that they will secure their money against loss4 ,far too many times money has been raised for church and school purposes and put into the hands of men who lost it 787 or loaned it out4 ,such loose management of funds destroys the confidence of the people and injures the cause of ,christ4 ,i regret to say that they1 at the session referred to1 did not unanimously endorse the temperance movement of the day1 though there was a strong sentiment in the right direction4 ,they number about #b1jjj members4 ,i was impressed with the natural power of some of their leaders4 ,in their number ,i saw some rising young men1 who ,i think will attain to knowledge of books4 ,,spring ,,hill ,,association4 ,operating south of ,montgomery1 was organized in #ahgd by ,brethren ,w4 ,w4 ,lane1 ,lewis ,witherspoon1 ,george ,jones1 ,d4 ,carter1 ,o4 ,blue1 and others4 ,,churches ,,in #ahia4 ,pine ,level ,post ,office--,spring ,hill4 ,woodley--,white ,cloud4 ,center ,point--,mt4 ,pleasant and ,macedonia4 ,helicon--,mt4 ,gilead and ,ramer4 ,le,grand--,little ,roxanna4 ,snowdown--,snowdown ,valley4 ,meadville--,pilgrim1 ,hickory ,chapel1 ,galilee4 ,pine ,level--,warrior ,hill1 ,bethlehem1 and ,elizabeth4 ,shellhorn--,israel4 ,montgomery--,columbus ,street ,church1 ,baptist ,lily4 ,fitzpatrick--,philadelphia1 ,mount ,moriah4 ,woodley--,jerusalem4 ,chambers--,calvary4 ,,ministers4 ,revs4 ,s4 ,adams1 ,t4 ,ervin1 ,a4 ,garner1 ,r4 ,borden1 ,m4 ,jackson1 ,f4 ,nichols1 ,william ,rollins1 ,william ,day1 ,o4 ,blue1 ,j4 ,mitchell1 ,w4 ,mullens1 ,d4 ,s4 ,adams1 ,i4 ,davis1 ,john ,smith1 and ,e4 ,m4 ,burkett4 ,dr4 ,a4 ,j4 ,stokes1 of ,montgomery1 has for several years been their moderator4 ,in the session of #ahia they rejected the temperance report2 but this year 7#ahic7 they vote by a large majority in favor of it4 ,a few1 however1 claim that they 8have a right0 to use alcohol if they desire to do so4 ,they have a membership of #e1jjj or #f1jjj4 ,a ,rev4 ,mr4 ,pollard has been in their employ as missionary1 so the writer is informed4 ,,star ,,of ,,hope ,,association4 ,organized in #ahgg and operating chiefly in ,wilcox county1 presents the following roll of churches3 ,antioch1 ,magnolia1 ,new ,hope ,no4 #b1 ,new ,hope ,no4 #d1 ,ruk ,west1 ,emanuel ,street1 and ,union ,baptist1 ,camden ,post ,office2 ,cedar ,grove and ,starling1 ,furman2 ,little ,rock1 ,tilden2 ,little ,zion1 ,st4 ,emanuel1 ,st4 ,peter1 ,nellie2 ,mt4 ,gilead and ,magnolia1 ,bell's ,landing2 ,morning ,star and ,shady ,grove1 ,miller's ,ferry2 ,new ,hope ,no4 #c and ,st4 ,wisdom1 ,canton's ,bend2 ,new ,hill1 ,butler's ,springs2 ,oak ,valley1 ,monterey2 ,pine ,flat1 ,tinela2 ,st4 ,francis1 ,caledonia2 ,st4 ,peter1 ,river ,ridge4 ,antioch of ,camden1 ,cedar ,grove of ,furman1 and ,little ,rock of ,tilden1 are the oldest churches in this body1 having been organized in #ahfh4 ,their number is between #a1gjj and #b1jjj4 ,their pastors are ,revs4 ,s4 ,b4 ,mc,call1 ,george ,earl1 ,m4 ,boykin1 ,v4 ,pruit1 ,k4 ,wolfe1 ,f4 ,williams1 ,w4 ,h4 ,ray1 ,jr41 ,l4 ,d4 ,johnson1 ,m4 ,lewis1 ,l4 ,jefferson1 ,s4 ,boyd1 ,c4 ,l4 ,george1 ,j4 ,c4 ,blackburn1 ,john ,poe1 ,n4 ,hill1 ,george ,earl1 ,m4 ,ervin1 ,w4 ,g4 ,king1 ,j4 ,a4 ,lawson4 ,the venerable ,henry ,allen has been in this section as 8a father in ,israel40 ,they are trying to support a high school at ,camden4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,a4 ,lawson is especially active in educational matters1 and all seem ready for any and every good work4 ,,town ,,creek ,,association4 ,is a new body1 organized in #ahhi4 ,the minutes of #ahia give the following3 ,magnolia ,church1 ,warrior ,stand1 ,rev4 ,e4 ,moore1 pastor2 ,bethlehem ,church1 ,cotton ,valley1 ,rev4 ,m4 ,ellington1 pastor2 ,sweet ,pilgrim ,church1 ,union ,springs1 ,rev4 ,e4 ,thornton1 pastor2 ,st4 ,paul ,church1 ,cotton ,valley1 ,rev4 ,c4 ,johnson1 pastor2 ,town ,creek ,church1 ,union ,springs1 ,rev4 ,j4 ,germany1 pastor2 ,antioch ,church1 ,columbus1 ,ga41 ,rev4 ,e4 ,a4 ,mc,call1 pastor2 ,mt4 ,nebo ,church1----1 ,rev4 ,j4 ,germany1 pastor2 ,mt4 ,pisgah ,church1 ,dick ,creek1 ,rev4 ,w4 ,m4 ,walker1 pastor2 ,perry ,hill ,church1 ,warrior ,stand1 ,rev4 ,j4 ,s4 ,tatum1 pastor2 ,mt4 ,calvary ,church1 ,union ,springs1 ,rev4 ,h4 ,jones1 pastor2 ,oak ,grove ,church1 ,cotton ,valley1 ,rev4 ,mac4 ,wright1 pastor4 ,they have a membership of about #a1ejj4 ,rev4 ,e4 ,thornton1 of ,union ,springs1 is moderator1 and ,e4 ,a4 ,mc,call1 of ,columbus1 ,ga41 is clerk4 ,the writer has been unable to ascertain all desirable facts4 ,judging1 however1 from the character of the men whose names appear in the lead of their work1 we may feel sure that they have organized the ,association in order to advance educational and missionary interests4 ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,j4 ,l4 ,frazier1 ,pastor ,st4 ,louis ,st4 ,baptist ,church1 ,mobile1 ,ala4 ,,union ,,association4 ,was organized in #ahgd of churches which seceded from the ,alabama ,district ,association4 ,they have the following churches and ministers3 ,greenville--,first ,colored1 ,pine ,top1 ,salem1 ,old ,elm1 ,pine ,level2 ,pineapple--,arkadelphia1 ,new ,virgin2 ,monterey--,ridgeville1 ,spring ,hill1 ,mt4 ,moriah1 ,rosemary2 ,bugville--,friendship2 ,dunham--,long ,creek2 ,simkinsville--,pleasant ,hill2 ,starlington--,pine ,level2 ,allenton--,siloam and ,mt4 ,zion2 ,minter--,hopewell2 ,pleasant ,hill--,good ,hope1 ,cedar ,grove2 ,snow ,hill--,shiloh2 ,georgiana--,friendship2 ,furman--,antioch2 ,manningham--,mt4 ,olive2 ,luverne--,new ,hope2 ,daisy--,union2 ,vidette--,star of ,hope2 ,new ,providence--,mt4 ,ida2 ,farmerville--,cedar ,grove2 ,oakfield--,oakfield2 ,forest ,home--,rockwest2 ,sepulga--,spring ,hill2 ,camden--,st4 ,mary4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,nichols1 ,greenville1 is moderator2 ,rev4 ,j4 ,w4 ,smith is treasurer1 and ,mr4 ,i4 ,n4 ,carter1 of ,monterey1 is clerk4 ,their sessions are rather stormy1 as may be said of other bodies4 ,,leading ,,men4 ,revs4 ,l4 ,adams1 ,h4 ,thompson1 ,i4 ,young1 ,w4 ,morast1 ,s4 ,albrighton1 ,j4 ,beverly1 ,q4 ,c4 ,craig1 ,j4 ,scott1 ,l4 ,mc,kee1 ,w4 ,anderson1 ,j4 ,barrett1 ,g4 ,pugh1 ,j4 ,henderson1 ,s4 ,skanes1 ,r4 ,palmer1 ,e4 ,perdue1 ,m4 ,mc,lowery1 ,j4 ,ricks1 ,j4 ,moss1 ,e4 ,wallace1 ,e4 ,stallworth1 ,william ,scott1 ,e4 ,pickett1 ,j4 ,blackman1 ,r4 ,c4 ,crane4 ,prof4 ,i4 ,n4 ,carter is a strong man in this body1 whose confidence and good will he seems still to hold4 ,they have many naturally fine young men1 but they need a school very much4 ,,uniontown ,,association4 ,organized in #ahgb by the late ,revs4 ,henry ,stephens1 ,john ,dosier and ,john ,blevins1 is reported to be next numerically to the ,alabama ,district1 containing a membership of about #aa1ejj4 ,they raise annually for general purposes from #bjj to #djj4 ,their 8,statistical ,table0 gives the following list of churches and ministers3 ,,post ,,offices ,,and ,,churches4 ,selma--,st4 ,philip ,street1 ,tabernacle1 ,mount ,zion1 ,little ,rock1 ,st4 ,paul1 ,new ,center1 ,mount ,ararat1 ,beach ,island1 ,everdale1 ,providence1 ,elbethel1 ,mount ,zion2 ,newbern--,newbern1 ,holly ,chapel1 ,oak ,grove2 ,greensboro--,st4 ,john1 ,st4 ,peter1 ,st4 ,paul1 ,mount ,moriah1 ,willow ,springs1 ,salem1 ,pleasant ,grove1 ,mount ,zion2 ,safford's--,new ,hebron1 ,mount ,lebanon1 ,concord2 ,boiling ,springs--,first ,baptist1 ,new ,boiling ,springs2 ,hamburg--,green ,liberty2 ,brown's--,trinity1 ,good ,hope2 ,sawyersville--,bethlehem1 ,springfield1 ,new ,hope2 ,perryville--,pleasant ,hill1 ,perryville2 ,uniontown--,mount ,calvary1 ,woodlawn1 ,st4 ,james1 ,uniontown2 ,kimbrough--,jerusalem2 ,prairie ,bluff--,st4 ,mitchell2 ,catherine--,salem1 ,dixon ,grove1 ,mount ,olive2 ,marion--,second ,baptist1 ,springfield1 ,willow ,grove1 ,hopewell1 ,bethel1 ,eagle ,grove2 ,lamison--,macedonia2 ,scott's ,station--,green ,leaf1 ,mc,kinley1 ,bethel ,hill2 ,faunsdale--,faunsdale1 ,camden1 ,rehoboth2 ,summerfield--,macedonia1 ,orrville1 ,peace and ,love2 ,alberta--,macedonia1 ,christian ,light2 ,felix--,center1 ,bethany1 ,marion ,junction1 ,pernell1 ,colerine1 ,shiloh2 ,pleasant ,hill--,bethel1 ,whitsets1 ,pickens4 ,,ministers4 ,selma--,revs4 ,c4 ,j4 ,hardy1 ,i4 ,t4 ,simpson1 ,d4 ,m4 ,coleman1 ,l4 ,j4 ,green1 ,g4 ,h4 ,hobdy1 ,q4 ,c4 ,craig1 ,c4 ,j4 ,davis1 ,j4 ,b4 ,russell2 ,newbern--,w4 ,h4 ,reddick1 ,g4 ,frost4 ,w4 ,h4 ,huckabee2 ,greensboro--,wm4 ,madison1 ,p4 ,cottrell1 ,p4 ,umphrey1 ,s4 ,abrams2 ,marion--,c4 ,s4 ,dinkins1 ,d4 ,d41 ,a4 ,billingley2 ,uniontown--,rev4 ,a4 ,f4 ,owens1 ,h4 ,alexander1 ,wm4 ,boon2 ,faunsdale--,f4 ,a4 ,e4 ,beck2 ,gallion--,p4 ,s4 ,l4 ,hutchins1 ,a4 ,m42 ,marion ,junction--,a4 ,w4 ,ragland2 ,hamburg--,y4 ,r4 ,white2 ,prairie ,bluff--,w4 ,h4 ,green2 ,boiling ,springs--,e4 ,slone2 ,kimbrough--,a4 ,gladen2 ,camden--,j4 ,a4 ,lawson2 ,lamison--,r4 ,estridge2 ,brown's ,station--,w4 ,l4 ,lawson2 ,pleasant ,hill--,j4 ,r4 ,scott2 ,perryville--,r4 ,z4 ,deyampert2 ,sawyersville--,i4 ,j4 ,jones2 ,orrville--,g4 ,m4 ,jones2 ,post ,offices unknown--,r4 ,christian1 ,j4 ,g4 ,flood1 ,l4 ,e4 ,hobson1 ,a4 ,gladen1 ,w4 ,w4 ,richardson1 ,r4 ,t4 ,bowden1 ,e4 ,c4 ,borroughs1 ,w4 ,h4 ,hatcher1 ,g4 ,m4 ,jones1 ,g4 ,king1 and others4 ,this body has quite a number of pastors from ,selma ,university4 ,too much cannot be said in praise of these brethren for the manner in which they have stood by the ,selma ,university under all its changes4 ,and yet we would have been surprised if such a grand set of men as lead this body should have acted otherwise4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,dosier1 quite an old man1 reads ,greek fairly well4 ,rev4 ,c4 ,b4 ,davis is a young man of much ability and promise4 ,rev4 ,f4 ,a4 ,e4 ,beck appreciates the value of education1 is a natural magnet1 and draws the people after him4 ,rev4 ,a4 ,w4 ,ragland is loved by all for his brotherly1 quiet manners4 ,but space fails me or ,i would speak of ,revs4 ,y4 ,r4 ,white1 ,r4 ,z4 ,deyampert1 ,j4 ,r4 ,scott1 and others1 who are pillars in this organization4 ,,salem ,,missionary ,,baptist ,,church1 ,,greensboro4 ,the white ,baptists had for many years prior to the late war a prosperous church at this place1 with a large membership of white people and colored people--the slaves of their masters4 ,just about the time of the war the larger portion of the white membership moved away1 and from one cause and another1 the close of the war found but a few white members remaining1 but a large colored membership4 ,the white members1 to whom the property belonged1 sold the building and donated #b1jjj of the proceeds to the colored members for them to build a church with4 ,this church is the same church that the white people had organized more than fifty years ago4 ,rev4 ,h4 ,stephens was the first pastor of the colored congregation1 after they moved their church site1 and was pastor for twenty years4 ,rev4 ,l4 ,j4 ,green was pastor for about four years1 and ,rev ,w4 ,m4 ,madison1 the present pastor1 has been there five years1 has built a nice parsonage and greatly increased the membership4 ,there were #cjj members 7colored7 when the church moved to its present site4 ,they have now a membership of #hjj4 ,this is the mother church of nearly every church in ,hale county and they have a great many large and prosperous churches in the county4 ,the church property is worth #b1ejj4 ,this is saying good things for the white ,baptists of ,greensboro4 ,deacon ,dock ,lane1 one of the most honorable and consecrated among men1 deserves mention as a pillar in this church4 ,among the leaders of this church appears the name of ,mr4 ,a4 ,wimbs4 ,desiring to make honorable mention of this worthy young man1 ,i requested of him something of his history1 and he sends me the following3 8,i was born in ,greensboro1 ,ala41 ,september #bc1 #ahfj4 ,my mother was named ,josephine2 she was brought from ,washington and sold to ,mr4 ,a4 ,l4 ,stollenwerck1 of this town4 ,my father was named ,addison ,wimbs and resided in ,washington2 he was a slave on account of his mother being a slave1 but his father was a free man1 and had bought nearly all of his children and sent them to ,canada4 ,what education ,i have1 ,i received at the town school here--,tullibody ,academy--under the management of ,prof4 ,w4 ,b4 ,patterson4 ,i have served my church in the capacity of superintendent of the ,sabbath ,school and clerk of the church2 was secretary of the ,sabbath ,school ,convention of the ,uniontown ,association2 am a member of the ,executive ,board of the ,convention4 ,i was at one time editor of a small paper here called the ,voice4 8,i have been for many years the bookkeeper and general clerk in the law office of ,governor ,seay4 ,i was1 ,i am quite confident1 the first ,negro in ,alabama1 if not in the entire ,south1 to operate on the typewriter1 and now ,i think1 ,i am the first ,negro to manage the ,edison phonograph for busi-purposes40 ,i know of no ex-slave and ex-slaveholder1 between whom there is more confidence on one side and high regard on the other1 than exist between ,governor ,seay and ,addison ,wimbs4 ,this means for ,brother ,wimbs quietness of spirit and solid worth1 as well as a conservative1 genial soul in ,governor ,seay4 ,,the ,,st4 ,,phillip ,,street ,,church1 ,,selma4 ,this church was organized about the year #ahde4 ,the church was composed of the white membership and the church which was composed of the colored membership1 agreed to build together1 with the understanding that the former should occupy the upper story and the latter should occupy the basement4 ,this agreement was kept until some time after the close of the war1 when the white brethren bought the claims of the colored church1 paying #b1jjj for possession of the basement4 ,their first colored pastor was the ,rev4 ,samuel ,phillips1 a man who had received his liberty as a reward for his services in the ,mexican war4 ,deacon ,a4 ,goldsby told the writer that ,bro4 ,phillips was a very earnest1 worthy man4 ,nothing is known of the time and place of his birth1 and nothing special is said of his death4 ,the ,rev4 ,john ,blevens1 who was born in ,madison county1 ,ala41 was the next pastor1 and served from #ahff to #ahgh4 ,under his administration the present property on ,st4 ,phillip street was obtained4 ,the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,blevens was followed by ,rev4 ,g4 ,j4 ,brooks1 who1 after a short pastorate1 resigned1 and was followed by ,rev4 ,w4 ,a4 ,burch1 from ,philadelphia1 ,pa4 ,mr4 ,burch gathered a larger congregation than any other previous pastor1 and did more than any other man in teaching the people to give for the support of the church4 ,after two years1 he was called to a pastorate in ,boston1 ,mass41 and was followed in the ,selma pastorate by the writer1 who remained with the church during #ahhb-hg4 ,except the addition of about #cej members and the secession of the ,tabernacle ,church1 nothing transpired that merits mention4 ,the writer was followed by ,rev4 ,s4 ,s4 ,sisson4 ,at this writing1 the ,rev4 ,c4 ,j4 ,hardy1 late of ,florida1 is their successful leader1 under whose strong administration they have just completed a two-story brick structure on ,sylvan ,street4 ,their property is worth not less than #bj1jjj--;finest colored church edifice in ,alabama4 ,it is worthy of mention and praise that the ,selma ,university came to its birth under the fostering care of this church4 ,in the old frame building on ,st4 ,phillip street the sainted ,woodsmall began to turn upon the negro ,baptists of ,alabama the morning light1 the early dawning1 of our denominational school4 ,and this church gave him quarters1 fuel and lights without money and regardless of costs1 so that in ,may1 #ahgh1 it was reported that the school had paid out nothing for these things4 ,what a good deed is set down to their credit on high6 ,but1 in addition to this1 they organized a missionary society1 which gave regular contributions for support of teachers and other workers in the school4 ,deacon ,a4 ,goldsby related the following to the writer3 8,forty or fifty years ago we organized a prayer band to pray for our freedom4 ,we met outside of the little town1 under a large oak tree1 on every ,friday night4 ,that we might know when a friend came beneath the tree1 we agreed upon a password1 which was #8,the hindering cause4' ,each uttered this softly as he came under the boughs of the tree1 and was answered by any other who had come ahead of him4 ,then he seated himself in the bushes to await the hour for united supplications40 ,if in years to come the ,university should desire a picture of itself as it made its advent from the world of hope to the world of fact1 it may paint this3 ,a frame structure1 the roof of which is supported by a row of upright posts extending the whole length of the building1 which is seventy-five or eighty feet in length4 ,on the morning for opening1 there enters this building a white man1 whose face bears signs of suffering1 but is all aglow with the rays of faith and love4 ,he is the faculty4 ,also1 there enters a short1 fat1 brown-skinned young man1 with high1 broad forehead4 ,he has heard of the purpose to begin a school on this day at this place1 and1 hungering for learning1 he has come up to enter4 ,this teacher and this student usher in our beloved institution4 ,it was good for the denomination that our lot was cast among such a people1 and that we had in ,bro4 ,woodsmall a man who did not faint in 8the day of small things40 ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,p4 ,s4 ,l4 ,hutchins1 ,pastor ,churches at ,newberne and ,gallion1 ,ala4 ,,will',s ,,creek ,,association4 ,organized in #ahgc1 and operating in 8,will's ,valley0 and ,st4 ,clair county1 reports the following churches and ministers3 ,at ,collinsville ,post ,office--,pleasant ,grove ,church2 ,lebanon--,lebanon2 ,fort ,payne--,fort ,payne2 ,valley ,head--,bethlehem2 ,attalla--,mt4 ,zion1 ,pilgrim1 ,bethlehem2 ,keener--,new ,hope2 ,beaver ,valley--,pleasant ,hill2 ,ashville--,mt4 ,zion2 ,springville--,springville2 ,whitney--,evergreen2 ,guntersville--,bethlehem and ,hooper ,chapel2 ,trenton--,trenton2 ,north ,alabama--,clogville4 ,rev4 ,g4 ,neeley1 ,ashville1 is moderator2 ,mr4 ,j4 ,r4 ,dean1 ,ashville1 is treasurer2 and ,prof4 ,p4 ,r4 ,sibert1 ,keener1 is secretary4 ,their pastors are3 ,revs4 ,n4 ,kerley1 ,r4 ,berry1 ,m4 ,edwards1 of ,fort ,payne2 ,g4 ,w4 ,brewton1 of ,alexandria2 ,h4 ,massey1 ,j4 ,griffin1 ,a4 ,jackson1 and ,james ,m4 ,stevens4 ,they have about #a1ejj members4 ,elder ,a4 ,kerley and his brother are the chief founders of this body4 ,they greatly need an infusion of light from without4 ,rev4 ,james ,kerley1 the pastor at ,springville1 is an ex-student of ,talladega ,college4 ,while they were in session in ,ashville in #ahib the white people gave them the use of their church1 and pastors1 mayor of the city1 and other leading people1 turned out to encourage them and to financially strengthen their enterprises4 ,while there1 a white minister related to the writer the following story3 8,when the late ,dr4 ,renfroe was a young man he was very poor1 though1 as later in his life1 he was a powerful preacher4 ,in the height of a glorious revival1 the grass in his crop called him to his field4 ,a colored brother who wanted the meeting to continue1 requested his master to allow him to prolong the meeting4 ,his master replied3 #8,jim1 you can't read1 you can't preach4' ,the slave replied3 #8,i can plow and kill grass--can do these for ,brother ,renfroe4'0 99 99 99 99 99 ,gleaning from the associational chapter1 we obtain3 #a4 ,the origin and field of each ,association4 #b4 ,the names of the pioneers in each section in the ,state4 #c4 ,the location and something of the history of churches and communities4 #d4 ,something of the lines of thought and action prevailing in the various gospel enterprises of the denomination4 ,it was not thought well to try to tell the same things many times over2 hence1 some things are given in connection with one ,association and other things in connection with another--all aiming at the same end1 namely3 ,,the ,,giving ,,of ,a ,,true ,,picture ,,of ,,the ,,colored ,,baptists ,,of ,,alabama4 ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,w4 ,t4 ,bibb1 ,a4 ,b41 ,pastor ,baptist ,church1 ,oxmoor1 ,ala4 ,,iv4 ,,biographical ,,sketches4 ,adams1 ,rev4 ,stewart1 of ,greenville1 ,butler county1 was the chief leader and organizer in that section of the ,state for the first seventeen or eighteen years of freedom4 ,he was a pure-blooded ,negro1 and was possessed of a fine personal appearance4 ,his forehead was large and broad1 and the sparkle of his eye indicated the presence of mental power4 ,he could read and write fairly well1 and in his speeches always succeeded in conveying his thoughts to others4 ,he was for some years missionary in that part of the ,state under the ,american ,baptist ,home ,mission ,society of ,new ,york1 during which time he organized many churches1 which were united to form the ,union ,baptist ,association4 ,his neatness in dress and caution in the use of words were everywhere noticeable4 ,it was sometimes thought that he was rather tenacious of his opinions1 but ,i think all his brethren credited him with honesty of purpose1 and hence he died in the love and respect of the denomination4 ,allen1 ,rev4 ,wallace1 of ,greenville1 was a very pious1 hard-working preacher in the ,union ,association4 ,the young men delight to honor his memory4 ,the author has been unable to learn anything of his history or lineage4 ,anderson1 ,rev4 ,n4 ,p41 is pastor at ,ensley ,city4 ,ashby1 ,rev4 ,nathan1 of ,montgomery1 was born in ,fredericksburg1 ,va41 ,august #e1 #ahaj4 ,he knew nothing of his parents1 and to the age of #af he was under the care and direction of his grandmother4 ,at this point in his life he was sold1 with some horses1 to traders1 who brought him to ,alabama4 ,he says of this trip3 8,at first ,i was not aware that ,i was sold1 but thought 7as ,i had been told so7 that ,i was only helping the man to put his horses well into the way4 ,when informed that ,i was among the stock sold1 ,i wept bitterly at the thought that ,i could see my dear grandmother no more4 ,while in this state of grief1 an old cake woman came on1 selling cakes4 ,she1 looking into my hand1 professed to read as follows3 #8,don't cry1 for you are born for good luck4 ,the man who will buy you will be more a brother than a master4 ,fear ,god and be obedient1 and you will do well4' ,this counsel1 no matter whence it came1 removed my fears1 and ,i left off crying40 ,when about #cb years of age he bought his liberty1 paying for the same the sum of #ijj4 ,his good wife1 ,mrs4 ,nancy ,ashby1 had been freed a few years before by a ,mrs4 ,tate4 ,both being of an intellectual1 industrious and economical turn of mind1 it was not long before they were well under way to notoriety and prosperity4 ,touching her experience in servitude1 ,mrs4 ,ashby tells the following3 8,when ,i was #af years old1 my mistress1 in urging me to be pure and faithful1 promised that if ,i would obey ,i should serve no one after her4 ,so1 when ,i was #bd1 she set me free1 giving me a daughter that had been born to me40 ,bro4 ,ashby was baptized by ,mr4 ,shrovell in ,monroe county1 ,ala41 and was ordained to the full charge of the gospel ministry just after the close of the war1 by ,rev4 ,i4 ,t4 ,tichenor1 ,d4 ,d41 and others4 ,his labors in the ministry1 however1 began about the year #ahde1 from which time he increased in favor with ,god and man to the day of his death1 in #ahhg4 ,he led to the organization of the ,first ,colored ,baptist ,church 7,columbus street7 of ,montgomery1 in which1 under his presidency1 the ,colored ,baptist ,state ,convention was constituted in #ahfh4 ,the last seventeen years of his life he was an invalid from paralysis1 and four years of this time he was blind4 ,during this time the writer frequently visited him1 and it would seem that his faith in ,god was mightier in the days of his weakness than in the days of his strength4 ,heavenly sunshine illumined all the way of the dark valley1 even to the day of his departure4 ,bro4 ,ashby was a man of naturally fine parts4 ,his sermons and speeches were characterized by order1 thought and doctrine4 ,he was not an emotionalist nor dreamer2 with him ,christianity was faith in the gospel and right-doing4 ,it affords the writer much pleasure to record that each member of his family not only receives1 but also contributes honor to his valuable life and honored name4 ,mr4 ,ashby was by trade a carpenter1 by which means he was able to earn fair wages1 and was not long in coming into the possession of valuable real estate4 ,in order to show the condition of a free colored man in ,alabama prior to the close of the late civil war1 ,i submit a legal document here1 bearing upon the good man whose name is now before us3 ,a ,,straw ,,which ,,shows ,,the ,,direction ,,of ,,the ,,wind4 8,the ,state of ,alabama1 ,montgomery ,county4 8,know all men by these presents1 ,that whereas1 heretofore1 to-wit3 on the #ast day of ,april1 ,a4 ,d4 #ahei1 ,charles ,t4 ,pollard sold and conveyed to ,wm4 ,b4 ,bell1 as guardian or trustee for ,nathan ,ellis 7now called ,nathan ,ashby71 a certain lot in the city of ,montgomery1 ,state and county aforesaid1 which is described in the deed of said ,pollard as #8,lots number three and four in square number fourteen1 ,scott's plat1 in the city of ,montgomery4' 8,and1 whereas1 the said ,nathan ,ellis 7or ,ashby71 is now capable in law of holding property in his own name1 and desires to hold the title to said lot and premises in his own name2 and the said ,william ,b4 ,bell also desires to relinquish and give up the duties and responsibilities devolved on him by the said deed as the trustee or guardian of said ,nathan ,ellis 7or ,ashby72 8,now1 therefore1 in consideration of the premises and for the further consideration of five dollars1 to the said ,wm4 ,b4 ,bell in hand paid by the said ,nathan ,ellis 7or ,ashby71 at or before the sealing and delivery of these presents 7the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged71 ,i1 the said ,wm4 ,b4 ,bell1 do hereby release1 relinquish1 transfer and convey by quit-claim unto the said ,nathan ,ellis 7or ,ashby71 and unto his heirs and assigns1 all my right1 title and interest both at law and in equity of every kind or description whatever1 in and to the said lot and premises herein above described4 8,in witness whereof1 ,i1 the said ,wm4 ,b4 ,bell1 have hereunto set my hand and seal1 this ---- day of ,january1 ,a4 ,d4 #ahgb4 8,attest3 8,william ,b4 ,bell40 8,a4 ,r4 ,bell40 ,this manuscript is recorded in 8,book #d of ,deeds1 page #cad10 ,march #bf1 #ahgb4 ,,note4--,seven years elapsed after freedom was declared before ,mr4 ,ashby received from his 8trustee0 the transfer of his property4 ,he had been free ever since #ahdb1 but his 8trustee0 must hold and manage both him and his4 ,archer1 ,rev4 ,maurice ,m41 son of ,mr4 ,a4 and ,mrs4 ,mary ,archer1 was born in ,camden1 ,ala41 in #aheh4 ,he and his parents were the property 787 of ,mrs4 ,r4 ,j4 ,adams4 ,he entered the free public schools at an early age1 but did not long remain1 because of his father's death and because of the demands made upon him as the eldest son in a large family4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,j4 ,s4 ,mc,bryde1 seeing that he was a very capable boy1 kindly aided him in his studies while he was in their employ4 ,thus he learned to read and write4 ,at #ad ,mr4 ,archer left ,mr4 ,mc,bryde determined on securing an education4 ,advancing by various means1 he was soon able to teach school4 ,in ,november1 #ahha1 he was baptized into ,siloam ,church by ,rev4 ,a4 ,gould1 which church he served as clerk and superintendent of the ,sunday ,school4 ,feeling a call to the ministry and desiring to prepare himself for the same1 he entered ,selma ,university ,october1 #ahhc1 and passed the session of #ahhd-e1 as he says starting with only #bj cents4 ,by severe sacrifice1 by push1 pluck and self-reliance1 he pressed onward1 till in ,may1 #ahhg1 he graduated at the head of his class4 ,he was ordained at ,opelika1 ,september1 #ahhi1 ,revs4 ,g4 ,c4 ,casby1 ,c4 ,r4 ,rodgers and others officiating4 ,he has been principal of the ,auburn ,city ,school4 ,mr4 ,archer is one of our clearest thinkers and most fluent speakers1 and his language is especially good4 ,barker1 ,joseph ,c4--,this patient and cool-headed young man was born ,december #bj1 #ahfc1 near ,laneville1 ,hale county1 ,ala4 ,his parents1 ,sherrod and ,caroline ,barker1 are both living and members of the ,spring ,street ,missionary ,baptist ,church1 ,birmingham1 ,ala4 ,they are living monuments of temperance1 patience and obedience4 ,young ,joseph was sent to school when still quite young4 ,filled with self1 family and race pride1 and feeling grateful toward his parents for their strenuous efforts to educate himself1 his sister and brothers1 and desiring to help them in return1 at their consent1 he sought employment with a benevolent merchant1 who1 after noting his higher qualities1 gave him every advantage and privilege available4 ,after three years of pleasant and profitable services1 he left his beloved employer 7,mr4 ,j4 ,m4 ,manders71 who gave him a final settlement accompanied by a worthy recommendation and valuable presents4 ,he is widely experienced in mercantile enterprises4 ,he had two years experience on the ,united ,states jetty and log boats under ,capt4 ,j4 ,mc,kee ,gould1 who gave him such an honorable and flattering recommendation as would have been more suitable for a pilot than for a cabin boy4 ,by studying at home and attending summer schools1 he was prepared to enter ,selma ,university in the session of #ahhd1 remaining two scholastic years4 ,under ,president ,e4 ,m4 ,brawley1 ,d4 ,d41 he won a prize for map-drawing over forty-eight competitors4 ,he has taught successfully in the schools of ,jefferson and other counties4 ,was four years secretary of the ,jefferson ,county ,teachers' ,institute4 ,re-entered ,selma ,university in #ahic1 and won the only prize offered for drawing over twenty or thirty competitors under ,president ,dinkins1 ,d4 ,d4 ,he is now preparing specimens to exhibit at the ,atlanta ,cotton ,exposition in ,september4 ,he is employed by the ,monarch ,book ,company1 of ,chicago1 ,ill4 ,to know him1 is to know a man possessed of a great soul1 affable1 and naturally gifted in making friends4 ,he is a financier1 and is rapidly acquiring means4 ,as an artist and penman1 he is a prodigy4 ,in the session of #ahhd he was converted to the ,christian religion1 and was baptized in the ,university pool by ,rev4 ,e4 ,m4 ,brawley1 ,d4 ,d41 and joined the ,st4 ,phillip ,street ,baptist ,church under ,rev4 ,c4 ,o4 ,boothe1 ,d4 ,d4 ,on removal to ,birmingham in #ahhf1 he united with the ,sixteenth ,street ,baptist ,church1 of which ,rev4 ,dr4 ,pettiford was pastor4 ,last term1 he was principal of the ,oxmoor public school4 ,he is now corresponding secretary of the ,mt4 ,pilgrim ,sunday ,school ,convention4 ,on all lines of manhood1 ,mr4 ,barker is a genuine success4 ,barton1 ,rev4 ,j4 ,p41 of ,talladega1 comes of ,virginia parentage1 and was born in ,colbert county1 ,ala41 ,october1 #ahdd4 ,in #ahga he united with the ,little ,zion ,baptist ,church in said county1 and was baptized by ,rev4 ,w4 ,e4 ,northcross1 of ,tuscumbia4 ,in #ahgg he entered the work of the gospel ministry in his native section1 doing valuable service within the bounds of the ,muscle ,shoals ,association1 especially in line with the ,sunday ,school work4 ,he has led to the organization of two ,sunday ,school ,conventions and eight churches1 and built five houses of worship4 ,his speeches before our ,state ,convention have been largely conducive of the sentiment and system which have given birth to our women's work and ,state mission operations4 ,he has held official positions in connection with our ,state ,convention and ,university1 and is now chairman of the ,board of ,visitors of the ,colored ,deaf and ,dumb ,asylum of ,alabama4 ,he is easy in society and pleasing in address4 ,he carries the youth and the masses1 and so uses everything at his command as to impress one that he is an excellent general as well as a successful pastor4 ,he is full of movement and plan1 and is quick of discernment and clear in expression4 ,he is a lover of science4 ,he obtained his education in the ,talladega ,college4 ,mr4 ,barton says that he owes much to his wife1 whom the writer would honor as one of our noble women4 ,mr4 ,barton is still full of life and growth4 ,our general work has always found in ,brother ,barton a ready and generous helper4 ,he deserves credit for his industry and enterprise--in material as well as in church affairs4 ,he relates the following3 8,in the winter of #ahgf-gg ,i chanced for the first time to meet the late ,harry ,woodsmall in one of his ,ministers' ,institutes4 ,he remarked3 #8,on to-morrow we will discuss the subject of sanctification2 and here is a little book worth only #ae cents which will be of service to you4' ,i said to myself3 #8,what is sanctification8' ,i never heard of such a thing before4 ,i bought the book from ,brother ,woodsmall1 and1 coming upon my subject1 ,i read till late at night1 in order that ,i might be in line with things next day4 ,when the hour came ,i was up on the subject of sanctification1 much to the pleasure of the teacher40 ,mr4 ,barton is ever ready to contend for his views1 but is remarkably free from bitterness in discussion1 is hardly ever wrong in his opinion on things1 and is a remarkably winning preacher with the masses4 ,mr4 ,barton is now president of our ,state ,convention4 ,bacotes1 ,rev4 ,mr4--,as the ,cyclopedia goes to press the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,bacotes comes to the charge of the ,marion ,academy and ,marion ,church4 ,the writer wishes he knew something of the history of one so much favored and so highly recommended as ,mr4 ,bacotes is4 ,he has important trusts in hand4 ,battle1 ,rev4 ,augustus ,a41 of ,hurtsboro1 ,russell county1 the son of ,deacon ,a4 ,a4 and ,mrs4 ,jennie ,battle1 was born in ,tuskegee1 ,july #d1 #ahfj4 ,as his parents were pious people1 he was very early the subject of religious impressions1 which in #ahha culminated in a public profession of faith in ,christ4 ,on the third ,sunday in ,august he was baptized by the ,rev4 ,richard ,lloyd1 of ,georgia4 ,in the year #ahgi1 aspiring for a liberal education1 he entered the ,talladega ,college1 in which he graduated from the normal and the theological courses4 ,he is a young man of high moral tone1 and his agreeable manners have won for him many friends4 ,at present he is pastor at ,sylacauga1 and teacher of the city school in ,talladega4 ,p4 ,s4--,since the above was written1 our good ,bro4 ,battle has been called to the ,mt4 ,zion ,church in ,anniston1 and under his industrious and wise leadership his people have constructed a two-story brick edifice4 ,to do what he has done in these hard times1 in the way of raising and expending money1 is to prove himself a man of no ordinary parts4 ,the writer has enjoyed the hospitality of his quiet ,christian home1 where he has learned that the young minister has found helpful companionship in the person of a modest1 intelligent wife4 ,batts1 ,rev4 ,j4 ,h41 of ,florence1 is an aspiring young man1 and is very active in the enterprises of the ,muscle ,shoals ,association and ,sunday ,school ,convention4 ,evidently1 he has not enjoyed early access to books and schools1 but his thoughts are orderly and clear1 and he does not hesitate to give expression to his views4 ,beavers1 ,rev4 ,jasper1 was born ,may #i1 #ahbe1 in ,st4 ,clair county1 ,ala4 ,his father and mother were slaves1 and of course1 he inherited their lot4 ,he now lives at ,easonville1 in the county in which he was born1 and is still a useful1 as well as a very pious man4 ,in #ahea1 he was baptized by the ,rev4 ,jesse ,collins 7white71 and in #ahfh was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry by ,revs4 ,henry ,wood1 ,j4 ,collins and ,t4 ,bush4 ,he was the first moderator of the ,rushing ,springs ,association4 ,in spite of the laws of the master forbidding such things1 he1 in slavery time1 learned to read and write4 ,by his industry and economy he has obtained real estate worth about #b1jjj4 ,brother ,beavers is a man of fine personal appearance1 is modest1 genial1 industrious1 honest1 firm4 ,in the early days of our work1 there was no more efficient man in ,st4 ,clair ,county than he4 ,a large family of children are the support of his old age4 ,since the above was penned1 ,brother ,beavers has passed to the world that lies beyond4 ,he was the most self-possessed and of the most commanding figure of any man in the ,rushing ,springs ,association1 though no man among them was more modest and humble4 ,belle1 ,rev4 ,john1 of ,courtland1 was born in the ,state of ,georgia and came to ,alabama after the close of the war4 ,he says3 8,in ,stuart county1 ,ga41 in the first part of #ahfa1 ,i followed the white preacher to his different preaching stations1 and he would preach to the white people in the morning and ,i would speak to the colored people in the evening4 ,i could not say anything about ,moses and the children of ,israel4 8,i went on preaching without any trouble for some little time1 till at last1 as ,i could read a little1 it was decided that ,i should be hung4 ,as ,i was ready for execution1 and as ,i was praying ,god for help1 a dispute arose between the white people which resulted in my release4 ,i again went on1 till on one occasion when ,i had displeased my mistress with reference to some garden work1 and when1 as she started to strike me with the rake1 and ,i fled1 she reported to her husband that ,i had tried to kill her and that she only saved her life by running into the house out of my reach4 ,of course1 it was decided at once that ,i ought to and should die4 ,on the night before ,i was to be executed1 the lady became very ill and owned that she was only angry with me for getting out of her way1 and that ,i had done nothing4 ,she died that night4 ,however1 her dying words had set me free and so ,i returned to my work for ,god1 feeling that ,i could not die till my work should be accomplished40 ,brother ,belle has labored in different ,states1 but his principal labors have been in ,northern ,alabama1 where he has been one of the chief organizers of our work in this section1 beginning his operations here in #ahfh4 ,it appears that ,brother ,belle was ordained in ,helena1 ,ark41 sometime in #ahfg1 the late ,rev4 ,j4 ,t4 ,white1 who was then pastor of the ,first ,colored ,baptist ,church1 being one of the officiating presbytery4 ,he is still a strong man4 ,for several years past he has been pastor at ,iuka1 ,miss41 and of the ,red ,bank ,church in ,lawrence county4 ,his pleasant manners have always made him an agreeable companion to his brethren4 ,illustration3 ,sixteenth ,street ,baptist ,church1 ,birmingham1 ,ala4 ,belser1 ,rev4 ,s4 ,l41 pastor of the ,first ,church1 ,bessemer1 deserves the respect and love of the denomination for his beautiful brotherly spirit and unassuming manners4 ,berry1 ,rev4 ,g4 ,w4--,although this good man is no longer among us1 his name is still fragrant with his exalted faith and pious life4 ,like his stay on earth1 his stay in ,alabama was short1 but useful and endearing4 ,he was the son of ,pickens and ,mary ,berry1 and was born in ,edgefield county1 ,s4 ,c41 in #ahei4 ,having studied some time in the ,benedict ,institute in that ,state1 he1 after doing some effective work in that ,state1 came to ,alabama to take the pastoral oversight of the church in ,eufaula4 ,here it was that after a short illness he exchanged the cross for the crown1 singing as his soul retired from the earth1 8,my ,lord calls me and ,i must go40 ,to know him was to love him1 for his gentleness of spirit was beautiful to look upon4 ,betts1 ,rev4 ,j4 ,w41 of ,huntsville1 ,ala41 son of ,john and ,edith ,betts1 was born ,june #d1 #ahea1 near ,courtland1 in ,lawrence county1 ,ala4 ,in the fall of #ahgc he was baptized into the ,courtland ,church by the ,rev4 ,gabriel ,b4 ,johnson4 ,brother ,betts is among the younger men of the ,muscle ,shoals ,association4 ,he is a clear thinker and a lover of books4 ,he is a business man1 industrious and economical1 and does not live of the donations of his people1 but the labors of his own hands4 ,his style is rather didactic for the masses1 but it is plain and his doctrine is in line with the teachings of the 8,good ,book40 ,berry1 ,prof4 ,j4 ,s41 son of ,jack and ,clara ,berry1 of ,uniontown1 is one among the most proficient ,sunday ,school workers in ,alabama4 ,he is president of the ,sunday ,school ,convention of the ,uniontown ,association4 ,his happy1 unselfish spirit fills all his work with pleasantness and sunshine4 ,he is now about #ce years of age4 ,blevins1 ,rev4 ,john1 long the leading man and pioneer of ,dallas county1 the first pastor of the ,st4 ,phillip ,street ,church after the close of the war1 was for his opportunities and times a very strong man in the work of organization4 ,may it ever be told of him that he led his people--his church1 to become the foster mother of ,selma ,university in the time of its infancy and weakness4 ,this fact is one of the brightest spots upon his memory1 and should never be forgotten4 ,the buildings in which the ,st4 ,phillip ,street and the ,green ,street ,churches now worship were built by ,mr4 ,blevins4 ,he died eight or ten years ago at the age of #fe4 ,bibb1 ,rev4 ,wm4 ,t41 son of ,linzy and ,caroline ,bibb1 was born in ,montgomery1 ,ala41 in #ahec4 ,brother ,bibb is one of the most worthy of our rising young men4 ,he is not noted for brilliancy1 but for constant application in the race for knowledge1 for pushing things to a finish in search for truth1 for the purest life and loftiest piety1 he is hardly to be excelled4 ,already he has been entrusted with various pastorates1 including one at ,marion and another near ,birmingham4 ,i had the best opportunity to learn him while ,i was pastor at ,selma4 ,here he was superintendent of my ,sunday ,school and aided me in my ward prayer-meetings4 ,he completed two courses at the ,selma ,university1 graduating with the title of ,a4 ,b41 and with the highest confidence of all the faculty4 ,in looking upon his open countenance one instinctively feels the impress of an honest1 earnest man--a man free from hypocrisy and guile4 ,bradford1 ,rev4 ,william ,c41 pastor of the ,first ,colored ,baptist ,church1 ,union ,springs1 son of ,henry and ,elizabeth ,bradford1 was born in ,montgomery1 ,ala41 in #ahfb4 ,his early years were spent in the ,swayne school in said city1 in which he succeeded in laying the foundation of a liberal ,english education4 ,in his eighteenth year1 and two years after his father's death1 he was baptized into the fellowship of the ,columbus ,street ,baptist ,church1 ,montgomery1 by the late ,rev4 ,james ,a4 ,foster4 ,feeling a call to the work of the gospel ministry1 he1 with a view to fitting himself for this solemn charge1 entered ,atlanta ,theological ,seminary4 ,in school as well as out among his brethren1 he has managed to occupy a place with those who formed the van4 ,in the person of his good wife1 once ,miss ,m4 ,h4 ,allen1 of ,georgia 7daughter of ,rev4 ,t4 ,m4 ,allen1 ex-member of the ,georgia ,legislature71 whom he wedded in #ahhd1 he has found happy and efficient help in his studies as well as in his calling4 ,for a while ,mr4 ,bradford followed the tailor's trade1 but at the call of the ,gilfield ,church in ,wetumpka1 the ,dexter ,avenue ,church1 ,montgomery1 in #ahhf set him apart to the work of the gospel ministry4 ,at ,wetumpka he built a church edifice worth about #gjj4 ,while pastor at ,clayton he led to the erection of a building worth #a1jjj1 and just now is rejoicing with the good people of ,union ,springs on his entrance into the new brick structure which was dedicated on the second ,sunday in ,october1 #ahib4 ,he was principal of the city school while in ,clayton1 and now holds several positions of honor and trust4 ,mr4 ,bradford is one of the strongest and is among the most successful young men in ,alabama4 ,his affable manner commends him to all4 ,he is now at ,tuscaloosa4 ,brooks1 ,rev4 ,g4 ,j41 of ,selma1 ,ala41 son of ,joseph and ,nancy ,brooks1 was born in #ahcj near ,richmond1 ,va41 in which city he lived till his eighteenth year1 when he was carried to ,new ,orleans1 ,la41 and from thence to ,texas4 #ahdi was spent in ,st4 ,louis1 ,mo41 and in #ahej he was brought to ,huntsville1 ,ala4 ,in this same year he was baptized into the ,primitive ,baptist ,church of ,huntsville by ,rev4 ,wm4 ,harris 7colored74#a ,of this period of his life ,mr4 ,brooks says3 8,by the will of a ,mr4 ,kenedy ,i was left free1 but as the administrator of the will1 a ,mr4 ,clark1 refused to execute this point in the will1 ,i remained a slave40 ,in #ahfg he united with the ,marion ,church1 under the pastorate of the ,rev4 ,james ,childs4 ,near this town he taught school1 till in #ahgb he went to ,kentucky1 where1 in #ahgc1 he was ordained to the work of the ministry4 ,after serving various offices in the work in ,kentucky1 he came to ,selma in #ahge1 where1 after a few years1 he became pastor of the ,st4 ,philip ,street ,church4 ,by the assistance of the white family he learned to read at the age of #ad4 ,in ,marion he extended his studies under ,prof4 ,card1 and under ,presidents ,woodsmall1 ,mc,alpine and ,brawley he further prosecuted his studies in the ,selma ,university4 ,brother ,brooks has held various offices of trust under the ,state ,convention and the ,uniontown ,association4 ,his health is now rather below his usual strength1 but his love for the ,master's cause seems nothing abated4 ,his wife1 ,mrs4 ,anna1 is among the leading women of ,alabama4 #a ,it appears that this denomination1 ,primitive ,baptists1 had some one or two ordained colored ministers4 ,brown1 ,rev4 ,lewis1 of ,epes1 ,sumter county1 was born near ,st4 ,louis1 ,mo41 ,march #bc1 #ahce1 and came to ,alabama in his tenth year4 ,he united with the church in #ahfc1 and was baptized by a ,mr4 ,edmonds into the fellowship of the ,jones' ,creek ,church1 by which church he was called to ordination in the fall of #ahfh4 ,the chief persons in the presbytery were ,revs4 ,abner ,scarber 7white7 and ,mr4 ,wright4 ,mr4 ,brown's main pastoral charges have been ,jones' ,creek1 nine years2 ,sumterville1 thirteen years2 ,new ,bethel1 thirteen years2 and ,mount ,olive1 four years4 ,he has long been moderator of the ,bethlehem ,association1 and is known and recognized as a firm and tried friend of education and missions2 and his children give evidence of pure and wise aspirations4 ,mr4 ,brown was married to ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,brown1 a slave girl on the same plantation with himself1 in #aheb4 ,seven sons and one daughter are the fruit of the marriage4 ,he is a very industrious and economical man1 and has possession of valuable property1 worth #ae1jjj4 ,seven or eight hundred acres of his farm once formed part of the plantation on which he 7with #ejj others7 worked as a slave till #ahfe4 ,he says that his master1 ,mr4 ,brown1 was a ,christian1 and that after the close of the war this plantation gave to this county most of its religious leaders4 ,burwell1 ,l4 ,l41 ,m4 ,d41 the son of ,charles and ,amanda ,burwell1 was born in ,marengo county1 ,ala41 ,october #be1 #ahfg4 ,at the age of seven years he was given to his brother1 ,charles ,a4 ,burwell1 of whom the ,doctor says3 8,to him my success is largely due40 ,for quite a while he lived with this brother on a farm in ,perry county4 ,he attended the county schools till he entered ,selma ,university in the winter of #ahhc-hd4 ,his love for books and his quickness of apprehension were early manifestations of native talent which1 if properly cultivated1 would unfold to his own honor and to the profit of his people4 ,each vacation found him upon the farm1 earning money with which to re-enter school4 ,during his entire course at ,selma ,university his mother was able to spend upon him but #cj4 ,in #ahhf1 he graduated from the above named school with the honors of valedictorian1 and in the fall of the same year he entered ,leonard ,medical ,college1 ,raleigh1 ,n4 ,c41 to take a course in medicine4 ,the course extended through four years1 but he completed it and received his diploma at the close of the third year1 again receiving the honors of valedictorian of his class4 ,in #ahhi1 he passed an examination before the ,state ,board of ,medical ,examiners of ,alabama1 and began the practice of medicine in the city of ,selma1 where he now resides amidst many friends1 a paying practice1 and a successful drug business4 ,commencing without a dollar1 he has saved from his income about #d1jjj4 ,in school he was called artist1 orator1 scholar4 ,he says3 8,as a doctor ,i have for my motto3 ,crurare ,cito40 ,brown1 ,rev4 ,r4 ,e41 of ,selma1 the pushing1 energetic leader of several associations1 deserves honorable mention as a man of pluck and push--a man of courage and observation4 ,bynum1 ,rev4 ,henry1 of ,leighton1 ,ala41 was born in ,baltimore1 ,md41 ,january1 #ahbj4 ,in #ahea1 in ,colbert county1 ,ala41 he was led to exercise faith in ,christ by the humble conversation and pious life of a fellow-slave by the name of ,isaac4 ,as his master did not believe in the ,bible and its ,christianity1 his baptism was delayed till #ahed4 ,in #ahfg he was set apart to the office of the gospel ministry by two white ministers1 one of whom was ,dr4 ,joseph ,shackelford1 of ,trinity1 ,ala4 ,he and ,rev4 ,steven ,coleman were the first ordained colored preachers in northern ,alabama4 ,he was married the first time in #aheg1 but his family were soon taken from him and he has never seen them since4 ,his present wife is a most excellent lady1 and affords him that help which only a good woman can bestow4 ,he has good property1 and he and his wife keep one of the most hospitable homes in northern ,alabama4 ,bro4 ,bynum was the first colored minister in this section to administer the rite of baptism4 ,he is now awaiting his change with triumphant hope1 and still enjoys fair health4 ,caddell1 ,rev4 ,perry1 pastor in ,shelby1 ,ala41 son of ,edmond and ,edie ,caddell1 was born ,september #i1 #ahei1 in ,centreville1 ,bibb county1 ,ala4 ,he was baptized into the ,bethel ,baptist ,church1 ,calera1 by ,rev4 ,john ,trainholm1 in ,february1 #ahgc1 and was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry1 ,december1 #ahgg1 by ,revs4 ,henry ,wood and ,mack ,jackson4 ,he learned his letters at the age of #ab years1 and1 though he has never had any help from teachers except such as he could get at night school1 he has been a steadily growing man till the present time4 ,he feels that he owes his beginning in letters to his mistress 7,mrs4 ,caddell71 who1 after the close of the war1 taught him to read1 and to write his name4 ,of his father he says3 8,he was1 no doubt1 a believer2 but in slavery time he refused to unite with the church for the reason that he felt that master and slave all the week could not be brothers on ,sunday4 ,and after the close of the war1 he would not join for the reason that there was no colored ,baptist church near his home40 ,bro4 ,caddell is an exemplary man in his family4 ,i have found no family where the mother and children study the ,word of ,god with more system and regularity4 ,he has a ready command of language1 both in speech and with pen1 and is sociable and genial everywhere4 ,capers1 ,rev4 ,j4 ,r41 of ,elyton 7since gone to ,oklahoma71 was born in ,camden1 ,s4 ,c41 ,april #bb1 #ahbh4 ,in #ahde he was baptized into the ,marion ,baptist ,church 7white7 by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,devotie1 and in #ahfi he was solemnly set apart to the sacred office of the gospel ministry by ,revs4 ,henry ,wood1 of ,talladega1 and ,arthur ,hall1 of ,jonesboro4 ,he1 with ,revs4 ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpine1 ,berry ,ware1 ,jasper ,beavers1 and others1 organized the ,mt4 ,pilgrim ,association1 in ,mt4 ,pilgrim ,church1 in #ahfh4 ,of this association he was the moderator for eleven years4 ,bro4 ,capers is known among his brethren and neighbors as an intelligent1 industrious1 thoughtful1 faithful1 ,christian man and earnest gospel preacher4 ,he is a successful carpenter1 and by industry1 skill and economy has attained to the possession of a good deal of choice property4 ,no doubt he owes much to his good wife1 whom he married in #ahej1 and by whom he has a large family of thrifty children4 ,bro4 ,capers was an organizer in the ,jefferson county work1 and has left the impress of his decided character upon the workers of this section4 ,he is now in ,oklahoma ,territory4 ,chapman1 ,rev4 ,f4 ,a41 of ,flint1 ,morgan county1 ,ala41 was born in the county and ,state in which he now lives1 ,november #ab1 #ahdc4 ,in #ahfa he was baptized into the ,sand ,hill ,church by ,rev4 ,m4 ,a4 ,verser1 and in ,april1 #ahfh1 he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by a presbytery which was presided over by the brother who about eight years before had administered the rite of baptism4 ,mr4 ,chapman is one of the most sober1 quiet1 pious1 earnest1 hard-working preachers in the valley of the ,tennessee river4 ,he aided in the organization of the ,muscle ,shoals and ,flint ,river ,associations4 ,most of his time has been spent in mission and pioneer operations4 ,in #ahfh he was wedded to ,miss ,alabama ,garth1 by whom he has a large family of interesting children4 ,their home is a retreat for weary preachers and a ,christian example in their community4 ,in a speech which he made before our last ,state ,convention1 he said3 8,the brethren ordained me in #ahfh1 not because of my fitness for the work1 but in recognition of a necessity4 ,there was need for a ,negro to baptize ,negro believers1 and ,i was chosen as an answer to this want without any examination40 ,chandler1 ,rev4 ,f4 ,c41 is pastor of ,walnut ,street ,church1 ,rosedale1 and bears a good name4 ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,s4 ,l4 ,belser1 ,pastor ,red ,mountain ,baptist ,church1 ,bessemer1 ,ala4 ,clark1 ,rev4 ,henry1 of ,opelika1 son of ,david and ,patience ,clark1 both of ,virginia birth1 is one of the fathers of the work in ,lee county4 ,brother ,clark was baptized at ,auburn1 ,ala41 by ,rev4 ,h4 ,c4 ,toliver1 of ,tuskegee1 in #ahfj4 ,he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry ,june #bg1 #ahfh1 by ,revs4 ,w4 ,e4 ,lloyd1 ,d4 ,d41 and ,thomas ,glenn1 since which time he has been busy going about and doing good4 ,he has been a harmless1 industrious1 pioneer preacher1 laying foundations upon which others have builded4 ,he is a tried and faithful friend of missions and education4 ,the writer has always felt that his every pledge was worth every cent it promised4 ,notwithstanding he has had no educational advantages1 still he has1 by study of books and by association with men of letters1 obtained no inconsiderable store of knowledge4 ,the churches of ,lee county and the ,alabama ,association owe much to the faithful1 efficient labors of ,brother ,clark4 ,his loving heart ever adorns his face with the smiles of peace and good will4 ,truly1 he is a harmless man1 ever ready to do a brotherly deed4 ,colley1 ,rev4 ,moses1 of ,talladega1 son of ,rev4 ,boney ,sawyer1 who was a preacher over fifty years ago1 is about #ee years of age4 ,he has never had any school advantages1 but has attained to a fair knowledge of books4 ,he is a remarkably clear headed man1 dignified and self-possessed4 ,mr4 ,colley is a hard working1 successful farmer1 and by this calling1 he has obtained a comfortable support for himself and family4 ,he was baptized by ,dr4 ,renfroe in #ahef1 and was ordained to the ministry in #ahgb4 ,he held several important pastorates in ,talladega1 and was once moderator of ,rushing ,springs ,association4 ,he is guarded in speech1 but his manners are always affable4 ,no act of folly or crime mars his good name4 ,for many years he has held the pastorate at ,mardisville1 where he is esteemed no less for his piety than for his sound doctrine4 ,collins1 ,rev4 ,asa ,cyrus1 of ,hazen1 ,ala41 was born ,november #a1 #ahfa1 in ,dallas county of this ,state4 ,lost both parents at the age of #h years4 ,was baptized by ,rev4 ,a4 ,waller in his sixteenth year1 and soon began preaching4 ,in ,september1 #ahha1 he was officially set apart to the work of the gospel ministry4 ,mr4 ,collins has been pastor at various points1 and is held in high esteem by his brethren4 ,for several years he has been moderator of the ,dallas ,county ,association1 over which he presides with credit to himself and with pleasure to the body4 ,brother ,collins is still a rising young man4 ,curry1 ,rev4 ,j4 ,c41 of ,mount ,meigs1 ,montgomery county1 the son of ,rev4 ,philip and ,venus ,curry1 was born in ,marion1 ,ala41 ,october #ag1 #aheb4 ,he was baptized at ,felix1 ,ala41 by ,rev4 ,d4 ,r4 ,willis in #ahgc4 ,on the occasion of his call to the pastorate of the ,friendship ,church1 ,shelby1 ,ala41 he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry by ,revs4 ,p4 ,caddell1 ,m4 ,jackson1 and ,henry ,scott4 ,mr4 ,curry is liberally educated1 having been among the first students of ,selma ,university4 ,he is a close1 clear thinker1 a forcible speaker and a good preacher4 ,he has been pastor at ,shelby1 pastor of the ,dexter ,avenue ,church1 ,montgomery1 and is now pastor at ,mt4 ,meigs and ,tuskegee4 ,at different times he has been engaged in the newspaper business2 and ,i am informed that he is now assisting ,prof4 ,b4 ,t4 ,washington in collecting certain statistics for the ,tuskegee school4 ,mr4 ,curry is a man of rare energy and will force1 and being endowed with good intellectual gifts there is no reason why he may not become one among the strongest men of the ,state4 ,curtis1 ,hon4 ,a4 ,h41 of ,marion1 ,ala41 was born in ,raleigh1 ,n4 ,c41 ,december #bi1 #ahbi4 ,he came to ,alabama in #ahci with the ,haywood family4 ,he was the property 787 of ,e4 ,haywood1 and served as a waiting boy in the store of ,stockton ,hunt for many years4 ,he moved to ,marion in #ahdh and was the body servant of ,r4 ,t4 ,goree for two years4 ,after this he was barber for some years4 ,succeeding by industry and economy in obtaining some cash1 he1 in #ahei1 paid ,mrs4 ,e4 ,haywood #b1jjj for his freedom1 and during the same year went to ,new ,york and was emancipated4 ,after the war he engaged in mercantile pursuits and the barber business4 ,in #ahgj he was elected to the lower house of the ,general ,assembly of ,alabama1 and in #ahgb he was elected ,state ,senator from the ,twenty-second senatorial district4 ,no other colored man ever presided over the ,senate of ,alabama4 ,he was connected with the legislature of the ,state for eight years1 and not only enjoyed the respect of his fellow legislators of all parties but closed his service in this connection with growing confidence in his integrity4 ,he was baptized in #ahea4 ,in #ahej his marriage occurred4 ,his wife was a suitable helper for him and is still alive enjoying the honors and success which justly crown their offspring4 ,the ,curtis brothers and sisters are a praise to their parents4 ,the senator was a strong man in society1 in church1 in ,state4 ,he died near ,marion1 ,july #bj1 #ahgh1 as the result of a bruise from a fall from his buggy4 ,three of his sons are successful physicians2 two are north2 ,dr4 ,a4 ,j4 ,curtis is in ,montgomery4 ,davis1 ,rev4 ,philip1 late of ,talladega1 was born in #ahac1 in the ,state of ,virginia1 near the ,north ,carolina line4 ,he was baptized in #ahda1 and about the year #ahdc he began to speak to his neighbors of the doctrines and hope of the gospel4 ,early in life he married1 and became the father of a large family4 ,after he was brought to ,calhoun county1 ,ala41 he continued his labors in the ministry of the gospel1 as he had opportunity1 constantly increasing in favor with both ,god and man2 and this was true of him to the day of his death1 which occurred ,december #cj1 #ahha4 ,i first met this pious man in ,december1 #ahge1 in ,talladega4 ,he was not a learned man1 but he knew the holy scriptures1 and was wise in the things of salvation4 ,the more he was known the better he was loved2 and his unassuming1 gentle1 chastened1 self-forgetting spirit1 as exhibited at home and abroad1 was simply charming4 ,as ,i have looked upon this unmixed1 full-blooded representative of the ,negro race1 arrayed in the beauty of the ,christian spirit1 ,i have felt proud of him as a witness for my people4 ,he was not fully installed in the ministry until the close of the war4 ,the late ,dr4 ,j4 ,j4 ,d4 ,renfroe was the leading man in the presbytery who officially set him apart to the sacred office4 ,his last words were3 8,like one of old1 ,i have finished my course and am now ready to be offered1 and the time of my departure is come40 ,he left a pleasant home for his family4 ,davis1 ,rev4 ,c4 ,m41 of ,flint1 ,morgan county1 was born in the ,state of ,tennessee4 ,he was led to faith in ,christ and was baptized by the ,rev4 ,f4 ,a4 ,chapman4 ,he says that his early life was rather wild1 but when his eyes were opened he turned with all his heart4 ,in #ahhe1 in ,may1 he was set apart to the ministry by ,revs4 ,f4 ,a4 ,chapman and ,c4 ,c4 ,matthews4 ,mr4 ,davis is one among the most promising young men in the ,flint ,river ,association4 ,he is a discerning1 aspiring man1 who believes in studying to know the truth1 so that he may not have reason to feel ashamed of his teaching1 nor spend his time and energies without producing effects4 ,the writer had special opportunity to know him at the ,state school1 where the former was teacher and the latter was student4 ,he is clear-headed1 kind and conscientious4 ,dawson1 ,rev4 ,iverson1 of ,eutaw1 is a man rich in natural endowments1 both of body and mind4 ,upon no man in ,alabama has nature been more profuse in the bestowment of choice gifts4 ,he is tall1 well proportioned1 kind hearted1 genial1 sociable1 magnetic1 clear-headed and ever sanguine4 ,he is1 no doubt1 the strongest man in the ,bethlehem ,association1 of which body he has been clerk for many years2 and in every section of the ,state1 and in every phase of business1 he is recognized as a man of power and character4 ,as a public speaker1 he is both pleasing and instructive4 ,the vote1 which in #ahhg retained our university at ,selma1 was largely owing to his influence and labors4 ,mr4 ,dawson has a pleasant home and an interesting family in the town of ,eutaw1 where he now serves as pastor4 ,his home is placed on the roll of asylums for tired missionaries4 ,he is a brave1 fearless opponent and a true and trusty friend4 ,at this time1 he is editing a paper in his town in the interest of the republican party4 ,the writer sincerely wishes that every motion of his strong manhood might be laid wholly upon the church's altar1 and that he could consent to leave the running of political papers to others4 ,dinkins1 ,charles ,spencer1 ,d4 ,d41 general ,sunday ,school missionary of ,alabama for the ,american ,baptist ,publication ,society1 was born ,september #ae1 #ahef1 near ,canton1 ,miss4 ,mr4 ,dinkins never knew his father1 and his mother1 ,mrs4 ,sarah ,dinkins1 died when he was only #ac years of age4 ,one year prior to her death1 he was led to faith in the salvation of ,god as presented in the gospel1 under the preaching of ,rev4 ,jordan ,williams1 by whom he was baptized into the fellowship of the ,mount ,zion ,church1 ,canton1 in the fall of #ahfh4 ,for such a boy1 at such a time1 to make the favorable acquaintance of such a man as ,mr4 ,williams1 was a peculiar providence4 ,as in the cases of ,saul and ,ananias1 and ,philip and the eunuch1 ,god brought the parties together4 ,mr4 ,williams1 perceiving the superior talents of the youth1 privately inquired of him whether or not he desired to educate himself1 and when the affirmative reply was obtained1 he at once influenced his church to provide the means4 ,on ,friday night1 ,january #bh1 #ahgj1 ,mr4 ,dinkins took the cars for ,nashville1 ,tenn41 arriving at that point on ,sunday morning4 ,that day he met the good ,dr4 ,phillips1 who cordially accepted him at once1 and remained his admiring friend to the close of his 7,dr4 ,phillips'7 long and useful life4 ,in referring to his early life1 ,mr4 ,dinkins says3 8,when ,i was #i years old1 my mother bought me a blue back speller and taught me the alphabet1 which ,i learned in one night4 ,my first teachers were ,mrs4 and ,miss ,highgate1 of ,philadelphia1 and ,hon4 ,j4 ,j4 ,spellman1 now of ,jackson1 ,miss4 ,before leaving the old plantation1 ,i saw something of the horrors of slavery1 which ,i can never forget40 ,at the age of #af he began teaching1 which work he pursued during summer1 returning to ,nashville to continue his studies in the fall and winter4 ,he graduated from the classical course of the ,roger ,williams ,university1 ,nashville1 in the spring of #ahgg1 as valedictorian of his class1 among whom were ,messrs4 ,n4 ,h4 ,ensley and ,h4 ,m4 ,g4 ,spenser4 ,in #ahgh he returned to take a post-graduate course and was appointed a member of the faculty4 ,in the latter part of this same year he entered ,newton ,theological ,seminary1 near ,boston1 ,mass41 where1 during the time of a full course1 from which he graduated in #ahha1 he was associated with some of the most prominent educators of the country4 ,in this course he took theology1 church history1 ,hebrew1 ,greek1 homiletics1 etc4 ,how ,mr4 ,dinkins was seen by this institution1 the following story may be allowed to signify3 ,just before the death of ,dr4 ,phillips1 the writer met him in ,nashville4 ,dr4 ,phillips--,how is ,brother ,dinkins8 ,the ,writer--,he is well and doing well4 ,dr4 ,p4--,he is a very capable and worthy person4 ,dr4 ,hovey1 the president of ,newton1 said to me on one occasion when ,i asked after some students who had gone from us to him1 8,mr4 ---- is very sensitive1 but ,mr4 ,dinkins is very sensible40 ,dr4 ,dinkins has held various prominent positions1 among which may be mentioned3 ,member of the faculty of the ,state ,university of ,kentucky2 pastor ,york ,street ,church1 ,louisville1 ,ky42 teacher of languages in ,selma ,university2 pastor ,second ,baptist ,church of ,marion1 ,ala42 and principal of the ,marion ,baptist ,academy2 and has been tendered the presidency of the ,university of ,kentucky1 and many times he has been earnestly solicited to return to the faculty of ,selma ,university4 ,his examination for ordination before the ministers of ,louisville1 ,ky41 in #ahhc1 was an occasion of much comment by both white and colored pastors1 in praise of his ability4 ,the writer has had occasion to watch him very closely since his entrance upon work in ,alabama1 and he does not hesitate to write that ,charles ,s4 ,dinkins1 in point of scholarship1 industry and high sense of honor1 is not excelled by any man we have had among us4 ,in #ahij the ,state ,university of ,louisville1 ,ky41 then under the presidency of the late ,dr4 ,w4 ,j4 ,simmons1 conferred on him the title of ,d4 ,d4 ,on the day which closed his twenty-fifth year1 the #aeth day of ,september1 #ahha1 he was wedded to ,miss ,pauline ,e4 ,fears1 the friend and classmate of ,miss ,m4 ,a4 ,roach 7now ,mrs4 ,m4 ,a4 ,boothe71 by his fatherly instructor and faithful friend1 ,dr4 ,d4 ,w4 ,phillips4 ,the marriage took place in the ,roger ,williams ,university1 ,nashville1 ,tenn41 a school of which they are both graduates4 ,perhaps some future historian will write of ,mr4 ,dinkins3 8,an eventful life1 not the least eventful point in which is the finding and wedding of a woman so well suited to a man of such rare gifts40 ,five children--two boys and three girls--grace their home as the fruit of the marriage4 ,closing this sketch1 the writer would remark that if ,mr4 ,dinkins has a fault1 it may be described thus3 ,an exceeding tenderness of conscience1 whereby one may be so entirely possessed by present views of law and duty as to forget that new light and other views may modify appearances4 ,p4 ,s4--,he is now the trusted president of ,selma ,university1 and none of his predecessors have made1 in the same length of time1 a better mark than he has made4 ,his personality moves in lofty purposes and is a source of pure thoughts and pious emotions which affect all his surroundings4 ,illustration3 ,dr4 ,u4 ,g4 ,mason1 ,physician and ,surgeon1 ,birmingham1 ,ala4 ,dosier1 ,rev4 ,john1 the founder and for twenty years pastor of the church in ,uniontown1 was a man of great moral worth4 ,i once heard a politician who was associated with him in the legislature of ,alabama1 remark3 8,john ,dosier was an honorable man everywhere1 and ,i never saw a man who did not believe every word he said40 ,he1 like ,mr4 ,a4 ,h4 ,curtis1 passed through his political preferments with stainless reputation4 ,he was a very old man at the time of his death1 which occurred only a few years ago4 ,he was born somewhere near the beginning of the present century4 ,by some means he1 during the days of his bondage1 learned to read ,greek1 which knowledge he turned to good results upon his study and interpretation of the ,scriptures4 ,he was one of ,alabama's most