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Centennial Encyclopaedia of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church Containing Principally the Biographies of the Men and
Women, Both Ministers and Laymen, Whose Labors during a Hundred Years, Helped
Make the A. M. E. Church What It Is; Also Short Historical Sketches of Annual
Conferences, Educational Institutions, General Departments, Missionary Societies
of the A. M. E. Church, and General Information about African Methodism and the
Christian Church in General; Being a Literary Contribution to the Celebration of
the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Formation of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church Denomination by Richard Allen and others, at Philadelphia,
Penna., in 1816:
1816
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| 1816. | 1836. | 1866. | 1896. | 1916. | |
| No. of churches | 7 | 86 | 286 | 4,850 | 7,500 |
| No. of bishops | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 16 |
| No. of conferences | 2 | 4 | 10 | 52 | 81 |
| No. of schools | 0 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 24 |
| No. of ministers | 7 | 27 | 265 | 4,365 | 6,650 |
| No. of local preachers | 6,400 | ||||
| No. of members | 400 | 7,594 | 73,000 | 518,000 | 650,000 |
| Value of property | $25,000 | $125,000 | $825,000 | $8,630,000 | $12,500,000 |
| Paid for pastors' support (estimated). | 1,126 | 85,593 | 956,875 | 2,000,000 |
In 1816, the Church was established in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, with about only 400 members. In 1836 it was also in Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, and the Island of Hayti, and had 7,544 members. In 1856, it spread to Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Louisiana, Kentucky and Canada and had bout 20,000 members. In 1863, its first missionaries went to the South, and large accessions were made, so that in 1866, it had churches in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Alabama, and a membership exceeding 73,000. In 1896 it had covered every Southern State and planted missions in Liberia, Bermuda and in South Aemrica, and the membership was 518,000. In 1916, there were missions also in Jamaica, South Africa, Nova Scotia, and the total
membership is more than 650,000 members, 6,650 traveling ministers, and 6,400 local preachers, 15 active bishops and 1 retired bishop. There are 81 annual conferences, 7,500 churches, 2,750 parsonages, 24 schools, with property, the total value of which is more than $12,500,000.
In 1844, plans were laid for the first school--a manual labor school--near Columbus, Ohio, and in 1863, one of its bishops bought Wilberforce University, now the oldest and one of the largest Negro institutions of higher learning in America. Since then an institution of learning has been established by the Church, in nearly every State in the South: Allen University, Columbia, S. C.; Morris Brown University, Atlanta, Ga.; Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, Fla.; Payne University, Selma, Ala.; Campbell College, Jackson, Miss; Lampton College, Alexandria, La.; Paul Quinn College, Waco, Tex.; Shorter College, Little Rock, Ark.; Turner College, Shelbyville, Tenn.; Kittrell College, Kittrell, N. C.; Western University, Quindaro, Kans.; Wayman Institute, Harrodsburg, Ky. Besides these institutions there are several high school sand elementary schools, both in America and in foreign countries. All of these institutions except Western University, Wilberforce and Kittrell College are named for some one of the forty-one bishops who have served the church since 1816.
In 1824, the first missionaries went to Hayti; in 1848 the Missionary Department was originated and in 1864 put into actual operation. In 1891, the first bishop visited West Africa; in 1898, the first bishop went to South Africa. Today there are more than a hundred missionaries and native workers in these foreign lands, where there are a half dozen schools and the membership numbers more than 25,000 persons. Many of the native sons and daughters of Africa have been brought to America and educated in the Church schools to return to their home for work among their kinsmen.
In 1841, the first magazine was published, but did not last very long. In 1852, "The Christian Recorder," a weekly newspaper was established as the official organ and has been maintained ever since. Other weekly publications are the "Southern Christian Recorder," Columbus, Ga.; "The Western Christian Recorder," Kansas City, Mo., also "The Women's Missionary Recorder" (monthly), Columbia, S. C.; "The Voice of Missions" (monthly), New York; the "A. M. E. Review" (quarterly), Philadelphia; and numerous other publications for Sunday school and young people's society and local church work.
In 1872, the Financial Department, or central treasury, now located in Washington, D. C., was established to collect one dollar, called Dollar Money, from each member, for general purposes. The first year, 1872-3, the income was $20,801. It has steadily increased until it is more than $210,000 for the present year, 1915-16. This money pays the salaries of the bishops and general officers, pensions for widows, of bishops and ministers, children under fourteen years of age of deceased bishops and ministers, superannuated ministers. A part of it, together with the collections from the missionary department, pays for the missionaries, and ministers whose salaries are below the average, for education and other general purposes. (See Financial Department).
In 1882, the Sunday School Department was organized. By it, all of the literature of the A. M. E. Sunday schools is edited and published. There are now 275,000 pupils, teachers and officers enrolled in the A. M. E. Sunday schools of the country, and the Sunday school department employs more than 60 persons in writing and publishing its literature. In 1892, the Church Extension Society was established, and from a small beginning has extended the church by aiding small societies to build churches, and rescuing debtburdened churches from sale to the amount of more than $381,000 both in this country and in foreign countries.
The A. M. E. Church has successfully solved the problems of Negro organization from the religious side. In nearly every city in the country, there are churches, and in the larger cities, property valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars. The biggest problem before the church today is that of ministerial training. There must come into the ministry about 500 new preachers each year. The necessity for training is greater today than in the past, when the appeal was simple, as the experience and opportunity of the people were meagre. But with increasing education, increasing wealth, travel, business, and other interests, the religious appeal to the Negro must change. To meet this changed condition is the greatest problem of this Church. Ministerial education will occupy a large part of the constructive work of the future.
The General Conference which met in Philadelphia to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary probably drew together the largest number of talented Negroes ever assembled at one place and time in the history of the country. The six hundred and fifty delegates comprised both ministers and laymen from every State in the Union, where there is any considerable Negro population, from West Africa, South Africa, Canada, South America, and the West Indies, and represented the popular leaders of the Negro race. See list of delegates to the Centennial General Conference in the Appendix.
By J. T. Jenifer
Historian of the A. M. E. Church.
"Having obtained help of God, we continue until this day,"--Acts xxvi, 22.
STANDING, as it were, at the threshold of the Centennial of African Methodism, when the A. M. E. Church proposes to celebrate the one hundred years of its existence, we may, with a degree of propriety, raise the question--
African Methodism did not spring from a spirit of ignorant obstinacy, neither was it a child of fanaticism and self-conceit, as has been sometimes charged. It arose as a protest against repression and ostracism at the altars of God. It entered its protest in 1787 with a purpose to erect its own altars and to encourage free religious thought and action.
It sprang from a sense of duty, prompted by piety and pity. Its underlying motive was to save souls; to enlighten, evangelize and to lift up mankind. The founders saw their race ostracised, segregated, enslaved and crushed. They inscribed as an insignia upon their denominational banner--
The chief advice sent abroad by the founders of African Methodism to their race variety and neglected brethren, whom they saw enslaved, ostracised and crushed, was, to be good; to cheeish self-reliance; self help and with friendly aid, to cultivate the spirit of manly independence, with ths exercise of free relig these virtues they were to win.
These purposes and messages were seriously needed by the American colored man, but the times were not very propitious. The colored people then had few churches and no schools; to educate them was a crime.
In those days, every prospect to the black man, save the visions of faith, was dark. The slave clanked his chains in the land; the attempt to flee towards freedom, was to risk the sound of the bloodhounds' bray through the woods, and that upon American territory, under the sanction of the law.
It was out of the sentiment of these times, that the United States Supreme Court, through its Chief Justice, Rodger B. Taney, decided that colored men had no rights which white men were bound to respect.
It was at such times, pervaded by such sentiments, that, in 1816, sixteen pious and earnest men, loyal to God and religious liberty, met at Philadelphia in April, and organized the African Methodist Episcopal Church. They were Daniel Coker, Richard Williams, Henry Harding, Edward Williamson, Stephen Hall, Nicholson Gilliard, from Maryland; Richard Allen, Clayton Durham, Jacob Tapsico, James Chapman and Thomas Webster, from Philadelphia; Peter Spencer, from Delaware; Jacob Marsh, William Anderson, Edward Jackson, of Pennsylvania, and Peter Cuff, of New Jersey, making sixteen.
These men organized the first conventional General Conference, which has become the mother of seventy-nine annual conferences. To preside over and superintend the work of the Church, when assembled in General Conference, they have elected and consecrated thirty-nine bishops.
Thus, it is seen that the work has spread and is recognized among the other religious world powers, as co-partners in the world's evangelization.
Richard Allen was the leader of those immortal sixteen founders, but
Every period in the history of the world's advancement has had its chief character to champion great principles and to lead on important reforms. These characters are the pioneers of new departures for the betterment of the condition of mankind. Sometimes these characters come from the summit of society, but, more frequently, they spring from the rank and file of the plain people--generally from obscurity, the cradle of genius. All parts of the globe have been their birthplaces; every race variety has produced them.
They have come in their times and at the places that great emergencies demanded of them, and, in a majority of cases, whatever has been the special line of their effort, by the things which these leaders make possible to others, they have builded better than they knew, and counseled wiser than they understood. These facts indicate that behind all proper advancement is the one, eternal- ever-present, infinitely wise, and all controlling first cause; and that first cause is God, the Ruler of the universe.
Among these characters, who have been raised up to lead on a great religious reform, was one of our own race variety, a Negro, Richard Allen, of Philadelphia, Pa.
In 1760, there lived in Philadelphia, Pa., on Fourth Street, near Spruce, in a house of one Benjamin Chew, a man and wife, both held as slaves. On the 14th day of February, these two had born unto them a son, whom they called Richard. The parents of Richard, with three other slaves, were sold into Delaware, to one Mr. Stokely.
In 1777, Richard embraced religion and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, at seventeen years of age. At that time the Methodist Church was as unpopular as its colored member. In 1782, Richard was licensed to preach, being twenty-two years old.
Such was his thirst for liberty, he purchased his freedom and returned to Philadelphia in 1786, and joined St. George's Methodist Episcopal Church, where, where he was permitted to preach to the colored people at the 5 o'clock meetings. Richard Allen was the first colored man licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church in this country. He was the traveling companion of Bishop Asbury, and tradition says that he was present at the organization of the historic Christmas Conference held in Lovely Lane, Baltimore, Md., 1784.
Through Richard's influence, the colored members of St. George's Church greatly increased; so much that their white brethren were greatly annoyed and began to feel that their colored brethren were in their way. Tradition says that the first evidence of this was that "the officers passed a rule compelling their colored members to sit but one in a pew, and that next to the wall."
This plan did not work well, for the building soon became lined with colored members. They then said that they should go into the gallery. This order was complied with, then they went up next to the pulpit and, when things waxed warm, as was often the case with Methodists in those days, the colored brethren became a little noisy. They were then ordered to the rear gallery, where many of them refused to remain.
In 1787, the colored people of Philadelphia, connected with St. George's Methodist Episcopal Church, met to consider the unkind treatment received at the hands of their white brethren.
Caste in the church was so intense, and prejudice at the altar of God so arrogant, that while at prayers, the colored brethren were pulled off their knees and ordered to the back part of the house. Richard Allen said, "If you will wait until prayers are over, I will bother you no more."
For this, and other unkind treatment, they resolved to withdraw from their white brethren. A committee, consisting of Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, William Gray and William Wilcher, were appointed to select and purchase a lot with a view of building a house where they might worship God with the freedom which their conscience dictated.
Richard Allen bargained for a lot on the corner of Sixth and Lombard Streets. But, a majority of his committee having selected a lot on Locust Street, those who came out of St. George's Church decided to erect a house upon it. Richard Allen assisted them, and when they began to build, after prayer, he took out the first shovel of dirt from the foundation. At the meeting of the little society, to choose what religious society they should connect themselves with, all but Richard Allen and Absalom Jones, decided in favor of the Church of England--the Episcopal.
The house was finished and dedicated, and Richard Allen was invited to become the pastor, but he refused, saying: "I am a Methodist, I think that the doctrines and simple forms of spiritual worship of the Methodist suit the colored people best." Having himself bargained for the lot on the corner of Sixth and Lombard Street sand paid for it, Richard Allen purchased Simms' old blacksmith shop, hauled it on the lot, and fixed it up as a house of worship.
Those of the Methodist faith soon gathered about him, and the "Allenites" as they are called, increased in numbers daily. Then began a tedious series of expensive lawsuits, and perplexing opposition from their white brethren, who tried to get their property. Finally, a victory was gained in the courts, a charter obtained from the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, a new house of worship was erected, which in 1794 was opened, dedicated by Bishop Asbury, and called "Bethel." This was the origin of African Methodism.
Twenty-nine years after, in 1816, a convention of colored Methodists from several States, who were having similar grievances, assembled at Philadelphia, in April, organized the first General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church its connectional form, and Richard Allen was elected and ordained bishop, being the first Negro bishop in America.
I believe that God led the sainted Allen to consider the wretched condition of his people, under the weight of neglect, ostracism and religious repression, to provide for them and coming generations, a place of divine worship--a place where they might find freedom from caste in the sanctuary of God, and where the gospel of Christ, unhampered, might be preached in its fullness, and its richness to all persons, without regard to race or color.
These were times that tried men's souls; times when, for a gathering of colored people to be found assembled without the presence of a white man, was considered a conspiracy and a crime. Yet, with undaunted courage, true to his convictions, this holy man of God, with heavenly zeal, launched his little craft upon the waters, lashing and heaving with caste and color prejudice in society, church and state, with an intensity that swept all before it, which bore the impress of Africa. Is it to be thought out of order, therefore, that Richard Allen and his followers should refuse to submit to such treatment at the altar of God, with the lessons of the war of the Revolution so vividly in their memories? The struggle of 1776 for national independence had opened a new era in the political world. The people of this country had lately
passed through a hot conflict with England for civil and political liberty.
The spirit of liberty was pervading the air. Eleven years had only served to justify the wisdom of the struggle for Colonial independence. Hence, such times were not favorable for pulling people from their knees, while at prayer in the house of God. African Methodism had its origin, therefore, in stirring times in politics as well as in religion.
Upon these troubled waters, with opposition and misrepresentations without any anxiety within, one hundred and twenty-nine years ago, in November, this small African Methodist bark set sail down the century, with her canvas unfurled to heavenly breezes, and her colors at the masthead. "God our Father, Christ our Saviour, Man our Brother," she has come to us, the African Methodist Episcopal Church of today.
Many and marvelous have been the changes in the politics and in the religion of the country, affecting the nation and race. All who knew Richard Allen have joined him in the better land. None of the founders of our beloved Zion are here. Generation has followed generation, and millions have passed through our Zion, brushed the dews of Jordan and joined the hosts in the heavenly Canaan.
The Allen movement was not the impulse of an obstinate individuality; it was the promptings of pity, patriotism and piety, exerted through manly independence. Such an independence as protests against caste at the altar of God, and demands free religious thought, action and worship. What event in the early history of the colored people has given to the American Negro higher incentives and more encouragement in efforts at self-help, than the spirit and achievements of Richard Allen and his followers?
There were times in its history, when there were no church or school houses among its followers, no books nor connectional journals, but, her altar fires never were suffered to go out.
In many places the religious leader was the pious patriarch of the plantation; the leader of the community by his devout and Godly speech. With these, "the mother in the cabin" who held and encouraged the community prayer meeting, nurtured the infant churches until the circuit preacher arrived.
The log hut used for the church house, few and far between, in which, at stated periods, were held religious meetings, did much to encourage and unite the people, as well as to strengthen the cause. In connection with these were the grove camp meetings in the summer season, where the multitudes gathered for miles around. It was here they assembled, inspired by the enchantments of nature; refreshed by cooling breezes, permeated with the fragrance from foliage and flowers of the fields beyond. It was amid the simplicities that the feelings of the soul were inspired for edifying worship and devotion and, under these conditions, the preacher of the occasion, often without culture or book knowledge, but having a strong grip upon his faith in God, inspired by visions of spiritual things, proclaimed with power, the plain and pointed truths of the gospel, and Christian duty, as he believed and felt.
It was in these temples the people worshiped with devout hearts, conscious of the nearness of the omnipresent and gracious God. It is easy to surmise that visions of the heavenly country were opened to the view of those pious and plain people, who with pathos, harmony and melody, chanted the stanzas:
"There is a land of pure delight,
Where saints immortal reign;
Infinite day excludes the night,
And pleasures banish pain."
Looking away from their burdens and sorrows, they saw
"Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood
Stand dressed in living green,
Where generous fruits that never fail
On trees immortal grow."
It was along these lines, where the altar fires were kept continually burning. It was in these epochs of the Church history, where its sturdy stock was nurtured, whose heredity gave to the A. M. E. Church of today the material composed of men and women, who under better conditions and appliances, are inspired to such noble endeavors, and to accomplish such marvelous achievements.
From Philadelphia, its cradle, in 1787, African Methodism went to Baltimore and organized in 1816. William Lambert, a Missionary from Philadelphia, planted the African Methodist banner on Mott Street, in New York City, in 1819.
David Smith, a young Evangelist of Maryland, planted a mission seed in Georgetown; organized Israel Church in a rope walk on Third Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W., Washington, D. C., on November 14, 1828. Crossing the Allegheny mountains westward, he became acquainted with James and George Coleman and Abraham Lewis, at Pittsburgh, Pa., converted them, and planted a mission there in 1834.
Bishop Morris Brown organized the Ohio Conference, our Western work, at Hillsboro, Ohio, in 1830, and the Canada Conference at Toronto, in 1840.
Rev. William Paul Quinn, who joined the Philadelphia Conference May, 1833, was a member of the Pittsburgh Conference in 1840, and on September 5th, was appointed over the Pittsburgh circuit. On October 2, 1840, Bishop Morris Brown organized the Indiana Conference, at Blue River; N. J. Wilkerson, secretary. William Paul Quinn was put in charge of Brooklyn circuit, Ill., and was also given the oversight of all the circuits of the Indiana Conference. In the same year, 1840, he was appointed by the General Conference as the general missionary, to "plant the A. M. E. Church in the far West."
He reported to the General Conference of 1844, as follows:
"A brief outline of the rise and progress of the missions in the West, viz.: Number of colored inhabitants of the State of Illinois, 1800; churches established, 47; communicants, 1080; local preachers, 47; traveling preachers, 20; traveling elders, 7; lay members, 2000; Sunday schools, 40; pupils in schools, 920; teachers, 40; Sunday school scholars, 2000; Sunday school teachers, 200; teachers in public schools, 100; temperance societies, 40; camp meetings held, 17. Our people," reported he, "in these States are chiefly employed in agricultural pursuits."
This report, it is thought, induced the General Conference, in May, 1844, to elect and ordain William Paul Quinn a bishop of the A. M. E. Church.
The Missouri Annual Conference was organized at Louisville, Ky., September, 1855, with Rev. D. A.
Payne, D. D., presiding. Rev. John M. Brown, then pastor at New Orleans, secretary.
Bishop Quinn had sent Rev. J. M. Brown to New Orleans before the war. He organized the St. James A. M. E. Church, and two other missions in that city.
Rev. Charles Burch carried African Methodism to New England and planted a mission at New Haven, in 1830. Rev. Noah C. W. Cannon organized it on Anderson Street, Boston, Mass., in 1830, and from thence it spread over the New England States.
African Methodism on the Pacific Coast was planted by several local preachers, among whom were James Roswell Brown, of Washington, D. C.; Uriah Stokes, of Baltimore; Barney Fletcher and Jeremiah B. Saunderson, of Massachusetts. Rev. Thomas M. D. Ward, of the New England Conference, was assigned to the oversight of the mission field on the Pacific Coast, in 1854.
The California Annual Conference was organized April 6, 1865, in the Powell Street A. M. E. Church, Bishop J. P. Campbell, presiding; J. B. Saunderson, secretary. At this session, James H. Hubbard, Peter R. Green and John T. Jenifer were ordained deacons--the first Negroes ordained on the Pacific Coast.
The first African M. E. Society in the State of Arkansas was organized by Local Deacon Nathan Warren, at Little Rock, in 1866, in the home of Mother Lucy Elrod, and her husband, Anthony Elrod, was the first class leader and steward. Revs. Peter Donty and Levi F. Carter were the first pastors.
The Arkansas Annual Conference was organized at Little Rock, November 9, 1868. Rt. Rev. J. P. Campbell presiding. Willitm A. Rector, a layman, acted as secretary.
African Methodist Missionary work among the Indians in the Indian Territory, was begun when Aaron T. Gillett was sent from the Arkansas Annual Conference as a missionary in 1870.
Elder James F. A. Sisson, a white brother, was transferred from the Georgia A. M. E. Conference and was appointed as presiding elder by Bishop John M. Brown, over the Pulaski District, which included the Indian Territory, also. This brother labored assiduously with George T. Rutherford, Granville Ryles and others, to spread the African M. E. Church among the several Indian tribes.
Bishop T. M. D. Ward organized the Indian African M. E. Conference on October 25, 1879, in the home of Brother Billy Kile, at Yellow Springs, Indian Territory. Thus Ham began in an organized way to evangelize Japhet.
It is evidenced by many facts that the spirit and fame of African Methodism had reached as far South as South Carolina in the early thirties. It is this fact that drew Rev. Morris Brown North to be ordained deacon in 1817, but the influence of American slavery and its pernicious laws prevented this species of Negro Christianity spreading in Southern territory.
But, "God's clock struck the hour," as Dr. Ransom has put it. The War of the Rebellion came; slavery was shot to death; emancipation came and the Southern territory was made fertile soil for African Methodist gospel seed.
The Baltimore Conference, by resolution offered by Elder A. W. Wayman, resolved to enter with missionaries the Southern field in 1863. Revs. James Lynch and J. D. S. Hall, of New York Conference, were appointed, and who sailed from New York on May 29, 1863. They commenced their operations at Hilton's Head, having as their co-laborers Rev. Wm. G. Stewart and Thos. W. Long. These were followed soon after by Bishop Wayman and Rev. Elisha Weaver, who went as far as Savannah, Ga., in 1865. Richmond had fallen. (See Handy's History.) Bishop D. A. Payne, with Elders James A. Handy, Licentiates; James H. A. Johnson and T. G. Stewart, organized at Charleston, S. C., in the colored Presbyterian Church, the South Carolina Conference of the A. M. E. Church. They were joined several days after by Elder Richard H. Cain and A. L. Stanford, of New York, and George A. Rue, of New England.
One year later, May 9, 1866, Bishop D. A. Payne, with Elder Handy at their head, with twelve preachers, left Wilmington, N. C., for Savannah, Ga., to hold the first session of the South Carolina Conference, at which forty itinerant preachers were ordained. Fourteen elders and seven superintendents were appointed to oversee the work. Elders Henry McNeal Turner and A. L. Stanford, for Georgia; Elder Richard H. Cain and A. T. Carr, for South Carolina, and Elder Charles H. Pierce, for Florida.
From these beginnings have grown and spread the gigantic and vigorous branch of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in the South and West. Thus far, we have traced the foot-steps of the pioneers over the four cardinal points of the North American continent.
The pioneers were not contented to confine the spirit of the Church of Richard Allen to the American continent, they had the courage to carry it abroad. Rev. Daniel Coker, one of the original sixteen founder fathers, carried African Methodism to West Africa, with the original colony in 1819, where we now have churches, missions, conference, preachers, schools and a resident bishop.
The Baltimore Conference sent accredited missionaries to Hayti in 1827 in the person of Scipio Beans. In 1830, the little church at Samana, Santo Domingo, sent Rev. Jacob Robinson and Isaac Miller with accredited petitions to be recognized by the African M. E. Church in America.
Rev. C. W. Moselle, an accredited missionary of the A. M. E. Church, with his sainted wife, labored from 1876 to 1884 at Port au Prince, Hayti, preaching and teaching. John Hurst, now bishop, with George Dorce, Joseph Meves and Jean Bullot, were sent to Wilberforce University to be trained under the department of missions for the foreign fields.
Rev. R. A. Sealy, D. D., of Georgetown, Demarara, has been superintendent of the A. M. E. Mission work for many years in the West Indies.
Bishop C. S. Smith was assigned to the oversight of the West Indian work in 1900, and held sessions of conferences at Georgetown, and with British America and South America in 1901.
Bishop B. F. Lee, visiting Demarara, S. A., in 1899, finding young Peter Luckie, a promising young man, induced him to go to Wilberforce University. He was educated under the Missionary Department and returned to that field a graduated missionary gospel minister.
When the Ethiopians of South Africa heard of the A. M. E. Church, St. Peter's Church, in Pretoria, South Africa, of which Rev. Joseph M. Kanyane was pastor, sent Rev. J. M. Duane, in 1896, to the A. M. E. General Conference at Wilmington, N. C., praying recognition and membership. He was received by Bishop H. M. Turner and Missionary Secretary H. B. Parks and Rev. Joseph S. Flipper, at Atlanta, Ga., July 12, 1896, into the A. M. E. connection in due form. Then Bishop Turner went to South Africa and organized the Cape Colony South African Annual Conference in 1896 with 7175 members. Now they have churches, conferences, schools, pupils and resident bishop. Hence it is seen that African Methodism, since its birth, has spread with efficiency and acceptance from east, west, north and south.
The islands of the sea sought the light also, as they caught the joyful sound. Under the influences of the grace of God, as administered to thousands at the hands of African Methodist preachers and bishops, the great South has arisen since freedom in her might, in response to the call to a higher, stronger and efficient manhood and womanhood.
Thus we have traced very scantily the initial steps of the pioneers of African Methodists, as they sought to reach, enlighten, evangelize and lift up the benighted sons of Africa.
Conscious always of forces seeking to oppose and destroy, they seldom assembled in conference preliminary services without opening with the hymn:
"And are we yet alive
And see each other's face?
Glory and praise to Jesus give
For His redeeming grace."
Nor were they ever unmindful of the weighty responsibility involved in the momentous task they had undertaken, as they evidenced it when at nearly every business meeting was heard:
"A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify;
A never dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky."
The purpose in mind of the founder father of African Methodism, as stated above, was, among other things, to exemplify in the black man the power of self-reliance, self-help by the exercise of free religious thought with executive efficiency. Hence, her spirit and practices have been, at all times and places, to encourage fraternal and economic organizations among the colored race; so that, upon any proper occasion, she throws open her churches and halls for funerals, anniversaries and conventions.
But note, we are far from making the claim that the African Methodist Episcopal Church has been the sole agency in the religious and educational enlightenment and uplift of the colored race variety. We do not forget the vast and efficient work along these lines of the Zion A. M. E. Church, the Baptist Church, the Methodist Episcopal, the C. M. E., the Congregational, the Presbyterian and Catholic churches--branches of the Church of Jesus Christ.
James Varick, of the Zion; Miles, of the C. M. E. Church, with other founders and leaders, live in history and heaven, as well as Richard Allen and his compeers.
The closing decade of its century of connectional activities shows no decline, but is characterized by evidences of broadened and more efficient efforts and results.
1. IN HER DEPARTMENT OF MISSIONS there is greater zeal for the cause of missions, local and foreign, in the churches and the conferences. The devout women of the church are intensely active, holding up the hands of the wide-awake secretary at its head. More moneys are raised, both for home and foreign fields; more missions planted, and its laborers better provided for.
The secretary visits the foreign fields, and gives the connection a mission lesson book and ably edited "Voice of Missions." Hence, we are more and yet more enlightened, awakening to the fact that we are our brother's keeper.
2. THE CHURCH EXTENSION. The people are becoming more and more enlightened as to the usefulness and power of this arm of the church. More funds are given, more poor missions and feeble churches aided, more embarrassed debt-burdened valuable property relieved and saved. And the realty in property values belonging to the connection is evidenced in this department, as in none other. And the church has shown good judgment in letting its present Secretary, Dr. B. F. Watson, remain long enough as its manager to gain, by experience, that efficiency, without which no executive head can reach the requirements, nor his departments its possibilities. Never have there been such surprising amounts raised by single efforts in cash, rallies to clear off mortgage debts, as are being done today.
3. THE DEPARTMENT OF CONNECTIONAL EDUCATION evidences a similar spirit. In addition to the twenty-four connectional schools, two more in Georgia, and two in Africa, are recorded. Morris Brown University, of Atlanta, Ga., has its new Flipper Hall, and Wilberforce University its new Girls' Dormitory, costing $55,000.
In Georgia, at Morris Brown, and at Waco, Texas, Bishop Smith, with his co-workers, surprised us all by the cash raised to clear those schools of their indebtedness. Now, Bishop John Hurst, with his forces, is putting new life in Edward Waters College, at Jacksonville, Florida. Thus, the Georgia regulars and Wilberforce veterans and the Florida fliers have set the connection a pace.
There is an increase of pupils in all of our connectional schools. Their graduates are snatching honors from other leading colleges. The church is no longer dependent solely upon other scholastic sources to supply her faculties with instruction in the higher branches, but she now furnishes them for her own and other schools.
The writer is sure that Dr. A. S. Jackson, A. M., Commissioner of Connectional Education, will come to the General Conference in 1916 reporting larger amounts collected for education.
4. THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. In spite of the limited fields of employment open to our people,
and the hard times, with a few exceptions each annual conference session reports an increase of dollar money. If it were possible to show the aggregated amounts raised in all the local charges, we should scarcely credit the correct amounts stated. But it is interesting to note that these labors result, not simply in cash raising, but large increases in membership as well. Evidencing the fact that cash for revenue and grace, do not antagonize each other when a righteous purpose is back of them.
5. THE PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT. The Book Concern, the oldest, mooted in 1817, has not grown with equal efficiency in comparison with the growth of connectional intelligence. Yet it has remained through the vicissitudes, giving us the Discipline, Hymn Books and Christian Recorder, with other books, helping the church to tell its own story, until now, under the management of Rev. J. I. Lowe, D. D., new vitality and efficiency are seen, so that with the scholarly R. R. Wright, B. D., Ph. D., editing the Recorder; R. C. Ransom, D. D., editing the A. M. E. Review; Editors G. W. Allen, D. D., of the Southern Christian Recorder; J. Frank McDonald, D. D., with the Western Recorder; the Georgia African Methodist, Paul Quinn Weekly, the House of Protection and the Chicago Recorder, together with the number of books bought and read, the world has evidences that the African Methodist Episcopal Church is not dying nor retrograding from mental stagnation.
6. THE JUVENILE DEPARTMENT. Our Sunday schools are more largely attended, have better trained instructors and efficient superintendents, better graded system of lesson studies and superior class of music. The moneys raised under the management of this department have enabled its efficient Secretary-Treasurer, Ira T. Bryant, LL. B., to erect the most completely equipped and largest printing house among colored people in the United States.
Akin to this in purpose and work is the Allen Christian Endeavor, with its literature and organ, The Endeavorer, under its efficient manager, Rev. Julian C. Caldwell, D. D., by which we are enabled to husband the youthful energy, ambition and tact in service for Christ and the church.
There are three additional events in the history of African Methodism, which evidence that it is moving in the spirit of progress, we note among the above, viz.:
1. Rev. J. W. Rankin, Missionary Secretary, visited the foreign field, West Africa, in 1914; also that he, with Bishop Hurst, visited Jamaica in 1915, and planted the A. M. E. Church by receiving into the connection representatives of several denominations.
2. The Missionary Congress at Chicago, thus inaugurating a new missionary propaganda.
3. The Educational Congress, held at Atlanta, Ga., July 8, 1914, under the joint management of the Sunday School Union and the Allen Christian Endeavor; Ira T. Bryant and Julian C. Caldwell, secretaries.
Now, we may raise, at this point, the question--has there been good judgment shown, such as to justify the undertaking of the father founders of the African Methodist Episcopal Church? Let a few statistical facts answer:
| Members in the United States | 620,000 |
| Missionary Field | 25,000 |
| Bishops ordained | 39 |
| Active Bishops | 13 |
| Pastors | 6,554 |
| Local preachers | 6,437 |
| Number of churches | 6,000 |
| Number of parsonages | 2.748 |
| Sunday school members | 231,828 |
| Teachers and officers | 5,851 |
| Books in Library | 150,000 |
| Church schools in United States | 16 |
| Church schools in West Indies | 2 |
| Church schools in West Africa | 3 |
| Church schools in South Africa | 3 |
| Students in Missionary Schools | 4,725 |
| Annual conferences | 79 |
| Publishing Houses | 2 |
| Newspapers | 6 |
The A. M. E. Church raises, per annum, for trustees and stewards' departments, $2,472,298.42; raises, annually, for missions, home and foreign, $75,000; for education, $1,000,000; according to the United States Census, has church property valued at $11,303,882.
The Church is operating in the United States, Canada, West Indies, South and West Africa, Hayti and San Domingo, and South America.
-- From the A. M. E. Review, January, 1916.
By R. R. Wright, Jr.
ALLEN, RICHARD, the first bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born February 14, 1760, a slave of Benjamin Chew, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At an early age he, with his father, mother and three other children, was sold into the state of Delaware, where, on a farm in the neighborhood of Dover, he was brought up. About 1777 he was converted and soon afterwards, about 1780, began to preach. His religion was of such a genuine sort that it affected every department
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP RICHARD ALLEN.
of his life. As a result his master permitted prayer meeting and preaching in his house, and was himself converted. The master showed his conversion by making it possible for his slaves to become free. Accordingly Richard Allen and his brother bought their freedom for $2000 Continental money. Richard Allen left his master and began to stir for himself, with a job of cutting cord wood; then he was employed at $50 (Continental money) a month in a brick yard; then he worked as a day laborer; then as a teamster hauling salt during the Revolutionary War from Rehobar, Sussex County, Delaware. During all of this time he preached whenever he could. After he had acquired experience he began to travel from place to place preaching. Like Paul, he worked with his hands for his own support as he preached. In the fall of 1783 he was in Wilmington, Delaware; later and until spring of 1784 he traveled and preached in New Jersey; later in 1784 he traveled and preached in Pennsylvania, going to Radnor, Lancaster, York and other points. Thence he went to Baltimore, where, December, 1784, he was present at the first general conference of Methodism in America, and met the leaders. In 1785 he traveled and preached with Rev. Richard Watcoat on Baltimore Circuit, and held meetings in "Methodist Alley," Baltimore, Maryland. Bishop Asbury recognized Richard Allen's talent and frequently gave him assignments to preach. The latter part of 1785 found him again at Radnor. In February, 1786, he came to Philadelphia and preached at St. George Methodist Church and at different places in that city where there was then a large colored population. He said, "I soon saw a large field open in seeking and instructing my African brethren, who had been a long forgotten people, and few of them attended public worship." He started prayer meetings in Philadelphia and soon had 42 members. As early as 1786 he proposed a separate place of worship for the colored people, but the whites opposed this, and only three colored brethren favored the plan. But because of Allen's power the number of colored worshippers at St. George grew very large, and soon they were separated from the whites, who did not want them with them or away from them. The crisis came one Sunday morning when the sexton ordered the colored people to the gallery. But some made a mistake in the seats. Bishop Allen thus narrates it, "He told us to go, and we would see where to sit. We expected to take the seats over the ones we formerly occupied below, not knowing any better. We took those seats. Meeting had begun, and they were nearly done singing, and just as we got to the seats, the elder said, 'Let us pray.' We had not been long upon our knees before I heard considerable scuffling and low talking. I raised my head up and saw one of the trustees, H-- M--, having hold of the Rev. Absalom Jones, pulling him off of his knees, and saving, 'You must get up--you must not kneel here.' Mr. Jones replied, 'Wait till prayer is over.' Mr. H-- M-- said, 'No, you must get up now, or I will call for aid and force you away.' Mr. Jones said, 'Wait until prayer is over and I will get up and trouble you no more.' With that he beckoned to one of the other trustees, Mr. L-- S-- to come to his assistance. He came, and went to William White to pull him up. By this time prayer was over, and we all
went out of the church in a body, and they were no more plagued with us in the church." Thus began the movement for an independent African Church. In 1787 the "Free African Society" was started by Richard Allen and Absalom Jones. Later Absalom Jones began the African Protestant Episcopal Church of st. Thomas, but the majority of the people remained Methodist and stayed with Richard Allen, worshipping in a house. The first property bought was on Lombard Street near 6th. But this property was not accepted by the majority of the committee. So Richard Allen kept it. After Allen and Jones separated, Allen purchased an old building used as a blacksmith shop and moved it on this lot. On July 1794 this church was dedicated by Bishop Asbury. In this church there was organized a Sunday school and a day and night school, and regular ministers were sent by the Methodist Conference. In 1799 Bishop Asbury ordained Richard Allen deacon, and in 1816 he was ordained elder.
Other African churches had begun in much the same way in other parts of the country. Many of these were, like Bethel, under the Methodist Conference, but were dissatisfied. The organizing genius of Richard Allen got many of these together and in April, 1816 they held their first convention in Philadelphia and formed the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Richard Allen was elected bishop and ordained April 11, 1816. He served until his death, March 26, 1831. In 1817 he published the first discipline. Richard Allen was a man of independent character as shown by his conception of religion, by his purchasing his freedom, by his unwillingness to have others support him, by his unwillingness to travel as a preacher's assistant in the South and sleep in his carriage at night, by his resentment of the treatment of his people at St. George. He was a thrifty man. As a slave he did more work than other slaves; he always could find work; he seemed to have been a good trader; he owned several teams when Bethel was established though he had been in Philadelphia but a short while. He was a man of strict integrity; when a slave he delivered a message, his word was taken and he did not have to bear a note with his master's signature. When the first property was purchased for the African Church, though a majority of the committee wanted to give up the property and did do so, Allen had given his word, and therefore kept it. And this should ever be remembered in connection with the oldest piece of property owned by any Negro organization in the country--the first bond on it was Richard Allen's word.
His remains lie buried in Bethel Church, Philadelphia.
Abington, Rev. C. W., third son of Peter and Lucinda Abington, was born near Roanoke, Va., March 22, 1872. His father died before he was four years old, and the responsibility of providing for six small children fell upon the widowed mother, thus the boy was early in life taught the value of self help and self reliance. His uncle, Rev. William Frantz, both a preacher and a teacher, adopted him, but on account of poor health could not long keep him. Finally Rev. P. M. Onley, of Cumberland City, Md., took charge of him. Young Abington had evidenced signs of ability and Elder Onley and his wife, endeavored to give him the best training possible. But Mr. Onley was stricken with paralysis, and in 1885 young Abington began to shift for himself. He went first to Knoxville, Tenn., then to Chattanooga, where he continued his studies along with his work. He was converted in 1892 and joined Warren Chapel A. M. E. Church, Chattanooga, and despite the aversion to the ministry he was unable to resist. He was licensed to exhort shortly after his conversion by Rev. Jas. T. Gilmore, and licensed to preach by Rev. Dr. T. B. Caldwell. After studying some time in Chattanooga he entered Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Ga., from which he graduated with honors in the class of 1898, and at once was given a mission on Ft. Wood, Chattanooga, and in his
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. C. W. ABINGTON.
few months'stay he remodeled and beautified the church building, organized a choir and elevated the church service. At the annual Conference in 1898 he was transferred to the Oklahoma Conference and stationed at Guthrie, Okla., remaining five years, adding many people to the church and building the first pressed brick church owned by colored people in Oklahoma, also purchasing the property adjoining the church for a parsonage. To him was due also the credit for the Y. M. C. L. in Guthrie. He was transferred in 1904 to the Central Texas Conference and stationed at Metropolitan Church, Austin, Texas, a church erected by Bishop Grant. It was burdened with debts, many dating back fourteen years, and the building had also become almost a total wreck. But in a short while all of the old debts were discharged, confidence built up, the building entirely remodeled and provided with all modern improvements and comforts including an adequate heating plant, and the citizens of Austin, without regard to denomination, gave substantial recognition of his splendid services. At the close of his five years he was given what was then said to be the greatest ovation ever accorded a retiring minister in Austin, regardless of race variety. From Austin Rev. Abington was transferred to the Northeast Texas Conference and stationed at Bethel Church, Dallas, which was erected by Bishop Armstrong. He remained at Dallas for five years, being more popular at the end than at the beginning. The Dallas Express, a local journal, said of his pastorate, "it is conceded to be the most
successful administration, viewed from every angle, in the history of the church, and this verdict is acquiesced in by persons who have held membership in the church for more than thirty years. Each year the church has extended its influence in the community. Aside from paying the mortgage debts and buying the house and lot adjoining the church property, and paying for it excepting one note, $150.00, not yet due, the building has been completely renovated and equipped with all modern conveniences and is unexcelled for beauty and comfort." Five hundred and thirty-seven members were received during the five years, most of whom were converted in the church meetings, and $24,569.05 was raised for all purposes, and the largest pipe organ in any colored church in the State was installed.
From Dallas Rev. Abington was sent to Corsicana, where he is doing the same kind of work, being now in his second year. The Rev. Mr. Abington is a hard student, an eloquent and convincing preacher, a methodical pastor, a tireless worker and a lover of humanity. He received the degree of D.D. from Paul Quinn College in 1908. He was a delegate to the general conferences of 1912 and 1916, and a member of the Missionary Board.
Adams, Revels Alcorn, was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, February 28, 1869; the son of Rev. Henry Page and Caroline V. Adams, both of Mississippi, the
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. R. A. ADAMS
former having come from Kentucky, and the latter from Virginia. His boyhood and youth were fraught with many discouraging circumstances.
After completing the common school courses of his native State, he pursued the theological course at Payne Theological Seminary; then went into the active ministry, serving with success the various charges to which he has been appointed, adding large numbers to the church. Among others, he has served as pastor the leading charges in the following cities in Mississippi: Clarksdale, Brookhaven, Jackson, Natchez and Greenville; also Avery Church, Memphis, Tennessee. It was while serving the last named church, with a salary of $1800.00, that Dr. Adams answered the call to the work of an evangelist, in which he has been so eminently successful. He was ordained deacon by Bishop Tanner, January 15, 1892, and elder by Bishop W. B. Derrick, December 10, 1896. For about ten years he resisted the voice within which called him and found excuses in favor of refusing the evangelistic field, but eventually he humbled himself to the will of God, and as a result into his life has come the joy of doing service for humanity and helping thousands to find the peace which world giveth not.
The following are some results of his evangelistic campaigns: at Natchez, Miss., 376 converts; Detroit, Mich., 600; Zanesville, Ohio, 140; Cincinnati, Ohio, 160; Boston, Mass., 84; Chicago, Ill., 800; Kansas City, Kansas, 250; Kansas City, Missouri, 300; Charleston, W. Va., 400. Dr. Adams also lectures on Social Purity, Sex Hygiene and Eugenics, and is a student of sociology. He is corresponding secretary of the New Evangelical Association, president of the National Home Purity League, editor of the Home Purity Magazine, author and publisher Cyclopedia of African Methodism in Mississippi and the new sensational book, "The Negro Girl," and composer of several musical productions.
Dr. Adams signs; also plays the piano, organ, cornet and violin, and directs his own choirs in evangelistic campaigns.
Alexander, Connie C., was born of slave parents, but devoted Christians, in Pulaski County, Arkansas, October 20, 1881. His mother, with whom he is now living and whom he supports, is a loyal Christian. His father, who died in 1912, was one of the industrious farmers in Arkansas, and had been a class-leader in
[ILLUSTRATION]
CONNIE CALVIN ALEXANDER
the African Methodist, Episcopal Church for thirty-five years.
Mr. Alexander's education was received in the public schools in Pulaski County, near Little Rock, Arkansas, in the tribal schools in the Indian Territory (now Eastern Oklahoma), Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Arkansas, and the High School, Kansas City, Missouri. He was converted August 20, 1900, afterward joining the A. M. E. Church.
In 1912 he was licensed to preach by the Rev. L. E. Nelson, of the North East Oklahoma Conference of the A. M. E. Church.
Alexander, Wellington Grenville, was born at Orange, Orange Co., Va., December 25, 1860, the first of seven children of Lewis and Celia Alexander, members of the A. M. E. Church. The family early after the war removed to the District of Columbia, where he attended the Government School, a Quaker school, the city public schools and Howard University. He also studied in and graduated from the Chautauqua Scientific and Literary Circle, Bishop J. H. Vincent, chancellor.
Young Alexander professed religion and joined Mt. Pisgah A. M. E. Church during the pastorate of the
[ILLUSTRATION]
DR. W. G. ALEXANDER.
Rev. Jno. P. Cox, filling the positions of organist of the choir, teacher and superintendent of the Sunday School, class leader, trustee, steward and local preacher. He joined the Baltimore Conference May 9, 1879, holding its session at Union Bethel, now Metropolitan, under Bishop J. M. Brown. His first appointment was Queen Anne Circuit, Anne Arundel Co., Md. He was ordained deacon by Bishop Payne at Easton, Md., May, 1881, and elder by Bishop Payne, May, 1883. He has held the following appointments:
West River, Md.; Frederick, Md.; Emanuel, Portsmouth, Va.; St. John, Montgomery, Ala.; St. John, Birmingham, Ala.; St. James, Columbus, Ga.; Bethel, Atlanta, Ga.; Stewart, Macon, Ga.; Campbell Chapel, Americus, Ga., and built the church at West River, Md., costing $3000; reduced the mortgage indebtedness at Frederick, Md., of $3000, one half; lifted mortgage at Portsmouth of $1000, at which place he built and furnished a parsonage costing $5500, paying over two-thirds of its cost; renovated the church at Montgomery at a cost of $2300, paying quite two-thirds of its cost. At St. James, Columbus, he paid $1700 on a debt of $3000; at Big Bethel, Atlanta, he reduced the mortgage of $32,000 to $17,000, tore down and rebuilt this great structure at an additional expense of $21,000, leaving only $3000 of this extra cost due. At St. John, Birmingham, Ala., he secured the deeds of this property by compromise suit, securing a two-story parsonage almost as a gift, which was improved, and on completion was worth $3500 to the Connection. He removed the debt of $1800 on Steward Church, Macon; Ga.; purchased the triangular lot adjoining, paying $1000 cash for it; secured by suit property of Armistead Bryant, valued at $4000. At Campbell Chapel, Americus, he remained six months, reducing the indebtedness $750. He has received into the church by revivals, etc., 3750; baptized 1800; was a delegate to the General Conference at Philadelphia, Pa., May, 1892; Wilmington, N. C., May, 1896; Columbus, O., May, 1900; Chicago, Ill., May, 1904; Philadelphia, 1916.
Morris Brown College conferred upon him the degree of A.M., Wilberforce University, Ohio, the degree of D.D. Wellington, Jr. studied at Morris Brown College and Lincoln University; Florence was graduated as a trained nurse from Morris Brown College; Grant studied at Morris Brown College.
He has been a contributor to the Christian and Southern Recorders, Voice of Missions, Voice of the People, New York and Atlanta Age, People's Advocate, Colored American. The following pamphlets have been written:
"Living Words," "The Triumphant March of African Methodism," "The Man in the Pulpit, what he should be, what he should know." He has delivered the following addresses: "Richard Allen, the Pioneer in Negro-American Achievement," "The Negro-American in the Civilization of the Caucasian," "The Literary beauties of the Bible for lovers of Literature," "Payne, Crummall, Douglass, modern masters of the pulpit and platform," "The pulpit and the schoolroom in Negro-American Uplift," "Lectures on Biblical Archeology."
He has set to music three of Bishop D. A. Payne's lyrics, which appear in his book, "Domestic Education." He is a Mason and Knight of Pythias.
He was curator of Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, Hampton, Va., for four years; a director of the Anti-Saloon League; a member of the World's Congress of Religions, Chicago, Ill.; of the Southern Sociological Congress; the National Geographic Society; president of the Southern Race Congress, Macon, Ga. For ten years he was dean and professor in Turner Theological Seminary, Morris Brown College, Atlanta, Ga. He served as Presiding Elder of the South Atlanta, Rome and Valdosta Districts A. M. E. Church, and fraternal messenger to the General Conference of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, Little Rock, Ark. He was elected to organize Young People's Christian Endeavor Societies throughout the A. M. E. Connection, but declined that he might rebuild the wrecked Big Bethel Church, Atlanta, Ga. He was elected president of Payne University, A. M. E., Selma, Ala., but declined He was voted for for Bishop at the General Conference at Columbus, Ohio.
His wife, Mrs. Harriet Alexander, to whom he was married in Washington, D. C., May 9, 1876, has faithfully and courageously kept up with the work of her husband, and is a leading member of The Colored Women's Federation and other civic league clubs, and the Eastern Star Chapter. They own their own home at Atlanta, Ga.
Dr. Alexander has lectured by invitation to such schools as Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta University, Clark University, Morris Brown University, Spelman. Atlanta Baptist College, Tuskegee, Hampton, Tallahassee, Edward Waters, Jacksonville,
Payne, Selma, Montgomery Normal and Industrial Institute, Montgomery Girls' Industrial and the Huntsville Normal Agricultural College.
Allen, Rev. George Wesley, son of George and Margaret Allen, one of ten children, was born August 10, 1854, in Lee County, Alabama. Parents were members of A. M. E. Church.
Began attending school in 1867, and attended irregularly twenty years. He received much of his instruction from professors in colleges and high schools for whites, who taught him privately, as he was prohibited from attending their schools because he was colored. Received the degree D. D. from Payne University, and Wilberforce University.
Was converted July, 1867, and joined M. E. Church (South) the same year, there being no A. M. E. Church near.
He held almost every office in the church, steward, trustee, class leader, exhorter, local preacher, Sunday school teacher, pastor, presiding elder and general
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. G. W. ALLEN, D.D.
officer. Was licensed to preach in 1878 at Enon, Alabama, by Rev. Cain Rogers, P. E.; ordained deacon December, 1892, at Eufaula, Ala., by Bishop A. Grant; ordained elder December, 1894, at Union Springs, Ala., by Bishop A. Grant. Joined Annual Conference at Opelika, Ala., under Bishop W. J. Gaines, December, 1890.
Has held the following appointments: Phoenix City Mission, four years; Salem Circuit, two years; St. Peters and Grant Chapel, three years; presiding elder of Montgomery District, four years; presiding elder of Union Springs District, six months, until General Conference of May, 1904, at Chicago, when he was elected editor of Southern Christian Recorder, succeeding Rev. G. E. Taylor. He has built the following churches: Bethel, Bullock Co., Ala.; Gaines Chapel, Girard, Ala.; Grant Chapel, Phoenix City; St. Peters, Lee County, Ala.; aided in the erection of several others. He has been a delegate to General Conferences in 1900, 1904, 1908, 1912, and is a member of the Centennial General Conference of 1916. He was voted for the bishopric in May, 1912.
Married Mrs. Phoebe Harvey Allen of Stewart Co., Ga., March 2, 1876. They have eight splendid children, all of whom they have given a first-class education, and in this respect are greatly to be complimented. The seven sons and one daughter are: Griffin A. Allen, M. D., 37 years, finished Tuskegee; at Meharry, as pharmacist and physician; also finished Girard City High School in Girard, Ala.
William W. Allen, age 35, finished at Girard City High School and Georgia State College at Savannah, Ga., and was business manager of the Southern Christian Recorder, and a member of the General Conferences of 1908, 1912 and 1916.
James L. Allen, age 33, finished at Girard City High School and Georgia State College.
John S. Allen, age 31, finished at Girard City High School, and took a college course at Clark University and Lincoln University of Missouri.
Alexander J. Allen, A. B., age 29, finished at Girard High School; finished college course at Clark University; is in senior year and class for B. D. at Yale University.
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. G. W. ALLEN
Nimrod B. Allen, A. B., B. D., age 27, finished Girard City High School; finished college course at Wilberforce University, and B. D. at Yale University.
Marion A. Allen, A. B., age 24, finished Girard City High School and college course at Atlanta University.
Bertha Lee Allen (only living daughter) finished at Columbus, Ga., and at Atlanta University, and is now studying in Boston, Mass.
Contributed to many newspapers and magazines. He was manager of the Columbus Progressive Age, Columbus Messenger, editor and manager of the East Alabama Messenger, and is now editor of the Southern Christian Recorder.
Addressed graduating classes at Columbus City High School, Payne University and others. Connected with A. F. and A. M. and International order; K. of P. and some local societies. Was W. M., secretary and treasurer in A. F. and A. M. He is a Republican and was representative in the Alabama Legislature two years and was elected a second time but counted
out by Democrats. Dr. Allen lives in his own home and has been actively associated with the Orphan Home and Y. M. C. A. of Columbus, Ga.
Allen, Mrs. Phoebe C., wife of Rev. G. W. Allen, D. D., editor of the Southern Christian Recorder. Miss Phoebe C. Harvey and Prof. G. W. Allen were united in matrimony March 2, 1876. Rev. C. S. Smith, (now Bishop) performed the marriage ceremony near Eufaula, Ala.
Allen, Miss Mattie A., former district superintendent of S. S. of Phila., was born October 31, 1872, at Bensalem, Pa. One of twelve children born to Leroy and Lucy Allen. At an early age was converted in the Bensalem A. M. E. Church. Been an active worker in the church and Sunday school, filling office as
[ILLUSTRATION]
MISS MATTIE A. ALLEN
teacher and superintendent. She was District Superintendent of the Philadelphia District Sunday Schools of the Philadelphia Conference for six years, from 1909 to 1915. She was educated in the Bensalem public schools; also took a course in training for nurses.
Alston, Lewis Markfield, was born in Charleston, S. C., September 10, 1859. After receiving a common school training in the public school, he served at trade in the George S. Hacker Door Sash and Blind Factory, and upon completion of his trade, was employed as a mechanic, serving as apprentice and tradesman for a period of thirty-five years.
In the year 1883, January 10, he was joined in matrimony at the age of twenty-three, to Miss Maggie Jeanette Motte, by the Rev. J. F. Dart.
He joined Emanuel A. M. E. Church, Charleston, S. C., May 24th, 1883, and was fellowshipped and appointed a steward by the Rev. L. R. Nichols the next year. He was elected clerk of the church during the pastorate of Dr. W. W. Beckett; appointed a class leader during the pastorate of the late Dr. J. H. Welch. He has been frequently elected a delegate to district conferences and was the delegate from Emanuel Church to the last Electoral College, from which he was elected a lay-delegate to the Centennial General Conference in Philadelphia, 1916. He is now in his twentieth year as clerk of Emanuel Church, under the
[ILLUSTRATION]
LEWIS MARKFIELD ALSTON
pastorate of Rev. A. E. Peats, and is a prominent factor in the community and church life of the city of Charleston, S. C. His wife, Mrs. Maggie J. Motte Alston, is a stewardess and president of the South Carolina Conference Branch of the W. H. & F. Society.
Alston, Mrs. Maggie J., President Conference Branch of Women's Home & Foreign Missionary Society, South Carolina Conference, was born in
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. MAGGIE J. ALSTON
Charleston, S. C., February 17, 1860, the daughter of William and Jeannetta Motte Alston. She attended Simonton and Avery Normal Institute of Charleston; became a member of Emanuel A. M. E. Church during the pastorate of the late Bishop M. B. Salter; became
a Sunday School teacher at the age of sixteen years, and is still serving in that capacity. She has served her Church in many ways and is now an active member of the Stewardess' Board.
Sister Alston is so deeply interested in the affairs of her Church that she has attended the Annual Conference Sessions for the past twenty-eight years. At the Annual Conference held at St. George, S. C., 1905, she was made President of the W. H. & F. M. Society of the South Carolina Conference Branch. During that time she has held conventions yearly and raised more than nine hundred dollars for the cause of missions.
In 1908 she attended the General Conference at Norfolk, Va. In 1911 attended the Quadrennial Meeting of the W. H. & F. M. Society at Birmingham, Ala. In 1912 she attended the General Conference at Kansas City, Mo., and in 1915 the Quadrennial Meeting of the W. H. & F. M. Society in New Orleans, La.
Becoming a member of the old Emanuel Church under Rev. (later Bishop) Salter's pastorate, she served the following pastors: Revs. L. R. Nichols, B. H. Williams, N. B. Sterrett, W. W. Beckett, J. H. Welch, H. W. B. Bennett, and A. E. Peets, and raised, during Drs. Welch and Bennett's pastorates, $1,892.73 on the new Emanuel, and to use her own expression, "feels neither tired nor weary but will work until she awakes in Christ's likeness." At the age of 22 she was married to Mr. L. M. Alston, a member of Emanuel Church. The two have lived together happily and served in the Church together for 34 years.
Alston, Rev. W. R., was born in Marion, S. C., in 1853; was converted and joined the church at the age of 16. He attended the public schools of Marion and received his later education under the direction of H. T. Haynes, of Charleston, who afterwards became Secretary of State for South Carolina during Governor Chamberlain's administration, and the Rev. J. B. Middleton, a noted minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
He taught school for a number of years. While engaged in teaching he was licensed to preach by the late Rev. William E. Johnson, who at the time was the leading character of the A. M. E. Church in South Carolina. In February, 1880, he was admitted into the South Carolina Conference on trial, ordained a deacon under the missionary rule by the late Bishop John M. Brown, and appointed pastor of the Centerville Station. In 1883 he was ordained an elder by the late Bishop William F. Dickerson, in Morris Brown Church, Charleston, S. C.
In 1885, when the rebellion led by the afore-mentioned Rev. William E. Johnson occurred, which resulted in the birth of the Reformed Methodist Union Church of South Carolina, the Rev. W. R. Alston combatted the Rev. Johnson and his followers in defense of African Methodism. He met the enemy on the Britton Neck Circuit, and by argument, persuasion and preaching, took back the St. Wright Church with a large membership. This Church had gone over to the "Johnson faction," as it was then called.
The A. M. E. Church at Florence was about to be captured when the Rev. Alston urged the Presiding Elder, the late Rev. D. J. Lites, to convene the ministers of the Marion District in extra session of the District Conference. At this District Conference, held in Marion, Rev. Alston said: "Mr. Chairman and brethren, I move that eighty dollars of money we have in hand to purchase a District personage be paid to this white lady, who will give us deeds and titles for our church property at Florence and then we can forbid the 'Johnson faction' making further entry thereon." By this act the A. M. E. Church was held fast in Florence and more permanently established.
Later he was called by the officers of St. John Church, at Marion, to assist them in preventing the "Johnson faction" from making inroads on the Church there, for the Rev. Johnson, himself, was holding services in the Graded School building and making heavy attacks on the A. M. E. Church in his efforts to have the people of St. John follow him. Rev. Alston, through a prominent white attorney of the town, J. Monroe Johnson, procured an injunction restraining the rebel ministers from further use of the school building. He then preached to and pleaded with the members of St. John Church in full congregation assembled, which put an end to the spirit of rebellion, then apparently burning in many of them, as a result
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. W. R. ALSTON
of the eloquence and brilliancy of Rev. William E. Johnson, whose influence as a preacher and Presiding Elder in the A. M. E. Church prior to his rebellion was deeply felt by ministers and laymen alike. In after years, when the Rev. Johnson was ordained Bishop of the church founded by himself, he often referred to Rev. Alston in most laudable terms on account of the latter's work in resisting the advance of the "Johnson faction" in defense of African Methodism.
The subject of this sketch has been a successful pastor in the thirty-five years of his ministry and has never had his character marked by an Annual Conference. He has pastored sixteen charges within that period of time, most prominent among which were Centerville, Florence, Mt. Zion and Beaufort Stations. He served for a number of years as Recording Secretary of the South Carolina Conference. At the adjournment of that Conference, at Walterboro, S. C., December, 1913, he was re-assigned to his charge, Mt. Zion Church, in the Beaufort District. One week afterwards, Bishop Coppin asked him to transfer to the
Piedmont Conference and fill a vacancy by accepting the pastorate of Bethel Church in the City of Laurens, which charge he now holds.
Amos, Rev. Adolphus A., was born in Barbados, West Indies, October 12, 1873. He attended the public schools when only five years of age. He spent six years in the public schools and four years in college. His father was a minister of Wesleyan Methodist Church.
Converted at only twelve years of age he joined the church which his father was pastoring, being licensed to preach January, 1888.
Soon afterward he went trading with the Royal Mail Boats between Europe and America, Brazil and Central American ports, but at length he ceased traveling and landed in America April, 1900. Here he visited and joined the A. M. E. Church, in which he was ordained deacon by Bishop Gaines, July 5, 1908. He first pastored St. Luke's A. M. E. Mission; then served as a supply at St. John's Church; then St. James Mission. He was ordained Elder by Bishop Gaines May 21, 1911, and is now serving as pastor for the second term at the Emmanuel A. M. E. Church in New York. This church he has had incorporated with the intention of erecting a suitable place for worship. In seventeen months he had twenty-five converts and fifty-seven additional members and raised over $1357, and has a Sunday School of fifty-three scholars.
Anderson, Rev. Boyle C., was born in Shelbyville, Co., Ky., 1861; moved to Cincinnati the same year, then in 1865 to St. Charles, Missouri, then to Sturgeon, Boone Co., Mo., and later to California, returning in 1888. Was licensed to preach by Rev. W. B. Ousley in 1888. Ordained Elder at St. Joseph, Mo., by Bishop B. T. Tanner in 1899.
Attended Wilberforce and graduated in Class of 1896.
Has assisted in building and repairing many of the churches he has pastored. Before he became a member of the Conference he organized a church at Centralia, Mo., his sister having given a lot. Held the following appointments: Chillicothe, Mo., 1897; Clarksville Circuit, 1900; Salisbury and Utica Circuit in 1902; Wentsville, 1903-6-7; Canton Circuit, 1903-9-10; Breckinridge, 1904; Canton and La Grange, 1911-12; Frankford and Salt River, 1913-14, where he renovated the church and put in new electric lights.
Anderson, H. P., was born in Salisbury, Pa., his father having been transported here in the early forties via "The Underground Railway." His early religious impressions were received from a Quaker family for whom his father worked. Losing his father early in life, young Anderson supported his mother and sister at first on the farm, then by working in a brickyard at Trenton, N. J., and later as a coachman. During all this time he was reading and studying with a view to entering Wilberforce University, which he did in 1889. Here he was converted and called to preach. Here also he met the young woman who afterwards became his wife. He spent seven years at Wilberforce completing the college and theological courses. He supported himself largely by dining-car service during vacation. While at Wilberforce for two and a half years he pastored a mission at Cedarville, Ohio. He was sent by Bishop Tanner on entering the New Jersey Conference to Morristown, N. J. While here he took a two years' post-graduate course at Drew Theological Seminary. Through Bishop Derrick he was appointed to St. James' Church, Newark, N. J. Here, as at Morristown, the church was renovated. Here he also organized a Y. M. C. A. for colored men. After five years at Newark, Bishop B. W. Arnett assigned him to Mt. Zion, an old and influential church at Trenton, N. J. During his pastorate here the church was newly carpeted, the walls frescoed
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. H. P. ANDERSON, D.D.
and a new pipe organ installed at a cost of $2000. Next he was assigned by Bishop W. J. Gaines to St. James' A. M. E. Church, Atlantic City, N. J., the largest church in the conference. Here he has remained seven years and done great work in the way of handling church obligations to the amount of $28,000. Rev. Anderson has served as secretary of his conference six years and has been three times elected to the general conference. He attributes his success in the ministry largely to his wife, who is his chief aid in Sunday-school work. Mrs. Anderson, who is the daughter of Rev. Jeremiah Lewis, one of the leading ministers in the Ohio Conference, is a graduate of Wilberforce University and has had experience as a public school teacher. For four years Rev. Anderson was head of the Knights of Pythias of New Jersey, resigning in order to devote himself more fully to the work of the pastorate. While Grand Chancellor of this organization he doubled the membership in New Jersey. Rev. Anderson was a member of the Educational Board 1908-16, the General Conference Commission 1916, the Episcopal Committee of the General Conference 1916, and received a large vote for missionary secretary at the Centennial General Conference.
Anderson, Rev. J. C., is pastor of Quinn Chapel A. M. E. Church, Chicago, Illinois. He entered the itinerancy in January, 1889, at Marshalltown, Iowa, and has served from the smallest missions to stations of first rank in the Connection, pastoring such churches as St. James, St. Paul, Minn.; Wayman Chapel, Chicago, Ill.;
Quinn Chapel, Louisville, Ky., and his present charge, Quinn Chapel, Chicago. He is now pastoring his fourth charge in nineteen years.
He has organized churches and bought and paid for church property of every description and wiped out debts wherever he has gone, and added scores and hundreds of souls to the church in every place. In October, 1911, he purchased a church in Louisville, Ky., which originally cost $75,000 and entertained the West
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. C. ANDERSON.
Kentucky Conference. This property is acknowledged to be the finest and most commodious and convenient church owned by the race in the State of Kentucky.
He studied in Hamline University and the University of Chicago, graduated from Taylor University and later from McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, Ill. A diligent student, he has met with the demands of his community. He led his delegation to the General Conference of 1912, and was a member of the Financial Board from 1912 to 1916, and fraternal delegate to the M. E. Church general conference at Saratoga Springs, May, 1916.
Armstrong, Bishop Josiah Haynes, was born May 30, 1842, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, converted at Jacksonville, Fla., 1868, under the preaching of Rev. William Bradwell. He joined the traveling Connection in the Florida Conference, 1869; was ordained a deacon 1869 by Bishop John M. Brown, and ordained an elder by the same Bishop, 1870. Ordained to the office of Bishop by Rt. Rev. Wesley John Gaines, D.D., May 19, 1896; died March 23, 1898, at Galveston, Tex., was buried at Galveston, Texas, March 27, 1898.
He served in the Civil War as cook, teamster and when the regulations permitted, as a soldier. Coming out of the war he was converted and entered the ministry. He served the following charges: Lavilla Ct.; Lake City Ct.; Monticello, Fla.; Presiding Elder Live Oak District, Florida; pastor Reedy Chapel, Galveston; Bethel, Dallas; Austin, Texas; Presiding Elder of Houston (Texas) District. He was secretary of his Conference for eleven years. He was a member of the convention that nominated General Grant in 1872. He served two terms in the Florida Legislature as representative from Columbia County. He was a member of the F. and A. M. and was Grand Master of the State of Texas for four years. He was a trustee of Paul Quinn College. He built churches at Lake City, Fla.; Bellville, Fla.; Jasper, Fla.; Bethel, Dallas, Texas, and remodeled Reedy at Galveston, Texas.
In 1892 he was elected financial secretary of the A. M. E. Church, and in 1896 at Wilmington, N. C., he was elected to the bishopric and assigned to the Tenth Episcopal District.
He published two works: "Originals" and "What Communion Hath Light with Darkness."
Arnett, Benjamin William, seventeenth bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born March 6th, 1838, at Brownsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania; was baptized at six months old, by Samuel G. Clingman, of the Ohio Annual Conference. Was convicted under the preaching of Rev. Jeremiah Lewis, February 10th, 1856, converted February 14th, received into the Church February 17th by Rev. Leven Gross, of the Ohio Annual Conference; licensed to preach March 30th, 1865, by Rev. J. D. S. Hall, of the Baltimore Conference, Washington, D. C.; recommended to the traveling connection by Rev. William B. Lewis, of the Ohio Conference; received on probation April 16th, 1867, by the Ohio Annual Conference, at Lexington, Ky.; received first appointment to Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, Ohio, April 19th, 1867; ordained deacon April 30, 1868, by William Paul Quinn, at Columbus, Ohio; ordained elder May 12th, 1870, by Bishop Daniel A. Payne, at Xenia, Ohio; assistant secretary to the general conference, 1872; secretary to the general conference, 1876-1880.
In May, 1880, he was elected financial secretary of the A. M. E. Church by the general conference at St. Louis, Mo.; May, 1884, he was re-elected financial secretary by the general conference at Baltimore, Md.; May 19th, 1888, he was elected bishop of the A. M. E. Church by the general conference at Indianapolis, Ind.; ordained May 24th, 1888. His labors have been in the following states since that time.: 1882-1892, the Seventh Episcopal District, comprising South Carolina and Florida; 1892-1893, Arkansas and Mississippi; 1893-1896, Ohio and Western Pennsylvania; 1896-1900, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Michigan; 1900-1904, Ohio, California and Western Pennsylvania; 1904-1906, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Connecticut.
In 1893 he was a member of the Parliament of Religions at Chicago, Ill., delivered six addresses and presided September 15th. The A. M. E. Church presented him a gold medal for the part he took in behalf of the Church. He has held the following positions: Secretary of the Bishops' Council of the A. M. E. Church; historian of the A. M. E. Church, trustee of the Archaeological and Historical Society of Ohio; vice-president of the Anti-Saloon League of America, trustee of Wilberforce University, director of Payne Theological Seminary, chairman Executive Committee, trustee of the United Society of Christian Endeavor, trustee and vice-president of the Normal and Industrial Board of Wilberforce University, statistical secretary of the Ecumenical Conference for the Western Section, 1891-1901; chairman of the Statistical Committee for the Western Section. 1901-1911. He
presided at the Ecumenical Conference, London, England, September 7th, 1901; was chaplain of the National Republican Convention at St. Louis, 1896; presented to President McKinley, for the A. M. E. Church, the Bible upon which he took his oath; he was a member of the Executive Committee, National Sociological Society; Chairman Committee on Legislation and Transportation, National Sociological Society; life member of the Business Men's League of the United States; president of the Publication Board, 1904-1906.
For twenty-four years he edited the "Budget" of the A. M. E. Church. He organized the "Sons of Hannibal," at Brownsville, Pa., 1859; organized the "Sisters of Protection," June, 1859, at Brownsville; in August, 1859, organized the "Mutual Aid Society," composed of men; in 1863, organized the "Brothers and Sisters of Love and Charity," at Brownsville; was a delegate to the national Grand Tabernacle, in 1863, at Philadelphia; in 1864, organized the "Faith and Hope League of Equal Rights," at Brownsville, Uniontown, Washington, Monongahela City, Allegheny and Pittsburgh, Pa.; in 1865 was a member of the State Equal Rights League of Pennsylvania and western solicitor, having charge of twenty-two counties; in 1865 organized a joint stock company and started a store; prepared the charter which passed through the Legislature; in June, 1865, organized Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, at Brownsville, Pa. Was a member of the National Equal Rights League, Syracuse, N. Y., October 4th, 1865, Frederick Douglass, president; member of the Equal Rights Convention, Cleveland, Hon. J. M. Langston, president; secretary of the National Convention, Washington, D. C., December, 1866, Hon. J. M. Langston, president. Was foreman of a jury, where all were white, at Toledo, Ohio, 1872; also foreman of a jury composed of all colored men in the spring of 1872, at Toledo; was chairman of the Committee on Resolutions of the Congressional Convention in 1872, at Toledo, representing five counties, which nominated I. B. Sherwood. Was fraternal delegate to the Miami Convention of United Brothers, August 12th, 1872, at Pleasant Ridge, Ohio; in 1874 was grand orator of the Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria for the States of Ohio and Indiana and a life member of the same; he was a member of the Corinthian Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, at Cincinnati, Ohio; raised to the Sublime Degree Master Mason, August 13th, 1875; was arched in December, 1877, in Gustava Chapter, Urbana, Ohio; Knighted by the Taylor Commandery, at Columbus, Ohio, 1878; was Grand Chaplain Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Ohio in 1879; was Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge, 1879; was a member of the Knights of the Wise Men of the World, at Nashville, Tenn., 1882, and Grand Lecturer of the same; was Grand Lecturer of Councils of the Independent Order of Immaculates, at Nashville, 1883; member of the Independent Order of Good Templars, 1884. The Central Republican Club, of San Francisco, gave him a farewell meeting at the "Wigwam," October 19th, 1886; the Golden Gate Lodge, of San Francisco and the G. U. O. of O. F. tendered him a reception, October, 1886; was a member of the reception committee to welcome Hon. J. G. Blaine to Greene County, 1884; was elected to the Ohio Legislature to represent Greene County, 1886-87; was author of the bill abolishing "Black Laws" of the State, and to provide for the teaching of scientific temperance in all the schools.
Was elected delegate to the Ohio State Sunday School Convention, at Norwalk, Ohio, 1878, and was elected vice-president of the same; was a delegate to the International Sunday School Union, at Atlanta, Ga., 1878, and at Toronto, Canada, 1881; was elected to the Sunday School Union of Ohio to represent them at Robert Raike's Centennial, London, England, 1880; elected to represent the Inter-Denominational S. S. Union, of South Carolina, at the World's Convention, London, England, July 2nd, 1889; May 25th, 1890, he responded to the welcome address of Hon. James A. Beaver, Governor of Pennsylvania, at the International S. S. Convention, Pittsburgh, Pa.; he was elected and was one of the vice-presidents of the International Convention until 1893.
Delivered the Annual Address before the College Societies of Wilberforce University, June 19th, 1877; addressed the Masons of the District of Columbia, May, 1866; also the G. U. O. of O. F. of the District of Columbia; addressed the John G. Whittier Club. of Memphis, Tenn., 1898; delivered an address in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah, July 4th, 1898; delivered an address before the International Anti-Saloon Convention, December, 1898, at Columbus, Ohio; addressed the Congregational Social Club, of Boston, 1899; delivered the Annual Address to the graduates of the High School, Paris, Ky., May, 1899; also to the faculty and students of the Georgia State Industrial School, Prof. R. R. Wright, president, June 7th, 1899; delivered an address by invitation to the Republican State Convention, of Denver, Col., September 28th, 1886. Was one of the invited guests and delivered several addresses at the Centennial Celebration of the first settlement of the Northwest Territory, April 7th, 1888, at Marietta, Ohio; delivered an address in the House of Representatives in the State of Georgia, before the Colored Teachers' Association, December 11th, 1883; was a member of the Centennial Conference of Methodists at Baltimore, Md., December 24th, 1884, and delivered an address, "The Mission of Methodism to the Extremes of Society;" delivered the Annual Address before the students of Claflin University and the Claflin College of Agriculture and Mechanical Institute, May 22nd, 1889, Orangeburg, S. C.; delivered an address at the reception of the G. A. R. in Chicago, August, 1900; also an address on "The Development of the Northwest Territory," in Music Hall, Chicago, October 11th, 1899; has delivered addresses before the International Christian Endeavor Convention, at Montreal, 1893; Cleveland, 1894; Boston, 1895; Washington, 1896; San Francisco, 1897; Nashville, 1898; Detroit, 1899; Cincinnati, 1900; delivered an address at St. James' Hall, London, England, Sunday, September 15th, 1901, and at the Wesleyan Church, Paris, France.
He was married May 25th, 1858, to Mary Louisa Gordon, at Brownsville, Pa. Their union has been blest with the following children; Alonzo T. A., Benjamin
W., Jr., Henry Y., Anna L., wife of Prof. Walter J. Mason; Alphonso T., Florence G., wife of Rev. Morrishaw, of New Jersey; Daniel A. Payne. Bishop Arnett died October 7th, 1906, at Wilberforce, while presiding bishop of the First Episcopal District.
Arnett, Benjamin W., Jr., eldest son of Bishop B. W. Arnett, was born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, in 1866, attended public schools and Wilberforce University, from which he was graduated with the degree A.B. in 1886. He later attended Columbia University, New York. For many years he was a teacher, having taught in Birmingham, Ala.; at Campbell College, at Allen University, at the Georgia State Industrial College
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. B. W. ARNETT, JR., A.M., D.D.
and at Edward Waters College, where he was at one time president. He was chaplain of a regiment of United States Volunteers during the Spanish-American war. He has served as pastor at Springfield, Ill.; Springfield, O.; Brooklyn, N. Y.; Jamaica, N. Y.; Union, Philadelphia, and Bethel, New York, where he built the new edifice, and is at present pastor. He was also presiding elder of the Springfield (Ohio) and the Harrisburg (Pa.) Districts, and was secretary of the Allen Christian Endeavor League, 1900 to 1904. He was twice married and has one daughter. The honorary degrees A.M. and D.D. have been conferred upon him.
Arnett, Rev. Henry Young, pastor of Ward A. M. E. Church, Philadelphia, is the third son of Bishop B. W. Arnett; was born at Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, Ohio, May 26, 1868; attended the primary schools of Cincinnati, afterwards entering Wilberforce University (Ohio), pursuing the normal and scientific courses, graduating with the "Class of '89" with the degree of "Bachelor of Sciences." After completing a course in the Hudson Business College of Columbus, Ohio, he began teaching school. He taught mathematics in the Kittrell Normal and Industrial Institute (N. C.); taught pedagogy and natural philosophy in Allen University (Columbia, S. C.); was private secretary to the president, and then financial secretary of Wilberforce University.
In State affairs he has many times been a delegate to the Greene County Republican conventions, and to the Ohio State Republican conventions; for twelve years he was an asst.-sergeant-at-arms of the Republican national conventions; he has served as a railway mail clerk, and was appointed comparer of deeds for the District of Columbia, by President William McKinley.
As a churchman he has served as Sunday School teacher and superintendent, class leader, steward, missionary, deacon and elder. For five years he pastored the Frankford (Phila.) Station, at the same time pastoring
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. HENRY YOUNG ARNETT, M.S.
at Holmesburg three of these years. Here he reduced the mortgage indebtedness. He has just served his fifth year at Mt. Pisgah Church, one of the most active churches in Philadelphia. Here he has completely renovated the church, making it practically new, and leaves it with all bills paid, no indebtedness and a comfortable bank account.
After serving as a delegate to the General Conferences in Columbus and Chicago as a layman, just as soon as he was eligible he was elected by the Philadelphia Conference to represent it in Kansas City, and is now a delegate to the Centennial General Conference to meet in Philadelphia. He is a member and the secretary of the Finance Committee of the Philadelphia annual conference, and the chairman of its special committee to protect its Bishop from newspaper attacks. For seven years he has been secretary of the Educational Congress and Literary Chautauqua of the First Episcopal District.
He is married and lives at 47 North Ruby street, Phila., Pa. He served as reading clerk at the Kansas City General Conference, and is now a member and the secretary of the General Conference Commission and the sub-commission. For several years he was secretary to the Historical Commission of the church.
Artis, Mrs. Mary Louisiana, was born in Little Rock, Ark. She joined Shorter A. M. E. Church, Denver, Colorado, in 1891, while Rev. P. A. Hubbard was the pastor. Sister Artis has worked along all lines in the A. M. E. Church, doing missionary work out in the far West, in Vancouver and Victoria City in British Columbia. For 25 years she has also worked under the W. C. T. U. She was consecrated a deaconess
in Milwaukee, Wis., in St. Mark A. M. E. Church, by Bishop C. T. Shaffer in 1902. She founded
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. M. L. ARTIS.
Emanuel A. M. E. Church in 1910 in Montclair, New Jersey, where she now resides.
Ashley, H. C., was born July 28th, 1854, at Clinton, Hickman County, Kentucky, and attended the public schools of the community. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church at an early age. In 1879 he was admitted to the Kentucky Annual Conference, under Bishop Payne, and appointed to Louisville. He served here successfully and many other
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. H. C. ASHLEY.
charges, among them at Woodland Mills, Ky.; Memphis, Tenn.; Shelbyville, Ky.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Nashville, Tenn. He served also in Alabama, and was then transferred to New York in 1890. He served Springfield, Mass., three years, and erected a new church, at a cost of $12,000, paying $7000. In 1894 he was made presiding elder of the Trenton District of the New Jersey Conference. He also served the following charges in the First Episcopal District: Macedonia, Camden, N. J.; Trenton, N. J.; Media, Pa.; Jersey City, N. J.; East Camden, N. J.; New Brunswick, N. J., and Long Branch, N. J., where he died, December 28th, 1912, while serving the fourth year as pastor of Trinity A. M. E. Church. He was married to Mrs. M. A. (Burke) Ashley, and they had one child, now Mrs. Ida M. Ashley Browne, of Philadelphia.
Ashton, Mrs. Estella G. (Goodwin), a graduate of Morris Brown University, class 1907, dressmaking and normal; studied at the McDowell School of Dressmaking and Designing, Philadelphia, Pa.; a graduate of the
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. ESTELLA G. ASHTON.
American College of Dressmaking and Designing, Kansas City, Mo., and Carnes School of Dressmaking, Jacksonville, Florida. She attended the Girls Normal School and the W. Phila., Evening High School in stenography and typewriting, Philadelphia, Pa. She is also a skilled hair culturess.
She was converted at an early age, and was a member of Allen Temple, Atlanta, Ga.; is an excellent example of true womanhood. She is now a member of Mount Pisgah, Philadelphia; sings in the choir. She is a devoted wife and daughter.
Askew, Rev. Tony Jackson, son of Andrew Jackson Askew and Flora Adline Sessomes, was born March 20, 1868, at Harrellsville, North Carolina. He is the second son of eleven children. At the age of five years he entered the first school ever taught for colored children in his native town after emancipation. He attended the country schools about seven years, three months to the year; the Plymouth State Normal at Plymouth, North Carolina, three years; Dickerson Seminary at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, two and a half years, and the Western Theological Seminary of Allegheny City, now North Side Pittsburgh, two years. The degree of D.D was conferred by Morris
Brown College. He taught school in North Carolina two years with a first grade certificate.
Converted in Scranton in 1891 under Rev. Chas. A. McGee, he joined the A. M. E. Church and served as class leader, steward, Sunday school superintendent and trustee in said church. He was licensed to preach in 1892, and joined the Conference in 1894 at Wheeling, West Virginia, under Bishop B. W. Arnett, D.D. He was ordained deacon at Wilkesbarre,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. TONY JACKSON ASKEW, D.D.
1895, by Bishop B. W. Arnett, and ordained elder at Brownsville, Pennsylvania, in 1898 by Bishop B. F. Lee, D.D.
He has filled the following appointments: Lock Haven and Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania; West Newton and West Elizabeth, St. Paul, Pittsburgh; Bellefonte, Williamsport; St. Paul, Hamilton, Bermuda, West Indies, served as Presiding Elder of the Conference, Huntingdon and Everett, Pennsylvania, Washington, Pennsylvania. He is at present Presiding Elder of the Pittsburgh District of the Pittsburgh Conference. He lifted a mortgage of $1,000 at Bellefonte, $1,400 at Williamsport, $1,500 at St. Paul, Bermuda; reduced the mortgage $3,500 at Washington, Pennsylvania; built St. Paul Church, S. S. Pittsburgh, at a cost of $10,000, and reduced the debt on same to $3,700. Received into the Church twenty-seven hundred and forty-eight people, baptized eight hundred and twenty-two, married seven hundred and four.
He was financial agent for Wilberforce University one year, a member of the general conferences of 1908 at Norfolk, 1912 at Kansas City, and 1916 at Philadelphia. He has been a member of the S. S. Union Board since 1912, and is a life trustee of Wilberforce University. In 1912, at Kansas City, he was voted for as Secretary of Education. On one occasion he preached the Baccalaureate Sermon to the High School of Mt. Union, Pennsylvania. He has been a contributor to the Christian Recorder and the Voice of Missions, the Bermuda Colonist, and the Williamsport Gazette-Times.
In 1894 he married Mrs. Irene Jane Askew, a young lady of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their one child, Flora Isabelle, 18 years old, was graduated from the Pittsburgh High School in 1915.
Dr. Askew was Secretary of the Pittsburgh Conference for three years and is its present Treasurer, which office he has held for seven years. Was a member, by election, of the Fifth World International C. E. Convention, which convened in Chicago, Ill., July, 1915.
Atkinson, Rev. Robert Lee, son of Isham and Clara Atkinson, was born September 26, 1864, at Smithfield, N. C., and died January 2, 1901, at Southport, N. C. His parents moved to Selma, N. C., in 1868, where he
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. ROBERT LEE ATKINSON.
received his early training in the public schools. His parents being loyal members of the A. M. E. Church were among the founders of St. John A. M. E. Church and Sunday School of Selma, N. C., and trained their son in the laws and doctrine of the church of their choice. He received a normal school training at Shaw University, Raleigh, N. C.; was converted in 1880 and connected with St. John A. M. E. Church, in which he filled the following offices: steward, trustee, class leader, exhorter, local preacher and Sunday School teacher. He was superintendent of St. John Sunday School from 1882 to 1892; was principal of Selma public school from 1886 to 1892, except one year, when he taught at Camden, S. C. He was Worshipful Master of Rough Ashler Lodge No. 52 of Selma, N. C. Masonic Fraternity for several years.
His mother having died in 1883, he being the oldest of ten children, helped to support and educate the other members of the family.
He was licensed to preach from St. John Church, Selma, N. C., in 1887; joined the North Carolina Conference at Kinston, N. C., in November, 1892, under Bishop Gaines, who assigned him to the East Greensboro Circuit. He pastored successfully the following charges: East Greensboro Circuit, Whitsett Circuit, Roxboro Circuit, St. James Station, Winston-Salem, N. C., and New Jordon Circuit.
He was ordained deacon and Elder by Bishop Handy in 1893 and 1895 respectively. In November, 1900, he was transferred from the Western to the North Carolina
Conference by Bishop Lee, who stationed him at Southport, N. C., where, after preaching on the last night of the old year, taking for his theme "The Christian Warfare," he departed this life in the early morning of January 2, 1901.
Atkinson, William C., one of the Church's business men, was born in Black River, Georgetown Co., South Carolina, December 20, 1856, being the son of Amelia and James Christopher Atkinson, the former a member of the A. M. E. Church; the latter of the M. E. Church. There were fifteen other children besides William.
He began attending the rural school in Black River in 1865. He only attended school four years of his life but was given some help in acquiring knowledge by a family for whom he worked. He was converted about 1886 and joined the A. M. E. Church.
[ILLUSTRATION]
WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER ATKINSON
He has held the following offices in the Church: Steward, Trustee, Class Leader and Treasurer of Steward Board.
In December, 1888, he married a young woman of Georgetown, South Carolina. Their union was blessed with nine children: W. C. Atkinson, Jr., E. W. Atkinson, Lena, Theodore, Hughes, Florence, Amelia, Orilla and Janie. One daughter is married. Theodore and Lena are graduates.
At an early age Mr. Atkinson worked at cutting timber, sleeping under a brush tent in the woods; later he tried the carpenter's trade, but not liking it he finally went into the mercantile business, where he has had excellent success.
He is said to own the leading green grocery business in Georgetown, regardless of color. He owns a home valued at two thousand dollars, two brick stores in the business section of the city, and other property in the city and county. Though a prosperous business man, Mr. Atkinson says that his chief work is in and for his Church.
Avery, J. M., the oldest of six children was born in Burke County, near Morganton, N. C., October 10, 1876; his parents being Thomas and Elizabeth Avery. He was graduated from Kittrell College, June, 1900, and in the same year was elected principal of the Graded School of Hickory, North Carolina.
He began his insurance career as local agent in 1900. He is now the esteemed and efficient assistant manager
[ILLUSTRATION]
JOHN MOSES AVERY
and member of the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Mutual and Provident Association, director of the Loyal Knights of King David and the People's Building and Loan Association, treasurer of Lincoln Hospital, class leader, trustee and superintendent of St. Joseph A. M. E. Sunday school, Durham, N. C.
Mr. Avery was a delegate to the General Conference in 1904, 1908 and 1916.
He is president of the alumni of Kittrell College, and secretary of the Board of Trustees.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. C. AYLER.
Ayler, Junius Crowley, was born in Virginia 49 years ago. His father was the son of a German woman and his mother was of Negro and Indian blood.
His early scholastic and religious training was given by his mother. Junius found Christ when a youth, in a "quarter house," on the Via Mead farm, Tensas Parish, Louisiana. He taught in the public schools of Virginia and read theology at night. He served as principal of Suffolk Normal and Collegiate Institute one year. He married Alice V. Jackson, of Suffolk, Virginia, entered the Virginia Conference and was ordained deacon by Bishop John M. Brown and an elder by Bishop Daniel A. Payne, who transferred him to the New Jersey Conference at New Brunswick. He was prepared in private for college and entered the seminary of the Reformed (Dutch) Church and graduated as president of his class in 1886. While pastor at Princeton, N. J., he read law under James E. Hayes, Esq., and was admitted to the bar of New Jersey February 23, 1894. He also studied philosophy for two years and received a certificate (not a degree), dated February 8, 1893, signed by Prof. A. T. Ormont. Afterwards Chaddock College, Quincy, Ill., conferred on Rev. Ayler the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He was then appointed pastor at New Haven, Conn., and he matriculated in the senior class in 1899 of Yale University Law School, took a course of lectures under Simeon E. Baldwin and others. Rev. Dr. Ayler reads the Bible in ten languages and speaks five of them. See Dr. Blyden's "Islam, Christianity and the Negro Race." Also see the "African Abroad," by Wm. H. Ferris, A.M. He has built one church and is building another in Worcester, Mass. He represented the New Jersey Conference in the General Conference of 1892, Philadelphia, Pa. He has served his church as presiding elder in the New Jersey and New York conferences. The saddest stroke of his life was the death of his wife in 1901. Mr. Ayler is author of a little book, entitled "Guide-Lights," of a pamphlet known as the "Constitutional Rights of the American Negro," and of several articles in the A. M. E. Review, including one on "Elohistic Names." He is Republican in politics and a Prince Hall Master Mason.
BARKSDALE, JAMES DRAYTON, was born at Goldsville, S. C., October 24, 1862; was baptized in infancy in Bethel A. M. E. Church, near Clinton, S. C., and has never been a member of any other denomination. He attended such country schools as were available in the early days of his childhood, but having a great yearning for education, he left his home at the age of thirteen
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JAMES D. BARKSDALE, D.D.
years, for the purpose of getting more knowledge. After working as a water boy for two years on the railroad and saving his money, he went to Columbia, the capital of the State, where he attended school. Being unusually apt and studious he had advanced sufficiently at the age of eighteen years, to secure a third grade teachers' certificate, and taught in the public schools of his native county, (Laurens, S. C.), for two years. He then went to Anderson, S. C., and attended Greeley Institute when not teaching. On finishing, he took the teachers' examination at Edgefield, S. C., and obtained a first-grade certificate. He intended to make teaching a life profession. In 1881 he was licensed to preach by Rev. S. H. Jefferson, and in the early part of 1882 was taken up by the presiding elder as a supply. He met the Columbia (S. C.) Conference at Spartanburg, S. C., under Bishop W. F. Dickerson in 1882, and was admitted on trial. He was ordained deacon by Bishop Dickerson at the District Conference
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. J. D. BARKSDALE.
at Manning, S. C., May, 1883. At the next session of the Conference which met at Greenwood, S. C., December, 1883, he was transferred to the Mother Conference (South Carolina). In 1884 he was ordained Elder by Bishop James A. Shorter, at the session of the South Carolina Conference, which met at Beaufort. Because of the great success he had while pastoring in Summerville, S. C., Bishop Arnett appointed him pastor of "Big Bethel," Georgetown, S. C. After three years'
pastorate at this church, with great success, he was sent to Goodwin Circuit by Bishop Salter, and served one and a half years, when Bishop Turner transferred him to Detroit, Michigan, and assigned him to Bethel. After spending four years in the Michigan Conference, Bishop Arnett transferred him to the Indiana Conference, and assigned him to Richmond. From this charge, after one year, he was sent to Evansville, Ind., and served two years, when Bishop Grant transferred him to the Missouri Conference, where he spent less than a year, when Bishop Shaffer transferred him to the Colorado Conference, but after two years was sent back to the Missouri Conference. Rev. Barksdale has always been a close student of books, giving attention to language and science. He has a knowledge of Hebrew, Greek and Latin, but is especially well informed in astronomy and mathematics. Perhaps few average ministers have so good a knowledge of these sciences as he has, especially in astronomy. As a preacher he is rather quiet; never noisy or boisterous, but is most rigid in his reasoning. As a newspaper writer he has received many high compliments from men of letters. He has written papers on scientific and theological subjects. At present he is Presiding Elder in the Missouri Conference and has been for eleven consecutive years, save one. He is a man of modesty and fairness in dealing with men. He is a member of the Centennial General Conference.
Barnes, Mrs. Mattie Gaston, wife of R. B. Barnes, M.D., of Cleburne, Texas, was born December 9, 1866, on the plantation of Hon. Wm. Oxshire, on Little River,
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. MATTIE GASTON BARNES
a tributary of Big Brazos, near Cameron, Tex. Her parents, Nathan and Elizabeth Gaston, although without school advantages, were intelligent and gave their daughter her first training. There being no school in the immediate vicinity of the Gaston residence, Mattie was sent to school at Port Sullivan, but her stay was short. She was next taught by Mr. John E. Conner and wife until she entered Prairie View Normal School, Texas, in 1881, where her stay was attended by many hardships and discouragements, owing to the work she had to do on her father's farm. She remained part of two terms. After leaving Prairie View, she taught private school. While engaged in this work she met Dr. Barnes, who was then the principal of the city school at Rockdale, Texas, at a moonlight picnic in 1886, and they were married in 1887, and taught together in the Nunn community. They have one daughter, Antionette, now Mrs. Baker, of Ft. Worth. They have also an adopted daughter, Rosa Douglass, who has lived with them twenty-three years. In 1889 Prof. Barnes was elected principal of the Gainesville city school, and in 1893, Mrs. Barnes became one of the assistants in the school. She also taught two months at Coesfield. She finished a course in kindergarten work at the Kansas State Normal Emporia, Kans., in 1894, being the only colored member of her class.
She received a diploma in millinery from Madame Jordan's school at Nashville, Tenn., and took a course in hair manufacturing at the Reynold School, Chicago, Ill., receiving a diploma in 1909.
After Dr. Barnes took his medical degree, the family moved to Cleburne, Tex., in 1900, and Mrs. Barnes became active in fraternal circles, having prior to this joined in Gainesville, the Court of Calanthe, the ladies' department of the K. of P. Order. In 1902 she was made deputy; in 1904 was elected president of the Endowment Board, which position she has filled with credit for twelve years.
Mrs. Barnes has at all times placed in the front rank of her activities the work of the Master. Having been started along the right path by a Christian mother and father, she was, when a very small child, taken into the church and baptized by the Rev. Wilhite. She joined Coxe's Providence A. M. E. Church on probation, under the Rev. John Conner, and was carefully watched over by Uncle Ben Williams until she was made a full member. She attended Sunday school conventions and camp meetings where she met many prominent African Methodists, such as Bishops Grant and Cain and Prof. Kealing. She has served as superintendent of the Sunday school at Cleburne since 1902, and has shown great interest in foreign missions.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JOSEPH B. BATTLE.
Battle, Rev. Joseph Bunyan, was born in Barbour County, Ala., March 22, 1875, the son of Rev. Eugene
and Mrs. Queen Battle. His father is a minister of the M. B. Church, and lives in Little Rock, Ark., where Joseph was brought up from about twelve years old. He attended Tuskegee Institute, Ala., and Paine College, Augusta, Ga. He entered the ministry in the year 1898, during which year he was assigned to serve at Charlestown, Ark., on the Charlestown Circuit. He has been a successful pastor and evangelist. He cannot answer all the calls to conduct revivals. He is sometimes called the "Lord's Battle Axe." He has been elected a delegate to the Centennial General Conference from the Northwest Mississippi Conference. He now pastors Jonestown Station, the seat of the first session of that Conference.
Baxter, Daniel M., one of the six children of Aaron and Mary Webb Baxter, both of whom were members of A. M. E. Church, was born October 2, 1872, at Charleston, S. C. His father died when he was seven years of age, and his mother when he was twelve. He began school at the age of seven years, and attended about eighteen years, attending principally the Simonton School, Charleston; private preparatory school in New York. He graduated from public schools of native city and College Preparatory of New York and the theological department of Howard University. Converted
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. DANIEL MINORT BAXTER
at Charleston, S. C., and joined Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church, under Rev. (Bishop) W. H. Heard. He served as steward, trustee, class leader, exhorter, local preacher, Sunday school teacher, chorister, president of Allen League. He was licensed to preach at Washington, D. C., in 1903, by Dr. D. P. Seaton.
Was ordained deacon in 1905 at High Springs, Fla., by Bishop B. T. Tanner; was ordained Elder in 1906 at St. Petersburg, Fla., by Bishop B. T. Tanner. Joined Annual Conference in 1905, at High Springs, Fla., under Bishop B. T. Tanner.
Has held the following appointments: Bracksville, Fla., 1905-1907; Ocala, Fla., 1907-1910; Mt. Zion, Jacksonville, Fla., 1910-1915; Presiding Elder, North Jacksonville District, 1915 to date. He renovated church and parsonage at Ocala, Fla., at a cost of $2000; made addition and purchased land at Brooksville at a cost of $800; completed Mt. Zion Church at Jacksonville at a cost of $4000; lifted mortgages on Macedonia at Brooksville, to the amount of $300; Mt. Zion at Jacksonville to the amount of $1054.39. He has taken 2010 people into the church and baptized 520 persons.
Was a delegate to the General Conference at Kansas City, Mo., in 1912, and is a member of the Centennial General Conference of 1916. He is a member of the Board of Allen League for 1912-16.
Received the degree of D.D. from Edward Waters College, and is treasurer of the same; a member of the Commission to Union Bishops' Council, Washington, D. C. Married in 1891 Miss Laura Anna Alston, of Charleston, S. C. They have two children, Miss Mae E. Baxter, 19 years of age, graduate of Edward Waters College in 1914, and now a sophomore at Oberlin College, and Miss Irene C. Baxter, 16 years of age, third year at Edward Waters College. He has contributed to Times Union, Florida Metropolis, Christian Recorder, A. M. E. Review, and other periodicals, and has written the following pamphlets, "Has the United States in it the Elements of Permanency," "Christian Tradition and Heathen Mythology."
The principal addresses made were: Emancipation Address, 1912; Baccalaureate Sermon, Fessenden Academy; Commencement Address to class of 1907, Edward Waters College; Religious Societies, F. and A. M. He is connected with F. and A. M. Progressive Order of Men and Women, Good Templars, and has been treasurer of Masonic Benefit Association; Grand National Secretary Progressive Order of Men and Women; director of Masonic Temple; is a Republican, and owns several pieces of real estate.
Beaman, Geo. W., was born at Pickens, Miss., November 10, 1867, one of the twelve children of George W. and Elizabeth Beaman.
Dr. Beaman was converted in the year 1882, was licensed to preach at midnight on June 26, 1886, by Rev. Albert Jackson, D.D., of Friar's Point, Mississippi. Was ordained deacon in Grenada, Miss., at the court house January, 1888, by Bishop H. W. Warren of the M. E. Church, having gone to the said church to take advantage of her educational facilities. He was ordained Elder in 1892 at Crystal Springs, Miss., by Bishop Andrews.
He began his education in the public schools of Pickens, Miss., when a boy. He also had private tutors. After finishing the common school he taught public schools in Holmes, Hinds, Pike, Pearl River and Nessha counties, in Mississippi, after which he gave himself solely to the ministry. He built two churches at Bee Lake, Miss., his first pastorate, and organized several others the same year, prior to his ordination. He also pastored successfully at Anding and Vally, Howard Station, Mt. Olive at Yazoo City, Dixon Circuit, Miss., going from this charge to New Orleans University. He advanced rapidly through the college preparatory course, when his means were too meagre for him to longer attend. He took his course in theology at Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Ga., finishing within two years, having taken one year at New Orleans University. He then pastored Laurel St. Church in Springfield, Ill.; Pittsfield and Jacksonville, Ill., and Ft. Madison, Ia. From thence he was sent to Quincy, Ill., to Bethel A. M. E. Church, a most beautiful structure, a large commodious building commanding respect with a very large audience; from thence to East St. Louis, here he bought a
nice house from the Presbyterians and soon built up a large congregation next to Quinn Chapel, South St. Louis, Mo. Here he paid a very annoying debt and soon had things moving on toward victory.
He next transferred to the Arkansas Conference, and was appointed by Bishop Derrick to Antioch Station. Here he built a splendid house of worship and had a great revival, paying the church out of debt the same year, and reporting the largest dollar money fund ever carried to Conference from this point. He also pastored South Hot Springs, Okalana Station, Brown Memorial of Little Rock. This church had the most successful three years during his administration, and was a leading spirit in
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. GEORGE W. BEAMAN, D.D.
securing a home for the "Old Folks" of this community; also organized the "Young People's Interdenominational Union." He was also elected one of the secretaries of the Arkansas Conference, and an alternate delegate to the General Conference at Chicago in 1904. By reason of the removal of one delegate at the General Conference, he was seated as a member of that body. Baxter, Cotton Plant and Derrick Chapel of Helena, Ark., prospered under his pastorate. Bishop Lee wanted a man for Elizabethtown, Ky., and to Embry Chapel he was sent and succeeded handsomely. Many were added to the church and it paid out of debt. He added more than one hundred souls to the church in Harrodsburg, Ky.; the church was much revived and paid out of debt. He was also dean of theology at Wayman Institute. He kept the school on the map. The last year of Bishop Shaffer's administration in Kentucky, when all the leading men in the two Conferences had decided that it was too hard for the few to carry the school, he pleaded for its continuation, and it is still operating. More than 150 persons joined the church in Richmond, his next charge. This church was revived and much paid on its bonded debt. While here he took special interest in the temperance movement, making speeches throughout the State. He took much interest in the educational advancement of our people in Jellico. Many white people joined his church there. His parents having grown aged and infirmed, asked him to come South and take care of them, so he transferred to the North Louisiana Conference, was stationed at Minden, then Shreveport (Staner Hill, Second Church), and Rayville, La. Success attended his efforts in these charges. He preached the annual sermon to the North Louisiana Conference, December, 1914, and immediately Bishop Conner sent him to St. Matthew, Greenville, Miss. He spent one year here and was sent to Shaw, Miss., where he is now doing good work.
His wife was Miss Alberta Drew, of Lake Providence, La., who was born in Greenville, Miss., April, 1890. He has three children, William, Rosale and Tyrus Walls Beaman.
The degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Campbell College in 1914. He preached the Baccalaureate sermon at Southern University, Helena, Ark., in 1906, and the Thanksgiving sermon at Alcorn College, Miss. has made many speeches and addresses, among them one with Newman in Artillery Hall, New Orleans, 1891, at Alcorn College, 1915. He is a splendid speaker and hard worker.
Beard, Jesse E., was born March 2, 1873, on a farm near Guyton, Effingham Co., Ga., where his mother had been a slave. The youngest child of four girls and five boys, being without the care of a father, he was soon doing such work as he could do on the farm until eleven years of age, when his mother moved to the town of Guyton. He attended the city school, working odd hours every day, which he did throughout his school life. When the State College of Georgia was established, Elder W. O. P. Sherman
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JESSE ELIJAH BEARD, D.D.
encouraged him to attend, and so he was one of the first ten young men enrolled. After three years here, he took a three-year course at Tuskegee Bible School. He next attended Gammon Theological Seminary. He also took a course in optics in the South Bend College of Optics.
He was converted at fourteen years. Having always loved the Church and Sunday School, he early felt called to the work of the ministry, and received exhorter's license at the hands of Elder W. O. P. Sherman at seventeen years of age, receiving local license six months later. He joined the Conference under
Bishop A. Grant at Quitman, Ga., 1894, later transferring to the then North Georgia Conference to attend school in Atlanta. Before entering the ministry he worked on the farm, drove teams, worked at the tin trade and taught school. He was ordained deacon in 1896 at Cedartown, Ga., by Bishop H. M. Turner; ordained Elder at Georgetown, S. C., by Bishop A. Grant, in 1898. He served the following appointments: Emma Lane Mission (Emanuel Co., Ga.), Moncks Corner Ct., Kingstree Ct., Beaufort, Francis Brown (Charleston), Prosperity (where the new parsonage was destroyed by fire, he losing all his effects), Clinton, Cokesbury, Greenwood (where he built a fine brick church, leaving a debt of only $5,000), Bethel (Georgetown), where in one rally his people raised nearly $4,000. Here he served five years.
Rev. Beard taught in the Theological Department of Allen University five years, being three years dean of the department in connection with his pastorate. He has been instrumental in bringing many people into the Church. It has been his lot to pay off debts rather than to make them for others to pay. He attributes much of his success to the tireless energy, faithful prayers and loving devotion of a sainted mother.
He was married in 1897, April 28, to Miss Leonora F. Richmond, of Charleston. To them have been born Ruth Ellen, Elbert Hooper and Samuel Adiel. At the age of ten years and seven months, 1909, August 31, Ruth departed for the rest beyond "Death's Sea."
Some years ago, having been invited to deliver the Annual Address at Morris Brown College and the address before the religious societies of Wilberforce University, unsought, the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by each of said institutions.
He has re-published the minutes of the first Conferences held in South Carolina, comprising the Conferences of 1865, 1866 and 1867.
Seeing the great need of such a work, he has in course of preparation a Biographical History of the A. M. E. ministry in South Carolina.
Beck, Joseph Brown, principal Howard School, Georgetown, S. C., eldest of eight children of Elbert and Mary Beck. Was born in Abbeville County, South Carolina, in the 70's. The remains of his sainted mother now rest under the trees of Spring Grove, in Abbeville. His father still lives, known and respected throughout his section as a preacher of holiness and an honest, Christian gentleman. Abram Brown, his maternal grandfather, was a pioneer in the A. M. E. Church in the upper part of South Carolina, the founder of Brown Church, on the Calhoun Falls Circuit, in Abbeville County. In an autobiography he said that after some trouble between the white and colored worshipers of one Salem church (white), in that settlement, where the Negroes used to occupy the rear seats, it was decided that the colored people would have to leave, for they were too zealous in their worship. A white man, Sugar Johnson, encouraged them to build a church of their own. He says: "Sugar Johnson gave me the ground. I stepped the ground and Johnson carried the stakes; and he told me that he would make to me a deeded gift of that land--two acres--on which to erect a church." Brown built an arbor here and called it "Brown Oh!" their first building. He also founded Diamond Hill Church, near Lowndesville, S. C., in much the same way.
Joseph B. Beck pursued his studies in the city schools. His last teacher, Miss Nannie A. Wardlaw, a college graduate of Claflin University, urged him to go to college. Anxious to go to college he passed successfully the examination for teacher's certificate, and taught his first school, "The Poor House," being located
[ILLUSTRATION]
PROF. JOSEPH B. BECK.
near the county almshouse. He entered Allen University, Columbia, S. C., in the fall of 1889. Among the students at that time were A. J. Wilson, W. A. Fountain, S. Simmons and A. E. Peets, all now being leading African Methodist ministers, and D. J. Jordan, C. G. Garrett, E. N. Metts, leaders in the educational field. He finished in the Class of '91, as first honor man, and entered at once upon his career as a teacher. In the years 1900 and 1901, the State Board of Education of South Carolina decided to submit the leading Negro educators of the state to a rigid literary test in order to ascertain their fitness. A summer normal was accordingly planned and held in the city of Columbia, for Negro teachers, conducted by a faculty of the ablest white teachers in the state. Professor Beck attended these test normals and enjoyed the courses. At the close of these two years of work the teachers attending were classified as "Excellent, good, fair or poor," and Professor Beck was classed "Excellent." Since then he has conducted summer schools for teachers in Richland, Greenville, Beaufort, Greenwood, Abbeville and Williamsburg Counties. He was also a member of the faculty of the first state normal conducted by Negro teachers in South Carolina. He attended the National Educational Associations at Hampton, Asheville and St. Louis. At the St. Louis meeting, 1911, he was elected a member of the executive committee of that body.
He successfully passed the United States Civil Service examination for clerk-copyist (first grade), and was offered, June 5th, 1907, an appointment at Pensacola, Fla. Again, in July, he was appointed by the government to a position in New York, and the following September was again certified for appointment
in East St. Louis, Ill. But as he was preparing to leave for East St. Louis, the trustees of the Georgetown city schools, in a called meeting, raised his salary and prevailed upon him to remain at the head of the schools here. He yielded to their proposal, feeling that he could do more good for his people as a teacher than he could in the government service. He is still in charge of this, the Howard school, which has nearly a thousand children enrolled.
Prof. Beck joined the St. James A. M. E. Church at Abbeville, S. C., at the age of twelve years. He was converted and received into the church in the year 1888 under the pastorate of the Rev. C. C. Dunlap. He was superintendent of the St. James S. S., and secretary of the official board of the church for some years; also district superintendent of the Abbeville district; supervising and militant secretary of the "Blue Army," one of the divisions into which Bethel Church, of Georgetown, was divided in the $3650 rally under Dr. J. E. Beard, and is now a member of the trustee board of Bethel and a teacher in the Sunday school.
Some years ago he purchased for his parents a few acres of land on which they were enabled to spend the declining years of their life in comfort. In 1901 he married Miss E. M. Dunmore, the beautiful and accomplished daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Dunmore, of Georgetown, S. C., and they have three promising boys, Joseph, Cornelius and Roswell.
Beckett, Jabez Campbell, oldest son of John Wesley and Catherine Stella Beckett and the grandson of Bishop Jabez P. Campbell, was born October 14, 1877, at Hagerstown, Md. Both of his parents were members of the A. M. E. Church. He was one of nine children. He entered school at the age of 6 years
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. C. BECKETT, S.T.B.
and spent twenty or more years in school, graduating from the Central High School, Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania and Reformed Episcopal Seminary. He received the degree of A.B. from the High School, B.S. from the University of Pennsylvania and B.D. from the Reformed Episcopal Seminary. He was converted in 1889 and joined Union Church, Philadelphia. He has been class leader, exhorter, local preacher, Sunday School teacher and superintendent and president of Allen C. E. League.
He was licensed to preach July 15, 1907, at Philadelphia, Pa., by Bishop B. W. Arnett; ordained deacon June 15, 1908, at Carlisle, Pa., by Bishop W. J. Gaines; ordained Elder May 16, 1909, at Milford, Del., by Bishop Gaines; joined the Annual Conference in 1908 at Carlisle, under Bishop Gaines.
He has held the following appointments: Disney, Philadelphia, 1908; Morris Brown, 1909-1910; Campbell Church, Philadelphia, Pa., 1911, to date. He has taken 150 people into the church; baptized 70 and married 33. He is a delegate to the General Conference of 1916. In 1903 he married Miss Sidney Clifton, of Atlanta, Ga. They have five children, Mary C., age 11; Florida G., age 9; John C., age 7; Chas. C., age 4 and Francis J., age 1.
The subject of this sketch has contributed to the Christian Recorder and has acted as private secretary to Bishops Grant, Gaines and Tyree. He has been associated with the Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital of Philadelphia. He is a modest but forceful character.
Beckett, John Wesley, was born in Georgetown (West Washington), D. C., May 28, 1848. Received his schooling in this community, also attended Wilberforce University, from which he was graduated. Rev. Beckett was known as the sweetest singer the A. M. E. Church produced and thousands were brought to salvation through the songs he sang. He was licensed to preach by Rev. J. T. Jenifer, July 13, 1869, at Wilberforce University, Ohio, and sent as assistant supply to Lebanon Circuit, April 13, 1870. He was
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JOHN WESLEY BECKETT.
admitted to the Ohio Conference by Bishop D. A. Payne at Toledo, Ohio, May, 1870; ordained deacon by Bishop D. A. Payne, Chillicothe, Ohio, April 25, 1872; ordained elder by Bishop D. A. Payne, Zanesville, Ohio, May 22, 1873. He held the following appointments: Lebanon Ct., Ohio Conf., 1870-1872; in September, 1872, he was appointed by Council of Bishops as endowment agent of Wilberforce to succeed Rev. Henry J. Young; resigned as agent June, 1873,
and was appointed as supply to Mt. Pisgah, Washington, D. C., then held Greenville, S. C., 1874; Winnsboro, S. C., 1875; Hagerstown, Md., 1876-77; Bethel, Baltimore, Md., 1878-80. He served also the following churches in the order named: Union, Phila., Pa.; Wilmington, Del.; Bethel, Phila., Pa.; Union, Phila., Pa.; Metropolitan, Washngton, D. C.; Bethel, Baltimore, Md.; Trinity, Baltimore, Md.; Payne, Baltimore, Md. In 1876 married Catherine Campbell, daughter of the late Bishop Jabez Pitt Campbell. She died in 1888. As a result of this union eight children were born, five of whom are living at the present time: Jabez Campbell Beckett, a member of the Phila. Annual Conference; Mary Stella Beckett, a teacher in the schools of Phila.; William H. J. Beckett, secretary of Y. M. C. A. in Washington, D. C.; Mrs. Katherine B. Anderson, and Elvira F. Beckett, a graduate nurse. In 1890 he was married again to Mary S. Chase, of Holmesburg, Pa. Two sons were born to them, Walter Chase Beckett, now an undertaker in Germantown, Pa., and Handy Beckett, a student in Tuskegee Institute. Rev. Beckett was a familiar figure at Christian Endeavor conventions and swept audiences by song. He died in Philadelphia, May, 1906. In 1893 Rev. Beckett paid the mortgage on Bethel, Baltimore, which had stood for 48 years, since Bishop Payne was its pastor.
Beckett, Mrs. Mary S. C., widow of Rev. John W. Beckett, D.D., (the sweet singer), and daughter of Elias and Malvina S. Chase, was born in Holmesburg, Philadelphia County, Pa. She begain her local missionary work under the direction of her mother and her aunt, Miss C. E. A. James, who would once a
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. MARY S. C. BECKETT
week visit the sick and shut-ins, carrying fruit, jellies, etc., reading passages of scripture and singing songs of cheer.
Moving to Frankford, Pa., where there are better school facilities, she graduated from the Wilmot Public School and entered Robert Vaux School, 12th and Wood streets, under the principalship of Prof. Jacob C. White. She next entered the High School.
She married the Rev. John W. Beckett, D.D., then pastor of Metropolitan A. M. E. Church, Washington, D. C. It was then that her public missionary career began. She was president of the auxiliary and made a creditable financial showing of missionary funds. Removing to Bethel Church, Baltimore, 1893, she again resumed missionary work--her auxiliary reporting one hundred dollars, this being the first auxiliary in the connection to make so large a report in mite missionary work. Going to Trinity Church, in the same city, she was again elected president of the auxiliary and the loyal and faithful women, astonished the Connection's Mite Missionary Society by a total of $1,546.38 in five years as follows: 1898-1899, $100; 1899-1900, $125; 1900-1901, $220, 1901-1902, $353; 1902-1903, $748.33; a total of $1,546.33.
They worked with the following motto: "The liberal soul shall be made fat."
Mrs. Beckett has been unanimously elected four consecutive times as corresponding secretary of "The Woman's Parent Mite Missionary Society." Without salary she has written over ten thousand letters to assist, inform, inspire and encourage the twenty-two thousand women of the organization. Moving to Philadelphia, she was made treasurer of Special Fund, Philadelphia Conference Branch.
Beckett, Lemuel M., was born in Washington, D. C., October 9, 1854. In early youth he attended what was then called "Pay School," as the public school system for colored children had not been established. He spent one year at Wayland Seminary,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. LEMUEL M. BECKETT, B.D.
Washington, D. C., and three years at Howard University. He completed his theological course at Wilberforce University in 1884, graduating as the valedictorian of his class. He was licensed to preach in 1877. He was ordained deacon in 1884, by the late Bishop R. H. Cain, and Elder by the late Bishop J. M. Brown. His parents were Clement and Mary Beckett. He is also the brother of the late Rev. J. W. Beckett, the sweet singer. Rev. L. M. Beckett has been a frequent contributor of anniversary sermons to the Christian Recorder. He married Miss Mary C. Giles, of Washington, in 1884. He is now presiding Elder of the Potomac district of the Baltimore Conference.
Beckett, William Wesley, 40th bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, son of Thomas and Martha Beckett, was born in 1859, at Edisto Island, S. C. He began attending school in 1866 and attended fourteen years, attending public school and later Clark University and Gammon Seminary, Atlanta, Ga., graduating from Gammon Theological Seminary. He received the degree of D.D. from Allen University, did post-graduate work at Columbia University for the Ph.D. degree. He was converted in 1870 and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1871. He has held almost all offices in the church. He was licensed to preach in 1878 at Edisto Island, S. C., by Rev. A. T. Carr. He was ordained deacon 1886 at Marion, S. C., by
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP WILLIAM WESLEY BECKETT, D.D.
Bishop Shorter and ordained Elder 1888 at Charleston, S. C., by Bishop Ward. He joined the Annual Conference at Georgetown, S. C., under Bishop Dickerson. He has held the following appointments: Union Circuit, 1884; Brunson Ct., 1885-1886; Sheldon Ct., 1887-89; Attended School, 1888-92; P. E. Beaufort Dist., S. C., 1894; Emanuel Station, 1895; P. E. Mt. Pleasant Dist., 1896-1900; Charleston Dist., 1900-'04; Morris Brown Station, 1904-'08; Secretary of Missions, 1908-'12; President of Allen University, 1912-'16. He built Ward Chapel at Brunson, S. C., at a cost of $1800 in 1885, raised $12,000 for Emanuel Station, at Charleston, S. C., in 1895, remodeled Morris Brown at Charleston at a cost of $5000, in 1905; bought parsonage of Morris Brown, $2500 in 1907. He lifted a mortgage on Emanuel Station at Charleston to the amount of $7000 in 1895. He has taken 2958 people into the church, baptized 987 people. He has been a delegate to all General Conferences from 1896 to 1916. He was a member of the Church Extension Board, 1904-1908. He was Secretary of Missions, 1908-1912 and was voted for bishopric at Kansas City. He married Mrs. Mary Beckett in 1878. Their children are: James O. Beckett, Mrs. Mattie Coasey, Mrs. Laura Lopez and Mrs. Catherine Davis, all of whom completed a common school course. He was editor of the Voice of Missions for four years, and has contributed to the Recorders and daily papers. He preached the Baccalaureate sermon at Wilberforce in 1911 and at Morris Brown, in 1915. He is connected with the Odd Fellows and Masons. He is a Republican and was a member of the South Carolina Legislature in 1882-1884; inspector of Port of Charleston, 1892-1894. He was elected the fortieth bishop of the A. M. E. Church, May 18, 1916, and assigned to West Africa.