worthy pioneers4 ,he was a temperance man4 ,upon one occasion in a session of the ,uniontown ,association1 some one complained that he smelled a very disagreeable whiskey odor in the house4 ,mr4 ,dosier remarked3 8,with the consent of the body ,i will find the man who has been drinking40 ,it was agreed that he might make the search4 ,accordingly1 he passed from man to man1 requesting that he might smell his breath4 ,he located the man1 who1 for lying about it1 was excluded from the body4 ,the writer never met a man for whose veracity he had a higher regard4 ,donald1 ,rev4 ,r41 of ,birmingham1 was born in ,alabama ,june #aj1 #ahed4 ,he is the founder of the ,tabernacle ,church1 ,birmingham1 and the builder of the ,first ,church1 ,pratt ,mines4 ,he has worked hard and sacrificed much for the cause4 ,his name will remain in many churches4 ,he owes much to his noble1 patient wife4 ,edwards1 ,rev4 ,a4 ,j41 of ,lowndes county1 is a teacher as well as a preacher1 and in different sections of the ,state he has labored with good results in the interest of morality1 education and religion4 ,mr4 ,edwards is blessed with much body as well as with much soul4 ,good health and jovial spirits abound1 and hence he is ever an enjoyable companion4 ,he is still a young man1 full of manly pride1 commendable ambition1 and a love for the pure and charitable1 in view of which we may hope that his day is only in its dawning1 and that a brighter noon and evening are before him4 ,ellis1 ,rev4 ,henry1 of ,flint1 ,morgan county1 son of ,william and ,martha ,ellis1 was born in ,may1 #ahef4 ,he was baptized in #ahga1 and in #ahge he was ordained to the ministry by ,revs4 ,charles ,davis and ,m4 ,j4 ,hooks4 ,he is now pastor of ,st4 ,peter's ,church1 which is composed of some of ,morgan county's best citizens4 ,he deserves special praise for his attention to his ,sunday ,school4 ,mr4 ,ellis also preaches to a church near ,courtland4 ,this brother is a warm friend to missionaries and delights to aid good causes4 ,fisher1 ,rev4 ,c4 ,l41 ,b4 ,d41 son of ,alexander and ,elizabeth ,fisher1 was born in ,st4 ,bernard parish1 twenty miles below ,new ,orleans1 ,la41 ,february #af1 #ahff4 ,on the first ,sunday in ,february1 #ahge1 he was baptized into the ,broadway ,street ,baptist ,church1 ,new ,orleans1 ,la4 ,ordained--,he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by the ,second ,baptist ,church in ,evanston1 ,ill41 ,september #bi1 #ahhg1 where he was student-pastor4 ,educated--,he graduated from the college department of ,leland ,university1 ,new ,orleans1 ,la41 ,may #bh1 #ahhd1 with the degree of ,b4 ,a41 and graduated from the ,baptist ,union ,theological ,seminary1 ,morgan ,park1 ,ill41 ,may #e1 #ahhg1 with the degree of ,b4 ,d4 ,on ,may #bg1 #ahia1 he received from ,leland ,university the degree of ,master of ,arts4 ,positions--,in #ahhh pastor of ,mt4 ,zion ,church1 ,little ,rock1 ,ark4 ,in #ahhi-ib he is teacher of languages and instructor of ministers in ,selma ,university1 ,selma1 ,ala4 ,for the last two years of this time he is pastor of the ,tabernacle ,church of the city of ,selma4 ,in the office of ,state ,sunday ,school ,missionary1 under the ,american ,baptist ,publication ,society of ,philadelphia1 he has for several years rendered very profitable service for the ,baptists of ,alabama as well as ,mississippi4 ,he has recently been recalled to the pastorate of the ,tabernacle ,church1 ,selma4 ,than is ,charles ,lewis ,fisher1 ,alabama ,baptists have no more thorough scholar1 profound logician and industrious pastor4 ,his physical form is a little frail4 ,should this not hinder length of days1 early future years must present him to the world as one of our greatest theologians and metaphysicians4 ,he is not less modest than he is learned1 not less benevolent and respectful than he is self-reliant and dignified4 ,fykes1 ,rev4 ,a4 ,j41 of ,pratt ,city1 is the much beloved pastor of the ,canaan ,church1 ,bessemer4 ,fluker1 ,rev4 ,solomon1 of ,sylacauga1 ,talladega county1 was born in ,march1 #ahcc2 was baptized in #ahff by a ,rev4 ,mr4 ,smith 7white71 of ,talladega4 ,he soon began to preach1 and ere long he had become a leading minister in his section of the country4 ,for nine years he was pastor of the church in his town4 ,he is a very meek1 unassuming man1 careful for the welfare of his family1 and hospitable towards his brethren4 ,of late he has been a great but patient sufferer1 and hence has been compelled to cease from active labors in the ministry4 ,we owe much of our success in this section of the ,state to the industry and exemplary character of this faithful man4 ,he has left the cross for the crown4 ,foster1 ,rev4 ,l4 ,p41 of ,selma1 was baptized by ,rev4 ,jerry ,shorter in ,eufaula in #ahgf4 ,mr4 ,foster1 some time after his marriage and mature manhood1 moved to ,selma and graduated from the normal course of ,selma ,university4 ,he is a stirring1 industrious1 self-reliant man1 who purposes to make his own way in the world without striding the back of any other man4 ,he has occupied different pastorates and has served as missionary of the ,eufaula ,association4 ,he has a comfortable home--free of debt--and lends a helping hand to missionary and educational enterprises4 ,foster1 ,rev4 ,james ,a41 late of ,montgomery1 was born in the ,state of ,kentucky1 in which he grew to young manhood4 ,he died in the city of ,montgomery in ,december of #ahia--;died as he had lived1 in love and honor with men and in peace with ,god4 ,twenty-five of his fifty-four years had been spent in the gospel ministry1 from the sacred offices of which he retired in great joy4 ,he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry by ,revs4 ,i4 ,t4 ,tichenor1 ,d4 ,d41 ,nathan ,ashby and ,jacob ,bellser1 in the city of ,montgomery1 in the year #ahfg4 ,his first pastoral charge was the church at ,mt4 ,meigs1 which he served till he resigned to accept the call of the ,columbus ,street ,church in #ahga4 ,he was the first recording secretary of the ,state ,convention1 and was the next man to ,mr4 ,ashby to preside over the ,convention as president4 ,he was trustee of the ,state ,normal and ,swayne ,schools1 and moderator of the ,spring ,hill ,association4 ,mr4 ,foster was a man whom nature had variously and richly endowed4 ,had he possessed early educational advantages--advantages suited to his rich natural resources--he would have held a place among the sons of the giants4 ,his sermons were always earnest1 and frequently his vast audiences were melted into weeping by a pathos that was as mysterious as it was mighty4 ,he was loved1 honored1 followed1 and obeyed4 ,in the two churches in which he was pastor he1 it is said1 baptized #aj1jjj persons1 married #fjj couples1 and preached #d1jjj sermons4 ,his loving1 courtly manners won and maintained for him such a tender regard as few men ever possess4 ,nor was this confined to his own flock and race1 but it was shared more or less by the whole people1 white and black4 ,the following will show something of his liberality3 8,montgomery1 ,may --1 #ahia4 8,dear ,bro4 ,boothe3 ,on hearing that you need some money for your work1 ,i look over my account with the ,lord and find that ,i owe him five dollars4 ,enclosed you will find this amount4 ,may ,god bless you40 ,the last letter ,i received from him1 one month before his death1 contained a donation to the mission work4 ,his wife says of him3 8,some time before his sickness1 he talked of nothing but heaven4 ,i could plainly see that his mind had left the world4 ,i tried to interest him in house and home affairs2 but he would talk of nothing but of ,god's grace and of the home of the saints40 ,he was a model husband and father1 and is sadly missed from his home1 as well as from his church and community4 ,a good man has gone from labor to reward--from cross to crown4 ,he was thoughtful of the welfare of his loved ones1 and hence carried an insurance on his life1 the payment of which has rendered them some assistance since his death4 ,he was one of the original incorporators of ,selma ,university1 and was a life member of the ,home ,mission ,society4 8,servant of ,god1 well done2 ,rest from thy sweet employ40 ,forbes1 ,rev4 ,w4 ,r41 now of ,columbus1 ,ga41 is still associated with our ,alabama work4 ,he is now about #cg years of age1 is possessed of a fine personal appearance1 is affable1 studious1 sociable and industrious4 ,he is a ,virginian by birth and came to ,alabama in #ahhi to begin work at ,clayton and ,eufaula4 ,franklin1 ,rev4 ,samuel1 of ,mt4 ,meigs1 was born ,june #d1 #ahdi4 ,he was converted to the ,christian faith ,january1 #ahff1 and ordained to the work of the ministry ,march1 #ahgf4 ,brother ,franklin is among the energetic enterprising men of his part of ,montgomery county4 ,notwithstanding he earns his living at farming1 he is busy in the interest of the affairs of the house of ,god4 ,at present he is pastor at ,pike ,road ,church4 ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,j4 ,p4 ,o',riley1 ,trussville1 ,ala41 ,pastor ,compton ,baptist ,church4 ,franklin1 ,rev4 ,william1 of ,mt4 ,meigs1 was born ,october #cj1 #aheb4 ,he was baptized by the late ,rev4 ,washington ,stevens1 of ,montgomery1 ,july1 #ahga4 ,he was ordained in #ahha by ,revs4 ,p4 ,lucas1 ,w4 ,stevens and his brother1 ,rev4 ,samuel ,franklin4 ,he is a thoughtful1 enterprising man1 and has the pastoral charge of several country churches4 ,being self-reliant1 persevering1 as well as economical with time and means1 he has risen somewhat above the crushing heels of poverty and want4 ,at the age of #be years1 he did not know the ,english alphabet1 but by persistent application to study1 he now reads and writes and keeps his own accounts4 ,his face bears those hospitable marks which make one feel easy and at home in his company and restful amid his family4 ,on a trip to ,mobile1 our train stopped at the bridge of the ,tensas ,river to allow a freight train to clear the track4 ,mr4 ,franklin's gaze upon the bridge led the writer to think he was frightened4 ,as the freight train left the bridge1 ,mr4 ,f4 remarked3 8,if it will hold up that train1 it will ours1 too40 ,i said3 8,maybe that train has just put it into the condition to let us through40 8,yes1 and ,i'll pull my shoes off now in time to swim10 said ,mr4 ,f4 ,freeman1 ,rev4 ,james ,h41 of ,moulton1 ,lawrence county1 is one among the very worthy young men of our ,state4 ,he has had comparatively no advantages for learning1 and yet his sober and comprehensive views of life have spurred him onward in search of information1 till now we have but few young men in ,alabama who use better language1 have clearer ideas of the ,christian life1 and make a more orderly speech than ,mr4 ,freeman4 ,better still1 his neighbors speak of him as a good man--a man whose conduct is a living epistle of the faith which he professes4 ,french4--,of the many substantial people of ,talladega county who deserve honorable mention1 none are more worthy in all regards than the ,french family4 ,messrs4 ,emanuel1 ,william1 and ,prince ,french would be an honor to any race of people1 no matter what the degree of their civilization and the purity of their moral culture4 ,the two first named teach in the public schools2 the latter is a preacher1 and all of them are prosperous land owners1 as well as faithful members of the ,baptist church4 ,gachet1 ,rev4 ,adam1 of ,barbour county1 ,ala41 was born in ,randolph county1 ,ga41 ,march #aj1 #ahcg4 ,at the age of #af he was carried to the county and ,state in which he now lives4 ,his childhood was wholly deprived of parental love and care1 and he says he never knew anything of a relative4 ,depressed by his loneliness1 he early felt the need of the friendship of ,god1 which he sought and soon obtained1 to the great joy of his heart4 ,with this sweet peace soon came an impression that he was called upon to speak of this wondrous love to his fellow-slaves4 ,in ,april1 #ahed1 he was baptized into ,enon ,church4 ,on ,june #g1 #ahfi1 he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry4 ,he is one of the pioneers in the work of the ,eufaula ,association1 having preached the introductory sermon of the first session of that body4 ,from the first till now he has been a member of their executive board1 and is now a member of the board of trustees of ,selma ,university4 ,notwithstanding ,bro4 ,gachet has had no educational advantages1 he reads intelligently and writes some4 ,he has labored1 and now labors1 in some of the most important churches in his section of ,alabama4 ,he is still active on all lines of progress4 ,he has a large family1 who seem to do him honor4 ,bro4 ,gachet is no more4 ,goldsby1 ,alexander1 was born ,february #f1 #ahai1 in ,edgefield district1 ,s4 ,c4 ,he came to ,alabama in #ahcj4 ,his father1 who was a native ,african1 was born on the ocean while his mother was on her way to ,america4 ,his mother was born in ,maryland4 ,in #ahdd he was baptized into the white church at ,selma1 ,ala41 by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,collins4 ,in #ahde he was ordained to the office of deacon1 in which position he served for thirty-eight years4 ,he was a very honorable man1 and was not less respected by the white people than he was loved and followed by his own4 ,he was a successful blacksmith1 usually hired his time1 and hence he was to a very considerable degree his own master4 ,in #ahdc he married ,miss ,nicey ,goodwin1 and a large family of children is the fruit of the marriage4 ,his massive head and deliberate manner1 his strong will and dauntless spirit1 his good sense and genuine piety1 made him a leader of the people and a pillar in the house of ,god4 ,a man more capable of friendship at great personal costs1 ,i have never known4 ,especially from him1 aided by ,deacons ,charles ,white1 ,nick ,claiborne1 ,tall ,underwood1 and ,e4 ,ross1 our cause in ,dallas county has risen up4 ,at or near the close of his seventy-third year1 8,father ,goldsby0 bravely1 triumphantly and peacefully passed from the earth to that city which knows no night and needs not the shining of the sun4 ,he was one of the chief leaders of the band which met on ,friday night1 near ,selma1 forty or fifty years ago1 to pray for freedom4 ,his name is honored in his children4 ,green1 ,rev4 ,lawson ,j41 son of ,lawson and ,martha ,green1 was born near ,livingston1 ,sumter county1 ,ala41 ,august #d1 #ahei4 ,though he was so young1 he says his heart still bears the impress of the horrors of slavery4 ,under his father's direction1 he soon learned how to farm4 ,notwithstanding the colored people of this county were greatly hindered by the kuklux1 ,mr4 ,green utilized every educational facility within his reach to attain to a knowledge of letters4 ,after he had gone as far as he could in the schools in and around ,livingston1 in #ahgi he entered the ,selma ,university1 then under the management of ,rev4 ,h4 ,woodsmall1 of ,indiana4 ,from this institution1 he graduated in #ahhd under the presidency of ,dr4 ,e4 ,m4 ,brawley4 ,at different times and places he has followed the work of teaching4 ,he taught in his own county1 was principal of ,tullabody ,academy at ,greensboro1 was a member of the faculty of ,selma ,university1 and was also of the faculty of the ,baptist ,academy at ,marion4 ,his principal pastorates have been at ,greensboro1 ,ala41 and ,selma1 of the same ,state4 ,as ,brother ,green is full of good health1 pluck and mental energy1 there is no reason why he should not have a long and useful life as a ,christian leader4 ,he has held various honorable positions in the general work1 and is now secretary of the ,board of ,trustees of ,selma ,university4 ,p4 ,s4 ,he is now in ,birmingham1 pastor of the ,spring ,street ,church and principal of an independent school on the south side of the city4 ,he will long be a power in the denomination1 if watchfulness and temperance attend him4 ,gulley1 ,daniel ,t41 of ,selma1 son of ,john ,l4 and ,amy ,gulley1 was born near ,snow ,hill in ,wilcox county1 ,ala4 ,he was the property of ,james ,gulley1 whom he served as 8waiting boy0 till the close of the war4 ,doubtless this position was favorable in the direction of refinement and culture4 ,a taste and relish for the study of books would naturally come of such environments4 ,utilizing some school advantages which came to hand1 he soon1 as the result of hard work1 attained to such a beginning in letters as enabled him to officiate as clerk of the ,antioch ,church4 ,at the opening of ,selma ,university on ,january #a1 #ahgh1 he1 at #i o'clock ,a4 ,m41 was the only student on the ground4 ,he completed a course in this institution with the class of #ahhd4 ,on the fourth ,sunday in ,february1 #ahgc1 he was baptized into the ,antioch ,baptist ,church by the ,rev4 ,willis ,stalworth4 ,here he served as clerk of the church and as superintendent of the ,sunday ,school4 ,from the beginning1 he has been a substantial friend of ministerial education4 ,he was ordained in the session of the ,state ,convention held in ,selma in ,november1 #ahhc1 ,revs4 ,m4 ,tyler1 ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpine1 ,j4 ,dosier1 ,e4 ,k4 ,love1 ,e4 ,m4 ,brawley1 ,w4 ,r4 ,pettiford1 ,h4 ,stevens and the writer1 officiating as presbytery4 ,he has held various pastorates and different positions in the general work1 and is now ,sunday ,school missionary under the ,publication ,society4 ,hampton1 ,rev4 ,james1 of ,leighton1 ,ala41 was born and reared near where he now lives4 ,on ,july #be1 #aheh1 he began life's journey a slave1 in line with the condition of his race4 ,in #ahfi--;in ,september--he was baptized into the ,mount ,pleasant ,church by 8,father0 ,henry ,bynum1 and on ,june #ah1 #ahhb1 he was solemnly set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by ,revs4 ,b4 ,king1 ,h4 ,bynum1 ,o4 ,jackson and ,t4 ,w4 ,morris4 ,brother ,hampton is one of the leading men of the ,muscle ,shoals ,association1 and justly so1 for added to his natural talent are many graces of character which come only of labor1 aspiration1 study1 faith1 and exalted purpose4 ,without the aid of schools1 he has attained to a creditable knowledge of letters4 ,he is a builder1 an organizer1 a pastor and business man4 ,with him and his family1 the tired missionary may find a place for rest and refreshment4 ,he lives upon his own fruitful farm near ,leighton1 in ,lawrence county1 and is a light which shines upon all the ,christian enterprises around him4 ,hawkins1 ,prof4 ,d4 ,d41 of ,east ,lake1 ,jefferson county1 deserves honorable mention for his services for religion and education4 ,the people of ,east ,lake are comparatively prosperous and progressive1 and to no man are they more indebted for this condition of things than to ,deacon and ,professor ,hawkins4 ,as church officer and as school teacher he has long and faithfully served his church and his community1 and his spirit and labors have been like the leaven which the woman hid in the meal4 ,the writer has ever found him a quiet1 industrious1 hospitable brother1 with ready heart and open hand in support of every good work4 ,he is an honor to his school--,selma ,university4 ,hall1 ,rev4 ,s4 ,m41 pastor of the ,first ,colored ,baptist ,church at ,warrior1 ,ala41 is one of our most robust1 handsome and spotless young men4 ,he was born in ,walker county1 ,ala41 ,october #bf1 #ahfg4 ,attended the public schools of his community for five years4 ,in ,october1 #ahhe1 he joined the ,oak ,grove ,church in ,walker county1 receiving baptism the same month4 ,he has attended the ,birmingham ,institute two years1 and has given three years to the work of teaching4 ,he is one of those jovial1 happy1 friendly souls which one always enjoys4 ,his hard work in the study of books shows that he sees and appreciates the value of knowledge1 and recognizes that there is no easy1 lazy road to learning1 to culture and refinement4 ,illustration3 ,miss ,ella ,knapp1 ,missionary1 ,birmingham1 ,ala4 ,hawthorne1 ,rev4 ,lambert1 of ,evergreen1 was born ,march #ae1 #ahei1 in ,pine ,apple1 ,wilcox county1 ,ala4 ,when he was only six years of age his mother1 ,mrs4 ,sarah ,hawthorne1 died and left him and two other sons to such cold charities as might chance to fall in their way4 ,from the time of his mother's death till he was #ah or #bj he was an apprentice to ,col4 ,j4 ,r4 ,hawthorne1 of his native county4 ,this gentleman sent him to school1 sometimes paying #b per month to his teacher1 thus enabling him in his early years to lay an educational foundation upon which he has continued to build4 ,as might be expected of any person possessing his native talent and industrious turn of mind1 he has successfully drawn upon every literary opportunity that has fallen in his way1 to increase and beautify his store of knowledge and wisdom4 ,he studied in ,talladega ,college1 entering that institution #ahge and leaving in #ahgi4 ,in #ahgi he was induced1 doubtless by denominational influences1 to enter ,selma ,university4 ,both as teacher and as preacher he has been a very busy man4 ,at different times he has been principal of the city schools of ,opelika and ,union ,springs1 and now he presides over the ,evergreen ,high ,school4 ,his most prominent pastorates have been the ,first ,church1 ,union ,springs1 and the ,bethel ,church1 ,evergreen4 ,for the latter church ,mr4 ,hawthorne is now completing a good church edifice4 ,in #ahgc he was baptized at ,pine ,apple by ,rev4 ,w4 ,allen4 ,in #ahhc he was ordained to the ministry in ,opelika by ,revs4 ,thomas ,glenn1 ,h4 ,clark1 ,n4 ,b4 ,robie1 ,d4 ,d4 7white71 and others4 ,in #ahhj he was wedded to ,miss ,laura ,e4 ,drake1 of ,opelika1 an affable lady1 by whom he has six children4 ,mr4 ,hawthorne is energetic1 sociable and full of work4 ,holloway1 ,rev4 ,w4 ,h41 who spent two years in the ,presbyterian ,theological ,school at ,tuscaloosa1 is preaching and teaching at ,thomas4 ,affable and industrious1 he is making friends and followers4 ,hunter1 ,rev4 ,henry1 of ,faunsdale1 son of ,reuben and ,abigail ,hunter1 is now 7,june1 #ahib7 about #gg years of age4 ,he was baptized by ,rev4 ,james ,caldwell since the close of the war1 and in #ahff he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry in a council of which the ,rev4 ,james ,caldwell was chairman4 ,speaking of his education ,brother ,hunter says3 8,by chance ,i learned to read the ,bible40 ,he is one of the pioneers of ,marengo county in the work of the colored ,baptists4 ,he is naturally talented1 is unassuming1 deeply pious1 and is known by his brethren as being sober1 upright and honorable4 ,he has property worth about #a1jjj4 ,he is quietly expecting a peaceable end to his earthly career1 and like ,abraham1 has his eyes upon another country where the wicked shall cease from troubling and the weary shall be at rest4 ,hutchins1 ,rev4 ,p4 ,s4 ,l41 of ,gallion1 son of ,reuben and ,sylvia ,hutchins1 was born ,october #ac1 #ahfb1 in ,barbour county1 ,alabama4 ,in #ahgi he was baptized into the ,eufaula ,baptist ,church by the ,rev4 ,jerry ,shorter4 ,he1 in youth1 was a person of observing1 active mind1 and hence by the time he came to early manhood he had fairly prepared himself for the position of school teacher4 ,he took the college course in ,selma ,university1 from which institution he graduated with the degree of ,a4 ,b4 in ,may1 #ahij4 ,on ,may the #cast1 of the same year1 he was publicly and officially set apart to the work of the gospel ministry1 ,revs4 ,m4 ,tyler1 ,c4 ,l4 ,puree1 ,c4 ,l4 ,fisher1 ,j4 ,q4 ,a4 ,wilhite1 ,r4 ,t4 ,pollard1 ,l4 ,j4 ,green1 ,a4 ,n4 ,mc,ewen and the writer1 officiating as presbytery4 ,at the time of this writing ,mr4 ,hutchins is pastor at ,gallion and also at ,newberne4 ,at both these points he has succeeded in leading his flocks to the erection of good church edifices4 ,he is full of energy and pluck as well as of literary aspiration4 ,like ,o',bryant and other rising men among us1 he is a moving man1 and has muscles as well as brains4 ,he is physically as well as mentally strong1 and so1 if wisdom1 prudence and ,providence shall continue to be his companions1 a long life1 a growing life1 a useful life1 an honorable life is to be his4 ,p4 ,s4--,since writing the above ,mr4 ,hutchins has been abundant in labors in building houses of worship at different points4 ,great physical strength is proving to be a very convenient instrumentality under the powers of a strong mind4 ,jackson1 ,rev4 ,a4 ,c41 the son of ,roderick and ,ellen ,jackson1 was born in ,pickens county1 ,alabama1 ,december #ac1 #ahdh4 ,he was baptized into the ,african ,baptist ,church1 ,tuscaloosa1 ,ala41 by the late ,rev4 ,prince ,murrell4 ,he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry at the request of the ,sixteenth ,street ,baptist ,church1 ,birmingham1 by ,revs4 ,j4 ,r4 ,capers 7one of the most worthy organizers of the ,alabama work71 ,henry ,wood and ,n4 ,g4 ,scurlock4 ,the writer first met ,brother ,jackson in ,mobile1 in #ahge1 in company with ,rev4 ,p4 ,murrell4 ,his ,birmingham work was crowned with success4 ,beside what he did in the matter of increasing the membership1 he laid at the hand of his successor in the pastorate of the ,sixteenth ,street ,church about #c1jjj worth of salable land and the present church site4 ,he is accepted by his brethren as being an honest1 earnest1 industrious1 studious man1 especially noted for his hospitality to his brethren4 ,beside the pastorate above mentioned1 he has been a builder and leader of other churches4 ,he is now president of the ,sunday ,school ,convention of the ,mt4 ,pilgrim ,association and chairman of the ,ministers' ,conference of ,birmingham4 ,he has had sore trials1 but in all his changes his love for ,jesus has been manifest to all4 ,jackson1 ,rev4 ,john ,w41 pastor of the ,first ,colored ,baptist ,church of ,eufaula1 was born at ,whitesville1 ,ga41 about thirty years ago4 ,educational ,advantages4--,he has enjoyed only such advantages as the free public schools of ,atlanta1 ,ga41 afforded him1 but because of his native talent and studious application to the study of books1 and his association with men of thought1 he is possessed of a fair education4 ,his unassuming manner and happy1 brotherly spirit win and hold for him the love of his brethren in the ministry as well as the tender1 confiding respect of his flock4 ,he was led to faith in ,christ in his sixteenth year4 ,in ,december1 #ahij1 he was installed into the work and office of the gospel ministry by a council1 in which ,revs4 ,w4 ,h4 ,tilman and ,e4 ,j4 ,fisher1 of ,atlanta1 ,ga41 officiated4 ,he was called to labor in ,alabama ,may1 #ahib4 ,the ,eufaula ,church1 of which he is pastor1 was organized about the year #ahfg1 and is therefore one among the oldest churches in the ,state4 ,this church began on the river bank in a little board shanty1 but they now worship in a nice large frame building on a main street of the city4 ,mr4 ,jackson follows in this pastorate ,revs4 ,j4 ,shorter1 ,j4 ,q4 ,a4 ,wilhite1 ,g4 ,w4 ,berry1 ,mr4 ,forbes1 and ,mr4 ,bassett2 and he feels gratified with the assurance that he leads a church from which have gone forth some of the best people in the country4 8,be thou strong1 therefore1 and show thyself a man40 ,jackson1 ,rev4 ,dennis1 of ,tuscumbia1 is an honest1 industrious man who has a large place in the love of his brethren4 ,james1 ,rev4 ,lewis ,d41 son of ,james and ,priscilla ,james1 was born in ,sumter county1 ,ala41 ,december #bd1 #ahei4 ,baptized by ,rev4 ,a4 ,gordon1 of ,gainesville1 ,ala41 in ,august1 #ahge4 ,had limited educational advantages in youth1 but has since his manhood increased his stock of information by study1 in which labor he has been aided by ,prof4 ,e4 ,d4 ,lord and ,dr4 ,a4 ,f4 ,owens1 of ,mobile1 and ,dr4 ,pettiford1 of ,birmingham4 ,he was ordained to take charge of the ,bethel ,church at ,warrior1 ,ala41 ,october1 #ahhh1 by ,revs4 ,a4 ,c4 ,jackson1 ,j4 ,w4 ,white1 ,a4 ,d4 ,jemison and ,w4 ,r4 ,pettiford1 ,d4 ,d4 ,his brethren of the ,mount ,pilgrim ,association have laid on him various positions of honor1 such as president of the ,sunday ,school ,convention1 district missionary1 etc4 ,james1 ,rev4 ,van ,b41 pastor at ,avondale1 is a brother of ,rev4 ,l4 ,d4 ,james4 ,he is a progressive1 industrious young man1 whose breast is filled with longings for a higher life for his people4 ,his preaching is characterized by thought rather than by emotion4 ,in all the interests of the devotion he shows himself substantially concerned4 ,johnson1 ,rev4 ,gabriel ,b41 of ,courtland1 ,ala41 son of ,beverly and ,sophia ,johnson1 was born in ,king ,george county1 ,va41 in #ahdi4 ,two years before the beginning of our civil war1 the subject of our sketch1 with three other children and his mother1 were brought to ,alabama as slaves4 ,he was led to seek ,christ in consequence of a revival conducted near ,courtland by ,revs4 ,f4 ,bowman and ,s4 ,watkins4 ,in #ahfg1 in ,february1 he was baptized by a white brother4 ,shortly after his baptism1 he began to speak for ,jesus in the public meetings under the authority of a license from his church4 ,in #ahgc he was solemnly set apart to the sacred office of the gospel ministry1 ,revs4 ,g4 ,garrett1 ,j4 ,belle1 ,b4 ,swope and ,c4 ,s4 ,gibson officiating1 after which he was called to the pastoral charge of the ,courtland ,church1 in which capacity he now serves4 ,his first marriage was to ,miss ,millie ,davis1 daughter of ,harry and ,susan ,davis4 ,as the fruit of this marriage1 there were seven children born to him1 four of whom still live4 ,in #ahhg1 and some time after death had robbed him of this good woman1 he was wedded to ,miss ,mariah ,jarman1 daughter of ,john and ,s4 ,jarman1 of ,leighton1 ,ala4 ,he has had but poor educational advantages1 but has used to considerable effect such as have come within his reach4 ,he has had some access to the free public schools and a few months in the ,roger ,williams ,university1 ,nashville1 ,tenn4 ,he has been ,sunday ,school missionary under the joint appointment of the ,muscle ,shoals ,association and the ,american ,baptist ,publication ,society1 has for several sessions assisted ,prof4 ,h4 ,h4 ,stewart in the ,courtland public school1 and is at present the moderator of the ,muscle ,shoals ,association4 ,he has the confidence and love of his brethren1 and will doubtless ascend into still greater things4 ,being physically strong1 he will be a young man for years to come4 ,his kind manner and polite disposition readily commend him to the favor of all persons who are inclined to be friendly1 and hence a host of friends follow him with good wishes4 ,johnson1 ,rev4 ,daniel1 ,oakland1 ,lauderdale county1 ,ala41 son of ,lewis and ,martha ,johnson1 was born near ,florence1 ,ala41 ,november #aa1 #ahdd4 ,baptized by ,rev4 ,h4 ,beckwith in #ahgb4 ,ordained by ,rev4 ,h4 ,beckwith1 ,thos4 ,bruhes and ,a4 ,davis1 in ,january1 #ahhj4 ,brother ,johnson has been pastor of ,zion ,no4 #a for some time past and is a cheerful supporter of all the general enterprises of the denomination4 ,johnson1 ,rev4 ,richard1 pastor of ,st4 ,james ,church1 ,birmingham1 is one of our worthy pioneers1 in the ,macon county churches4 ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,j4 ,h4 ,eason1 ,a4 ,b41 ,professor in ,selma ,university4 ,jones1 ,rev4 ,c4 ,p41 pastor ,tabernacle ,church1 ,selma1 hails from ,arkansas4 ,we have nothing of his history4 ,he comes to us highly recommended by those who knew him best1 and so far he is making an excellent impression in his praise4 ,beside his moral worth and fine intellectual talents he has other personal graces very rarely seen4 ,the writer loves especially his earnest devotion to his sacred calling4 ,he is of ,georgia nativity1 is about #bg years of age and is a good scholar4 ,he has been in ,alabama only three months4 ,what he has accomplished in books is proof that he is a man of studious habits4 ,p4 ,s4--,since the above was written ,brother ,jones has gone to ,mississippi1 forcing from ,alabama ,baptists an acknowledgment of his exalted piety1 child-like faith1 sound sense and superior pulpit power4 ,brother ,jones is now in ,mississippi1 still growing in grace and popularity4 ,jones1 ,rev4 ,silas1 of ,mt4 ,meigs1 ,montgomery county1 son of ,jupiter and ,caroline ,jones1 was born ,may #a1 #ahdg4 ,he was baptized into ,elam ,church1 ,may #a1 #ahff1 by ,rev4 ,john ,holmes1 7white74 ,was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry ,may #bi1 #ahgj1 under the auspices of the white ,baptist ,church1 of ,wetumpka1 ,ala41 by ,revs4 ,a4 ,carleton1 ,j4 ,cole and ,thomas ,smith4 ,the writer first met ,brother ,jones in ,mobile in #ahge--;has been with him in his pastorates at ,wetumpka1 at ,sandy ,ridge1 at ,mt4 ,meigs and at ,calhoun4 ,he did not learn the alphabet until after he was about #ah years of age1 and hence his very manly struggles for a knowledge of books have not been attended with the perfection which comes of early training4 ,but he is a man of natural ability and rare tact1 and what he knows is most thoroughly utilized4 ,his home ,christianity includes a system of regular ,bible study for children as well as for hired help4 ,he is an exemplary pastor4 ,he is an industrious ,bible student and preaches the truth with telling effect4 ,his urbanity and other elements of personal magnetism bind his people about him with strongest cords of confidence and affection4 ,no one man has done more for the education of his people than he1 as the schools at ,mt4 ,meigs and ,calhoun must show4 ,brother ,jones is still young and strong and promises a long life4 ,he has good property4 ,his family does him honor4 ,he is a strong man and coming days will give him the honors due him as a man great in service for home and country4 ,jones1 ,rev4 ,pope1 of ,russellville1 was born near ,tuscumbia1 ,ala41 ,june #ae1 #ahci4 ,he was baptized some time between #ahfb and #ahff1 and was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry in #ahfi by ,revs4 ,joseph ,shackelford1 ,d4 ,d4 7white71 and ,w4 ,e4 ,northcross4 ,brother ,jones was in many respects a very remarkable man--no man in the ,muscle ,shoals ,association1 no man in ,northern ,alabama1 had so much power over the masses of the ministry and the great body of the laity as he4 ,he was an executive man and a natural magnet1 and men gathered about him and cheerfully submitted themselves to the sway of his opinions4 ,he was as affable as he was firm1 as joyous as he was earnest4 ,he peaceably passed from this life in #ahhh4 ,jones1 ,rev4 ,wm4 ,b41 of ,demopolis1 was born in #ahdg in ,marengo county1 ,ala4 ,was baptized ,june #af1 #ahfg1 by ,rev4 ,john ,scott4 ,he has accomplished some work in the churches4 ,kennedy1 ,rev4 ,f4 ,r41 of ,columbiana1 was born ,december #bj1 #ahfd1 in this ,state4 ,he was baptized at ,calera by the ,rev4 ,henry ,clay in #ahha1 and in #ahhf he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by ,revs4 ,p4 ,fancher and ,john ,tranholm4 ,mr4 ,kennedy at the age of #ah did not know his letters1 but perceiving at an early age the value of book learning he resolved at the time named to attain to some knowledge on this line4 ,he has availed himself of such facilities and opportunities as have fallen in his way1 and in consequence he now reads and writes fairly well4 ,no doubt much of his advancement and general success are due to the knowledge1 aspiration and persistence of ,mrs4 ,kennedy1 whose educational advantages have been superior to her husband's4 ,brother ,kennedy has been pastor in his own town1 in ,birmingham1 at ,calera1 and now he preaches in ,anniston4 ,kennedy1 ,rev4 ,samuel1 once pastor ,union ,church1 ,mobile1 is one of those unassuming1 modest1 friendly men whose heart pours forth in kindness upon everybody4 ,like many others his chief misfortune is that he bears the marks which declare his want of early school advantages4 ,however1 he deserves praise for many good qualities and commendable labors4 ,king1 ,rev4 ,boling1 of ,leighton1 ,ala41 was born in ,orange county1 ,va41 ,august1 #ahcf4 ,he was converted to faith in ,christ under the ministry of ,rev4 ,henry ,bynum1 by whom1 aided by ,dr4 ,shackleford1 he was baptized into the ,mt4 ,pleasant ,baptist ,church near ,leighton4 ,in #ahfh1 in same church and by the same brethren1 he was solemnly set apart to the work of the gospel ministry4 ,though he never attended school he can read and write1 and is a natural leader4 ,he is pastor of some of the largest churches in the ,muscle ,shoals ,association4 ,he is an industrious1 honorable man and has accumulated about #a1gjj worth of real estate4 ,he is one of the pioneers of the work in this section of ,alabama4 ,he is still of youthful vigor and leads in the ,sunday ,school the same as in the church4 ,koyton1 ,prof4 ,abner ,c41 of ,tuscaloosa1 son of ,henry and ,susan ,koyton1 was born in ,marietta1 ,ga41 but was reared in ,summerfield1 ,ala4 ,mr4 ,koyton graduated from the ,state ,normal ,school1 ,marion1 ,ala41 in #ahhj1 and delivered the first annual address to the alumni of this institution4 ,under his principalship1 and on his plans1 so the writer is informed1 the city schools 7colored7 of ,tuscaloosa began to operate under their present graded system4 ,he is now just inaugurating the ,tuscaloosa ,baptist ,academy4 ,he is young1 but studious and progressive4 ,his youth is dignified by his gravity and piety4 ,lawson1 ,rev4 ,a4 ,j41 of ,camden1 son of ,mr4 ,a4 and ,mrs4 ,julia ,lawson1 is doing a good work at ,camden4 ,his chief educational advantages have come of the ,camden schools1 and what he has accomplished in the way of letters1 is evidence of his vigilance and application with reference to the opportunities which came to his hand4 ,he was baptized by ,rev4 ,david ,small1 of ,clark county1 in #ahhf1 two years after which time he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry at ,camden by order of the ,camden ,church1 which was then under the pastoral care of ,rev4 ,j4 ,w4 ,white4 ,his labors are well spoken of by his brethren4 ,lawson1 ,rev4 ,a41 of ,union ,springs1 the pastor of ,mount ,pleasant ,church1 now about #de years of age1 is one of the leading men of the 8,old ,pine ,grove ,association40 ,like most of the men of his time1 his education has been hindered4 ,however1 he is a very clear-headed man and1 having a large following1 has done much good in ,bullock county4 ,leavens1 ,rev4 ,charles1 the man who led to the erection of the brick structure in which the ,st4 ,louis ,street ,church now worships1 was of ,virginia nativity1 and was born about #ahje4 ,the writer is of the opinion that no man in ,alabama did so much in pioneer days to organize the ,negro ,baptists in the ,state as ,mr4 ,leavens4 ,at the close of the war he was not ordained1 but was the most enterprising1 pushing1 sanguine and influential man in his church4 ,naturally1 therefore1 the work of guiding the flock fell upon his shoulders4 ,as he could not get ordination of his white brethren1 he sought it in ,new ,orleans4 ,finding himself now possessed with the commission of a gospel minister1 he sought to touch and commission men for the other cities and towns of the ,state4 ,the ,rev4 ,philip ,gambrell was ordained about the same time4 ,calling in this man's services and assistance1 ,mr4 ,leavens ordained ,messrs4 ,p4 ,murrell1 of ,tuscaloosa2 ,j4 ,bleavens1 of ,selma2 ,james ,caldwell1 of ,demopolis2 the writer1 and a great company of others1 who went out into the various sections of the ,state to organize the people into churches4 ,of course1 as might have been expected1 he sometimes put out the wrong man1 but it was a time to do and dare4 ,his excuse for hasty action was3 8,this is a peculiar time whose peculiar circumstances call for bold methods40 ,his chief questions to applicants were3 8,can you and do you read the ,bible8 ,do you believe it1 pray about it1 and practice its teachings8 ,are you a good1 whole ,baptist8 ,are you a republican80 ,leach1 ,rev4 ,james1 of ,birmingham1 son of ,alfred and ,elizabeth ,leach1 was born ,july #af1 #ahcb1 in ,marengo county1 ,ala4 ,in #ahdf he was baptized by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,fox1 of ,uniontown1 and on ,november #bf1 #ahfg1 in the ,african ,baptist ,church of ,tuscaloosa1 he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by ,revs4 ,p4 ,murrell1 ,p4 ,bowler and ,james ,caldwell4 ,in #ahee he was married to ,miss ,mary ,martin4 ,he was once pastor of the ,african ,baptist ,church1 ,tuscaloosa1 and one time presided over the ,bethlehem ,association 7organized in #ahgg7 as moderator4 ,mr4 ,leach has held various pastorates1 is a hospitable man1 and has a very pleasant family4 ,the writer has often found--when weary and sick--a pleasing and invigorating refuge within the quiet home of these good people4 ,leftwich1 ,john ,c41 of ,montgomery1 once editor and now manager of the ,baptist ,leader1 is noted especially for energy and independence4 ,he is1 at the time of this writing1 temperance lecturer for the ,state of ,alabama under the 8,national ,temperance ,society40 ,doubtless he inherits his push and ambition from his father1 who was at one time a member of the ,alabama legislature4 ,he is quite a young man1 and if wisdom shall rule over his purposes and plans in years to come1 he will write himself upon the men and the occasions of future years4 ,lewis1 ,rev4 ,c41 is pastor of ,macedonia ,church1 ,birmingham4 ,he appears ready for any good word and work4 ,looney1 ,rev4 ,j4 ,t41 of ,fayetteville1 ,talladega county1 was born in ,coosa county1 ,alabama1 ,may #b1 #ahdg4 ,he was baptized into the ,fayetteville ,church by ,rev4 ,berry ,ware in #ahfg1 and in #ahhe he was set apart to the work of the ministry by ,rev4 ,h4 ,morris and others4 ,at the time of this writing ,mr4 ,looney is pastor at ,alpine4 ,he is a quiet and unassuming man1 ever friendly to education and missions1 and hospitable toward his brethren4 ,lofton1 ,rev4 ,j4 ,b41 is pastor at ,smithfield1 near ,birmingham4 ,lovelady1 ,rev4 ,c4 ,l41 of ,hollywood1 ,jackson county1 is noted among his brethren for his interest in missions and education4 ,he followed ,rev4 ,lewis ,roach in the moderatorship of the ,mud ,creek ,association4 ,he helps in the building of churches1 and is a liberal supporter of schools4 ,low1 ,rev4 ,green1 of ,livingston1 is one of the most matter-of-fact sort of men with whom the writer has ever had any business4 ,no man can beat him wearing his whole heart right on his face4 ,he is uncovered1 outspoken and fearless1 and yet all seems so natural1 so honest and so kind1 until what would otherwise appear hard and ungenial1 is really enjoyable4 ,mr4 ,low is among the leaders of the ,bethlehem ,association4 ,illustration3 ,miss ,a4 ,l4 ,bowman1 ,missionary1 ,birmingham1 ,ala4 ,mc,alpine1 ,rev4 ,w4 ,h41 at present teacher of ,ministers' and ,deacons' ,institute1 under the appointment of the ,southern ,baptist ,mission ,board1 was born in ,buckingham county1 ,virginia1 ,june1 #ahdg4 ,at the age of three years1 he1 his mother and a younger brother were brought to this state by a 8,negro speculator10 who sold them to a ,rev4 ,robert ,mc,alpine1 of ,coosa county4 ,at the age of #h years and on the occasion of the death of this ,presbyterian minister1 he became the property 787 of ,dr4 ,mc,alpine1 with whom he remained till the close of the war4 ,in this family he was the nurse of the white children for about ten years4 ,as ,mrs4 ,dr4 ,mc,alpine was very anxious and cautious as to the quality of the first moulding influences touching the childhood of her children1 and as the schools around were hardly up to her ideal1 she had her children instructed at home4 ,as the nurse's position placed him and kept him in constant association with the children1 and as he was possessed of a literary turn of mind1 he soon began to imbibe a knowledge of letters1 advancing into reading1 writing1 grammar1 geography and arithmetic4 ,from #ahee to #ahgd he saw nothing of his mother1 and for sixteen years of this time did not know where she was4 ,naturally this incident started a train of serious reflections touching the facts and hopes of human life4 ,about the year #ahfd or #ahfe he was converted to ,christianity and some time after was baptized into the ,talladega ,church 7white7 by his friend1 ,dr4 ,renfroe4 ,at the close of the war ,mr4 ,mc,alpine first worked at the carpenters' trade1 which he left for school teaching4 ,in the winter of #ahff he entered the ,talladega ,college1 supporting himself by laboring during the morning and evening hours--before the opening and after the close of the school4 ,in #ahgc he severed his connection with this institution1 having been aroused to undertake the establishment of a similar institution for his own denomination4 ,in #ahga he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry1 and accepted a call to the pastorate of the ,mt4 ,canaan ,baptist ,church1 ,talladega1 which he resigned in #ahge in order to give his whole time to his school project4 ,to no man in ,alabama has been committed trusts more varied and more weighty4 ,while connected with the ,talladega ,college he occupied the position of ,state canvasser under the appointment of ,mr4 ,cravath4 ,he has been pastor at ,talladega1 ,jacksonville1 ,marion and ,anniston1 and president of ,selma ,university4 ,his special excellence is not of that mental style which gives birth to fine psychological and metaphysical discernments and distinctiveness3 it is that sort of mental something which strikes with broad side and ponderous weight4 ,the breadth of his rear head would seem to indicate that all his faculties are driven forward by a force that starts from a broad base4 ,the writer first met ,dr4 ,mc,alpine in ,mobile1 in ,november1 #ahgd1 the year following that in which he brought forward1 at the ,tuscaloosa session of the ,convention1 his school idea4 ,my first impression of him was that he was a man of special mission1 and ,i immediately sympathized with him and with the school project1 throwing myself fully into line with his plans4 ,in referring to his childhood life1 and while talking with reference to the power of secret prayer1 he once remarked to the writer3 8,upon one occasion1 though without my knowledge1 ,dr4 ,mc,alpine had resolved to punish me for a trivial matter on my part which had caused him some displeasure4 ,i had gone to feed the horses1 and in the crib ,i was on my knees at prayer4 ,the doctor had followed me with his whip4 ,i was not aware of his presence or purpose1 and hence as he did not speak ,i got through with my prayer and fed my horse and returned to the house4 ,i learned afterward that my prayer had subdued him1 and that he had expressed himself as being ashamed of his purpose40 ,alluding once to some mistakes he had made1 he observed3 8,we grow wiser as we grow older40 ,he has been happily married twice4 ,by his last wife he has a large family of beautiful and promising children4 ,the ,rivers family1 into which he married1 are a people of very sterling qualities1 and no doubt these happy associations have conduced to his success in all regards4 ,the act of the ,university in conferring upon him the honorary title of ,d4 ,d4 is evidence of the high esteem in which he is held by the trustees and faculty of the school4 ,he is now theological instructor in the school and is supported by the ,southern ,board4 ,mc,alpine1 ,f4 ,percy1 son of ,j4 ,d4 and ,jane ,mc,alpine1 was born ,august #a1 #ahfe1 in ,forkland1 ,ala4 ,he entered the world amid that good heritage which can come only of the exemplary life of parents4 ,though his early life was spent on the farm1 his youthful days were blessed with some educational facilities1 which his discerning1 appreciative mind turned to good advantage4 ,after completing primary grades in his home schools1 he1 against the wish of his mother and protest of brothers1 entered the ,state ,normal ,school at ,marion1 ,ala41 with only #ae to begin the course of study prescribed4 ,the next year he entered ,selma ,university1 studying during the school session and teaching in summer till #ahhh1 when his mother1 his only support since the death of his father1 fell asleep4 ,he says of this time of struggle3 8,i owe a lasting debt of gratitude to ,president ,purce1 who never left me without an encouragement which it was possible for him to bestow40 ,in #ahij while in his junior college year1 financial straits forced him to give up study and go out to work4 ,applying for the principalship of the ,bessemer ,city ,school1 he made an almost perfect mark in his examination and obtained the position4 ,while in this capacity1 aided by ,mr4 ,j4 ,c4 ,barker1 he edited a paper known as 8,the ,marvel ,age40 ,in #ahic1 he and ,mr4 ,barker operated a bookstore4 ,the writer knows but few young men who equal ,mr4 ,mc,alpine in modesty1 industry1 courage1 push and beauty of moral character4 ,an honorable future awaits him1 and of friends he shall have many4 ,talented and studious1 he must still advance in scholarship4 ,he became a member of the ,missionary ,baptist ,church in #ahhe1 and lives according to his profession4 ,he expects to complete his university course in #ahif4 ,mc,ewen1 ,rev4 ,a4 ,n41 pastor of ,franklin ,street ,church1 ,mobile1 lately editor of the ,baptist ,leader1 is a native of the ,state of ,mississippi1 where he was born ,april1 #ahdi4 ,when he was about #ah years of age he went to ,nashville1 ,tenn41 in search of better things than those to which slavery had introduced him4 ,here he entered the ,roger ,williams ,university1 remaining only a very short while4 ,here also he found and wedded a wife4 ,being controlled by industry and economy he soon saved enough from his small wages to purchase a horse and wagon4 ,this was the first of a series of financial successes by means of which he soon rose above poverty and want into comfortable circumstances for himself and family4 ,while attending the services of ,mt4 ,zion ,church in ,nashville in #ahgj he was led to faith in ,christ which he professed by receiving baptism4 ,shortly after he began religious work1 and in #ahgf he was ordained to take charge of the pastorate at ,tullahoma1 ,tenn4 ,five or six years after this he came to ,alabama to take charge of the ,dexter ,avenue ,church4 ,mr4 ,mc,ewen1 since his entrance into ,alabama1 has been intimately connected with all our state operations1 educational and missionary1 and no man among us has been more successful as a church financier4 ,he has bestowed special care upon the education of his children1 all of whom he has reared for the most part without their mother's aid1 as she died when they were young4 ,the ,dexter ,avenue ,church building was constructed under his leadership4 ,mc,call1 ,rev4 ,e4 ,a41 at present pastor in ,columbus1 ,ga41 the son of ,rev4 ,h4 ,a4 ,mc,call1 was born ,may #ae1 #ahee1 in ,russell county1 ,alabama4 ,in #ahgb he was baptized into the ,hawkinsville ,baptist ,church by the hands of his father4 ,in ,september1 in the twentieth year of his age1 he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by ,revs4 ,a4 ,gachet1 ,s4 ,fantroy1 ,j4 ,daniel1 ,j4 ,h4 ,davis and ,h4 ,a4 ,mc,call4 ,it will be seen that he entered the sacred office at a very early age--at an age rather soon in most cases--rather early for the good of the minister as well as for the good of the people and the cause4 ,but though in youth he was possessed of very poor educational advantages1 by talent1 push1 courage1 ambition1 observation and application to books1 he has made surprising advances4 ,he is strictly a self-made man4 ,he speaks with ease and performs well on the organ4 ,he has had a wide range of operation1 having been pastor at different times of eleven different churches1 some of them equaling the best pastorates in the country4 ,among them the church at ,union ,springs may be mentioned4 ,no man in ,alabama is more companionable than he4 ,mc,cord1 ,rev4 ,c41 of ,selma1 was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by the ,st4 ,phillip ,street ,church while the writer was pastor in #ahhd4 ,he started the study of books late in life1 but by associating with men of advanced ideas and close application to books he is now considerably ahead of the masses of the ministry4 ,he is a sober1 judicious man1 peaceable and ever ready for work4 ,maddox1 ,rev4 ,j4 ,d41 the son of ,daniel and ,tabitha ,maddox1 was born in ,barbour county1 ,ala41 near ,midway1 in #ahed4 ,his father was sold away from him when he was only three days old1 and his mother when he was three years old1 and hence he came up without knowing anything either of father or mother4 ,this friendless condition early impressed him with the desire to obtain the friendship of ,god1 which in his eleventh year1 he sought and found4 ,he was baptized into the ,rama ,church by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,van,hoose 7white7 during the same year4 ,in his seventeenth year1 a desire to read books came into his mind4 ,by good fortune1 he came into possession of #be cents which he invested in a 8blue back speller40 ,in order that his book and purpose might not come to the notice of the white people he decided that he would tear out and learn one leaf at the time4 ,thus he began to spell1 aided by a more fortunate fellow slave4 ,the widow of a ,baptist minister encouraged him with the statement that if he could read she would give him a hymn book and a ,bible4 ,on one ,sabbath he learned the ,ten ,commandments4 ,doubtless he owes much of his success to his excellent wife1 who is no less enterprising than she is devout and faithful4 ,he said to the writer3 8,my wife makes me study40 ,in #ahgi at the call of the ,friendship ,baptist ,church of ,barbour county1 he was set apart to the ministry by ,revs4 ,j4 ,shorter1 ,a4 ,gachet and ,e4 ,alexander4 ,brother ,maddox is a good man1 a faithful preacher1 and a successful builder--a leading man in the ,eufaula ,association1 and is as gentle as a woman1 and simple hearted as a child4 ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,m4 ,tyler1 ,d4 ,d41 ,lowndesboro1 ,ala4 ,maderson1 ,rev4 ,william1 of ,greensboro1 was born in ,virginia in #ahdi1 and came to ,alabama in #ahff4 ,in the fall of #ahgb he was baptized into the ,second ,baptist ,church at ,marion1 ,ala41 and in the following year began to enter upon the work of the ministry1 speaking in public as he had opportunity4 ,while the ,convention was in session in ,marion in #ahhj1 the hands of ordination were laid upon his head by order of the ,marion ,church1 and by the same presbytery that ordained ,dr4 ,pettiford4 ,he spent some time in study in the ,selma ,university1 under the presidency of the late ,rev4 ,harry ,woodsmall4 ,mr4 ,maderson is a man of fine natural gifts which1 considering his early1 meagre advantages1 have been well developed4 ,he is remarkably capacitated for imbibing what is pure and elevating in good men and good books4 ,he is dearly beloved no less for his stainless character than for his refinement and wisdom4 ,after serving various other important pastorates1 he was called to the pulpit of the ,salem ,church at ,greensboro1 where he now serves with success1 greatly increasing the membership and purchasing a neat parsonage4 ,for the past seven or eight years he has been the moderator of the ,uniontown ,association--the largest ,association in the ,state4 ,should he continue as he has begun1 coming years must increase his power with ,god and man4 ,merrell1 ,rev4 ,mason ,c41 of ,fort ,deposit1 son of ,m4 ,c4 and ,harriet ,merrell1 was born in ,dallas county1 ,ala41 ,june #bf1 #ahdi4 ,as his parents were poor1 he was apprenticed to the ,rev4 ,h4 ,talbird1 ,d4 ,d41 of said county1 who sent him to the schools of the neighborhood4 ,by such means he was early placed in conditions where he was able to lay the foundation of a liberal ,english education4 ,much of ,mr4 ,merrell's time for many years has been spent in teaching in the ,state schools4 ,the money thus earned has been a supplement to the meagre support given him by the small churches of which he is the efficient pastor4 ,he was baptized into the fellowship of the ,carlowville ,church ,october1 #ahfg1 by the hands of his benefactor4 ,in #ahgi he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry in the city of ,montgomery1 ,revs4 ,j4 ,a4 ,foster1 ,w4 ,j4 ,stevens1 ,wm4 ,jinkins and ,r4 ,aarons officiating as presbytery4 ,brother ,merrell is a sociable1 genial companion1 a careful speaker1 an earnest ,christian1 and a firm believer in missions and education4 ,on all the moral questions of the times he is as straight as a shingle4 ,he1 by his various pastorates1 is associated with the ,alabama ,district and the ,union ,associations1 and in both bodies he is held in high esteem by all the thoughtful and pious persons4 ,indeed1 he is respected by all who know him1 white and black4 ,because of his quietness and sunshine1 as well as for his musical talent and skill1 he is in special demand at our annual and extra meetings4 ,murrell1 ,rev4 ,prince4--,rev4 ,prince ,murrell was born in ,savannah1 ,ga41 ,january #a1 #ahag4 ,his mother1 who descended of a ,congo prince1 was born in ,providence1 ,r4 ,i4 ,his father was the son of an ,englishman1 of the name of ,murrell4 ,some of his youthful years were spent with his parents in ,south ,carolina4 ,in the year #ahch1 his mother with seven children1 he being the youngest1 moved to ,tuscaloosa1 ,ala4 ,at this time no member of the family knew anything of the ,christian life4 ,in #ahci his mother was baptized1 which incident excited such serious impressions in her son as resulted in his baptism in ,august1 #ahdb4 ,about this time he began to speak and exhort as he had opportunity4 ,at the close of the war he had been a member of the ,tuscaloosa ,church 7white7 about ten years1 and was the only colored ,baptist preacher in ,tuscaloosa4 ,this brother has had a rather remarkable career4 ,in the year #ahee he bought his freedom1 and in #ahef started to ,liberia1 ,africa1 going as far as ,savannah1 ,ga4 ,his aspiration for liberty1 his unaided toiling for the mastery of letters and books1 his tact and perseverance in organizing the colored ,baptists of his section into churches and associations1 and his success in accumulating property with many other things1 mark him as no ordinary man4 ,his marriage to ,miss ,mary ,drisdell in the year #ahdb1 was no doubt largely conducive to his energy and success1 for she--even up into old age--was a woman of strength and industry4 ,the first colored school ever taught in ,tuscaloosa was taught by him1 and taught at a time when to teach a colored school was to put one's life at the muzzle of the shot gun4 ,touching this phase of work1 he related to the writer the following stories3 8,when we were just set at liberty ,i went to a white ,baptist who had in times of slavery shown himself friendly toward black people1 and said1 #8,mr4 ,s----1 we need a school teacher1 can't we secure you8' ,he replied1 #8,do you think ,i would disgrace myself by teaching a negro school8 ,besides this1 it would be only throwing into the waste my time1 my talent and my strength4 ,i might as well drive into a room a drove of sheep or a herd of swine1 and put books before them as to put books before kinky-headed nigger children4' 8,on one occasion1 two white men who had come into town to bring a prisoner1 walked into my school room with their ropes and chains in hand1 and teacher and school1 feeling sure that the ropes and chains were for their necks1 were so dismayed as to excite the pity of the dreaded visitors1 and they sought to remove our fears and to encourage us to continue on in our good way40 ,speaking of the organization of colored churches in the ,south1 he remarked to the writer3 8,i was in ,savannah when the white people were discussing the propriety of organizing colored churches40 ,he opened the first ,sunday ,school for colored people in the city of ,tuscaloosa the first ,sunday in ,december1 #ahff4 ,he claimed to owe most of his success in the study of divine truth to the ,rev4 ,chas4 ,manly4 ,on ,july #a he organized the ,african ,baptist ,church in ,tuscaloosa with #be members4 ,as he did not begin reading till he was #bb years old he was not faultless in his mastery of the ,english language1 but was a good speaker1 self-possessed and ready in words4 ,mr4 ,murrell was one of the leading fathers of the ,alabama work4 ,his children were a pride to him in his old age4 ,in the last years of his life he spoke tenderly of his old mistress who encouraged him to learn to read1 and of his maiden mistress1 who in many ways saved him from oppression and aided him in securing his liberty4 ,since the above sketch was commenced ,mr4 ,murrell and his good wife have exchanged the cross for the crown4 ,nichols1 ,rev4 ,james1 of ,greenville1 moderator and missionary of the ,union ,association1 was born in ,virginia ,may #aj1 #ahdb1 and was brought to ,alabama ,september1 #ahef1 locating at ,selma1 where he joined the church and was baptized by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,mc,craw1 who was then pastor both of the colored and of the white churches of that city4 ,at this time1 as the dates will show1 he was a young man4 ,it was in this same church and city that he began the work of the ministry during the days of slavery4 ,his first marriage was to ,miss ,emma ,allison1 of ,dallas county4 ,the fruit of this marriage was two sons and one daughter1 neither of whom is now living4 ,his present wife has two living children4 ,he has an humble home of his own4 ,mr4 ,nichols is a man of energy1 industry and decision of character2 he has opinions and has the courage to express them4 ,no man has any trouble in times of controversy to locate him1 and yet in his rulings as presiding officer of the above named association1 the writer has seen evidences of prudence and commendable flexibility4 ,his early life was robbed of literary environments1 and hence he is not an extensive reader of books2 but his knowledge of things is superior to many whose advantages have been far better than his have been4 ,he says that he knew absolutely nothing of letters till since the close of the war1 when he had a little opportunity to attend night school at ,uniontown4 ,he was ordained in #ahgc at ,georgiana1 ,butler county1 by ,revs4 ,dan ,shepard1 ,nelson ,briggs1 ,jesse ,holens and others1 and he has done a good work in his section4 ,northcross1 ,rev4 ,w4 ,e41 of ,tuscumbia1 ,colbert county1 was born in ,colbert county1 ,ala41 in #ahdj1 and ordained to the gospel ministry in #ahfg by ,rev4 ,mr4 ,slater 7white7 and ,rev4 ,henry ,bynum4 ,mr4 ,northcross is strictly a pioneer4 ,he1 ,rev4 ,stephen ,coleman and ,rev4 ,henry ,bynum1 aided by ,dr4 ,joseph ,shackleford 7white7 laid down the foundation stones in ,morgan1 ,franklin1 ,colbert1 ,lauderdale and ,lawrence counties4 ,he is a peculiar man4 ,he is a man of very positive nature--with him it is yea and amen4 ,to those who do not know him as well as to those who vacillate and pretend1 his sternness is repelling4 ,but behind and below external appearances there is a heart that is as tender as it is brave1 and as kind as it is firm4 ,except a little time spent in the ,roger ,williams ,university1 he has had no school advantages1 but he reads and writes fairly well4 ,the ,tuscumbia1 ,barton and ,sheffield churches were built up under his labors4 ,in the formation of the ,muscle ,shoals ,association at ,tuscumbia in #ahfi1 he was one of the leading spirits4 ,he relates the following incidents3 8,before the close of the war ,i was captured by the ,federal troops and carried to ,decatur1 where ,i joined their army4 ,as ,i had a crippled foot ,i was allowed to remain with the commissary department4 ,while we were camped at ,athens1 ,general ,forest came upon us and defeated1 captured and killed until we were almost literally wiped out of existence4 ,i had been kind to some little white children by which ,i had won their love and1 of course1 the love of their parents4 ,therefore1 in the time of danger1 ,i rushed to this house1 and the good people hid me and changed my clothes4 ,hence when ,i was found1 ,i was taken for one of the gentleman's slaves4 ,when ,i was permitted by the man to try to return to ,tuscumbia and had gone some distance1 ,i was caught by deserters from the ,southern army1 who voted to shoot me4 ,they bound me and kept me over night1 intending to do away with me the next day4 ,it was in a lonely desert on the ,tennessee river4 ,i could not sleep1 and so all night ,i prayed to ,god1 and all night the wives of the men prayed for 8the poor nigger0--prayed to their cruel husbands4 ,their cries and tears prevailed1 and ,i was robbed and let go after ,i had vowed not to reveal their whereabouts4 ,i left loving ,god and believing in his faithfulness to his people as ,i had never done before40 ,for years ,mr4 ,northcross has been the trusted treasurer of the ,muscle ,shoals ,association4 ,he is the pastor of the largest church1 and has the best edifice1 in northern ,alabama4 ,oden1 ,rev4 ,m4 ,c4 ,b41 of ,sylacauga1 was born in ,charleston1 ,s4 ,c41 ,december #bd1 #ahci4 ,he was baptized by ,rev4 ,j4 ,j4 ,d4 ,renfroe1 ,d4 ,d41 in ,september1 #ahfe1 and in #ahgc he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry1 ,rev4 ,w4 ,wilks1 and others1 officiating as presbytery4 ,he1 in speaking of the rise of the work in this section1 says3 8,i came from ,south ,carolina in #aheh1 a ,methodist4 ,there were nineteen or twenty other slaves on our place beside myself4 ,i1 and one other1 professed to be ,christians4 ,the master of the place permitted us to hold prayer services1 and allowed the slaves of his kin people to attend4 ,the ,lord blessed these meetings and at the close of the war this humble beginning was ready to unfold into the ,harpersville ,church4 ,at the close of the war1 ,i began to teach night and ,sunday ,schools1 and thus introduced the study of letters1 though in the ,sunday ,school as well as in the night school1 we had nothing but the #8blue back speller4'0 ,brother ,oden is an honorable1 outspoken1 industrious1 prosperous man1 whose hospitality is known far and wide4 ,his home has often been an asylum of rest to the writer1 as well as to other missionaries of ,alabama of all denominations4 ,illustration3 ,mrs4 ,rebecca ,pitts1 ,member ,board of ,trustees ,woman's ,state ,convention1 ,uniontown1 ,ala4 ,o',bryant1 ,rev4 ,l4 ,f41 of ,eufaula1 the son of ,frederick and ,rose ,o',bryant1 was born on the ,dent plantation in ,barbour county1 ,ala41 in the year #ahfj4 ,in #ahgi he was converted to the faith of the gospel under the preaching of ,rev4 ,jerry ,shorter1 and was baptized into the ,pleasant ,grove ,baptist ,church4 ,at the call of the above named church1 he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry in #ahhe by ,revs4 ,j4 ,q4 ,a4 ,wilhite1 ,a4 ,gachet1 ,j4 ,d4 ,maddox1 ,e4 ,may and ,j4 ,a4 ,alston1 of ,arkansas4 ,notwithstanding his educational advantages have been very meagre1 he has1 by constant study and observation1 advanced to a fair knowledge of books4 ,he is a loving husband1 a successful pastor1 a strong preacher1 a genial associate1 and carries sunshine everywhere4 ,the writer was associated with him for some weeks in the institute work at ,eufaula1 and was truly delighted with his urbanity and innocent wit4 ,he is a young man of hopeful prospects--if his present wise course should continue to the end4 ,his father before him is a ,baptist minister1 whose life is held in high esteem1 and hence the subject of this sketch comes into his public career having his own excellent personal graces savored by the good name of his revered ancestor4 ,owens1 ,rev4 ,a4 ,j41 of ,moulton1 is an ex-student of ,selma ,university2 he is an agreeable companion1 a kind father1 an orderly thinker and a forcible preacher4 ,the writer has greatly enjoyed the hospitalities of his home and the abundance of his good humor4 ,owens1 ,rev4 ,albert ,franklyn1 editor of the ,baptist ,leader and pastor at ,mobile1 was born in ,wilcox county1 ,ala41 ,january #a1 #ahed4 ,early in life he left ,alabama for ,louisiana1 in which state he was led to exercise faith in the ,son of ,god and was baptized into ,little ,mt4 ,zion ,church by the ,rev4 ,g4 ,stemley1 of ,avoyelles ,parish4 ,in ,april1 #ahgc1 he was licensed to enter upon the work of the gospel ministry4 ,at the call of the ,third ,baptist ,church1 ,mobile1 ,ala41 he was ordained to the functions of the ministerial office by the ,common ,street ,baptist ,church1 ,new ,orleans1 ,la41 ,may #bh1 #ahgg1 by a council of which ,rev4 ,marsena ,stone1 ,d4 ,d41 of ,ohio1 was chairman1 and ,rev4 ,a4 ,m4 ,newman was secretary4 ,his longest and hitherto most prosperous pastorate has been with the church who called for his ordination1 and whom he led to the purchase of their neat brick edifice on ,st4 ,anthony street4 ,beginning with them in the spring of #ahhg1 he left them for ,uniontown1 ,september1 #ahij1 in excellent quarters and free from debt4 ,this he did at such patient self-sacrifice as may be found in only a very few men of his age4 ,in #ahgc he entered ,leland ,university1 ,new ,orleans1 where he remained four years pursuing the classical and theological courses under ,drs4 ,gregory and ,stone4 ,while in ,louisiana he was engaged in teaching school and was intimately associated with the general ,baptist work1 being