Bennett, Henry Ward Beecher, was born November 15, 1865, in Georgetown County, S. C. He was converted very young. His parents sent him to Charleston, S. C., where he entered the Simonton School and finished with honor. He taught school several years; was licensed to preach in 1880; joined the annual Conference in 1889 under Bishop Arnett.
He studied theology in Gammon Theological Seminary at Atlanta, Ga., Allen University, Columbia, S. C. He also took a course in the University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill. He filled the following appointments: Goose Creek Circuit, St. Peter's Circuit, Mt. Pleasant Circuit, Bethel Station, Georgetown, S. C.; Emmanuel Station, Charleston, S. C. He spent five years each at the following three appointments: St. Peter's Circuit, Mt. Pleasant Circuit, Emmanuel Station, Charleston, S. C. Spent fifteen years at three places. At Emmanuel Church he attended Sunday School when a boy and after many years, he was appointed pastor of that great church by Bishop L. J. Coppin, D.D.
He paid off the $28,000 mortgage on Emmanuel A. M. E. Church, November 29, 1909, which set at liberty the members of the church and five officers who had their personal property mortgaged as security for the church. He built three churches, one parsonage. He was a delegate to the General Conference of 1912. Bishop Lee appointed him Presiding Elder of the Edisto District in 1912. He died 1915.
Bentley, Daniel S., was born in Madison County, Kentucky, September 20, 1850. He attended school
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. DANIEL S. BENTLEY, D.D.
at Berea College and later studied theology under the guidance of Prof. R. W. Landis, of the Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
At the age of nineteen he began to preach and was received into the membership of the Kentucky Conference of the A. M. E. Church and remained in that conference fourteen years, working steadily upward from the humblest mission circuits to the prominent stations in Danville, Louisville and Frankfort. He was transferred to the Indiana Conference in 1884, and three years later to the Pittsburgh Conference and stationed at the Wylie Avenue Church, Pittsburgh. Three years later he was appointed Presiding Elder of the Pittsburgh District. Returning to the pastorate at the end of three years he served in succession the following churches: Brown Chapel, Allegheny; Washington, Scranton and St. James', Pittsburgh. In 1906 he was again appointed Presiding Elder, this time of the Allegheny District, which office he filled for five years. Returning once more to the pastorate at St. James', Pittsburgh, he has continued his ministry to Williamsport and Homestead.
He has written considerably, both for the A. M. E. Church Review and the weekly Recorders. He published a volume in 1900 entitled, "Brief Religious Reflections." The volume is being carefully revised and enlarged with a view to a future republication.
He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Livingstone College. He was a vice-president of the Parliament of Religions at Chicago in 1893, an alternate delegate to the Ecumencial Conference at London in 1900, and a member of four General Conferences of the A. M. E. Church and has been a member of the Church Extension Board. Dr. Bentley is prominent in the councils of his church as a man of acknowledged ability and influence.
Bethune, Mary McLeod, a daughter of slave parents, Samuel and Patsy McLeod, was born in a three-room log cabin on a little cotton and rice farm about three miles from Mayesville, S. C., July 10, 1875, being one of a family of seventeen children. Her education was received in the Presbyterian mission school at Mayesville, S. C.; Scotia Seminary, Concord, N. C., and the Moody Bible Training School, Chicago, Ill. She was married in 1898, but soon became a widow, with one child. She founded the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School at Daytona, Fla., October 3, 1904, an institution for the training of girls, and is doing a remarkable work in that State. She is organizer Florida Woman's Christian. Union, trustee Industrial School at Miami, Fla., and Rescue Home, Jacksonville, Fla.; member National Federation of Colored Women, Florida State Federation of Colored Women (vice-pres.), Amanda Smith Community, Married People's Council, Jennie Dean Hospital Club. Address, Daytona, Fla.
Betts, Rev. S. H., was born in Evergreen, Conecuh County, Alabama, July 31st, 1866. At an early age was moved to Milton, Santa Rosa Co., Florida, where he began school and from there to Pensacola, where he completed his literary education. In his early manhood he was a train porter. He was converted February 8th, 1895, joined Allen Chapel A. M. E. Church, and started preaching. He studied theology under the Revs. A. H. Attaway, B. W. Roberts and James Dean, and took correspondence courses with Payne Theological Seminary, Morris Brown University and Edward Waters College. He delivered the annual address to the theological class of Edward Waters College in 1909, and received the degree of D.D. He was the leader of the West Florida conference to the general conference in 1912, one of the leading trustees of the educational work of Florida,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. S. H. BETTS, D.D.
and one of the best presiding elders of his state; a financier and church builder, and an able lecturer. In 1915 he delivered the literary address at Morris Brown University. He was a delegate to the Young People's Congress at Atlanta, Ga., in 1914, and is a member of the Centennial General Conference of 1916, representing the West Florida Annual Conference.
Bianchi, Benj. A., was born at Robertsville, S. C., March 10, 1870, on the plantation of Mr. H. M. Lawton. His father was of Italian descent, his mother an American Negro. His father was a carpenter by trade, was educated before the Civil War in Charleston, S. C., and was never a slave. His mother was a house girl and dressmaker. They were married under the ceremonies which were accorded to colored people at that time.
To the union were born eleven children, seven boys and four girls, only three of whom survive.
When Benjamin was eight years old his father died. Then he began a life of hard toil. He worked as a herdsman for a number of years, sometimes eating roast potatoes and sucking milk from the cows for sustenance. He seldom knew the luxury of shoes, but thinly clad he cut turpentine boxes, dipped gum, ploughed on the farm behind ox, mule and horse, hoed corn, cotton, rice and thinned the cotton with his hands.
Starting his education late in life, when he was twenty years old, he was unable to read a second reader with any intelligence. He attended the country school taught by white Southern teachers, but the facilities were very poor. Having a great craving for knowledge he matriculated at the George State Industrial College, in Savannah, Ga. Prof. R. R. Wright, A.M., Sr., was its president. Later he went to Gammon School of Theology in Atlanta and studied two
years trying to prepare himself for the work for which God had called him. The time spent here was not thrown away. Without such preparation he says that he would not have been able to hold a decent appointment, and thanks Bishop Thirkield and the other good professors whose encouragement he had. He joined the South Carolina Conference December, 1893, under Bishop Moses B. Salter and received his first appointment from the hands of Bishop J. C. Embry, December, 1896, at Aiken, S. C.
He has held the following charges: Estell Mission,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. BENJAMIN ABBOTT BIANCHI
Lake City, Gapway, Black River, Aiken, St. George, Holly Hill and Summerville. He was the P. E. of the Charleston District five years, and St. Luke Station, Charleston, S. C., at which place he is now. In February, 1899, he married Miss Hester E. Scott, at Mt. Pleasant, S. C. To their home were born seven children, five girls and two boys. His wife and two of his children have preceded him to the glory land.
Billings, Rev. Charles Franklin, the son of Hezekiah and Elsie Ann Billings, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born March 9, 1873, in Adams Co., Miss. He was one of seven children. He began attending school in 1879 and spent thirteen years in school, attending schools at Church Hill and Blue Ridge, Jefferson Co., Miss. He is a graduate of Morris Brown and Campbell College. He received the degree B.D. from Campbell College and Morris Brown. He was converted in 1888 and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He has held nearly every office in the church. He was licensed to preach 1895 at Jefferson County by Rev. J. W. Watson; was ordained deacon 1903 at Brookhaven, Miss., by Bishop Tyree, and ordained elder 1907 at Port Gibson, Miss., by Bishop M. B. Salter. He joined the annual conference 1901 at Hattiesburg, Miss., under Bishop Tyree.
He has held the following appointments in Mississippi: Pearl Haven Mission, 1903; Rock Point Circuit, 1903-05; Bethel Circuit, 1906-09; Zion Circuit, 1910; Meridian Station, 1911-12; Laurel Station, 1913; P. E. 1913 to 1916. He built Mt. Salem, Liberty, Miss., $800, in 1907; Billings Chapel, Gloucester, Miss., $650, in 1908; in 1909 Billings Chapel rebuilt, $700.
He lifted a mortgage of $200 on Bethel at Liberty, Miss., and on Galilee, at Caseyville, $150 in 1910. He has taken about 800 people into the church, baptized 450 and married 40 couples. He is Assistant Secretary of his conference in Mississippi. He married Rosa D. Billings, of Jefferson Co., Miss., December, 1905. They have six children, namely, Bertha C., 19 years; Hezekiah E., 17 years; Elsie A., 14 years; Marie V., 10 years; Virgie Lee, 6 years; Rosa A., 4
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. C. F. BILLINGS, B.D.
years. Bertha C. Billings is a graduate of Campbell College. He is a stockholder and director of the Negro State Fair of Mississippi. He owns a home and property at Brookhaven and Jackson, Miss. He is an alternate to the Centennial General Conference.
Boddie, Francis F., one of six children of Benjamin and Sarah Boddie, his mother being a member of the A. M. E. Church, was born at Waverly Hall, Ga., February 15, 1860. He began attending school at nine years of age, attending during ten years, Mt. Zion School, Waverly, Ga.; Atlanta University and Griffin High School, and received the D.D. degree from Morris Brown University; was converted at fifteen years of age, and joined A. M. E. Church; held offices of steward, trustee, class leader, exhorter, local preacher and Sunday school teacher. Was licensed to preach at Sparta, Ga., by Rev. George Coplin, in 1882; ordained deacon by Bishop Dickerson, at Sandersville, Ga., in 1883; elder at Columbus, Ga., by Bishop Shorter in 1885; joined the annual conference under Bishop Dickerson, at Augusta, Ga., in 1882; had the following appointments: Prospect Circuit, Milledgeville Station, 1888-90; Lumpkin Station, 1890-94; Eatonton Station, Fort Valley District, Americus District, Columbus District, Dublin Station, Milledgeville District; built St. Mark's Church, at Lumpkin, Ga., in 1895, at a cost of $18,000. Lifted mortgages on St. John's Church, at Eatonton, Ga., in 1898, to the amount of $600; took 1500 people into the church and baptized 800; was delegate to the general conferences of 1900, 1904, 1908 and 1912. Was a member of Sunday
School Union Board, 1900-04, and Executive Board of Morris Brown College. He died May, 1915. His wife, Mrs. Carrie A. Boddie, was born in Sparta, Ga. They had six children: William Fisher and Julian F., both practicing physicians; Ella J., graduate of
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. FRANCIS F. BODDIE, D.D.
Morris Brown; Elwood, of Eddy High School; Sarah and Alice Boddie. Dr. Boddie was aggressive, and became an important factor in every community in which he served, and in every organization of which he was a member.
Bowling, Alonzo J., was born at Lincoln, Ill., August 25, 1879, one of the four children of Thomas and Jane Bowling, both members of Bethel A. M. E. Church of that city. Alonzo's school life, which lasted twenty years, was spent in the grammar school of Lincoln, Ill.; the High School of Kansas City, Kan.; State Normal, University of Michigan, Ohio State University, Harvard College, being a graduate of each. He has the degree of A.B. from Michigan University, A.M. from Ohio State University and Harvard College; B.D. from Albion College, Albion, Mich., where he received his theological training, having also studied theology in Northwestern University and Boston University. Rev. Bowling was converted in 1893, joining the Methodist Church in Topeka, Kans., in 1895. He has served as class leader, exhorter, local preacher, Sunday school teacher and superintendent of the Sunday school. At present he is director of Dearborn Social Center and assistant pastor of the Institutional Church, Chicago, Ill. He was licensed to preach in 1915 by Dr. W. D. Cook, and joined the annual conference in 1915, at Wilwaukee, Wis., under Bishop B. F. Lee. His wife, Mrs. Katie M. Fowler Bowling, of Atlanta, Ga., he married January, 1916. He has served as editor of "The Conservator," Chicago, and has been a contributor to the "Northwestern Christian Recorder" and the "Broad Ax." He has written "Negro Education," Harvard, 1912; a comparison of Kansas City, Kan., and Brookline, Mass., school systems, 1912; "Elimination of Negro Children from Public Schools," Columbus, O., 1908. He is a Mason, Knight of Pythias. Odd Fellow, Elk and True Reformer. He is one of the moving picture censors of the City of Chicago. He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Geographic Society, and the Royal Society Clubs of London.
Braxton, Rev. W. H., was born in the early 70's at Port Gibson, Mississippi, the eldest son of George and Sarah Braxton, both ex-slaves. At the age of five years he was placed in the public school; at sixteen he graduated from the public schools and entered the Port Gibson Normal and Business Institute, finishing in three years, teaching school in the meantime. Prof. J. M. Taylor, the principal of the institute, recommended Mr. Braxton very highly when he entered Alcorn A. and M. College to finish his scientific course.
He married during his junior year in college, but he
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. W. H. BRAXTON, D.D.
did not give up his desire to secure a college education. During vacation he taught school in Arkansas.
He took a special correspondence course from the New York School of Science. He next took the theological course at Morris Brown College, Atlanta, Ga., and after four years he finished, and the next year he wrote a thesis which secured for him the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
He has done much work both as an educator and pastor, having taught in some of the best schools, built and improved churches and parsonages. With an amiable wife and seven children, he is still happy, despite the much suffering he has undergone to make a record and to have the world to know that he lives in it.
In 1902, while attending a quarterly Conference, he had five boy children burned to death.
He was invited to deliver an address to the Y. M. C. A. of the Louisiana State University in 1909, and it was stated by the President that he was the only Negro that ever had that honor.
Braswell, James S., one of the eleven children of Bird A. and Watie Braswell, was born November 20, 1865, in Leon County, Florida. He attended public schools about seven years, studied theology at Morris
Brown College and further improved through private study. He was converted and joined St. Laurene A. M. E. Church September 3, 1886, and has held every office from Sunday-school teacher to presiding elder.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. S. BRASWELL, D.D.
In 1893 Rev. J. W. Dukes licensed him to preach at Tarpon Springs, Florida; in 1895 he was admitted into the annual conference and ordained deacon by Bishop Grant; in 1900 ordained elder by Bishop Gaines. He held the following charges: Clearwater Mission, 1894; Clearwater and Petersburg Circuit, 1895-1897; Williston Circuit, 1897-1901; High Springs, 1901-5; Ocala, 1905-6; Palatka, 1906-1910; Orlando, 1910-15. He built churches at Clearwater, Petersburg, Williston, Mt. Brook on Williston Circuit, High Springs, Palatka, the last costing $15,000, and paid mortgage of $500 on Mt. Olive, Orlando. He has taken into the church about 2000 persons and baptized about 1200. He was elected an alternate to the general conference in 1908, a delegate in 1912 and 1916, treasurer of South Florida Conference for six years. He edited "The People's Headlight" at Palatka, published pamphlets on "Baptism" and "Infant Baptism," preached baccalaureate sermon for Hungerford Industrial School, is a Mason, Odd Fellow, having held high office in each; a Republican and a house owner, and has been generally active in civic and religious affairs everywhere he has pastored. January 19, 1891, he married Miss Brilla L. Burton, of Tampa, Fla. Three children have been born to them: Birdie Arnett, who died at 21 while studying at Howard University; La Belle C., who died at 18 while at Morris Brown University, and James S., Jr., now 17 years of age, and Marion E., an adopted child of 2 years of age. Rev. Braswell received D.D. from Edward Waters, and is now presiding elder of the Palatka district, South Florida Conference, serving his second year.
Braswell, Mrs. Brilla Launtine (Burton), was born at Tampa, Fla., April 15, 1871, seventh child of Nelson and Maria Burton. She grew up at Manatee and Cedar Key, Fla., entered Cookman Institute, Jacksonville, Fla., in 1885; after spending four terms she taught in Hillsboro County for three years. She married Mr. James S. Braswell at Tarpon Springs, Fla., where they lived until they entered the ministry at Clearwater. She was converted at the age of 14 and
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. J. S. BRASWELL.
has been helpful to her husband in all his ministerial labors, and has been especially successful in Christian Endeavor work. In 1911 she attended the Interdenominational Christian Endeavor Convention at Atlantic City, N. J., and visited many of the leading cities, of the North. Mrs. Braswell is an accomplished dressmaker and milliner and has conducted successful businesses in Ocala, Orlando and Palatka, and has taught her trade to many others who are now successfully following it.
Brent, Rev. Geo. Wilson, son of Mary Taylor and Geo. Brent, was born March 21st, 1860, in a log cabin on the boundary line between the Taylor and Cushingberry plantations, in King George County, Va. It was said that his father (African born) was drugged, trapped, captured and sold to an English naval officer, who brought him to Virginia and sold him again for debt. His parents had a "broom stick wedding" at the marriage of Cushingberry's son to Taylor's daughter, and they respectively, as "man and maid servant," were made a present to the contracting parties. His father ran away and joined the army at the call for colored troops in '63, and for revenge the kidnappers picked his mother up on the public highway and sold her to Georgia. From 1869 to 1870 young Brent was at the colored Orphan Home in Washington, D. C. He was "bound out" to the then noted theatrical stars, Charles R. Thorne and wife, and with them went to Lexington, Mass., and was used as understudy by the young men of the family. He later served in various capacities of bell-boy, stable boy, race horse jockey, amateur pugilist, fireman and deck hand on a river steamer, and longshoreman, all of which increased his knowledge. He was converted in February, 1877, and joined Big Bethel, Baltimore, Md., Rev. J. W. Beckett, pastor. He drew up the first "constitution" for the colored Y. M. C. A., which was, however, rejected.
He moved to Norfolk and for many years was active in St. John A. M. E. Church, especially the Sunday school, of which he was superintendent, helping to lay the foundation for the splendid organization there today. He was also president of the Y. M. C. A. of Norfolk when the first secretary (Mr. W. A. Hunton) was called to the colored branch. In 1888 he moved to Madison, N. J., where for the past 28 years he has been an important factor in church and community life, especially in connection with Sunday school work, having been superintendent of the Madison Sunday school and district superintendent of the Newark district. He was married in 1885 to Miss
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. GEORGE W. BRENT.
Mitta M. Holt, of Raleigh, N. C. They have no children.
Brother Brent is an interesting writer and has contributed for thirty years to the A. M. E. Review, Christian Recorder, Southern Recorder, and secular papers. He pastored and saved the church at Easton, Penna., but was refused admission to the annual conference because he was "too old" it was claimed. He is a great lover of religion, a promoter of morals and a man of ideals.
Brinson, Jesse, was born at Summertown, Ga., March 19, 1875, son of David and Alice Brinson. In a family of seven children three were girls and four were boys. His father, who died in 1904, was for twenty-four years a steward and held other offices in the church. His mother still lives and is an active member of the church. He studied in the schools of his home and neighboring counties, and from 1897 to 1902 taught in the public schools of Emmanuel County, teaching three years of this time at Summertown.
On account of poor health he gave up teaching and took up the business of painting, in which he has made much success as a contractor in Savannah, Georgia, to which place he moved in 1904. He was converted when only a boy, impressions having been made upon him by his Sunday School teacher, Mrs. J. T. Smith, in teaching the first Psalms, and he has become especially attached to Sunday School work. He was once connected with three Sunday Schools of different denominations, but having different hours of meeting. He was connected with Sunday School work in Dublin, Georgia, and also served as a trustee.
October, 1898, Mr. Brinson was married to Miss Lillie Pughsley of Swainsboro, Ga. Their children are Sylvester, a girl, and Charles Luke, a boy.
He became connected with St. Phillip's Sunday
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. JESSE BRINSON.
School, Savannah, Georgia, in 1904, soon afterwards became a teacher, and in 1909 was made assistant superintendent, and in 1910 was made superintendent and has served ever since. The school has five departments, thirty-five classes and about 600 pupils, and has been greatly improved under Mr. Brinson's administration.
Brisbane, A. L., was born of A. M. E. parents in Columbia, S. C., March 30, 1860; emigrated to Liberia, Africa, in 1876, with his father and mother. He was converted November 24, 1884, and joined the A. M. E. Church, and has served from Steward to Presiding Elder. He was licensed to preach in 1892, joined the itinerancy in 1893 under Bishop Turner, was ordained Deacon by Bishop Turner in 1895, and Elder in 1899 by Bishop A. Grant; was delegate to the General Conference in 1908, and appointed Presiding Elder of the Monrovia District by Bishop Heard the same year. In this capacity he has served faithfully up to the present. He is also a delegate to the Centennial General Conference in 1916.
Brookens, Jackson Andrew, son of Charles and Mary Brookens, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Yazoo County, Miss. He entered the King School in 1870; was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1876; licensed to preach in 1882 by Rev. E. R. Carter; joined the annual conference in 1886 at Greenville, Miss., under Bishop Ward; was ordained deacon in 1888, at Yazoo City, Miss., by Bishop Ward, and ordained elder in 1899, at Grenada, Miss., by Bishop Turner. He has held the following appointments: Tree Run, Miss., 1877; Yazoo City Circuit, 1889; Evans Circuit, 1892; Yazoo, 1896; Pickins, 1899; Magna Vista, 1902; Benton, in 1889; Union Paradise, at Evans, Miss., $450, in 1906; Evans Circuit, 1910; Holly Bluff, 1912; Tchula, 1914; Benton, 1915. He built Piney, at Yazoo, $600, 1892; St. Peter, at Pickens, $450, in 1899; Ebenezer, at Benton, $650, in 1906. He lifted a mortgage on
Price Chapel, at Holly Bluff, to the amount of $182, in 1912. He has taken 682 people into the Church, baptized 358 and married about 50 couples. He was delegate to the general conferences at Norfolk, in 1908, and Philadelphia in 1916. His wife, Mrs. Georgia A. Brookens, was born in Taylor County, Miss. They were married in 1879, and have nine children: Burrell, 33 years; Mary, 35 years; Clarence, 31 years; Jackson, 29 years; Hattie, 24 years; Benjamin, 22 years; Hallie, 21 years; Beulah, 18 years; O. D. Brookens, 15 years; H. D. Brookens, 10 years. His son, Benjamin, won a scholarship at Campbell College. He has contributed to the "Recorders;" has been chaplain of the Eastern Star; has been constable; is a Republican and a home owner.
Brookins, Mrs. M. L. Harding, was born in Nashville, Tenn., and was reared in Kansas. She was converted at the age of eight years. She obtained her education in Olathe, Kans., after which she was married to Mr. E. A. Harding, who afterward became an itinerant minister in the A. M. E. Church. They were
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. M. L. HARDING BROOKINS.
the parents of two daughters, Bertha Aurora and Mabel Eugenia. After the death of Rev. Harding she was married to Rev. M. D. Brookins, who at that time was Presiding Elder of the Guthrie District. From early youth she desired to be useful in the church. She began to furnish music for the churches and Sunday schools in the town in which she lived at the age of 14 years, also using her talent in the way of recitals and dramatic work to benefit the church. She began her work as a traveling missionary in Oklahoma, in 1901, serving as President of the W. H. & F. M. Society of the Oklahoma Conference three years, then she was elected President in the Indian Mission Conference and served three years. After the organization of the N. E. Oklahoma Conference she was elected President of the W. H. & F. M. Conference branch and served six years. She is the first one chosen and elected President of the W. H. & F. M. State Convention, which was organized April 23, 1914, at Tulsa, Okla., by Bishop W. D. Chappelle. She has made great sacrifices to build up the Missionary work of the A. M. E. Church in Oklahoma. She traveled at her own expense, lecturing and trying to teach the women how to do the work for the church, and what to do as missionaries. She held her annual executive boards, which were full of spiritual life and successful plans. Her strong appeals to the women through the church periodicals resulted in the increase numerically and financially for the Missionary Work. She is a woman of talent, industry and several trades.
Brooks, Rev. Charles Edward, the son of W. C. and Mary Brooks, was born in New Orleans, La., Oct. 5th, 1868. He began to go to school at seven years of age and attended the public schools of his native city and the Southern University. He was apprenticed as a bricklayer and thoroughly mastered the trade at which he worked for twenty years. Becoming interested in labor organization he was one of the labor and political leaders of New Orleans and Louisiana.
In 1893 he was converted and joined St. Peter's A. M. E. Church. He held the offices of steward, trustee, class leader, Sunday school teacher and superintendent.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. C. E. BROOKS, D.D.
In 1893 he was licensed to preach by Rev. Charles Augustus; in 1896 ordained deacon by Bishop Armstrong; in 1898 ordained elder by Bishop Handy. He joined the Louisiana Annual Conference in 1896 under Bishop Armstrong at Thibadaux, La., and has held the following appointments: Osyka Mission, Amite City, La., Hammond, Suddsville, Bellegrove, Thibadaux, Plaquimine, Napoleonville, Patterson, Franklin, all in the Louisiana Conference, and he is now serving his fourth year as presiding elder of the Northeast New Orleans district. He was a delegate to the general conference of 1912 and leads the delegation to the Centennial General Conference of 1916. He is a Mason, K. of P., Odd Fellow, and member of other societies. In 1911 he married Miss Addie G. Coleman. He has two children, and owns a home in Covington, La.
Brooks, Reuben B., the son of Daniel and Hannah Brooks. Father was a member of M. E. Church and mother of A. M. E. Church.
Born at Greenville, Fla., December 18, 1860. Was a member of a family of 15 children.
Began attending school at 7 years and attended in all six years. Attended public school at Greenville, Fla.
Studied theology at Morris Brown University and took correspondence course. Received degree of D.D. from Morris Brown.
Converted in 1882 and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year.
Has held many offices in the church, steward, trustee, class leader, exhorter, local preacher, superintendent of Sunday school and district superintendent.
Licensed to preach 1885 at Ocala, Fla., by John R. Robinson. Ordained deacon, 1892, at Sanford, by Bishop Ward.
Ordained elder 1894 at Ocala, Fla., by Bishop Grant.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. REUBEN B. BROOKS, D.D.
Joined Annual Conference 1889, at Gainesville, under Bishop Arnett.
Had the following appointments:
Boardman, Miss., 1891; Ybor City, Allen Temple, 1892; Cedar Keys, Ct., 1892-3; Micanopy Ct., 1894-5; Key West Station, 1896-7; Sandford Station, 1898; Mt. Olive Station, Jacksonville, 1899-1903; Fernandina Station, 1904-5; Presiding Elder, Jacksonville District, 1895-6; presiding elder, St. Augustine district, 1907-10; Presiding Elder, East Jacksonville District, 1911-13; Presiding Elder, Madison District, 1914-15; Pastor of St. Augustine, Florida, 1916. He has built the following churches:
Allen Temple, Tampa, Fla., $800, 1892; Mt. Zion, Micanopy, $1000, 1895.
Lifted mortgages on Bethel Station at Key West, $1500, 1896; Mt. Olive, Jacksonville, $500, 1899; Macedonia, Fernandina, $2000, 1904.
Delegate to General Conferences, 1900, 1904, 1908, 1912 and leads the delegates of the East Florida Annual Conference to the Centennial General Conference of 1916.
Was a member of the Educational Board, 1904, and Church Extension 1908. Was Reading Clerk of General Conference 1904 at Chicago and Recording Secretary of General Conference at Columbus, Ohio, in 1900.
Was voted for as Financial Secretary of A. M. E. Connection at Norfolk, Va., in 1908. Married May 28, 1885, Mrs. Janie L. Brooks, of Ocala, Fla. Had the following children: Mrs. Pansy E. Baker, Miss Connovella Brooks, Miss Polly D. Brooks; Messrs. R. B. Brooks, Jr. and Alonzo Brooks.
He is Grand Secretary of Grand Lodge of Masons of Florida; Past Grand K. of R. & S. of Grand Lodge K. of P. and prominently identified with the Odd Fellows. He is a Republican and has been Inspector of Customs at the port of Key West, Fla. He owns a good home.
Brooks, Robert Daniel, was born in Waymanville, Ga., March 19th, 1857, son of David and Anna Brooks, who located near the line of Upson and Monroe counties soon after emancipation, and were there converted and joined Sugar Hill A. M. E. Church. Robert first attended Sunday school here, and studied Webster's speller. Subsequently his parents moved near Forsyth, Ga., where they died. Being left alone, he wandered away and finally located at Lovejoy Station, where he was converted at the age of eleven
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. ROBERT DANIEL BROOKS.
years. There being no other Methodist church near by, he joined the M. E. Church in which he grew up.
Professing a call to the ministry, he was licensed to preach in his fifteenth year, and in the following year, was received into the Savannah Annual Conference, ordained deacon under the missionary rule, and appointed pastor of Jonesboro Church. Here the Lord blessed him and much good was done. At this point he married Miss Anna Hightower, and to them was born their only child, Robert Ernest Brooks, now Dean of Theology in Payne University. Four years later, the subject of this sketch was ordained elder by Bishop Foster. After serving several years in
Georgia, he secured a transfer to the Central Alabama M. E. Conference. While in this conference, it was made clear to him through the Holy Spirit that the church of his parents' choice in which he first received holy impressions, was the open door to his greatest usefulness. Being thus convinced, he secured his certificate of withdrawal and joined St. John A. M. E. Church, Montgomery, Ala., through its quarterly conference, Rev. A. W. Atwater, presiding. Here he served as class leader until conference. During the session of the Alabama A. M. E. Conference, held in St. John Church, December 5th, 1885, Bishop D. A. Payne, D.D., presiding, Rev. A. W. Atwater, P. E., presented him with his certificate of standing for reception into the conference upon which Bishop Payne requested him to state to the conference his reason for the change, whereupon he stated that he "did not come for the loaves and fishes, that the mother church had treated him well, but that recognizing the fact that in every soul is the sign of human equality, he wanted to satisfy a long felt desire to be in the church of his parents' choice, where he could feel free and good--the church whose open door gives opportunity to the Negro race for the greatest display of usefulness." Following the statement, he was unanimously received, but as a verification of the honesty of his purpose, he refused to take regular work, choosing rather to aid such pastors and presiding elders as might need him during the year, so as to give time for better acquaintance. He did much varied service that year. From Bishop Payne's conference held in St. Luke Church, Opelika, Ala., December 1st, 1886, he was sent to the pastorate of Emanuel Church, Mobile, Ala. Notwithstanding the four years' limit, he was allowed to remain five years, during which he paid the church debt of $1500, bought and paid for the parsonage, erected the present brick building, and increased the membership from 127 to 480. From the Alabama Conference held in St. John, Montgomery, Ala., November, 1891, he was transferred to the North Alabama Conference and stationed at Brown Chapel, Selma, Ala., but the General Conference of 1892, having set apart the Central Alabama Conference, he, by territorial situation, became a member of the Central Conference. Remaining in charge of Brown Chapel four years, aside from the work done for Payne University, he paid $3100 on the church debt and increased the membership from 266 to 684. His humble efforts were greatly blessed in this pastorate.
At the conference held in Brown Chapel, Nov., 1895, he was by Bishop A. Grant, D.D., appointed Presiding Elder of Selma District. During the twenty years of his service as presiding elder, he served Greensboro, Mobile and Camden Districts, and is now serving his fourth appointment to the Selma District.
For twenty years he served his conference as Chief Secretary, and is now Secretary-Treasurer of the Central Alabama Conference.
Elected Trustee of Payne University, he served as Secretary-Treasurer 21 years and resigned the position on account of failing health. During that time, the property titles were straightened out, the old debts paid off; 23 lots with 6 dwellings were purchased. Gaines' Hall and Coppin's Hall were built and other improvements made. He labored earnestly with head, heart and hands, and to keep the machinery together to the well being of the school, he made untold personal sacrifices.
Brown, Daniel J., was born at Bonneau's Station, now Barkley county, South Carolina, December 8th, 1867. He received his early education in the public school of the county and was later sent to Charleston, South Carolina, where he spent several years in Mary Street Grammar School, leaving to join the family which was moving to take up work in the Columbia Annual Conference, which was just organized. His father, the late Rev. George H. Brown, was one of the pioneer ministers of the South Carolina Conference.
For four years he was forced to accept such opportunities as the public schools afforded. In the year 1882 he entered Claflin University, Orangeburg, S. C.,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. DANIEL J. BROWN, D.D.
graduating in 1886. To better qualify himself for his life's work he later entered Drew Seminary, Madison, N. J., took the prescribed course, graduating after three years of hard work. He was converted in 1884 and became immediately active in the A. M. E. Church. Was licensed a local preacher in 1888 and was admitted to the Columbia Conference in 1889. For eleven years he both taught in the public schools and pastored the churches to which he was appointed. He has never forgotten his early experiences in his first mission charge of about ten members, which serves him now as he was permitted to observe upon the stern realities of things before him. He has often said: "It was just the proper process." He was transferred to the New Jersey Conference by Bishop Abram Grant in 1899 and stationed at Madison. Here as in other charges, he did good work, increased the membership and placed the church upon a better basis. The church in Orange, N. J., was greatly strengthened in every way during his pastorate of five fruitful years. He served for six years as Presiding Elder of the N. J. Conference, winning the esteem and affection of both ministers and laity. In the pastorate and otherwise he has exemplified those elements of efficiency so essential to success in any laudable endeavor. He has been elected three times a member of the General Conference, being honored with the leadership of his conference and of the First District delegation in 1912.
His manner of doing things has won friends for him among all classes. He is quiet and unassuming
and commands with dignity. He is kind at heart and generous in spirit. Many of his accomplishments are due to his unfaltering faith in the gospel of self-help, seasoned with a liberal dash of courage and perseverance. His rule is to do all the good he can and as little injury as possible. He has made many sacrifices, but without complaint.
Dr. Brown attributes much to his wife, as he regards her help and encouragement so significant. Mrs. Brown is now the corresponding secretary of the M. M. Society of the N. J. Conference and is identified largely in all the labors of her husband.
Brown, Howard Dennis, son of George and Martha Brown, was born in Crumpton, Md., July 18, 1874. He died Sunday, December 19, 1915, at Douglas Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa. When he left his home in Maryland and came to Philadelphia, he joined Bethel A. M. E. Church and rose to the position of class leader and
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. H. D. BROWN.
local preacher and was recommended for admittance to the annual Conference. He was ordained Elder at Milford, Del., May, 1909, by Bishop Gaines. He married Miss Hannah Jones, a school teacher in Philadelphia, in 1907.
He served at Disney A. M. E. Church one year and was serving his eighth year as pastor of La Mott A. M. E. Church at the time of his decease. Here he built a church and practically paid it out of debt, and so strong was his hold on the people and so excellent was his work that Bishop Tyree, in spite of the time limit, sent him back for the eighth successive year. He was afflicted for nearly two years, but in spite of this he continued to do such excellent work as to excite the admiration and commendation of his friends. On a visit to his Maryland home he finally collapsed and was brought back to Philadelphia. He was taken to the Douglas Hospital November 22, 1915, where he died December 19. Dr. Montrose Wm. Thornton, of Boston, at his request, preached at Rev. Brown's funeral, at which were present Bishops, Presiding Elders, pastors and many laymen. (For his work see "Lamott.")
Brown, Bishop John Mifflin, was born in Canwell's Bridge, now Odessa, Delaware, September 8, 1817. He remained here until he was ten years old, then he moved to Wilmington, Delaware, where he lived in the home of a quaker, who sent him to Sunday and weekday school. He received his early education from private instructors. He declined the teaching of a Catholic priest on the ground that he would be a Methodist. He came to live in Philadelphia, where he found a
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP J. M. BROWN.
home with Dr. Emerson and Henry Chester. These proved to be staunch friends to him. They instructed him in the rudiments of education, catechised him in the principles of religion and doctrines of the church. Here he learned the barber's trade. He attended St. Thomas' P. E. Church for a while, but in 1836 he united with Bethel A. M. E. Church, attended evening school and began preparation for the ministry. In 1838 he entered the Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham, Mass., where he remained for two years. In 1840, his health failing him, he returned to Philadelphia. Later he entered Oberlin College, but did not complete the college course there. In 1844 he opened a school in Detroit, Michigan. He pastored the A. M. E. Church in that city from 1844 to 1847. He was elected principal of Union Seminary, out of which grew Wilberforce University. Later he was transferred to the Indiana Conference and stationed at New Orleans, La. After various pastorates in the Southern States, he was elected at the General Conference of 1864 as editor of the Christian Recorder, but he subsequently resigned, and was elected corresponding secretary of the Parent Home and Foreign Missionary Society, which he held for four years. (See Missionary Department).
In 1868 he was elected Bishop of the A. M. E. Church at the General Conference meeting at Washington, D. C., and ordained May 25, 1868.
Brown, Bishop Morris, second bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Charleston, S. C., January 9, 1770, of mixed parentage. By dint of perseverance he acquired what was in his time a good education. Being free he had little trouble in securing a license to
preach as soon as he professed religion. In 1817 he was ordained a deacon and the next year an elder, and began traveling in 1818. In 1822 occurred the Denmark Vesey insurrection in Charleston, and the colored people were put under a ban, and in scores of instances, persecuted. Morris Brown had a prosperous business in Charleston, as a maker of boots and shoes. He assisted numbers of slaves in purchasing their
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP MORRIS BROWN.
freedom, and in various ways succored them, and for so doing was rigorously punished. Things touching the privileges of people of color grew to such a pitch that numbers of free colored people began to go to the North. Among them was Morris Brown, who had been imprisoned for one year before 1822, for too great sympathy for slaves. He succeeded, however, in reaching Philadelphia, in 1822, though suspected of complicity in the plot, and his family came to Philadelphia in 1823. He was far from being a stranger, having attended conferences in the North prior to that time. Here he was untrammeled, and entered with zest into church and every reform movement of that day. Bishop Allen was growing feeble and needed an assistant, and the great zeal and intelligence of Rev. Morris Brown were recognized and he was elected and ordained to the episcopacy, May 25, 1828. The position was no sinecure; travel was difficult, and hospitality very uncertain, but the work was prosecuted with vigor and fine results, and when Bishop Allen passed away, in 1831, Bishop Morris Brown became the sole bishop until 1836, when Edward Waters was ordained as bishop to assist. Bishop Brown had quite a family, the members of which, beginning in 1823, entered most conspicuously into the social life of Philadelphia. His son, Morris Brown, Jr., became one of Philadelphia's leading musicians. In 1844, while in Canada, on episcopal work, he suffered a stroke of paralysis, from which he never recovered, dying in Philadelphia, May 9, 1849.
Brown, Norman Wesley, was born October 20, 1876, in Hartford County, Md.
His mother was given away as a wedding present during the days of slavery from Ellicott City, Md., to Hartford County. Her father, Robert Johnson and Charles Bell were in the organization of the A. M. E. Church at Randall's Town, Md., about 1836. His father and his father's father were in the organization of the A. M. E. Church in Hartford County.
At the age of seven he was librarian in the Sunday School, after which he was teacher and superintendent. He was converted November 23, 1890, under the pastorate of Rev. W. W. Wilson.
He went to Baltimore in September, 1891, and joined
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. N. W. BROWN, D.D.
Trinity A. M. E. Church, under the pastorate of Rev. J. W. Norris, who, the following April, appointed him class leader. He was licensed to preach by Rev. J. H. Collett April, 1895; joined the Baltimore Conference in 1897, Bishop Handy presiding; was ordained deacon by Bishop Handy in 1899, and ordained elder by Bishop Lee.
Took the normal course at Morgan College, Baltimore; theological course at Howard University, and corresponding scientific course from Chicago University. Presented a thesis upon the subject "Immortality of the Soul" to the faculty of Morris Brown College, Atlanta Ga., and received the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
Served the following appointments: Patuxtent Circuit, Baltimore Conference, two years; Winchester four years; transferred to the Virginia Conference and stationed at Trinity Church, Norfolk, where in five years he paid $1225 more on the bonded indebtedness than six pastors had paid in ten years before, and greatly increased the membership, frescoed the church, put in new carpets, electric lights, bought a new parsonage and put $450 granolithic wall and walk around the church; spent one year at John M. Brown Church in the same city.
Though he was out of his church nine Sundays on the account of sickness, raised $2138.10 and greatly increased the membership.
He then served four years at Newport News, Va.; built a $2700 parsonage; added 172 members to the church; rearranged the mortgage debt and raised more than $25,000 during the four years.
He is now serving Bethel A. M. E. Church, Bluefield, W. Va., where up to this date he has had splendid success. He has raised during his ministry $41,919.93 and added 479 members to the A. M. E. Church. Since coming to Bluefield he has drawn into the service of the A. M. E. Church some of the most intelligent and best people of the town.
Browne, John Andrew, one of three children of Henry and Annie Maria Brown, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born in 1882, at Chestertown, Md. He attended school for fifteen years, first in the public school of Chestertown, Md.; private school, Wilmington, Del.; graduated from Payne Theological Seminary of Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio, from which he received the degree of B.D. He
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. A. BROWNE, B.D.
was converted and joined church in 1895; has held offices of class leader, local preacher, Sunday school teacher, district superintendent of Sunday school, Wilmington District, two years; was licensed to preach at Bethel, Wilmington, Del., in 1906, by Rev. P. E. Mill, P. E.; ordained deacon in 1911, at Wilberforce, Ohio, by Bishop Gaines; ordained elder in 1913, at Wilmington, Del., by Bishop Tyree. He joined the annual conference in 1906, at Bethel Church, Philadelphia, under Bishop Gaines. Held the following appointments: Edgefield Circuit, Columbia Conference, 1911-12; Harrington, Del., Philadelphia Conference, 1912-13; Bristol and Bensalem, Philadelphia Conference; 1913-16; La Mott, Pa., Philadelphia Conference, since January, 1916. He is secretary of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Philadelphia and Vicinity. Married Selia Genera McElroy, of St. Louis, Mo., December 2, 1911. He is an Odd Fellow and K. of P.; has served also on the Republican State Central Committee of Delaware; organized Negro Protective League at Bristol, Pa., and served as president of same.
Bruce, Elijah Turner, was born January 1, 1869, at Williamsport, W. Va. His mother, Mary Jane Bruce, was a member of the Waugh M. E. Chapel. Left fatherless at the age of three, with an invalid mother, he struggled against poverty and disadvantages to gain a limited education. He was converted at the age of nine, was teaching Sunday school at twelve, and at fourteen was superintendent, and an
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. E. T. BRUCE.
exhorter at seventeen. In 1887 he came to Philadelphia and attended private schools. He became a member of Mt. Pisgah, under the pastorate of Dr. N. D. Temple. In 1893 he was united in marriage to Maggie Drummond, to which union three boys were born. He was licensed as local preacher by Rev. F. T. M. Webster, and joined the Philadelphia Conference under Bishop Tanner. His first charge was at Ward
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. E. T. BRUCE.
Mission, Philadelphia, where he was successful, having purchased the present site and built the chapel. He has served successfully the following charges: Atglen, two years; Wrightsville, two years; Chambersburg,
five years; Devon, four years; Ward (second time), two years; Asbury, Chester, two years, where he is now the very acceptable pastor.
Bryant, Ira Toussaint, Secretary-Treasurer of the A. M. E. Sunday School Union, Nashville, Tenn., was born at Selma, Ala., October 14, 1877, son of Mansfield Edward and Alice A. (Choice) Bryant. He was a student of Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn., a graduate of A. & M. College of Normal, Ala., during the administration of Prof. William H. Council. Mr. Bryant was once an apprentice in the same institution of which he is now head. He served as monotype
[ILLUSTRATION]
PROF. IRA T. BRYANT, LL.B.
operator in the United States Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., and received the degree of LL.B. from Howard University. Has filled the position of Secretary-Treasurer of the A. M. E. Sunday School Union since 1908; business manager of the "Southern Christian Recorder;" editor of the Sunday School Publications of the A. M. E. Church; director of People's Savings Bank and Trust Company; ex-president Nashville Negro Board of Trade; trustee Wilberforce University, Payne University, Turner Normal College; Progressive; Mason; District Grand Master of the Odd Fellows, Jurisdiction Tennessee.
Bryant, Mansfield Edward, first editor of "The Southern Christian Recorder," was born in Seales, Lee County, Ala., in December, 1853. He was educated at Atlanta University, Ga., leaving only three months before his graduation as a bachelor of arts. He was a classmate of Prof. R. R. Wright, Sr., now president of the Georgia State College, Savannah, Ga. After leaving school he was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church. Feeling the call to preach he was licensed, and joined the Alabama Annual Conference at Opelika, Ala., December, 1875, under Bishop Ward, and was elected chief secretary of the conference. He served the Church as follows: Pastor of Brown Chapel, Selma, Ala., 1876-9; Emanuel, Mobile, Ala., 1880; Florence, Ala., 1881-2; presiding elder of Florence District, 1882; presiding elder of Selma district, 1883-87, editor of "Southern Christian Recorder," 1888---. He was a forceful writer and made the "Southern Recorder," which he published at Nashville, Tenn., felt throughout the connection. In his early ministry he combined teaching and preaching, having
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. M. E. BRYANT, A.M., D.D.
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. M. E. BRYANT.
taught school at Florence, Ala. He also edited a newspaper while in Selma, called the "Southern Independent." He married Miss Alice A. Choice, in Opelika,
Ala., September 23, 1874. They had five children: Theodore, who is a practicing physician in Texas; Ira T., secretary-treasurer of the A. M. E. Sunday School Union; Ida Mae, deceased; M. E. Bryant Jr., physician and printer; Carrie, wife of Dr. C. H. Johnson, of Atlanta, Ga. Rev. Bryant died in Mobile, Ala., and was buried in Selma, Ala.
Bumry, Richard H., son of Richard and Mary Bumry, was born in King George County, Va., April 17, 1864, and was brought to Washington, D. C., the same year. He lost both parents before he was three years of age, and was cared for by his paternal grandmother. He attended the public schools of Washington, D. C., until the year of 1879, selling newspapers and blacking shoes between school hours. He worked
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. R. H. BUMRY.
in the United States Treasury Department under the superintendency of O. L. Pitney, during the years of 1880-81, and a part of 1882. He went to Pittsburgh, Pa., in the latter part of 1882, worked in the Black Diamond Steel Works, the Oliver Wire Mills, and drifted into the occupation of a coachman. He married his first wife, Miss Jennie Hogan, of Washington, D. C., May, 1884. He was converted January 31, 1886, and joined Brown Chapel A. M. E. Church, Pittsburgh, Rev. W. S. Lowry, pastor. He was licensed to preach under the pastorate of Rev. I. N. Ross, February, 1893; served as class leader, superintendent of Sabbath school, trustee and steward; entered the itinerancy October, 1893, under Bishop Payne, and received the last appointment given by that great educator. Was ordained deacon October, 1895, by Bishop Arnett, at Wheeling, W. Va.; ordained elder October, 1896, by Bishop Lee, at Washington, Pa. He has served the following churches in the Pittsburgh Conference: Parkersburg, W. Va., one year; Wheeling, W. Va., five years; Monongahela City, Pa., one year; Wilkes-Barre, Pa., two years; Brownsville, Pa., four years; Allen Chapel, N. S., Pittsburgh, four years; presiding elder five years, and is now in his first year at Bethel, Wylie Avenue, Pittsburgh. He cancelled the mortgage debt at Wheeling; remodeled church at Brownsville, and at Wheeling. To January, 1916, has received 787 persons into the Church; baptized 428; married 205 couples. He was a member of the general conferences of 1904, 1908, 1912 and 1916, and a member of the following boards: C. C. P. A., "Western Recorder" and Publication. He married his second wife, Miss Mary Armstrong, of West Elizabeth, Pa., September 1, 1915. He has four children by his first wife--Richard, Arnold, Julia and William. Two boys, Richard and Arnold, are High School graduates. Julia is an alumnus of Wilberforce, and now teaching at the Normal and Industrial Institute, High Point, N. C. The youngest, William, is at present attending High School. Rev. Bumry has contributed constantly to the city newspapers in the towns of his pastorate, as well as his Church organs. He is the first Negro elected to office in Fayette County, having served three years as school director in Brownsville, Pa. He is a Mason and Odd Fellow, and was the chief secretary of the B. M. C., held in Washington, D. C., 1890.
Buren, Nathaniel C., son of Isaac and Louisa Buren, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born in 1859, in Van Buren County, Tenn., one of ten children. He received his education at Walden University, Banvier Theological College and Moody Bible Institute. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1873; served as steward, class leader, local
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. N. C. BUREN.
preacher, Sunday school teacher and superintendent; was licensed to preach in 1877, by Rev. Hiram Robinson, and joined the annual conference in 1880; was ordained deacon in 1882 by Bishop Campbell, and ordained elder in 1884, by Bishop Turner. He has held the following appointments: Decatursville Circuit,
Pleasant Hill Circuit, Maurry Circuit, St. James, Nashville, Tenn.; Pulaski Station, Columbus Station, Franklin Station, Kirkwood Station, Wichita, Kan.; Lincoln, Neb.; Atchison, Kan.; Leavenworth, Kan.; Lexington, Mo.; Boonville, Mo.; St. John, Kansas City, Mo. Presiding elder in Missouri for ten years. He built St. James' Church, at Nashville, Tenn., at a cost of $2500, in 1886. He lifted mortgages on the following churches: Columbus, Ky., $500; Wichita, $800; Boonville, $850; St. James, St. Louis, $500. He has received 1875 into the Church, baptized 500 and married 200. He was delegate to the general conferences of 1904, 1908, 1912 and 1916. He was a member of the Missionary Board, 1912-16, trustee of Wilberforce, 1908-1915. He married Hattie L. La Fitte, of Savannah, Ga., in 1897. He is connected with the Masonic, Royal Arch. He owns a home.
Buren, Mrs. Hattie Lucile, was born in Savannah, Ga., the oldest child of Samuel and Rachel La Fitte. When she was still quite young her parents moved to Macon, Ga., where she attended and completed the course at Ballard Normal Institute and Fisk University, graduating from the latter with high honors, in
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. HATTIE L. BUREN.
1893. She taught at the Lincoln School, of Atchison, Kan.; in Tipton and Sedalia, Mo., and Western University, at Quindaro, Kan., in each position giving entire satisfaction. On January 7, 1897, she was married to Rev. N. C. Buren, B.D. Since that time she has been prominent both in affairs of the Church and state, being for four years treasurer of the State Federation of Women's Clubs of Missouri, and for three years president of the Mite Missionary Society of the Missouri Annual Conference. She is now serving her third year as president of this society for the St. Joseph District. She possesses a contralto voice of great sweetness. She is one of the twelve prominent women of our race consulted by Governor Hadley, of Missouri, in reference to the establishment of a home for incorrigible Negro girls. She was president of the Board of Lady Managers for the North Western Colored Orphanage, and directed the "Tag Day Rally," collecting for the orphanage $600 in a single day. She is untiring in her efforts to promote the intellectual, moral and spiritual condition of our people in the community in which she lives.
Burgan, Isaac M., was born October 6, 1848, near Marion, McDowell county, North Carolina. Though a child of slavery, he was blessed with a mother that possessed rare Christian virtues, Sylvia Burgan, whose
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. ISAAC M. BURGAN., D.D., LL.D.
piety and devotion were strongly instrumental in giving trend and impetus to his long life of noble usefulness. As a slave, young Burgan, in view of his trust-worthiness, enjoyed privileges denied his fellow-servants. Evidences of the potential brilliancy of his intellect were clearly apparent at an early age, and without a teacher he would learn the lessons assigned his white companions with such seeming ease that his owner, thinking it unsafe to have such a knowing slave about the place, offered him for sale at eight hundred dollars, but when the traders came for him, his owner refused fifteen hundred dollars for him, Isaac having manifested a disposition to use his thoughts and energy to the best advantage of his owner.
After emancipation, he left North Carolina and worked on the railroad in Kentucky and Tennessee. It was while at work in Tennessee that he entered school for the first time, and began a battle royal for the acquisition of an education. In December, 1869, he entered a select school at Bowling Green, Ky. In October, 1870, he entered school at Evansville, Ind., under the tutorship of the Rev. J. M. Townsend, D.D. He remained here three years, being given great inspiration by Rev. Townsend. He entered the State Normal School at Terre Haute, Ind., in 1873, and at once took the lead over his classmates, most of whom
were whites, in many branches, excelling especially in mathematics and philosophy. He left the Normal in the fall of 1875, just before graduating, to begin teaching at Lost Creek, near Terre Haute. He taught here three years and earned a reputation of being "a natural born teacher."
While working in Tennessee he was converted in a Baptist revival, but he did not join the church at that time. He afterwards placed himself under the watch care of the M. E. Church at Bowling Green, Ky., and later he joined the A. M. E. Church at Evansville, Ind. He experienced a call to the Christian ministry early in life, and while attending the Normal at Terre Haute, he was licensed to exhort by Rev. J. M. Townsend. While teaching at Lost Creek, he was licensed to preach by Rev. John Meyers. Leaving his school work at Lost Creek, he entered the theological department
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. I. M. BURGAN.
of Wilberforce University in 1878. His college record was commendable in every respect. At the beginning of his junior year he joined the Indiana Annual Conference at New Albany, under Bishop J. A. Shorter, and was appointed pastor at the college. While in college he held charges at Maysville, Harveysburg and Troy, Ohio. He graduated with honors, and was chosen valedictorian for class day exercises. He was ordained deacon by Bishop Shorter a few weeks after graduating. While on the campus at Wilberforce he was urged upon to go to Texas and take charge of Paul Quinn College, which was then a struggling school of little consequence. He went and it was soon apparent that mountain-like difficulties would eventually be either scaled or tunneled, and that impending improbabilities would vanish. He gave nineteen of the best years of his life in developing for Texas African Methodism an institution of higher learning second to none in the Southwest. Paul Quinn College will ever stand as a fitting monument to his constructive skill, his untiring energy and patience, his undaunted courage and his sacrificing love for his church and his race.
He was ordained elder in the West Texas Conference at Rockdale in 1884, by Bishop A. W. Wayman. He has held charges at the following places:
Oakland, Cal.; Richmond, Ind.; Vincennes, Ind.; Little Rock (Brown Memorial), Marrellton, Batesville, Helena and Arkadelphia, Ark., and the college chapel at Paul Quinn College, Waco, Texas, during the nineteen years of his presidency of that institution.
The degree of B.D. was conferred upon him on his graduation at Wilberforce. The degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Ark., and the degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him by Wilberforce University.
At this writing he is the efficient presiding elder of the Houston district, Texas Conference, and he is meeting with the same degree and kind of success that has characterized the efforts of his previous years.
He has published a book "Sunday, the Original Sabbath," which is commended by Bishops Lee and Coppin and Editor Wright, and others.
Burley, John Wesley, first financial secretary A. M. E. Church, was born of free African parentage, at Baltimore, Md., in 1833. His father, one of Baltimore's most prosperous colored citizens, was able to give him
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JOHN WESLEY BURLEY.
a thorough business education. He early entered the ministry, and was elected the first financial secretary by the general conference, at Nashville, Tenn., in 1872. He was re-elected in 1876, but died at Washingington, D. C., April 11, 1879.
Butler, Mrs. M. J. Brockman, was born in Greenville, South Carolina, April 5, 1883. She attended the public school of Greenville, graduating in 1896. She studied at Barber Memorial Seminary in Anniston, Alabama, for several years; later attending Clark University in Atlanta.
She served as matron and teacher at Campbell College, Jackson, Mississippi, under Dr. D. H. Butler, her husband, who was President for five years. For two years she was secretary for the Federated Clubs of the State of Mississippi and organized the first Charitable and Literary Club under the auspices of the State Federation in Jackson, Miss. At the National Temperance Union that convened in Baltimore, Md., November, 1910, she represented the State of Texas. She was leader of the Mississippi delegation to the Connectional Missionary Convention that was held in New Orleans in 1914. She was elected to represent the women at the General Conference at Philadelphia, Pa., in 1916. She served three terms as state president
of the Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society of the state of Mississippi; served also a third
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. MAMIE J. BROCKMAN BUTLER.
term as president of the Conference Branch of the Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society of the Mississippi Conference.
Butler, William H. H., the youngest son of Israel and Catherine Butler, natives of Virginia, who moved to Ohio about 1836, being forced to leave that State because of the law against Free Negroes, was born in Seneca County, O.; reared in Barlow Township, Washington County, O., and attended the primary
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. WM. H. H. BUTLER, D.D.
neighborhood school for colored children till twelve years of age, when his father died. Then he went out into the world to secure better educational advantages, leaving a widowed mother. Worked at doing "chores" for board and lodging in the home of a married sister residing at Sandusky, O., and was the first student of Negro blood to attend the high school of that city, and completed the four years' course in two years, graduating at the head of his class when under fifteen years of age. He enlisted as a private while yet under fifteen years, and was assigned to Company E, Fifth Regiment, United States Colored Troops (Infantry), and joined the regiment in September, 1864, in the trenches before Petersburg, Va., and participated in several battles--Chapin's Farm, Deep Bottom, New Market Heights, Fort Gilmore, Fort Harrison, in Virginia; and went with his regiment to North Carolina in the winter of 1864-5, and was in the attacking force at the capture of Fort Fisher, Fort Johnson, Fort Anderson, Fort Sugar Loaf, and at the battles of Cape Fear River, Faison's Station, and witnessed the surrender of Johnson's army to Sherman, at Durham, N. C., in April 1865. He was mustered out with his regiment at Morehead City, N. C., in August, 1865, and discharged at Camp Chase, near Columbus, O., in September of the same year. He matriculated in Runkle College in the autumn of 1866 and graduated with honor in 1869; was employed by the Freedmen's Bureau in 1870, in charge of Ariel Academy, at Camp Nelson, Jessamine County, Ky.; organized the Republican party in that county, and with Rev. C. O. H. Thomas, then pastor in that county, forced the election officers to permit the Negroes to vote. He was forced to go armed constantly, to guard against the Ku Klux Klan. He continued in the presidency of Ariel Academy for six years. Then followed several years as a teacher and preacher at Lebanon and Franklin, Ky. In 1880 he was admitted at Pine Bluff, Ark., to the Arkansas Conference, Bishop Turner presiding. He was assigned to St. John's A. M. E. Church, Pine Bluff. He subsequently pastored at Greenville, Miss., and was presiding elder of the Grenada (Miss.) district. He has pastored Pulaski,
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. W. H. H. BUTLER.
Franklin and Fayette, in Tenn.; Newport, R. I.; Bridge Street Church, Brooklyn (two terms); Allen Chapel, Phila.; Wilmington, Del.; Bethel, Detroit, Mich.; Richmond and Terre Haute, Ind.; St. Paul, Columbus, Ohio; Brown Chapel, Pittsburgh, and St.
Paul, Washington, Pa. He has been presiding elder over the Greensboro and Morgantown and the Wilmington districts, in North Carolina; the Michigan conference; the Harrisburg district, Philadelphia conference; the Greater New York district of the N. Y. conference; the East Pittsburgh, and the Washington districts of the Pittsburgh conference; has been a member of every General Conference except two, since 1880, and was chairman of the Episcopal Committee in 1912 and 1916. He has been legal adviser to bishops and others in some of the most important ecclesiastical actions of the church for the last twenty years. He is the author of "Ecclesiastical Judicial Practice in the A. M. E. Church," a book regarded as authority in all judicial proceedings in our Connection. Brown and Wilberforce Universities have honored him with the degrees of Doctor of Divinity. He is now serving as presiding elder of the Washington P. E. district, of the Pittsburgh conference. His wife, a lady of rare charm, was Miss Evangeline R. Brown, the daughter of Willis Brown, of Masseyville, Ross County, Ohio, who was regarded in his lifetime as a man of wonderful mental endowment. They were married at Brooklyn, N. Y., Oct. 19, 1905.
Butler, James William, one of four children of Walter and Cynthia (Wilson) Butler, was born August 17, 1885, at Kalamazoo, Mich. His father died when he was two years old; received his education in the public schools of that city, and Parson's Business College, all the while supporting himself; was converted
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. J. W. BUTLER.
and joined the A. M. E. Church in January, 1904; served as steward, class leader, Sunday school teacher and superintendent and church clerk. He was a lay alternate in 1912, and a delegate to the Centennial Conference, in 1916. Mr. Butler is chief grinder of knives in one of the largest manufacturing companies in his city, and head of the only Negro shoe repairing business in Kalamazoo.
Byas, Dr. A. D., was born on a farm, near Kosciusko, Miss., May 9, 1871. His parents being persons of thrift and economy, in spite of slavery, made great headway in accumulating much of this "world's goods." His literary training was received at Rust University, Holly Springs, Miss., and he studied medicine in Meharry Medical College, at Nashville, Tenn., graduating with honor in the Class of 1899. He is one of the leading physicians of Memphis, Tenn., and has a large practice in and out of the city. He is quiet and unassuming, yet dignified and intelligent in bearing and personality. He lives in one of the most elegant homes in the city of Memphis. His splendid wife, who was a Miss Lula McPherson before marriage, is a lady of culture and refinement. The doctor is a loyal member and honored trustee of Avery Chapel, A. M. E. Church, Memphis, Tenn. He was a delegate to the general conference in Kansas City and to the Centennial General Conference, May, 1916, in Philadelphia, Pa.
Byrd, Elijah, was born April 2, 1849, in Wycomico county, Md., near Salisbury. His father was a slave and his mother was a free woman, and therefore it necessitated her to work very hard to raise her four children. His mother was without education, but his father obtained a meagre education enough to give him the rudiments of an education. After he arrived to seventeen years of age he came North and attended
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. ELIJAH BYRD, D.D.
night school. He studied theology first under Dr. (now Bishop) L. J. Coppin, then at Miller's Bible College, Philadelphia, 1911, and received the degree from that institution. He joined the Philadelphia Annual Conference at Columbia, Pa., May, 1887. He received no work this year, next year he was appointed a missionary, and organized a mission at Fernwood, Pa., took in fifteen members and had a Sunday School of thirty pupils.
May 22, 1889, he was appointed to Camden, Del. He found the church in bad condition and built a new one, which was dedicated by Rev. Lewis Hood, then Presiding Elder of the Wilmington District. May 19, 1891, he was appointed to Milford, Del. The people scattered on account a $500 debt made against their will. Rev. Byrd paid $420 of this that year.
In 1892 he was appointed to Mt. Friendship, Del., which owed $913 on the church and $75 on the Blanco School Home. All of this was paid off. May 27, 1895, he was appointed to Smyrna, Del. The church was to be sold in two weeks, but he paid the $300 and saved the church.
May 18, 1896, he was appointed to South Chester, Pa. There was a good, nice church but with heavy debt. Two weeks after he was appointed to this church many of the people were thrown out of work on account of hard times, but Rev. Byrd paid $150 on the principal and $300 on floating debt and kept all the current expenses down.
May 23, 1898, he was appointed to Wayne, Pa., and found an indebtedness of $2000. He remained there three years, paid $1200 of the debt and all current expenses. May 19, 1901, he was appointed to Devon, Pa., and found a church not large enough to hold the people so it was necessary to tear out and extend the building and make it large enough to accommodate the people. This was done at the cost of $1500, and all of this was paid but $252.
May 27, 1903, he was appointed to Reading, Pa., which was in debt of $500, $125 coming due in nine days, and with less than thirty members. He preached at two of the parks for eight and ten days respectively, and in eighteen days raised $210, which was placed in the bank to the credit of the church and confidence was restored. May 20, 1907, he was appointed to Zion Chapel, Philadelphia, Pa., which had an indebtedness of $2000 principal and $500 floating debt and building too small to hold the people. He enlarged the building at a cost of $2500, paying $1000.
June 17, 1912, he went to Morris Brown, Philadelphia, Pa. The attendance was small and the debt large, the people discouraged. He remained there three years. May 24, 1915, he went to West Chester, Pa., and June, 1916, he was appointed presiding elder of the West Philadelphia district, Philadelphia Conference.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. WILLIAM BYRD, D.D.
Byrd, William, was born in Ross county, O. He was early impressed with a deep sense of his calling and began to prepare himself for the work of a gospel minister.
In the year 1894 he was graduated from Wilber-force University. Then, for some years he labored in Ohio, going from Ohio into Tennessee, he labored there for three years in the ministry. At the expiration of this time he was called into Georgia and there he remained for seventeen years, six of which were as an itinerant minister and eleven years in Morris Brown College. He was elected Vice-President of this college and Professor of Exegetical Theology. He was also a member of the General Conference of the A. M. E. Church of 1908 and 1912, and at present a member of the Connectional Board of the A. C. E. League. He is a member of the Centennial General Conference.
On July 15, 1914, he was elected President of Shorter College, and took charge of this institution the latter part of the same month, and is meeting with success.
Byrd, William Paul Quinn, the son of Rev. S. W. and Sarah Ann Byrd, was born (??) His father was an A. M. E. minister for 41 years, and his mother was the daughter of Rev. Isaac Dunica, who assisted Bishop Quinn in crossing the Mississippi River and in planting the A. M. E. Church in St. Louis, Mo. W. P. Q. Byrd attended public and elementary schools, the Centennial High School, of Pueblo, Colo., and Wilberforce University, taking the degree of B.D. from Payne Seminary, June, 1901, being valedictorian of his class. He was converted May,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. W. P. Q. BYRD, D.D.
1896, under the preaching of Mrs. Lena Mason, at Shorter Chapel, Colorado, his father being the pastor. He was licensed to preach by Rev. P. A. Hubbard the same year; ordained deacon by Bishop Shaffer at Pueblo, September, 1901; ordained elder at Detroit, September, 1903, by Bishop Grant. He has held the following appointments: Cripple Creek, Colo., 1901 (3 months); St. Paul's Church, 1901-2 (6 months), where he did good work, and transferred to Michigan, where he held appointments at Whittaker (6 months),
Adrian, one year, where he paid the church out of debt; St. Joe, Mich. (2 years); Bellaire, O. (10 days); Lansing, Mich. (3 years), where he remodeled the church, increased the membership and increased all reports; Ann Arbor, Mich. (1 year), where he was successful; Mound Bayou, Miss. (appointed in 1909 by Bishop Lampton while he was at Battle Creek, Mich.), where he paid all past debts, improved the church and parsonage, increased all connectional claims, bringing dollar money from $121 to $165, and pastor's salary from $300 to $610; increasing Sunday school from 30 to 150; Clarksdale, Miss. (1 year) and presiding elder of the Moorhead district since 1914. Rev. Byrd was a delegate to the general conference, 1912 and is alternate to the Centennial General Conference, 1916. Morris Brown College gave him D.D. in 1909. In Oct., 1901, he was married to Miss E. V. P. Jones, daughter of Bishop J. H. Jones. They have one child, 1 year old. Mrs. Byrd has been active in all church work, and is now president of the Northwest, Miss., Conference branch of the W. H. & F. Society, and one of the best workers in the state of Mississippi.
CALDWELL, MR. JAMES WILSON, the son of John and Mary Ann Caldwell, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born December 8, 1872, at Elizabeth City, N. C., one of nine children. He entered school in 1878 and attended about 10 years, graduating from the Philadelphia Grammar School and Temple College. He was converted in February, 1888, and joined Union A. M. E. Church, Philadelphia, the same year. He has been steward, trustee, class leader, Sunday school teacher, president of Christian Endeavor, and president of the Literary Association.
He was elected delegate to the general conference of 1916. He married Mrs. Marie Catherine Caldwell,
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. JAMES W. CALDWELL.
of Carlisle, Pa., in 1902. He is connected with the Standard Sales Co., and has charge of electrotype plates in Jno. C. Winston Pub. Co. He is a member of the Protestant Association, O. V. Catto Regiment of the Boys' Brigade and the National Association for the Protection of Colored People. He owns a home.
Caldwell, Julian C., the sixth child of John and Mary Caldwell, was born in Chapel Hill, N. C., November 1, 1870. His parents moved to Philadelphia, Pa., when he was very young, where he received his early training in the public schools, also the Manual Training School and National School of Elocution and Oratory, of same city.
In 1891 he entered Wilberforce University and graduated from Payne Theological Seminary in 1896. He joined the Missouri Conference in 1896 under Bishop Tanner. He filled the following appointments:
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JULIAN C. CALDWELL.
Jefferson City, Springfield, Lexington, Independence and St. Joseph, all in Missouri.
From the time he joined the church at the age of fifteen he became intensely interested in the Sunday School and Christian Endeavor work. He was made District Superintendent of the Sunday Schools of the Lancaster District, Philadelphia Conference, when he was sixteen years of age and was licensed to preach when he was seventeen. Perhaps his greatest power has been in the work of the Christian Endeavor Society. He joined the Society of Christian Endeavor of Union A. M. E. Church in 1886, and in 1888 was a member of the Look Out Committee of the Philadelphia Union, the largest city Union in the world. In 1891 he became one of the Vice-Presidents of the
State of Ohio Union, and in 1893 presided at a meeting of the International C. E. Convention in Montreal, Canada, the first Negro to be honored with that distinction. It was through his efforts that Bishop Arnett and Bishop Alexander Walters, of the A. M. E. Zion Church, were elected Trustees of the United Society of Christian Endeavor.
In 1908, at the General Conference held in Norfolk, Va., he was elected General Secretary of the Allen Christian Endeavor League of the A. M. E. Church, the young people's department of the church. When elected, the department was only in name, but by his strenuous and Herculean efforts, it has grown and developed, until to-day there are 4215 Leagues with a membership approximating 150,000.
He has ably represented the church and race in both International and World's Christian Endeavor Conventions.
In 1900 he was united in marriage to Miss Mattie M. Bell, of Louisville, Ky., a graduate of Wilberforce University; and like most men who have done something worth while, he has been nobly assisted by this splendid helpmeet, who side by side with him has labored faithfully for the uplift of humanity, in the pastorate or as Secretary of the Allen Christian Endeavor League, for he has often said, speaking of his wife, "I am the talking part of the League and she is the business part."
Campbell, Jabez Pitt, eighth Bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Slaughter Neck, Sussex County, Delaware, February 5, 1815, the son of Anthony and Catharine Campbell, both of whom were born free, as was their son. His father was a regularly licensed
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP JABEZ PITT CAMPBELL.
preacher in the M. E. Church, and as such came into the A. M. E. Church, where he labored for about ten years, mostly in the itinerant service.
He ran away from Delaware at an early age. The circumstances causing the same are thus stated in his own language. "My father was induced to give me as collateral security for debt to one of his creditors, he being finally unable to pay the debt, subjected me to the danger of being taken for the debt. This could be and was very often done in accordance with the statutes of Delaware. I ran away on account of that liability, and came to the State of Penna. After my arrival in the latter State, I was sold for a term of years, the last two of which I bought from my master, after serving him four and a half years. At eighteen years of age I became my own master. The primary object which I had in view in making this purchase was an insatiable desire for a good education." He was a constant student, rising in the early hours of the morning before the duties of the day called him elsewhere, and applying himself to study. This course of self-instruction was systematically done and continued to the closing days of his life. Many of the books left by him can be seen to contain memoranda on the margins, showing his close application to study.
Such was his breadth and depth in the study of the Scriptures that he was known as the "theologian of the A. M. E. Church" during his day and generation.
He was always religiously inclined and raised in a religious atmosphere. He was converted at the age of ten years and became a member of the A. M. E. Church under Rev. James Towson, of the Lewistown Circuit, Delaware; became a member of Bethel Church, Philadelphia, in 1833.
The following in chronological order are the leading events in his ministerial career in the A. M. E. Church:
September 10, 1839, licensed to preach in the A. M. E. Church by Rev. N. C. W. Cannon.
April 5, 1841, license renewed by the same minister.
June 20, 1841, ordained deacon by Bishop Morris Brown, in Providence, R. I.
June 20, 1843, ordained Elder by Bishop Morris Brown, in New York City.
(October 23, 1844, married to Stellar Medley in New York City by Rev. Wm. H. Bishop).
Appointments:
June 20, 1843, to Albany Station, by Bishop M. Brown. 1847, a teacher in colored school of Hudson, N. Y., certified by J. W. Fairfield, supt.
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. MARY A. CAMPBELL.
The records show that at this period in the life of the subject of this sketch he labored in the community of Hudson, N. Y., teaching and preaching. The following is a copy of a certificate of membership in the Wesleyan Methodist Connection, where he labored a short while.
"Hudson, N. Y., May 13, 1847.
To all whom it may concern:
This certifies that the bearer, J. P. Campbell, is an elder of the Wesleyan Methodist Connection of America and that he is a member in good standing of the W. M. Church in this city.
BENJ. WEBBER, Minister in charge."
April 2, 1850--Pastor Second Wesleyan Church in Albany--John D. Anthony, Recording Steward.
June 18, 1850--To A. M. E. Church, Buffalo, N. Y., by Bishop Wm. P. Quinn.
June 9, 1851--To Buffalo, N. Y., by Bishop W. P. Quinn.
July 5, 1852--To Buffalo, N. Y., by Bishop W. Nazrey.
June 15, 1853--To Flushing, L. I. Circuit, by Bishop W. Nazrey.
June 13, 1854 to Union Church, Philadelphia, by Bishop W. Nazrey.
June 17, 1855--To Union Church, Philadelphia, by Bishop W. Nazrey.
(June 14, 1855--Married to Mary Ann Shire, a widow. They remained united until his death.)
June 15, 1854--Appointed the general book steward and editor of the Christian Recorder "in accordance with the arrangements of the Philadelphia Annual Conference of 1854, the Revs. W. T. Cato and M. M. Clark having resigned their offices."
June 12, 1860--Appointed to Trenton Circuit by Bishop W. P. Quinn.
May 29, 1861--Appointed to Trenton Circuit by Bishop W. Nazrey.
May 19, 1862--Appointed to Bethel, Philadelphia, by Bishop W. Nazrey.
May 19, 1863--Appointed to Bethel, Philadelphia, by Bishop W. Nazrey.
Oct. 26, 1863--Appointed to Waters Chapel and Ebenezer Station, Baltimore, by Bishop D. A. Payne.
April 25, 1864--Appointed to Ebenezer Station by Bishop D. A. Payne.
May, 1864--Elected the eighth bishop of the A. M. E. Church at Philadelphia.
Campbell, Mary Ann, wife of Bishop Jabez Pitt Campbell, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., January 10, 1818, daughter of George and Eliza Akins. She was educated in the public schools of the city and for a short time in a school conducted by the Society of Friends. In 1836 she was married to Joseph Shire, and to them were born four children, one of whom, Joseph J. Shire, still lives in Philadelphia. Of Bishop she joined Mother Bethel, Philadelphia. Of Bishop Allen she had vivid recollections. Becoming a widow in 1849, she was wedded to Rev. Jabez P. Campbell in 1855. In 1873 she became one of the organizers of Allen Chapel. In 1874, when the Women's Parent Mite Missionary Society was organized, she was included among the promoters of the same, for a short time was president and for a decade was the treasurer, age compelling her to resign. She was a life member, with her husband, of the board of managers of the Home for Aged and Infirm Colored Persons. She died in Philadelphia January, 1910, aged 92 years.
Canady, H. D., was born near LaGrange, Troup County, Ga., April 19, 1859, the eldest son of Phillip and Manerva Canady. He got his rudimentary education in the rural public schools, by going to school to any who came to his community and styled themselves teachers. His academic and college training was in Clark University under Dr. W. H. Crogman. He was converted and joined McGhee Chapel A. M. E. Church in Troup County near Hogansville, Ga.; was baptized and licensed to preach by Dr. J. A. Wood. He joined the conference in Augusta, Ga., under Bishop Dickerson. He studied in Meharry Medical School, Nashville, more for the knowledge of physical science than for the purpose of practicing medicine. He also attended Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta; was given the degree of D.D. by Turner Theological Seminary, Morris Brown College. Dr. Canady married Miss Nora L. Bryant, who also was a student at Clark University. They have reared a successful family of 5 children--3 sons and 2 daughters: H. Canady, Jr., M.D., who is a successful practicing physician in Atlanta; Joseph R. Canady; J. W. Gay Canady; Hildonia P. Canady, who is principal of the industrial department of Ingraham Institute, Sparta, Ga., and Mrs. Helen G. Penn, wife of Rev. I. Garland Penn, Jr., of Chester, Pa. Rev. Canady has made a successful record as a pastor and presiding elder. Pastored Payne Chapel, Nashville, Tenn.; Steward Chapel, Macon, Ga.; Allen Temple, Atlanta. He freed Steward Chapel of a mortgage debt of long standing. Allen Temple was also left free of debt. Many have been converted and joined the church under his preaching and ministry. He has lived for many years in Atlanta, Ga., where he is favorably known. He is at present the presiding elder of the Monticello District of the Atlanta conference.
Capehart, William Henry, presiding elder of the Fayetteville District of the North Carolina Annual Conference, was born in Murfreesboro, Hertford Co., N. C., of Mary Ann and W. Henry Capehart. His mother was a strict member of the A. M. E. Church, his father a deacon in the Missionary Baptist Church. His mother looked carefully after young William's religious training. He was educated in the public school in Murfreesboro, and Shaw University, Raleigh, N. C., where he was converted on his return home, joining the A. M. E. Church. He was licensed to preach by Rev. Henry Epps, then presiding elder on the Weldon District; joined the North Carolina Annual Conference November, 1883, in Durham, N. C., and was sent for 3 years to St. Paul Station, Chapel Hill, N. C., where quite a number were converted and joined the church. He was ordained deacon November 29, 1886, at Company Shops, N. C., by Bishop Turner and appointed to St. James, Kinston, remaining 2 years, remodeling the church and adding quite a number of members. He was ordained elder November, 1887, by Bishop Campbell and has since held the following appointments: Washington Mission, where he found only 17 names, with not even a church building. He remained here for three years, bought a lot, built a church and added many members; Mt. Zion Church, Wilmington, N. C., two years, where he did good work and added quite a large number to the church; presiding elder of the Wilmington district five years and six months from November, 1893, during which time he surpassed for finance, conversions and accessions the records of all his predecessors; pastor of Mt. Olive, Wilmington, one year and six months; St. Stephen, Wilmington, two years, where at a spring revival more adults were converted than ever before at a revival conducted exclusively by the pastor, and all finances were increased; presiding elder of the New Bern district, two years; presiding elder of the Wilmington district the second time, three years, and he is now presiding elder of the Fayetteville district. As presiding elder his district Sabbath-school convention collected and donated to Kittrell College the largest
amount of any S. S. convention in the state of North Carolina. He has been a delegate to all general conferences since 1896, including the Centennial General Conference of 1916. May 25, 1892, he was married to Miss Laura L. Simonson, of Washington, N. C. They have three children: Dr. Leroy G. T., and Misses Helen E. and Bessie L. Capehart.
Carey, Archibald James, the son of Rev. Jefferson and Anna B. Carey, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born August 25, 1868, at Atlanta, Ga., one of three children. He entered school when four years of age. He has attended Atlanta University, Chicago Theological Seminary and the University of Chicago and is a graduate of Chicago Theological Seminary, and has received the honorary degrees of A.M., D.D. and Ph.D. He was converted and joined the church at nine years of age. He held nearly every office in the local church; was licensed to preach in 1888 at
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. A. J. CAREY, D.D.
Atlanta, Ga., was ordained deacon in 1889 at Washington, Ga., and elder in 1890 at Monticello, Ga., all by Bishop Gaines. He joined the North Georgia annual conference in 1888 under Bishop Gaines and has held the following appointments: Bethel, Athens, Ga., 1891-95; Mt. Zion, Jacksonville, 1895-98; Quinn Chapel, Chicago, 1898-1904; Bethel, Chicago, 1904-1909; Institutional, Chicago, 1909 to date. He built Bethel, Athens, Ga., at a cost of $2500 in 1892; lifted mortgages on Quinn Chapel to the amount of $23,000 in 1898-1904, on Bethel, Chicago, to the amount of $12,500 in 1904-1909, and has taken about 5000 people into the church. He was delegate to the general conferences of 1904, 1908, 1912, 1916. He was a member of the financial board from 1904 to 1912; member of the Commission on Federation of Methodist Churches, 1915, and was voted for for financial secretary in 1912, and for bishop in 1916. He married Miss Elizabeth Davis, daughter of Hon. Madison Davis, former postmaster of Athens, Ga., in 1890. They have five children: Eloise, 22 years; Annabel, 21 years; Madison, 19 years; Dorothy, 10 years, and Archibald, Jr., 7 years. Eloise and Annabel are graduates of Chicago University and have degrees of A.B. and Ph.B. respectively. Dr. Carey has been a frequent contributor to newspapers and has been in great demand for public addresses. He is one of the directors of the Northwestern Recorder Publishing House. He is prominently connected with the F. and A. M., G. U. O. of O. F., K. of P., Foresters, Elks and Tabors, and stands high in the councils of the Republican party of his city. He was chosen by the International Commission to deliver the oration for the Negroes on the occasion of the centennial celebration of Perry's victory on the Lakes. All states participating in the war of 1812 made appropriations and were represented on program. Other speakers were Pres. Wilson, ex-Pres. Taft, Dr. McDonald, of Montreal, and Gov. Cox, of Ohio. Dr. Carey was appointed by Gov. Dunn as Commissioner of Half-Century Negro Freedom celebration held in Chicago; appointed by Mayor Harrison member of the Chicago Board of Moving Picture Censors, and appointed by Mayor Thompson Chief Examiner of Law Claims. He was leader of his delegation to general conferences of 1904, 1908, 1912 and 1916.
Carolina, W. P., the son of Rev. F. B. Carolina, was born August 29, 1864, at Columbia, S. C. Attended the public schools and Allen University. Converted
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. W. P. CAROLINA, D.D.
in Brooklyn, New York, January 26, 1886. Licensed to preach in Bridge Street Church, Brooklyn, May, 17, 1887, Wm. H. Thomas, Sr., pastor.
Appointed to the pastoral charge of Hymansville Circuit, Georgetown District, South Carolina Conference, Dr. N. B. Sterrett, P. E., to fill out the unexpired term of Rev. Abner Black, deceased, November, 1887.
Pastored Gourdine Circuit, Aiken Station, Beaufort, during the cyclone of 1893, when more than 500 were destroyed. He is author of "The Cyclone," music to which was arranged by Bishop L. J. Coppin. He also pastored Bethel Station, Georgetown; organized St. Stephen's Church in Georgetown; pastored St. Luke Station, Charleston; thence to St. Stephen at Georgetown; Pee Dee Circuit, Orangeburg Station; Bethel Station, Columbia.
After twenty-three years of pastoral work was appointed presiding elder of the Winnsboro District, Columbia
Conference. At present he is presiding elder of the Marion District and President of Flegler High School, Northeast Conference. He was sixteen years member of the Dollar Money Committee, four years a trustee of Wilberforce University, twelve years trustee to Allen University. The degree of D.D. conferred by Allen University, June, 1908.
The dollar money was more than doubled at all points he pastored except three. Many men among whom were drunkards and gamblers were brought to Christ under his administration.
Carr, Harry Augusta, son of Primus and Martha Carr, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born February 20, 1878, at Oakwood, Texas, one of sixteen children. He entered school when ten years of age, attending the public schools and Paul Quinn College from which he graduated with the degree B.D. as the valedictorian of his class. He was converted August 13, 1889, and joined the A. M. E. Church. He was licensed to preach in 1898 at Bryan, Texas, by Rev. G. W. Anderson; joined the annual conference in 1900 at Taylor, Texas, under Bishop Salter; was ordained deacon in 1900 at Belton, Texas, and elder 1902 at
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. H. A. CARR, B.D.
Austin, Texas, both by Bishop Salter. He has held the following appointments: Edward Chapel, Waco, 1900; Harrison Chapel, Waco, 1903; dean of Paul Quinn College, Waco, 1903; Belton, 1904; Corsicana, 1909; Bethel, Dallas, 1914 to date. He bought Edwards Chapel, Waco, for $900 in 1900; rebuilt Belton Church for $1100 in 1908; built church at Corsicana, $7500, in 1911. He has taken 947 people into the church, baptized 324 and married 117 couples. He was delegate to the general conferences of 1908, 1912 and 1916. He married Mary S. Allen, of Waco, Tex., November 26, 1903. His first wife, Clara Shaw, died in 1898. By his first wife he has one son, William, age 19, and by his second wife he has two children: Hattie, age 10 years, and Lois, age 3 years. His son William is a senior at Wilberforce University. He has made the following addresses: "Two Knights of Destiny," "Unfettered Mechanism," "In the Beginning." He is a home owner and is connected with the F. and A. M., G. U. O. of O. F., and K. of P., also with the Negro Welfare Board and Negro Business Men's League, of Dallas, Texas.
Carter, Jesse Benjamin, one of eight children of Junius and Maria Carter, both loyal members of the A. M. E. Church, was born at Midway, Ala., February 9, 1869, started to school at Midway in 1880, finished grammar school, and did much private study; received D.D. from Payne University, Selma, Ala., was converted August 8, 1892, joined A. M. E. Church, served as steward, class leader, exhorter, Sunday school teacher and superintendent, chorister, etc., was licensed to preach at Pratt City, Ala., December, 1892, by Rev. J. S. Shaw; joined annual conference at Pratt
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. B. CARTER, D.D.
City, November, 1893, under Bishop Grant; was ordained deacon at Columbiana, December 1, 1895, by Bishop Grant, and elder December 5, 1898, at Huntsville by Bishop Turner; has held the following charges: Jamison circuit, 1895-6; Calera circuit, 1897-1898; Hopewell circuit, 1899; Oakgrove circuit, 1900; Blossburg, 1901-5; Bethel, Ensley, 1906-10; Metropolitan, Mobile, 1911-13; Bethel, Ensley, 1914-16. He remodeled the church at Jamison at cost of $300; at Calera, cost $175; at Shelby, Ala., cost $400; at Hopewell, $200, and paid full amount; also paid $10,000 on Metropolitan church at Mobile, and $21,000 on new church at Ensley; paid mortgage of $600 at Blossburg; was delegate to general conferences of 1904, 1908, 1912 and 1916; statistician for North Ala. conference 7 years; trustee of Wilberforce 8 years, and Payne University 16 years; author of "Methodistic Modes," is past master of Masons and past chancellor of Knights of Pythias. His wife is Mrs. Cora E. Carter, of Enon, Ala., to whom he was married Aug. 2, 1894. Their children are Hattie L., a graduate of Broad Street Academy, Mobile, Ala., and a teacher in Birmingham city schools, and William B., 18 years old; Festus McNeal, 16 years old. Dr. Carter owns a home and other property and has been the inspiration for scores of his people to secure homes.
Catto, William Thomas, first business manager of Christian Recorder, was born of free parents in Charleston, South Carolina, about 1809, and removed with his family to Philadelphia, Pa., in 1846. He was the father of Prof. O. V. Catto, who was murdered in Philadelphia during an election riot, October 10, 1871. Almost immediately on settling at Philadelphia, Mr. W. T. Catto became connected with the A. M. E. Church and because of his attainments was named book steward of the A. M. E. Church. This he held until 1852, when he was given a pastoral charge which was not to his liking, and he resigned from the church and became a Presbyterian. He died in Philadelphia in 1869.
Certain, Rev. W. D. was born in Camden County, South Carolina, in the early sixties, and was brought to Florida by his parents, Edward R. and Elizabeth Certain, when he was seven months old. He entered school at the age of seven and received his literary training in Stanton Normal Institute, Cookman Institute, and Edward Waters College. He taught school in Duval, Putnam and Volusia counties in Florida. Later he studied Greek, Latin and Hebrew. He was
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. W. D. CERTAIN, D.D.
converted in 1874, during the pastorate of John R. Scott, Sr., at Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church, Jacksonville, Fla. He was licensed to exhort and preach by Rev. P. B. Braddock in Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church, Jacksonville, Fla., May, 1888. In 1882 he married Miss Alice LaRoche, of Columbia, S. C., on February 13.
Much credit is due to his faithful companion for his attainment in the ministry. He joined the East Florida Conference in Gainesville, Fla., February, 1890, under Bishop Arnett, and was appointed to Plant City, Seffner and College Hill, by Presiding Elder T. W. Long, at the District Conference of which he was secretary-in-chief, July, 1890. February 24, 1891, he was ordained deacon by Bishop Arnett in St. Paul Church, Jacksonville, Fla., and was assigned to the Pomna, Stasuma, Circuit, which embraced five points.
He was ordained elder by Bishop Ward, at Lake City, Fla., in Mt. Pisgah Church, February, 1894, and was appointed to East Palatka and Federal Point Circuit. After serving one year he consented to transfer to Bethel Station, Shelbyville, Kentucky, on February 25, 1895. He served this station successfully for two years nearly paying a large debt. Each year the revival efforts were attended with many conversions. He also served as secretary twice and assistant secretary once of the West Kentucky Conference. He was appointed to St. James Chapel, Louisville, Ky., October, 1897, by Bishop Salter, paying the delinquent monthly dues of four months in the Building and Loan Association, and keeping up the monthly obligations during the time of the two appointments. He entertained the West Kentucky Annual Conference, October, 1897. In February, 1898, he was transferred to East Florida conference, to St. Paul Station, St. Augustine, Fla., February 20, 1898. There was a mortgage of $3000.
He paid $500 in ninety days and had a successful revival with thirty-five converts, renovated the church and repaired the roof. When he reported at Lake City, Fla., February, 1898, he was elected secretary of the conference and was made presiding elder of Jacksonville District to succeed the late Dr. S. H. Coleman,
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. MARY ALICE CERTAIN.
who was killed by the derailing of the train, December 14, 1898. He served this district for four years, making increase in all departments of the church work, many churches being built and thousands added to the membership. He was appointed to St. Paul Station 1903 by Bishop J. A. Handy. Served for three years and had the greatest revival in the history of the church, during July and August, 1903, when 120 persons were added to the church. This membership was increased from 200 to 400 in three years, and a mortgage of $400, with interest, was paid within the first thirteen months. The church was renovated and the dollar money was increased. As a result Dr. Certain was appointed presiding elder of Lake City District, by Bishop Tanner, January, 1905.
He was again elected secretary of this Conference. He served this district with credit for four years, during which time eleven churches were built and hundreds of souls were converted. The dollar money was
greatly increased and the educational funds were increased from $150 to $325. The Conference Territory was divided into six Presiding Elders' Districts in 1909, and he was appointed to the Suwannee District, which district he served for two years. He was needed to pay a debt incurred by the building of a parsonage, and he was assigned to St. Paul Station, St. Augustine, Fla., December, 1911, which charge he had served quite thirteen years prior to this appointment. He labored in this charge successfully for two years.
In the revival of 1912-13, 51 persons were converted and $1100 were paid on the parsonage, which was finished and furnished at a cost of $300, and a $200 organ installed, and all general claims increased.
He was appointed to the Suwannee District the second time December, 1913, by Bishop John Hurst, and was heartily received by the district. On his return after two years' absence and at this writing is serving his second year of the new term.
He was a member of the following General Conferences, 1900, 1908, 1912. He has been a Mason for twenty-six years, 32°, and member of Fidelity Lodge, No. 251, Jacksonville, and Assistant Grand Chaplain Odd Fellows for thirty-four years; also a member of Amega Lodge, No. 5442, Jacksonville, Fla.; District Department Indiana of G. S. & D. of S. American Woodman, U. B. of A., Order of Progressive, Men and Women Mosaic Temple, Director of Afro-American, Progressive Stock Company, St. Augustine, Florida, and a stockholder and member, Jacksonville Loan and Industrial Company: Ex-trustee Wilberforce University; Trustee Edward Waters College; Owner of several valuable houses in Jacksonville, Fla., and is a delegate to the Centennial General Conference, 1916.
Certain, Mary Alice, wife of Rev. W. D. Certain, was born in Winsboro, S. C., and reared in Columbia, S. C., where she received her literary training during the sixties and seventies. Her parents were Isaac and China La Roche. She was brought to Jacksonville, Fla., while in her teens by her mother. She was converted at sixteen at Gordon Chapel, Putnam county, Fla., under the pastorate of Rev. Major Johnson, while living with her grandfather, William Gordon.
She began work as a public school teacher in 1884 and has taught in the following counties in the State of Florida: Putnam, Volusia, Hamilton, St. John, Lafayette, Suwaunee and Marion, in which county she is now engaged. She married Rev. W. D. Certain, February 13, 1882. He was himself a public school teacher.
She has been a member of the A. M. E. Church thirty-seven years and has been active as a church worker in the Sunday School and Missionary Society. She was active in raising the first large sum of money for missions in St. Paul A. M. E. Church, St. Augustine, Fla., during the pastorate of her husband in 1898. When Mrs. Mary A. Handy accompanied her husband, Bishop James A. Handy, to Florida in 1900, to take charge of the Eleventh Episcopal District, she was the right hand supporter of Mrs. Handy in the organizing of the Women's Mite Missionary Society, acting as Secretary. She served as State Secretary of the Mite Missionary Society for twelve years, during the administrations of Bishops Handy, Tanner and Salter. She was elected Conference President of the East Florida Conference Branch of the Mite Missionary Society, served three years and declined the fourth nomination in favor of Mrs. Eddie Byrd, the present incumbent. She has been District President of the Mite Missionary Society of the Jacksonville District, Lake City District and Suwaunee District for twelve years, traveling and working among the sisters and members generally, instructing and showing the necessity of becoming active missionary workers.
Channell, Squire, J., was born on a sugar plantation, near Napoleonville, La., in Assumption Parish on Bayou Lafouche, in the early 60's, the second son of
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. S. J. CHANNELL, D.D.
Mr. Solomon, a native of Kentucky, and Mrs. Rosetta Channell, a native of Virginia.
His parents were founders of Nelson Chapel A.
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. L. M. CHANNELL.
M. E. Church at Napoleonville, which this son joined, at the age of ten or eleven years. When but a boy he felt moved to preach and when he preached his first sermon those present were astonished, some of them
expressing themselves thus: "That boy is not going to stay here. Did you hear how he quoted the Bible?" In 1890 he entered the ministry.
The path has not been pleasant all of the way, but he has succeeded up to now. Many persons have been saved by the gospel of Christ, preached by him; many churches and parsonages built and repaired, and many debts paid, and his life has been an example wherever his lot was cast. He has edited two newspapers, "The Louisiana Horn" and the "Louisiana African Methodist."
He was a member of the Wilmington and Chicago General Conferences in 1896 and 1904, respectively.
Rev. Channell has had but limited school advantages. 3 years after entering the ministry he attended New Orleans University, but stayed only a short while. He has been a hard and persistent student, doing most of his study under private teachers. He was given the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity by Paul Quinn College, Waco, Texas. The doctor often commends his present wife for much of his success in these recent years. He is especially careful of his personal character. He has never left one charge owing twenty-six cents. He neither smokes nor chews tobacco and is a total abstainer.
He owns several properties in different parts of Louisiana and an excellent home in the city of New Orleans.
Channell, Mrs. Letitia Mae, was born in Caddo Parish, a few miles south of Shreveport, La. She grew up on the farm on which she was born. She learned first the country life, the growing of crops, the planting and harvesting of corn and cotton, etc.
At the age of seventeen the godmother took Letitia to live with her in the city of Shreveport, La., at which place she entered the Peabody School and completed the grammar grade. After teaching two summers in the public school work, she went to Mary Allen Seminary, at Crocket, Tex., where she finished the normal course. She then taught in the public school of Shreveport about four sessions and was very proficient in her work. In 1908 she married Rev. S. J. Channell, D.D., one of Louisiana's able preachers.
Since then she has taken her place as one of the mission workers of the State. She was Vice-President of the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society of the Louisiana Conference for several years and was made President and saw the mission work double if not triple. She was president three years, then she was made state president and is holding this office at this writing.
Mrs. L. M. Channell offered New Orleans for the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Convention held February of 1915, which was the greatest of all conventions ever held by the race in the bounds of the city. The convention honored Mrs. Channell by electing her the secretary of that convention.
She was converted when a child and has been a member of the African Methodist Church from her child life up to now. She has composed and published a number of beautiful poems and is called by some of the missionary sisters, "Our Little Poet." She has expressed the intention of publishing a book of poems at some time in the future.
Chappelle, William David, was born of slave parents, Henry and Patsy Chappelle, who had eleven children, five boys and six girls. William David, the second child, was born in Fairfield Co, about eleven miles from Winnsboro, S. C., November 16, 1857. He began school in 1869. His teachers were northern
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP W. D. CHAPPELLE, A.M., D.D., LL.D.
women, who taught him the rudiments, and thus laid the foundation for him to enter the Fairfield Normal Institute. The principal of this institute, Rev. Willard Richardson, of Delaware, did more to inspire William D. Chappelle along with many others of Fairfield
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. W. D. CHAPPELLE.
County, to higher usefulness than any other man. From Fairfield Institute have come such other men as the Rev. George Dillard, Rev. M. G. Johnson, Rev. D. W. Frazier and Prof. Kelly Miller. W. D. Chappelle obtained license to teach in the public schools in 1880, and was elected to teach five miles from Winnsboro
for seven months through the winter of 1880-81. After being converted in 1875 he was called to preach; in November, 1881, he joined the Columbia Annual Conference and was given a mission (Pine Grove) in Lexington County. In December, 1881, along with five other young men (D. T. MacDaniel, A. J. Hunter, A. J. Jamison, C. C. Dunlap and T. A. Saxon) he entered Allen University, and, for six years, struggled with a wife and one child to support, graduating in 1887 as one of the first honor students of his class. Ten years after his graduation he was called to the presidency of his alma mater and served as its head two years, at the same time having charge of one of the largest presiding elders' districts in South Carolina. He served as professor in Allen University before his election to its presidency, was secretary of the trustee board, a pastor eight years, presiding elder eleven, and in 1900 was elected as the secretary-treasurer of the Sunday School Union, Nashville, Tenn., and for 8 years edited the literature of the Sunday schools for the entire connection. Upon taking up the work at the department he found it in debt to the amount of $6000, with no machinery nor anything else which would constitute a printing plant of a publishing house. At that time the Sunday school literature was printed by the M. E. Church South. In 1908 he made his report to the general conference at Norfolk, Va.; he reported the S. S. Union out of debt and $1000 with which to lay the foundation of a new building, and a printing outfit valued at $25,000. In 1908 he returned to his home in South Carolina and was in the same year re-elected to the presidency of Allen University, which position he filled until 1912, when he was elected to the bishopric in Kansas City, Mo. W. D. Chappelle was poor for when he left Winnsboro in 1881 he had $50 with which to enter school. Being determined and persistent in the acquiring of an education, Bishop Dickerson took hold of him and assisted him, giving him a room, furnishing fuel and allowing him to use his horse to drive to his work in the country every Sunday, a distance of eight miles. Through all these years of struggle he never faltered, and today Bishop William D. Chappelle is comfortably situated in the eastern part of Columbia, S. C. He is paying tax on more than $25,000 worth of property. To him have been born five children, two girls, Lula K. and Clotelle D., and three sons, William D., Jr., LeRoy P. and Henry Talmage. The first three named children are now married. W. D. Chappelle, Jr., is a practicing physician and has a splendid infirmary, making good progress in his chosen profession. Thus it will be seen that the life of Bishop W. D. Chappelle will serve as an inspiration to other young men who are seeking to be useful in their day and generation. He was married twice, first to Miss Eliza Ayers (who died May 17, 1899) and with whom he lived for nearly 25 years. To them were born the first three children mentioned in this sketch. He was next married to Miss Rosina Palmer, of Columbia, S. C., and to them were born the two boys last named. He boasts of the fact that he was blessed with two good wives, both of whom rendered great assistance in his rise to prominence in the A. M. E. Church.
Chrystal, Charles S., son of Alexander and Louisa Chrystal, both members of the Baptist Church, was born in 1861 at Mt. Carmel, Ky., one of four children. He has had very little schooling, but studied much at home. He was converted February 23, 1882, and joined church, and has served as steward and class leader. He was lay delegate from the Cincinnati District to the Ohio Annual Conference in September, 1915, and the general conference of 1916. He married Maggie A. Boston, of Dover, Ky., April 18, 1894, and
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. CHARLES S. CHRYSTAL.
has three children: Edward, Verna and Bertha. He has served as manager of the "Union," a weekly paper of Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a Republican, owns a home and considerable other property; is treasurer of the official board of Allen Temple; is associated with Old Folks' Home at Richmond, Va.; Orphan Asylum of Cincinnati, and N. A. A. of C. P.
Cheeks, Robert M., former editor of Southern
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. R. M. CHEEKS, D.D. (Deceased).
Christian Recorder, was born in Amelia County, Virginia, December 28, 1859, and reared near Wytheville,
Virginia. He was converted at an early age and entered the Virginia Conference in 1877. He studied at Howard University, Washington, D. C., and graduated from the theological department. He served the following churches: Badensburg, Md.; Chelsea, Mass.; Selma, Ala.; Greensboro, Ala.; Montgomery, Ala.; Atlanta, Ga. He was presiding elder Rome District, North Georgia Conference. He was elected editor of Southern Christian Recorder in 1896 and re-elected in 1900. He died during session of the general conference at Columbus, Ohio, May 19, 1900. His widow, Mrs. Mattie Cheeks, now resides in Washington, D. C.
Chestnut, Rev. James Horace, son of Henry and Elizabeth Johnson, both members of the Baptist Church, was born July 24, 1873, at Faison, N. C. He was one of fourteen children. He entered school 1886. He received his education at the State College and Claflin University, from which he graduated. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1890; was licensed to preach, 1900, at Orangeburg, S. C., by Rev. S. F. Flegler. He joined the annual conference
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. H. CHESTNUT.
1901 at Manning, S. C., under Bishop W. J. Gaines. He was ordained deacon 1903 at Florence, S. C., by Bishop Gaines and ordained elder 1905 at Summerville, S. C., by Bishop L. J. Coppin. He has held the following appointments: Blackville and Williston Mission, 1905; Francis Brown Station, 1906-07; Barnwell Circuit, 1908; Holly City Circuit, 1909-12; St. Paul Circuit, 1913; Somerville, 1914-15; Bethel Station, 1916. He erected a church at Blackville, $200 in 1905, completed two churches at Holly Hill Ct., $575 in 1909, paid a debt of $175 on St. Paul Ct. in 1913, improved Somerville $375 in 1914. He lifted a mortgage of $125 at Harleyville in 1913.
He has taken 269 people into the church, baptized 190 and married 45. He married Mrs. Mabel Chestnut, of Orangeburg, S. C., December 20, 1906. They had five children, John, James, Augustus, Alonzo and Harold. He is connected with the F. and A. M., G. U. O. of O. F., K. of P.
Clark, Molliston Madison, first editor of Christian Recorder, 1852-4, was born of mixed parentage in Delaware in 1807, and died while in charge of the A. M. E. Church at Alton, Ill., about 1872. He graduated from Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pa., in October, 1835, and was one of the first college graduates in the A. M. E. ministry. In 1852 he was elected editor of the Christian Recorder, but resigned in 1854 after having gotten out fifteen issues. He was an eloquent preacher and able as a scholar.
Clark, Thomas Garriett, son of Harry and Flora Clark, was born in Wilson county, near the town of Wilson, N. C., July 10, 1876, on the homestead place. There were nine children. Here he grew up on the farm and attended the country and also public school. He entered Lincoln University, Pa., at twenty-two years of age, was converted May 22, 1899, and connected with the Presbyterian Church; entered the Divinity School, Howard University, Fall of 1902,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. THOMAS GARRIETT CLARK.
graduating from the Classical Department May, 1905.
He joined the A. M. E. Church in 1906, and was licensed in February, at Bethel A. M. E. Church, Sixth and Lombard Streets, Philadelphia, where he labored till the year 1908, when he received his commission to the African field under Bishop William H. Heard, D.D., December 5. He was ordained Deacon at the Philadelphia Annual Conference, June 14, 1908, at Carlisle, Pa., by Bishop Gaines, and was also transferred to the Liberian Annual Conference, West Coast Africa, June 15.
He sailed for Africa with Bishop Heard and other missionaries December 5. He preached his first sermon in Africa January 1, 1909, Rom. 12:1. Met first Annual Conference January 27. He was ordained Elder January 31 and appointed to the Eliza Turner Memorial Church, Monrovia. He was reappointed January 26, 1910, and made Principal of the Mission School. The students enrolled numbered one hundred and thirty.
He raised and contributed October 10 the first one hundred dollars to the "Building Fund" for re-building
building the church at this charge. He was appointed to the Bethel A. M. E. Church, Lower Buchanan, Grand Bassa, March 20, 1911, and established a mission station among the Kroo Tribe at Kroo Town, November 26. He baptized seventy-six persons while in Africa.
He was appointed General Missionary at the Annual Conference held at Monrovia, March 15, 1912, and returned to the United States with a native boy, "Uleh," from the mission station, for the purpose of educating him to return and teach among his tribe. He arrived in America April 10 and was married to Miss Sarah B. Wainwright April 21.
July 1, 1912, he was appointed to Victor's Chapel A. M. E. Church at Mont Clair, N. J. He pastored St. John's A. M. E. Church, Catskill, N. Y., May 26, 1913, to May 31, 1914. Rev. Clark has written a work entitled "Liberia, the African Republic," setting forth the colonization and steady development and appalling conditions. He shows how non-recognition by foreign power forces decided action on the part of the colonist and retards the formation of a Government modeled after that of the United States.
He was pastor Bethel A. M. E. Church, Elmira, N. Y., May 31, 1914, to May 31, 1915, and compiled a pamphlet on the fifty-first celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation held in this charge. He was appointed pastor at Middletown, N. Y., May 31, 1915.
Clemens, William Edward, was born in Long, Darke County, O., October 15, 1865. On account of superior scholastic and social privileges the family moved to Toledo, O., in 1882, where he has since resided. He entered the Toledo grammar school, was promoted to the high school, but was compelled to leave a year before graduation on account of ill health. After a term at the Ohio Business University he entered
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. W. E. CLEMENS.
the employ of J. J. Freeman, leading jeweler, and was a valuable and trusted employee for fifteen years, resigning his position in September, 1902, to enter the county treasurer's office, where he made an enviable record for trustworthiness and ability. Mr. Clemens made a profession of Christ February 14, 1889, during the great revival under the pastorate of Rev. O. P. Ross, and joined Warren A. M. E. Church, and has been a zealous worker ever since. He has served for many years as trustee, steward and class leader and is now the efficient secretary of the trustee board and church clerk. He is also now serving his twenty-eighth consecutive year as superintendent of the Sunday school, which is thoroughly organized and one of the best managed of the country. He is a trustee of Wilberforce University and was elected lay delegate to the general conferences of 1904 and 1908. In addition to his regular work, Church and Sunday school duties, he has been actively engaged along many other lines for the betterment of his people; is prominent in Masonic circles. He was initiated in Amazon Lodge, No. 4, F. and A. M., December 7, 1887, passed February 28, 1888, and raised March 6, 1888, and has been prominent ever since. He has filled nearly every office in the local bodies with credit and for five years served as master, during which time the lodge enjoyed unprecedented prosperity. He is also a member of Maunell Chapter, No. 6, R. A. M., St. John's Commandery, No. 5, K. T., St. Mathew's Consistory, A. A. S. R. of Masonry, and Mecca Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. From 1898 to 1901 he was deputy grand master. In August, 1902, when the grand lodge convened in Toledo, he was chosen grand master without opposition, being the fifteenth grand master and youngest mason elevated to the position. For seven consecutive years he served without opposition, during which time the grand lodge enjoyed great prosperity. Mr. Clemens has a pleasant and congenial wife, two bright young boys and a charming daughter, a graduate of the Toledo High School. His family home at 672 Woodland avenue is delightfully cozy and a generous hospitality graciously dispensed.
Coffee, Rev. T. W., the eldest of nine children, was born in 1854. His mother, Mrs. Ann Coffee, was a slave and a member of the Methodist Church. Before he was a year old he was taken from his mother and given to another woman to be cared for and his mother was given a white child to nurse who was a few months younger than he. Between six and seven years of age he was taken to the house to attend his mistress' children. Because of cruel treatment he ran away at nine years and attempted to go off with the Union army, but his master begged the captain to let him take him back, promising to treat him kindly, which he says his master did till the Yankees were far away, when he punished him severely. A year later, however, he escaped. At sixteen years old he began going to night school, in Lauderdale County, but attended only a short while. At twenty he could not read and write: but he later attended school in Alabama and LeMoyne Institute, Memphis, Tenn. He was converted at the age of sixteen and he joined Avery Chapel under Rev. Hamilton in 1872 or 1873. He was licensed in 1876 to exhort; 1877 he was assigned to Decatur Mission, Decatur, Ala. The mission had six members and he served them six months and received $12 for his services. He joined the annual conference at Opelika in 1877 under Bishop Campbell and was ordained deacon the same time. In 1880 he was ordained elder at Greensboro, Ala., by Bishop Wayman. He never had local preacher's license. He was sent to Columbiana in the North Ala. conference,
pastored here two years, having more than 100 converts and accessions. He next went to Centerville one year, received into church 116. He was sent next to Montevallo, one year, 1880-1881. Next he was sent to Huntsville for one year. In 1882 the conference met at Selma, and Elder Coffee was put in charge of Brown's Chapel, Selma, where he had many converts, and raised the dollar money from $100.50 to $165. After two years he was sent to Birmingham, where he secured a lot for $800, and erected a two-story edifice costing $8000, and added more than 100 persons to the church. Bethel, Mobile; St. Luke, Eufaula; and Tuscumbia were pastored with success, many souls being added to each church. In 1891 he was appointed by Bishop Gaines presiding elder over the Florence district and served two years, when Bishop Grant appointed him presiding elder of the Birmingham district, which he served three years and enjoyed the highest confidence of the bishop, making increases along all lines. In 1896 Bishop Turner transferred him to the Alabama conference and he presided acceptably over the Montgomery district for three years. He served as pastor one year at Eufaula, with increased reports and gave them the best parsonage in that part of the State; was sent from there to Troy for one year and thence to Prattville for two years; again appointed presiding elder of the Florence district North Alabama, serving the same successfully four years. Next he served four years six months as presiding elder of the South Birmingham district with greater success along all lines than upon any district on which he ever served. After the death of presiding elder G. W. Todd he was appointed to the Greensboro (Ala.) district which he is now serving. He has been pastor 18 years and presiding elder 20 years. He was a member of the general conferences of 1896, 1900 and 1912. He married Miss Carrie R. McGowan, of Florence, Ala., in March, 1880, and they have had four children, one deceased, and three who are graduates of the A. & M. College, Normal, Ala.
Coker, Daniel, one of the founders of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Baltimore County, Md., 1780. His mother was a white woman and his father her slave. His full white brother took the greatest interest in him and, to screen him as much as possible from the effect of color prejudice, carried him to the North and secured for him a complete education. By reason of being born under the circumstances narrated above, he was credited as the child of a mulatto woman on the adjoining plantation and had subsequently to be registered as free to secure such a state. To accomplish this, four men of color induced John Needles, a famous Quaker abolitionist of Maryland, to buy him and later grant him emancipation. The four men of color who furnished the money necessary to secure his freedom were Charles Hackett, N. Gilliard, Wm. Watts and George Murray (the last named being the father of Daniel Murray, compiler of "Murray's Encyclopedia of the Colored Race"). The men wished him to teach school in Baltimore and when the whole was arranged, Daniel Coker opened about 1807 the first school for colored children in Baltimore taught by a colored teacher. The Rev. William Douglass, author of the "Annals of St. Thomas Church, Philadelphia," was one of Coker's pupils. Daniel Coker was one of the leaders in the Baltimore African Church and with others represented that church at Philadelphia, April, 1816, when the African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized. He was elected the first bishop, but next day resigned and was never ordained, Richard Allen being elected in his stead. In 1817 he seems to have left the A. M. E. Church, and in 1821 he joined the first party that went to Liberia. Ten days after the ship Elizabeth left New York, Daniel Coker called the 86 colonists together and formed on shipboard a religious society according to the discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Soon after arriving in Liberia, Daniel Coker and numerous following went to Freetown, Sierra Leone, and there later built a church, where he died in 1846, leaving a family of considerable size, some of whom Bishop Turner met during an episcopal visit there.
Cole, C. P., was born March 20, 1871, at Aiken, S. C. He is the son of John and Nancy Cole. He was
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. C. P. COLE, D.D.
baptized by the late Bishop Salter, then pastor of Cumberland A. M. E. Church, Aiken. He received his early training at the Schofield N. and I. School, of Aiken, and took his college and seminary course at Lincoln University. He won the Junior medal in oratory in 1894, and graduated from the college department in 1895 and was the valedictorian of his class, receiving the degree of B.A. Graduated from the seminary in 1898 and received the degree of M.A. In 1906 he received the degree of D.D. from Wilberforce University. In 1914 he received the degree of D.D. from Lincoln University.
He was ordained to the deaconate and the eldership by the late Bishop Grant. He served as pastor of the following charges: Lynn, Springfield, Norwalk, Greenwich, Providence, New Bedford and Bridge Street Church, Brooklyn, where he now is. In 1901 he married Miss Brittemore A. Tobias, a teacher in the public schools of New York City, and from this union one son, Canfield Butler, was born.
Collier, John William Porter, the third child of M. H. and Louisa Thompson Collier, was born in Marion, S. C., June 12, 1883.
His first teaching was received from his parents; later he attended the Flegler High School, where he studied until 1900, when he left the graduating class and began teaching, in order to sustain his sister in college.
During vacation he worked as a saw-miller, hod-carrier and gardener. He studied at night and taught others without charge. Saturday, April 6, 1901, he was converted in a revival conducted by Rev. F. R. McCay,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JOHN WILLIAM PORTER COLLIER, B.D.
the pastor. Easter Sunday, April 7, 1901, he joined the church and was soon made a class leader. Rev. C. J. Hamilton, D.D., March 6, 1903, licensed him to preach.
Collier entered Allen University, Columbia, S. C., October 1904, with one dollar and fifty-seven cents, and went many days until five o'clock without food.
In June, 1906, he graduated with honors from Allen University, receiving the degree of L.I., and in the fall of the same year was ordained deacon by Bishop Coppin at Lancaster, S. C., and appointed to Camden Mission.
He married Miss Ella N. Laboo, of Bishopville, S. C., his classmate, June 12, 1907.
Bishop Coppin ordained him an elder at Manning, S. C., December 7, 1907, and appointed him to St. Philip Station, Eastover, S. C., where he served two years. Health failing, he was appointed to Wheeler Hill Station, Columbia, S. C., by Bishop Lee. Here his wife, a real help-mate, died.
He was appointed to Brown Chapel Circuit, 1910. In 1911 he graduated from Allen with the degree of B.D., and was reappointed to Brown Chapel whence he transferred, January, 1912, to the New Jersey Conference. Upon his arrival he was sent to Atlantic Highlands, N. J., by Dr. A. L. Murray, P. E.
He married Miss Annie M Poole, of Greenwood, S. C., June 5, 1912, who is now sharing his joys and sorrows.
Rev. Collier delivered the annual sermon to the New Jersey Conference and was sent to the Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church, Plainfield, N. J., his present pastorate, the same year. He is now studying at the Theological Seminary of New Brunswick.
Conner, Bishop James Mayer, son of William and Marie Conner, was born in Winston county, Miss., in 1863 of slave parents. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1881, and was licensed to preach by Rev. J. W. Washington, P. E. of the West Point district, North Miss. Conference, in 1882. He entered the ministry and was sent to Aberdeen Mission in 1883, where he bought and built a new church. In 1884 he was ordained a deacon and elder by Bishop T. M. D. Ward, D. D. After serving at Okolona, Stormsville, he was sent by Bishop Ward to Arkansas and stationed at Forrest City, Ark., to build a church. This done, in 1886, he was sent to Osceola, Ark., to build a church, and then at Newport, Ark., to build a new church. At all these places he gave the connection good churches and added many new members to the church and carried up excellent conference reports, excelling all previous reports. He served four years as P. E. of the Forrest City (Ark.) district, three years on the Vicksburg (Miss.) district, two years on the Jonesboro (Ark.) district and two years on the Little Rock (Ark.) district. He spent two years at Hot Springs, Ark., as pastor, six years at Bethel, Little Rock, Ark., and four years at Fort Smith, Ark. He bought the ground and built the parsonage at Little Rock, Ark., paid the church out of debt at Hot Springs and almost doubled the conference dollar money at these places, also the membership.
His early education was obtained in the public schools fo his native State and Alabama, where he spent the early part of his life. In 1891 was graduated from the National University, of Chicago, with the degree of Bachelor of Sacred Theology; from the American Institute of Sacred Literature, University of Chicago, in 1897, and Shorter College, with the degree of Bachelor of Divinity in 1905. He was president of the executive board, president of the Alumni Association of Shorter College. Morris Brown College, Atlanta, Ga., conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity upon him, and Paul Quinn College, Waco, Tex., gave him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
Bishop Conner is an author of several books, among
them being "The Outlines of Christian Theology," "Doctrines of Christ" and "Elements of Success."
For many years, in connection with his church work, he published the Little Rock Reporter, Arkansas Statesman and Conner's Magazine. For seven years he was at the head of the Business Men's League of Arkansas.
The following are his appointments in chronological
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP J. M. CONNER.
order: Aberdeen, Miss., 1883; Okalona, Miss.,. 1884; Stormsville, Miss., 1885; Osceola, Ark., 1887; Newport, Ark., 1888-1889; Forest City, 1886.
Was Presiding Elder of Forest City District 1893; Little Rock, 1896-97; Vicksburg District, 1897-1901; Little Rock, Ark., 1901-1905; Jonesboro District, 1908-1910; Little Rock District, 1910-12. Was elected Bishop in 1912. Built churches at Aberdeen, Miss., 1883, at a
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. JAMES M. CONNER
cost of $800; Stormsville, Miss., 1885, at a cost of $600; Forest City, Ark., 1886, at $3000; Newport, Ark., 1888, at $5000; Osceola, Ark., 1887, at $2000.
Lifted mortgages at Hot Springs in 1895 to the amount of $1400; Little Rock in 1897 to the amount of $1200.
Has taken five or six thousand people into the church and baptized about 1800 persons.
Was delegate to the General Conference in 1896 at Wilmington, N. C., and to all others since then. Was member of the Financial Board for eight years, 1904 to 1912.
Married Miss Glovenia L. Stewart, of Kentucky, in 1886. Parents of five children.