at one time editor of their state organ1 the ,baptist ,messenger4 ,in #ahhd-he he was editor of the ,baptist ,pioneer1 located at ,selma1 ,ala41 and has served as general superintendent of missions for the ,state of ,alabama4 ,for many years he has been on the ,board of ,trustees of ,selma ,university1 and in recognition of his solid worth and general information he is now the bearer of our denominational standard4 ,mr4 ,owens is a typical1 ,christian gentleman4 ,no other man among us has a library so select1 so varied and so valuable as he has1 nor has any man in ,alabama a clearer evidence of literary talent and literary relish4 ,he is a many-sided man1 and the beauty of his solid personal qualities is greatly enhanced by his indigenous vivacity1 unstinted hospitality1 and perennial benevolence4 ,in the hovels of the poor and in the times of the sources of disease1 no man among us is more welcome than he1 neither is there one of his brethren whose duty renders more heedless of danger or blind to personal privations and material losses4 ,whether he builds houses of worship1 preaches1 lectures1 teaches1 writes--whatever may be the engagement of the hour1 that engagement focuses the whole man4 ,the following incidents will show something of the style of his mind3 ,on one occasion when severely tried in administering discipline1 and when he had allowed his feelings of indignation to run too high1 he was so distressed that for many nights sleep almost entirely forsook him4 ,the writer overheard him on this occasion1 saying1 8,against thee1 thee only1 have ,i sinned1 and done this evil in thy sight40 ,upon another occasion in the midst of a session of the ,convention1 and as one of the policemen of the town walked in and was seated1 he arose and remarked3 8,brother president1 ,i see in our assembly a policeman of the city in which we are convened4 ,i think this a fit time to give notice to any who may feel inclined to be unruly that they must observe good order or ,i'll have them arrested40 ,this came in just at a condition of the meeting when a bit of humor was just the thing most needed4 ,the ,st4 ,anthony ,street ,church1 ,mobile1 is a tangible memorial of his energy1 self-sacrifice and patient industry4 ,beside the pastorate of the ,st4 ,anthony ,street ,church 7the ,third ,baptist71 he has served in the pastorate of the ,dexter ,avenue1 ,montgomery1 and in the pastorate of the church at ,uniontown4 ,his speeches are characterized by originality1 clearness1 force and dignity4 ,he is still a growing man--growing in worth of manhood and in the confidence and love of the denomination2 and should his health and life continue1 the historian who will write of a brighter day than this--a day not far in the future--will point with pride to this man of rare gifts1 giving more space than is here accorded him4 ,with special pleasure the writer records the name of ,albert ,f4 ,owens1 ,d4 ,d41 high upon the roll of his personal friends4 ,and this short notice of a worthy man can hardly close at a point of greater beauty than in an humble tribute to his other self1 ,mrs4 ,mary ,mims ,owens 7once ,mrs4 ,taylor71 whom he wedded in #ahhb1 and who is held in high esteem as a leader in church and educational circles4 ,pettiford1 ,rev4 ,w4 ,r41 ,d4 ,d41 son of ,william and ,matilda ,pettiford1 was born in ,granville county1 ,n4 ,c41 ,january #bj1 #ahdg4 ,he was1 when a boy1 of an industrious turn of mind1 working faithfully at whatever his hands found to do4 ,at one time he was with the tanner1 and at another time he was running his father's farm4 ,at the age of #ba years he united with the ,baptist ,church of ,rocksboro1 ,person county1 ,n4 ,c41 and was immersed by the ,rev4 ,ezekiel ,horton1 of ,salisbury4 ,while he was serving this church as clerk1 he told his mother1 as a secret which he greatly desired she would not reveal1 that he felt called to the gospel ministry4 ,as ,brother ,horton often put up at their home he soon got possession of the secret4 ,dr4 ,pettiford now says3 8,when ,i was called into an examining council and learned that my secret was out1 ,i was very much frightened2 but the advice given upon this day has ever been helpful to me40 ,the writer met the subject of this sketch for the first time at the session of the ,state ,convention held in ,talladega in ,november1 #ahgf4 ,he and the late ,senator ,a4 ,h4 ,curtis were messengers from the church at ,marion4 ,at this time the only traits that were especially noticeable were the frankness of his countenance and the geniality of his manners4 ,at the commencement of ,selma ,university in the winter of #ahgg-gh1 he joined ,brother ,woodsmall1 becoming a member of the pioneer faculty of the school4 ,it was here that he was seen as the studious1 patient1 industrious man--loved no less by tender youth than he was trusted by riper years4 ,he was called to ordination by the ,marion ,church1 ,marion1 ,ala41 and dedicating hands were laid upon his head in ,marion1 ,ala41 in the midst of the conventional session held there in ,november1 #ahhj4 ,after this he severed his connection with the school as teacher and as financial agent1 to enter the pastorate in ,union ,springs4 ,his open1 earnest face1 tact1 and urbanity of speech1 made him one of the most successful financial agents the ,university has ever sent upon the field4 ,he relates the following incident in connection with his field work for the school3 8,i was about thirty miles southeast of ,greenville1 ,ala4 ,a colored man by the name of ,turner had just been mobbed in ,clark county4 ,the colored people along the road were exceedingly frightened at the threatening attitude of the whites1 and hence refused to entertain any stranger4 ,i knew not where ,i was and it was now dark4 ,my horse was broken down4 ,family after family turned me off4 ,at last one man agreed to entertain my tired horse4 ,thankful for this little drop of kindness1 ,i stopped and fed my animal4 ,then ,i started off--,i knew not whither4 ,after awhile ,i saw through the boughs of the pines a dim light1 which seemed far away4 ,turning towards this light ,i wended my way through sage field and bush1 until ,i stood beside an old log hut1 a rickety relic of an old time ,negro quarter4 ,with ease this tiny spark peeped through the great opening in the dirty cabin full into my weary face4 ,herein1 with husband and wife and babies1 and a lot of dirt1 ,i was allowed to rest my tired limbs and heavy heart till morning4 8,upon one occasion while ,bro4 ,d4 ,t4 ,gulley and ,i were on mission work together1 we were delayed in ,marengo county4 ,waters were up1 ,brother ,gulley was sick1 and the people had no money to give for educational purposes4 ,i went to begging milk cows and succeeded in getting the people to donate six40 ,mr4 ,pettiford married his present wife1 ,miss ,della ,boyd1 of ,selma1 ,ala41 ,november #bb1 #ahhj4 ,she is an excellent woman and comes of a fine family4 ,as might have been expected the marriage has been a happy one for both parties4 ,dr4 ,pettiford is a clear thinker1 a concise speaker1 a firm friend1 a lover of his race1 and a fine presiding officer4 ,every feature in his bearing is indicative of the true gentleman and earnest ,christian4 ,he is a firm friend of ,selma ,university1 and by this school he has been honored with the degree of ,d4 ,d4 ,he is at this time 7#ahib7 president of the 8,alabama ,penny ,savings ,bank0 and of the ,baptist ,state ,convention of ,alabama4 ,he is further noticed in connection with the chapter on 8,state ,convention0 and 8,selma ,university0 as well as in other chapters4 ,closing this sketch1 it seems fitting that ,i should remark that though he excels in many virtues1 he is especially peculiar in these3 #a4 ,he is abundant in plans and measures1 so that the variety of his operations almost wholly exclude the monotony so often felt in church work4 #b4 ,he is in a peculiar degree a patient man4 ,in all conditions he seems to possess his soul in patience4 ,since the above was written1 he has been elected financial secretary of the ,state work4 ,he is now organizing the ,alabama ,publishing ,company4 ,he is full of enterprise4 ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,w4 ,c4 ,bradford1 ,pastor ,first ,baptist ,church1 ,tuscaloosa1 ,ala4 ,phillips1 ,rev4 ,d41 of ,tuskegee1 was a 8,father in ,israel40 ,those who are old enough to remember him as a slave1 say that he sat in council with the white ministers and was permitted to speak in their associational gatherings4 ,nothing seemed to disturb his peace2 no amount of heated discussion ever caused him to break from his strong hiding place of pious humility4 ,he was a large man with strong will1 but every 8jot and tittle0 of his ponderous being was under submission to his consecrated will1 which ruled all like the helmsman steers the great ship4 ,he was about the age of ,mr4 ,john ,dosier1 eighty years4 ,he refused to accept freedom till all were free4 ,peels1 ,rev4 ,j4 ,a41 pastor of the ,first ,colored ,baptist ,church in ,north ,birmingham1 is a rising young man in the ,mount ,pilgrim ,association4 ,his church1 though a new enterprise1 is a success1 and all plans for gospel aggression find in him a ready and substantial friend4 ,his brethren love him because he is peaceable and benevolent in his dealings with them4 ,pollard1 ,rev4 ,robert ,t41 son of ,rev4 ,r4 ,t41 ,sr41 and ,mrs4 ,mary ,f4 ,pollard1 was born in ,gainesville1 ,ala41 ,october #d1 #ahfj4 ,a few years after the close of the late civil war1 ,rev4 ,r4 ,t4 ,pollard1 ,sr41 moved with his family to ,enterprise1 ,miss4 ,there the subject of this sketch received his first impressions--impressions which were to serve as the foundation of his future character4 ,at the age of #ab his mother left him for the better country4 ,the boy1 reflecting over his sad loss in the death of his mother1 turned unto the ,lord1 and was baptized into the fellowship of the ,mt4 ,pleasant ,church1 in which he immediately became clerk and ,sunday ,school teacher4 ,thus1 starting right1 we are not surprised at the righteousness of the course he now pursues4 ,by studying at night under his father's instruction1 he1 at the age of #ab1 could read and write4 ,at #af he was known as 8the boy preacher40 ,at the age of #bj he entered a school taught by ,prof4 ,paul ,d4 ,jones in ,meridian1 ,miss41 in which school he studied arithmetic1 algebra1 ,english grammar and ,latin4 ,he remained here two years4 ,in #ahhb he entered ,selma ,university1 under ,prof4 ,woodsmall4 ,of this good man he says3 8,his consecrated life did much toward fixing my character in the spirit and doctrines of ,christ40 ,from this institution he graduated with the class of #ahhd as valedictorian4 ,in the same school and in the same year he entered upon the college course and completed the freshman and sophomore years4 ,during this time he was assistant teacher in the ,university4 ,by all1 and throughout all1 he has been and is now accepted as a student1 a thinker1 a rigid moralist and faithful ,christian4 ,in ,march1 #ahhe1 he was ordained to the gospel ministry in ,selma1 ,revs4 ,e4 ,m4 ,brawley1 ,d4 ,d41 ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpine1 ,h4 ,n4 ,bouey1 ,a4 ,n4 ,mc,ewen1 ,c4 ,l4 ,price1 and ,c4 ,r4 ,rodgers1 officiating as presbytery4 ,after this he entered upon and served acceptably different important pastorates in ,perry county4 ,with credit to himself and with profit to the denomination1 he has1 as teacher1 as moderator1 as recording clerk of the ,state ,convention1 and as district ,sunday ,school missionary1 served the ,baptists of ,alabama4 ,at this time he is the successful pastor of the ,dexter ,avenue ,church1 ,montgomery4 ,thus this quiet1 hard working young man has risen up till there are but few that go before him4 ,mr4 ,pollard is a philosopher1 clothed with the spirit of a child4 ,in him a full heart balances a well stored head4 ,pollard1 ,rev4 ,i4 ,m41 of ,loachapoka1 is one of the few men of whom we sometimes feel that they are ,nature's favored children4 ,so evenly balanced are all his tempers and passions1 hopes and fears1 that we are almost compelled to think that so much self-government must have come largely as the gift of nature4 ,the writer has reasons to know him as an honest man--as a man who can handle the money of his neighbor without fault to himself or loss to his friend4 ,mr4 ,pollard is held in high esteem by all who know him--white and black4 ,he was born about the year #ahdj4 ,he possesses a fine personal appearance1 a gentlemanly bearing1 and is a good preacher of the plain old gospel4 ,posey1 ,prof4 ,thomas ,h41 of ,bessemer1 the son of ,wesley and ,patience ,posey1 was born ,september #ae1 #ahed1 at ,bessemer1 ,ala4 ,he was baptized into the ,canaan ,baptist ,church about the year #ahgb by ,rev4 ,william ,ware4 ,brother ,posey deserves honorable mention for his faithful services as an educator4 ,he graduated from the normal course in ,selma ,university in the spring of #ahhd1 and has proven himself to be not only a power in the affairs of secular education1 but a very efficient1 faithful worker in the church and ,bible school4 ,prentice1 ,rev4 ,d4 ,l41 of ,selma1 ,ala41 son of ,james and ,caroline ,prentice1 was born in ,shelby county1 ,ala41 ,december #be1 #aheb4 ,the home of his youthful days1 like that of the writer1 must have been in a wild country infested by wolves2 for he1 in speaking of how he had to go after wood and water into the thick swamps before the break of day1 says3 8,on one morning as ,i found myself surrounded by wolves1 ,i cried to ,god for help and was delivered4 ,in my prayer for deliverance ,i made a vow of consecration1 which was the beginning of a new life40 ,in #ahge he was baptized by ,rev4 ,berry ,ware4 ,about the year #ahfe-ff he began studying ,webster's speller1 and sought information1 he says1 of every person that he thought had any information to give4 ,he learned to read and write and began figuring under the instruction of a ,mr4 ,j4 ,w4 ,strong1 a man1 so it is said1 who used to be mayor of ,selma1 ,ala4 ,the writer first met the subject of this sketch while he was student in the ,talladega ,college1 and since his graduation from the ,selma ,university1 his course and success as pastor1 teacher1 missionary and lecturer1 has been watched with pleasing interest4 ,he was ordained to the ministry ,may1 #ahhb1 by ,revs4 ,joe ,smith and ,henry ,scott4 ,he is a genuine friend of religion and education and being young and strong he has a large opening for future usefulness and fame4 ,prince1 ,rev4 ,j4 ,t41 of ,gallion1 ,ala41 son of ,john and ,mary ,a4 ,prince1 was born ,march1 #ahec1 in ,marengo county1 ,ala4 ,he was baptized into the fellowship of the ,bethlehem ,church by ,rev4 ,d4 ,r4 ,willis the third ,sunday in ,april1 #ahga4 ,in #ahhd in the ,st4 ,philip's ,church1 ,selma1 he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by ,revs4 ,e4 ,m4 ,brawley1 ,h4 ,n4 ,bouey1 ,c4 ,r4 ,rodgers1 ,l4 ,p4 ,foster and the writer4 ,he attended ,selma ,university under the different presidents--,h4 ,woodsmall1 ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpine1 and ,e4 ,m4 ,brawley4 ,he began his education by studying under a white man1 whom he paid #a4jj a week4 ,attended a public school after he was #bc years of age4 ,he taught in the ,state school4 ,is now district missionary4 ,he is an industrious man and owns good property4 ,pullum1 ,rev4 ,h4 ,p41 of ,anniston1 son of ,lawrence and ,caroline ,pullum1 was born in ,pickensville1 ,ala41 ,march #bc1 #ahfb2 baptized at ,carrolton ,august1 #ahhb1 and entered immediately upon the work of the ministry1 but was not ordained until ,march1 #ahhi4 ,at the request of the ,first ,colored ,baptist ,church at ,bessemer1 which he had organized and built up1 ,mr4 ,pullum received the hands of ordination from ,revs4 ,p4 ,murrell1 ,w4 ,a4 ,shirley1 ,s4 ,page1 ,a4 ,j4 ,austin1 ,d4 ,m4 ,sewell1 and ,j4 ,c4 ,crawford4 ,he has a large following wherever he goes4 ,purce1 ,rev4 ,c4 ,l41 ex-president of ,selma ,university1 is noticed in this work only so far as other authors have not been able to see him in his peculiar relations to the work in ,alabama4 ,it was in #ahhf1 ,i think1 in the most trying period of our history1 that ,dr4 ,purce was unexpectedly called 7upon the resignation of ,dr4 ,e4 ,m4 ,brawley7 to assume the presidential office in the ,selma ,university4 ,the school was burdened with #g1jjj of debt1 its credit was about gone1 its debtors were impatient1 its supporters divided1 and denominational strife was at white heat4 ,the former president was not only a peculiarly brilliant and cultured man1 but had enjoyed special advantages looking toward fitness for the presidential chair4 ,many feared for ,mr4 ,purce4 ,however1 it was thought by some that caution and economy were the special characteristics called for by existing conditions4 ,we needed a man who could shun the strife of factions1 keep cool under severe pressure1 and cause the school's expenses to drop below its income4 ,some who had watched ,mr4 ,purce1 were willing to trust him with the difficult duties of this trying hour1 and the writer records with much pleasure1 that he kept clear of the quarrels1 and meanwhile did much to remove the debt by putting the school on plain and well regulated fare4 ,dr4 ,purce has done the ,baptists of ,alabama very praiseworthy service1 not only as an educator1 but as an example in the matter of school management2 and those who follow him will profit by heeding his caution and economy4 ,and1 to his honor it may be said1 we have had no president who has been more generally loved by the school4 ,pyles1 ,rev4 ,carter1 of ,oxford1 ,ala41 born in ,talladega county1 ,alabama1 ,december #ae1 #ahde1 of ,christian parents4 ,he was baptized in #ahfe by ,rev4 ,mr4 ,jenkins1 a white minister1 who devoted much of his time to evangelical work among the colored people4 ,in #ahgf he was officially set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,jenkins1 ,william ,taylor and ,b4 ,snow4 ,mr4 ,pyles is among the leading men of the ,snow ,creek ,association4 ,his pastorates at ,jacksonville1 ,choccolocco and other points prove him to be a leader of ability4 ,he is now undertaking a new work at ,oxanna1 ,ala4 ,rivers1 ,rev4 ,e4 ,c41 of ,talladega1 ,ala41 was born ,january #e1 #ahdg4 ,he is the eldest son of ,mr4 ,edward and ,mrs4 ,h4 ,j4 ,rivers1 two very worthy old citizens of ,talladega4 ,in his twenty-fourth year he was married to ,miss ,jane ,moore1 of ,talladega1 by whom he has a large family of children4 ,he has a fair ,english education1 having attended the ,talladega ,college for parts of five sessions4 ,in #ahfg he united with the ,mt4 ,canaan ,baptist ,church1 ,talladega1 and was baptized by the late ,rev4 ,phil4 ,davis4 ,he was called to ordination by the ,salem ,baptist ,church in #ahhd1 ,revs4 ,j4 ,p4 ,barton and ,moses ,colly officiating in the rites4 ,he is an industrious1 prudent man1 and has accumulated property worth #c1jjj or #d1jjj4 ,at this time he is the moderator of the ,rushing ,springs ,association1 over which he has presided with dignity for several years4 ,he is a model citizen and substantial man1 sociable and aspiring4 ,rivers1 ,rev4 ,s4 ,a41 of ,talladega1 the son of ,mr4 ,edward and ,mrs4 ,h4 ,j4 ,rivers1 was born in ,talladega1 ,november #aj1 #ahed4 ,in a series of meetings1 held by the writer in ,mt4 ,canaan ,church1 he was led to exercise faith in the religion of ,jesus ,christ in #ahgf4 ,in the same year he was united with the church by baptism4 ,he immediately began laboring as a leader in ,sunday ,school work1 in which he at once proved himself to be a very capable person4 ,he was soon appointed ,sunday ,school ,missionary for the ,rushing ,springs ,association1 in which position he was remarkably successful4 ,in #ahgg he married ,miss ,elizabeth ,walker1 by whom he has three promising daughters4 ,he is a graduate from the theological department of the ,talladega ,college4 ,he is an industrious business man1 a ,christian gentleman1 a clear thinker1 a ready speaker1 a social genius4 ,no man among us of his age has brighter prospects than he1 none more admired and loved4 ,the manner in which he has succeeded1 under trying circumstances in the ,mt4 ,canaan ,church1 is simply amazing4 ,toward ,god he is faithful1 toward man he is kind1 gentle and full of service4 ,he was ordained in #ahhi to take charge of the ,mt4 ,canaan ,church4 ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,h4 ,woodsmall1 of ,franklin1 ,ind41 ,first ,president ,selma ,university4 ,rivers1 ,rev4 ,alexander ,a41 of ,midway1 ,ala41 the son of ,john and ,violet ,rivers1 was born near ,glennville1 ,ala41 in the year #ahea4 ,in his twentieth year he was baptized into the ,spring ,hill ,zion ,church by the ,rev4 ,a4 ,gachet1 under whose preaching he had been led into repentance toward ,god and faith in our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,it was not long before he felt that he was called of ,god to the work of the ministry4 ,at the call of the ,enon ,church he was set apart to the sacred office by the ,revs4 ,a4 ,gachet1 ,p4 ,johnson and ,f4 ,randall4 ,brother ,rivers is one of the strong preachers and successful pastors of the ,eufaula ,association4 ,he has had very limited educational advantages1 but he is a constant reader of books and a close observer1 and hence he has made considerable educational attainments4 ,he is quiet1 unassuming1 even and hospitable4 ,the writer enjoyed a very pleasant stay with ,brother and ,sister ,rivers at their home in ,midway4 ,he once held a very fine pastorate in ,texas1 which he had to give up because of the poor health of ,mrs4 ,rivers and return to his old home in ,alabama4 ,roach1 ,rev4 ,perkins1 of ,stevenson1 father of ,mrs4 ,m4 ,a4 ,boothe and of ,rev4 ,thomas ,jefferson ,roach1 was born in ,tennessee4 ,he1 with ,rev4 ,thomas ,roach 7who was the first ordained colored minister in ,jackson county71 and ,rev4 ,robert ,caver1 organized the work in northeast ,alabama4 ,he was noted for his magnanimity and joyfulness of heart4 ,it is said that his life was as one continuous song of gladness4 ,when a child he was a house boy1 which position brought him into continual contact with persons who knew books4 ,he so far utilized this advantage as to learn to read1 but his knowledge of writing was delayed till since the close of the war his daughter 7now ,mrs4 ,boothe7 had sufficiently advanced in her studies to instruct him4 ,this story is told of him3 ,during the war his mistress1 the widow of ,rev4 ,charles ,roach1 ,sr41 fearing the ,federal soldiers1 left home and fled across the ,tennessee river into ,sand ,mountain4 ,the slave remained at home to care for things about the place4 ,with the view of preventing want to the widow and those who were with her1 he1 regardless of the dangers of his undertaking1 and while the shades of night hid his operations1 would bear across the river and up the mountain such things as he thought they might need4 ,he has been dead some eighteen years4 ,his widow1 ,mrs4 ,charlotte ,roach1 has done nobly in rearing and educating the children4 ,roach1 ,rev4 ,lewis1 of ,fackler1 deserves mention as a hard working1 poorly paid gospel preacher4 ,many years he led the ,mud ,creek ,association as moderator4 ,he1 ,rev4 ,james ,larkin1 ,rev4 ,lewis ,henshaw1 and others1 are trying to build an academy at ,hollywood1 ,ala4 ,they deserve success4 ,roach1 ,rev4 ,t4 ,j41 of ,hollywood1 is an industrious and honorable man4 ,he has served the ,mud ,creek ,association as missionary1 has been pastor at ,bridgeport1 and now preaches at ,paint ,rock4 ,robinson1 ,rev4 ,isham1 of ,eureka1 ,talladega county1 was born in ,greenville1 ,s4 ,c41 ,october #aj1 #ahad4 ,while he was the property 787 of ,mr4 ,john ,truss 7in #ahcc7 he took to wife ,miss ,aggie ,truss1 by whom there has been born unto him a large family of sons and daughters1 who are now grown and are honorable members of society4 ,brother ,robinson was baptized by a ,rev4 ,mr4 ,joseph ,byers in #ahdj4 ,he said to the writer3 8,i was licensed in #ahej1 but could not preach except when ,i could secure the presence of two slaveholders4 ,i was licensed by the ,mount ,joy ,church1 the first church organized in our section of the ,state4 ,i was ordained in #ahfe1 by a council over which ,rev4 ,a4 ,j4 ,waldrop presided4 ,i was so hindered in my ministry in slavery time that ,brother ,henry ,wood and ,i covenanted together to take our case to ,god and beg for liberty4 ,we agreed that we would go at sunrise at least once each week and pray to ,god for freedom4 ,it was eighteen years before the victory came1 and often appearances caused our faith to waver40 ,mr4 ,robinson is now quite old1 but is still in fair health4 ,his sons are leaders in the ,baptist church and helpers in every good cause4 ,rodgers1 ,rev4 ,c4 ,r41 missionary for the western district of ,alabama under the ,american ,baptist ,publication ,society1 was born at ,hamburg1 ,perry county1 ,ala41 ,august #d1 #ahei4 ,in early life he had opportunity to attend the country school of his neighborhood1 beginning under the instruction of ,rev4 ,g4 ,j4 ,brooks1 now of ,selma4 ,living on the farm1 his early activities were in line with his calling4 ,he was a farmer boy1 and hence he drew his bread and bed from the handles of the plow and the hoe4 ,in ,november1 #ahgh1 he entered ,selma ,university1 graduating from the normal course in #ahhd1 with ,messrs4 ,r4 ,t4 ,pollard1 ,l4 ,j4 ,green1 ,r4 ,b4 ,hudson1 ,d4 ,t4 ,gulley1--,hines1 ,miss ,s4 ,a4 ,stone and ,miss ,eliza ,washington 7now ,mrs4 ,r4 ,t4 ,pollard74 ,the next year he began the college course and completed with ,messrs4 ,pollard and ,hines the sophomore year4 ,mr4 ,rodgers was converted in his fifteenth year1 and was baptized by ,rev4 ,r4 ,windham ,september1 #ahgd4 ,on ,june #aa1 #ahhd1 he was set apart to the full work of the gospel ministry in the ,st4 ,philip ,street ,church1 ,selma1 by ,drs4 ,e4 ,m4 ,brawley1 ,c4 ,l4 ,purce and ,c4 ,o4 ,boothe1 aided by ,revs4 ,h4 ,n4 ,bouey and ,g4 ,j4 ,brooks4 ,from the time of his ordination till ,december1 #ahij1 he served the pastorate of the ,first ,colored ,baptist ,church1 ,tuskegee1 but since this last date he has been successfully operating in his present position4 ,in ,january1 #ahhi1 he was wedded to ,miss ,lily ,b4 ,foreman1 of ,opelika4 ,bro4 ,r4 is a man of excellent spirit1 quiet1 unassuming1 and makes changes in men more on the order of the sunshine than in the manner of the storm spoken of in the fable of the contest between sun and wind4 ,perhaps no man among us has so few enemies as he has4 ,from #ahhi to #ahib1 he has presided over the ,auburn ,association4 ,he is an easy1 pleasant speaker1 and a choice man4 ,ross1 ,rev4 ,s4 ,l4--,it was ,march #i1 #ahfa1 when the subject of this sketch was born of slave parents--,luckie and ,emily ,ross--near ,rehoboth1 ,wilcox county1 ,ala4 ,he had the advantage of a pious1 ,christian mother1 and was hopefully converted at the age of #ab years1 and united with the ,pine ,grove ,baptist ,church by baptism1 ,rev4 ,wallace ,richardson1 pastor1 officiating4 ,he was taught his 8,a ,b ,c's0 by his mother and grandfather4 ,as soon as free schools opened he was placed in school1 which were simply poor1 for schools in those days were kept1 not taught4 ,in ,december1 #ahgi1 he was sent to ,selma for the purpose of attending school4 ,he united with the ,st4 ,philip ,street ,baptist ,church--,rev4 ,w4 ,a4 ,burch1 pastor4 ,for a number of years he was clerk of the church and superintendent of the ,sunday ,school4 ,it was while he was superintendent of the ,sunday ,school that ,mr4 ,ross felt called to the gospel ministry1 in order to a better preparation for which he entered 7#ahhc7 the ,alabama ,baptist ,normal and ,theological ,school 7now ,selma ,university71 where he spent a number of years4 ,having received a call to the pastorate of the ,hamburg ,baptist ,church1 near ,marion1 ,mr4 ,ross was accordingly ordained ,march #ca1 #ahhi4 ,ordaining council3 ,revs4 ,charles ,l4 ,purce1 president ,selma ,university2 ,r4 ,t4 ,pollard1 ,sunday ,school ,missionary2 ,william ,madison1 ,j4 ,h4 ,hunter and ,l4 ,j4 ,green4 ,dr4 ,c4 ,o4 ,boothe and ,rev4 ,charles ,l4 ,fisher were also present and participated4 ,rev4 ,ross was married to ,miss ,emily ,c4 ,boyd1 of ,selma1 ,august #g1 #ahhi4 ,october #a1 of the same year he resigned the ,hamburg ,church1 the ,forkland ,school1 which he had taught for a number of years1 to accept the principalship of the ,eutaw public schools1 ,eutaw2 ,mt4 ,olive ,baptist ,church1 ,boligee1 and ,liberty ,baptist ,church1 ,blocton4 ,owing to her thorough training and long experience as instructress in the city schools of ,selma1 ,mrs4 ,ross has contributed much to the success of her husband4 ,against the wishes of friends1 patrons and churches he resigned his school of #cej pupils and the two churches named1 to accept the position as treasurer and instructor in the ,state ,colored ,normal ,school1 ,normal1 ,ala4 ,july #a1 #ahic1 he severed his connection with that school and became pastor of the ,steele ,street ,baptist ,church1 ,huntsville4 ,october #a of the same year he resigned the pastorate of the ,steele ,street ,church to take charge of the ,sunday ,school ,missionary work in the ,state under the ,american ,baptist ,publication ,society1 ,philadelphia1 ,pa41 which position he now holds4 ,savage1 ,rev4 ,daniel1 of ,mumford1 pastor of several large churches1 deserves to be mentioned among the praiseworthy1 busy men of the ,rushing ,springs ,association4 ,he is held in high esteem for his self-reliance1 stainless reputation1 agreeable manners1 public spirit and earnest ,christian labors4 ,he preaches for ,shady ,grove ,church1 ,jenifer1 and ,sycamore ,church1 ,talladega4 ,the writer has seen him during the past fifteen years--in many meetings where there were hot words and hotter feelings and yet with him there was the same quiet spirit1 the same smiling face4 8,he that ruleth his own spirit is better than he that taketh a city40 ,sampson1 ,mr4 ,james ,william1 son of ,rev4 ,green ,sampson1 of ,wetumpka1 is a young man of high rank in the order of the ,knights of ,pythias1 but is no less a solid efficient member of the ,shiloh ,baptist ,church1 of ,birmingham4 ,he deserves consideration as a man of discernment and enterprise concerning racial questions and denominational interests4 ,scott1 ,rev4 ,john1 late of ,demopolis1 led to the erection of the edifice in which the ,first ,colored ,baptist ,church of ,demopolis now worships4 ,after the ,rev4 ,james ,caldwell1 ,rev4 ,scott was the chief leader of the people in his section4 ,he died five or six years ago at about #ej years of age1 and his pastorate is now filled by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,wallace4 ,scott1 ,rev4 ,anderson1 is at this writing pastor of the ,tabernacle ,church1 in ,birmingham1 but began his ministry at ,selma1 where he appears among the organizers of the work4 ,he has undergone a good many changes1 but because of the presence of a very large amount of vitality and will force he is still pushing on among his brethren4 ,his life may give this useful lesson1 namely1 8keep the face to the lion1 never give the back to the foe0--forgetting the things that lie behind us1 vigorously reach for the good that lies before us4 ,brother ,scott is one of the pioneers and his name lies in the foundations4 ,scott1 ,rev4 ,henry1 of ,blocton1 is of ,maryland parentage4 ,he is a man of piety1 of integrity and industry4 ,he has labored as a missionary of the ,shelby ,springs ,association1 and has rendered valuable services in support of ,selma ,university4 ,he is an uncompromising foe of low morals4 ,recently his health has been poor1 and hence his work has been hindered4 ,when ,selma ,university existed only in purpose he very substantially aided the purpose toward materialization4 ,he and ,rev4 ,d4 ,l4 ,prentice collected over a hundred dollars from one church and sent it up to the writer in ,talladega in #ahgf4 ,shirley1 ,rev4 ,w4 ,a41 was born in ,tuscaloosa1 ,ala41 ,june #ab1 #aheg4 ,he began the work of mastering letters in his native city at the age of seven years1 by attending the public schools provided for by the ,state4 ,later he attended three sessions 7of nine months7 of the city school in ,columbus1 ,miss4 ,for seven years he worked in a whiskey saloon1 where1 he says1 that while at work behind the bar1 he was converted to the faith of the ,christian religion4 ,joined the church in #ahgh in ,mississippi1 under the pastorate of ,rev4 ,t4 ,l4 ,jordan4 ,studied theology in the ,presbyterian school at ,tuscaloosa4 ,was ordained in the ,african ,baptist ,church of ,tuscaloosa under the pastorate of the ,rev4 ,j4 ,m4 ,mason4 ,his pastorates have been at ,hull's and ,birmingham1 ,ala4 ,for ten years he served the ,antioch1 ,bethlehem ,association1 as clerk4 ,he has built three church edifices4 ,mr4 ,shirley is possessed of that easy1 joyous1 friendly turn in manners and address1 which make him agreeable to all classes of reasonable people4 ,he is studious and observing1 which fact1 coupled with his native talent1 offers him an ever broadening field of operation as the years shall come and go 8,watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation40 ,simmons1 ,rev4 ,j4 ,s41 at present pastor of the ,gadsden ,church1 son of ,james and ,annie ,simmons1 was born in ,alabama ,august #af1 #ahei4 ,he was baptized by the ,rev4 ,henry ,stevens into the ,greensboro ,church ,may #bg1 #ahgh4 ,mr4 ,simmons is a man of talent1 and is a graduate of the ,lincoln ,university1 once located at ,marion4 ,he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by the ,sixteenth ,street ,church1 ,birmingham1 in ,april1 #ahhi1 ,revs4 ,w4 ,r4 ,pettiford1 ,d4 ,d41 ,a4 ,c4 ,jackson1 and ,r4 ,donald1 officiating as presbytery4 ,since his ordination he has served the ,galilee ,church at ,anniston1 and now serves the church at ,gadsden1 where his labors have been especially successful4 ,everywhere he has borne the reputation of an honorable and pious man4 ,he has been fortunate in finding and winning a helpmeet for him in his spiritual and intellectual labors in the person of a very excellent lady4 ,simpson1 ,rev4 ,i4 ,t41 of ,selma1 ,ala41 was born in this ,state ,august #a1 #aheh4 ,he was baptized into the ,belleville ,church ,december1 #ahgf1 and in #ahhc1 he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry by ,revs4 ,d4 ,shepherd and ,c4 ,travis4 ,he attended the ,state ,university at ,montgomery and is now soon to close a course in ,selma ,university4 ,brother ,simpson is a man of fine sense1 is a good speaker1 