Bishop Conner has made many addresses. He has been associated with the Progressive Party, and is owner of a home and other valuable real estate. He served as Bishop of the Eighth Episcopal District, including the States of Mississippi and Louisiana, during the quadrennium 1912-1916, presiding over five conferences in Mississippi and two in Louisiana, and created a new one in Mississippi--the Northwest Mississippi Annual Conference. He is now bishop of Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Cook, Rev. W. D., the son of William B. and Fannie G. Cook, both of whom were African Methodists, was born February 17, 1860, at Warrenton, N. C. He was one of eight children. Began school in 1871 and attended 12 years in all, attending principally public school, Johnson High, Shaw University and Howard University.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. WILLIAM D. COOK.
Received a diploma from Howard University and degree of D.D. from Wilberforce. Converted in 1877 and joined Oak Chapel the same year; was steward, trustee, class leader, local preacher, usher and Sunday School teacher. He was licensed to preach 1877 at Warrenton, N. C., by Rev. G. D. Jimmerson; ordained deacon 1879 at Newbern, N. C., by Bishop Brown; ordained elder at Wilmington, N. C., by Bishop Payne.
Joined Annual Conference in 1878 at Hillsboro, N. C., under Bishop Brown. Held following appointments: Pine Grove Circuit, N. C.; Fayetteville Mission, N. C.; P. Street Mission, Georgetown, D. C.; Durham Station, N. C.; Kinston Station, N. C.; St. John's, Norfolk, Va.; Wilmington, Del.; Bethel, Phila.; Frankford, Pa.; Bridge St., Brooklyn, N. Y.; Atlantic City, N. J.; St. Paul, St. Louis, Mo.; Quinn Chapel, Chicago; presiding elder of Chicago District, and now pastor of Bethel Church, Chicago.
Built the following churches: Pine Hill Church, at Pine Hill, N. C., 1879, at a cost of $500; Lincolnville Church at Wake City, N. C., 1880 at a cost of $700; completed A. M. E. Church at Durham, N. C., in 1884; St. John's Church at Norfolk, Va.,. at a cost of $48,000 in 1888, left a debt of only $18,000 and took in 1114 members. Lifted mortgages on Bethel Church, Wilmington, Del., in 1892, to the amount of $3800, and Bridge St., Brooklyn, N. Y., 1899, to the amount of $5000. He greatly reduced the debt on Mother Bethel, Philadelphia, and Bethel, New York, taking in 405 members in the three years at that charge.
Dr. Cook has taken seven thousand people into the church, baptized one thousand and married nine hundred. Delegate to General Conference in 1884, 1896, 1900, 1908. Has been a member of Church Extension Board and Allen Endeavor. He is life member of Trustee Board of Wilberforce and was a delegate to the Federal Council of Churches of Christ that met in Philadelphia in 1908.
Married Bertha Brooks Cook, of Harrisburg, Pa., in 1886. Two daughters, Edna H. and Frances E., are graduates of Howard University and Chicago Musical College, respectively.
He owns his home in Chicago. During his career he has raised more than $95,000 dollar money, paid over $50,000 on mortgages, raised over $25,000 connectional claims, had over 2500 conversions and 7000 accessions. He is a member of the Centennial General Conference, being the first alternate elected by the Chicago Conference and taking the place of Rev. T. A. Smythe, deceased.
Cooper, Allen R., was born in Quincy, Fla., September 6, 1857, the child of faithful members of the A. M. E. Church, Henry and Charity Cooper. He attended the schools of his native State for nine years;
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. ALLEN R. COOPER, D.D.
he was in the class of the late Bishop M. M. Moore and after preparing himself to teach was elected to teach in the school that he attended.
Converted at the age of fourteen years under the pastorate of Rev. T. G. Steward he united with the church; and filled the following offices: Steward, Sunday School Superintendent, Assistant Class Leader and Secretary of the church. For fourteen years he taught school in Florida and Georgia. After moving from Florida to Georgia he was elected Principal of the Intermediate Department of the Public Schools of the city of Americus, Ga., where he taught for six years. Uniting with Campbell Chapel Church, of Americus during the pastorate of the late William Bradwell, he organized the largest Sunday School in the city and was its Superintendent for a number of years. Received license as a local preacher during the pastorate of the late William C. Banton, D.D., Rev. S. B. Jones being Presiding Elder and one of the oldest at that time in Georgia.
He joined the Macon (Ga.) Conference at Barnesville, the late Bishop W. J. Gaines presiding. At this Conference he was appointed to Mahala Chapel Mission, on the Americus District, where he beautified the church and added a great number of members to the same. His second appointment was at Ellaville Circuit, same district, where he beautified two churches and added a great number of members; after remaining on this circuit for two years he was sent to Columbus and stationed at St. Mark's Station; here he completed a splendid structure erected by Rev. M. R. Wilson. When the latter saw it after its completion as he looked at these words written in gold in the trio windows in front of the building: "Erected by Rev. M. R. Wilson completed by Rev. A. R. Cooper," tears filled his eyes as he said, "Thank God I have found one Negro preacher willing to give his brother preacher credit for his work." This is a splendid church and stands to-day a credit to the Connection. Here Rev. Cooper added over 300 to the church. His next appointment was Griffin, in the Atlanta Conference, following the late Dr. E. W. Lee. He remained in this charge two years. He was next sent to Milledgeville, in the Macon Conference, where he erected that beautiful structure, starting with about forty-five members and in three years increasing the membership to over 300. While at Milledgeville he suffered the loss of his wife, Mrs. J. Q. A. Cooper, who had been his helpful companion for eighteen years.
The members petitioned the Conference for his return but by his request of the late Bishop H. M. Turner he was given a small district, viz.: The "Fort Valley," with only nine appointments. He remained four years, the limit at that time; leaving the district with twenty-two appointments. He next went to Macon and was stationed at Turner Chapel. Remaining two years he paid off all of the debts and increased the membership greatly. From thence was sent to Augusta, Ga., Bethel Church, where a debt was hanging over the church and creditors calling for their money. In two years he had them satisfied that the church would pay them; the lost confidence was reestablished, and everything was moving on smoothly when a telegram called him to report in New York, and at the adjournment of the Conference he was appointed to take the pastoral charge of Bridge Street Church, Brooklyn, N. Y. This church has a wonderful history; during the days of the abolitionist it was one of the stations of the "underground railroad" and from it colored persons were carried to Canada. He was the first pastor in the history of this church to remain four years. He received into the church 1092 members, and raised $48,784.54 in all departments, paid the immediate church entirely out of debt, and made thousands of dollars' worth of improvements.
His next appointment, the Albany District, of the New York Conference, includes all of the northwestern part of the State, starting in New York City, the circumference being about 2500 miles; at present this is his fifth year; he is the first Presiding Elder to remain on the district five years. The degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Morris Brown University for a thesis, "The Divinity of Christ and How Demonstrated."
Cooper, Henry Harrison, the seventh child of Samuel and Sarah Cooper, was born in Philadelphia, Pa.; educated in the Quaker schools of Philadelphia, studied theology and the classics under Rev. Thomas H. Amos, of the Presbyterian Church, Bishop L. J. Coppin and Bishop W. R. Nicholson, of the Reformed Episcopal Church; taught school in Sussex and Kent County, Delaware, for over five years. Studied the printing art at the Industrial School of the Institute for Colored Youths, and founded and established the
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. HENRY HARRISON COOPER.
printing firm of Cooper, Parker and Purnell, Philadelphia. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1886. He was licensed to exhort July 31, 1890, and to preach November 25, 1890, by Rev. C. T. Shaffer, in Bethel A. M. E. Church, Philadelphia. In May, 1891, was admitted on trial in the Philadelphia Annual Conference, and assigned to Horntown Circuit, remaining one year; was in 1892 assigned to Holmesburg Circuit, embracing Ashtonville and Tioga. In 1893 was ordained deacon by Bishop Tanner, at Chambersburg, Pa., and re-appointed to Holmesburg, with Conshohocken attached. Next year was transferred by and at the request of Bishop Tanner to Bermuda, and stationed at Crawl. The membership was increased to 135. He returned to America owing to the health of his wife and in June, 1896, was again appointed to Conshohocken, remaining one year. In May, 1897, at West Chester was elected recording secretary of conference and appointed to Norwood Circuit. In 1898 at Columbia, Pa., was elected chief secretary of the mother conference, which position he retained for ten years.
Other points served by Rev. Cooper were Bristol, two years; Norristown, Pa., two years; La Mott, Pa., three years; Zion, Philadelphia, three years; West Chester, Pa., two years. In 1910 he was appointed presiding elder of the Philadelphia district. In 1912 he was appointed pastor of Union Church, Philadelphia, which appointment he had held successfully for four years. He represented the Philadelphia conference in the general conference at Norfolk in 1908, and also at Kansas City in 1912.
He was twice married, first to Miss Mary P. Gibbs, who died a year after marriage; next, in 1890, to his present wife, Mrs. Mary M. Cooper. They have seven children.
Cooper, Mrs. Mary M. Bolton, was born in Media, Penna., March 28th, 1870. Her father was a member of the Philadelphia Conference and her mother was a teacher in the Delaware county schools. Mary began school in Media at the age of six. Later she attended
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. MARY M. BOLTON COOPER
the Bee Hive school and the Institute for Colored Youths, from which she graduated in 1889, and began teaching in Frankford, Delaware, where she was successful and much loved by her pupils. In 1896 she entered an industrial school in Philadelphia, completing a course in millinery in 1898.
At the age of 12 she became a Christian and joined the A. M. E. Church at Devon, Penna., where her father was the pastor. At his death she joined Bethel, Philadelphia. She was united in marriage to Rev. H. H. Cooper and they have four boys and three girls. As a minister's wife she was ever ready to assist in all the departments of the church, and proved a faithful and willing worker in whatever field to which her husband was assigned. In 1895 she became a member of the Parent Mite Missionary Society and the following year was elected a delegate by the Bermuda Mite Missionary Society to the convention at Bethel, Philadelphia; she was one of the first members of the Philadelphia Conference Branch; also one of its first officers From this body she was elected five consecutive times as assistant secretary, four times chief secretary, four times as the president
and filled out a half term as special fund treasurer. She was elected and attended the following biennial and quadrennial conventions of the parent body: At Baltimore, Md.; Cleveland, Ohio; Chicago, Ill.; Atlantic City, N. J., and Detroit, Mich. She organized Mite Missionary Societies at Norwood, Conshohocken, Norristown, Bristol, La Mott, Penna., and Crawl, Bermuda; also junior choirs in several places. The cradle roll was managed and successfully carried on in this same church by Mrs. Cooper bringing to the regular Sunday school treasury as high as $18 and over in one year. In Union church, where her husband now pastors, she organized a junior choir of 40 members, managed the cradle roll of the Sunday school, taught the little mothers' class for the Child's Federation, was principal of the Vacation Bible School No. 93, and other religious and charitable work. She has taken the advanced course in Sunday school work, written several poems and songs, and been generally active in social and church work.
Cooper, John Wesley, the son of Henry and Charlotte Cooper, both members of the A. M. E. Church. Born in Burlington, N. J., 1840. Was one of six children. Entered school when about ten years of age and had about ten years schooling. Attended a country school near his home for over two years. Converted in 1858 and joined A. M. E. Church the same year.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JOHN WESLEY COOPER, D.D.
Has held almost every office in the church. Licensed to preach at Otterville, Canada, about 1864 by Rev. George R. Blount. Ordained Deacon 1868 at Brooklyn, N. Y., by Bishop Wayman. Ordained Elder at Brooklyn, N. Y., 1870, by Bishop Campbell. Joined the Annual Conference at Brooklyn, N. Y., under Bishop A. W. Wayman.
Held the following appointments: Oswego, N. Y., 1867-8; Freehold, 1869; Buffalo, 1871; Melrose, 1873; Coxsackie, 1875; Albany, 1878; Coxsackie, 1879; Camden, N. J., 1880-2; Salem, N. J., 1882; Princeton, Bridgeport, New Brunswick, Cape May, Trenton, Plainfield, Atlantic Highlands, South Camden, Morristown, Woodbury, Rahway, Fair Haven, Riverton, and then to Presiding Elder. Has been elected twice to the General Conference. Married Alvana Cooper, of North Carolina, in 1858, and married again in 1912 to Emma Evans.
He is the father of six children. His sons, William and Robert, are graduates of Lincoln University, and Annie M., a graduate of Institute for Colored Youths. William W. is City Councilman of Cambridgeport, Mass. Mary M. is Vice-President of the Missionary Society, and Anna M. is a public school teacher.
Corde, A. J., was born of poor parents, Frank and Rebecca Corde, August 1, 1860, in Winnsboro, S. C., where his boyhood days were spent. He attended the public school and afterward went to the Fairfield Normal Institute and finished the normal course. He then attended the State Normal School in Columbia, S. C., preparing to enter South Carolina College. He
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. A. J. CORDE, D.D.
passed the examination to enter college. At this time there was no difference with reference to races, but after General Hampton was elected Governor the doors were barred against colored people. While in the employ of a German he learned German and was proficient in the German language, so that he was often called as an interpreter. He taught school for twelve years in Fairfield county, being the youngest teacher in the State of South Carolina.
He was converted when a boy. He was called to the ministry in 1880 and licensed by Rev. David Pickett, Presiding Elder of the Columbia District. He was admitted into the Columbia Annual Conference December, 1883. He pastored the following places: Blythewood Circuit, Bethlehem Circuit, Pleasant Grove Circuit and Union Circuit. He was transferred to the North Carolina Conference in 1903 and sent to the Nashville Circuit. He built the church in Nashville, which the storm had blown down. He organized the church in Rocky Mount, N. C. It was organized in the schoolhouse in the part of town that was called Raleigh then. He pastored the following places in North Carolina: Goldsboro Circuit, Bishop W. J. Gaines appointed him pastor of Kittrell College to follow
Dr. Brockett who was transferred to Atlanta, Ga.; Milton Circuit, Pleasant Circuit, Riedsville Station, Liberty Circuit, Hickory Station, Efland Circuit. He organized a church in Efland without a member, preaching for a week under a brush arbor. Next he went to Chapel Hill, the Athens of North Carolina, next to Gailford College, then to Hillsboro, N. C. He appeared before the Board of Education there and made speeches in behalf of a building for his people and by his push and energy the people have a $2000 building. He is known as the chief promoter of Hillsboro. He raised $300 for the people to put in the benches, blackboard, charts and globe in the school-house.
Rev. Corde married Miss Fannie Williams. They lived seventeen years together. She was a faithful wife. She died May 25, 1902, leaving him with five children to care for. This road was rough so he went into the merchandise business and kept a wholesale woodyard, shipping wood to Joplin, N. C. He later took a theological course in Morris Brown University. He married the second time to Miss S. A. Patterson, of Rock Creek, N. C. He was honored with the degree of Doctor of Divinity by Kittrell College. While D. H. Johnson was President of Allen University the Faculty recommended that he receive the degree of D.D.
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP LEVI JENKINS COPPIN, D.D., LL.D.
Coppin, Bishop Levi Jenkins, 30th bishop of the A. M. E. Church, whose parents, John and Jane Coppin, were both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Fredericktown, Md., December 24, 1848, one of eight children. He entered school in 1865 and attended in all five terms. He improved by private study and later attended the P. E. Divinity School, Philadelphia, Pa., from which he received a certificate of graduation. He received the degrees D.D. and LL.D. from Wilberforce Uni. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1865. He has held nearly every office in the church from sexton to bishop. He was licensed to preach in Wilmington, Del., in 1876 by Rev. John F. Thomas, was ordained deacon in 1879 at Reading, Pa., by Bishop Payne, and he was ordained elder in 1880 by Bishop J. M. Brown at Norristown, Pa.; joined Phila. annual conference in 1877 under Bishop Payne, and has served the following charges: Philadelphia City Mission, Morris Brown Mission, Phila.; Allen and Bethel, of Phila.;
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. L. J. COPPIN
Bethel, Baltimore, Md. He purchased Trinity church, Baltimore, Md., at a cost of $22,000; purchased Morris Brown, Phila., at a cost of $7000; repaired Allen church at a cost of $3500, and paid mortgage on Bethel, Phila., to the amount of $1500. He has brought many into the church. He has been a member of every general conference since 1880. He was a member of the Board of the Sunday school Union, 1884-88; president of the Educational Board, 1908-12; president of the Church Extension Board, 1912 to date. He was fraternal delegate to the M. E. Church in 1900, member of two ecumenical conferences, member of Commission on Federation with A. M. E. Z. and C. M. E. and M. E. churches, 1907 and 1911; was editor of the A. M. E. Review, 1888-96; elected bishop in 1900. He has contributed to the New York Independent and A. M. E. Review. He
has written several books and pamphlets among which are: "In Memoriam," "Relation of Baptized Children to the Church," "The Key to Scriptural Interpretation," "Observation of Men and Things in South Africa," and "Fifty-two Sermon Syllabi," which have been well received. He has written several hymns found in our hymnal. He is one of the directors of the People's Bank in Philadelphia. He is also a Mason. He has held the offices of worshipful master, deputy grand master, district deputy grand master for south. He is a Republican and attended the Cincinnati convention that nominated Rutherford B. Hayes. He is a property owner and pays taxes in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, Alabama and California. He is actively associated with Home for Aged and Infirm Colored Persons; Douglass Memorial Hospital and Y. M. C. A., all of Philadelphia. He is a member of the American Academy of Political and Social Science: Society for the Advancement of Colored People. He was married to Miss Fanny M. Jackson, of Philadelphia, then and for more than twenty years thereafter principal of the Institute for Colored Youths, in 1880. She died January, 1913, and in July, 1914, Bishop Coppin was married to Miss Evelyn Melissa Thompson, M.D., a graduate of Allen University and The Women's Medical College of Philadelphia. To them has been born one daughter, Theodocia Coppin.
Corr, Joseph M., book steward of A. M. E. Church 1832 to 1835, was born of free mixed parentage in Baltimore, Md., in 1806 and received a fair education. In 1826 he was made secretary of the Baltimore Annual Conference and held the same for two years. In 1826 he was secretary of the general conference at Philadelphia. In 1832 he was elected steward of the Book Concern, and during his incumbency issued the second discipline in 1834, and in 1835 the second hymnal of the A. M. E. Church. He died in Philadelphia, Pa., October 18, 1835.
Cox, W. H., was born at Marion, Ala., October 1, 1870, and was brought to Edwards, Miss., in 1878,
when his parents adopted Mississippi as their home. While his education was never completed, he attended the public schools of Edwards and later polished up at the S. C. Institute, near his home. He was raised in the church, taking the traits of his mother, who is a very pious woman, with a life overflowing with Christian virtues. He took on the whole armor in 1895 under that prince of pastors, Rev. M. E. Davis, D.D., at Friar Point, Miss., and has since been very active in all parts of church work, and is now one of the foremost Allen C. E. League workers of the laymen of the A. M. E. Connection. He represented the North Mississippi Conference at the General Conference of 1908, at Norfolk, Va., being a colleague of Hon. Charles Banks and again in 1916, being so honored for Philadelphia.
He has played a considerable part in the business enterprises of his town, two living organizations bearing record to his business sagacity. He is also active along fraternal lines, leading all organizations of which he is a member. He carries his religion into his business and his business into his religion. He has served the United States Government at Washington with credit to himself and race. For the twenty years he has lived at Friar Point, Miss., no shadow of suspicion has hung over him or his management of affairs.
Craw, Rev. J. Logan, was born in Navasota, Tex., November 21, 1874. With his parents he left the State of Texas when scarcely 5 years of age and located in Parsons, Labette County, Kansas. Here he received a high school education and graduated as valedictorian of his class from Hobson Normal Institute May 24, 1894.
In September, 1895, he was elected as a teacher in the McKinley School in his home town and for seven consecutive years held this position of honor and trust. In May, 1902, against the will of the Board of Education, Prof. Craw resigned as teacher to accept the higher calling of the ministry, having been thoroughly converted in the A. M. E. Church at Parsons, Kansas, with the Rev. J. R. Ransom as his pastor at the age of 19 years. Some three years were devoted to preparation for the work of the ministry and under Bishop Grant at Omaha, Neb., September, 1904, he was admitted on trial to the Kansas Annual Conference. In September, 1906, at the Kansas Annual Conference at Hutchinson, Rev. Craw was ordained deacon by Bishop Grant and began his first active work in the pastorate, being assigned to the Olathe Circuit, Topeka District, Kansas Conference.
On October 3, 1909, Rev. Craw was ordained elder by Bishops Grant and Lee at Bethel A. M. E. Church, Leavenworth, Kansas. On July 1, 1911, Rev. Craw was married to Miss Lillian Jeltz, one of Topeka, Kansas's, most successful teachers and a consecrated Christian lady.
After having pastored very successfully two years in Emporia, the seat of Kansas State Normal School, and two years in Lawrence, the seat of Kansas State University School, Rev. Craw was transferred by Bishop H. B. Parks, presiding bishop of the Fifth Episcopal District, in October, 1911, from the Kansas Conference to the Puget Sound Conference and stationed at Bethel A. M. E. Church, Portland, Oregon. Here Rev. Craw, aided by his brilliant wife and loyal members, paid to the Church Extension Society in October, 1913, the largest amount ever paid at any one time in cash, viz., $2085, a loan which had been standing for sixteen years. The membership was tripled during the three years of Rev. Craw's pastorate and one of the most modern and beautiful churches in the Pacific Northwest nearly completed.
Rev. and Mrs. Craw are now at Los Angeles, where Rev. Craw is pastor.
He is a member of the Centennial General Conference and leader of the Puget Sound Conference.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. LOGAN CRAW.
Mrs. Craw is an ideal minister's wife and has been president of the Puget Sound Conference Branch W. M. M. Society. Mrs. Craw is a graduate of the Topeka, Kansas, High School and a graduate of Mrs. C. F. Menninger's
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. J. LOGAN CRAW.
Bible School of Topeka. Mrs. Craw is said to have organized the first colored Bible class in Kansas, and is an enthusiastic Bible teacher wherever her lot is cast. For seven years she was a teacher in the Washington School, of Topeka, Kansas.
Crayton, F. C., was born in Stewart county, Ga., 1860 or 1861, the son of Archie and Louise Crayton, both members of A. M. E. Church. Was one of nine children. Began attending school in 1869 and received eight years' schooling in all. Spent more than two years in the common schools of Georgia, mostly Florence, Ga. Converted in 1885 and joined A. M. E. Church same year. Has held several offices in the church such as Steward, Trustee, Class Leader, local preacher, Sunday School teacher and chorister. Licensed to preach in 1885 in Stewart county by Rev. S. B. Jones. Ordained Deacon by Bishop Gaines at Milledgeville, in 1889. Ordained Elder at Macon, Ga., in 1891, by Bishop W. J. Gaines. Joined Annual Conference in 1887 at Talbotton, Ga., under Bishop R. R. Disney. Held the following appointments: Preston Mission and Orgelthorpe Circuit, 1888; Mahaley
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. FREDERICK CHRISPIN CRAYTON, D.D.
Chapel Circuit, 1889-91; Mt. Carmel Circuit, 1892; Tabernacle Circuit, 1893-94; Buena Vista Station, 1895-98; Smithville Station, 1899; Ellaville Circuit, 1900-01; Albany Station, 1902-03; Sparta Station, 1904-06; Milledgeville Station, 1907-08; Warrenton Station, 1909-10; Norwood, 1911; St. Paul Station, East Macon, Ga., 1912-13.
Rebuilt and remodeled church at Mahaley Chapel Circuit. Completed parsonage and church at Buena Vista, Ga. At Sparta, Ga., he built parsonage. Built church at Warrenton Station. At Mt. Carmel he paid off heavy debt. At Ellaville he lifted mortgage of several hundred dollars. Paid mortgage debt at Milledgeville. Cancelled large mortgage at St. Paul, East Macon, Ga., and built splendid parsonage.
Dr. Crayton has taken between 1200 and 1500 people into the church, baptized hundreds and married eighty. Received degree D.D. from Morris Brown College. Dr. Crayton is a Trustee of Morris Brown College and Recording Secretary of Macon (Ga.) Conference. Married Emma Crayton, 1882, of Alabama. Owns a home in Milledegeville.
Crews, Phillip Caswell, one of fifteen children of Jacob and Joanna Crews, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born June 4, 1850, in Howard County, Missouri. He first went to school in 1867, but made most advancement by means of private study and under good tutors. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1866, and served as steward, trustee, class leader, Sunday school teacher and superintendent, exhorter and local preacher; was
licensed to preach by Rev. J. H. Hubbard in 1871, at Chillicothe, Missouri; joined the annual conference at Kansas City, Missouri, September, 1874, under Bishop Wayman, who ordained him deacon in 1875, at Glasgow, Missouri; was ordained elder in 1879 at Springfield, Missouri, by Bishop Shorter, and has held the following appointments, all in Missouri: Heidelburg, 1875-6; La Grange, 1877; Kirkwood, 1878-9; Moberly, 1880-2; Gallatin, 1883-5; Paris, 1886-8; Bowling Green, 1889; Palmyra, 1890-3; Clarksville, 1894; Glasgow, 1895-6; St. Charles, 1897-1900; Louisiana, 1901; Columbia, 1902-6; Macon, 1907-11; Richmond,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. P. C. CREWS.
1912; presiding elder, 1912 to date. In 1883 he built a church at Trenton at a cost of $800, and paid mortgages at Moberly, Palmyra, Glasgow and Columbia. In 1892 he was a delegate to the general conference and has been trustee of Wilberforce and Western Universities. He is a Mason and a home owner. He was twice married; first to Miss Julia Nelson, of Lafayette County, Missouri, June 29, 1871; their children are Ida B., Nettie Z., William E. and Caswell W. Prof. Caswell Crews graduated from Wilberforce and taught in Allen University; is now teaching in St. Paul School, Virginia. Rev. Crews was married to his present wife, who was Mrs. S. E. Martin, a school teacher, November 18, 1896.
Curry, Rev. John Wesley, was born at Monticello, Ark. His opportunities for attending the public schools were very limited. His parents were blessed with sixteen children. Regardless of conditions, he kept striving to make himself a strong man. At 21 years of age he entered the Monticello Seminary, Dr. C. S. Mebane, principal. In four years he finished the teacher's course. He spent some time as teacher, business man, agent and in the fraternity world. He entered Shorter College, N. Little Rock, during the presidency of Dr. T. H. Jackson, spending five years in literary and classical courses. He visited the World's Fair Exposition, St. Louis, 1904. He entered the Theological Department of Shorter College, 1908, tutored under Dr. T. H. Jackson, dean, and Dr. A. H. Hill, president. He was graduated May, 1911, with the degree of B.D. He served two years as Deputy G. Worthy Counsellor, two years as Grand Lecturer of the Courts of Calanthe under Sir J. T. T. Warren, G. W. C. He made the annual visits one year for the G. W. C. He traversed the state from Texarkana to Memphis and from Sterlin to Fort Smith, Ark., visiting and instituting courts.
He was licensed to preach at Maryanna, Drew County, Ark., under Rev. J. D. Dennis, P. E., then of the Monticello District. As pastor, he has served Lee's Chapel Mission, Clio Circuit, South Pine Bluff, Fordyce Station and entertained the Annual Conference, 1911. By request he was transferred from Fordyce Station, West Arkansas Conference, to Northeast Oklahoma Conference
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. W. CURRY.
and stationed at Rentiesville Circuit November, 1912.
He married Miss C. A. Lytch, daughter of Mr. A. D. and Mrs. Amanda Lytch, in Pittsburgh, Pa., November 28, 1911. Mrs. Curry is talented in music, a graduate of the Pittsburgh High School and a college graduate of Bennett College, N. C., with the degree of A.B.
Rev. Curry was called to take charge at Eufaula in May, 1912. He attended the General Conference, Kansas City, 1912. The same year the Annual Conference met in Muskogee and he was reassigned to Eufaula by Bishop W. D. Chappelle. At the P. E. Council held at Tulsa, April, 1914, he was assigned to Muskogee Station. At the Annual Conference at Red Bird, 1914, he was reassigned to Muskogee. On October 10, 1914, his aged father, one of the faithful pioneer preachers, died.
Curtis, Rev. J. B., was born December 13, 1871, 12 miles north of Natchez, Miss., attended the school of that immediate vicinity for eleven years, beginning at the age of seven years, then studied privately under special instructors, and later attended Leland University, New Orleans, La. He has served entirely within the State of Mississippi--at Hesterville (Miss.) circuit (2 years), Yazoo City circuit (2 years), where he had a large revival; Flora circuit (1 year), Sweet Home Circuit, where he repaired the church and added 50 converts; Hill's chapel circuit, Sidon and Acona circuit, his present charge. In all these places revivals have resulted in large additions to the chruch, spiritual improvement of the people and financial increases. Rev. Curtis' wife was formerly Miss Ordel Banks. The degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Campbell College. He was elected a member of the Centennial General Conference of 1916 by East Mississippi annual Conference.
DAKER, REV. PARIS, joined the Philadelphia Conference at Wilmington, Delaware, in the year of 1892. He has been a successful minister for twenty-four years. Dr. Daker preached the 99th annual sermon from the book of Hebrews 12:14. He is now pastor of St. John A. M. E. Church, Paschallville, Philadelphia, Pa.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. PARIS DAKER, D.D.
Daniels, Isaac N., was born January 3rd, 1857, in Madison County, Huntsville, Ala.; went to school two years in Gurleysville, Ala.; five years and six months in Avery, Ala. He graduated from no school; came to
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. I. N. DANIELS.
the State of Kansas in 1879, and thence to Iowa in 1880. He was converted January 23rd, 1882, and joined the M. E. Church. In 1885 he joined the African M. E. Church under Rev. Timothy Reeves in Oskaloosa, Ia. He says he has been absent only one Sabbath from church in the past 33 years. He was licensed to preach in 1888 by Rev. J. W. Malone, P. E.
He joined the Iowa Annual Conference in 1889, under Bishop John M. Brown. The first three years of his ministry he built and paid for the church building at Clarinda, Iowa. In 1895 he bought our church property in Aurora, Ill., and paid for the same except $250. In 1897 he was at St. Peter's Mission, Chicago. Here he found 17 members. During five years he took into our church over 500 people. The first four years they worshipped in a store room, but saved $1,000 and made a first payment on a $9,500 church property in North Chicago. The church was incorporated and named Wayman Chapel. After five years' labor with this church he left 175 members and a congregation of 500. In September, 1902, he was sent to Evanston, Ill., where our church had been for more than 30 years without owning a permanent church home. Here he bought for the church its first real estate, which consisted of a fine parsonage with two lots, at the cost of $6,300, which he paid within three years and six months, and increased the membership from 130 to 240. From Evanston he was sent to St. Stephen's Church, Chicago, Ill., in 1907. Here he served one year with success. After preaching 10 years in Chicago and vicinity, he was returned to Aurora, Ill., in 1908. In September, 1910, he was stationed at Des Moines, Iowa, where he served for two years. He received into the church 203 persons and paid some debts. And in 1912 he was appointed Presiding Elder of the Keokuk District of the Chicago Conference, which position he still holds. He is happily married and since 1905 has owned a beautiful home in Evanston, Ill.
David, George Franklin, the son of Baldwin and Hannah David, members of the M. E. Church, was born March 14, 1862, in Harrison County, Ky. His parents had 12 children. He entered school in 1870 and received
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. GEORGE FRANKLIN DAVID, D.D.
about three and one-half years' schooling. He attended later in life Payne Theological Seminary and graduated from the same in 1902; also received the degree of D.D. from Wilberforce University in 1911. He took private lessons from a Presbyterian minister, but most of his education he acquired by reading. He was converted
December 29, 1881, and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He has held many offices in the church. He was licensed to preach February 6, 1886, at Covington, Ky., by Bishop Wayman. He was ordained deacon September 12, 1887, at Harrodsburg, Ky., by Bishop H. M. Turner, and ordained elder in 1889 at Covington, Ky., by Bishop Wayman. He joined the Annual Conference in 1886 at Ashland, Ky., under Bishop Turner. He has held the following appointments: Leesburg Circuit, 1886-88; Wilmore, Ky., 1888-92; Cattlesburg, Ky., 1892-95; Midway, Ky., 1895-98; Somerset, Ky., 1898-99; Mt. Vernon, Columbus, O., 1900-01; Second Church, Columbus, O., 1901-02; Frankfort, Ky., 1902-04; Presiding Elder, 1904-16.
He built churches at Hickman, Ky., in 1890, at a cost of $800; at Sulphur Wells, Ky., in 1891, at a cost of $400; at Leesburg, Ky., in 1887, at a cost of $300. He lifted a mortgage at Frankfort, Ky., in 1903 to the amount of $1400. He has taken 3,635 members into the church, baptized 2,750 people and married 708 people.
Rev. David has been Presiding Elder for twelve years, trustee and member of the Executive Board of Wilberforce University, trustee of Wayman Institute, and treasurer for eight years.
He married Mrs. Rhoda David, of Cynthiana, Ky., March 19, 1885. They have two children: Charles W. A. David, aged 28, who received the A.B. degree, Magna Cum Laude, from Wilberforce University, and the Ph.B. from the University of Chicago; and George F. David, aged 24, who received B.S. as an honor graduate from Wilberforce and the Ph.B. from the University of Chicago.
The subject of the sketch is a member of the F. & A. M., G. U. O. of O. F. and United Brothers of Friendship. He has held important offices in each. He is a Republican and has attended the State Conventions. He is a property owner to the amount of $10,000. He was appointed a member of the committee on "Church and Country Life" of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ by the Bishops' Council of February, 1915. He has also been associated with N. A. A. C. P. He was a delegate to the General Conference of 1912, and an alternate to the Centennial General Conference of 1916.
Davidson, Henry Damon, was born on the Davidson plantation, three miles below the town of Centreville, Ala., December 16, 1869. His parents, Damon and Adaline Davidson, were pious people and well beloved by white and black for miles around. When Henry was a baby the late Captain Samuel W. Davidson, the former master, said to Henry's father: "Damon, you ought to take care of, raise and educate that boy; a dollar in his head will be worth ten dollars in his pocket."
When Henry was five years old his parents moved across the Cahawba River nearer the town of Centreville, where he helped his father on the farm and attended the three months public schools in Centreville whenever he could be spared from the farm until the year 1888, when he entered Selma University. After his first term at Selma he went back home, took the State examination for teacher's license, passed, and taught the same school he had attended the year before. The next year he entered the A. M. E. School at Selma, Ala., Payne University, which had just thrown open her doors. His parents being too poor to help him, he had to teach in the rural schools a part of the year, go to school a part and farm the other part. However, by studying hard at night when out of school, he managed to complete the course at Payne with the first class, May 18, 1893.
Our subject was elected when only 17 years old as Superintendent of Mt. Sinai A. M. E. Sunday School, and has held that position for nearly 30 years, "without having been absent on an average of three Sundays a year all of these years," he says.
Mr. Davidson married Miss Lula J. Davis, a graduate of Tuskegee, in February, 1899. She died June 21, 1908.
He founded Centreville Industrial Institute, of which he is principal, in 1900. He married his present
[ILLUSTRATION]
PROF. HENRY D. DAVIDSON.
wife, who was Mrs. Lizzie Campbell McClellan, the widow of Mr. J. F. McClellan, and also a graduate of the Tuskegee Institute.
Mr. Davidson was a delegate to the National Republican Convention which nominated McKinley and Roosevelt at Philadelphia in 1900. He was elected lay delegate to the General Conferences of the A. M. E. Church which met at Columbus, Ohio, in 1900; Norfolk, Va., in 1908; Kansas City, Mo., in 1912, and in Philadelphia in 1916. He holds the office of Sunday School Superintendent, steward and trustee in the church today. He is giving his life for his Maker, church and race.
Davis, Mrs. L. A., is president of the W. H. & F. Society of the Alabama Conference. From girlhood she seemed adapted to missionary work. She began in Brown Chapel A. M. E. Church, Selma, Ala., when a mere girl, as a Sunday school teacher, and taught up to the present time; served as Secretary of the Mite Missionary Society, and is the local secretary of the Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society, having served fifteen years; served eight years as President of the Selma District. As Conference Branch President she has served eleven years, during which time she has raised more than $6,000, having served under Bishops Coppin, Parks and Jones. She has cared for and educated three girls. With a heart full of sympathy for poor unfortunate boys, she has taken several into her home, cared for them. Mrs. Davis' efforts secured the release
of a little boy who was guilty of murder, from prison, and had him sent to the Mt. Meigs Reformatory to be trained. Mrs. Davis is chairman of the Dallas County prison work, and for seventeen years
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. L. A. DAVIS.
has held service every Sunday afternoon with the prisoners in the county jail. Her work done in the slums and the rescuing of girls from houses of illfame stands out distinctly. She is highly respected and greatly loved.
Davis, Rev. Marion E., was born in Ebenezer, Mississippi, January 19, 1864. He was put into the public school at the age of five, and all of his early years were spent in hard study. He was also trained in the home by a loving mother to do anything that a girl could do. In 1880 he taught school in his home county. In
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. M. E. DAVIS, D.D.
September, 1881, he entered the Central Tennessee College, now Walden University, Nashville, Tenn., and November 18th of the same year he was converted. During the five years attending Walden University he taught school in Mississippi and Tennessee during his vacation. In February, 1887, he was licensed to exhort, later to preach, and in November, 1887, joined the Mississippi Annual Conference in Yazoo City under Bishop Ward, at the same time he was teaching public school at his native home. September 4th, 1888, he entered Wilberforce University, Ohio, to further his literary course and take a course in theology. May of 1890 Bishop Payne requested him to take charge of the Second Church in Springfield, Ohio, for the vacation. The church so prospered under his administration during the vacation that Bishop Payne appointed him as pastor in connection with his school work at Wilberforce, saying to him: "I have been praying for twelve years for God to give me a man to build up that church, and it seems now that God has answered my prayer in the person of yourself." It was then that Brother Davis agreed to shoulder the responsibility of pastoring the church and carrying on his school work, and here he continued until September, 1894, after he had graduated from Payne Theological Seminary in June of the same year. During this time he was ordained deacon by Bishop Lee in June, 1892, and on September 20, 1894, was ordained elder by Bishop Arnett, at Steubenville, Ohio. Then he returned to his home conference, the North Mississippi Conference, and was on December 8, 1894, appointed pastor of Friars' Point, Miss., and president of Stringer Academy. Here he spent five successful
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. M. E. DAVIS.
years in building up the church and Academy. In November, 1900, he was appointed to Port Gibson in the Mississippi Conference, where a beautiful new church had just been completed. Here five years were spent handling successfully the congregation and the big debt on the church.
In December, 1905, he was appointed pastor of the Natchez Station. He took hold of this historical church and went to work in earnest, paid off some of the long-standing debt, cleared the church property of all debt, increased the dollar money more than $150, improved all other interests of the church, renovated the church and parsonage at a cost of more than $3,000, paying cash for everything as the improvement went on, and closed up five years there with a glorious success, and just eight
weeks before his conference Bishop Coppin requested him to accept Emmanuel, Portsmouth, Va., to succeed the late Dr. L. H. Reynolds. Here he spent five very successful years; in one great revival more than 500 persons were converted; the church was cleared of debt, renovated and new furniture installed at a cost of $2500; a valuable piece of property adjoining the church property was bought and the Church Extension paid in full. In Portsmouth he organized and managed a campaign to raise $5000 to save the Old Folks' Home that was purchased seven years previous to his coming to the state. He has been pastor at Bethel Church, Third Street, Richmond, Va., since April, 1916.
Davis, Rev. William H., presiding elder of the Philadelphia District, Philadelphia Conference, was born in Augusta County, Va., near Staunton, April 23, 1843. He was converted at Mother Bethel, Philadelphia, Pa., and subsequently joined Union A. M. E. Church, 16th Street and Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia. Here he remained for a period of six years and was licensed both as exhorter and local preacher.
In 1871 he was used as a supply at Germantown and the same year at Carlisle, Pa., was received into the itinerancy by Bishop J. A. Shorter. He was present at the conference when the Philadelphia Conference was divided and the N. J. Conference was organized. He has served the following appointments: Phoenixville Circuit, Dover, where he built a church: South Chester, Bristol, Chambersburg, Reading, Frederica, Del.; Mount Olive, Philadelphia, where he served five years; Presiding Elder of the Wilmington District for 5 years; Mt. Pisgah, West Philadelphia, four years; Media three years; Bryn Mawr, Pa., five years; Presiding Elder of the West Philadelphia District over three years, and is at present Presiding Elder of the Philadelphia District, serving his fourth year. He was a member of the general conference of 1912.
Davis, Rev. William Oscar, son of Rev. William H. and Fannie Davis, both members of the A. M. E. Church,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. W. O. DAVIS.
was born December 28, 1870, at Philadelphia, Pa., one of four children. He attended school in all twenty years, chiefly at Bristol, Pa.; Fredericks, Dela., and Chambersburg, Pa. He graduated from the Institute for Colored Youths, Philadelphia; Payne Theological Seminary and Drew Theological Seminary, receiving the degree B.D. from Payne and Drew and D.D. from Payne in 1909. He was converted in 1892 and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He has served as class leader, steward, trustee, Sunday school teacher and superintendent, organist, etc. He was licensed to preach in 1893 at Philadelphia by Rev. J. C. Brock; was ordained deacon 1899 by Bishop Grant, and ordained elder 1901 at Harrisburg, Pa., by Bishop Derrick. He joined the annual conference in 1900 at Dover, Dela., under Bishop Grant, and has held the following appointments: La Mott, 1900-1902; Madison, N. J., 1902-04; Salem, N. J., 1904-06; Newark, N. J., 1906-08; Camden, N. J., 1908-09; Hamilton, Bermuda, 1909-12; Wilkes-Barre, Pa., 1912-13; Wheeling, W. Va., 1913-16. He has baptized 425 and married 87. He married Eliza Victoria Davis, of Antigua, B. W. I., October 16, 1902. They had two children, Lillian Victoria, 11 years, and Helen Marie, deceased, February 28, 1910. He has contributed to the Christian Recorder. He is connected with the F. and A. M., G. U. O. of O. F., K. of P. and I. B. P. O. of E. W.
Dean, Cornelius James, the son of John T. and Hannah Ann Barrett, both members of the B. M. E. Church, was born October, 1863, at Chatham, Ontario, one of fourteen children. He entered school when very young and received about ten years' schooling. He received his theological training from Morris Brown College, was converted in 1884, and joined the B. M. E. Church the same year. He has held every office in the church from sexton to Presiding Elder save exhorter; was licensed to preach in 1895 at Detroit, Mich., by Rev. J. M. Henderson, joined the Michigan Annual Conference in 1900 at Grand Rapids, Mich.; ordained deacon in 1901 by Bishop Grant at South Bend, Ind.; ordained elder by Bishop Grant in 1903 at Detroit.
Rev. Dean has held the following appointments: Adrian, Mich., 1899; Pontiac, Mich., 1902; Jackson, Mich., 1906; Benton Harbor, Mich., 1911, and Presiding Elder of South Bend District, 1913. He built a new church at Pontiac, Mich., at a cost of $1356.50; parsonage at Jackson, Mich., at a cost of $2450; enlarged and remodeled church at Benton Harbor at a cost of $1226; repaired church at Adrian, Mich., at cost of $350; has taken 361 people in church, baptized 86 and married 102.
He is a trustee of Wilberforce University. He married Mary A. Whaley, of North Buxton, Ont., in 1883. They have three children: Mrs. Edith P. Tyler, Mrs. Mabel Thomas, both ministers' wives, and James A. Dean, who is now a student in dentistry in the University of Michigan. All are graduates of high schools. Mrs. Thomas is a music teacher. Mrs. Tyler is a graduate of Claryes Business College.
Dean, Henderson, was born in Jefferson County, Miss., 1865. He was one of thirteen children, the son of George and Lucy Dean, both members of the Baptist Church. He entered school in 1875 and attended about three years. He spent over two years in the Port Gibson public schools. He was converted in 1886 and joined the A. M. E. Church at the same time. He has held the following offices in the church; Trustee, Steward, Class Leader, Exhorter, Local Preacher and Sunday School Teacher. He was licensed to preach in 1892 at Chotard,
Miss., by E. R. Carter. He was ordained deacon in 1896 at Columbus, Miss., by Bishop W. B. Derrick. He was ordained elder in 1899 at Vicksburg, Miss., by Bishop Derrick. He joined the Annual Conference in 1894 at Durant, Miss., under Bishop H. M. Turner. He has held the following appointments: Mayersville, 1895-97; Brunswick, 1898; Leota Circuit, 1899; Anguilla Circuit,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. HENDERSON DEAN.
1900-01; Rolling Fork, 1902; Lintonia, 1903-04; Lexington Circuit, 1905; Campbellsville Circuit, 1906 to 1909; Benton Circuit, 1910; Evans Circuit, 1911-12; Sidon Circuit, 1913; appointed P. E. in 1914.
He built a church at Mayersville at a cost of $550 in 1896 and a parsonage at Brunswick at a cost of $300 in 1893; also a parsonage at Lintonia at a cost of $400 in 1903. He lifted a mortgage at Holly Bluff to the amount of $350 in 1907. He has taken about 850 persons into the church, baptized about 600 and married about 87.
He has been delegate to the General Conferences of 1904, 1912 and 1916. His wife is Mrs. Nannie Dean, of Marietta, Ga. He was director of an insurance and a member of the F. and A. M. He owns a home.
Deas, Dohn Carlos, son of William and Mary Deas, was born October 23, 1875, at Kershaw county, S. C., one of thirteen children. He entered school at the age of seven and attended in all about twenty years. He graduated from Claflin University. He received a diploma in 1908 from Allen University in Theology and the degree D.D. from Allen in 1912. He took a correspondence course in theology from Morris Brown University. He was converted in 1893 and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1895. He has held several offices in the church. He was licensed to preach in 1895 at Orangeburg, S. C., by Rev. W. D. Chappelle. He was ordained deacon in 1897 at Lancaster, S. C., by Bishop Arnett, and ordained elder in 1899 at Darlington, S. C., by Bishop Grant. He joined the annual conference in 1897 at Darlington, S. C., under Bishop Arnett, and has held the following appointments: Parlorsville circuit, St. Stephen's mission, Couterboro station, Wedgefield and St. Luke circuit, Darlington station, Mt. Olive, Mt. Pleasant, Marion station, appointed presiding elder of Marion district at Florence, S. C., in 1915. He built St. Stephen church near St. Matthews, S. C., at a cost of $400 in 1899. He lifted mortgages on Bethel and Orange Hill churches at Wedgefield in 1902 and on Bethel, Darlington, S. C., at a cost of $200 in 1905. He has taken 950 into the church, baptized 200 and married 50. He was elected delegate to the general conferences of 1912 and 1916. He was recording secretary of the N. E. S. C. conference for 4 years, chief secretary for 6 years, trustee of Allen University for ten years, and a member of the Executive Board for three years. He married Mary King, of Spartansburg, in 1895 and had two children, Mattie and Dohn Carlos, Jr. In 1904 he married Ellen F. Johnson, of Newberry, S. C. He is connected with the Good Samaritan and K. of P. He has held the office of deputy in the Good Samaritan. He owns a home in Sumter, S. C.
DeLaine, Henry Charles, son of Charles and Caroline DeLaine, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born August 4, 1859, at Manning, S. C., one of thirteen children; began attending school in 1870 and spent over nine years in the county schools. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1876 and has held nearly every office in the church. He was licensed to preach in 1880 at Manning by Rev. William M. Thomas; joined the annual conference in 1889 at Columbia, S. C., under Bishop Arnett; was ordained deacon in 1890 at Manning by Bishop Arnett, and elder in 1897 at Manning by Bishop Salter. He has held the following appointments: Manning, 1887-91;
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. H. C. DeLAINE.
Salem Ct., 1891-2; Friendship, 1892; Mt. Sinai, 1892-96; Mt. Pleasant, 1896-99; Statesburg Sta., 1899-1904; Liberty Hill Sta., 1904-09; P. E., 1909-13; St. James Cir., 1913-15; Liberty Hill, 1916. He built the following churches: one at Manning at a cost of $300 in 1889; DeLaine Chapel, Manning, $350 in 1890; Friendship, Silver, $250, in 1892; Mt. Sinai at Shiloh, $500, in 1893; Oak Grove, Lake City, $440, in 1895. He has lifted mortgages on the following churches: Mt. Pleasant, Elliott, S. C., $75 in 1897; Magnolia, Lynchburg, S. C., $150 in 1898; William Chapel, Statesburg, $100
in 1900; Ebenezer, Shiloh, S. C., $100 in 1895. He has taken over 1200 people into the church, baptized 500 people and married about 200. He was a delegate to the general conferences of 1912 and 1916; he was a member of the A. C. E. League Board, 1912. He married Lisbia DeLaine, of Manning, S. C., December 24, 1885. They have fifteen children: H. C. DeLaine, Jr., 29 years; R. C. DeLaine, 27 years; Arlean, 25 years; Rowena, 23 years; Leo, 20 years; Moses, 18 years; Carrie, 16 years; Joseph, 14 years; Lewis, 13 years; Mary and Martha, 11 years; Maggie, 10 years; Allen, 7 years; Sarah, 31 years; Peter. Mrs. Sarah Coe is a graduate of Allen University, also Carrie and Rowena Two of them are teachers. He has contributed to the Samaritan Herald. He is connected with the G. U. O. of O. F., Household of Ruth, K. of P. and Samaritans, and has held prominent offices in each of them; is a Republican and has attended the state conventions. He holds a good reputation in his community and owns real estate.
Derrick, Bishop William B., 23rd bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Antiqua, of the West Indies, on July 27, 1843. His father, Thomas J. Derrick, was said to be a planter of some means in Antiqua. In 1867 he entered the itinerant ministry; the next year he was ordained deacon, and in 1870 he was ordained elder at Norfolk, Va., by Bishop Wayman. In 1888 he
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP W. B. DERRICK, D.D.
was elected missionary secretary and established the office in Bible House, New York, giving it general prestige. In 1896 he was elected bishop at Wilmington and served in that capacity for nearly 17 years, serving as bishop of the eighth, first, third and fifteenth Episcopal districts. He was three times married; first to Miss Mary E. White, of Norfolk, Va., who lived but a short time; next to Mrs. Lillian M. Derrick, who died in 1907 and to whom he was married more than twenty-five years, and last to Mrs. Clara E. Henderson Jones, to whom he was married in 1909, and who survives him. He was educated in private schools in his native land and excelled in oratory. He was apprenticed as a blacksmith, but took to sea soon after completing his trade. He came to the United States during the Civil War and enlisted in the United States navy and served on the U. S. flagship Minnesota, and was in the famous battle between the Monitor and the Merrimac. In later years he frequently referred to his service under two flags--the British and the United States. He was converted in St. John church, Norfolk, Va., in 1864 and joined the church the same year, being licensed to preach by Rev. John M. Brown, then pastor at Norfolk. He served as pastor of Mt. Pisgah in District of Columbia. He was transferred to Virginia in 1869, elected assistant secretary of the Virginia Conference. In 1870 he was elected temporary secretary and appointed pastor of Staunton, Va., presiding elder of the Staunton district. He was elected secretary in 1872 and served until 1879. In 1872 he was elected delegate to the General Conference, and was a member of every general conference from that time till his death. In 1875 he was pastor at Richmond, Va.; in 1877 presiding elder of Richmond District; in 1879 he transferred to New York. After his transfer to New York Dr. Derrick became a powerful factor in politics. His gift of oratory made him always in demand as a campaign orator. And believing that the rights of the race were being protected by the Republican party he threw his whole soul into the success of the Republican party. He died in April, 1913, at Flushing, N. Y.
Dickerson, John H., was born in Madison, Fla., one of four children; entered school in 1872 and attended about ten years in all. He attended Cookman Institute and Edward Waters College, graduating from the latter. He has received degrees from Wilberforce and Edward Waters College. Converted in 1882, he joined A. M. E. Church and has held almost every office in the church. He was licensed to preach at Ocala, Fla., in 1886, by Rev. J. R. Robinson; ordained deacon in 1887 at Palatka, Fla., by Bishop Payne; ordained elder 1890 at Gainesville, Fla., by Bishop Arnett; joined the annual conference in 1886 at Fernandina, Fla., under Bishop Payne, and has held the following appointments in Florida: San Mateo, 1886: East Palatka, 1887; Jacksonville, 1888; Green Cove Springs, 1889; Jacksonville, 1890; Hawthorne, 1891; Starke, 1891; Ocala, 1892; Tampa, 1893; Palatka, 1894; Citra, 1895; elected to Payne Theol. Institute 1896; appointed presiding elder 1899; built Payne Chapel, East Palatka, at a cost of $1500 in 1887; Mt. Moriah, Jacksonville, at a cost of $2000 in 1888; Mt. Zion, Ocala, at a cost of $3000 in 1892; rebuilt church at Hawthorne at a cost of $500 in 1890, and Starke at a cost of $500 in 1891; bought a church site at Tampa in 1893 at a cost of $10,000; elected delegate to general conferences of 1892, 1896, 1900, 1904, 1908, 1912 and 1916. He was a member of the Educational Board in 1908-12, and of the Church Extension Board in 1904-8. Married Fannie Sims, of Newberry, S. C., in 1883. They have one daughter, Miss Minnie L. Dickerson, who is a graduate. He is a thirty-third degree Mason and has been grand master of the Freemasons of Florida for the last seventeen years. Dr. Dickerson is a Republican. He attended the national conventions in 1908 and 1912. He owns valuable property and is considered one of the substantial men of the race. He is president of the Florida Boys' Home for Colored Youth and president of the Negro Business League. Under his direction has been built in Jacksonville the finest Masonic temple owned by the race, the cost of which is said to be more than $250,000.
Dickerson, William Fisher, thirteenth bishop of A. M. E. Church, was born in Woodbury, N. J., January
15, 1844, the son of Rev. Henry and Sophia Dickerson, both members of the A. M. E. Church. He received a common school education in his native town. He was converted and received into the A. M. E. Church in New York in 1861. He entered Lincoln University and graduated; was licensed to preach while at Lincoln by Rev. H. J. Rhodes at Oxford, Pennsylvania, and joined the New York Annual Conference in 1870. He was ordained deacon in 1868 and elder in 1871. He received the degree
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP WM. FISHER DICKERSON.
of D.D. from Wilberforce University; was fraternal delegate of the general conference of 1876 to the M. E. general conference in Baltimore. While he was pastor of Bethel, Sullivan Street, New York, in 1880, he was elected bishop and assigned to South Carolina and Georgia and during his administration the foundations were laid for both Allen and Morris Brown Universities. He was secretary of the Council of Bishops. He died December 20, 1884, and was buried at Woodbury, N. J.
Dixon, Marcellus Richardson, the seventh son of Benjamin and Matilda Dixon, was born in Natchez, Mississippi, December 14, 1872. His mother and grandmother were charter members of Zion Chapel A. M. E. Church of Natchez. He attended the public schools and Natchez College; was converted and joined Zion Chapel A. M. E. Church in 1897 under the pastorate of Dr. O. P. Ross and the revival meeting of Rev. R. A. Adams. He was licensed to preach by Rev. J. G. Thompson. In the fall of 1897 he matriculated at Morris Brown College, Atlanta, Ga., and finished his theological course in 1902. He joined the North Ga. conference November, 1899; was ordained a deacon by Bishop Turner at Newnan, Ga., November, 1901; was transferred to the Central Mississippi conference in 1902 and ordained elder by Bishop Tyree, and received his first appointment December 14, 1902. He has served the following appointments: Columbus, Miss., 1 year; St. John, West Point, Miss., 1903-4; St. Peter's, Port Gibson, Miss., 1904-09; Brookhaven, Miss., 1909-10; presiding elder of the Summit district, Miss. conference, 3 months in 1910-11. In 1911 Bishop Turner transferred him to the Louisiana conference and appointed him to historic St. James, New Orleans, La., where he served successfully five years and at the 1916 session of the Louisiana conference Bishop Connor transferred him to the North Mississippi conference and appointed him to St. Matthew's A. M. E. Church, Greenville, Miss., where he is now serving. He has served as trustee of Campbell College, Jackson, Miss., and of Lampton College, Alexandria, La. He was treasurer of the Louisiana conference and for four years led the Louisiana conference in all reports. On April 20, 1904, he was married to Miss Katie Stevens, of Natchez, Miss. Four sons were born to their union
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. M. R. DIXON, B.D., D.D.
and give great promise of usefulnesss. In 1911 Campbell College, Jackson, Miss., conferred on him the degree of D.D. He served four years in the Southern Christian Recorder office under Editor R. M. Cheeks and G. E. Taylor and later seven years as editor and manager of the "New Light," the Masonic paper of Mississippi. He was delegate to the general conferences of 1912 and 1916.
Drummond, Rev. William Solomon, was born in Wattsville, Va., November 2, 1867, the son of William Thomas and Caroline Drummond, farmers.
He attended public school at his birthplace during his boyhood days a few months each year, from the age of eight to sixteen. Then he was hired out on the farm. At the age of eighteen he went to Lewes, Del., where he worked for a large firm. At the age of twenty he came to Philadelphia, May 5, 1887. The following Autumn he joined Mt. Pisgah A. M. E. Church, under Rev. J. B. Stansberry, and filled the following offices:
President of the literary association, class leader, trustee and local preacher.
He was licensed to preach at the District Conference at Concordville in 1898. In 1894, at the age of 28, he married Henrietta Tull, of Pocomoke City, Md. To this union there are 5 children, four girls and one boy. In 1899 he joined the Philadelphia Conference under Bishop Grant. He served the following appointments:
Pottsville, Penna., 1899-1900; Disney Chapel in Philadelphia, 1900-1902, during which time he was a private student under Dr. Solomon Porter Hood; Emmanuel, 24th & York Sts., Philadelphia, 1902-1907, during
which time he attended Müller College for two years. The Lord wonderfully blessed his work in this charge, the membership increasing from 30 to 165; Mt. Zion, Columbia, Pa., 1907-1909, where he paid off the
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. WILLIAM S. DRUMMOND.
last dollar on mortgage and beautified the church and increased the membership; Bethel, York, Pa., 1909-1911, where he had the church beautifully decorated and paid considerable on mortgage; St. John's A. M.
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. W. S. DRUMMOND
E. Church, Wayne, Pa., May, 1911, Nov., 1913, where he was wonderfully blessed, and more than doubled the membership and beautified the church property, which cost more than $450 and paid the same; since November, 1913, he has pastored Murphy Church, Chester, with very great success. Conversions during his pastorate have been 231, while he has taken 615 members into the church.
He was ordained deacon at Bethel Church, Wilmington, Del., in 1902 by Bishop Coppin, and ordained elder at Mt. Pisgah in 1904 by Bishop Arnett.
Dukes, John Walter, was born September 8, 1855, at Waccahoota, Marion Co., Fla., the son of Floyd and Sophia Dukes, and slave of Wm. Price. He was converted in May, 1867, and joined the A. M. E. Church June, 1871, under the pastorate of Rev. Limas Andrews, and joined the A. M. E. Church at Williston, Fla., now known as Grant Chapel. He was licensed to preach in 1880 by Rev. M. J. Johnson and joined the East Florida conference, February, 1883, under Bishop Wayman and was appointed to Micanopy Mission, which he pastored 4 years; ordained deacon in 1885 and elder in 1887, both by Bishop Payne; appointed to the Citra circuit in 1887 and remained 4 years, and organized the great Turner City camp meeting and succeeded in getting special recognition from the railroad. In 1890 he was appointed to Mt. Zion Church, Ocala, had a great revival, more than 250 persons being converted, and dollar money increased from $112 to $176.50. In 1891 he raised the largest amount of money ever raised in one rally in Ocala, $832, and began building Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church. In 1892 he was appointed presiding elder of the Tampa district in the newly made South Florida conference by Bishop Arnett. After 4 years, 1892-1896, he served the Gainesville district 2 years (1896-1898); Sanford district, 2 years (1898-1900), and in 1900 was appointed pastor of Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church, Ocala, Fla. Since then he has served as follows: 1901-2, DeLand Station; 1902-3, Eatonville Station; 1903-6, presiding elder of the St. Petersburg district, Central Florida conference; 1906-9, pastor of Mt. Tabor Station; 1909-10, Crystal River; 1910-11, High Springs Station; 1911-12, St. Paul Station, Leesburg; 1912-13, Apopka Station; 1913-16, Clearwater Station, where he has built one of the best A. M. E. churches in Florida. He was elected to the general conferences of 1896, 1900, 1904, 1908, 1912 and 1916, and was chairman of the Florida delegation in 1912. He was married in 1876 and is the father of three children, two of whom lived to be of age; his son was a physician and died in 1910 at the age of 33, and his daughter died 1903 at the age of 24. Rev. Dukes has accumulated some valuable property in Ocala, Tampa and Clearwater with a rental income of $110 per month. He was state superintendent of the A. C. E. League from 1908 to 1912 and was reappointed in 1916. He made Florida the banner state in Christian Endeavor work. While he was presiding elder of the Tampa district he organized the Ward camp meeting ground in 1894 at Lakeland, Fla., and the railroad gave another large tract of land and built a large pavilion and a church house for the ministers, and for a long time this ground was used by the church.
EDWARDS, PHILIP H., the president of the Bethel Church Corp., Philadelphia, Pa., was converted and received into the church during the time Bishop L. J. Coppin was pastor of Bethel Church, the fourth Sunday in March, 1896, and he has been an active member of the church since that time. He was elected a trustee in April, 1904, and served six years until April, 1910. On April 8th, 1912, he was elected president of the Corporation of Bethel A. M. E. church, defeating Mr. John R. Powell, who had led the Corporation for about sixteen years. Under his administration the church has had unusual financial success. From April 14th, 1912, to the present date, the trustee department has collected in money from all sources about $19,000, and spent about $17,700. On entering into office the trustee department owed current expenses of $1000, and the bonded indebtedness was $16,997. There was a mortgage of $1500 which had been held against the church for 26 years. The current indebtedness and the $1500 mortgage have been paid in full, and the bonded indebtedness reduced from $16,997 to $11,997. Where the old frame buildings stood, next to the church, there have been built two modern houses of twelve rooms each, at a cost of $16,000, and the church has been renovated at a cost of $2500. The church also owns the ground and properties from 535 Lombard street to the corner of Sixth and Addison streets. Col. Edwards is not only useful in church circles, but he is popular in fraternal affairs.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. WILLIAM EDWARDS.
Edwards, Rev. William, was born in Brooklyn, New York, September 14, 1868. His father was Griffin Edwards, of Virginia, and his mother was Martha Edwards, of Brooklyn. Rev. Edwards received his literary education in the grammar and high schools of Brooklyn, where he also received a business course, and his theological training at Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, which he attended in 1894-96. He has served as Sunday school teacher and organist; also been engaged in several law offices as clerk and stenographer. He has served several sessions as stenographer of the New York Conference. In his home town he is highly respected and was secretary for the Committee on Incorporation of the village, and in 1910 was a census enumerator. He was one of the first colored persons to purchase and own a home in Mineola, L. I. His wife, Mrs. Mary S. Edwards, was born in Keyesville, Va., in 1869, and is a trained nurse and graduate of Dixie Hospital, Hampton, Va. She is president of the New York Conference Branch Women's Mite Missionary Society and is an energetic Christian worker. Her mother, Mrs. Emeline Bailey, now deceased, was a member of the Old Third Street A. M. E. Church, Richmond, Va., under the pastorate of Bishop Wm. B. Derrick.
Rev. Edwards has served the following charges in the African Methodist Episcopal Church: Salem, Roslyn; Bethel, Freeport; Mt. Zion, Westbury; Allen, Northport; Bishop's Chapel and Bethel Chapel, New York City, and Douglaston, Long Island, where he is now pastor. He built a neat little church at Northport, Long Island, and designed and built one of the prettiest edifices for worship in Freeport, Long Island, within the short space of three years. He is a church organizer and has also been successful in raising funds and paying off church debts. He is a member of several secret organizations, namely, the G. U. O. of O. F., and F. & A. M., and is identified with every good cause for the advancement and progress of the church or race in his community.
Edwards, Watson Henry, presiding elder of Senatobia District, N. E. Mississippi Conference, is the son of John and Rachel Edwards, both of whom were devout members of A. M. E. Church. He was born on a farm eight miles from the Mississippi River, east of Egypt Ridge, in Boliver County, Mississippi, in February, 1865. His parents and his pastor, Rev. Lott Stirling and a white lady, named Mrs. Johnson, were his early teachers.
He attended Southland College, Helena, Arkansas, one year; Roger Williams University, Nashville, Tennessee, one year, and three years in Fisk University, which he was forced to leave in March, 1888, on account of the death of his father, which threw the responsibility of the family support largely upon him. But he never stopped studying. He received the degree of D.D. from Campbell College, Jackson, Miss.
He was converted in 1878 and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year.
Licensed to preach in 1880 by Rev. Albert Jackson, of the Greenville District. He joined the annual conference in 1890 at Senatobia, Mississippi, when Bishop Disney presided, was ordained deacon at Greenville, Miss., by Bishop B. T. Tanner, in 1891, and elder in 1893, at Yazoo City, Miss., by Bishop Arnett.
Served the following places:
Sherwood Mission, 1890; Glen Allen Circuit, 1891; Chotard, 1892; Hollandale, 1893; Vicksburg and Coahoma, 1894-5; Stovall Circuit, 1896-7; Arkabutta, 1898; Senatobia, 1899; Harrison, 1900; Tucahoma, 1901; Leland, 1902-3; Anguilla, 1904; Columbus, 1905; Coldwater, 1906; Grenada, 1907-8; presiding elder of Holly Springs District, 1909; Water Valley District, 1910-11; Senatobia District, 1912-16. He built Phillips Church at Holly Springs, 1910; cost, $850; Edwards' Chapel at McMoore, 1896; cost, $500; St. James at Duncan, 1898, cost, $725; St. James at Leland, 1904,
cost, $2500; Payne Chapel at Bent Oak, 1905, cost $550; Hines' Chapel near Leland, 1904, cost, $450 and paid the mortgage on Powell Chapel at Grenada, 1908, to the amount of $405.
Rev. Edwards has received about 1000 people into the church, baptized about 500 and married 150. He was delegate to General Conferences in 1904, 1908 and 1912, and was unanimously elected the leader of his delegation for 1916; was a member of the Board of the Western Recorder, 1912-1916; a trustee of Campbell College and Wilberforce University; treasurer of Northeast Mississippi Conference and its acknowledged leader, and member of the Financial Board, representing the 8th district.
Ellis, George W., spent six years in the college and law departments of the University of Kansas, then specialized in the study of the social sciences, graduating
[ILLUSTRATION]
HON. GEORGE W. ELLIS, F.R.G.S.
from Gunton's Institute of Economics and Sociology. He was appointed clerk in the Interior Department at Washington and later as secretary of the American Legation to the Republic of Liberia, where he served for more than 8 years. While in West Africa he took up the study of African native institutions and subsequently contributed articles upon African problems and subjects to the Bureau of Education, Washington, D. C.; The Independent at New York City; Journal of the African Society, London; Journal of Race Development, Worcester, Massachusetts, and similar publications in both Europe and the United States.
However, aside from his official duties in Africa, his most important work was his study of the native institutions of the Vai Speaking Negroes, resulting in his manuscript on Negro Social Life and Culture in Africa.
As a result of the original work and investigations of George W. Ellis into native social conditions and African problems he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of Great Britain upon the proposal and nomination of Sir Harry H. Johnston, G.C.M.G., K.C.B., one of the greatest living African authorities in Europe, and Dr. J. Scott Keltie, author of the noted book, "The Position of Africa." Subsequently, he was elected a member of the following learned societies: African Society for the Study of Native Institutions, London; American Sociological Society; American Political Science Association; American Academy of Social and Political Science; American Society of International Law; honorary member of the Luther Burbank Society, and decorated Knight Commander of the Order of African Redemption. He is now one of the contributing editors of the Journal of Race Development of Clark University at Worcester, Mass., and the Editor of Who's Who of the Colored Race.
It might be added that Mr. Ellis has, perhaps, the largest and most representative single ethnological African collection now in the National Museum at Washington, D. C. He has made a number of addresses in different portions of the United States and elsewhere upon African and Negro questions and was a member of the African Conference at Clark University, Worcester, Mass., in 1910.
He is author of the new book, entitled, "Negro Culture in West Africa." He was a delegate to the General Conference of 1912, representing Liberia and is a member of the Centennial General Conference. He has also been a member of the Financial Board since 1912.
Embry, James C., 25th bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Knox County, Ind., November 2, 1834. His parents were Baptists. He entered school when quite young and received a good common school education, and taught school prior to 1858. He was converted in 1855 in Galena, Ill., and was licensed to preach in 1856 by Rev. F. Meyers in Galena. He joined the annual conference in August, 1864, under Bishop Quinn. He was ordained deacon in 1866 and ordained elder in 1870. He held many appointments
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP J. C. EMBRY, D.D.
to his credit and to that of the church. He was financial secretary from 1876 to 1880 and general business manager from 1884 to 1896, during which time he built the present publishing house at 631 Pine St. In 1896 he was elected bishop and ordained May 19, 1896. He died August 16, 1897, and is buried at Philadelphia.
Evans, Dr. Elias G., is a native of Florida, where he was reared on his father's farm. He was a student three years at the Florida Baptist Institute and was an ardent worker in all of its societies. Leaving this institute he taught school for two years, and entered the State Normal College at Tallahassee, Florida, completing the four years' course. He was president of the college societies, with
[ILLUSTRATION]
DR. ELIAS G. EVANS.
which he was connected while in this institution, also for two years editor of the College News Bureau, and organized a debating society in Tallahassee; served as teacher and officer of the Sunday school, and president of the choir of the leading A. M. E. church of that city. After graduating he became a State teacher, holding the principalship of some of the best schools of the State, and was also for three years special agent for the college. He is a member of the A. M. E. Church and has been a Sunday school worker from youth, filling every position in the church save that of a preacher. His annual conference elected him trustee of Wilberforce University 1898, and he was elected first alternate to the general conference of 1904. He entered the medical department of Howard University in 1904, went through the third year course, after which circumstances compelled him to give up, as he was a night watchman in the War Department during the time. He entered the dental college of the university in 1911 and graduated June, 1913. He enjoys a good practice and has a thoroughly equipped dental office at 1113 You Street, N. W. Dr. Evans is an officer of the Robert T. Freeman Dental Society, of Washington, D. C.; has served as first vice-president of the Y. M. C. A. of Howard University and is now the fifth vice-president of the Alumni Association of the university; member of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows; of the Masonic fraternity; a trustee of Metropolitan A. M. E. church, of Washington, D. C.; first assistant superintendent of its Sunday school, and an officer of Bethel Literary and Historical Association.
Evans, Rev. James Joshua, the son of Simon and Mary (Derricks) Evans, was born in Knoxville, Frederick County, Maryland, June 13, 1855. He attended the public schools of his native town. At the age of 16 years he entered Storer College of Harper's Ferry, West Va., and remained for two years. From here he went to Washington, D. C., and attended Wayland Theological Seminary. He was converted in 1880 and in 1883 was ordained deacon by Bishop Cain, in Brooklyn, N. Y., and in 1886 he was ordained an elder by Bishop Turner at Harrisburg, Pa. He has received into the church 635 persons and has baptized 263, married 72 couples and attended 137 funerals. He has built three new churches from the ground, rebuilt five and paid four out of debt. He has entertained the Philadelphia Conference at Chambersburg, Pa., and the Indiana Conference at Terre Haute, Ind.
Rev. Evans was married in 1885 to Miss Lydia Samuel George, of Elizabeth, N. J. He has pastored the following charges with some degree of success: 1883-4, Elizabeth, N. J.; 1885, Bay Shore, N. Y.; 1886-88, Milton, Del.; 1889, Green Castle, Pa.; 1890-1, Zion Chapel, Phila.; 1892-3, Chambersburg, Pa.; 1894-5, Carlisle, Pa.; 1896-7, Allen Chapel, Phila.; 1898-9, Ebenezer, West, Washington, D. C.; 1900, Christfield, M. D.; 1901, St. James, Louisville, Ky.; 1902-3, Taylor Chapel, Bowling Green, Ky.; 1904, LaGrange, Ill.; 1905, Allen Temple, Marion, Ind.; 1907-8, Spruce St., Terre Haute, Ind.; 1909, Bethel, Evansville, Ind.; 1910-11, Bloomington, Ill.; 1912, Edwardsville, Ill.; 1913-4, Mound City, Ill.; 1915, Bethel, Quincy, Ill.; the last named being his present charge. He is now serving his 32d year in the itinerant ministry of the A. M. E. Church.
Evans, Miss Mary G., was born in Washington City, D. C., January 13, 1891. Her parents died when she was a child. She was adopted by Rev. and Mrs. J. J. Evans, Mrs. Evans being her aunt and who then resided in
[ILLUSTRATION]
MISS MARY G. EVANS.
Louisville, Ky. She obtained her grammar and high school training in the schools of Chicago, Ill. At the age of twelve she felt a call to preach and then preached her first sermon. She was licensed to preach at the age of fourteen at Chicago, Ill., by Rev. Timothy. At fifteen she entered the Indiana conference of the A. M. E. church
and was given evangelist's license by Bishop Shaffer. Feeling that her calling required the very best of training, Miss Evans entered Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, Ohio. Not having the necessary money to enter and complete the course at Payne, her aunt, Mrs. Evans, the Federal Clubs of Indiana, and the conference came to her aid June, 1911. Since that time she has traveled over the entire country, north, south, east and west, and has won thousands of souls to Christ. In June, 1913, she, with a friend, sailed for Europe to attend the World's Seventh Sunday School Convention. She was the only delegate appointed by the State Association of Indiana. She visited Europe, Asia and Africa, traveling in France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, the Holy Land and Egypt. On her return she lectured extensively on her trip. Miss Evans is one of the great evangelistic preachers of the race. Her power lies not alone in her scholastic preparation, but in her entire consecration to God.
FELDER, REV. S. P., was born July 1, 1863, at Greensburg, La. His parents were Joseph and Susan Felder. He grew up to the age of seventeen years before he began his education. He began by attending night schools in 1879, and afterwards attended public school. He married in 1880, and desiring to continue his education he hired private teachers who continued to feed his fertile brain until he developed into a scholar of no mean ability. He joined the A. M. E. Church on probation in 1878 and was converted in 1881, was licensed as an exhorter March, 1885, licensed as a local preacher September, 1885. He studied theology under a private teacher, T. A. Wilson. He entered the ministry December, 1887, was ordained a deacon in 1888 and was ordained an elder, 1890. He is one of Mississippi's greatest preachers. More than a thousand souls have been converted by his sermons. He was a successful pastor and is an excellent presiding elder. In the latter position he is now serving his sixteenth appointment. He is a financier, builder and leader of affairs of the church and school in the State of Mississippi. His leadership is not confined to the Church and school alone, and served two years as state General Manager of the Mutual Aid Society in the State of Mississippi, and resigned the position because of his ministerial responsibilities. He was afterwards elected as Supreme Grand Master of the Independent Order of Eagles, which position he now holds. He also was the first president of the People's Saving Bank at Shaw, Miss. He resigned this position because of being over-burdened with responsibility. He has served on the Church Extension Board eight years, and was elected delegate to the Ecumenical Conference, which was held in Toronto, Canada, October, 1911. He has been elected delegate to five consecutive General Conferences, from 1900 to 1916, and has served twelve years on the Episcopal Committee. He is a trustee and manager of Campbell College farm. The degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Campbell College.
He organized Log Town, Jordan River, Bay St. Louis, which was beginning of the Gulf work, while he was a local preacher, and has organized many churches since.
Flagg, Rev. L. S., was born about fifty years ago, near Raleigh, N. C. He was converted in early youth. The first Sunday school attended was the A. M. E. His parents moved to a village in the suburbs of the city of Raleigh, where there was no A. M. E. Church and he attended the M. E. Church and Sunday school and was licensed to preach in that church and used by them as a supply while he attended school to further prepare himself for the ministry. He was often importuned to join the M. E. Conference, but true to his first love he joined the A. M. E. Conference, under Bishop Campbell, at Wilmington, N. C. While attending school he was for a time instructor in theology, but before he graduated, on account of the great demand for preachers, he was compelled to take work. Being
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. L. S. FLAGG.
however, of studious habits he prepared himself so efficiently that he has filled some of the most important charges in the connection.
He served as presiding elder of the Morganton District of the West North Carolina Conference, and was transferred to the Baltimore Conference by Bishop J. A. Handy, where he has held important charges, among them Mother Bethel, Baltimore. During his administration, Bethel Church raised more than one thousand dollars a month for all purposes. Though deprived of the opportunity of completing his education, he is in great demand as a preacher, which shows that the A. M. E. Church recognizes work and worth.
Fleming, James Robert, one of seven children of Robert and Annie Fleming, both members of A. M. E. Church, was born in Washington, Georgia, in 1865; attended school in Washington six years; graduated from Morris Brown University; received the degree of D.D. from Campbell College, Jackson, Miss.; was converted in 1881 and joined Woods Chapel A. M. E.
Church; held offices of steward, class leader, local preacher, Sunday school teacher and superintendent; was licensed to preach 1887 in Allen Temple, Atlanta, Ga., by Rev. J. G. Yeiser; was ordained deacon 1890 at Cartersville by Bishop Gaines; ordained elder 1894 in Marietta, by Bishop Grant. He joined the annual conference at Washington, Ga., in 1889 under Bishop Gaines; held the following appointments, all in Georgia; Stone Mountain, 1889-1892; Jackson, 1893; Deraville, 1894; Acworth, 1895-96-97; Griffin, 1898-99; Jamesboro, 1900-1904; Madison, 1905; presiding elder twelve years; built churches at Stone Mountain at cost of $500 in 1890; Acworth at $1500 in 1895; Grant Chapel, $500 in 1896; Jamesboro, $500 in 1901. Lifted mortgages at Jackson, $300, 1893, and Griffin, $500, 1898; was delegate to general conferences of 1912 and 1916. Married in 1882 to Gussie Bailey, of Warrenton, Ga.; one child, Anna S. Fleming. Owns a home.
Fleming, John William, was born February 14, 1871; converted in 1892; married Miss Lucina Page in 1893; was licensed to exhort December 19, 1895, by Rev. J. W. Dukes, P. E.; appointed to first pastorate 1898 by Rev. R. D. Lewis, P. E.; ordained deacon in 1900 at Tampa, Fla., by Bishop Gaines; ordained elder in 1906 at Gainesville, Fla., by Bishop Tanner; held the following appointments, all in Florida: Mulberry, where he organized the A. M. E. Church, bought a lot and built a church; Worthington Springs, where he bought land and built a church; Hopewell, where he built a parsonage; Okahumpka circuit, where he built a church; Bloomfield; Dutton, one year; Interlachen, where he remained four years, buying a lot in town and building a church; Citra, two years; Gainesville, three years, making much needed improvements to the church, and Ebenezer A. M. E. Church, Live Oak, his present pastorate. Rev. Fleming was a delegate to Centennial General Conference, Philadelphia, May, 1916, and is a trustee of Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, Fla.
Flipper, Joseph Simeon, 33rd bishop of the A. M. E. Church, the second of five sons of Festus and Isabella (Buckhalter) Flipper, was born February 22, 1859, in Atlanta, Georgia, a slave of Ephraim G. Ponder. In 1867 he attended a missionary school in Bethel A. M. E. church, Atlanta, and Storrs school. In October, 1869, he was numbered among the first students to enter the Atlanta University, where he remained until 1876, when he entered public life, teaching school at Thomaston, Ga. He went to Thomasville, where his parents had gone, in 1877. Here he was converted in March, 1877, and joined St. Thomas A. M. E. church under Rev. S. W. Drayton. In 1877 and 1878 he taught school in Thomas county. In 1879 he was commissioned by Governor Alfred H. Colquitt, captain of the Thomasville Independents, a colored company, forming a part of the State militia. In 1879 he taught school at Groverville, now Key, Brooks County, Georgia. Here he was licensed both as an exhorter and local preacher and recommended by the local church for admission into the Georgia annual conference of the A. M. E. church, and in January, 1880, he was received into the itinerant ministry of the Georgia conference at Americus, Georgia, by Bishop Campbell, and assigned to Groversville circuit; served Boston circuit 1881. He was ordained deacon in January, 1882, by Bishop Dickerson in St. Thomas A. M. E. church, Thomasville, Georgia. Here also he was elected secretary of the Georgia conference, and a trustee of Morris Brown College; was appointed to Darien, Georgia, in 1882. In 1883 he taught school at Cairo and Whigham, Georgia. In January, 1884, he was ordained elder at Valdosta, Georgia, by Bishop Dickerson and appointed to Quitman, Georgia, remaining there until January, 1886, when at the conference at Hawkinsville, Georgia, he was transferred from the Georgia conference to the North Georgia conference by Bishop Shorter, and appointed to Bethel A. M. E. church, Atlanta, the largest church in the State. He was the youngest man that had ever been appointed to so important a charge in the State. His mother had been a member of this church and he had attended its Sunday school when a boy, and in the old church had first learned his alphabet. He remained here four years, the full limit of the law, and raised more dollar money than had ever been raised in any church in the entire State. No other pastor exceeded his record for 25 years. From here he was appointed pastor of Pierce chapel, A. M. E.
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP J. S. FLIPPER, D.D., LL.D.
church, Athens, Georgia, in 1889, and remained three years. In 1892 he was appointed by Bishop Grant, presiding elder of the Athens district. In 1895 he was appointed pastor of St. Paul A. M. E. church, Atlanta, serving four years. In 1903 he was elected dean of the theological department of Morris Brown College and served one year. In 1904 he was elected by the Trustee Board president of Morris Brown College and enrolled the largest number of students in its history. He remained here four years. In 1908 at the general conference held in Norfolk, Virginia, he was elected one of the bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal church and assigned to the ninth episcopal district, consisting of Arkansas and Oklahoma. He traveled very extensively through these two States, going from ten to twenty-five miles from the railroad. In 1912 when the general conference met in Kansas City, Missouri, the delegation from Georgia, his native State, requested that he be sent to preside over Georgia, the sixth episcopal district, which request was granted. Since coming to Georgia he has erected the Flipper Hall, the boys' dormitory at Morris Brown College, the Central Park Normal and Industrial Institute at Savannah, bought ten acres of ground for Payne College at Cuthbert, Georgia, and united all the schools into one system known as Morris Brown University. Bishop Flipper
received the degree of D.D. from Allen University in 1893 and LL.D. from Wilberforce University in 1906. He has been a member of every general conference since 1892, and was chairman of the Episcopal Committee of the General Conferences of 1900 and 1904. He served as a member of the Financial Board from 1900 to 1908. He was married to Miss Amanda Slater, of Thomasville, Ga., February 24, 1880. One of his sons is a minister, Rev. Carl F. Flipper, a graduate of Shaw University (A. B.), and Drew Theological Seminary (B.D.), and a member of the New Jersey annual conference. Bishop Flipper is a stockholder in the Standard Life Insurance Company, and holds the first policy, for three thousand dollars, issued by the company; a stockholder and director of the Atlanta State savings bank, a stockholder in The Independent of New York City, a member of the Southern Sociological Congress, a member of the National Geographical Society, a trustee of the World's Christian Endeavor, president of the Sunday school Union Board, and prominent in many civic and industrial movements.
Ford, Rev. Robert E., was born at Washington, D. C., August 13, 1869. He was educated at Howard University, graduating from the Theological Department in 1897. He was converted when but twelve years old. His parents being Baptists, he joined the Vermont Avenue Baptist Church, and at 23 was licensed to preach by Rev. G. W. Lee, the pastor. However,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. ROBERT E. FORD.
during his seminary course, he underwent a change of religious views, and joined Metropolitan A. M. E. Church, of which Rev. (now Bishop) J. Albert Johnson, was then pastor.
Soon after his graduation he was sent to supply Oxford Circuit by Bishop Handy, and served successfully, at the same time marrying Miss E. V. Turner, of Washington County, Md. He entered the Baltimore Conference in 1898, and was ordained deacon in 1899 by Bishop Handy, and elder, 1901, by Bishop Lee.
He has served with credit the following charges: Oxford Circuit, Pocomoke Station, Fruitland Circuit, Chesapeake Circuit, Carroll Circuit, Elkton and Cecilton Stations, all in the Baltimore Annual Conference. In 1911 Bishop L. J. Coppin appointed him presiding elder of the Baltimore District, and after a year of successful services, he was given charge of the Easton District, which he is now serving.
Rev. Ford was the first secretary of the Easton District; secretary of the Baltimore District eight years, and the recording secretary of the Baltimore Annual Conference eight years.
He enjoys the rare distinction of being both artist and poet. The walls of his comfortably furnished home are adorned with his own water color paintings, and he has also published "Brown Chapel," an epic, as well as other verse. He is at present the chairman of the committee on the Fourth Year's Studies in the Baltimore Annual Conference and a delegate to the Centennial General Conference in Philadelphia.
Foree, Byron W., was born at Crawford, Lowndes County, Mississippi, in 1864, and has lived in West Point, Miss., over forty years. He joined the A. M. E. Church at the age of seventeen years and has been an active member of the same church for more than thirty years. He has been trustee and steward for twenty years and holds the positions of trustee, steward, class leader and superintendent of St. John's A. M. E. Sunday school, West Point, Miss. He is also superintendent of Allen C. E. L., of the North Miss.
Conference, and has been three times elected lay delegate to General Conference, including the Centennial General Conference.
He received his education in the county and city schools, was prominent in many of the secret orders of Masons, Odd Fellows, Pythians, etc. He is a Republican in politics and has been prominent in the affairs of the party in his State, having filled positions of honor and trust.
He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Campbell College at Jackson, Miss., having served in that capacity for six years.
He is a good citizen and devotes most of his time to the church and the general welfare of his race. He is married and has a prominent family, one of his daughters being a teacher in Campbell College.
Forniss, J. H., was born in Alabama November 19, 1883; when quite young was brought to Uniontown, Ala., by his mother, where he received his education in the public schools. In boyhood Mr. Forniss served as an apprentice in a white printing office, known as the "Cane Brake Herald" office. A few years later he decided to establish
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. J. H. FORNISS.
a business of his own, the outcome of which proved quite a success. He is editor of a popular paper, known as the Uniontown News, does job work, handles stationery, and is considered first-class in his profession as a printer. Aside from this Mr. Forniss is an active worker in the church, serving in Quinn Chapel, A. M. E. Church, of Uniontown, Ala., as class leader, trustee, Sunday school superintendent, member of the choir, and Allen League worker. So faithful is he to these duties his church sent him as a representative to the electoral college of his conference, where he was elected as lay delegate to the Centennial General Conference to be held in Philadelphia May, 1916. In the business, moral and educational life of his city he takes much interest, being a taxpayer, and enjoys the respect and confidence of both races.
Fountain, Dr. William A., now president of Morris Brown University, is the son of Rev. Richard and Virginia Fountain, both of whom were devoted members of the A. M. E. Church. He was born October 29, 1870, at Elberton, Georgia, one of seventeen children. He entered school at the age of six and attended about sixteen years, attending Elberton public school, Morris Brown University, Allen University, Turner Theological Seminary, graduating from each and taking a post-graduate course at Chicago University, and non-resident courses in Central University. He has the following degrees:
A.B., from Morris Brown; A.M., from Allen University: S.T.B., from Turner Seminary; B.D. and Ph.D., from Central University.
He was converted April, 1888, and joined Allen Temple A. M. E. Church, Atlanta, Georgia, the same year.
Has held almost every office in church.
He was licensed to preach at Elberton, Ga., in 1893, by Rev. (now bishop) J. S. Flipper. He joined the annual conference at Marietta, Georgia, under Bishop Grant; was ordained deacon at Athens, Ga.,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. WILLIAM ALFRED FOUNTAIN.
by Bishop A. Grant; ordained elder at Cedartown, Ga., by Bishop Turner. Has held the following appointments:
Prendergrass Mission; Athens-Bethel; Washington-Jackson Chapel and Pope's Chapel; Marietta, Ga., Turner Chapel; Atlanta, Ga., Allen Temple; Wilmington, N. C., St. Stephens; Macon, Ga., Steward Chapel; presiding elder of Athens District.
He is now president of Morris Brown University, Atlanta, Georgia, having been elected to succeed president E. W. Lee, upon his death in 1911. Under his administration the university has greatly prospered. He built Pope's Chapel at Washington, Georgia, at a cost of $20,000; repaired the parsonage at Marietta, Ga., at a cost of $2000; bought lot and beautified church, paid church out of debt at Atlanta, $5000; left $500 to build a Sunday school room for St. Stephens at Wilmington, N. C.; established an Old Folks' Home and built a parsonage at cost of $4000 for Steward Chapel, Macon, Georgia. He has lifted mortgages at Athens, Marietta, Allen Temple and Steward Chapel.
Dr. Fountain has been a delegate to the following General Conferences:
Columbus, Ohio, in 1900; Chicago, in 1904; Norfolk, in 1908; Kansas City, in 1912, and the Centennial General Conference at Philadelphia, in 1916.
GAINES, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, the son of Stephen and Josephine Gaines. Both members of the A. M. E. Church. Born in Washington, Ga. Was one of nine children. Received about 18 years' schooling. Spent over two years at Knox Institute, Atlanta University, Gammon Seminary. Graduated from Atlanta University and Gammon Seminary. Studied Philosophy at Syracuse University. Converted in 1882 and joined Bethel, Atlanta, 1883. Licensed to preach in 1887 at Madison, Ga., by Rev. C. C. Cargyle. Ordained deacon, 1887, at Dalton, Ga., by Bishop Gaines. Ordained elder, 1889, at Cartersville,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. ABRAHAM LINCOLN GAINES.
Ga., by Bishop Gaines. Joined the annual conference, 1887, under Bishop Gaines. He served the following places as pastor:
Rutledge, Ga., 1887-1889; St. James, Atlanta, Ga., 1889-1892; Norfolk, Va., 1892-96; Portsmouth, Va., 1896-1900; Presiding Elder, 1900-1903; Bethel, Baltimore, 1903-1908; Trinity, Baltimore, 1908-1913; Waters Church, Baltimore, 1913.
Built church at Rutledge, Ga., at a cost of $3500. Placed a pipe organ in church at Norfolk at a cost of $3000. Built parsonage at Portsmouth, Va., at a cost of $1200; built Old Folks' Home at Baltimore, at a cost of $2200, and repaired Trinity Church at Baltimore to the amount of $3000.
Rev. Gaines has taken about 2500 people into the church. Has been a delegate to General Conferences in 1896, 1900, 1904, 1908, 1912 and 1916.
Dr. Gaines was a member of Church Extension Board from 1896 to 1904; of the Sunday School Union Board, from 1904 to 1908; of the Educational Board, 1912 to date. He was fraternal delegate to C. M. E. General Conference and alternate to the Ecumenical Conference. Was voted for for editor of Christian Recorder in 1908 and 1912. Married Miss Minnie Lillian Plant, of Macon, Ga., in 1890. They have four daughters, all of whom are graduates of the Baltimore High School.
He has contributed to the A. M. E. Review, Christian Recorder and was regular editorial correspondent of the Afro-American Ledger, of Baltimore.
The principal addresses, made by Rev. Gaines, are "The Negro and the Constitution" and "Negro Revival Methods." He is a director of Virginia Beneficial Insurance Co., is a Mason, Odd Fellow and Pythian.
Rev. Gaines has been actively associated with the Aged Home of the Baltimore Conference and associated with Afro-American Council N. A. A. of Colored People.
Gaines, Rev. P. P., the son of Emery and Charlotte Gaines, both of whom are members of the A. M. E. Church, was born March 19, 1866, at Seaford, Del. He was one of eight children. He entered school when quite young and spent more than 12 years in school. He spent over two years in the public schools of Seaford. He has received degrees and diplomas from Morris Brown and the State Sabbath School Association. He was converted in 1887 and joined the A. M. E. Church at the same time. He has held many of the offices in the church.
He was licensed to preach in 1891 at Union, Phila., by Rev. J. M. Palmer, P. E. He was ordained deacon,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. PAUL PRESTON GAINES.
May, 1895, at Mt. Pisgah, Philadelphia, by Bishop Tanner and was ordained elder, May 22, 1898, at Columbia, Pa., by Bishop Grant.
He joined the Annual Conference in 1894 at Dover, Del., under Bishop Tanner.
He has held the following appointments:
Parkesburg, Pa., 1892; Middletown, Pa., 1895; Frederica, Del., 1896; Dover, Del., 1899; Mt. Friendship, Del., 1900; Lancaster, Pa., 1903; Bristol, Pa., 1907; Norristown, Pa., 1908; Steelton, 1910; Carlisle, 1912; Middletown, Del., 1913; Morris Brown, Philadelphia, Pa., 1915, to date.
He lifted a mortgage of $245 at Frederica, Del.; at Mt. Friendship he lifted a mortgage of $240, and at Lancaster, Pa., to the amount of $350. He has taken 550 people into the church and baptized about 300 people.
He is an alternate to the General Conference of 1916. In 1888 he married Mary L. Gaines, of Seaford, Del. He is a Republican and a property owner.
Gardner, Prof. Reuben James, is one of the A. M. E. laymen who is prominently allied with the younger business element of Mississippi. He was born to Amos and Adaline Gardner, in humble circumstances, at Wetumpka, Ala., March 30, 1871.
In the fall of 1875 he moved with his parents to Newtown, Miss. He remained here only a few years, moving subsequently to Phalia, Bolivar Co., Miss.
In 1886, after having completed the public schools, he entered Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College, at Rodney, Miss. He remained here four consecutive school years. Leaving this institution he matriculated in the Central Tennessee College, Nashville, Tenn., in 1890. In this college Mr. Gardner was the prize winner of his
[ILLUSTRATION]
PROF. REUBEN JAMES GARDNER.
class for three years. He also won the medal on class exhibit in 1903, at the World's Fair in Chicago, Ill.
He taught a number of years in the schools of the states of Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi. He was a delegate from Mississippi to the National Teachers' Association at its sessions in Atlanta, Ga., and at Nashville, Tenn. He was for a number of years president of the Bolivar Co. (Miss.) Teachers' Association.
He is a 32 degree Mason, stands high in the council of the Knights of Pythias and as an Odd Fellow has been delegate to the B. M. C. at Richmond, Va., Atlantic City, N. J., Baltimore, Md., and at Boston, Mass.
He is a member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, where he has taken an active part in religious work. He has been corresponding secretary of the Mississippi State Christian Endeavor League, District Sunday School Superintendent of the Mound Bayou District, delegate to the General Conference at Kansas City, Kans., and is now president of the Mound Bayou District League. He is secretary of the North Mississippi Annual Conference, and delegate to the General Conference which convenes at Philadelphia, May, 1916.
He is supervisor of the Campbell College farm and a trustee of Campbell College. Mr. Gardner was called to take charge of the Mound Bayou office of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railway April, 1908, as both express and railroad agent. When on account of the volume of business it was necessary to divorce these two offices he was retained in charge of the railroad's interest as local agent. This position he still holds, rendering satisfaction to all concerned.
Garrett, Casper George, was born near Ova, S. C., in Laurens county, September, 1865. His father, Samuel Garrett, could read and write in slavery time and hence by writing passes and reading war news to the plantation Negroes he was "marked for slaughter" by Morgan raiders, who were whipping and killing the free-feeling slaves in that section. To escape the Morgan marauders he joined Sherman's army, but soon fell a victim to the yellow fever epidemic at Memphis, Tenn. Young Garrett was left to the care of a good mother, who struggled amid the hardships of the homeless and unsettled slaves to make a living for herself and child. Her greatest
[ILLUSTRATION]
PROF. C. G. GARRETT, A.M., LL.B.
ambition was to educate her son. The washtub, ironing board, the kitchen and the farm were some of the means by which she used to educate him. His first teachers were Northern missionaries who came to Laurens immediately after the war. His mother brought him eight miles to school and finally moved to town to keep him in school. He passed through many hardships and but for the constant coercion of his mother and the encouragement of his teachers, Rev. B. F. McDonell and Dr. I. W. Davis, he would have given up the struggle. In 1883 he passed the county examination and for years taught in the public schools. His pastor, Rev. N. W. Edwards, carried Garrett to Allen University, where for five years he sat at the feet of Prof. J. W. Morris and finished the college and law courses at Allen with honor, passing a creditable examination before the Supreme Court of the State. After four years as principal of the Winnsboro graded school, where he brought the school up to a high standard of efficiency, he was elected in 1895 to a professorship in Allen University, where he is still teaching, and is now vice-president. Prof. Garrett has made the defense and advancement of his school the pride and purpose of his life. He has passed through many hardships for it. Prof. Garrett says Mrs. Garrett
is the bedrock and guiding star of all his efforts and of every success in his married life. He joined Poplar Spring A. M. E. church in 1884, and has always been a loyal churchman. He has been a delegate to several general conferences and is delegate to the Centennial General Conference of 1916.
Gibbons, Jethro T., pastor of Young Chapel A. M. E. Church, Huntington, W. Va., was born in St. Johns, Antigua, British West Indies, and was educated in that country in the cathedral school. He later spent a year in the Bishop Payne Divinity School, at Petersburg, Va., after coming to the United States; was licensed to preach by the quarterly conference of Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church, Charleston, S. C., at which time Rev. (now Bishop) W. H. Heard was pastor. For a number of years he pastored in South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, and is now in West Virginia,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. T. GIBBONS, A.M., D.D.
where he has been for the past 14 years, and by his exemplary character he has built up a large circle of friends. He is now serving his fourth year as pastor in Huntington, where he remodeled the church at a cost of $3500. He taught school in Mercer and McDowell counties for several years, but resigned to devote his whole time to the work of the church. He is at present secretary of the Church Extension Board and of the West Virginia annual conference. Rev. Gibbons has taken an active part in many civic movements since coming to the state, and in 1904 was nominated in Mercer county for member of the House of Delegates. In 1912 he made a race for committeeman-at-large, but was defeated by a small margin. He has been married twice, marrying his present wife, who was Miss Etta A. Gorham, of Raleigh, N. C., an alumna of Shaw University, June 30, 1908. To this union were born three children. He was a member of the general conferences of 1912 and 1916.
Gibbs, Rev. S. M., was born September 6, 1863, in Jefferson county, Fla., near Monticello, the fourteenth son of Isabella and Toney Gibbs, Sr., both of whom died during his early childhood. He was converted and called to the ministry in his fourteenth year. He attended the Jefferson county public schools and took private lessons. He was licensed to preach in Live Oak, Fla., in Ebenezer A. M. E. church by the Rev. T. C. Dunham. Three months afterwards he went to Mt. Olive circuit, Jefferson county, during the illness of his brother, B. C. Gibbs, then pastor. But he did not continue in the pastorate. In 1882 he was appointed to Kissimmee, Fla., where the uncivilized white people tried to make him dance with pistols and rifles. In 1883 he was sent to Port Orange mission, and built a church and established three preaching points. Next he went to Ormond mission and established the present church. In 1887 he was sent to Torpon Springs mission and built the present edifice. He was next sent to De Leon Springs mission, but after a short time he was transferred to the Florida Conference and stationed at West station, Pensacola, which was burned down during that year. He was ordained elder by Bishop Arnett in 1888 in Quincy, Fla., and appointed to Mt. Olive and Jerusalem circuit, and built a church at Jerusalem. He was then sent to Gum Swamp circuit and remodeled St. Paul church and completed Greensville. He next went to Bethlehem station, Jackson county. He held here as at all other places a great revival. In 1893 he was sent to Waldon county circuit, where he did a great work, both temporally and spiritually. In 1895 he returned to the East Florida Conference and went to South Jacksonville. In 1896 and 1897 to Columbia county, at Bethel and Hope Henry circuit, where he rebuilt Bethel church; in 1898 to Mt. Moriah, Brooklyn, Jacksonville; in 1899 to Mt. Zion station, Madison, Fla.; in 1900-01 to Jasper station; in 1902 he was transferred and stationed at Leesburg, Fla.; in 1903 to Dunnellon station, where he bought and paid for the foundation of the present edifice; in 1904 at Newberry and Jonesville mission, buying back the property at Newberry; in 1905 to Kindreck station, where he remodeled the church.
Dr. Gibbs taught public school in Hillsborough and Walton counties. He has been honored to membership four consecutive times in the general conferences, being leader once. In 1906 he was appointed presiding elder of the Dunnellon district, and led his conference financially for four years. Thence, in 1910, he was appointed to the St. Petersburg district, where he served four years, leading again financially. He was then assigned to the Ocala district in 1914, where he now presides on his second year. He presided as G. M. of the M. W. Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F. and A. M., of Florida and jurisdiction for two years, refusing further election. He was elected G. R. P. of the Order Eastern Star of Royal Grand Chapter, and is now serving his second term.
Gould, Rev. Theodore, son of Elijah and Hannah Gould, was born in Bridgeton, N. J., August 12th, 1830, united with the A. M. E. church, November, 1847, was licensed to exhort in 1851, licensed to preach in 1853, ordained deacon at Philadelphia by Bishop William Paul Quinn in 1859, ordained elder in 1862. His first appointment was in 1859. He served Danville circuit, comprising Danville, Pa.; Bloomsburg, Wilkes-Barre, Abington Centre and Mount Rose, 1 year; Princeton, N. J., circuit, 3 years; Burlington, N. J., circuit, 3 years; Zion mission, Philadelphia, 1 year; traveling agent for the Book Concern, and pastor of Macedonia, Camden, N. J., 1 year; Brooklyn, N. Y., 3 years; Union, Philadelphia, 2 years; Bethel, Philadelphia, 2 years, during which time Allen A. M. E. church was organized and property purchased for it at a cost of $8000; Harrisburg, Pa., 1 year; Allen, Philadelphia, 1 year; Chester, Pa., 2 years; Allen, Philadelphia, 1 year; manager of Book Concern, elected at St. Louis, 1880, four years; Harrisburg, 1 year; Mt. Pisgah,
Philadelphia, 2 years; Charles Street, Boston, 3 years; Bethel, New York, 2 years; West Chester, Pa., 2 years; Frankford, Pa., 1 year; Bethel, Philadelphia, 1 year; Zion, Philadelphia, 2 years; presiding elder, Philadelphia district, 5 years; Union Bethel, Brooklyn, 1 year; Darby, Pa., 2 years; presiding elder Philadelphia district, 2 years. May, 1910, at the request of Bishop Gaines, he accepted superannuation. Rev. Gould was twice married, living 58 years with his first wife, who died in 1913, and
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. THEODORE GOULD.
marrying his brother's widow in 1915. His son, Mr. Howard D. Gould, has worked in the Book Concern for over thirty years and for many years was foreman. Rev. Gould has been for many years treasurer of the Philadelphia annual conference. He now spends most of his time near the scene of his birth, among hosts of relatives at Gouldtown, N. J., where he has property interests. During his more than fifty years of active service he has taken many thousands of persons into the church.
Graham, D. A., the son of Washington and Lucy Graham, was born in Princeton, Ind., January 11th, 1861. He was the first colored graduate of the high school of his native city, completing the course in 1880 with the second honors of his class, all of whom were white but himself.
He was admitted to the Indiana Conference at New Albany, Ind., in September, 1882, Bishop James A. Shorter presiding; ordained deacon the next year in Allen Chapel, Indianapolis, by the same bishop, and elder at Terre Haute, Ind., in 1885 by Bishop Jabez P. Campbell. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him, unsolicited, by Paul Quinn College in 1901.
Since joining the conference he has successfully pastored the following points: Washington, Ind., where he built a brick church; Bloomington and Greencastle, Ind.; Flint and Kalamazoo, Mich. (building and paying for a six-room parsonage at Flint); St. Peter, Minneapolis; Bethel, Chicago; Bethel, Indianapolis; St. James, New Orleans; Bethel, Detroit; Salem, Nashville; Clarksville, Tenn., and is now (1914) meeting with great success at Payne Chapel, Colorado Springs.
At New Orleans he rebuilt the old historic St. James and gave us a modern church of great beauty.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. D. A. GRAHAM, D.D.
While holding up all the interests of the church, his forte is along spiritual lines and great revivals are most sure to accompany his pastorate. More than twelve
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. D. A. GRAHAM.
hundred were received into the church during his four years at Bethel, Chicago.
The first Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor in the A. M. E. Church was organized by him in Washington, Ind., in May, 1882. The prayer meeting
pledge was almost identical with that of the society organized by Francis Clark in Portland, Maine, in February of the same year, though our subject had not heard of Clark's Society. He was on the program of the international convention of the Y. P. S. C. E. in Minneapolis in 1891. He wrote the pledge and constitution of the Allen C. E. League, which was submitted by Bishop Smith to the Bishop's Council at Mobile in January, 1904, endorsed by the same and adopted by the General Conference at Chicago, May, 1904.
He has been married twice. His first wife, Lorena Mason Graham, died in Chicago, June 19th, 1894. In November, 1905, he was married to Elizabeth Etta Bell, an accomplished young lady, in St. Paul, Minn., who has proven a valuable helpmeet to him and a great leader among the women of the church. He has an interesting family of five children.
Graham, Noah Z., was born in Jefferson County, Fla., May 31, 1877, one of the eight children of Noah and Parthenia Graham, members of the A. M. E. Church. His schooling of ten years' duration was acquired in the public school and by correspondence courses; at Paine School; besides this he has tutored
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. NOAH Z. GRAHAM.
himself privately. He was converted in Florida in 1895, joining the A. M. E. Church, and has held nearly every office in the local church. He was licensed to preach by Rev. C. F. Brown in 1896, and was ordained deacon at Tallahassee, Fla., in 1905 by Bishop Tanner, and elder at Marianna in 1908 by Bishop Tanner. He joined the annual conference at Monticello, Fla., in 1900, Bishop Handy presiding. He has held the following appointments: Birds Mission, 1904; Branch Mission, 1905; St. Andrew circuit, 1906-1907; Ponce de Leon, 1908-1909; Milton, 1910; DeFuniak Springs, 1911-12; Chattahoochee circuit, 1913; Marianna, 1914-5. In 1905 he built a church at Buckhorn at a cost of $150; in 1907 at St. Andrews at a cost of $1200; in 1910 at Milton at a cost of $2000. In 1911 he lifted a mortgage of $276.86 on St. Joseph Church, DeFuniak Springs. Rev. Graham has received 500 people into the church, baptized 168 and married 98. He was a delegate to the general conference of 1912. His wife, Mrs. Mary J. Graham, he married in Florida in 1898. They have two children, Noah W., aged 17, and John L., aged 13. Rev. Graham has made, addresses on many different church occasions, among them the precentennial educational rally of Florida in 1915. He is a home owner and prominent in Masonry.
Grant, John H., only child of John H. and Polly C. Grant, his mother a member of the A. M. E. Church, was born December 11, 1865, in Frankfort, Ky. He entered school at the age of six and spent 17 years in school, attending chiefly Samuels Grammar School, Miami University,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JOHN HENRY GRANT, D.D.
Findley College and Lane College. He received the degree of D.D. from Shorter College, B.D. from Findley College, and LL.B. from Lane College. He was converted March, 1889, and joined A. M. E. church the same year. He has held offices of steward and class leader. He was licensed to preach 1889 at Frankfort, Ky., by George H. Burks; joined the Mississippi Annual Conference December, 1892, under Bishop Arnett, and was ordained deacon at the same conference at Port Gibson, Miss. Ordained elder 1894 at Springfield, Ohio, by Bishop Arnett.
He has held the following appointments: Raymond, Summit and Kessiesco, all of Mississippi; in Ohio, London, Oxford, Lebanon, Findley and Toledo; Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; Jackson, Tenn.; St. James, Avery Chapel and Bethel, of Memphis, Tenn. He is now Presiding Elder of the Memphis District of Western Tennessee.
He has lifted mortgages on the following churches: Bethel, Raymond, Miss., to the amount of $700 in 1892; at Summit, Miss., to the amount of $300 in 1893; at London, Ohio, to the amount of $500 in 1895; at Oxford, Ohio, to the amount of $1,000 in 1896; Avery Chapel, Memphis, to the amount of $6,585 in 1903-05; Bethel, Memphis, to the amount of $1200 in 1907-09.
Dr. Grant has taken about 2400 people into the church, baptized 683 and married 203. Was delegate to General Conferences in 1908 and 1912, at both of which he was voted for for business manager of the Book Concern. He married Miss Elizabeth Grant, of Paris, Ky., first; then Mary Low Kirk, of Memphis, Tenn., in 1904. Had two children, Benjamin A. and Roscoe Conkling, by his first wife, and three children, John H., 8 years; Marguerite, 5 years; Dewitt Cromwell, 2 years, by his second wife. He has contributed to the several Recorders, Commercial Appeal, Memphis, and Voice of the People, Atlanta. Has written the following pamphlets: "Defense of the Negro" and "The Way to Make Places for Our Young People."
Grantt, Miss C. A. R., spent her earliest life at Chapel Hill, Washington County, Texas. Afterwards her parents moved to Bryan, Texas, where she attended private school and the Bryan City school.
She became a member of Allen Chapel A. M. E. Sunday school at Bryan and since then has creditably filled every office in the school.
About the age of 15 years she professed Christ, and became a member of the church. Her pastors always found her a vigilant worker, regardless of reward.
Being an expert needle-worker she won a number of first and second premiums from different state and local fairs. She was a member of the Ladies' Advisory
[ILLUSTRATION]
MISS C. A. R. GRANTT, B.S.
Board of the Colored Department of the Texas State Fair and Dallas Exposition. She has been a delegate a number of times for the Sunday school, church and fraternities; also served as deputy and grand officer of Court of Calanthe. Besides being a member of Allen Chapel A. M. E. Church, Bryan, Texas, she is identified with Olive Temple (S. M. T.), No. 13; Harmony Court (Calanthe), No. 20, and an insurance company.
In 1899 she won a scholarship and entered Paul Quinn College, Waco, Texas. In January, 1900, she was compelled to be absent three months to teach public school, but on her return she passed the examinations, and in 1902 graduated with her class, in which were four members, each representing one of the four Annual Conferences of Texas.
She returned home June, 1902, greatly inspired, but lost her mother, who died April 23, 1903.
Miss Grantt was elected president of the Conference Branch of Women's Mite Missionary Society of the Texas Conference, and as such she travelled, lectured and organized societies for four years.
September 3, 1907, her brother died at St. Louis, Mo., and she resigned the presidency of the Missionary Work and went to Oklahoma to teach school. She taught five terms in Platter, Oklahoma, and held important offices in the State Teachers' Association of Oklahoma. In the summer and fall of 1914 she made a three months' tour in the north and east, visiting most of the leading cities from New York to St. Louis, and the tomb of Richard Allen in Mother Bethel, Philadelphia.
Gray, Anderson Plummer, was born in Davidson County, Tenn., in 1868, the son of Alfred and Mary Jane Gray, both members of the A. M. E. Church. He was one of eleven children. He began attending school in 1876 and remained in school about sixteen years. He attended the Nashville Public Schools and
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. ANDERSON PLUMMER GRAY, D.D.
graduated from Walden University. He received the Degree D.D. from Morris Brown College. He was converted in 1886 and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He has held nearly every office in the church. He was licensed to preach in 1886 by Rev. J. W. Early. He was ordained deacon in 1893 at Chattanooga by Bishop Salter and ordained elder by Bishop Salter in 1895 at Nashville. He joined the Annual Conference in 1891 at Fayetteville, Tenn., under Bishop Wayman.
He has held the following appointments: Portland Mission, 1891; N. Nashville Mission, 1892; Riddleton Ct., 1893; Gallatin Ct., 1896; Huntland Ct., 1897; McMinnville Sta., 1898; Ebenezer Sta., 1899; Hartsville Cir., 1902; Pulaski Sta., 1903; Mt. Pleasant Sta., 1907; Canaan Sta., 1908; Bellbuckle Sta., 1910;
P. E., 1911. He built a church at McMinnville at a cost of $650 in 1898. He lifted the mortgages on Jones' Chapel at Mt. Pleasant to the amount of $275 in 1907 and Campbell Chapel at Pulaski to the amount of $680 in 1903. He has taken about 800 people into the church, baptized about 475 and married about 60 couples. He was delegate to the General Conferences of 1908, 1912 and 1916. He was a member of the Western Recorder Board 1908-12 and Sunday School Union 1912-16.
He was a Trustee of Wilberforce in 1912, Turner College 1897 to date, Treasurer of Tennessee Annual Conference 1912-15. He married Mrs. Sarah Gray, of Davidson County, June 17, 1885. He has contributed to A. M. E. Recorders, Voice of Missions, Sunday School Monitor. He is connected with the F. and A. M., K. of P., G. U. O. of O. F. He is a member of the Republican Party and has attended several State Conventions. He owns a home. He has been associated with the Nashville Negro Board of Trade. He is a natural leader.
Greene, Sherman Lawrence, was born near Vicksburg, Mississippi, June 15, 1880. His father, Rev. Henry Greene, was an itinerant African Methodist preacher, and his mother, Mrs. Delia Greene, was a devout Christian of the same denomination. There were seven sons, two of whom became preachers in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
After spending several years in the public schools of the County Sherman Lawrence was sent to Alcorn
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. S. L. GREENE, A.M., D.D.
College, where he completed the sophomore year of the scientific course. He then taught school in Arkansas and Mississippi until 1904 when he was admitted to the South Arkansas Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. During this period he was married to Miss Pinkie B. Spencer, of Lacey, Arkansas, and two fine children have been born of this happy union, Sherman Lawrence, Jr., and Lillian Verneeda.
The first two years of his ministry he built two fine churches, costing over fifteen hundred dollars each, at Sherril and Tucker, Arkansas. He thereafter pastored at Ains, Wilmar, Little Rock and Forrest City, when he was transferred to the North Louisiana Conference and appointed to St. Matthew Station, Shreveport, La., where he paid the mortgage debt of our church in one year, and was appointed presiding elder of the Monroe District, by Bishop J. M. Conner, and elected president of Hampton College in 1914. In 1915 he was appointed presiding elder of the Greenville, Miss., District and in 1916 pastor of St. James, New Orleans, La.
He has studied in Howard and Wilberforce Universities and is a graduate (regular course) of the Theological Department of Shorter College.
Dr. Greene is of the vigorous and aggressive type, a church builder, organizer and financier. He is a delegate to the Centennial General Conference, representing the North Mississippi Annual Conference.
Gregg, Rev. John A., president of Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, Fla., was born in Eureka, Kans., February 18, 1877. He attended the public schools of that city, graduating from the high school in 1896. He then attended the Southern Kansas Academy, graduating from the scientific department of that institution in 1897.
In the fall of 1897 he went to Lawrence, Kans., and entered Kansas State University. In June of 1898, when Kansas was calling for volunteers to go into
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JOHN A. GREGG, B.A., D.D.
service in the Spanish-American War, Rev. Gregg, with a number of Lawrence young men, was among the first to enlist. His regiment was sent to Santiago, Cuba, where, as quartermaster-sergeant of his company, he served during the war. On being mustered out, he re-entered school and remained until his graduation, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in the spring of 1902. He has the distinction of making a high record and of being the only Negro in a class of 215.
Rev. Gregg received his license to preach in 1899, and during his university career, served as chorister, Sunday school superintendent and local preacher in St. Luke A. M. E. Church at Lawrence, Kans. Born in the church and being received into full membership at the early age of twelve, he has been actively engaged in church work since that time.
At the close of his first year as a school teacher, Bishop Shaffer sent him to pastor our church at Emporia, Kans. From this charge he went as a missionary to South Africa, where he served two and a half years. On his return from Africa Bishop Grant sent Rev. Gregg to Leavenworth, Kans., and from that point to St. Joseph, Mo., where he served five years. From St. Joseph, Mo., Rev. Gregg was called to the presidency of Edward Waters College, and it is said that the school has done better under his guidance than at any time during its history.
Rev. Gregg was ordained a deacon in 1903 and an elder in 1906. Wilberforce University honored him with the degree of Doctor of Divinity in June, 1915. He has traveled much, having been in 32 of our own states, on the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, and in Europe and Africa.
Rev. Gregg was married to Miss Celia Ann Nelson, of Lawrence, Kans., August 21, 1900. Mrs. Gregg, who is an educated woman, has been a great inspiration to her husband in all his endeavors. She went with him to Africa, has been his help-meet indeed in his pastorate and with an ever-ready encouragement, has meant much to him in his progress in the church of Allen.
Green, Charles Henry, was born at Newark, New Castle county, Delaware, November 13, 1834. His parents had four other children. He never enjoyed any schooling; was converted and joined the church in November, 1853; served as steward, trustee, class leader, local preacher and Sunday school teacher. In 1863 he was licensed to preach in Syracuse, N. Y. In
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. CHARLES HENRY GREEN.
1875 in New York City he was ordained deacon by Bishop Shorter. Bishop Daniel A. Payne ordained him elder at Bethel church, Philadelphia, Pa., May, 1878. He joined the annual conference under Bishop Shorter at Binghamton, N. Y., in 1874. He has held the following appointments: Rochester, N. Y., 1872-4; Jamaica, N. Y., 1874-5; Glen Cove, N. Y., 1876; Friendship circuit, Del., 1877; Smyrna, Del., 1878; Reading, Pa., 1879-80; Burlington, N. J., 1881-2; Long Branch, N. J., 1885-87; East Camden circuit, N. J., 1888; presiding elder, Newark district, New Jersey conference, 1889; Fairhaven, N. J., 1890; Bethel, So. Camden, N. J., 1891; Orange, N. J., 1882; Rahway, N. J., 1893-4; Woodbury, N. J., 1895; Swedesboro, N. J., 1896; Washington, N. J., 1897-99; Hightstown, 1900; Pleasantville, N. J., 1901; Middlebush circuit, 1902; Elizabeth, N. J., 1903-5; Beverly, N. J., 1906; Yorktown, N. J., 1907; Crosswicks, N. J., 1908-10; New Jersey conference missionary, 1911-15. He served as agent for Paul Quinn College 1883-4. In 1877 Rev. Green built a church at Blanco, Del., at a cost of $800, and one at Carrolton, Del., the same year at a cost of $300. He has raised the following mortgages: Smyrna, Del., $3000; Bethel, Reading, Pa., $1356.25; Bethel, Burlington, N. J., $300; Trinity, Long Branch, N. J., $800. His wife, Catherine Grace Green, whose home was in Maryland, he married in November, 1854. The following children have blessed their union: Mary, Francis, Oliver A., Albert L., and John H.