and with heed on his own part1 sympathy on the part of his people1 and blessing from above1 his opportunities for increasing usefulness and honor are very encouraging4 ,already he has attained a reputation as a pastor and builder as well as orator4 ,p4 ,s4 ,since the above was written1 ,brother ,simpson has completed his course at the ,university1 and is now pastor at ,opelika1 where he is already the peerless preacher and successful leader4 ,the writer has the good fortune to know something about the good order of his home1 and of the hospitality of his refined and agreeable wife4 ,he is peculiarly himself and not another--clear headed1 comprehensive1 reasonable1 self-reliant1 genial1 in his home as well as in the public harness4 ,doubtless the historian who comes after1 will tell of the fruits which shall hang upon the ripened years of this strong man4 ,may ,god help him to remember that ,sampson's strength was the source of his ruin4 8,eternal vigilance is the price of liberty40 ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,j4 ,e4 ,a4 ,wilson1 ,pastor ,rising ,star ,baptist ,church1 ,pratt ,city1 ,ala4 ,smith1 ,rev4 ,g4 ,s41 is pastor of the ,red ,mountain ,church ,bessemer4 ,steinback1 ,rev4 ,l4 ,s41 ex-pastor ,african ,baptist ,church1 ,tuscaloosa1 was born in ,marengo county1 ,ala41 ,march #ab1 #aheb4 ,he was set free at #ab years of age4 ,he says3 8,one year1 all the wages ,i received above my scanty meals and rough clothes1 was one dozen apples4 ,often ,i was glad to obtain a good meal of parched corn4 ,at #ai ,i worked in ,uniontown for #ej cents a day40 ,it was at this time that he learned his alphabet1 studying at night school4 ,he says that as he went to his meals and to his work1 his spelling book was ever with him4 ,he attended school after he had married--using such time as he could spare after crops were 8laid by40 ,he was ordained to the ministry in ,october1 #ahhc1 ,revs4 ,john ,scott1 ,f4 ,gilbert and ,a4 ,wright officiating as presbytery4 ,by industry and perseverance1 he has been able to teach in the free public schools of the ,state1 has been missionary in his association1 and is now pastor of one of our largest churches4 ,he lives1 he says1 on his own plantation1 for which he has paid three thousand dollars4 ,this is an example which is well calculated to encourage poor1 struggling young men to overcome difficulties and rise anyhow--rise in spite of difficulties4 ,brother ,steinback has served the pastorate of the ,tuscaloosa ,church and also edits a newspaper1 ,the ,christian ,hope4 ,stevens1 ,rev4 ,henry1 of ,uniontown1 son of ,harry and ,agnes ,stevens1 was born near ,port ,royal1 ,va41 ,may #e1 #ahbj4 ,at the age of #ba he was baptized into ,flat ,run ,church1 ,orange county1 ,va41 by the ,rev4 ,b4 ,hodge4 ,he came to ,alabama in #ahdc1 at which time he began to speak concerning the grace of ,god in the redemption of sinners4 ,in #ahde he began for the first time to read the sacred ,scriptures1 and in the same year he married ,miss ,clarissa ,clay1 by whom ten children were born to him4 ,mr4 ,stevens was one of nature's noblemen4 ,he was an honest1 outspoken man1 an orderly citizen1 and a very forcible preacher of the plain old gospel4 ,in #ahfh he was fully set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by his white brethren1 ,revs4 ,t4 ,m4 ,bailey and ,drs4 ,mc,intosh and ,curry4 ,his every word was believed by all who knew him1 and his perfect honesty no man doubted4 ,for nine consecutive years he was moderator of the ,uniontown ,association4 ,he was one of the founders of the ,state ,convention1 and also of the ,selma ,university4 ,in #ahij he exchanged the cross for the crown1 dying as he had lived1 loved and respected by all4 ,he left his family in possession of good property1 worth about #e1jjj1 and1 above all1 a name that has no blemish4 ,often our school sought refuge from want in the purse of ,elder ,stevens4 ,he was two years older than his brother ,washington1 who died before him in ,montgomery4 ,stokes1 ,rev4 ,a4 ,j41 pastor of ,columbus ,street ,church1 ,montgomery1 was born in ,orangeburg county1 ,s4 ,c41 ,july #be1 #aheh4 ,he was led to exercise faith in ,christ at the age of twelve and a half years4 ,he entered the work of the ministry in the ,methodist church1 but soon became convinced of the correctness of ,baptist views1 and1 joining the ,baptist people1 he was baptized by ,rev4 ,edward ,green1 of ,branchwell1 ,s4 ,c41 ,may1 #ahga4 ,after studying two terms in ,crafting ,university and two terms in the ,state ,university1 he entered ,benedict ,college1 from which he graduated in #ahhd4 ,in #ahgd he was solemnly set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by ,revs4 ,e4 ,green1 ,jacob ,govan1 ,henry ,harvey1 and ,harry ,reeves4 ,brother ,stokes has been missionary1 editor and school commissioner1 and is one of the most successful preachers and pastors in all the land4 ,during the two months in which he has been preaching in ,montgomery he has added1 by baptism1 about #ejj members4 ,the writer tried to learn something of his methods1 by visiting his meetings and young people's classes1 and the following points seem worthy of mention2 his preaching is characterized3 #a4 ,by the idea of salvation by grace through simple faith4 #b4 ,by narrative and portraiture and illustration4 ,there is no cold obtruse reasoning nor loud emptiness in his speeches4 #c4 ,by pointedness and sympathy4 ,each man seems to feel that the pastor is talking to him and that the heart that speaks has a care and tenderness for all4 ,then he is sociable1 approachable to all1 from the lowest to the highest1 old folks and children1 rich and poor1 great and small1 wise and otherwise--all seem to find in him a ready echo4 ,in view of his power and of his youth1 prayer spontaneously rises to ,god that he may be kept in watching1 in humility1 in faith and in faithful service4 ,it is worthy of remark that during his short time with ,columbus ,street ,church1 he has bought a neat and valuable parsonage for the church from means raised above the necessary expenses4 ,taylor1 ,rev4 ,william1 ,choccolocco1 was born in ,april1 #ahcf1 in the ,state of ,georgia4 ,he was the property 787 of a ,mr4 ,b4 ,jenks1 whose daughter married a ,mr4 ,taylor4 ,he says1 8,when in my ninth year my mother bade me farewell with this charge3 #8,don't kill1 don't steal1 don't keep bad company1 don't be impolite to old people1 don't be disobedient to those who own you1 and you will never be abused4' ,i have never seen her face since1 but her words have ever been with me to confirm me in the right way40 ,brother ,taylor has now been in the ministry about twenty-four years1 having entered upon his public career #ahfh4 ,he is one of the leading men of the ,snow ,creek ,association1 and has attained to a fair knowledge of letters1 though he has had no educational advantages4 ,brother ,taylor has been careful of the welfare of his family and interested in the affairs of the house of ,god4 ,he lives on his own farm near ,choccolocco1 respected by his neighbors1 both white and colored4 ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,w4 ,a4 ,shirley1 ,pastor ,sardis ,baptist ,church1 ,enon ,ridge4 ,thornton1 ,rev4 ,elbert1 of ,union ,springs1 son of ,e4 ,thornton and ,matilda ,thornton1 was born in the ,state of ,georgia1 ,december #h1 #ahch4 ,in #ahec he was moved into ,barbour county1 ,alabama1 where he remained till he was emancipated in #ahfe4 ,in ,june1 #ahfa1 he was baptized into the white ,baptist ,church at ,midway1 ,ala41 by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,brooks4 ,in #ahfh he was united with the church at ,union ,springs1 and was one among the colored brethren who drew out from the white church to organize a colored ,baptist ,church in ,union ,springs--the first colored church in ,bullock county4 ,he was chosen one of the first deacons4 ,it was not long ere his brethren urged him to enter the work of the ministry1 which1 under a deep sense of duty and after some hesitancy1 he did4 ,on the #eth day of ,june1 #ahgd1 at the call of his church1 he was solemnly set apart to the sacred office of the gospel ministry by ,revs4 ,c4 ,h4 ,thornton1 ,b4 ,clark and others4 ,when he took charge of the church it was in debt1 but this debt was soon removed and the membership was increased1 during six years pastorate1 from #dh to #ahh1 and the pastor's salary was raised from #cj a year to #be per month4 ,from #ahgd to #ahha he was moderator of ,pine ,grove ,association1 and since his return from his gospel labors in ,arkansas he has been re-elected4 ,brother ,thornton is no less commanding in his personal appearance than he is in his strong1 clear intellect4 ,he is a strong leader4 ,thornton1 ,rev4 ,c4 ,h41 of ,aberfoil1 ,bullock county1 was born in ,north ,carolina1 in #ahdb4 ,he was baptized in #ahfb by a ,rev4 ,mr4 ,brooks1 of ,midway4 ,in #ahfi he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry by ,revs4 ,r4 ,wright and ,j4 ,c4 ,jett4 ,he organized and built up the ,aberfoil ,church4 ,for several years he was moderator of the ,pine ,grove ,association4 ,mr4 ,thornton is a strong1 industrious1 economical1 persevering man4 ,he has obtained property worth about #c1jjj4 ,the people whom he serves at ,aberfoil are honorable and aspiring1 and hence each--pastor and people--finds in the other the elements of success4 ,it was within his comfortable home that the writer1 weary from overwork and exposure in constant travel1 found in ,february1 #ahij1 a quiet retreat in which to finish 8,plain ,theology for ,plain ,people40 ,troupe1 ,rev4 ,aaron1 of ,town ,creek1 ,lawrence county1 was born ,february #ad1 #ahea1 in ,morgan county1 ,ala4 ,immediately after the close of the war his parents moved to ,courtland1 ,ala41 where ,aaron was brought up4 ,he was baptized in #ahfi by ,rev4 ,john ,bell1 the pastor of ,red ,bank ,church4 ,feeling that it was his duty to preach the gospel1 and not willing to enter upon such a responsible mission without previous preparation1 he1 for about four sessions1 attended the ,selma ,university1 known at that time as the ,normal and ,theological ,school4 ,on his return home he taught in the public schools4 ,on ,may #af1 #ahhf1 he was ordained to the work of the ministry by ,revs4 ,g4 ,garth1 ,m4 ,j4 ,hooks1 ,a4 ,j4 ,owens and ,m4 ,james4 ,brother ,troupe has served in the church at ,huntsville1 and is now the successful pastor of ,macedonia1 near ,town ,creek4 ,in #ahhb he labored as district missionary under the ,publication ,society4 ,he promises well4 ,he and his brother1 ,deacon ,troupe1 are in the bone and sinew of the north ,alabama work1 and in them every good thing finds a ready echo and a tangible response4 ,tyler1 ,rev4 ,mansfield1 of ,lowndesboro1 was born about twelve miles from ,augusta1 ,ga41 in the month of ,november1 #ahbf4 ,when very young he was moved into the city of ,augusta and lived in the family of his great aunt1 the wife of ,rev4 ,jacob ,walker4 ,he was early brought under the influences of the ,springfield ,baptist ,church of that city--a church of colored people1 which as early as #ahde was reported as numbering #a1ajj members1 and it was added3 8,this large community1 with the pastor and a large corps of exhorters1 are all of the colored race40 ,rev4 ,m4 ,tyler remained in this ,christian family and attended the services of the above named church till he was #ah years of age4 ,he says3 8,i was with them when the stars fell40 ,at this time1 as he was a slave1 he was removed by his master to the ,state of ,alabama1 where he has remained until this writing4 ,in ,april1 #ahee1 he made a public profession of faith in ,christ and united with the people of ,god by baptism4 ,shortly after this he felt impressed with a call to enter the work of the gospel ministry4 ,this call he tried to obey as far as his condition and fitness would allow4 8,the work10 he says1 8was exceeding difficult1 as we were not allowed to know books and might receive only oral instruction on religious subjects40 ,when a very young man he married his first wife1 with whom he lived for twenty-six years--till her death4 ,at the close of the war he located at ,lowndesboro1 where he went immediately to work to organize a colored ,baptist church4 ,success attended his ministry and many were brought to faith in ,christ4 ,in #ahfg he succeeded in organizing the colored ,baptist church in ,lowndesboro4 ,on ,june #bg1 #ahfh1 he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry1 since which time he has baptized #a1jjj persons into the ,lowndesboro church and #ejj at ,white ,hall4 ,when the ,alabama ,district ,association was organized in #ahga1 he was elected moderator1 and is moderator at this time4 ,he was a leader in the organization of the ,baptist ,state ,convention1 over which he presided from #ahgf to #ahhf4 ,he is one of the originators1 stockholders1 and trustees of the ,selma ,university1 and is now1 and from the beginning of the ,university1 has been the chairman of the board of trustees4 ,he is a man dearly beloved4 ,in recognition of his ,christian manliness1 his faithful labors1 and his knowledge of the word of ,god1 the above named university in #ahij conferred upon him the honorary title of ,d4 ,d4 ,he is studious1 industrious1 devout1 urbane2 and though he is now about #fh years of age1 he is still so full of sunshine as to be acceptable to youth as he is to old age4 ,his present wife heartily joins him in every good word and work4 ,he has succeeded in accumulating considerable property1 and is greatly to be praised for the care he has bestowed upon the culture of his sons4 ,he has been among the chief financial supports of all the worthy measures of the denomination4 ,he is very sociable1 and possesses rare powers as a preacher4 ,no man in ,alabama has so much power over the ,alabama ,baptists as ,dr4 ,tyler2 his works as well as words make him the beloved4 ,walker1 ,rev4 ,william1 of ,avondale1 was born ,november #cj1 #ahdh1 near ,jacksonville1 ,ala4 ,in ,august of #ahff he was baptized into ,bethel ,baptist ,church1 ,alexandria1 by ,rev4 ,george ,w4 ,brewton4 ,mr4 ,walker's ordination took place in ,august1 #ahgf1 ,revs4 ,g4 ,w4 ,brewton1 ,s4 ,l4 ,mc,lean and ,james ,miller officiating as presbytery4 ,it was late in life ere he came upon opportunities for book learning1 but finally some good white friends1 seeing his desire to learn1 assisted him in making a beginning upon which he has made a fair improvement4 ,his preaching is characterized by self-abnegation1 application to the subject1 and earnestness of style4 ,indeed in several regards he is really a strong preacher4 ,he is no less forcible in the pulpit than he is agreeable in the parlor4 ,he has served the pastorates at ,gadsden and ,anniston1 and now presides over the church at ,ashville4 ,the following will give some evidence of his standing among all classes3 ,while the ,wills ,creek ,association was in session a few weeks ago in ,ashville the white ,baptists allowed him the use of the house of worship for the session1 and the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,montgomery 7white71 of this town1 informs me that the white people aid in his support1 some of them constantly attending upon his services4 ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,l4 ,s4 ,steinback1 ,pastor ,second ,baptist ,church1 ,demopolis1 ,ala4 ,walker1 ,rev4 ,t4 ,w41 of ,birmingham1 the son of ,rev4 ,emanuel and ,charlotte ,walker1 the property 787 of ,benjamin ,walker1 of ,coosa county1 ,alabama1 was born in ,coosa county1 ,alabama1 ,september #e1 #aheb4 ,he joined the old ,elam ,baptist ,church1 ,montgomery county1 ,alabama1 in ,may1 #ahgi1 and was baptized by ,rev4 ,jerry ,cole in the same month4 ,on ,february #bf1 #ahhd1 he was ordained to the gospel ministry at the call of the ,sixth ,avenue ,church1 in the city of ,birmingham1 by ,revs4 ,w4 ,r4 ,pettiford and ,j4 ,r4 ,capers4 ,his success has been marvelous4 ,the writer first met the subject of this sketch in ,montgomery county in the year #ahgi1 when1 though he was not a ,christian1 he was acting as ,sunday ,school superintendent4 ,he says that on this occasion the question1 8,how can you lead others in the road to heaven when you1 yourself1 are not walking therein80 destroyed all his carnal security and false ease1 and was the beginning of a change in his life4 ,i doubt if any man among us has had more power over the masses than he4 ,while he was building the ,sixth ,avenue ,church there was a constant demand for more room for his audiences4 ,and since he has been serving at the ,shiloh ,church1 the writer has seen not only the building filled to its utmost capacity1 but hundreds of eager listeners standing without at the door4 ,those who know him best feel that his power over the masses is largely owing to his common sense1 goodness of heart1 and his simple1 steady faith in ,god1 his cool self-reliance and his hard work for and among the masses of the people4 ,future historians will no doubt find reasons for recording his name high on the best pages of their books4#b ,he relates the following incidents of his early childhood3 8,when ,i was five years of age1 ,i1 for the first time1 enjoyed a ride to town4 ,when ,i got off the wagon ,mr4 ,harrison rolled up my shirt sleeves and the legs of my pants and placed me on a block on the street in the middle of a great crowd of people4 ,i enjoyed it1 as ,i seemed to be the person especially noticed by all4 ,i saw my mother and father weeping1 but ,i could see no reason for it4 ,when ,i came down from the block1 ,i1 with two sisters and a brother1 went home with a ,mr4 ,house1 where the crack of the whip1 the yelp of the hound and the howl of the wolf were the most frequent sounds that fell upon my ear4 ,the fact and horrors of slavery were first branded into my heart by the tying and whipping of my father before my eyes4 ,when ,i asked father what it meant1 he replied3 #8,the lash which ,i fear will soon fall upon yourself1 my son1 will too early explain what is meant4'0 ,a white man to whom he hired himself taught him at night his alphabet1 and started him to spelling and reading during his eighteenth year1 and now he reads1 writes1 and manages his own figures in business4 ,he is a grand man4 ,he has organized a building and loan association with about #b1jjj members4 #b ,see chapters on ,sixth ,avenue and ,shiloh ,churches1 ,birmingham1 and the ,mt4 ,pilgrim ,association4 ,ware1 ,rev4 ,william1 of ,east ,lake1 ,jefferson county1 ,ala41 was born in said county ,october #e1 #ahcg4 ,he was converted to ,christianity in his thirteenth year1 and was baptized into ,union ,church1 near ,birmingham--that is1 where the city now is--by the ,rev4 ,willis ,burns 7white74 ,he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry ,november1 #ahfh1 by ,revs4 ,edmond ,burris and ,allen ,mc,alpine4 ,the ,rev4 ,a4 ,j4 ,waldrop 7white7 says of ,bro4 ,ware3 8,we never had in ,jefferson county a man of more stainless character4 ,he is not an educated man1 but he is earnest1 honorable and upright40 ,the writer has found ,bro4 ,ware to be one of the meekest and gentlest of men4 ,he1 with ,rev4 ,henry ,wood1 organized the ,mt4 ,zion ,church in #ahgh1 and he was the first moderator of the ,mt4 ,pilgrim ,association4 ,he has held various pastorates1 and has held them always with credit to himself and profit to the cause4 ,he lives on his own pleasant home and quiet farm a few miles northwest of ,east ,lake4 ,he is still an active worker1 and enjoys the love and confidence of the people among whom his light so long has shone to the glory of ,god4 ,ware1 ,rev4 ,berry1 was one of the pioneers of the work in ,shelby1 ,jefferson and ,talladega counties4 ,few men in those early days had more power over the masses than he4 ,he died some sixteen or seventeen years ago1 and ,i have nothing of his history or nativity4 ,he baptized the ,rev4 ,d4 ,l4 ,prentice1 and started the church at ,aldrich4 ,webb1 ,rev4 ,george ,w41 of ,eufaula1 ,ala41 was born in ,russell county1 ,ala41 in #ahdd4 ,fortunately for him1 ,capt4 ,w4 ,h4 ,redd carried him1 while he was still quite young1 to ,columbus1 ,ga41 where his perceptive mind was permitted to imbibe such ideas of refinement as did not exist on the plantation4 ,here1 under the advice of his parents1 he entered upon a sort of irregular course of study1 which led to some success in book knowledge4 ,as ,gen4 ,wilson's army was passing through ,georgia1 he enlisted as a soldier1 remaining in service till he was mustered out in #ahff4 ,he was baptized into the fellowship of the white ,baptist church at ,abbeville1 ,ala41 by the ,rev4 ,l4 ,r4 ,sims4 ,in #ahfh he married ,miss ,eliza ,collins1 and in #ahfi was among those who led in the organization of a colored ,baptist church at ,abbeville4 ,in #ahgj he assisted in organizing the 8,east ,alabama and ,west ,florida ,association40 ,in #ahgc he moved to ,eufaula4 ,he was ordained to the gospel ministry about #ahgd-ge4 ,mr4 ,webb is a very energetic man and a successful builder of churches4 ,he took a leading part in the organization of the ,eufaula ,district ,sunday ,school ,convention1 and much of its success is due to his missionary labors4 ,he is a friend of education and missions1 and believes in progress on all lines4 ,whatley1 ,rev4 ,w4 ,h41 of ,white ,plains1 is of ,georgia nativity1 but came to ,alabama while young4 ,without doubt ,mr4 ,whatley is the most influential man in ,calhoun county1 and yet no man in the county is more modest1 deferential and unassuming4 ,he is a man of power1 and yet he does not seem to know anything about it4 ,for years he has been the moderator of the ,snow ,creek ,association1 and except something unusual shall occur he will continue to preside for years to come4 ,i know of no moderator who has better government in his association than ,mr4 ,whatley1 and yet there seems to be no effort to command4 ,he exercises an oversight over every branch of his associational work1 appearing in all the general meetings1 whether the interest at stake pertains to local church work1 to missions1 to education1 or to ,sunday ,school4 ,he is an ex-student of the ,georgia school1 and attended while it was located at ,augusta4 ,and it is a fact1 much to the credit of his white brethren1 that they made it possible for him to attend school4 ,he lives on his own valuable farm amid his children1 who are now maturing1 his son ,charles being now a young man4 ,white1 ,rev4 ,e4 ,c41 of ,tuscumbia1 was born about the year #ahdb in ,chester county1 ,s4 ,c4 ,in #ahei his master brought him to ,alabama1 where he has since resided4 ,he was converted the fourth ,lord's day in ,october1 #ahfi1 and in the same month was baptized into the ,russellville church by the late ,rev4 ,p4 ,jones4 ,brother ,white says3 8,in ,april1 #ahfh1 my wife was baptized by the ,rev4 ,w4 ,e4 ,northcross1 and her devoted life constrained me to desire peace with ,god4 ,my wife overthrew all my old ways and lovingly compelled me into the ways of the ,lord40 ,at once he became zealous for the cause of ,christ1 and soon began to speak as opportunity offered itself1 first at ,russellville and then at ,tuscumbia4 ,at the request of a church which he had built up near ,tuscumbia1 ,rev4 ,w4 ,e4 ,northcross called a council1 and on ,october #h1 #ahgc1 solemnly set him apart to the office of the ministry4 ,he has attained to some knowledge of books1 of which he is still an industrious student4 ,before his whole time was employed in the ministry he taught in the public schools4 ,the good people of ,russellville and ,florence have long held to him as pastor4 ,brother ,white owes much to his excellent1 ,christian wife1 who has been a helpmeet for him since #ahfe4 ,he is a hospitable brother and faithful ,christian minister4 ,white1 ,rev4 ,j4 ,w41 the son of ,claburne and ,elizabeth ,hatcher1 was born in ,dallas county1 ,ala41 in ,october1 #ahci1 eleven miles south of ,selma1 on the ,alabama ,river4 ,he takes his name from the ,mr4 ,white who owned his mother4 ,he was baptized into the ,st4 ,phillip ,street ,baptist ,church1 ,selma1 by ,rev4 ,john ,blevins1 in ,september1 #ahfh4 ,he was ordained to the work of the ministry by the above named church1 in ,august1 #ahge1 ,revs4 ,j4 ,dosier1 ,j4 ,carter1 ,henry ,stevens1 and ,john ,blevins1 officiating presbytery4 ,bro4 ,white was at one time moderator of the ,uniontown ,association2 was for some months missionary under the ,american ,baptist ,publication ,society2 was pastor1 at different times1 of the ,mt4 ,zion1 the ,summerfield1 the ,st4 ,paul1 and the ,providence ,churches1 near ,selma2 was pastor at ,camden1 ,ala41 and recently retired from the pastorate of the ,sixth ,avenue ,church1 ,birmingham4 ,he has from the first been officially connected with the ,selma ,university1 in which he studied for about three sessions1 being the first ministerial student who was enrolled4 ,he is an earnest preacher and a studious man1 so that it may be said of him that he is an elevator of the people on all lines4 ,he relates the following story3 8,during the war1 and at a time when things looked rather dark for the ,south1 my stepfather and ,i were attending a ,presbyterian meeting1 when he was called on to pray ,god to #8drive back our enemies4' ,father prayed3 #8,o ,lord1 drive back our enemies4' ,when we were at home alone ,i told him that ,i found fault with his prayer1 for it was really against the interest of his people4 ,the old man answered3 #8,the our meant the colored people1 and the word enemies referred to our oppressive chains4'0 ,at this time1 extending from a time long before1 there was an organized prayer circle in ,selma1 which met on every ,friday night beneath a great oak tree in the woods to pray to ,god to bring liberty to the slave4 ,brethren ,alex4 ,goldsby and ,charles ,white were among the leaders of this meeting4 ,doubtless ,bro4 ,j4 ,w4 ,white knew of this meeting and of its purpose1 and hence was hardly prepared to hear a prayer so seemingly contrary to the wishes and needs of his people4 ,wilhite1 ,rev4 ,j4 ,q4 ,a41 of ,selma1 was born ,august #ac1 #ahed1 in ,louisville1 ,ky4 ,he was baptized in #ahff1 and in #ahgh was ordained to the office of the gospel ministry in his native city4 ,the presbytery of the occasion was ,revs4 ,c4 ,c4 ,stamm1 ,d4 ,a4 ,gaddie1 ,w4 ,w4 ,taylor and others4 ,shortly after this he entered the gospel work in ,alabama1 beginning as pastor of the ,second ,baptist ,church1 ,eufaula4 ,he came to supersede the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,bassett1 who for some reason had returned to ,indiana4 ,under his administration the ,eufaula ,church rose into success and beauty unequaled by anything that had passed before4 ,beginning with #ahhf he was for several consecutive years financial agent for ,selma ,university4 ,resigning this work he was for sometime pastor of the church at ,uniontown1 where he was attended by his usual prosperity1 both in gathering the people and in raising finances4 ,this position he resigned in order to assume once more the office of financier for the ,university4 ,at the present writing he is treasurer of the ,university4 ,mr4 ,wilhite's success is largely owing to the following3 ,self-reliance1 industry1 tact1 perseverance1 adaptability of himself and methods to the condition of the people4 ,he is an ex-student of the ,roger ,williams ,university1 ,nashville4 ,in #ahgb he wedded ,miss ,kate ,talbert1 who has presented him with a large family of promising young folks1 to whose education he is giving special attention4 ,he is to be commended for that economy1 as well as industry1 which has enabled him to possess a comfortable home for himself and loved ones4 ,he has not been forgetful of the welfare of them over whom ,god has made him guardian4 ,like very few preachers1 he is a good business man as well as a good preacher4 ,p4 ,s4--,he has recently built a brick edifice at ,uniontown4 ,he is now a successful pastor in ,birmingham4 ,wilson1 ,rev4 ,j4 ,e4 ,a41 pastor of the ,first ,colored ,baptist ,church1 ,pratt ,city1 comes to our denomination from the ,methodist ,church4 ,he was born ,january #a1 #ahfa1 in ,fayette county1 ,alabama1 and was led to submit to ,christ as his ,savior1 ,september1 #ahhb4 ,he was regularly inducted into the ,baptist ministry1 ,september #bg1 #ahhg1 by the laying on of the hands of a council consisting of ,revs4 ,a4 ,c4 ,jackson1 ,v4 ,huntington and others4 ,he has served acceptably at ,patton1 ,corona and ,jasper4 ,he is unpretending1 quiet1 brotherly and has a good report from all circles4 ,his school advantages have been rather meagre1 but with his youthful vigor and self-control1 coupled with the abundant facilities for an increase of knowledge common to these times1 he may yet be a man of learning and a leader in letters4 ,of course no man can hope to attain to knowledge beyond his ability to study forever and without any thought of tiring or despairing4 ,notwithstanding he is a man of strong emotions1 he has rare executive ability and is hard to equal as a leader4 ,wood1 ,rev4 ,henry1 of ,talladega1 was born ,august #ae1 #ahbe1 in ,greenville1 ,s4 ,c4 ,his father was a lawyer in ,south ,carolina4 ,he came to ,alabama with his mother when eleven months old1 and was settled in ,jefferson county1 near ,elyton4 ,he was baptized into the white church by ,rev4 ,joseph ,bias1 who1 at the time1 gave it as his opinion that 8,henry0 would be a preacher4 ,ordained to the work of the gospel ministry just after the war 7#ahfg71 he was a timely instrument in the special mission of organization4 ,mr4 ,wood has been one of the pioneers of our work in ,jefferson1 ,talladega1 ,calhoun and ,st4 ,clair counties4 ,in speaking of his struggle after knowledge in slavery time1 he says3 8,i had been reading for some time and had begun to learn to write fairly well1 when the fact came to the notice of the white people4 ,they tied me up and laid #fjj lashes on my back2 and1 ,i tell you1 ,i lost all my knowledge of writing after this40 ,referring to his missionary and pioneer work since freedom1 he relates the following3 8,for the most part the white people have treated me well4 ,sometimes1 however1 ,i have been troubled with drunkards and #8negro whippers4' ,as ,i was riding on my missionary work in ,blount county1 ,i once met a man who gave me such a crack over my shoulders with his horse whip as almost broke the skin2 but as ,i did not so much as look toward my abuser1 he let me go with no further harm4 ,i passed on1 thanking ,god that it was no worse with me40 ,brother ,wood is a man of excellent spirit--is as jovial as he is earnest4 ,his life has been temperate and chaste1 and he is approaching the death shadows and the tomb with triumph and in peace4 ,he has occupied good pastorates and honorable places in the associations4 ,his first wife 7,miss ,dicey ,truss1 whom he married in #ahdd71 has preceded him to the goodly land1 and both their children have passed before him4 ,he now lives in ,talladega with his second wife 7the widow of ,mr4 ,thomas ,barclay71 in very easy circumstances1 and still finds plenty of work to do in the cause of the ,master4 ,few men are more widely known and more generally beloved than he4 ,for wrath and malice he is entirely a child4 ,nothing could more surprise his brethren than to see him in a fit of ugly temper1 or to hear from his lips expressions of ill will4 ,brother ,wood speaks in praise of ,revs4 ,messrs4 ,mc,cain1 ,mynett and ,law 7white7 as friends to their colored brethren in the time of the latter's weakness and inexperience in church work4 ,p4 ,s4--,our dear ,brother ,wood has gone to his crown on the ever bright shore4 ,peace hover over thy dust1 ,o thou man of ,god6 ,illustration3 ,st4 ,louis ,street ,baptist ,church1 ,mobile1 ,ala41 ,rev4 ,j4 ,l4 ,frazier1 ,pastor4 ,wood1 ,rev4 ,r4 ,t41 of ,huffman1 pastor of ,pleasant ,hill ,church1 and son of ,mr4 ,henderson ,wood1 of the same place1 is the eleventh child of a family of thirteen children4 ,while he was still very small two older brothers were killed by the 8,k4 ,k4 ,k410 which clan terrorized the country after the close of the war4 ,in consequence of which sad incident1 it is thought1 his father died of mental depression1 leaving the subject of our sketch without a father's presence1 guidance and support4 ,nothing daunted by this host of sorrows and misfortunes1 ,mr4 ,wood1 industriously and with patient spirit1 notwithstanding his delicate constitution1 gave himself to such engagements as came to his hand1 making horse collars and brooms as well as aiding his widowed mother in spinning1 knitting and weaving4 ,in his thirteenth year he was minded to seek for peace with ,god1 and1 so at an early age1 he began to attain to experiences of grace which have increased with the growth of years4 ,evidently the family is possessed of sterling qualities1 as may be seen in their aspiration and courage4 ,the other members of the family whom ,i have met live an independent home life in the mountains near ,huffman4 ,mr4 ,wood hopes he may find an opening through which to enter the mission field in ,africa1 and his name has been sent in to the mission authorities4 ,if his life should be spared for a maturer development he will be a tower of strength in good things4 ,he is a graduate from the ,grammar ,department of ,selma ,university1 in which institution he expects to take a higher course4 ,illustration ,,biographical ,,supplement4 ,it is to be regretted1 perhaps1 that this volume has in it a feature which must be considered a supplement4 ,but doubtless the author will be excused when he tells the reader that many have delayed till now--long after the completion of the book--to send in their names4 ,new men1 strong men1 have lately come to us from other ,states--men whose names could not well go into the main body of the book1 for the reason that this has been done for some time4 ,also1 young men of our own ,state have risen into such favorable notoriety as to merit honorable notice4 ,in the body of the book ,i have placed the names of persons in their alphabetical order4 ,not so here3 ,i have entered the names as they came into my hands4 ,the printer was hurrying me1 and ,i could not stay for proprieties4 99 99 99 99 99 ,clark1 ,mr4 ,peter ,f41 son of ,p4 ,f4 and ,daphney ,clark1 was born in ,hale county1 ,ala41 near ,gallion1 on the ,taylor plantation4 ,he first attended what in his neighborhood was known as the ,vaughn ,hill ,school1 and afterward studied at a night school taught1 he says1 8by one who would have been my mistress had slavery continued40 ,bro4 ,clark has been remarkably successful in business1 which is largely due to his industry1 economy