Gullins, William Richard, the seventh son of Rev. John and Catherine Gullins, was born in Eatonton, Georgia, June 9, 1864. His father, a minister and a wealthy cotton planter, hired private teachers from the North, under whom William made rapid progress. When sixteen he prepared a manuscript for publication on "The History of the Treatment of Negro Slaves in the South." He was licensed to exhort May, 1884, and to preach September, 1884, by Rev. S. H. Robertson, at Eatonton, Ga. In November, 1884, he was admitted to the Macon, Georgia, Annual Conference under Bishop Shorter, was ordained
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. W. R. GULLINS, D.D.
deacon by Bishop Shorter at Barnesville, Ga., November, 1886, and elder by Bishop Gaines at Americus, Ga., November, 1888. He served Louisville (Ga.) circuit 2 years, having to walk 46 miles. Next he served Bastow 2 years, then Perry 2 years, and Powersville and Milledgeville, teaching in each of these places as well as acting as pastor. In 1892 he was appointed to Danville, Va., where he filled the church, raised $4,000 in eighteen months and paid the church debt; in 1894 he was at Roanoke, paid $2000 on debt; 1895-7, at Richmond, paid balance on the mortgage; 1897 at Farmville. He then served a second term in Richmond, then in
Smithfield and Berkly, Va., transferred to Philadelphia and served five years at Steelton, Pa., building a large stone and brick church. He then spent 3 years at Germantown, Pa.; 2 years at Princeton, N. J.; 2 years at Providence, R. I.; 1 year at Washington, D. C., and is now pastor at the First church in Raleigh, N. C. He was married twice, his first wife being Miss Queen Emma Hardy, of Georgia, whom he married June, 1882, and who died October, 1897. Her son, Rev. W. R. Gullins, Jr., is a member of the Philadelphia Annual Conference. Rev. Gullins, Sr., had the degree of D.D. conferred upon him in 1901 by Kittrell College. He is a forceful speaker, a stenographer, bookkeeper and hard worker.
Gunby, Noah, was born in Pocomoke City, Worcester county, Maryland, August 11, 1875, the seventh son of Henry and Amelia Gunby, who were among the first agitators for the A. M. E. Church in that community, having helped to hew the sills of which the first church was built. His first employment was as house boy, during which time he was permitted to attend the public school, very soon winning for himself a good name in the community for industry and honest work. He was converted in 1903 and joined the church under the admnistration of Rev. C. E. Herbert, at which time he was made a trustee and has served in this capacity up to the present. From a business standpoint he ranks well among the merchants of his city, having conducted a bicycle establishment for the past 15 years. The local church has been represented by him at the district and annual conferences, and while a delegate at the electoral college, he was elected a delegate to the Centennial General
Conference. He is also trustee of the public school of Pocomoke City and member of the G. U. O. of Odd Fellows, A. F. and A. M., and a loyal churchman.
HADLEY, JAMES A., was born in Thomasville, Ga., March 8, 1867, the son of Spencer and Fannie Hadley. His father purchased his freedom before the Civil War and his mother was never a slave. At an early age he entered the common schools of his native city and remained through the grades. He was converted and joined St. Thomas
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. A. HADLEY, D.D.
A. M. E. Church on March 28, 1884, entered the ministry January, 1886, under Bishop Shorter. He is a hard student and an untiring worker for his church and race. He is a graduate of Turner Theological Seminary, a member of the executive and general board
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. FLORENCE L. HADLEY.
of trustees of Morris Brown College; a trustee of the University System of Georgia; a trustee of Wilberforce
University. The faculty and board of trustees of his alma mater honored him with the degree of D.D. He has been a member of the general conference for five consecutive times and served on important committees. He is now a member of the Sunday School Union Board, Nashville, Tenn., and a stockholder and member of the board of directors of the Washington Drug Co., Waycross, Ga. He has served the following appointments: Scotland, Ga.; Cochran, Ga.; Powersville, Ga.; Milledgeville, Ga.; Swainsboro, Ga.; McIntosh, Ga.; Brunswick, Ga.; Waycross, Ga.; St. James, Savannah, Ga.; Marietta, Ga. From this point he was made presiding elder over the Washington district, where he remained for five years. He is now serving his fifth year on the Atlanta district. Filling both ranks as pastor and presiding elder, he is tactful and methodical and has never failed in his work. In 1889 he married Miss Florence L. Quo, a highly cultured and refined daughter of John W. Quo, Valdosta, Ga.; from which union four children were born. She, like her husband, is fully imbued with the "spirit of missions" and has rendered her husband an immeasurable amount of help, both in the charges and state and connectional work. Dr. Hadley occupies an important place in the hearts of the brethren and his church.
Hadley, Florence L., wife of Rev. J. A. Hadley, D.D., is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Quo, was born in Valdosta, Ga. She was reared under religious influences and early in life was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church. As long as she can remember she has been identified with the Sunday school and has been an ardent worker. She was educated in the public schools of Valdosta and in Atlanta University, Atlanta, Ga. She spent several years as a successful teacher among her people, her intellectual fitness having always been conceded to be of a very high order. She is an earnest and able missionary worker and has been identified with the Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society in many capacities from president of a local society up to that of an officer in the connectional society. She was the first general secretary of that organization and filled the office with credit to herself and church. she has contributed many articles to the church periodicals and other papers and is a writer of ability. She keeps in close touch with all matters pertaining to missionary work. She was appointed a delegate to the world's missionary conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, June, 1910, by the Parent Home and Foreign Missionary Board of the A. M. E. Church, New York City, N. Y.
Hair, Rev. J. W., was born in Sumter county, Alabama, April 7, 1874, of slave parents. His father, Ned Hair, who was born in North Carolina, was well educated, and was a power in politics in those days. His mother, Hester Hair, was born in South Carolina, and was a great lover of education. In his early boyhood days young Hair showed signs of leadership. His parents immigrated to the Mississippi "Bottoms" in November, 1881, and settled in Swedes, Sharkey county. In 1883 his parents moved to Hinds county and settled in Edwards, Miss. In 1884 his parents registered him in the public school of Hinds county, Miss. In 1887 his parents returned to the Delta and settled at Rolling Fork, Sharkey county. He entered the public schools of this county and town and won the reputation of being the most brilliant student in school. His parents were poor, but his mother would not consent for him to lose a day in school unless absolutely necessary. She washed and ironed to keep him in school and supply him with books. In 1889 he was converted and became teacher in the Sunday school in New Hope A. M. E. church, Rolling Fork. In 1890 he finished the county public schools. His parents not being able to send him off to school and having a desire to finish his education, he hired out for $10 a month and four pounds of meat and a pack of meal. In 1892 he took the examination and made the second grade and began teaching in Sharkey county. In 1893 he matriculated at Alcorn A. and M. College, where he completed his education. He was a public school teacher for fifteen years and was an exempt teacher in the State. He finished the correspondence course of theology from Morris Brown College and regular course at Campbell College in 1913.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. W. HAIR, D.D.
He was also under private instructions of the Episcopal rector at Indianola, Miss. The degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Campbell College, Jackson, Miss. He was licensed to exhort 1895 and to preach in 1898; was district superintendent of Sunday schools in 1897 and 1898; admitted to conference in 1899; ordained deacon 1901; ordained elder in 1903. First charge Indianola in 1901 and served it five years. Then to Yazoo City in 1906 and served one year and paid an indebtedness of $600 and added 84 members to the church and reported $120 of dollar money. From Yazoo City he was appointed to Jackson, Miss., to save the church. He reduced the debt from $5000 in five years to $1400, and kept up the interest and current expenses of the same, and increased the membership from 135 to 350 in five years. He reported dollar money in the five years to the amount of $1025. At Indianola mission he found five members. The first year he built a church at a cost of $2500; paid it out of debt in five years; reported more than $400 dollar money and increased the membership from 5 to 120, and left it a first-class station. He was appointed presiding
elder of Jackson district in 1913, where he is serving at present. He was a delegate to the general conference of 1912 and was elected chairman of the delegation of the eighth episcopal district. He is a delegate to the Centennial General Conference, and was elected the leader of the delegation of the East Mississippi conference by unanimous vote.
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. JOHN W. HALE.
Hale, Jno. W., superintendent of the First A. M. E. Sunday school, of Los Angeles, Cal., was born in Henderson, Rusk county, Texas, April 4, 1873, graduated from Prairie View Normal and Industrial School in 1900, came to California in 1902, and for the past ten years has had charge of the above-named Sunday school, which is the largest colored one on the Pacific coast.
Hall, Abraham Thomson, was born near Mifflinton, Pa., January 17, 1822, the third of four sons of John and Mary Hall, pioneer settlers in that region. His early life was the usual round of chores, work, in the clearing, cropping and winter schooling. While in his 'teens he was apprenticed to a barber in Lewiston, Pa., and it was there that he gained his first vision of the larger horizon which awaited him. He worked his way west in 1841 by canal and portage to Pittsburgh, thence on foot to Erie, Pa., where he remained three years, and in the home of one Alexander Simms organized the A. M. E. church with 21 members. In the summer of 1845 he went by boat to Chicago. Here he decided to locate, began business as a barber, met with Madison Patterson, a local A. M. E. preacher; John Day and four others, and in October of that year began to hold prayer and praise meetings from house to house. Here, too, in 1846, he met, loved, wooed and was married to Joanna Huss, the sixteen-year-old daughter of Mrs. Adelphia Stewart, who until her death December, 1890, was his devoted life partner. In 1847 Philip Ward, a traveling A. M. E. preacher, arrived in Chicago, met Hall and his little band of praying people, and organized them into Quinn chapel, which has become one of the largest A. M. E. congregations in the country, and Abraham T. Hall was its first steward, class leader and trustee. From 1848 to 1850 he conducted meetings as an exhorter, when he was given license to preach, the first man of Negro origin in Chicago to be given such authority, and at the A. M. E. conference, held that year, Bishop Paul Quinn ordained Hall a local deacon.
In 1852 he was a local delegate to the general conference held in New York City, and on returning to Chicago, as chairman of the Building Committee, under the pastorate of Rev. John A. Warren, he superintended the erection of a capacious house of worship and a parsonage
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. ABRAM T. HALL.
at the corner of Jackson and Buffalo streets, which, until the big fire of 1871, was pointed to with pride by bishops, clergy, laity and members of the race all over the country.
Joining the Indiana Conference in 1856 Bishop Payne ordained him an elder and started him at work in what was then called "The Blue River Circuit"--a round of churches in Indiana, where the people were "long on hog and hominy, but very short on the circulating medium." Undaunted, Rev. Hall stuck to his post, doing his work well, and was consequently sent to larger and more important stations. He took a prominent part in the formation of both the Illinois and the Iowa conferences; was hailed as "The Father" of the former, and pastored at various times most of their important stations, including Chicago. In 1866 he moved his large and growing family to Batavia, Ill., where, twenty years ago, he retired from the active ministry to spend the evening of his life amid such scenes as his youth had cherished, and here, having outlived all his compeers, in 1916, aged and spent in the Master's service, with all his mental faculties well preserved, and still keenly alive to current events, he awaits the summons "Come home." His son, Abram T. Hall, Jr., has been connected for many years with the treasury department of Pittsburgh, Pa., while another son, Charles E. Hall, is connected with the U. S. Census Bureau, at Washington.
Hall, Jackson Thomas, son of Anthony and Harriet Hall, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born April 16, 1869, at Brooks Co., Ga. His parents
had two other children. He began attending school when six years of age and attended about 10 years in all, receiving his education from Grovesville public schools and Morris Brown College, receiving the degree of D.D. from the latter. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1895, and has held nearly every office in the local church. He was licensed to preach 1895 at Groverville, Ga., by Dr. W. O. P. Sherman; joined the annual conference in 1896 at Bainbridge, Ga., under Bishop Turner, who ordained him deacon in 1897 at Waycross, Ga., and elder in 1899 at St. John, Columbus, Ga. He has held the following appointments, all in Georgia: Faulstown, 1896-98; Donalsville, 1899-1900; Thomasville, 1901; Cairo, 1902; Americus, 1903; Talbotton, 1904-5; Columbus, 1906-8; Thomasville, 1909-11; Americus, 1912-15; Steward, Macon, 1916. He built churches at Faulstown, $800, in 1897; church and parsonage at Iron City, $2500, in 1899; bought lot at Thomasville, $50, in 1901; built parsonage at Cairo, $800, in 1902.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. T. HALL, D.D.
He has taken about 2000 into the church and baptized about 1200 people. He was a delegate to the general conferences of 1908, 1912 and of 1916. His first wife was Mrs. Mary Jane Hall, of Groverville, Ga., whom he married November 18, 1889. His present wife is Mrs. Josie W. Hall, of Albany, Ga., whom he married February 14, 1912. He has six children: James, Alfred, Harriet, Jackson, Thomas, Jr., Rosetta and Rachel. Jackson, Thomas, Jr., and Harriet Hall are graduates of McKay Hill School and Allen Normal, respectively. He has contributed to the connectional church papers and is editor of his local church paper. He delivered the emancipation address at Columbus, Ga., 1906, addressed the literary society of Payne College, 1907; the baccalaureate sermon at Morris Brown University, 1914. He is connected with the F. and A. M., K. of P., G. U. O. of O. F., Supreme Circle of Benevolence, Court of Calanthe, Sons and Daughters of Conference. He has been a member of the executive board of Morris Brown, member of the Supreme Cabinet and chancellor commander in K. of P. He owns several pieces of real estate, and is a member of the Church Extension Board.
Hall, Daniel H., a prominent layman, an official of Warren chapel, A. M. E. church, Chattanooga, Tenn., and lay delegate to the general conference, 1912-1916.
Hall, James William, son of James and Mary Hall, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born January 20, 1867, in Trousdale Co., Tenn., one of 13 children. He began attending school at the age of 7 years; received his education at Steward's Industrial Academy, State University, Louisville, Ky., and graduated from the State College. He was converted November 2, 1882, and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1883. He was licensed to preach in 1888 at Lafayette, Tenn., by Rev. J. L. Jackson; joined the annual conference
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. W. HALL, D.D.
in 1893 at Chattanooga, Tenn., under Bishop Salter, who ordained him deacon in 1895 at Nashville, Tenn., and elder 1897 at Columbia, Tenn. He has held the following appointments: Lafayette Ct., 1891-93; district missionary, 1894; Gallatin, 1895; evangelist, W. Ky. conference, 1897-99; Asbury, Louisville, Ky., 1899-1901; St. Peter, Harrodsburg, Ky., 1901-3; presiding elder, Bowling Green district, W. Ky., 1903-1908;
Louisville district, 1908-13; Burks Chapel, Paducah, Ky., 1913-16. He built a church at Lafayette, Tenn., at a cost of $1000 in 1892. He has taken about 2000 into the church and baptized about 500. He was delegate to the general conferences of 1908, 1912 and 1916, leading his delegation in 1916. He was vice-president of Wayman Institute and teacher, 1901-03. He was secretary of the W. Kentucky conference in 1900, chairman of finance committee of W. Kentucky conference in 1903-15. His wife is Mrs. Henrietta Hall, of Franklin, Ky., whom he married in 1896. He has contributed to the several Recorders and A. M. E. Review. He has written "Plain Talk on Church Entertainment," "Paul's Thorn in the Flesh," "Divine and Human Baptism." He is a Republican and a home owner.
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP JAMES A. HANDY, D.D.
Handy, James Anderson, 22nd bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Baltimore, Md., December 22, 1826, son of Ishmael and Nancy Handy, his father a slave and mother a free person. His mother died when he was six years old. He attended school only three months in his life, but was an ardent student all of his long life; attended Bethel Sunday School at 5 years of age; was baptized April, 1833; joined the church in 1852 and held every office in it except exhorter; was licensed to preach in 1860 by Rev. J. M. Brown; began traveling in 1861; was ordained deacon in 1864 and elder in 1865; served Baltimore County circuit; Union Bethel, Washington (three times); Emanuel, Portsmouth, Va.; St. Stephens, Wilmington, N. C.; Israel, Washington; Ebenezer, Baltimore; St. James, New Orleans; Bethel, Baltimore; presiding elder Baltimore district; presiding elder Potomac district; missionary secretary (1868-1872); financial secretary, 1888-1892; bishop, 1892-1911. He died October, 1911, and is buried at Baltimore. His widow, Mrs. Mary F. Handy survives him.
Handy, Mrs. Mary F., was born in Baltimore, Md., daughter of John and Matilda Nichols. She secured her early training under Miss Mary F. Harding, a private school teacher in East Baltimore. Her early religious training was secured at Waters A. M. E. and Asbury M. E. Sunday Schools. Her mother died when she was sixteen years old. At the age of seventeen, she left Baltimore for New Jersey, where she took up the trade of tailoring; locating later in Philadelphia she met Dr. S. Clark Frisby, to whom she was happily married, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Henry L. Phillips. At the expiration of six and a half years of happy wedded life, her husband died, but at the end of four years of widowhood, she met and married Presiding Elder James A. Handy, the ceremony being performed by Rev. L. J. Coppin, in old Allen Chapel, Philadelphia.
Rev. James A. Handy afterwards became financial secretary and was later elevated to the Bishopric of the A. M. E. Church. They were married for twenty-four years and eleven months, till the time of his death, October, 1911.
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. MARY F. HANDY.
Mrs. Handy has been identified with the Women's Mite Missionary Society and the Parent Mite Society for many years. She was elected president of the Parent Body when the Quadrennial Session was held in Trinity A. M. E. Church, Baltimore and she has been re-elected ever since. She now lives in Baltimore, the city in which she was born, and enjoys the high esteem of her neighbors and the A. M. E. Church in general for her purity of character and her unselfish devotion to all good works.
Hardy, Houston Danzie, one of the 16 children of Watson and Mary V. Hardy, was born September 7, 1860, at Pocahontas, Miss. His education began at about the age of eight and was principally in the public schools, and in Tougaloo University. In the year 1877 he was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church, in which as a layman he held offices of steward, trustee, class leader, Sunday school teacher and superintendent, exhorter and local preacher. He was always serviceable. He started life as a school teacher and won a life certificate to teach in the schools of Mississippi. In 1883 he was licensed to preach by Rev. E. R. Carter, at Yazoo City, Miss. In 1885 he joined the conference at Greenville, Miss., under Bishop Ward; in 1888 Bishop Wayman ordained him at Vicksburg by Bishop Disney. His appointments have
all been in Mississippi and have been as follows: Yazoo Mission, 1885-89; Lexington Circuit, 1890-92; Bellprairie Circuit, 1893-4; Benton Circuit, 1895-7; president Laws High School, 1898; China Grove, 1900-1902; Plainville Circuit, 1903-6; Brookhaven, 1907; Brownsville Circuit, 1908; Grace Circuit, 1909; Leland, 1910; Anguilla, 1911-12; presiding elder Belzoni District, Central Mississippi Conference, 1913-16. In 1886 he built Eden chapel, costing $600; in 1901, he built Cypress Chapel at a cost of $900. He paid mortgages as follows: $127 at Pickens, in 1891; $206 at Benton, in 1895; $78 at Plainville, in
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. H. D. HARDY.
1894; $400 at Brookhaven, in 1907; $400 at Leland, in 1910. He has taken into the church upwards of 800 people, baptized about 500 and married about 150. He has frequently been called to act as secretary of various church meetings, district conferences, Sunday school conventions, etc., and was for fifteen years secretary of his annual conference. Rev. Hardy's wife is Mrs. Melvina Hardy, who was born in Deasonville, Miss., to whom he was married in 1883. They have four children living, Miss Mary V., 30 years of age; Miss Hally B., aged 22; Gladys K., aged 19, and Bishop Hardy, aged 25. Rev. Hardy is a successful farmer, and has taught public school in connection with his ministry for thirty years. He owns two plantations and is a substantial citizen of both moral and financial worth. He is a Mason and a member of the order of Jacobs, but takes no active part in politics. He is an alternate to the Centennial General Conference of 1916.
Hardy, Burvin, was born in Phila. in 1871 and comes of old African Methodist stock, his parents both having been members of Bethel church, his father being a trustee, his grandmother having been a stewardess, and his great-grandmother having been a member during the lifetime of Bishop Richard Allen. Mr. Hardy began attending Bethel Sunday school at the age of five and was converted and joined Bethel church in 1895. He has been a trustee for a number of years, and in 1911-1912 was treasurer of the Bethel Church Corporation. He is now president of the Bible class and an active worker.
His profession is that of a licensed chiropodist and masseur and he lives at 1811 Reed street, Philadelphia, Pa.
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. BURVIN HARDY.
Harewood, Rev. J. B., was born and educated in the island of Barbados, B. W. I. He is the son of Alexander William and Laura Jane Harewood. His father was a public school teacher, salaried Methodist local preacher and class leader, and his mother was also a class leader. He started life as a certificated government teacher, and pursued that calling successfully. Whilst teaching he attended the training school at Codrington College for Special Studies in English, and also spent several years' preparation in the study of medicines, languages, theology, etc. He joined the A. M. E. church April 12, 1899, at Collymore Rock, Barbados, and was appointed licentiate to Rouen Mission April 30, 1901. Here he remained seven months, increasing the membership and leaving the church free of debt with money to purchase a new organ. He next pastored successfully for four years Port Royal and Somerset, Bermuda, B. W. I., increasing the membership and making improvements at Port Royal. At Somerset a beautiful structure was erected. He was ordained deacon October 30, 1904, by Bishop Handy and elder May 28, 1905, by Bishop Derrick, both ordinations taking place at St. Paul's, Hamilton, Bermuda. He was appointed in 1905 to Port Royal and the Light House Mission, and sent to build a church at the latter place. The corner-stone of the building was laid at the next conference. He was transferred to the Ohio Conference in 1906, but was sent as a supply to the charge of Tucker's Town and Bailey's Bay, where there was a great revival, resulting in 164 conversions: 72 at the former and 92 at the latter place in three and two weeks, respectively. The first parsonage in the circuit was secured and beautifully furnished by the trustees at Tucker's Town and at Bailey's Bay the church was thoroughly renovated, new seats placed in the rear, and a stone vestry built. He met the Ohio Conference September 7, 1907, at Columbus, O., as a transfer from the Bermuda Conference, and a delegate to the general conference to meet at Norfolk, Va., in 1908. He was appointed
to Washington Court House, where he pastored successfully for one year. A new pulpit set was secured, a new pulpit Bible donated to the church, many debts cancelled, and other improvements made. His next appointment was at Cambridge, O., where he pastored for two years,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. B. HAREWOOD.
increasing the membership, remodeling the altar and making other improvements. His next charge was the Lancaster and Nelsonville Circuit; at Lancaster the church was papered and many old debts cancelled; at Nelsonville many heavy and long-standing debts were cancelled, the entertainment hall roofed, and a silver communion set, which had been removed by the creditor during a previous administration was redeemed and brought back to the church. He pastored these charges for three years successfully. He is now pastoring at Gallipolis, O., where to the present his administration has been very successful. He was appointed to this charge September 25, 1913. The church has been remodeled, the parsonage painted and papered, and many long-standing debts cancelled. He enjoys the good will of the community.
Harmon, Rev. John, was born of humble parents in Smithville, Lee county, Georgia, October 1, 1861. He joined the church in his childhood and was an active worker. At the age of fifteen he was elected superintendent of the Sunday school of New Hope A. M. E. church. In 1881 he was baptized and received into the St. John A. M. E. church, Montgomery, Alabama, as a full member, and the same year was elected a steward and trustee, in which positions he served until his call to the ministry, April, 1893. He was superintendent of St. John Sunday school for four years, and a trustee of Payne and Wilberforce universities. April, 1893, he was licensed to preach and gave the A. M. E. connection the second church in Montgomery, Alabama, now known as St. Stephen's A. M. E. church. He was admitted to the conference in Troy, Alabama, in 1893. His next appointment was White Hall, where he improved the church, and in two weeks received 157 converts to it. At Union Springs, Ala., he was ordained a deacon by Bishop Grant and appointed to Abbeville Station, where he built a parsonage and increased the membership from 61 to 149. He was given a neglected mission twelve miles out from Abbeville, where he finished a church building and gave it a good membership. At Wells, Alabama, the same year, he bought and paid for a church lot and the lumber with which to build. He next went to Eufaula and completed St. John. In January, 1898, Bishop Turner transferred him to Georgia, ordained him an elder at Griffin, Georgia, and assigned him to Palmetto Circuit; then to Newnan, Thomaston, where he repaired the parsonage. After two years' service Bishop Turner appointed
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JOHN HARMON, D.D.
him presiding elder of the Newnan District, in which he organized the following churches: Fairburn, Union Grove, Sargent, Kelley Chapel and New Zion, besides planting fifteen missions. After four years of service he was appointed presiding elder of the Atlanta District, and gave the connection the following new churches: Turner Monumental, Locust Grove and Pleasant Hill, besides twenty new missions. After two years on this district he resigned and was appointed to the Griffin District for 1 year; then to Douglasville Circuit, and after nine months he was transferred and appointed pastor of Turner Tabernacle, Macon, Georgia. He sold the old site in the "red light district" and purchased a lot in another neighborhood, and built the basement of one of the best constructed churches in the city, increasing the membership 223. Next he was appointed presiding elder of the Augusta District, over which he now presides. He is a trustee and member of the Executive Board of Morris Brown University, which conferred upon him the degree of D.D. in 1907. He was a delegate to the general conference in 1904, at Chicago, Illinois; in 1908, at Norfolk, Virginia; in 1912, at Kansas City, and to the Centennial General Conference in Philadelphia in 1916. Dr. Harmon is an ambitious and aggressive leader and one of the best debaters in the A. M. E. Church. He was a delegate to the National Republican Convention in St. Louis, Mo., July, 1896. He canvassed Alabama for both Harrison and McKinley. Dr. Harmon is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, a K. of P., and a member of the Supreme Circle. He has been the editor of a number of newspapers and today is regarded as one of the most
forceful writers in his church. He has delivered addresses from Boston to New Orleans, from Charleston to Chicago. He owns a beautiful home at 166 Howell Street, Atlanta, Georgia, and other property in Atlanta and Newnan.
Harris, F. L., is the son of Joseph and Mary Harris. His mother was a member of the A. M. E. Church. He was born November 2, 1863, at Titusville, Pa. Entered school in 1870, receiving about five years' schooling. He was converted in 1884 and joined the A. M. E. Church at Harrisburg the same year. He has held almost every office in the Church. He was licensed to preach in 1896, at York, Pa., by Rev. Theodore Gould; joined the Philadelphia Annual Conference, and was ordained deacon in 1902, at Harrisburg, by Bishop W. B. Derrick, and elder in 1905, at Philadelphia by Bishop B. W. Arnett. He served the following appointments: Pottstown, 1901-1904; Concordville, 1904-1909; Reading, 1909-1912;
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. FAREDON LINCOLN HARRIS.
Kennett Square, 1912 to date. He remodeled the church at Atglen, at a cost of $680, in 1907; Concordville, Pa., at a cost of $900, in 1911; Pottstown, at a cost of $185, in 1902; Spring Valley, at a cost of $100, in 1910; Reading, at a cost of $151, in 1913. He lifted a mortgage at Atglen, amounting to $100.02, in the year 1908. He has taken about 500 people into the Church, baptized 97 and married about 43. He married Mamie Cannon Harris, of Harrisburg, in May, 1907. His children were Myrtle, Beaver, Mabel, Charles and Estella. Two of these were by his first wife. He has contributed to the York Gazette. He has read many papers before audiences of both races. He is connected with the F. and A. M. and G. U. O. of O. F. He has held prominent offices in each; is a Republican and a home owner. He was actively associated with Hope Rescue Mission at Reading. He has been associated with the Society for the Advancement of Colored People.
Harris, Rev. V. H., the son of Joseph and Mary Harris, was born November 2, 1863, at Titusville, Pa. He is a twin brother to Rev. F. L. Harris. He entered school at the age of seven years and attended about five years. He spent over two years at West Point Grammar School. He was converted in 1886, and
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. VENANDO HENRY HARRIS.
joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He held the following offices in the Church: steward, trustee, class leader, local preacher, Sunday school teacher, organist and chorister. He was licensed to preach in 1893, at York, Pa., by Rev. J. P. Sampson. Joined. Philadelphia Conference in 1898, at Harrisburg, under Bishop Derrick. He was ordained deacon in 1897 at York, by Bishop A. Grant, and ordained elder in 1903, at Mt. Pisgah, Philadelphia, by Bishop Arnett. He has had the following appointments: Welsh Mountain Circuit, 1898-1901; Marietta Circuit, 1902-1904; Parkesburg, 1904-1909; Middletown Circuit, 1909-1910; Moore's Chapel, Wilmington, Del., 1911; Burlington, N. J., 1911-16.
He lifted a mortgage of $800 in 1906, at Parkesburg. He has taken about 380 people into the Church, baptized 27 and married 62. He married Mrs. Bertha Harris, of Front Royal, Va., May 13, 1889. They were parents of three children--Allen, Mary and Emma. Mary is a graduate of the grammar school, the others are dead. He addressed the G. A. R. at Parkesburg. He is a member of the Enterprise Business League. He is a member of the G. U. O. of O. F. and the F. and A. M. He has held the office of P. N. F. in G. U. O. of O. F. and W. M. of the F. and A. M. He is a member of the Republican party. He owns a home. He built a parsonage at Parkesburg, at a cost of $2800, and has repaired three churches. He is a member of the County Committee of the Bordentown Industrial School.
Harris, William, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., December 5, 1820, the son of Richard and Hannah Harris. At an early age he was sent to a Quaker family of "Hooper" in Chester County, Pa., where he was to work for an education. Having reached his majority, he returned to his home in Philadelphia and soon affiliated himself with the Christian activities of
a faithful band that was then worshipping in a frame structure where the present edifice of Mt. Pisgah Church, Philadelphia, stands. During the Civil War he enlisted in Company "C," 24th Regt. of Colored Troops, fighting for the cause of the Union, and was honorably discharged at the close of the said war. He was the first superintendent of Mt. Pisgah A. M. E. Sunday school, Philadelphia, and served also as sexton,
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. WILLIAM HARRIS.
class leader, trustee, local preacher and local deacon in the above named church. His life was one of many sacrifices for the Church of his choice and was brought to a close at the age of 85, October 16, 1905, during the pastorate of Rev. W. H. Hoxter, D.D., at Mount Pisgah. Mrs. Clara Harris-Downer, the chorister of Mount Pisgah and one of Philadelphia's sweetest singers, is a daughter of Mr. Harris.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. McKENZIE HARRISON, D.D.
Harrison, J. McKenzie, was born April 6, 1864 at Statesburg, Sumter County, S. C., and has done much for his race in that part of the country. In 1877, after he had come out of school, he accepted a position in the "Watchman and Southern" printing office. In 1876 he managed a mercantile business for McCoy & Co., Statesburg, S. C. In 1881 he was connected with the business firm of Brown & Harrison. On January 15, 1882, he established the first public school, known as the "Harrison School," in that town, and taught the same for ten years. He joined the Columbia conference in December, 1889, and has served at the following charges: 1889, Camden Mission; 1892, Salem Ct.; 1893, Friendship Station; 1894, Reeseville Ct.; 1897-8, Legare Ct., and organized the first public school; 1899-1900, St. Phillip's Station, Eastover, S. C.; 1901, Bishopville; 1902, Mt. Olive Station, Providence, S. C.; 1904-5, St. Paul Ct., Sumter, S. C.; 1906-1908, St. Paul Station, Creston, S. C.; 1909-11, Biggers and Providence churches, Wilson, S. C.; 1912, Floydal Ct., Zion, S. C.; 1913-14, Mt. Pleasant Station; 1915, St. Paul Station, the second time within nine years. He was elected a delegate to the Centennial General Conference in 1916.
Hawkins, Rev. George W., was born August 29, 1870, at Miccosukie, Leon County, Fla. He is the son of Rev. G. W. Hawkins, Sr., and Emma Hawkins. His
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. GEORGE W. HAWKINS, D.D.
father was ordained in 1873, by the side of the late Bishop A. Grant and Drs. J. I. Lowe and A. B. Dudley. His mother was a pious Christian woman for more than fifty years. She died in Orlando, Fla., February 17, 1907, at the age of 70.
George attended the common schools of Leon, Duval and Orange Counties. He joined Mt. Olive A. M. E. Church, Orlando, Fla., in 1886, on probation, Rev. S. H. Coleman, pastor. He was converted July, 1888, under Rev. T. W. Long, pastor of Mt. Olive. In September, 1890, he was licensed exhorter. In April, 1891, he was licensed a local preacher by Rev. M. M. Moore. In September, 1891, he taught school one term at Ft. Myers, and in June, 1892, he was appointed pastor of Monatee Mission, Rev. John W. Dukes, P.E. Here he remodeled the church and increased the membership from 6 to 50. In 1894 he pastored
Tarpon Springs, cared for the district conference, improved the church and increased the membership. In 1895 and 1896, at Kissimmee, he built a church and held a great revival. In 1897 he pastored Eatonville and Longwood, and had a great revival, in which every unconverted person in Eatonville was converted. He improved the church. In 1898 and 1899 he pastored Lakeland, and by paying from his personal funds he saved the church. In 1900 he was at Key West and seated the church and made a large increase in dollar money. In 1901 he was appointed presiding elder of the Leesburg District; in 1905, of the Gainesville District; in 1907, of the Ocala District; in 1910, of the Dunnellon District. At the St. Petersburg Conference, in 1912, he reported for Edward Waters College, $200; at the Gainesville Conference, February, 1913, he reported having collected for Edward Waters College, $270. February, 1914, Bishop John Hurst, D.D., appointed him over the St. Petersburg District, over which he now serves. He has been elected delegate to the following general conferences: Norfolk, Va., 1908; Kansas City, Mo., 1912; Philadelphia, Pa., 1916.
Hawkins, Prof. John Russell, financial secretary of the A. M. E. Church, the oldest son of Ossian and Christiana Hawkins, was born in Warrenton, N. C., May 31, 1862. He received his training in the schools of Warrenton, N. C.; Hampton Institute, Hampton,
[ILLUSTRATION]
PROF. JOHN RUSSELL HAWKINS, LL.B.
Va.; Boston, Mass., and the Law Department of Howard University, Washington, D. C., from which he graduated in 1915.
Professor Hawkins began his career as a teacher in the public schools of Warren County, N. C., and soon worked up to the principalship of the Graded School of his home town. From 1882-1884 he served as railway postal clerk in the Government service. When Kittrell College was founded he became connected with it as business manager and professor of mathematics. In 1890 he was elected to the presidency of Kittrell College, which position he held till 1896, when he was elected by the general conference, in session at Wilmington, N. C., as Secretary of the Department of Education.
He held the position of Secretary of Education for sixteen years, till 1912, when the general conference, in session at Kansas City, Mo., elected him as financial secretary of the A. M. E. Church, which position he now holds.
In 1892 he married Miss Lillian Marie Kennedy, the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Kennedy, of Sioux Falls, S. D. This union has been blessed with two children, Esther K. and John R., Jr. Miss Esther is a graduate of the Moody School, at Northfield, and like her mother, is now specializing in music. John R., Jr., is making a splendid record in college.
Hawkins, Mrs. Lillian Marie, wife of Prof. John R. Hawkins, financial secretary of the A. M. E. Church, the youngest daughter of George and Sarah J. Kennedy, was born in Decorah, Iowa. In her early
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. LILLIAN MARIE HAWKINS.
childhood her parents moved to Sioux Falls, S. D., where they lived for several years. After graduating from All Saints College, Sioux Falls, Miss Kennedy came East to specialize in music, and graduated with honors from the Conservatory of Music, Philadelphia, Pa.
In September, 1888, she went South, to take charge of the Department of Music in Kittrell College, Kittrell, N. C. It was here she met Prof. J. R. Hawkins, to whom she was afterwards married, on December 28, 1892. Mrs. Hawkins is loved for her exemplary Christian character, and has been of incalculable value to her husband in the various responsible positions he has been called to fill.
She is the great granddaughter of Bishop Richard Allen, and takes special pride in helping to develop the many interests of the Church, of which her illustrious grandfather was founder and first bishop.
She is a devoted wife and the loving mother of two children.
Hawkins, L. Estelle Spiller, was born in Norfolk, Va. She is the great granddaughter of Charity Still, niece of William Still, of "Underground Railroad" fame, and of Dr. Joseph Thompson, of Philadelphia, Pa. Her mother, Mrs. Mary Still Thompson-Spiller, was among the first teachers sent South by the United Presbyterian Board to instruct the children of her race. Her father, Rev. Richard Spiller, D.D., LL.D.,
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. L. E. SPILLER HAWKINS.
is a prominent Baptist minister. She was educated in Spiller Academy, Wayland Seminary, Hartshorne Memorial College and Shaw University. Madame Hawkins is a woman of talent. She possesses a rich contralto voice; she taught music at Spiller Academy for three years. In 1901 she taught music and kindergarten at the Summer School of Hampton Institute. She has written many themes and addressed many audiences. In 1915 she conducted social settlement work in Columbia S. C. At the Emancipation Celebration, January 1, 1915, at St. Matthew, S. C., she was the orator of the day. She has been a successful evangelist and Christian Endeavor worker, and hundreds have been brought to Christ through her instrumentality.
Heard, Bishop William H., thirty-fifth bishop of the A. M. E. Church, the son of George W. and Parthenia Heard, was born in Elbert County, Ga., June 25, 1850. His father was a Baptist and his mother a Methodist. He was one of six children of his parents. He began attending school in 1866, and attended common schools and Atlanta University and the Reformed Episcopal School and the University of South Carolina, Columbia, S. C. He received the degree of D.D. from Allen University. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1878, and has held nearly every office in the Church. He was licensed to preach at Athens, Ga., in 1879, by Rev. P. McClain; ordained deacon in 1881, at Atlanta, Ga., by Bishop Dickerson; ordained elder in 1883, at Washington, Ga., by Bishop Dickerson; has held the following appointments: Johnstown Mission, 1880-1881; Markham Station, 1882; Aiken Station, 1883-1884; Mt. Zion, Charleston, 1885-1888; Allen Chapel, Philadelphia, 1888-1889; presiding elder, 1889-1890; Bethel Philadelphia, 1890-1892; Wilmington, Del., 1892-1894; Harrisburg, 1895; United States Minister to Liberia, 1895-1899; Zion Mission, 1899; secretary of the Connectional Preachers' Association, 1904-1908. He built a church at Johnstown, in 1880, at a cost of $500, and a parsonage at Aiken, S. C., in 1883, at $1000. He paid off mortgages on the following: Mt. Zion, Charleston, S. C., $4000, in 1885-1888; Allen Chapel, Philadelphia, $1000, in 1888; Wilmington, Del., $3000, in 1892-1894; Harrisburg, Pa., $1500, in 1895; Zion Mission, Philadelphia, $1000, in 1899; Bethel, Philadelphia, $15,000, in 1890-1892. He has baptized 1848, married 360. Has been a delegate to all general conferences since 1888. He was a general officer from 1904 to 1908, and was elected Bishop in 1908, and has served since that time in West Africa. He married Josephine Delphine Henderson, of Salisbury, N. C., in 1882.
Wrote "Bright Side of Africa." He is actively associated with Masons, G. U. O. of O. F., True Reformers and Good Templars. In 1876 he was a member of the South Carolina Legislature, and from 1880 to 1882 was connected with the United States mail service.
Henderson, Rev. James M., was born at Evansville, Ind., September 19, 1859. His parents were James M. and Martha Henderson. He completed the course of study in the public schools of his native city, and in September, 1875, he entered Oberlin College and graduated from the classical department with the degree of A.B. in June, 1881. He returned to Evansville, Ind., and taught in the public schools.
December 29, 1884, he married Miss Cornelia L. Langston, of Detroit, Mich. Six children were born to this union, three boys and three girls--James Cornelius, Ethwald, Lorainetta, Monrovia, who died in infancy, and Deborah.
In 1885 he entered the ministry of the A. M. E. Church, and was appointed to Bloomington, Ind., where he served one year, and in 1886 was appointed to Bethel Church, Detroit, where he built a new church. He remained in Detroit as pastor and presiding elder of the Michigan Conference ten years. While in Detroit he completed the course of study in the Detroit College of Law, and was admitted to the Michigan Bar.
In 1896 he was elected president of Morris Brown College, at Atlanta, Ga., where he remained eight years. During his administration Morris Brown College had a phenomenal growth, and was raised to first rank among the Negro institutions of learning. On retiring from the presidency of Morris Brown College he was elected dean of Turner Theological Seminary, but resigned to accept the presidency of Payne University, at Selma, Ala., where he remained five years. During his administration a large tract of land was purchased by the University, a new girls' dormitory was built, and the curriculum was raised on a par with the other connectional schools.
In 1909 he resigned and returned to Detroit and engaged in the practice of law. In 1911 he re-entered the Michigan Conference, and is serving his fifth year as pastor of Ebenezer Church, Detroit. Dr. Henderson has a very interesting and talented family. His oldest son, Dr. J. Langston Henderson, is a graduate of Detroit Medical College, and is a prominent physician
of Detroit. Cornelius L. Henderson is a graduate in civil engineering from Michigan University, and is draughtsman in the Canadian Bridge Construction Company. Lorainetta L. Henderson is a graduate of the Detroit Conservatory of Music, and is a prominent music teacher. Ethwald L. Henderson, graduated from Payne University, and is a public school teacher. Deborah L. Henderson, the youngest member of the family, graduates from the Central High School in June, 1916. Dr. Henderson has received several honorary degrees.
Henderson, Conley Lincoln, son of Caroline Henderson (Meadows), a member of the A. M. E. Church, was born October 11, 1867, at Laurens Co., S. C., one of eleven children; entered school in 1874, receiving his education in the public schools and Allen University, and adding to his information through several correspondence courses. He joined the A. M. E. Church in 1875, and was converted in 1888; was licensed
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. C. L. HENDERSON.
to preach May 24, 1890, at Laurens Co., S. C., by Rev. Hiram Young; joined the annual conference at Winnsboro in 1893 under Bishop Salter; was ordained deacon December 8, 1895, at Columbia, S. C., by Bishop Salter; elder, December 15, 1897, at Clinton, S. C., by Bishop Arnett. He has held the following appointments: Woodruff Mission, 1894; Wateree Mission, 1895; Ridgeway Mission, 1896; Mt. Nebo Mission, 1897; Enoree Ct., 1898-99; Promised Land Sta., 1900-4; Greenwood Sta., 1905-9; Bradley Ct., 1910-14; P. E., Greenville district, 1915 to date. He built Mt. Carmel at Newberry, S. C., 1897, and organized Mt. Pisgah, Greenwood City, S. C., 1907. He lifted mortgages on Weston Chapel at Greenwood, S. C., $250, in 1905, and on Mt. Sinai at Bradley, S. C., $500 in 1913. He has taken 500 into the church, baptized 275 and married 85 couples. He was delegate to the 23rd and 25th general conferences, in 1908 and 1916. He married Mary J. Bell, of Laurens, S. C., August 7, 1890. They have eleven children: John, Carrie, Talmage, Daisy, Beulah, Thomas, Conley, Pearl, Burnetta, Mary and Ruby. The following are graduates: Carrie, Talmage, Daisy and Beulah. He has contributed to several papers and was editor of "The Dial." He delivered the commencement address at Allen University
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. C. L. HENDERSON.
to the literary societies in 1905. He is a member of the G. U. O. of O. F. and F. and A. M., and is a Republican. He taught school from 1888 to 1904, was secretary of the Columbia conference from 1900 to 1909, and of the Piedmont conference from 1909 to the present.
Henderson, Rev. Thomas W., former business manager of the Book Concern, was born October 12, 1845, in Greensboro, N. C. He was the son of Horace and Love Ann Henderson. He received a common school education; was converted at the age of eleven years; went to Hannibal, Mo., and was received into the A. M. E. Church in 1865, by Rev. W. A. Dove. In 1866 was received into the itinerancy and ordained deacon by Bishop Campbell. He was editor of several newspapers. He was chaplain of the House of Representatives of Kansas. He was delegate to many national and state conventions. He pastored many churches in various sections of the South and West. In 1896 he was elected general business manager and served till 1900. He served subsequently as pastor of Bethel, Philadelphia; Bethel, New York; Bethel, Charles Street, Boston, and Newport, R. I. He died June, 1915.
Hill, Rev. Andrew Henry, was born June 7, 1870. He was reared in Arkansas County, Ark. Converted at twelve years old he joined the A. M. E. Church, and was licensed to preach the Gospel in his eighteenth year, pastoring his first church in his nineteenth year.
He received his early education in the public schools of Arkansas County. Entering the Branch Normal College in 1892, he was graduated with honors in 1896. In 1898 he entered Wilberforce University, graduating from Payne Seminary, in 1901, with honors.
He has spent eighteen years in the pastorate, eight years as president of Shorter College, Argenta,
Ark., and a short while presiding elder of the Newport District, Arkansas Conference.
He rebuilt Bethel Church, Little Rock, Ark., having added several hundred members to the church and raised thousands of dollars. At present he is pastoring at Bethel A. M. E. Church, Little Rock, Ark. Mr. Nelson H. Nichols, attorney-at-law, of Little Rock, ranks him among the scholars of the race.
He is a Mason, and also a member of the International
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. A. H. HILL, D.D.
Order of Twelve, Knights and Daughters of Tabor. He married Hannah Augusta Dickson, of Springfield, Ohio, and has three sons, viz., William A., Andrew D. and Henry S. Hill.
Hill, Rev. Daniel G., was born in Washington County, Md., the son of Richard and Demius Hill, typical farmers and members of Ebenezer A. M. E. Church, at Hagerstown, Md. He embraced religion and joined the church of his parents in early life. He attended the public school of Hagerstown, and for a season attended Storer College, Harper's Ferry, W. Va., and in 1881 entered Lincoln University, Chester County, Pa., graduating from the collegiate department in 1886, and from the theological department in 1899.
While studying theology at Lincoln University, in 1887, he joined the Baltimore A. M. E. Conference, and in 1889 was assigned by Bishop Campbell to Elkton Mission, Maryland, where for one year he worked, improving conditions generally. January 1, 1890, he was married to Miss Margaret P. Peck, daughter of Rev. Francis J. and Esther Ann Peck, and was assigned to Ebenezer A. M. E. Church, West Washington, D. C., by Bishop Tanner, serving three years, remodeling the church, at a cost of $2800 and paying off the same. Bishop Gaines then appointed him to Mt. Moriah Church, Annapolis, Md., where he labored for two years, paying off the balance of $2000 of an old mortgage on the church. From Annapolis he was sent to Trinity A. M. E. Church, Baltimore City, where he served two successive terms of three and five years each, paying a $2000 mortgage, repairing the church, at a cost of $1000, installing a $2000 organ, and freeing the church of all incumbrances. In 1899 he was appointed presiding elder over the Hagerstown District by Bishop Handy, serving three years. Bishop Lee then appointed him to Metropolitan A. M. E. Church, Washington, D. C., where he spent two years of faithful and acceptable service.
It was while serving Mother Bethel, Baltimore, Md., that Rev. Hill succeeded, with the aid of Bishop Coppin, in making the arrangements for the present beautiful edifice, on the corner of Druid Hill avenue
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. DANIEL G. HILL, D.D.
and Lanvale street, which was purchased at a cost of $90,000, and one of the most beautiful owned by the race in any denomination anywhere in the country.
He is now serving the third year as presiding elder of the Baltimore District. He has been for fifteen years treasurer of the Baltimore Conference, and has been for eight years superintendent of the Home for the Aged of the Baltimore Annual Conference, and more than two years president of the Mt. Zion Cemetery Association.
Hill, J. B., the son of Thomas and Hannah Hill, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born at Columbia, Pa. He entered school when about five years of age, and attended in all about ten years. He attended Shiloh and Forten School, but he was largely self-taught. He was converted in 1867, and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He was licensed to preach in 1873, in Boston, Mass., by Rev. J. P. Shrews. In 1883 he was ordained deacon at Bridgeton, N. J., by Bishop J. M. Brown, and ordained elder in 1885, at Wilmington, Del., by Bishop Cain. He held the following appointments: Plymouth, 1880-1881; Washington, N. J., 1882; Langhorn, 1883-1884; Oxford, 1885; Centreville, 1886; Steelton, 1889; Chamersburg, 1890; Atglen, 1891; Wrightsville, 1893; Huntington, N. Y., 1898; Binghamton, 1899; Owego, 1900;
Kingston and Middleton, 1902; Georgetown, 1904; Milton Circuit, 1907; West Dover, 1909. He built a church at Oxford, at Bryn Mawr, at a cost of $4000, and at York, at a cost of $2585, in 1886. He lifted the mortgage on the churches at Georgetown and York. He took about 1500 people into the Church, baptized about 135 and has married 52 people. His first wife was Evelyn Johnson, who was born in Dinwiddie
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JEREMIAH B. HILL.
County, Va. She died in 1893. He then married Mary E. Hill, of Philadelphia, June 29, 1898. The children by his first wife were Anna, Jeremiah, Josephine, William, John, Charles, Evelena, Almira and Nellie. The children by his second wife are Francina, Theodore, Stephen, Sarah and Cornelius. He contributed to the Christian Recorder, Voice of Missions and Southern Christian Recorder, and was a Mason. He died March 28, 1910, aged 63.
Hogarth, George, general book steward A. M. E. Church from 1836 to 1848, was born in New York about 1790 and died in Brooklyn in the summer of 1850. He had a fair education and was sent in 1827 to Haiti as a missionary and steward to assist in building up the A. M. E. Church there. It seems that in 1824 there was a very large exodus of the free people of color from the border states to Haiti, who emigrated there on the invitation of President Boyer. And as many of them were Methodists, they wished to continue their religious connection though they had left their native land. It was in response to this call that Scipio Beanes was sent in 1826 to Haiti. His health failed and Mr. Hogarth was named as his successor. The first printed mention of Mr. Hogarth as a minister is found in the minutes of the Baltimore conference, April, 1828. He had just returned after a year's work in Haiti. In 1832 he was one of the secretaries of the Baltimore annual conference. He was a successful merchant in New York City. October 18, 1835, Joseph M. Corr, general book steward, died, and at the general conference of 1836 the Rev. George Hogarth was elected to the office. Mr. Hogarth was ordained, it is supposed, some time before 1824. Though he was highly endowed with fine business qualifications, he failed to make the Book Concern a financial success. Mr. Hogarth in his report on Haiti, made in 1831, stated that the mission then had 72 members. On assuming the duties of book steward in 1836 he took the work of his predecessor of revising the hymnal of 1818, which Bishop Allen and Rev. James Champion had prepared. He brought out a new edition in 1837, containing 508 hymns and 512 pages. He had completed it in 1836 since it was entered for copyright November 5, 1836.
Hollings, M. A., was born at St. George, S. C., March 7, 1861, the son of Harry and Celia Hollings. His father died when he was 15 years old, leaving the mother with 6 children, of whom M. A. was the oldest. He did not have the opportunity of attending school in his early days, but was taught by some white friends at night. Later he attended Allen University
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. M. A. HOLLINGS, D.D.
and the Charleston Divinity School, and took a correspondence course from Morris Brown College. He joined the A. M. E. Church when he was twelve years old, joined the South Carolina conference in 1896, and was sent by Bishop Salter to the Maryville and James Island circuit, remaining four years, was then sent by Bishop Grant to the Olive Branch circuit, staying four years, building Goodvill Church at a cost of $2500 and remodeling the Olive Branch church. Then he was sent to Ebenezer Church, Charleston, which had been bought for $2500, with a membership of 37. He stayed here five years, paid most of the debt and left a membership of 700. He was then sent by Bishop Lee to St. Stephen's station, Georgetown, where he rebuilt the church and remained five years, and was cuit 25 miles in the woods, and stayed two years and rebuilt and built 3 churches. He is now at Bethel church, Summerville, S. C. He was a delegate to the general conferences of 1908, 1912 and 1916, has been a member of the trustee board of Allen University for 20 years, and has raised over $1000 for that institution.
Holt, K. Charles, son of Pleasant and Viney Holt, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born November 8, 1869, at Mebane, N. C.; began attending school when about eight years of age, receiving his education in the rural schools, Shaw University and St. Augustine. He received the degree of D.D. from Kittrell College. He was converted in 1881 and joined the A. M. E. Church; was licensed to preach at Hillsboro, N. C., in 1886 by Rev. Robert Lucas; joined the annual conference 1888 at Greensboro, N. C., under Bishop J. P. Campbell; was ordained deacon November 24, 1889, at Wilmington, N. C., and elder November 27, 1892, at Kingston, N. C., both by Bishop Gaines; has held the following appointments: Fayetteville, N. C., 1888; St. Mathew, Raleigh, 1889-90; Laurinburg, 1891; St. James, Winston, 1892-93; Morganton, 1894-5; Kinston, 1896; Rue Chapel, Newberne, N. C., 1897-9; P. E. of Raleigh, Morganton, Greenboro and Durham each four years. In 1893 he built St. James, Winston, at a cost of $1800; lifted $500 mortgage on Rue Chapel at Newberne in 1898 and built $1800 parsonage at Newberne in 1899; was delegate to the general conferences of 1904, 1908 and 1916, leading his delegation to the last; was a member of the educational board, 1904 to 1908. His wife is Mrs. Vera L. Holt, of Dudley, N. C., whom he married October 26, 1904. He is author of a pamphlet, "The Broad Axe," and has made many annual addresses to fraternal organizations. He is an Odd Fellow, a Mason, and owns considerable real estate.
Hood, Solomon Porter, the son of Lewis and Matilda Hood, both members of African Union Methodist Church, was born in 1853 at Lancaster, Pa., one of eight children; entered school when eight years of age and attended the common schools and Lincoln University; received the degree of A.M. from Lincoln
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. SOLOMON PORTER HOOD, D.D.
University and D.D. from Livingstone College; studied at Princeton University and took lectures at Columbia University. He was converted and joined the Presbyterian Church in 1869; was licensed to preach in 1880 at Lincoln University by the Presbytery of Chester and ordained deacon at the same time. He joined the annual conference of the A. M. E. Church in 1887 at Georgetown, S. C., under Bishop Arnett; has received the following appointments in the A. M. E. Church: Port au Prince, Haiti, 1889; Morris Brown, Phila., 1893; Lamott, Pa., 1895; Reading, Pa., 1896; Frankford, 1900; Harrisburg, Pa., 1904; Orange, N. J., 1907; Trenton since 1911. He remodeled church and built parsonage at Reading at a cost of $5000 in 1897 and 1898; remodeled the church at Frankford at a cost of $3000 in 1901 and 1902; has taken about 400 people into the church. He has been delegate to one general conference in 1904. He was a member of the educational board from 1904 to 1908. He married Mary Davis Hood, of Providence, R. I., in 1881, and has an adopted daughter. He has contributed to the Christian Recorder, Southern Recorder, A. M. E. Review, Trenton Daily Times, etc. He wrote "Life of Thaddeus Stevens," "What Every African Methodist Should Know." He addressed the Pan-Presbyterian Council at Academy of Music in Philadelphia, delivered the baccalaureate sermon at Allen University, Memorial Day address to colored regiments of South Carolina, baccalaureate sermon at Petersburg Normal School at Petersburg, Va., and at the State College of South Carolina, and has been for several years one of the editors of the Sunday school literature of the A. M. E. Church, and a leader in advanced Sunday school movements. He was an attache of the U. S. legation while in Haiti, and chief organizer and director of the Semi-Centennial Emancipation Exposition of New Jersey in 1913. He is associated with the Equal Rights and State League of Pennsylvania and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Hooper, Thomas H., was born in Wilmington, N. C., July 23, 1869. In 1869 he was converted and joined St. Stephen A. M. E. Church, Wilmington. One year later he was appointed class-leader and gave faithful service. He was next made a steward a few years later and has served as secretary of the stewards' board up to the present time. He has always been loyal to the church and has never been known to oppose a single pastor.
He has served as District Superintendent of Sunday schools for seven successive years; has been elected to every annual conference ever since the laymen have been eligible, and was elected delegate to the general conferences of 1904, 1908, 1912 and the Centennial General Conference of 1916. He was chosen superintendent of the Sunday school in 1914 and has thoroughly reorganized the school. In six months the teaching force increased from 23 to 50 and the scholars from 400 to 700. He is prominent in the local affairs among the citizens of Wilmington, and is lumber inspector for one of the leading firms in the State of North Carolina, and also numbered among the leading colored real estate owners of his part of the State.
Horry, Albert Franklin Bassard, one of the five children of Joseph Napoleon and Sarah Horry, who were both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born at Georgetown, S. C., December 12, 1879; began school at the age of six, attending twelve years in all. He was graduated from the Howard High School of his native town, being valedictorian of his class. Although
he denied himself a college education in order to support his mother and sister, yet he took a postgraduate course of one year under Prof. A. E. Peets, studied rhetoric, Latin and Greek under Profs. J. B. Beck and J. P. Golder, and took an English theological course in the University of Chicago. While the support of the family, he taught in the rural and graded schools, clerked and kept books in his uncle's grocery store, worked at a mill and from 1899 to 1902 was assistant postmaster at Georgetown, S. C. He was converted in 1895, having joined Bethel A. M. E. Church in his home town in 1894. He has been class leader, local preacher, Sunday school teacher, Sunday school superintendent and president of the Allen Christian Endeavor League. He was licensed to preach in September, 1904, by Rev. P. J. Chavis; was ordained deacon at St. George, S. C., in December, 1906, by Bishop Coppin; elder in September, 1909, at Charleston, S. C., by Bishop Lee; joined the South Carolina annual conference at Summerville, S. C., December, 1905, under Bishop Coppin, and has held the following appointments: Graves Mission, Graves, S. C., 2 months; Kingstree circuit, Kingstree, S. C., five years; Gapway circuit, Bryan, S. C., five years; Lake City circuit, Lake City, S. C., since October 30, 1915. In 1910 he built a parsonage at Kingstree, S. C., at a cost of $1200. He lifted a mortgage of $220 on St. Mary, Bryan, S. C., in 1912; a mortgage of $350 on St. John, Trio, S. C., in 1913; a mortgage of $916.49 on St. Philip, Bryan, S. C., in 1915; finished St. Mary, Bryan, S. C., at a cost of $300 in 1915. He has taken into the church about 500 and baptized 100. Rev. Horry was an alternate delegate to the general conference of 1916. He has served as historical and recording secretary of the Palmetto conference since 1911; as secretary of the conference church extension committee; secretary of state of country committee since 1913; trustee Allen University; conference superintendent of A. C. E. League; preached the annual sermon in 1914. He married Miss Sarah Woodbury, of Georgetown, S. C., in 1904. Their children are Sarah Magdalene, Evelyn Cornelia, Albert F. B., Jr., Jas. Woodbury, age 2; Ruth Naomi, Catherine Rebecca and Mary Louise, deceased. He has contributed to the South Carolina Methodist and the Georgetown Advocate. He stands high as a Mason and an Odd Fellow. He has served as president of the People's Improvement League of Taft, S. C. He is a Republican and owns his home.