and courteous manners4 ,he is vice-president of the ,penny ,savings ,bank in ,birmingham1 as well as one of the directors4 ,in speaking of the line of work out of which he derived his start in business affairs1 he remarked to the writer3 8,i remained with one firm twelve years40 ,as we see his success in the light of this statement1 we are reminded of the old saying1 8,the rolling stone gathers no moss40 ,so many fail on all lines because they move about so much4 ,mr4 ,clark is sociable1 hospitable1 and courteous4 ,o',riley1 ,rev4 ,j4 ,p41 pastor at ,compton and ,trussville1 gives the following sketch of himself3 8,i was born in ,saint ,croix1 ,danish ,west ,indies1 ,august #a1 #ahej4 ,in #ahgj ,i entered a ,catholic school in ,baltimore1 with a view to preparing for the priesthood4 ,in #ahgd ,i joined the ,protestant church1 and in #ahhj ,i was ordained to the ministry of the ,baptist denomination4 ,my pastorates in ,alabama have been in connection with the ,st4 ,paul ,church at ,greenville1 ,coalburg ,chapel1 ,mt4 ,nebo at ,patton1 ,mt4 ,joy at ,trussville1 and ,mt4 ,olive at ,compton40 ,bro4 ,o',riley is a vigorous worker1 and is blessed with social qualities which make him an agreeable companion4 ,frazier1 ,rev4 ,jeremiah ,lemuel1 son of ,richard and ,phbe ,frazier1 was born in ,abbeville county1 ,s4 ,c41 ,june #ah1 #aheg4 ,he says3 8,my parents were among the poorest of the slaves40 ,in #ahfg his parents moved to ,florida1 where1 in #ahgd1 their son was baptized into the ,bethlehem ,baptist ,church1 near ,madison county ,court ,house4 ,his ,education4--,he has had no public school advantages1 but being possessed of a quiet1 appreciative1 observing1 aspiring turn of mind1 he availed himself of such educational facilities as came in his way4 ,in the fall of #ahgd1 he entered a night school and continued his studies during the long nights of the winter1 paying the teacher one dollar per month4 ,being called off from this advantage by the demands of the farm1 he sought knowledge in the ,sunday ,school1 and in the study of such books as he could command4 ,he speaks with pleasure of the fact that his mother prayed that he might learn to read the ,bible1 that he did learn to read it1 and that he read it to her in her weary hours of sickness4 ,the affectionate son is now the affectionate man4 ,his ,work1 etc4--,on informing his pastor that he was called to preach1 he was advised to take up a course of study1 which he did1 continuing it for about ten years1 during which time1 #ahgh1 he was wedded to ,miss ,ida ,paul1 a young lady sufficiently skilled in letters to render him valuable service in his books4 ,he was ordained in ,march1 #ahhe1 to take charge of the ,zion ,baptist ,church1 ,enterprise1 ,fla41 since which time he has been pastor in ,sanford1 ,fla4 ,he is now the beloved1 successful pastor of the ,st4 ,louis ,street ,church1 ,mobile1 ,ala4 ,he is a good preacher1 good pastor1 good financier1 good man4 ,the above named church was organized in #ahed2 their building is worth #bj1jjj4 ,keller1 ,rev4 ,r4 ,h41 of ,birmingham4 ,this young man is brought into special prominence by his missionary operations in the 8,magic ,city40 ,he began at ,avondale as pastor1 but seeing that so many people were absenting themselves from the churches1 he conceived the idea that where the people would not or could not go to the gospel1 the gospel should go to them4 ,mr4 ,keller went to work at his idea1 speaking in empty store houses1 etc41 in the most ignorant and most polluted neighborhoods or sections of the city1 to such of the people as he could induce to attend4 ,at last he stirred such interest in favor of his project and plans as influenced many of the good people of the white churches to render substantial aid4 ,at present all the white and all the colored ministers of ,birmingham--except the ,catholic and ,episcopal--are united in ,mr4 ,keller's support4 ,it is rather a strange fact in gospel work that this man should thus represent both races and all creeds4 ,his talks before the white people1 so ,i'm informed1 have caused the white women of ,birmingham to propose a work upon their part that has for its object the betterment of the home life of the colored people4 8,the ,union ,conference of the ,white and ,colored ,ministers of ,birmingham0 is a result of ,mr4 ,keller's labors4 ,evidently he is a man of strong hope in and strong grasp upon his purpose as well as patience1 amidst discouragements4 ,loveless1 ,hon4 ,h4 ,a41 of ,montgomery1 was born ,november #bd1 #ahed1 near ,union ,springs1 in ,bullock county1 ,ala4 ,his ex-master retained him on the old farm for five years after the war was over on the plea that his mother was unable to assume his management and support4 ,finally1 however1 he escaped to ,montgomery1 where he found employment for small wages4 ,being industrious and economical1 he soon obtained a little money ahead which he invested in the butcher's business4 ,his business tact1 push1 courage1 kindness of heart1 politeness and integrity soon won for him the confidence and respect of his neighbors1 who marked him as a youth of merit and promise4 ,he soon became an earnest1 consistent ,christian man1 from whose hands the poor and needy were daily fed1 and at whose house pastors and their families were entertained for years without cost4 ,now 7#ahie7 in addition to his old business of butcher1 he operates a hack and dray line1 a coal and wood yard1 and an undertaker's establishment1 giving constant employment to about twenty-five persons at a daily outlay of about #be4 ,his wife1 once ,miss ,lucy ,arrington1 whom he married in #ahge1 is a suitable help for him1 no less in his labors of love than in his business enterprises4 ,he is worth not less than #ae1jjj4 ,his life is an inspiration to poor young men starting the journey of life4 ,mr4 ,loveless is an honest man1 which in the language of another1 is the noblest work of ,god4 ,the character of the man may be seen in his advice to his laborers3 8,pay your debts if it takes the last cent you have40 ,eason1 ,rev4 ,james ,henry4--,among the younger and scholarly men of ,alabama is ,rev4 ,james ,henry ,eason4 ,this energetic ,christian worker and model of moral courage was born ,october #bd1 #ahff1 in the 8piney0 woods1 eight miles from ,sumterville1 ,sumter county1 ,ala4--fifteen miles from the railroad4 ,his father1 ,jesse ,eason1 has served as deacon in the ,sumterville ,baptist ,church for a number of years1 and is highly respected by both races in his community4 ,his mother1 ,chaney ,eason1 is a faithful ,christian worker in the church1 as well as a devoted wife and mother4 ,mr4 ,eason's strength of character1 talent and success are1 to a large degree1 heritages from this good woman4 ,his mother taught him his alphabet one ,sabbath when he was only five years of age4 ,the early part of his life was spent with his parents on the farm1 and he attended public school near his home4 ,his first teacher was a ,mr4 ,poe1 a white man1 who said to him1 as they were coming from school one day3 8,you will be a smart man one of these days40 ,james did not advance very far in his books under this teacher1 who taught the old method of going through the spelling book first1 next the reader and then review4 ,besides1 the schools only lasted three months in each year4 ,his marked improvement was not made until his parents moved to ,sumterville1 and he began studying under ,rev4 ,c4 ,r4 ,rodgers and ,h4 ,d4 ,perry from ,selma ,university4 ,it was in the ,wednesday evening prayer meetings1 held in the school by ,rev4 ,c4 ,r4 ,rodgers1 he received a deep and effectual religious impression4 ,a year afterward--,october1 #ahha--;he was baptized into the ,sumterville ,baptist ,church by ,rev4 ,g4 ,lowe4 ,in ,november of the same year he entered the ,alabama ,baptist ,normal and ,theological ,school at ,selma1 ,ala41 now ,selma ,university4 ,in #ahhe he graduated from this institution with the highest honors of his class--his class being the second class to graduate from this institution4 ,along with the normal course he took the college preparatory course1 and began his college course in the fall of #ahhe4 ,after spending about two years in this course he abandoned it on account of financial embarrassment and other unfavorable circumstances4 ,to this point he had kept himself in school by working on the farm during the summer months4 ,in #ahhc he took a little school at ,ohio1 ,ala41 and in #ahhf he canvassed and sold the ,colored ,chieftain4 ,in #ahhg he was elected principal of ,garfield ,academy1 ,auburn1 ,ala4 ,it was in this position his noble qualities claimed the attention of the public as a teacher and preacher--yes1 as a leader4 ,here the desire of higher education burnt again upon his heart and1 against the protest of patrons1 he resigned this position and entered ,richmond ,theological ,seminary1 ,richmond1 ,va41 in #ahhg4 ,after three years of hard study he graduated ahead of his class in #ahij with the degree of ,b4 ,d41 and returned to ,alabama and began work as professor of mathematics in ,selma ,university--a position he still holds4 ,he was ordained in ,tabernacle ,baptist ,church1 ,selma1 ,ala41 in #ahia1 and took charge of ,union ,baptist ,church1 near ,marion1 ,ala4 ,he has baptized one hundred persons4 ,he is moderator of ,new ,cahaba ,association1 and managing editor of the ,baptist ,leader4 ,as a teacher he is admired by the pupils and respected by the faculty4 ,he is a hard student and takes high rank as a preacher1 and excels in persuasive oratory4 ,he is original1 broad minded and good natured1 and is much respected among the brethren of the ,state4 ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,t4 ,w4 ,walker1 ,pastor ,shiloh ,baptist ,church1 ,birmingham1 ,ala4 ,moderator ,mt4 ,pilgrim ,association4 ,mason1 ,dr4 ,ulysses ,grant4--,we feel justified in saying1 that among the rising and foremost young men of ,alabama is the one whose name heads this article4 ,he is the youngest son of ,mary and ,isaac ,mason2 was born ,november #bj1 #ahgb1 in ,birmingham1 ,ala41 which city is still his home4 ,until the age of #af his school advantages were limited to the rural districts1 where educational facilities were few4 ,but his desire to learn soon exhausted the shallow draughts of the primary school1 and therefore he entered the ,state ,normal ,school at ,huntsville1 ,ala41 now located at ,normal1 ,ala41 where he drank more freely from the deeper springs of science and art4 ,aside from his regular course1 he pursued the carpenter's trade1 at which his success was soon apparent2 for1 two months after entering1 he was advanced to the position of foreman over some of his older colleagues4 ,he graduated from the above named school ,june #a1 #ahia4 ,as a student and teacher the thought uppermost in his mind was that of serving his race by helping to lift it to a higher plane of intellectual culture1 for he was not slow to see the moral and physical disadvantages under which it was laboring4 ,to effect this result1 he dedicated all his energies to the social and educational betterment of his race4 ,after finishing the course at this school1 he taught1 as a stepping stone to further usefulness1 having held with honor and respect the principalship of the ,calera public school4 ,he resigned this position1 much to the regret of the school board and patrons1 to enter the ,meharry ,medical ,college1 ,nashville4 ,his success as a student of medicine surpassed even his previous career1 causing the surprise and even the envy of many who claimed to have towered far above him in the literary world4 ,he was appointed prescriptionist for the clinic1 and assistant professor of clinical medicine in the absence of ,prof4 ,r4 ,f4 ,boyd1 ,b4 ,s41 ,m4 ,d41 ,d4 ,d4 ,s41 in which capacity he proved very efficient4 ,he refused the honor of valedictorian of his class1 and was unanimously elected treasurer4 ,dr4 ,mason is now located at his home1 ,birmingham1 ,ala41 and is one of our best physicians4 ,his kindly and affable manner has won to him the love and confidence of all4 ,there can be no question as to his future success1 as this is assured in his good qualities1 skill1 and the confidence of the people4 ,sisson1 ,rev4 ,samuel ,s4--,the subject of this sketch was born in the little town of ,white ,plains1 ,calhoun county1 ,ala41 ,june #aa1 #ahfc4 ,he lived with his parents on a plantation1 helping them in every possible way4 ,he was converted and baptized in #ahga4 ,he attended the public schools as opportunity allowed him4 ,in #ahhb1 being convinced that he was called to preach1 he entered the ,alabama ,baptist ,normal and ,theological ,school 7now ,selma ,university71 under the presidency of ,dr4 ,w4 ,h4 ,mc,alpine4 ,here he studied hard1 paying his own way4 ,in #ahhd he was called as pastor of the ,baptist ,church at ,stock ,mill1 ,ala41 ,cherokee county4 ,he served this church four years1 during which time he baptized and added to the church #bej persons4 ,not being satisfied with his education1 he returned to ,selma ,university in #ahhh4 ,he was in school only two months when he was asked to supply the pulpit of the ,st4 ,philip ,street ,baptist ,church1 ,selma1 ,ala41 as pastor pro tem4 ,he served them in this capacity three months1 when he was elected pastor1 in which capacity he served the church about five years4 ,a great many doubted the ability of the young ,timothy to stand in the shoes of such noted theologians as ,rev4 ,wm4 ,a4 ,burch and ,dr4 ,c4 ,o4 ,boothe4 ,he himself felt that his task was very difficult4 ,he could only trust in ,him whose power is inexhaustible4 ,it was not long until his congregation outnumbered any other in the city4 ,he states that during his five years as pastor he added #a1adb members to the church4 ,six hundred and forty-two by baptism4 ,he also laid plans to build a new church4 ,three thousand three hundred and ninety-seven dollars1 so he informs the writer1 was raised under his administration for the new church building4 ,feeling that his work was about accomplished in this field1 he resigned as pastor in the fall of #ahic4 ,he was then called to ,milton1 ,fla41 to pastor the ,mt4 ,pilgrim ,baptist ,church4 ,he served the church only five months4 ,his own ,state1 ,alabama1 not being willing to give him up1 he accepted a call by the ,jerusalem ,baptist ,church1 ,bessemer1 ,ala4 ,he is now serving this church and is building up a strong congregation for the ,master4 ,he is active in church work and much loved by his brethren throughout the ,state4 ,in #ahhh he married ,mrs4 ,roxie ,drake1 of ,auburn1 ,ala41 and to this fortunate union is due much of his success4 ,she is to-day the organist of his church4 ,rev4 ,sisson has high hopes for the future of his people and does everything possible to advance them4 ,he is friendly and1 therefore1 has friends everywhere he works4 ,he is a hard student of ,god's word4 ,as a preacher he is sound in practice and doctrine4 ,jordan1 ,mrs4 ,dinah ,smith1 was born in ,walker county1 ,ala41 ,march #bf1 #ahfi4 ,her early days were spent in ,arkadelphia1 ,blount county1 and in #ahhc she came with her mother to live in ,birmingham1 ,ala4 ,mrs4 ,jordan1 from a child1 loved to read that ,book of all books the best1 the ,holy ,bible1 and in ,april1 #ahhe1 gave her heart to ,god4 ,the new-found love in her heart now brought new motives and new aspirations into her life4 ,she was in a new kingdom1 and wanted to work for her ,king4 ,a sermon preached by her pastor1 ,rev4 ,w4 ,r4 ,pettiford1 on 8,christian ,growth and ,usefulness10 very deeply impressed this young ,christian1 and to this day is an inspiration to her4 ,another one whom she dearly loved was ,mrs4 ,m4 ,a4 ,ehlers1 a missionary under the ,women's ,baptist ,home ,mission ,society1 who was at that time in ,birmingham1 and who she says will never know the help she has been to her in her ,christian life1 until the lights of ,eternity dawn upon her4 ,she began by doing the little things that came to her hands to do--faithfully attending the services of her church1 bringing children to the ,sunday school1 and seeking in her home to honor her ,savior4 ,as grand a motive may be had in doing those things which in the eyes of the world seem small as in doing that which the world calls great and admires2 and ,mrs4 ,jordan1 we believe1 had this true motive1 the love of ,christ constraining her4 ,her marriage1 which took place on ,june #g1 #ahhg1 to ,mr4 ,andrew ,jordan1 had been made a subject of special prayer4 ,the husband thinks he has one of the best of ,christians in his wife1 and through her consistent life he was led1 in the fall of #ahib1 to say1 as did ,ruth of old3 8,thy ,god shall be my ,god40 ,the ,women's ,missionary ,society opened up new avenues of usefulness to her1 and as they came she gladly went forward--visiting the sick1 doing religious visiting in the homes of non-church-goers1 and holding fireside schools for the children in her neighborhood4 ,she rejoices that in these she has had the blessed privilege of directing the minds of the little ones to ,jesus4 ,her work as teacher in one of the industrial schools conducted by the missionaries has been faithful1 earnest1 and a means of great strength to them1 and her gentle ways have won the love of the pupils4 ,she loves the work of the young people1 and is a member of the board of the associational ,b4,y4,p4,u4 ,her consistent ,christian life in her home and in the circles in which she moves has made her life a blessing to all4 ,duncan1 ,mrs4 ,m4 ,d4--,this lady who began and is now operating a female academy1 was born in the year #ahfd1 ,march #h1 in ,jefferson county1 ,ala4 ,she1 for one1 has made her mark in life4 ,she professed a hope in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 in the year #ahgf--was baptized by ,rev4 ,e4 ,t4 ,winkler 7white71 and joined the ,baptist church of ,marion1 ,ala4 ,she worked her way in school4 ,after she finished the primary department 7taught by ,mrs4 ,frances ,nickerson17 she entered the ,lincoln ,normal ,university1 where she was graduated in #ahhb4 ,then she was thrown out on the great voyage of life1 to meet the many hindrances and obstacles that fall in the pathway of life4 ,but being a brave and persevering woman1 she triumphed over them all4 ,she commenced teaching school in #ahgi1 in ,marion1 ,perry county4 ,in #ahhb1 she taught a three months' term in ,bibb county4 ,she was then highly recommended by the ,president of ,l4 ,n4 ,university to ,tuskaloosa1 where she taught in the city school for two terms2 then removed to ,york ,station1 ,sumter county1 and there taught two terms1 and in #ahhi1 taught one term in ,forkland1 ,greene county4 ,she was then called to ,demopolis1 to take charge of the ,female ,institute1 where1 for five years1 and up to the present time1 she has given mutual satisfaction to the entire city and community4 ,the above is given to show the spirit of enterprise among us and to excite others to work on the same line4 99 99 99 99 99 ,closing the chapter which brings into prominence notable individuals of the denomination1 the author feels that it is only just to remark that many of the most cultured and deserving of our number are not mentioned4 ,this comes of the facts that limited means made the production of a large book impossible1 while1 on the other hand1 as the author was hard pressed with other business1 his survey of the field was necessarily imperfect4 ,such persons as the learned and industrious ,prof4 ,j4 ,w4 ,beverly1 of the ,state ,school at ,montgomery2 ,prof4 ,a4 ,h4 ,parker1 principal of one of the city schools of ,birmingham2 ,prof4 ,r4 ,b4 ,hudson1 principal of the ,city ,school of ,selma2 ,prof4 ,e4 ,w4 ,knight1 of the faculty of ,selma ,university2 ,prof4 ,phillips1 principal of one of the city schools of ,montgomery2 ,mr4 ,edgar ,a4 ,long1 the business manager of the 8,alabama ,publishing ,company10 ,birmingham2 ,mrs4 ,a4 ,a4 ,bowe1 teacher of the sewing department of ,selma ,university2 ,mrs4 ,m4 ,a4 ,boothe1 the first president of the ,colored ,w4 ,c4 ,t4 ,u4 of ,alabama1 and ,mrs4 ,s4 ,l4 ,ross1 the first secretary2 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,a4 ,hardy 7once ,miss ,stone7 who led the women in their successful money effort in interest of our brick school building at ,selma2 ,mrs4 ,c4 ,copeland and ,miss ,octavia ,b4 ,boothe1 who have been in the employ of the ,baptist ,women's ,home ,mission ,societies as missionaries2 ,mrs4 ,amanda ,tyler1 of ,lowndesboro2 ,mrs4 ,r4 ,t4 ,pollard and ,mrs4 ,s4 ,h4 ,wright1 of ,montgomery2 ,mrs4 ,rebecca ,e4 ,pitts1 of ,uniontown2 ,mrs4 ,alice ,gray1 of ,talladega2 ,mrs4 ,lula ,patterson 7once ,miss ,lula ,watkins71 the very capable teacher of music in ,selma ,university2 ,doctors ,robert and ,felix ,tyler1 of ,lowndesboro2 ,prof4 ,samuel ,roebuck1 of ,elyton2 ,rev4 ,t4 ,w4 ,robinson1 of ,gurleys2 ,rev4 ,h4 ,zimmerman1 the efficient leader of ,bibb ,county ,association2 ,mrs4 ,nancy ,nickerson1 the first teacher of colored children in ,perry county2 ,rev4 ,f4 ,l4 ,jordan1 pastor of the ,sixteenth ,street ,church1 ,birmingham--of all these1 with many other worthy persons1 our book fails to give any notice4 ,their absence from the biographic sketches is to be accounted for solely in the reasons mentioned1 namely1 that means were limited and the author's time and energy were divided between so many different lines of work as necessitated an imperfect survey of the field4 ,illustration ,v4 ,,summary4 ,we now turn our pen toward the conclusion1 on our way to which we will briefly consider3 7#a7 ,from whence we have come2 7#b7 ,how we have come2 7#c7 ,the point we now occupy4 ,i4 ,,from ,,whence ,,we ,,have ,,come4 ,we have seen the tree--dwarfed and yellow-leafed--in the sterile rock-bound soil of the mountain peak1 and we have felt that its life was a mere existence1 a mere hair's-breadth remove from death4 ,the fearful regime of slavery had reduced the mental life of the ,negro to the point where its activity was a simple1 natural struggle for existence4 ,by the terms mental life are designated especially the knowing faculties and voluntary powers1 as well as that part of the emotional nature that has to do with character-making4 ,i mean to say that in his intellect1 will1 and moral sense1 the ,negro was1 by slavery1 reduced to the minimum4 ,it could not be otherwise for these reasons3 7a7 ,it was unlawful for him to know books2 he must know nothing save what his master told him1 and must never ask for a reason4 7b7 ,he was not allowed to have any will of his own except in minor points1 with reference to a brute or a fellow slave4 ,his master's will was substituted for his1 and out of his master's choice his words and deeds must proceed1 even as concerned the most sacred relations of life4 ,at his master's choice he took the wife1 and at his choice he gave up the wife4 7c7 ,he was not allowed to have any conscience1 except where his master had no choice4 ,whatever the master said the slave must do1 that he must do1 conscience or no conscience4 ,now this state of things had gone on for over #bjj years4 ,from this condition we came forth into liberty1 and with this eking existence of wilted life we must make a beginning as freemen4 ,with nothing of that sort of manhood which comes only of the well ordered domestic circle1 we had to put our shoulders beneath burdens which come of the family institution4 ,the duties of citizenship were imposed upon us1 notwithstanding we had never felt or studied anything of the privileges and obligations which center in individual sovereignty4 ,though we were ignorant of the gospel for the most part and knew nothing of the order of business in church meetings1 we found ourselves suddenly forced into the management of church affairs4 ,we had now to look to our own heads for light1 to our own hearts for courage1 and to our own consciences for moral dictation4 ,so much for the hinderances from within ourselves4 ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,j4 ,w4 ,jackson1 ,pastor ,eufaula ,baptist ,church4 ,,change ,,in ,,the ,,social ,,status ,,of ,,the ,,south4 ,the master and the slave were each pulled from his place as by a mighty force--a force which did no little tearing on both sides1 especially on the side of master4 ,for this reason the master was sore4 ,the ,south had grown rich in slaves4 ,this property the war pulled from its fists1 and left in its midst4 ,the ,southern people who were rich one day were poor the next day4 ,that the presence of the former slave1 clothed in the sovereignty of citizenship1 amidst his ex-master's poverty1 should chafe and madden the master1 there can be no wonder4 ,well1 it did madden him1 and because of this fact the pioneer ,negro leader often found himself 8headed off0 or hindered with reference to some church or school project in his mind4 ,often did he hide or turn from his course to escape punishment or death by the hands of persons who suspicioned him as a bad man to be among 8the ,negroes of the neighborhood40 ,the writer has had many narrow escapes and painful experiences4 ,we needed help1 but whither should we go to obtain it8 ,thank ,god for the few white people who had grace in such a time to extend a helping hand to us in our and in their time of weakness4 ,,ii4 ,,how ,,we ,,have ,,come4 7a7 ,not long since a white merchant of this state remarked to me3 8,no people have ever improved so much in so short a time as your people have40 ,i replied3 8,i think no people ever had a more faithful1 self-sacrificing leadership40 ,i think it may be said of us that we have done what we could4 ,the work began when we owned neither land for home nor land for church house--when there was no church1 no association1 no mission board to offer any pay for labor4 ,i speak of course of the rule4 ,true1 there were a few colored churches in 8slavery time10 three missionary and one primitive2 but what were three churches in the midst of such a vast population1 scattered over so much territory8 ,what could they do in their poverty and want of training to support #djj or #ejj pioneer organizers8 ,we went to the battle at our own charges4 ,with homeless mothers and fathers1 with homeless wives and children1 and with oppression on every side--with all these burdens and much more which cannot be told1 upon us--we bravely undertook the work of building the walls of ,zion4 ,the writer knows a minister who1 7between #ahff and #ahge1 especially between '#ff-'gg1 during the reign of the 8,k4 ,k4 ,klan10 when the people could not in many places be induced to open their doors after dark for fear of being shot71 has endured some of the severest privations and performed some of the hardest toils known to the ministry1 at his own charges4 ,this case is only one in hundreds4 ,our ministry1 whatever the faults and imperfections which have attended them1 have wrought nobly and wrought to good results4 ,the following will serve to show why the writer is inclined to believe these early pioneers were often especially favored of ,god in controlling the people for good3 ,on one occasion two preachers met for the first time4 ,the younger man spoke1 and the elder was one of the hearers4 ,the sermon was ended4 ,the two preachers1 approaching each other and grasping hands1 spoke to each other thus3 ,the younger man3 8,i feel the ,lord wants me to preach1 but ,i am not able to preach40 ,the elder man3 8,god has called you to preach the gospel1 but you are not now in the spirit of the ministry4 ,you are proud and 'pend too much upon yourself4 ,you get self out so ,god can fill you up with his spirit4 ,go and pray to ,god for the spirit of the gospel ministry40 ,this advice was heeded and the end revealed the correctness of the elder man's views4 ,another case3 ,a young man of some attainment in letters1 who taught school under the 8,freedmen's ,bureau10 being anxious to rid himself of a sense of duty to preach the gospel1 decided to go off to another state where his church connections were unknown4 ,he did so4 ,after he had quit the train and put down his baggage at the home of a family who had consented to entertain him1 and as evening drew on1 he was requested by his hostess to attend the preaching which was to come off at a neighbor's house that evening 7there was no church house74 ,the young man went4 ,a pen picture of the preacher is given after this fashion3 ,lean1 brown skin man1 whose shirt showed much of his breast2 whose feet were sockless and in shoes which left the toes uncovered2 whose stiff locks held a comb4 ,he told us of a wicked city that was laying beneath the pending judgments of ,god4 ,it needed a message of warning--only this1 and it would face about and clothe itself in humble penitence4 ,god had the message1 and ,he imparted it to the messenger and ordered him to go4 ,here the preacher drew a picture of ,jonah3 ,he is shrinking from his glorious charge--has his back toward ,nineveh1 and is fleeing in an opposite direction2 is boarding a ship that he may go to regions over the sea2 is going down into the hold of the ship2 is fast asleep4 ,here the storm and the raging deep receive notice3 ,a cloud rises and quickly covers the skies2 winds attend it with a fury hitherto unknown to the shipmen1 who seem at once to discern in the storm the tokens of judgment2 the sea is wild2 the sailors1 as a last resort1 awake ,jonah and cast lots2 the lot falls upon ,jonah1 and he is cast into the maddened sea1 where a sea monster swallows him4 ,at this point1 changing his voice more into the imperative tone1 the preacher said3 8,i 'spect there is a ,jonah here to-night1 and ,i warn him to take the message of his ,god and carry it to poor1 lost sinners who do not know their right hands from their left2 ,i warn him to go before he shall be in the belly of hell40 ,the reader is left to imagine how this affected the young school teacher who was fleeing from his duty4 ,in some parts of ,limestone county the people use an improvised lamp1 the oil vessel of which is a snuff bottle4 ,this is a rough vessel1 but it holds the oil which feeds the flame4 ,this reminds us of ,mr4 ,spurgeon's beer-bottle candlestick4 ,well1 ,i want to say that ,god used these men1 whatever were their imperfections--they had power4 ,but we have had help from without4 7a7 ,our white neighbors--some of them1 at least--have aided us4 ,they have helped us build our church houses and1 in some cases1 contributed to our schools4 ,they have taught in our ,sunday schools1 preached in our pulpits1 helped us in the work of organizing associations1 etc4 ,they have taught ministers' classes and held ministers' institutes among us4 ,the writer once held the position of teacher of institutes under the appointment and support of the white ,baptist ,convention of ,alabama1 and ,dr4 ,mc,alpine now serves under the appointment of the ,southern ,board4 ,several of our best men were enabled to attend the ,home ,mission schools on money given by their white brethren4 7b7 ,we have been improved by our public schools4 ,it is a strange providence which1 in our public school system1 now returns upon the black man something of the interest due him in consideration of unrewarded labors4 ,these schools have given us some choice men and women1 who are strong in the work of the church4 ,however1 it is in place to say that we have not derived from our public school system all the good which it is capable of bestowing1 first1 because poor teachers have far too often been put upon the people4 ,but1 on the other hand1 there has been loss because we have not properly appreciated our needs and opportunities1 as considered from an educational point of view4 ,the sessions of the public schools could be supplemented and extended in most cases so as to cover six or eight months of each year4 7c7 ,the ,publication ,society has rendered substantial aid in the gift of books to our ministers and ,sunday ,schools as well as by the personal touch and teaching of their ,sunday ,school ,missionaries4 7d7 ,the ,missionary ,societies of the ,baptist women of ,chicago and ,boston have done a great work among us4 ,their good missionaries1 such as ,misses ,moore1 ,knapp1 ,voss and others whose names will ever be precious to our people1 have given themselves to work among our women and girls4 ,they have breathed into our home life their beautiful piety1 and they have acquainted our mission bands and church workers with the latest and best methods of labor4 ,we have seen with their eyes and felt with their hearts4 ,illustration3 ,first ,baptist ,church1 ,selma1 ,ala4 ,c4 ,j4 ,hardy1 ,pastor4 7e7 ,the ,selma ,university1 with one exception1 is the source of our greatest blessing4 ,it is simply impossible to estimate the good that has come to ,alabama ,baptists out of this institution4 ,what it has done is beyond the power of calculation4 ,only ,omniscience can reckon up the good effects of its power upon the people4 ,god be praised for ,selma ,university6 ,when we began the school in #ahgh1 we hadn't one single graduate in our midst4 ,since that time graduates have gone forth as follows3 #ahhd4 ,r4 ,t4 ,pollard1 ,s4 ,a4 ,stone1 ,w4 ,w4 ,posey1 ,t4 ,h4 ,posey1 ,r4 ,b4 ,hudson1 ,l4 ,j4 ,green1 ,c4 ,r4 ,rodgers1 ,a4 ,a4 ,bowie1 ,d4 ,t4 ,gully1 ,a4 ,w4 ,hines1 and ,miss ,washington1 now ,mrs4 ,r4 ,t4 ,pollard4 #ahhe4 ,j4 ,a4 ,anthony1 ,w4 ,e ,large1 ,j4 ,h4 ,eason and ,mrs4 ,thompson4 #ahhf4 ,w4 ,s4 ,matthews1 ,h4 ,l4 ,thomas1 ,dr4 ,l4 ,l4 ,burwell and ,mrs4 ,h4 ,m4 ,baker4 #ahhg4 ,m4 ,m4 ,archer1 ,s4 ,h4 ,campbell1 ,j4 ,c4 ,copeland1 ,w4 ,t4 ,bibb1 ,w4 ,a4 ,watson1 ,f4 ,p4 ,tyler1 ,j4 ,h4 ,culver1 ,p4 ,a4 ,kigh1 ,c4 ,h4 ,patterson1 ,mrs4 ,r4 ,b4 ,hudson1 ,mrs4 ,a4 ,w4 ,hines1 ,vannie ,brooks4 #ahhh4 ,s4 ,h4 ,abrams1 ,d4 ,a4 ,bible1 ,r4 ,d4 ,taylor1 ,mrs4 ,m4 ,f4 ,wilson1 ,e4 ,j4 ,nelson and ,mary ,f4 ,williams4 #ahhi4 ,r4 ,m4 ,williams1 ,e4 ,l4 ,blackman1 ,mrs4 ,p4 ,f4 ,clark1 ,mrs4 ,w4 ,t4 ,bibb1 ,p4 ,e4 ,gresham1 ,d4 ,l4 ,prentice1 ,j4 ,r4 ,willis and ,dr4 ,w4 ,r4 ,pettiford4 #ahij4 ,w4 ,j4 ,bryson1 ,r4 ,t4 ,payne1 ,j4 ,f4 ,payne1 ,dr4 ,r4 ,tyler1 ,dr4 ,l4 ,roberts1 ,e4 ,w4 ,knight1 ,j4 ,c4 ,leftwich1 ,l4 ,a4 ,sinkler1 ,mrs4 ,w4 ,b4 ,johnson1 ,mrs4 ,g4 ,a4 ,brown1 ,wm4 ,cooper1 ,emma ,garrett1 ,m4 ,turner1 ,mary ,l4 ,smith1 ,p4 ,s4 ,l4 ,hutchins4 #ahia4 ,p4 ,b4 ,taylor1 ,c4 ,e4 ,clayton1 ,mary ,osborne1 ,lula ,gray1 ,ida ,m4 ,wilhite1 ,viola ,hudson1 ,mamie ,c4 ,welch1 ,a4 ,m4 ,jackson1 ,j4 ,mc,conico1 ,j4 ,h4 ,hutchinson1 ,m4 ,m4 ,porter1 ,e4 ,t4 ,taylor4 #ahib4 ,r4 ,l4 ,hill1 ,g4 ,p4 ,adams1 ,e4 ,m4 ,carter1 ,w4 ,t4 ,coleman1 ,i4 ,b4 ,kigh1 ,b4 ,r4 ,smith1 ,chas4 ,white ,jr41 ,m4 ,j4 ,brown1 ,a4 ,e4 ,gilliam1 ,pattie ,richardson1 ,amelia ,tyler and ,maggie ,johnson4 #ahic4 ,j4 ,a4 ,graham1 ,w4 ,m4 ,montgomery1 ,h4 ,e4 ,grogan1 ,eva ,green4 #ahid4 ,i4 ,t4 ,simpson1 ,c4 ,j4 ,davis1 ,w4 ,h4 ,wilhite1 ,annie ,stone1 ,t4 ,w4 ,calvary and ,eliza ,fuller 7,mrs4 ,knight74 #ahie4 ,lula ,e4 ,ware1 ,annie ,l4 ,jones1 ,comer ,e4 ,carter1 ,benjamin ,f4 ,sanders1 ,lila ,l4 ,jones1 ,julia ,l4 ,sanders1 ,mary ,f4 ,mc,cord1 ,emma ,p4 ,jones1 ,earnest ,w4 ,brown and ,donnie ,e4 ,hillson4 ,we see very little that these names mean except we associate them with the masses of the people in the various walks of social and business life4 ,but1 associating them thus1 we see them as so many stars lighting up the dark places around them4 ,however1 to do this is by no means to place ourselves where we can see the whole truth4 ,what has been wrought upon the thousands of students who failed to finish the prescribed course8 ,they are elevated and they have borne their elevation to their neighbors4 ,from their teachers and from the refining atmosphere of the school1 they have drunken purer thoughts1 loftier aims and a stronger manhood4 ,this they have carried to others less favored than themselves1 and now it works as the leaven in the dough4 ,again1 the school has strengthened us by its weight upon our hearts and hands4 ,labor1 well directed1 develops strength in the laborer4 ,we are greater because we have been compelled to care for that institution1 and it has caused us to have faith in ourselves4 ,we now know that it is possible for us to maintain an educational work4 ,it is needless to say that by means of it1 we have looked larger in the eyes of others4 ,somehow1 he who can do something good and great commands our respect4 7f7 ,the ,home ,mission ,society4--,this society has served us to greater results than any other agency4 ,to this society the university owes above half the money which has given it support all these years4 ,they have given us missionary aid which has served to produce higher life and better order in our churches and associations4 ,and from their schools beyond our state we have received many of our most capable persons1 among whom we may mention ,drs4 ,dinkins1 ,purce1 ,stokes1 ,owens1 our eloquent ,fisher1 and ,jones1 our scholarly ,peterson1 the urbane ,jackson of ,eufaula1 the industrious ,bradford1 and others whose names ,i cannot at this moment recall4 ,mrs4 ,c4 ,s4 ,dinkins1 as well as ,mrs4 ,c4 ,o4 ,boothe1 came to us from the ,roger ,williams ,university1 a ,home ,mission ,society ,school4 ,but what has been said will suffice to show us how we have come to be a wiser and a better people than we were thirty years ago4 ,and if we see what has blessed us in the years gone by1 no doubt we shall be able to see that the same things may1 if we will permit them to do so1 bless us in the years to come4 ,may our steps not be forgotten by our children4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,point ,,we ,,now ,,occupy4 ,thirty years we have been beneath the opportunities and duties of free manhood1 which is to say that for thirty years we have been associated with the family institution as husband1 as wife1 as parent1 as sister1 as brother1 as son1 and as daughter4 ,three decades with the family1 developing affection and making patience4 ,thirty years of business life has passed upon us1 which is to say that we have for this length of time been associated with those facts which grow out of our physical wants1 such as labor1 system1 economy1 competition1 skill1 etc4 ,we have had thirty years over our own consciences1 over our own wills1 over our own church affairs4 ,we have had thirty years with books and schools4 ,we have had thirty years under the duties of citizenship4 ,what have we attained to in this time8 ,have these years given us any fruits8 ,are we where we were in #ahfe8 ,let us see4 7a7 ,church ,property4--,at the close of the war we owned 787 two frame buildings in ,mobile and owned 787 the brick basement of the building now occupied by our white brethren in ,selma1 worth--all told--about #h1jjj4 ,we now own nine brick buildings1 worth not less than #ajj1jjj above their indebtedness4 ,and we cannot make an estimate of the church property whereon are frame structures4 ,the property of this sort in the city of ,birmingham and vicinity is worth #ae1jjj1 in ,montgomery #bf1jjj1 in ,mobile #ab1jjj1 in ,talladega #aj1jjj1 in ,greensboro #c1jjj1 in ,eufaula #f1jjj1 in ,tuskegee #b1ejj1 in ,opelika #b1ejj1 in ,eutaw #b1jjj1 in ,demopolis #c1jjj1 in ,decatur #a1ejj1 in ,florence #a1ejj1 in ,courtland #a1bjj1 in ,gadsden #b1jjj4 ,but1 it is not intended1 and is not necessary1 to mention every point1 as the aim is to show that throughout the ,state we have churches in their own quarters1 on their own land4 ,everywhere we have put our work not only into mind but we have put it into dirt1 brick and stone4 ,two hundred and fifty thousand dollars worth of church property scattered throughout the ,state1 as it is1 affords a good foundation for future operation4 ,illustration3 ,miss ,joanna ,p4 ,moore1 ,nashville1 ,tenn41 thirty years ,missionary to the ,colored ,people of the ,south4 7b7 ,school ,property4--,our school at ,selma is now worth about #cj1jjj4 ,it was bought in #ahgh for #c1jjj1 and has been in constant operation ever since1 though at one time a debt of about #h1jjj threatened its life4 ,we owe a debt of a little over #c1jjj at this time4 ,the ,howard ,college1 the leading school of our white brethren1 owes it is said a debt of about #cc1jjj1 and lately the report has come to the writer that the management had thought of assigning1 because they could not see how they could raise money enough to meet the interest4 ,i mention this only to show that our struggles are similar to the struggles of other good people1 and that we have abundant cause for rejoicing and hope4 ,well1 we have in ,selma ,university an educational foundation4 ,the ,marion ,academy1 worth about #b1jjj1 begins academies4 7c7 ,educated ,men and ,women4--,over one hundred young people have received diplomas from ,selma ,university4 ,graduates have come to ,alabama from other ,states4 ,baptists have graduated from other schools in this ,state--schools like ,talladega and ,tuskegee1 the school at ,huntsville1 and the school at ,montgomery4 ,this statement of facts is calculated to turn our minds toward a possibility and prophecy of the near approach--even on the part of the masses--of that state of mind which lives and moves in the higher pleasures and to the more sacred ends of life4 7d7 ,homes4--,the wandering life which characterized the masses of the people in #ahfe1 is fast giving place to settled home life4 ,we have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in town lots and farm lands1 where we are quietly and contentedly rearing our loved ones1 studying the good of our community1 and arranging for the prosperity of the house of ,god4 ,in other words1 we are fixtures in the country and fixtures in the cities and towns4 ,we have attained to affairs--to the possession of money and other forms of material value--so that we have power in the world of exchange4 ,prof4 ,b4 ,t4 ,washington is a wonder among men as the builder and manager of the greatest school in ,alabama1 and his friend1 ,mr4 ,logan1 proves that the colored men can manage great money schemes1 while ,mr4 ,b4 ,h4 ,hudson and others1 of ,birmingham1 establish the ,negro as a banker4 7e7 ,organizations4--,we are now together--acquainted1 organized4 ,in the beginning of #ahfe1 the minister in one part of the ,state did not know the minister in the other part4 ,there was no union1 no plan of agreement4 ,now there are about #hjj churches1 all organized into associations4 ,each church may be reached and affected through its association1 with regard to any line of work4 ,we have created a strong sentiment in favor of education and a strong sentiment against intemperance1 so that the masses of the people may be easily led in right directions4 ,the day of pioneering lies behind us1 and most of the pioneers are gone to their long home4 ,we are now at the point for action on new lines4 ,as individual ,christians we need to turn our attention more directly upon the one aim of human life1 namely1 ,god-like character building in ourselves and in them with whom we have to do4 ,as churches1 we need to see to it not only that we win souls1 but that we train them in ,christian work also4 ,all other points being equal1 the trained soldier is the man to trust with the battle4 ,the ,sunday school work and the young people's unions are very available as training institutions4 ,may ,god put it into the hearts of the leaders of this new day and new chapter in our history to see to it that these organizations shall serve the ends for which they are so well suited4 ,may their hearts wholly enter into the possibilities and purposes of every sacred organization6 ,i take courage1 and there arises in my mind glorious prospects coming down the future1 as ,i see the faith and push of our ,sunday school and our women's conventions4 ,if our present ,sunday school leaders should succeed in wrapping their mantles about men who will be as faithful under the midday light as they have been in the dawning1 the future must find an ever broadening compass of ,bible influence1 and an ever-increasing beauty in our words and lives4 ,,the ,,women',s ,,convention--,a ,,high ,,point4 ,the ,women's ,state ,convention organized in #ahhf1 marks a new era in the history of our denomination4 ,the present brick building on our school grounds owes its existence chiefly to this organization4 ,they came into the field in a dark time1 and at a time when the wheels of the school dragged heavily4 ,the circumstances which sent ,miss ,s4 ,a4 ,stone before the people of the ,state seemed a providence4 ,the time1 the conditions1 needed the heart of a woman to control them4 ,and the ,women's ,convention conquered the hardness of heart and the division of opinion1 prevailing among the people1 by sending ,miss ,stone among them4 ,most grandly did she conquer4 ,well1 what is the lesson here8 ,it is this3 let the women still be encouraged1 let them continue to operate4 ,we need all our forces in line4 ,too much praise cannot be bestowed upon ,mesdames ,g4 ,j4 ,brooks1 ,r4 ,t4 ,pollard1 ,c4 ,j4 ,hardy1 ,a4 ,a4 ,bowie1 ,w4 ,r4 ,pettiford1 ,a4 ,j4 ,gray1 ,m4 ,tyler1 ,s4 ,h4 ,wright1 ,e4 ,w4 ,armstead1 ,j4 ,a4 ,craig and the other noble women associated with them1 for the services they have rendered the state in the support they have given their ,convention4 ,the times demand that this work shall still be faithfully continued4 ,i am glad that we are up in our ideas of woman1 and the fact that we are argues progress on our part4 ,it is a praiseworthy fact that we colored ,baptists occupy advanced ground with regard to the questions which involve the powers and rights of women4 ,i remember that upon one occasion just after the close of the war1 my mother returned from church rather disgusted because a woman had been called upon to lead in public prayer4 ,now1 too1 the singing1 the reading and the praying in our congregations1 are assuming forms suited to our advanced or advancing state of mind4 ,the song is suited to the text and fewer stanzas are sung4 ,the music is not so slow and is rendered with more harmony and life4 ,in the sermon1 the preacher aims to give his audience thoughts rather than feelings1 and longs to make his hearers wiser rather than happier4 ,he who reads the ,bible to others1 whether he reads in family or church1 reads by paragraphs--taking in a single thought or fact at the time--in place of the old custom of reading a whole chapter in connection with which no one idea was raised into prominence4 ,in short our gospel reformers seem now to realize that saving faith in the truth is that exercise of soul regarding truth that satisfies the intellect1 impresses the sensibilities and bows the will beneath the gospel forms and gospel spirit4 ,of course this is not true of all our teachers1 but it is true of many of them2 and the tendency upon the part of the whole people is in this direction4 ,individual human essence leavened with the ,divine essence1 is the goal in the eye of the representative leader of our people4 ,largely we have attained to the confidence of our white brethren4 ,in the union conference of the white and the colored ministers of ,birmingham1 recently held1 ,i plainly saw that the white ,baptist ministers were more at ease with the colored brethren than the white ministers of other denominations1 except perhaps1 the ,presbyterian brethren4 ,and ,i think they were not so much disturbed about the social question4 ,i call attention to this fact in order to say that their joint work with us has enabled them to see our good qualities and concede to us the claims which belong to intellectual and moral culture4 ,and as our ,christian culture shall widen its radius and deepen its impressions upon all who may be touched by us1 the prejudice and barriers incident to our color must retire behind the curtains of the past4 8,were ,i so tall to reach the pole1 ,could grasp creation in my span2 ,i'd still be measured by my soul-- ,the mind's the standard of the man40 ,i delight to record that we are attaining to humility as a ,christian grace4 ,this is the crowning grace4 ,some years ago the writer called at the home of ,dr4 ,j4 ,m4 ,pendleton1 in ,upland1 ,pa4 ,the doctor was upstairs4 ,a servant answered the door bell1 and the visitor was conducted to the parlor to await the famous man's entrance4 ,as the visitor was in every way a very little man1 and as he thought of ,dr4 ,p4 as being in every way a very large person1 he feared the sound of every footstep4 ,he expected to be over-awed by the majesty and dignity of the great man4 ,as the door knob turned he was almost annihilated4 ,but how different the sight6 ,there stood the noted writer in the spirit of a child4 ,how mighty1 yet1 how meek and lowly6 ,how charming1 how winning was this child-like simplicity and hospitality6 ,with the bewitching smiles and musical tones of childish innocence1 he repeated1 8,brother ,boothe1 from ,alabama1 ,i suppose40 ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,c4 ,j4 ,hardy1 ,pastor ,first ,baptist ,church1 ,selma1 ,ala4 ,toward this end we1 too1 are coming4 ,the time has been when the best man among us would air his big words1 hang out his learning 7871 strut because of a fine suit1 boast of his school advantages1 laud his superior graces1 gloat in his empty titles4 ,not so now4 ,to be meek and lowly in heart1 to be full of prayer and watchfulness1 to be charitable and self-abasing1 to be pure and pious--these things are before us now4 ,the old plan of collecting money for church work regardless of system and regardless of the duty associated with ,christian giving1 must also soon retire to the past2 for forces are now appearing which will work as the leaven in the dough4 ,dr4 ,pettiford has recently brought out a book titled1 8,god's ,revenue ,system10 wherein the author labors to bring before the people the ,bible methods of giving4 ,arguments are presented and proof texts are given in their support4 ,this work is being widely circulated among the churches and ministers4 ,and the writer served a church where the following plan prevailed3 ,at the end of each year the church appointed a committee to figure on the expenses of the ensuing year1 and to help the members and friends apportion the burden among themselves according to their several abilities4 ,each person took upon himself what he thought he might be able to pay1 and dividing his share as the church might have need1 he paid it in installments4 ,usually the money was collected in the conference meetings4 ,another church came under my notice that had in it 8the tithe band10 which gave a tenth of their income to the house of ,god4 ,in a session of the ,sea ,coast ,association ,i witnessed the following1 it was what they called 8,women's ,day30 ,one woman1 holding her money in her hand1 said3 8,i am president of a mission band which meets once a month to learn of our duty to missions4 ,we tax ourselves one nickle a month1 and this is our donation to the work40 ,another said3 8,i raise chickens4 ,one hen in my yard ,i've given to ,god4 ,this money is from her eggs and chickens40 ,still another3 8,in my orange orchard there are some trees which ,i have dedicated to ,god4 ,the money which comes of the sale of the fruit grown on these trees goes to the cause of ,christ40 ,and she laid her donation on the table4 ,in a ,christian home ,i saw on the mantelpiece a little box marked1 8,god's bank40 ,into this money was dropped at stated seasons in order that there might never be any want of consecrated money in the house4 ,in a certain home sickness had cut off income4 ,the missionary secretary sent to this home for money4 ,in order that a donation might be sent in1 the family agreed to leave the sugar off the table for a certain length of time4 ,thus a small amount was saved for the cause of ,christ4 ,thank ,god1 that truth on all lines is finding an echo in our souls6 ,we are not only learning the value of money and enterprise1 but we are also learning that 8a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesses40 ,wedlock is becoming more sacred4 ,more and more the people are growing into a responsiveness to the sacredness of the marriage relation4 ,the husband has increased in knowledge regarding his duty to his wife2 the wife sees better her relation to her husband2 the parents more clearly perceive what is possible and proper with reference to their children2 and1 therefore1 we can claim thousands of homes which are sources of refinement1 of love1 and of purest pleasure4 ,music is brought in1 and in many homes the family choir contributes to the enjoyment of children and parents1 whose hearts feast upon mutual1 sweet affection4 ,not long ago the writer had the pleasure of receiving the hospitality of a family in which such a choir existed4 ,each member had his place somewhere on the staff2 either he was in the tenor1 or in the alto1 or in the soprano1 or in the bass4 ,mother1 father and children delightfully partook of the feast of song4 ,their ,scripture lesson was not a long1 disjointed chapter1 but a single thought1 namely3 8,the wisdom that is from above40 ,its qualities were considered--they were3 7#a7 ,pure2 7#b7 peaceable2 7#c7 gentle2 7#d7 approachable2 7#e7 merciful2 7#f7 fruitful of good works2 7#g7 impartial2 and 7#h7 honest4 ,this lesson was in a scheme on the blackboard1 kept in the home for such purposes1 thus3 #a4 ,purity4 #b4 ,peaceableness4 #c4 ,gentleness4 ,heavenly ,wisdom1 #d4 ,approachableness4 ,its ,qualities4 #e4 ,mercy4 #f4 ,fruitfulness in good works4 #g4 ,impartiality4 #h4 ,honesty4 ,this plan gave opportunity to discuss in a few words each designated quality4 ,each person large enough to take part was encouraged to do so4 ,one part of the evening hour was spent in amusing literary games1 like the following3 ,a word was suggested1 and so many minutes were allowed to elapse1 during which time each member of the family sought to make the greatest number of words out of the letters composing the word suggested4 ,at the close of this allotted time1 spelling was compared1 and the difference as to the number of words made by each was noted4 ,the exercise was pleasant1 exciting and profitable4 ,the writer mused3 8,this is so much better than gossip1 unsociableness1 sullen silence1 and quarreling40 ,from the word abatement1 for example1 came the words3 ,at1 mat1 bat1 bet1 tab1 mate1 am1 an1 ant1 tent1 beat1 abate1 ,abe4 ,at other times problems in mathematics furnished the wrestling point2 then points in geography and history were entertained4 8,name as many cities as you can containing so many thousand inhabitants1 and tell where they are10 was proposed4 ,thus an hour or so of the early evening was profitably passed away in shunning evil and gathering knowledge for good4 ,we dare hope that every home will seek to improve on this line4 ,evil cannot be kept out of the home except in proportion as we fill it with what is good4 ,and the quality of the home life must determine the quality of the social life1 of the church life1 and of the political life1 as well as of the business life1 of any people4 ,as a further illustration of the influences and plans operating among us--as a fitting conclusion--we present the following from ,miss ,knapp1 one of the faithful missionaries of the ,women's ,baptist ,home ,mission ,society3 ,,missionary ,,work ,,in ,,birmingham ,,district4 ,many are the blessings ,god has bestowed upon missionary work in ,birmingham and it is a real pleasure to state briefly some of the methods employed which have given the workers so much joy1 and which our ,heavenly ,father has used to advance his cause4 ,religious visiting in the homes of the people is a very important part4 ,god's word never returns unto ,him void1 and when it is carried into the homes and its truths taught and heart to heart talks given only eternity will reveal its results in leading lost souls to look to a loving ,savior1 and arousing indifferent ,christians to the fact that ,god has chosen them and ordained them that they should go and bring forth fruit4 ,again1 the teaching of the children is a work never to be overlooked1 for the future of any race or nation depends upon the moral and religious instruction given to the young4 ,the ,sunday schools1 children's meetings and industrial schools are means which are accomplishing great good4 ,from two hundred to three hundred meet each week in the industrial schools during the school year4 ,we have one session each week in each of the schools4 ,they are held in the different churches4 ,about one half of the time in each session is spent teaching different kinds of sewing1 and the remainder in giving moral and religious instruction4 ,the progress made by many of the pupils in sewing and in gaining ,bible knowledge is often a marvel to the missionaries4 ,the strong temperance stand taken by many of the children is truly a delight1 and when one after another professes a hope in ,christ we are led to say1 8,bless the ,lord1 ,o my soul1 and all that is within me1 bless ,his holy name40 ,the welfare of the young people also has a large place in our hearts and with the faithful co-operation of pastors and the young people themselves1 there are about forty local ,b4 ,y4 ,p4 ,u4's which are united in an ,asssociational ,baptist ,young ,people's ,union4 ,great things are expected of these young people from the ,bible knowledge they are acquiring and instruction which they are receiving concerning ,christian work4 ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,s4 ,l4 ,ross1 ,sunday ,school ,missionary for ,alabama1 under ,auspices ,alabama ,baptist ,publication ,society4 ,perhaps no richer blessings have been given than those which have fallen on the efforts which the women are putting forth4 ,well can we remember when there was but one missionary society in ,birmingham that was trying to obey our ,savior's last loving words3 8,ye shall be witnesses unto me both in ,jerusalem and in all ,judea1 and in ,samaria1 and unto the uttermost parts of the earth40 ,they stood alone1 but were inspired to go forward by their pastor1 ,rev4 ,w4 ,r4 ,pettiford4 ,though few in number1 the blessings of ,god rested upon them4 ,after a time they had a public missionary meeting4 ,the subject was 8,the ,indians40 ,it was held on ,sunday night4 ,hearts were enlarged2 the work was better understood by the membership of the church1 and as a result new members were added to the society4 ,the sisters in one church after another organized and joined the ranks4 ,the society of the ,sixteenth ,street ,baptist ,church no longer stood alone4 ,the object of the work is given as follows in ,article ,,ii of the ,constitution3 8,its object shall be to promote the purity1 intelligence and happiness of our homes1 and to educate the women of our ,baptist churches in a knowledge of missions1 to cultivate in them a missionary spirit1 and thus lead them to help in mission work at home1 in the ,state1 in our country1 and in foreign lands40 ,the following blanks are used by the sisters in reporting their work from month to month3 ,report of44444444444444444444444444444444444444 44444444444 ,for the month of444444444444444444444444444444444444#a hi444 ,have you read the ,bible each day84444444444444444444444444 ,have you taken the ,mother's ,pledge and kept it844444444444 ,number of religious visits44444444444444444444444444444444 ,number of families helped444444444444444444444444444444444 ,number added to the ,missionary ,society44444444444444444444 ,number of meetings conducted444444444444444444444444444444 ,number of new members brought into the ,sunday ,school444444 99 99 99 99 99 ,on ,july #bf1 #ahic1 a day memorable in the history of the work1 the local societies were united in a 8,women's ,missionary ,association40 ,mrs4 ,cordelia ,taylor was chosen as its president4 ,the local societies number about twenty-five4 ,we meet twice a year1 for a one day's meeting4 ,these meetings are largely attended1 well conducted and of real profit to the work4 ,the study of the uniform subjects which have been prepared for the use of the local societies have greatly helped the mothers in their great work in the home1 in the ,church work1 and given a more intelligent knowledge of missions in ours and other lands4 ,the public missionary meetings are being held on ,sunday afternoons or nights in the different churches and are proving the same blessing as the first one4 ,miss ,moore's paper1 ,hope1 is being taken and read by scores of the sisters1 and is an untold blessing to all4 ,the 8,mother's ,pledge0 has been signed by quite a company and is rich in results to both mother and child4 ,several of the earnest1 ,christian women are having fireside schools for the children in their neighborhoods1 and the books are being purchased by many1 thus affording good and helpful reading in many homes4 ,our hearts go up to ,god in gratitude as we call to mind the co-operation of pastors and people in the plans suggested by the former as well as the present missionaries1 and the bountiful way in which ,god has blessed the efforts which we have together put forth1 and we would say in the words of the ,psalmist3 8,many1 ,o ,lord1 my ,god1 are thy wonderful works which thou hast done1 and thy thoughts which to usward1 they cannot be reckoned up in order to ,thee2 if ,i would declare and speak of them they are more than can be numbered40 ,illustration ,illustration3 ,dexter ,avenue ,baptist ,church1 ,montgomery1 ,ala41 ,rev4 ,r4 ,d4 ,pollard1 ,pastor4 ,,final ,,remarks4 ,we have done well1 but we could have done better4 ,george ,ruskin gives birth to a great river of thought in the expression1 8,the more my life disappointed me1 the more solemn and the more wonderful it became to me40 ,we have suffered1 it is true1 and still we suffer1 beneath the prejudice of a mighty people1 the movings of whose will and passions none but ,god can stay4 ,but1 as we remember that the ,almighty can rule the hearts of men1 and that ,he has promised that the meek 7,he doesn't respect persons7 shall inherit the earth2 that this prejudice about us is not a human essence1 but a mere accretion upon human life1 rising from abnormal social conditions which are passing away2 that disappointment1 instead of cowering and disarming us1 should rouse us to nerve ourselves with a firmer resolution to endure suffering1 to toil1 to economize1 to increase in knowledge and skill1 to fill our homes with love and beauty1 to be still more pure in heart and upright in word and deed--as we remember these things1 we must confess that we could have done better4 ,our greatest needs now are3 7a7 ,a closer walk with ,god2 7b7 more love and peace at home2 7c7 purer thoughts and more prayer in our hearts2 7d7 a nearer approach to gospel plans in all departments of our church work2 7e7 more race pride and race confidence2 7f7 more of the spirit of ,christ in our annual meetings2 7g7 co-operation in business1 such as banking and mercantile enterprises4 ,we earn millions of dollars1 a large part of which we ought to and can keep among ourselves1 and thus strengthen the financial standing of the ,negro ,race4 ,we need to establish and maintain money operations among ourselves1 especially for the following reasons3 7#a7 ,no moneyless people have any power or voice in the solid things of life1 in those facts which command homes1 farms1 store houses1 railroads1 live stock1 steamship lines1 furnaces1 manufactories1 merchandise1 banks1 and the like4 ,we need plans of co-operation which will enable us to come together with our little savings until they aggregate to an amount that is large enough to support some sort of business4 ,saving societies or circles should be organized all over the country1 for the purpose of studying methods for money saving and money investment4 ,of course1 it must be admitted that money raised by our people in this way has fallen into the hands of men who have made way with it4 ,but this danger may be put out of the way by compelling the man who holds the money to give good security in the form of a bond1 legally made and properly signed4 ,the money thus raised should be deposited in the bank till the amount obtained is large enough for some business project4 ,the ,alabama ,penny ,savings ,bank of ,birmingham started somewhat after this fashion1 with a small beginning1 but now they command in one way and another nearly one hundred thousand dollars4 ,this bank gives the colored people of ,birmingham a power in financial circles that they could obtain by no other means4 7#b7 ,our young people need something to do4 ,when the young white man completes his course at school1 he returns to find a job ready for him--a job as clerk1 bookkeeper1 collector or something so4 ,not so with the young black man--he returns to an empty void so far as concerns the business world4 ,he comes home to be a loafer1 or a boot-black1 or a buggy boy1 or a cook1 or a waiter1 or a barber1 or a prisoner4 ,he comes home to despair1 to temptation1 to ruin4 ,and this sad state of things can never change by accident3 if a better condition of things shall ever be our lot1 it must come about as the result of forces which the ,negro himself shall put in operation4 ,our white neighbor looks upon the facts that we earn the millions and can't control the cents1 as proof that we are an inferior race4 ,they say we can be preachers1 teachers and doctors1 but we can't manage money and can't unite in great business enterprises4 ,we seem not to realize that the handling of business affairs conduces to the formation of moral character4 ,the writer dares to hope that there are better things in our hearts on this line than have yet appeared1 and that ere long they will appear in our united action and in our substantial investments4 ,however1 8,fear ,god and keep ,his commandments40 ,illustration3 ,rev4 ,c4 ,l4 ,purce1 ,president1 ,louisville1 ,ky4 ,,conclusion4 ,and now our book is at its end4 ,how well it serves the purpose for which it was produced1 the reader will determine4 ,we gratefully recognize the substantial services rendered by friends1 as during the past ten years we have hunted and gleaned for subject matter4 ,the author is under special obligations to ,messrs ,p4 ,w4 ,williamson1 ,f4 ,d4 ,davis1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,richard ,walker1 ,rev4 ,t4 ,w4 ,walker1 ,dr4 ,waldrop1 ,dr4 and ,mrs4 ,pettiford1 ,mrs4 ,rachel ,jenkins1 ,mrs4 ,h4 ,c4 ,bryant1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,w4 ,s4 ,simpson1 of ,birmingham2 ,mr4 ,tom ,posey1 ,bessemer1 and ,hon4 ,h4 ,a4 ,loveless1 of ,montgomery4 ,to such as may feel disposed to credit me with the ability to continue at work1 ,i would say that but for the faithful toil and sacrifice of my wife1 ,mrs4 ,m4 ,a41 and of my daughter1 ,miss ,octavia ,b4 ,boothe1 it is hardly likely that my name would now appear in its humble place on the roll of writers4 ,they have borne the burden with me1 and we together have performed these humble tasks4 ,with them ,i cheerfully divide my meagre honors4 ,the writer lays down his pen at the end of a pleasant but arduous task1 fully believing that what we have done is but the bud and prophecy of what we can and will do in the years to come4 ,this book can only tell of our infancy and youth while the historian who shall come upon the stage after twenty or thirty years beyond this date1 will bring forth a book wherein shall appear a portraiture of our ripened manhood1 out of which shall have grown great enterprises1 manned by unity1 wisdom1 wealth and righteousness4 ,illustration ,,the ,,alabama ,,publishing ,,company ,,printers ,,and ,,publishers #aaa ,,eighteenth ,,street1 ,,birmingham1 ,,alabama4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,officers3 ,,rev4 ,w4 ,r4 ,,pettiford1 ,d4 ,d41 ,pres4 ,,rev4 ,t4 ,w4 ,,walker1 ,vice-,pres4 ,i4 ,w4 ,,lacy1 ,treas4 ,j4 ,c4 ,,barker1 ,sec'y4 ,e4 ,a4 ,,long1 ,bus4 ,manager4 99 99 99 99 99 8,the ,school of the ,people40 99 99 99 99 99 ,it is our ,object to ,act as a ,medium ,through ,which ,knowledge of ,matters of ,vital ,importance to the ,welfare of our ,race can be ,carried to the ,people4 ,are ,you ,interested in ,us8 - - ,are ,you ,interested in ,yourselves8 ,then see to it that you ,order one of the ,following ,books and get ,someone ,else to do the ,same4 99 99 99 99 99 8,,divinity ,,in ,,wedlock10 ,by ,w4 ,r4 ,pettiford1 ,d4 ,d4 7#be cents per copy2 by mail1 #bh cents74 8,,god',s ,,revenue ,,system10 ,by ,w4 ,r4 ,pettiford1 ,d4 ,d4 7#ae cents per copy2 by mail1 #ag cents74 8,,the ,,cyclopedia ,,of ,,the ,,colored ,,baptists ,,of ,,alabama10 ,by ,c4 ,o4 ,boothe1 ,d4 ,d4 7#a4ej per copy2 by mail1 #a4fg74 8,,life ,,and ,,times ,,of ,,frederick ,,douglass40-- 7#b4ej per copy2 by mail1 #b4fg74 7,portrait of ,douglass1 #ce cents2 by mail1 #cg cents74 8,,giants ,,of ,,the ,,republic10 #c4jj and #d4ej 8,,dining ,,room ,,and ,,kitchen10 #a4ej 8,,ideal ,,womanhood ,,and ,,motherhood10 #b4jj and #b4ge 8,,the ,,world',s ,,sweetest ,,songs10 #b4jj1 #b4ej and #c4ej 99 99 99 99 99 ,,write ,,for ,,terms ,,to ,,agents1 ,,enclosing #b;,c4 ,,stamp ,,for ,,reply ,confidential ,terms ,made to ,agents on ,application4 ,apply to ,,alabama ,,publishing ,,co41 ,birmingham1 ,ala4 ,transcribers' ,notes ,a number of typographical errors were corrected silently4 ,cover image is in the public domain4 ,handwritten inscription under ,miss ,joanna ,p4 ,moore picture not transcribed4 ,add ,selma ,university1 and ,rev4 ,w4 ,a4 ,shirley to ,index to ,illustrations4