Horry, Mrs. Sarah Opeter (Woodbury), daughter of Rev. Frank and Mrs. Chloe Woodbury, of Georgetown, S. C., was born at Georgetown, S. C., April 4, 1881. She is a graduate of the Howard High School, with second honors, and a graduate of Allen University, scientific course, 1903, with first honors. She taught in the Howard High School, Georgetown, S. C., and in rural schools. She was for several years district missionary president of the Palmetto (S. C.) conference branch, and is now one of the vice-presidents of the state missionary association; was elected to go to the general conference of 1916. She is a contributor to the Women's Missionary Recorder.
Houston, Joseph Silas, was born in Lexington County, South Carolina. He was brought up under the Christian influence of godly parents, and nurtured by the grand old A. M. E. Church. At the age of fifteen years he was happily converted to God, and was selected as the superintendent of his Sunday school. Ever since that time he has found it a source of pleasure to work in the Sunday school.
He has served as superintendent in the following places: Piny Grove A. M. E. Sunday school, Lexington County, South Carolina; St. John A. M. E. Sunday school, Emanuel County, Ga.; St. James A. M. E. Sunday school, Bruton, Ga. At present he is superintendent
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. JOSEPH SILAS HOUSTON.
of Ward's Chapel A. M. E. Sunday school, Winter Park, Fla. He also served as superintendent of the Standford District. For twenty-five years he has been engaged in Sunday school work. From the farm to the school room, where it was his lot to be a public school teacher in the public school of Laurense County, Ga., for eight consecutive years, still he delighted to attend the Sunday school regularly.
Howard, Charles Fuller, was born in Marietta. Pa., August 28, 1866. He was the only child of Lewis and Mary M. Howard, who were both members of the A. M. E. Church. He received his early education in the public schools of Steelton and Marietta, Pa. Later he was graduated from the Patridge School of Methods Besides a course in Assyriology in the Pennsylvania Chautauqua at Mt. Gretna and a Teachers' Training Course in Pedagogy and Psychology in the Pennsylvania Sabbath School Association, he has taken university extension work at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pittsburgh.
Mr. Howard was converted December 20, 1890, and joined the A. M. E. Church. He has served his church as trustee, class leader, Sunday school superintendent for twenty-four years, president of the Christian Endeavor Society, church organist for thirty-four years, refusing compensation, and district Sunday school superintendent.
In November, 1892, he married a young woman of Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Five children were born to them: Louis A., Emily E., Mary M., Eleora L., and Charline F. His oldest son is a graduate of the Steelton
High School and a college graduate of Howard University, and is now a student in the Dickinson Law School. While in the high school he won the Princeton banner in debate and was voted the orator of his class. His oldest daughter is a graduate of the Harrisburg Conservatory of Music.
Mr. Howard's career as a public school teacher began in 1886. He has often delivered lectures, especially on Sunday school efficiency to Sunday school associations and institutes, forums, lyceums, etc. He is a worker for civic righteousness, a militant temperance worker, an
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. CHARLES FULLER HOWARD.
active member of the laymen's movement of the Philadelphia Conference, and an experienced Sunday school worker. He has worked as choir director, director of choral societies, music teacher, and director of brass and reed bands.
In politics he is an Independent Republican, having held the office of real estate assessor. He owns his own home. He is active in the N. A. A. C. P., and the Booker T. Washington Civic League of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He ranks high as a Mason and an Odd Fellow.
Howard, Prof. G. W., the son of Eli and Estella Howard, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Georgetown, S. C., 1878, one of seven children. He entered school at seven years of age and attended school about fourteen years. He graduated from the Howard High School of his native town, and Allen University, from which he received B.S. degree. He also attended the State College. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1895. He has been steward, Sunday school teacher and superintendent of Sunday school. He was delegate to the general conferences of 1904, 1908, 1912 and 1916. He has been delegate to the Young People's Congress at Atlanta, trustee of Allen University, district superintendent of Sunday schools, several times lay delegate to annual conferences and he is a member of the Federal Council of Church of Christ. He has contributed to the Christian and Southern Christian Recorders, Sunday School Times and the Southern Uplift. He made the emancipation address, Marion City School Commencement Address and State Summer School address. He has been director of the Progressive Building and Loan Association and vice principal of the Howard Graded School. He is connected with the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Good Samaritan, Eastern Star and Household of Ruth. He has held the following offices: Secretary of Masons, N. G. of Odd Fellows, K. of R. and S. of K. of P., Recording
[ILLUSTRATION]
PROF. GEORGE WASHINGTON HOWARD.
Secretary of Samaritan, W. P. of Eastern Star, W. R. of Eureka Household. He is a Republican and has attended several County conventions. He owns several homes and his property is considered valuable. He was valedictorian of his class, and has taught many years in Georgetown, his home town. He has been actively associated with the Auxiliary Society of his city organized by his mother.
Hoxter, Prof. W. Franklin, was born in Lamotte, Montgomery County, Penn., on January 3, 1892, the son of Rev. Wilbert Henry and Sadie Elizabeth (Armstrong) Hoxter. His father is a prominent minister of the A. M. E. Church. (See W. H. Hoxter.) His talent for music made itself apparent at an early age, and his father placed him under competent instructors in the several cities in which he has been a pastor. Locating finally in Philadelphia, he chose to make music his life work, and entered the Music Department of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1913. He was appointed teacher of music at the Berean Manual Training and Industrial School in 1913, and is now director of the Music Department of that institution. He was one of the pianists selected to play for the Grand Chorus that sang at the Pennsylvania Emancipation Celebration, held in 1913. He has contributed articles on musical subjects to the Christian Recorder, the official organ of the A. M. E. Church, and in 1915 he was appointed to be Musical Editor of the American Journal. He is the organist of Mt. Pisgah A. M. E. Church, Philadelphia, Penna., and has published several of his own compositions and composed the special Easter Day music for the Missionary
Department of the A. M. E. Church for the centennial year, 1916.
He was one of the organizers of the Olymthian Literary Club of Philadelphia; is a member of the People's Choral Society of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia
[ILLUSTRATION]
PROF. W. FRANKLIN HOXTER.
Organists' Alliance, Saint Joseph's Lodge, No. 8293, G. U. O. of O. F., the Society of Musical Alumni of the University of Pennsylvania, and other well known organizations.
Hoxter, W. H., was born January 24, 1868, near Frederica, Dela. He is the son of Mary A. and Benjamin Hoxter, who were blessed with fourteen children. He attended the rural public schools, Howard School, at Wilmington, Del., and later on took a theological course at Howard University, Washington, D. C. He was converted when fifteen years of age, and joined the Union Church, Frederica. In a few years he went to Wilmington and joined Bethel Church. He was licensed to preach by Rev. G. W. Brodie, then pastor of the church. In 1889 he joined the Philadelphia Annual Conference under Bishop Turner, and was ordained deacon May 19, 1891, by Bishop Turner, and elder, May 22, 1893, by Bishop Tanner, at Chambersburg, Pa.
His first appointment was to Lamotte, Pa. This mission had six members, and an indebtedness of $1800. During his pastorate there the membership was increased to 45, and the debt reduced to $575. He was then appointed to Paschall, Pa., where he served for one year with marked success. He was then appointed to Frederica, Del., where his mother, father, grandmother and grandfather held their membership, and were officers in his church. He served this church two years, renovating the churches on this circuit and paying for the same. He was then appointed to Mt. Friendship, Del., where he was greatly successful. His next appointment was to Darby, Pa., where he remained for four years, paying off the entire indebtedness of the church, and purchasing a parsonage. His next appointment was Bristol, Pa., where he remained for two years, repairing the church and freeing it entirely from debt. He was then transferred to the New England Conference and appointed to New Haven, Conn., by Bishop Derrick, and put our church on a good financial basis. After two years of faithful service at this point, was transferred back to the Philadelphia Conference by Bishop B. W. Arnett, and appointed to Mt. Pisgah, West Philadelphia, where he remained for five years. This church was renovated, made larger, refurnished, a new pipe organ was placed in the church at
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. W. H. HOXTER, D.D.
a cost of $7,500.56. This was all paid off and the church entirely freed fom debt. He was then appointed to West Chester, and served this church for two years and a half very successfully. On November 23, 1912, was appointed to Bethel Church, Wilmington, Del., by Bishop Tyree, the church in which he was licensed to preach, and out from which he had gone twenty-five years before. During his pastorate in this church he has received, to date, 153 persons into the church, and has baptized 21 children. He has reduced the mortgage debt each year, kept up the current expenses, and has paid over $1,000 for repairing church property. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Morris Brown College, Atlanta, Ga., in June, 1908.
Hubbard, Rev. P. A., was born in Kentucky, August 14, 1845, the youngest child of Phillip and Rosanna Hubbard, who were slaves. They were brought by their owners to Missouri in 1850. He was converted when about 16 years of age and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1867. He enlisted in the United States Army, February 7, 1863, and served until December 31, 1865, receiving an honorable discharge. Was a corporal in Company B, 67th U. S. Colored Infantry; was transferred to the 92nd U. S. Colored Infantry, and there held the office of corporal in Company A. Returning to his home, after the war, at Columbia, Mo., he attended school for a short time under that eminent teacher, Prof. Charles E. Cummings. He was elected chairman of the first Republican convention held in Boone County, Mo., and represented Boone County in two State conventions, heading the delegations each time; was district elector for the Eleventh Congressional District in 1872. Was licensed
to preach in 1872, by Rev. W. B. Ousley, at Columbia, Mo. He entered the itinerant ministry of the A. M. E. Church, March 3, 1873; was received on trial in the Missouri Conference, at St. Louis, Mo., September 14, 1873, by Bishop A. W. Wayman; was ordained deacon by the same bishop in Allen A. M. E. Church, Kansas City, Mo., September 22, 1874; ordained an elder by Bishop James A. Shorter, in Wayman's Chapel A. M. E. Church, Fort Scott, Kans., October 9, 1879. He served most efficiently the following charges: Mobery, Mo., two years; Fort Scott, Kans., three years; St. Joseph, Mo., four years; Omaha, Neb., five years. At this point he completed the church, built a parsonage at a cost of fourteen thousand dollars, paid all but three thousand,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. PHILLIP A. HUBBARD, D.D.
found a membership of 30 and left a membership of 160 members. In 1889 was appointed pastor of Shorter A. M. E. Church, Denver, Colo. The dollar report was less than three hundred dollars; in 1898 it was more than one thousand dollars for the same territory. Such work had a church-wide effect throughout African Methodism. After a successful pastorate of four years at Denver, Colo., where he raised $29,744.40, he was appointed presiding elder over the "largest presiding elder district in the world," 670,920 square miles. He established many missions through this vast and sparsely settled western country, which today are towering beacons of hope, courage and Christianity. He was a member of the general conference from 1880 to 1900. He was a Mason and a member of the Grand Lodge of Missouri. He married in early life Miss Hannah J. Lucas, united in December, 1863; was re-married by Rev. Isaac Jones, January 28, 1866, because slave marriages were not legal. They lived happily until his death. In 1900 at the general conference, in Columbus, O., he was elected financial secretary. His financial record had won for him the title "Dollar Money King." On July 20, 1901, he went as a delegate to the Ecumenical Conference, which met in London. He traveled in England, Holland, Switzerland, Germany and France, and was the recipient of many distinguished honors. Preached September 3, 1901, in the Jubilee Bible Christian Methodist Chapel, in London. About September 10, 1901, in one of London's most prominent hotels, he was taken ill, compelling him to give up his work in this great conference. September 17, he sailed for home. In his "Word to the Church" he describes most vividly the horrors of that rough voyage. On reaching New York City, September 26, he found his loving wife and close friends, who sped with haste on to Washington, D. C., for medical attention. For some time he rallied as hundreds asked God to spare him to his church, nation, family and race. Died January 14, 1902. The history of this A. M. E. Church cannot be written and leave out the name of P. A. Hubbard. He was for many years trustee of Wilberforce, having the degree D.D. conferred by that seminary. He acquired
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. HANNAH J. HUBBARD.
from Lincoln, LL.B. and LL.M. from Howard. He also had some comforts of this world, leaving an estate valued at fifteen thousand dollars. He was laid to rest at Macon, Mo., beside his mother. He left a wife and daughter.
Hubbard (Lucas), Hannah J., was born of slave parents in Georgetown, Scott County, Ky., March 25, 1845, being the youngest of six children of Stephen and Phoebe Lucas. At the age of seven their owners moved them to Boone County, Mo. In 1863 she was happily united in marriage to Phillip Alexander Hubbard. Three weeks afterwards her husband enlisted in the army. When Lincoln's proclamation declared freedom they moved to Columbia, Mo., and there eagerly awaited the return of her husband. With efficient teachers she acquired a fair education. She was her husband's most worthy asset in his life's work and brilliant career.
She became a Christian early in life and taught Sunday school. Rev. J. F. C. Taylor, an able A. M. E. minister, now in the Kansas Conference, was brought to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ through her influence and advice. She was her husband's confidential counsellor in every undertaking in life. Having no children of her own, in October, 1883, she adopted Pearl Opal Hubbard, whom she educated. When her husband organized Embry Mission, in Manitou, Colo., she became class leader, trustee, Sunday school teacher, treasurer of the church and Tanner Lyceum, the mission's auxiliary. She was a factor in the official life of Washington, D. C.,
in its religious and social circles. After the death of her husband, she built a beautiful modern home in Manitou, where she now resides.
Hudson, Mrs. D. D., president W. H. & F. M. Society, S. Arkansas Conference Branch, was born June 27, 1875, near Greery, Ark. Her parents were John and Annie Russell. She attended the public schools in that section until thirteen years of age, at which time her parents sent her to Mary Allen Seminary, Crockett, Tex. She graduated at sixteen, and began teaching. In 1895 she married an African Methodist minister, Rev. A. A. Hudson, and, though she still taught school, she soon became devoted to the missionary work and in 1912 was elected conference branch president of the South Arkansas Conference, which position she now holds, and presides over the following named officers: Sister Annie Crook, president Hamburg District; Sister Bertie L. Delyles, president Pine Bluff District; Sister Eliza J. Wheeler, president Domas District; Sister Minnie Greer, president Monticello District; Sister Mollie Burks, president Dermott District; Sister Frances Jones, conference secretary; Sister Mattie L. Smith, corresponding secretary; Sister Katie Young, conference treasurer; Mrs. D. D. Hudson, conference president.
Hunt, Phillip C., son of Jasper and Matilda Hunt, members of the A. M. E. Church, was born in 1865 at Grand Junction, Tenn., one of eleven children; entered school in 1870 and spent twelve years in the public schools and Tougoloo University of Mississippi; received the degree of D.D. from Paul Quinn College, Waco, Texas; was converted and joined the
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. P. C. HUNT, D.D.
A. M. E. Church in 1876; held nearly every office in the local church; was licensed to preach in 1882 at Grand Junction, Tenn., by Rev. A. A. W. Hill; joined the annual conference 1883 at. San Antonio, Texas, under Bishop Cain; was ordained deacon in 1884 at Rockdale, Texas, and elder in 1886 at Austin, Texas, both by Bishop Wayman. He has held the following appointments: Brayaria, 1884-88; Georgetown Ct., 1888-90; St. James, Dallas, 1890-92; Tyler district, 1892-96; St. Paul, Houston, 1896-98; Wesley, Houston, 1898-1902; Houston district, 1902-5; Palestine district, 1908-10; Beaumont Sta., 1911; Brown Chapel, Houston, 1911-15; Beaumont district, 1916. He built the following churches: Luling, Texas, $500 in 1884; Columbia, $900 in 1886; Georgetown, $1200 in 1888; Round Rock, $1300 in 1889; parsonage at Beaumont, $900 in 1911. He has lifted mortgages on St. James at Dallas, $900 in 1891; St. Paul, Houston, $900 in 1897; Brown Chapel, Houston, $950 in 1914. He has taken over 1525 into the church and baptized 1250. He has been delegate to six general conferences. He was a member of the financial board 1908-12. He was a delegate to the ecumenical conference at Toronto, Canada, in 1911. He was voted for for the bishopric in 1900 and 1908. His wife is Mrs. Hattie B. Hunt, of Elinger, Texas, to whom he was married in 1884. He has contributed to the several Recorders and local papers. His principal address was on the "Rise and Progress of the Negro." He is a Mason and has held prominent offices; is a Republican and home owner.
Hunter, Rev. E. H., whose mother, Mrs. Harriet Hunter, was a devout member of the A. M. E. Church, was born November 13, 1865, at Raleigh, N. C. Entering school at the age of six years, he spent about sixteen years in school, graduating from Howard and Lincoln Universities, receiving the degrees of A.B. and A.M. from Lincoln, LL.B. and LL.M. form Howard. He also took a special course in theology at Howard University, and was the recipient of the degree of D.D. from Kittrell College.
He was converted in 1882 and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He has held almost every office in the local church, having been class leader, steward, trustee, Sunday school superintendent, chorister, president young people's society, etc. He was licensed to preach March 10, 1902, at Washington, D. C., by Rev. William H. Hunter, D.D., and joined the Baltimore Conference, May, 1903, at Baltimore, Md., and was ordained deacon at that session by Bishop Lee. He was ordained elder by Bishop Lee, May 7, 1905, at Cumberland, Md. Dr. Hunter has held the following appointments: Sandy Mission, Md., 1902-03; Washington City Mission, D. C., 1903-04; assistant pastor of Metropolitan, Washington, D. C., 1904-05; State superintendent A. C. E. League, Baltimore Conference, 1905-09; Third Street, Richmond, Va., 1909-11; St. John's, Norfolk, Va., 1911 to date. In Richmond he paid a debt of $1,000 in 1909-10. In Norfolk he paid mortgage of $10,000, freeing this historic church from all indebtedness. He was voted for for the office of financial secretary at Kansas City, in 1912. Rev. Hunter was twice married, his first wife was Miss Mary L. Russell, to whom he was married December 26, 1889. After her death he was married a second time, June 18, 1903, to Miss Jennie M. Spears, of Memphis, Tenn. He has a daughter, Miss Evangeline Hunter, who is deaf and blind, but who is quite an accomplished young woman, a devout Christian and a source of inspiration in spite of her affliction. He has contributed to many papers and magazines, as local papers of Raleigh, Washington, D. C. Richmond, Norfolk, A. M. E. Review, New York Evening Post and New York Tribune, etc., and has made addresses on many important occasions. He is a member of the Masons and Odd Fellows. He attended the national Republican convention
in 1900. Before entering the active ministry he taught school and became principal of school in Raleigh, spent 19 years in civil service, practiced law in the courts of Washington, D. C., and is now eligible to practice in U. S. Supreme Court. He was actively associated with the Charities of D. C., and was one of the founders of the social settlement organization of Washington, D. C. He was very active in the fight against tuberculosis in Washington, D. C., which gave impetus to the organized national crusade against this dreaded disease. He has always been prominently identified with the Christian
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. EDWARD HUGHES HUNTER, D.D.
Endeavor work, both nationally and locally. He was at one time vice president of the Union of Christian Endeavor Societies of the District of Columbia, which included all societies, without regard to race.
Rev. Hunter is a good example of a successful earnest minister of the Gospel, who is able to take his proper place of leadership in any community to which he is sent.
Hunter, Mrs. Jennie M. (Spears), wife of Rev. E. H. Hunter, pastor St. John's A. M. E. Church, Norfolk, Va., was born November 17, 1865, in Memphis, Tenn., and went to Washington, D. C., when a small child, under the care of her elder sister, Mrs. Amelia Bennett; was educated in the public schools of Washington, Hampton Normal and Industrial Institute, Virginia, and the Spencerian Business College, Washington, taking high rank for scholarship in all, and winning honors. She has added to her academic training by private instruction, correspondence courses and large literary research.
She began teaching at seventeen years of age and taught twenty-one years, nineteen of which were in the school system of Washington, D. C., where she won distinction and became a blessing during all those years, because of the self-sacrificing, intelligent, effective work done in starting and shaping the lives of hundreds. She served in every grade of the educational work, closing her teaching career in 1903, as Principal of one of the largest and most important of the public schools of Washington, the Mott School, by her marriage.
Mrs. Hunter accepted Christ at nine years of age, and joined the M. E. Church. She has always been active in Sunday School and the other auxiliary branches of church work. Her missionary zeal seems most intense, as if born of an unsatisfied desire to give herself to foreign work. She has, however, wisely harnessed that zeal and through the years of her life turned it into practical channels on the great missionary fields about her door. She works modestly but most effectively, everywhere; and is consequently
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. JENNIE M. HUNTER.
more loved and honored by the humble, poor and ignorant than the ambitious great, who fail to understand and often question her motives. Though often called to positions of command and executive management in her work, she never seeks office and frequently shuns it. For this reason her career is not so generally known along missionary lines, as it should be and is, in the particular localities where she has labored.
In 1890, believing that her best opportunity for service was in the church of Richard Allen, she joined Metropolitan A. M. E. Church, Washington, D. C., becoming immediately one of its most active workers, began her career as a strong but quiet force in African Methodism. Since her marriage in 1903, it has been discovered that her career as a pastor's wife has been the crowning work of her life. She is filling this, probably the most delicate and difficult of all relations in life, in a way that not only does credit to her fine intellect, broad experience, keen judgment, good sense and loving heart, but makes her a blessing to every community, so fortunate as to have the pastoral services of her husband. She really becomes an example to the other women of the flock and stirs in them such missionary zeal as they in many cases have not known before.
Through her leadership, both the Richmond and Norfolk Mite Societies more than doubled their annual contributions to missionary work. St. John's Society furnished $150, three-fourths of the scholarship fund required to prepare a South African girl, who is
now teaching under Bishop Johnson. A native girl of West Africa is also being trained at Kittrell, through the efforts of this Society. Other educational efforts at Kittrell, South and West Africa have also received generous aid from this Society, all under the leadership and direction of this wide-awake woman.
Hunter, William Hammett, business manager of the Book Concern 1872-1876, was born in Raleigh, N. C., June 21, 1831, of slave parents, but became free in early childhood, his father purchasing his family and removing to Brooklyn, N. Y., where William received his elementary education. In the meantime he worked in a jewelry establishment in Newark, N. J., assisting in smelting and refining. Not satisfied with his limited education, he entered Wilberforce University, where he remained three years, and later was ordained as a minister of the A. M. E. Church. In September, 1863, while filling the charge at Water's Chapel, Baltimore, he was appointed by President Lincoln, chaplain of the Fourth U. S. Colored Troops, Colonel Samuel Duncan, the second colored chaplain commissioned in the United States. He served until the end of the war, being mustered out in May, 1866, and then resumed his ministerial duties, first in Washington, D. C., and later in many important charges of his church. In 1872 he was elected manager of the Book Concern and served until 1876. At the close of the war he married Miss Henrietta, daughter of Rev. John Jordan, of Baltimore. He died at Hunter's Heights, Anacostia, D. C., October 16, 1908. His widow died July 9, 1912.
Hurley, Rev. Robert French, was born at Gainesville, Prince William County, Va., September 16, 1846. His father's name was Rubin Hurley and his mother's, Catherine Lambert. His father was killed by two slave men in 1859. His mother died a member of the South Street A. M. E. Church, Zanesville, O., October 1, 1908, aged 96 years.
At the age of seven years the family moved to Louden County, near Leesburg, where he lived until he was sixteen years of age. Then he left home with the 2nd N. Y. Cavalry, with which he remained about 9 months. He enlisted in the 1st U. S. Co. Infantry and was assigned to Company B., June 21, 1863, at Washington, D. C. He was honorably discharged, September 29, 1865. During his absence from his Virginia home his people moved to the State of Ohio, and located in Zanesville. On being mustered out of the service, he joined them at their Ohio home.
He was converted in November 1865, and united with the A. M. E. Church at Zanesville. He was married to Rosa Ann Tate, April 25, 1867, at Zanesville; was licensed to preach April 25, 1868; admitted on trial in the Ohio Conference and was appointed to Delaware Station, Delaware, Ohio, April 25, 1869. His appointment to Delaware was designed to give him the benefit of the Ohio Wesleyan University. This he had for two years only, but kept himself under the instruction of private masters wherever he was sent for many years. He has served as pastor of several of the most important churches in the connection. Among them are Avery Chapel, Memphis, Tenn.; St. James, New Orleans; Bethel, New York; Charles Street, Boston; New Bedford, Mass.; Springfield, Ill.; Bethel, Detroit; Allen Chapel, Indianapolis; Trenton, Camden, and Newark, N. J., and Wylie Ave., Pittsburgh. He served several districts as presiding elder.
He was a delegate to the general conference from 1880 to 1904. He has served as a member of the educational, missionary and C. P. A. boards. He has been a trustee of Wilberforce University for over forty years, and was a trustee of Paul Quinn College, Waco, Tex., for several years. He was honored by the above named college with the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He has
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. ROBERT FRENCH HURLEY.
been a contributor to the Christian Recorder for more than forty-five years, also to other race papers. He is the author of two publications, "The Negro in America," and "The Church and Politics, or Practical Christianity." He also has quite a list of lectures which he has delivered at various times and places.
He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and a past department chaplain of the department of New York, and served as aide-de-camp on the staff of both department commanders and commanders-in-Chief. He was presidential elector for the Tenth Congressional District of Tennessee on the Garfield ticket, in 1880. He was selected to open the United States Circuit Court in Boston by prayer.
He is a prominent Mason. He is now serving his third year as pastor of the A. M. E. Church at Clarksburg, W. Va. Of his nine children, seven have died. He buried his wife at Trenton, N. J., in January, 1909.
Hurst, Bishop John, thirty-sixth bishop of the A. M. E. Church, the son of Thomas and Sylvanie Hurst, was born May 10, 1863, at Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He was one of five children of his parents, who were both members of the A. M. E. Church. He began attending school when six years of age and spent about sixteen years in school, attending chiefly the combined primary and grammar, high school, Lycee National, Port-au-Prince, and Wilberforce University. He is a graduate
of the Lycee National and Wilberforce University, having received the degree B.D. from Wilberforce in 1886. He was converted in 1877 and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He was licensed to preach in 1883 at Wilberforce, O., by Bishop B. F. Lee; was ordained deacon in 1886 at Baltimore, Md., by Bishop Wayman, and ordained elder in 1887 at Port-au-Prince, Haiti, by Bishop Campbell. He joined the annual conference in 1882 at Baltimore, Md., under Bishop Payne, and had the following appointments: St. Paul's A. M. E. Church, 1886-89; Superintendent of Missions in Haiti; Crowdensville Circuit, Md.; Baltimore Conference, 1893-1894; Waters A. M. E., Baltimore, Md., 1894-1898;
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP JOHN HURST.
Bethel, Baltimore, 1898-1903; Waters, 1903-1908; St. John's, 1908. He built Gaines Chapel, Md., at a cost of $1,200, in 1893; Home for Aged, at Baltimore, at a cost of $12,000, in 1902. He reduced the mortgage on Waters from $24,000 to $14,000. He has taken about 645 people into the church, baptized about 280 and married about 300. He has been delegate to all general conferences from 1892 to 1916; was a member of the financial board, 1901 to 1908, and financial secretary, 1908 to 1912; was recording secretary of the financial board, 1904-1908; delegate to Ecumenical Conference, 1901, London, Eng., and Ecumenical Conference, 1911, at Toronto, Canada; secretary of Bishops' Council; member of Commission on Federation of Methodism; member of Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America. He was elected financial secretary of A. M. E. Church, 1908, and bishop, 1912, and assigned to the eleventh episcopal district, embracing the State of Florida. Upon the death of Bishop Derrick he was given the supervision of the West Indian field and of British and Dutch Guiana. He organized the A. M. E. Church in Jamaica, receiving 9 congregations with 1100 members and property valued at $10,000. The general conference of 1916 reassigned him to Florida.
He married Mrs. K. Bertha Hurst, of Abbeville, S. C., in 1890. Their son, Benoni Price Hurst, age 23, is a
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. K. BERTHA HURST.
graduate of Amherst College and also of the Medical Department, Harvard University. He has contributed to many periodicals. He made an address at the Anniversary of the Bible Society, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and before the Literary Society, Wilberforce University. He is a member of the F. and A. M., Epsilon Boule, Sigma Pi Phi. He is independent in politics. He was secretary of the Haitian Legation, Washington, D. C., 1889-92. He was president North Eastern Board, Federated Charities, Baltimore, Md., for twelve years. He is associated with National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Academy Social and Political Science, and National Kindergarten Association.
IVERSON, J. OSCAR, was born forty-six years ago in Barbour County, Ala. His mother was a devoted Christian. He was educated in the public and graded schools of Georgia. Took special courses under private teachers. R. R. Wright, Sr., was his second teacher; converted in 1886; has been preaching ever since he was a boy. He has built several churches, among them Bethel, at Little Rock, Ark., which will forever speak for him. D.D. conferred by Payne University, Ala.; has been a member to two general conferences and was voted for the bishopric without any efforts on his part. Read New Testament Greek under Prof. Alfred A. Wright, of Boston University. He is gifted in song. "Whatsoever ye would that men would do to you, do ye even so to them," is his motto. His family consist of a wife and four children. He is now presiding elder, and a member of the Centennial General Conference.
JACKSON, ARTHUR SMITH, son of Smith Jackson and Amanda (Brown) Jackson, was born at Waco, Texas, January 1, 1873, the only boy and youngest of four children of his parents. He attended the public schools of his native town and showed desire and ability for learning. He was a youthful leader among, his schoolmates. Early in young Jackson's school life he manifested marked ability for science and mathematics, and became schoolyard authority upon problems in these branches. In 1888 he finished the grammar
[ILLUSTRATION]
PROF. A. S. JACKSON, LL.D.
school course under Prof. A. J. Moore, at that time principal of the Waco city schools. In 1890 Arthur's mother died and then the struggle began. His first occupation was bootblacking, which he followed for two or three years, and finally was persuaded by a
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. A. S JACKSON
Methodist preacher, the late Dr. B. W. Roberts, to enter Paul Quinn College. Auctioning off his boot-black outfit, our subject crossed the river and matriculated in Paul Quinn and graduated at the head of his class in 1895. After teaching in the rural districts for six years, he was called to the chair of mathematics in his alma mater, which he held for twelve years. On the death of Dr. T. C. Denham he was appointed by Bishop Tyree treasurer of the institution and held this position six years in conjunction with his professorship. He has been frequently honored by his associates, having been president of the Texas State Teachers' Association, grand officer in Knights of Pythias, supreme representative for six terms of the Supreme Court of Calanthe. The following degrees have been conferred upon him: Paul Quinn College, LL.D.; Wilberforce University, M.S. and LL.D. In 1912 he was elected by the general conference convening in Kansas City as secretary of education to succeed Prof. John R. Hawkins. He is a pleasing speaker and ranks among the best thinkers of the race. The conduct of the educational department was so satisfactory during his first term that the Centennial General Conference suspended the rule and elected him to succeed himself by acclamation. In 1897 he was married to Miss M. C. Denham, daughter of the late Rev. T. C. Denham. To them one child was born, Louise. He, his wife and baby live happily at Waco, Texas.
Jackson, Edward G., was born in Racine, Wis., October 3, 1858. His father, Wesley Jackson, was pastor of the A. M. E. Church from 1857 to 1861. After the death of his father the family moved to Chicago, Ill. He was educated in the public schools and graduated from the high school, Class of 1877.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. E. G. JACKSON.
For seventeen years after graduation he was employed as clerk with the tea and coffee importing firm of Fitch & Howland. The quarterly conference of St. John's A. M. E. Church granted him a local preacher's license in 1895, under Rev. F. J. Peterson, presiding elder, at Aurora, Ill. He was ordained deacon at Mt. Pleasant, Ia., September, 1897, and elder at
Chicago, Ill., September, 1899, both by Bishop Arnett. He has served the Iowa (now Chicago) Conference at Marshall, as recording secretary and chief secretary at different times. He entered the traveling ministry and was sent to Superior, Wis., by Bishop Arnett. Here he served five years, being the first five-year pastor in the Iowa Conference. He was then assigned to Albia, Ia., where he served one year, and then two years at Sioux City, Ia. He was then assigned to Buxton, Ia., from 1904 to 1907, inclusive. His next assignment was Burlington, Ia., 1908. Bishop C. T. Shaffer appointed him as presiding elder of the St. Paul district of the Iowa Conference in 1908, which position he filled for five years. He was then assigned to St. Peter's Church, Minneapolis, Minn., and the next year was assigned to Des Moines, Ia. In 1915 he was transferred from the Iowa Conference to the Illinois Conference, and assigned to Champaign, Ill. He was married to Miss Josephine R. Hodges, of Aurora, Ill., in December, 1891. Two children were the fruit of this marriage. He has been identified with Sunday school and church work from childhood, and has been active also as a race man, holding various positions of honor from time to time, and is widely known because of his loyalty to all that pertains to the race and to the Church.
Jackson, G. L., is one of the pioneers of the Tennessee annual conference and one of the leading ministers of the same. He has served acceptably as pastor from the smallest to the largest and most important
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. G. L. JACKSON, D.D.
charges in the conference and has been a presiding elder, which office he now holds, for a number of years, giving faithful and satisfactory service. He has helped to receive into the traveling connection of the conference every active minister now in it but one. He has received two of his own sons into the church and helped to receive them into the Tennessee conference and assisted in their ordination, one of whom, Rev. G. L. Jackson, Jr., is a graduate of Talladega College, Talladega, Ala., and a graduate of Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tenn., and is now pastor of Trinity A. M. E. Church, Nashville, Tenn. The other son, Rev. M. E. Jackson, was graduated from Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn., and from Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, Ohio. Rev. G. L. Jackson has been a member of the general conferences for many years, beginning in 1884, and has served on some of the important committees. He was one of the founders of the Sunday School Union, Nashville, Tenn., and a trustee of the same for many years. He received his educational training at Fisk University and graduated from theology at Walden University, known then as Central Tennessee College, Nashville, Tenn. He received the degree of D.D. from Turner College, Shelbyville, Tenn. His wife is a graduate of Talladega College and a great and earnest church worker.
Jackson, Mrs. G. L., corresponding secretary of the Connectional W. H. and F. Missionary Society of the A. M. E. Church. Mrs. Jackson is a graduate of Talladega College, Talladega, Ala., the wife of Rev. G. L. Jackson, D.D., who is one of the leaders and pioneers
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. G. L. JACKSON.
of the Tennessee Conference. She is president of the Tennessee Conference Missionary Society; she has been twice elected corresponding secretary of the Connectional Society; she is a woman of great influence and a leader among women in all things pertaining to the uplift of her people.
Jackson, Rev. James Denham, was born February 23, 1865, at Washington, D. C., the son of William F. and Annie E. Jackson. He attended the public school of the city until 14 years of age; was converted in January,
1873, at Israel Bethel A. M. E. Church, under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. George T. Watkins. He was sent as messenger and sword-bearer to General U. S. Grant during his famous tour around the world. On his return home, he went to Brooklyn, N. Y., connected himself with Bridge Street A. M. E. Church, Rev. J. B. Stansberry, pastor. Having discovered some gifts and grace in him, the pastor and his good wife persuaded him to enter Wilberforce University and prepare for his calling. In 1884 he entered; was licensed to preach by Dr. (now Bishop) B. F. Lee, who was then pastor of Holy Trinity A. M. E. Church, presiding elder and president of the college. During his years in school, he served at Cedarville, Ohio; South Charleston, Ohio, and finished the
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JAMES DENHAM JACKSON.
church building at Jeffersonville, Ohio. He came out with the class of 1892; was sent by Bishop D. A. Payne to the charge at Parkersburg, W. Va. At the close of that year, by request of Bishop B. T. Tanner, transferred to the New York Annual Conference. He served and built churches at the following named places in New York: Cosmopolitan Mission; Huntington Station; Bay Shore Station (built new church); St. Johns, Brooklyn; Oswego and Richfield Springs; Elmira Station (entertained the annual conference, 1900, Bishop W. B. Derrick, presiding); Olean Station (built new church); Westbury, L. I., Station; Setauket Station; Port Jefferson (built new church); Elmhurst Station (here finished a fine edifice in 1911-12, the dedication of which was the last official work done in the district by the late Bishop W. J. Gaines, November 5, 1912). He transferred to the Baltimore Annual Conference, April 17, 1912, and served two years at Cumberland; went to Baltimore, rebuilding Wayman Memorial A. M. E. Church.
Jackson, John Edgar, son of Zachariah and Priscilla Jackson, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born October 15, 1874, at Pittsboro, N. C., one of eight children; began attending school at six years of age and received his education in the public schools, P. E. parochial school and Hampton Institute; received degrees from Kittrell and Livingston Colleges; was converted in 1890 and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year, and has held nearly every office in the church; was licensed to preach May, 1896, at Pittsboro, N. C., by Rev. J. S. Derry and joined the annual conference the same year at Morganton, N. C., under Bishop Handy; was ordained deacon November, 1899, at Durham, N. C., by Bishop Handy; elder, November, 1901, at Lenoir, N. C., by Bishop Lee; has held
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. E. JACKSON, D.D.
the following appointments: St. Paul, Chapel Hill, 1896; High Point, 1896-98; Guilford College Ct., 1898-1901; Emanuel, Durham, 1901-2; St. Stephen's, Wilmington, N. C., 1902-7; St. Joseph, Durham, 1907-12; P. E., Raleigh district, 1912-14; Greensboro district, 1914 to date. He rebuilt St. Joseph at Durham at a cost of $15,000 in 1909-11 and remodeled St. Stephens at Wilmington, N. C., at a cost of $3000 in 1905. He lifted a mortgage on St. Stephens at Wilmington, N. C., to the amount of $1200 in 1903. He has taken about 1500 into the church, baptized 1200 and married 150. He was delegate to the general conferences of 1908, 1912 and 1916. He was a member of the publication board 1908-1912, and A. C. E. board 1912-16. He married Maria Womack, of Pittsboro, N. C., May 5, 1899. He addressed the literary society at Kittrell in 1904 and made the commencement address at Kittrell in 1911. He is connected with the F. and A. M. and Noble of the Mystic Shrine; has held offices in each of these, and is a home owner.
Jackson, Thomas H., was born in Philadelphia, Pa., March 13, 1844. His father, George Jackson, was lost at sea. His mother, Elizabeth Williams Jackson, was of Wrightville, Pa.
In the early 50's the mother and son went West, living for a time in St. Louis, Mo., and East Alton, Ill. From thence they moved to New Orleans, La., where Thomas H. began to attend school. Rev. John M. Brown, afterward bishop, who was then pastor of St. James A. M. E. Church, was one of his teachers. From New Orleans,
in 1852 he moved to Louisville, Ky., and continued in school. In 1857-58 he attended Wilberforce University. From the fall of 1858 through to 1864 he worked on the river, steamboating from Louisville, Ky., to New Orleans, from St. Louis to Memphis, up the Missouri and Illinois rivers. In the fall of 1864 returned to Wilberforce University. He was converted January 28, 1865, and joined the church next day. When the main building of Wilberforce burned down in 1865, he brought in the first $100 to help rebuild it. He also assisted J. P. Shorter in teaching. As a teacher he taught Bishops Lee, Salter, Jones, Hurst, at Wilberforce, and Conner, at Shorter College; general officers R. C. Ransom and J. C. Caldwell, and hundreds of others. In June, 1865, he was licensed to exhort. On March 23, 1866, he was licensed to preach by Rev. E. D. Davis. He received the first appointment to preach
[ILLUSTRATION]
DR. T. H. JACKSON.
as an itinerant preacher under Bishop W. P. Quinn, in April, 1868, and was sent to Danville, Ky., from Columbus, O., that part of Kentucky then being in the jurisdiction of the Ohio Conference. In September, 1868, the first session of the Kentucky Annual Conference was held in the city of Louisville, Ky., in Quinn Chapel, Bishop Daniel A. Payne presiding, assisted by Bishops Campbell and Shorter. Rev. T. H. Jackson was elected the first secretary of this conference and was regularly admitted on trial with Daniel Tucker and George Meaux, and was returned to Danville, Ky., as pastor. At the second session of the Kentucky Conference, at Lexington, Ky., he was continued secretary, and was elected and ordained a deacon, with Brother Robt. Johnson. At the third session of the Kentucky Conference, in Bowling Green, August, 1870, he was re-elected secretary and he was elected and ordained elder with George H. Shaffer and J. Gilson Francis, and received into full membership with Revs. (now Bishop) B. F. Lee and George Parker, Rev. B. F. Lee being ordained deacon at this session. In June, 1870, he graduated from the Theological Department of Wilberforce University, and was married the evening of graduation to Miss Julia Frances Early, of St. Louis, Mo., a niece of the wife of Bishop Shorter.
Was elected by the Trustee Board of Wilberforce in 1870 to the chair of Hebrew and the general oversight of the Theological Department in connection with the pastorate of St. John A. M. E. Church in Xenia, Ohio. In 1871 he was professor at Wilberforce University and assistant secretary to the Ohio Conference to which he had been transferred from the Kentucky Conference. In the conference of 1872, was continued assistant secretary and as professor at Wilberforce University. In 1873 transferred to the South Carolina Conference and stationed at Bethel Church, Columbia, S. C., and elected secretary for three consecutive sessions, remaining there until 1876, when he was transferred to the Ohio Conference, stationed at Allen Temple, at Cincinnati, Ohio.
He has been elected to every general conference since 1872, as follows: 1872, Nashville, Tenn., from the Ohio Conference; 1876, Atlanta, Ga., from the Ohio Conference; 1880, St. Louis, Mo., from the N. Ohio Conference; 1884, Baltimore, Md., from the N. Ohio Conference; 1888, Indianapolis, Ind., from the N. Ohio Conference; 1892, Philadelphia, Pa., from the N. Ohio Conference; 1896, Wilmington, Del., from the W. Arkansas Conference; 1900, Columbus, Ohio, from the S. Arkansas Conference; 1904, Chicago, Ill., from the Arkansas Conference; 1908, Norfolk, Va., from the Arkansas Conference; 1912, Kansas City, Mo., from the Arkansas Conference; 1916, Philadelphia, from the North Ohio Conference. Dr. Jackson was a member of the educational board 16 years and trustee of Wilberforce University since 1871, and was elected a member by the executive board of the Combined Normal and Industrial Board, February, 1915.
Dr. Jackson was a delegate to the Ecumenical Conference in London, England, leaving this country early in August, 1901, going up through France, Belgium, London and Scotland, attending the Ecumenical Conference in September, returning home about the middle of October.
Served the following churches in Ohio: Xenia, 1871-1872; Cincinnati, Allen Temple, April, 1876, to September, 1878; Cleveland, 1878 to 1881; Toledo, 1881 to 1883; Springfield, Ohio, 1883 to 1884. Then he returned to Wilberforce as professor of theology, where he served until 1892, when he was transferred to the Arkansas Conference and stationed at Bethel Church, Little Rock, Ark., 1895. From 1895 to 1898 Visitor's Chapel, Hot Springs, Ark. Was elected president of Shorter College, going to Arkadelphia on Tuesdays and returning to Hot Springs on Saturday afternoons. Resigned the presidency of Shorter College, 1898. 1898-1900 transferred to the South Arkansas Conference and stationed at St. John's A. M. E. Church, where he remained for two years, when he was again elected president of Shorter College, which position he filled until 1904, during which time Tyree Hall was built. He also spent three months as lecturer on John C. Martin Educational Course for the State of Arkansas.
Served as dean of the Theological Department and vice president of Shorter College until 1912, having served in the meanwhile at Quinn Chapel at Fort Smith, Ark., a few months. In 1912 at the meeting of the board of directors of Payne Theological Seminary, at Wilberforce, he was elected one of the professors in Payne Seminary, and is now serving his fourth year.
Jacobs, Isaiah Daniel, one of five children of John Allen and Mary Margaret Jacobs, both members of the Moravian Church in the British West Indies, was born in Newfield, Antigua, B. W. I., March 7, 1850. He received his education in Buxton Grove College, Antigua, and the honorary degree of D. D. from Morris
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. ISAIAH D. JACOBS, D.D.
Brown College, Atlanta, Ga., in 1907. Converted in 1862, he joined the Moravian Church and later prepared for its ministry, being licensed to preach in 1874 by the Moravians in Lebanon, Antigua; ordained deacon in 1883 and elder in 1885 at St. Johns, Antigua, by Bishop G. W. Westerby. Coming to this country in 1892 he joined the A. M. E. Church and was admitted to the New England conference in 1893 at Springfield, Mass., Bishop Turner presiding. From 1875 to 1892 he held the appointments under the Moravian Church; since then the following in the New England conference of the A. M. E. Church: Norwalk, Conn., August, 1892, to June, 1893; Lynn, Mass., 1893-95; Worcester, Mass., 1895-8; Greenwich, Conn., 1898-1900; Bridgeport, Conn., 1900-2; presiding elder, 1902-1905; Bridgeport, 1905-7; Greenwich, 1907-10; St. Paul, Cambridge, 1910-13. Dr. Jacobs was an alternate to the general conference in 1908. Two of his sons, Revs. Ira S. and Rev. Burchell G. Jacogs, are members of the New England conference. He has been interested in the young people's society work, temperance and other organizations for moral and spiritual improvement. He is a Mason and a K. of P., but not active in politics.
Jacobs, Ira Stanley, son of Rev. Isaiah and Mary Somers Jacob, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born February 21, 1890, at Antigua, B. W. I., one of nine children. He entered school in 1895 and spent seventeen years in school, receiving his education in the grammar schools of Greenwich, Conn., high schools of Bridgeport, Conn., and Cambridge, Mass., and Wilberforce, receiving the degree of B. D. from Wilberforce. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church at Bridgeport, Conn., in 1902, served as steward, trustee, class leader, exhorter, local preacher and Sunday school teacher; was licensed to preach in 1908 at Greenwich, Conn., by Rev. W. H. Burrell and joined the annual conference, July, 1908, at New Bedford, Mass., under Bishop Gaines; was ordained deacon in 1911 at Wilberforce University by Bishop Gaines and elder, July, 1912, at Providence, R. I., by Bishop Tyree. He has held the following appointments:
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. IRA S. JACOBS, B.D.
Fall River, Mass., 1911; Lynn, Mass., 1912, and Bridgeport, Conn., 1913. He made an addition to the church at Lynn, Mass., at a cost of $600 in 1913. He was an alternate delegate to the general conference of 1916. His wife, Mrs. Blanche Lelia Jacobs, was born in Lynchburg, Va. They were married in 1914 and have one child, Morris. Rev. Jacobs won the Rush prize at Wilberforce in June, 1910.
Jarvis, Rev. Joseph Wentworth, was born July 11, 1873, in St. Johns, Antigua, B. W. I., of Mary Parker, daughter of Alexander Parker, shipbuilder, and Alexander M. Jarvis, one of the pioneer Mico teachers. His early life was spent in St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Tobago, Trinidad and Grenada, where his father was a school teacher with a wide reputation. His father died in Grenada, October 13, 1883. The family returned to Antigua, where Joseph continued his schooling at Spring Gardens and All Saints. He passed the pupil teachers' examination and then went to learn the art of seamanship. One year abroad, in South America, satisfied his wanderlust, and he returned home, finished his trade of shoe-making and started in business.
In 1893 he was converted and immediately began a systematic study of the Bible and took two years of theology, working in the meantime to support his mother, preaching the Gospel in all parts of his home; in 1898 he was led to Porto Rico. With the Rev. G. S. Swenson, he opened the first Protestant Mission at the close of the war. The Christian Herald of October, 1899, published this fact. Owing to his travel in early childhood, he had a working knowledge of various languages and became an economic quantity in the religious life of Porto
Rico. The American Bible Society immediately asked for his services as Colporteur. He served this Society for two years. The demand for missionaries grew and he was called upon to accept a church in the Marina, of San Juan. His life was a busy one, as he was Spanish principal of the Presbyterian school at the same place, was English teacher at Rio Piedras; was interpreter, the meantime, for the Christian Church and had a lucrative position as private teacher between times. Owing to his general fitness the Presbyterians arranged for the completion of his theological training and for meritorious service he was granted S. T. B., on the field.
He came to the United States in 1903 and located in Boston. He has been a consistent minister of the A. M. E. Church, a missionary of some ability and at present is band master of the Cartagenian Cadets of Lansing, an organization organized by him in 1913, which is doing
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JOSEPH WENTWORTH JARVIS, D.D.
effective work. Bishop C. S. Smith, in 1914, commended him in open conference for his work among the boys. At the general conference of 1912, Kansas City, he was elected member of the board of education for the 15th District. He was private secretary to Bishop Derrick, who was his cousin. During his travels South he spoke at Allen, Georgia State College, Morris Brown and Edward Waters University. Morris Brown conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1915. Dr. Jarvis attended the Escuela Normal of San Juan and taught in one of the Presbyterian Colleges of Mayaguez, P. R.
He is now serving his fourth year at Lansing, Mich. He has served under Bishops Handy, Shaffer, Derrick, Turner and Smith. He writes under the caption, "Minerals from Michigan."
Jenifer, Rev. B. J., was licensed to preach on April 4, 1899, by Rev. P. H. Fisher, presiding elder on the Chatard Circuit, Ossaquira County, Miss. He was ordained a deacon by Bishop M. B. Salter, January 21, 1906, at Leland, Miss. He held the appointment at Laringer, Miss., from 1904 to 1905. He next received an appointment to serve under Bishop Lampton, which he held from November 27, 1908, to 1909. Here he built a church which was named Jenifer's Chapel. His next appointment, from Bishop H. M. Turner, was to the Vicksburg Circuit. In 1911 Bishop J. M. Conner appointed him to the U. B. Circuit. He was ordained elder December
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. B. J. JENIFER.
7, 1912, by Bishop Conner, at Indianola, Miss., and was sent to St. James in Vicksburg, Miss., where he now is. In 1912 Rev. Jenifer built a church at Shiloh on the Vicksburg Circuit.
Jenifer, Rev. John Thomas, the son of Catherine and John H. Jenifer, was born a slave at Upper Marlborough, Prince George County, Maryland, March 10, 1835. He went with his owners to Baltimore in 1853, and there worked as porter for a period of five years in the store of his young master, Truman Dorsey, who was in the dry goods business. For two years he then worked as receiving and shipping clerk in the dry goods house of J. Edward Bird & Bros., for the sum of $16 and board.
He was converted in Sharp Street M. E. Church, April 4, 1856, and in October 1859 he went to New Bedford, Mass., in search of freedom and education. He joined the A. M. E. Church, under Rev. Henry J. Young. He studied at Taylor's Commercial College, in New Bedford, with the aim of going into the dry goods business. But he was licensed by Rev. William W. Grimes, pastor of Kempton Street A. M. E. Church, on February 5, 1862. He set sail for California on July 21, 1862, and was appointed by Missionary Elder T. M. D. Ward to Sacramento City Station, October 8, 1862. In 1863 he was assigned to Placerville Circuit, Eldorado County, having six preaching points, including the town of Coloma, where the first nugget of gold was discovered in Suter's mill race in 1848. At Placerville, he purchased a lot for a parsonage, also a lot upon which he built a church at a cost of $2,500, leaving only an indebtedness of $80 when he left. During this time he taught the city school for colored children. Bishop J. P. Campbell organized the California Conference, April 10, 1865, at San Francisco, Rev. Jeremiah B. Sampson, secretary; J. T. Jenifer, assistant. At that session, on April 13, Rev. J. T. Jenifer was ordained deacon.
From this conference he was transferred to the Ohio
Conference, having saved $1,000 in order to enter Wilberforce University. After supplying Virginia City Station four months, he entered Wilberforce University, January 22, 1866. He studied under Bishop Payne for five years, by whom he was ordained elder on April 22, 1869. While at Wilberforce, he served as pastor of Selma Circuit, Lebanon Circuit, the College Church, Secretary of the Trustee and Executive Boards, and has been permanent trustee since 1874. From Ohio he was transferred to Arkansas and stationed at Bethel Church, Little Rock, serving two terms, of four years each; next to St. John A. M. E. Church, Pine Bluff, two years between. At Little Rock, he built a new brick church costing $22,000, leaving only $1,500; and gathered in many souls. He served as a member of the board of examiners for
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JOHN THOMAS JENIFER.
the public schools of the city and secured the appointment of colored teachers. He served as secretary of the Arkansas Conference for eight years.
In 1880 he was transferred to Charles Street, Boston, Mass., where he found a mortgage of $32,000 and a floating debt of $1,700, with a membership of about 300. He served this charge for six consecutive years, built it up and collected $48,000 for all purposes, and in 1883 collected $21,115 in one year, paid $7,000 interest on the mortgage debt, leaving on $9,300 to be paid at three per cent interest. While he was in Boston, Wilberforce University conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
He was next appointed to Meeting Street Station, at Providence, serving one year, during which he was elected financial agent for Wilberforce University, and was appointed presiding elder of the New England Conference. After serving in this capacity, he was appointed to Turo Chapel, Newport, R. I., where in six weeks he raised $741.41, and paid off all the floating debts. After three months at Newport, he was transferred to take charge of Quinn Chapel at Chicago, Ill. Here he sold the old property on Fourth Avenue for $50,000 cash, paid off $11,000 mortgage, purchased lots upon which he had erected the present magnificent stone edifice at a cost of $70,000, leaving an enrolment of 1,500 members and 1,100 Sunday school scholars, and a property value of $100,000, putting African Methodism in a representative position for the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893. After serving here for four years, he was selected by the bishops for the Metropolitan Church, at Washington, D. C., where he served four years with success. His next charges were in Baltimore at St. John's Church and Waters Chapel, which he served two years respectively.
About this time he was chosen by the Council of Bishops as secretary of the Connectional Preachers' Aid; wrote its constitution and certificates and had it chartered and organized October 4, 1897, in St. John's A. M. E. Church, Baltimore, of which he was then pastor, Bishop James A. Handy, presiding, John W. Beckett, secretary.
Rev. Jenifer served the C. P. A. as secretary for six years, without salary from the connectional treasury, visited 27 annual conferences in one year and 17 during the succeeding year, collected $3,200 during his term, in aid of the families of deceased itinerant preachers. At the general conference at Chicago, he gave up the C. P. A., and was appointed by Bishop B. F. Lee as presiding elder of the Eastern District of the Baltimore Conference, which he served two years, and served five years over the Baltimore District. At the expiration of his term he was assigned to Mt. Moriah A. M. E. Church, Annapolis, Md.
During his 47 years of active service he has secured $250,000 in cash and property to the A. M. E. Connection, traveled 200,000 miles and has been in every State in the Union except eight; in Canada and Central America; has preached more than six thousand sermons, held revivals in each charge and has gathered hundreds of souls into the church. He has served in seven conferences and under thirteen bishops, and never marked. He has been a member of the general conference since 1872.
He has served as chairman of the executive committee from the Arkansas Conference, in the erection of the monument in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, in memory of Bishop Allen, at the Centennial in 1876, and on this occasion he delivered the address. He was secretary of Commission of 1880 on organic union with the B. M. E. Church; was chairman of the Commission upon organic union with the A. M. E. Zion Church; was a member of the advisory board of the Auxiliary Congress of African Ethnology of the World's Fair in 1893 at Chicago.
The general conference of 1912, at Kansas City, elected him historiographer of the A. M. E. Church, since which time he has prepared and published the Centennial Retrospect History of African Methodism.
Jennifer, William, was born in Cambridge, Maryland, but knows little or nothing of his birthplace as he was carried further south during infancy by his parents, James and Henrietta Jennifer. Much of his childhood life was spent at and near Chotard, Miss. He entered the Christian fold in his teens, joining the A. M. E. Church, of which he has been a faithful member ever since. Early in his career and while teaching in the town of Lake Providence, La., he was induced by Bishop Grant to accept the principalship of the Delhi Normal School and Agricultural Institute, at Delhi, La. Nearing the end of his six years' pedagogic work in this town he met and married Miss Syme Louis Jones, an accomplished and beautiful young woman of Mt. Herman Seminary, Clinton, Miss. Five children have blessed this union, four of whom are still living and have won distinction in the schools of Washington, D. C. On account of the superior inducement for school work in Texas Prof. Jennifer afterwards went to that State, where he became principal of the school at Milford. Soon after his arrival in the State he was elected president of the Colored Teachers' County Association. In 1900 he took the examination in New Orleans, La., for a clerkship in the Twelfth U. S. census and passed with an exceptionally high average, and was subsequently
appointed to the position he now holds at Washington, D. C. In two years after entering the Census Bureau as clerk, he held the record in his section for "quality work," having tabulated 600 schedules in one day without an error. In 1903 he matriculated in the medical department of Howard University. After three years he was interrupted in his studies there by his detail to field work for the U. S. Census Bureau in connection with the census of religious bodies. In 1907 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy from Paul Quinn College at Waco, Tex. In 1914 he was given supervisory work in the U. S. Census Bureau, being one of the clerks selected to do the tabular work for the "Negro Bulletin" and for the subsequent "Report on Negroes in the United States and its Outlying Possessions." He was ordained to the deaconate by Bishop Salter, and is an eloquent pulpit and platform orator and a versatile writer and essayist. He was a lay delegate to the general conferences of 1904 and 1908, and in 1916 was favorably mentioned for connectional statistician.
Johnson, Andrew Jackson, son of Andrew and Mattie Johnson, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born January 31, 1876, at Thomasville, Ga., one of six children. He received his education in the public schools of Thomasville and Morris Brown University, receiving degrees A.B. and A.M. from the latter. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1894; has served as steward, trustee, class leader, Sunday school teacher and superintendent. He was lay delegate to the general conferences of 1904 and 1916. He married Miss Mattie J. Smith, daughter of Rev. L. H. Smith, Sr., September 9, 1902. They had four children: Harold, Agell, Minnie and Mattie. He has contributed to the Atlanta (Ga.) Independent; is author of "International Law" and "The Law of Social Problems." Addressed the Alumni Association of Morris Brown University and Y. M. C. A. of Charleston, S. C.; was editor of the East Coast Herald, of St. Augustine, Fla., and principal of the Junior High School. He is connected with the G. U. O. of O. F., Masons, K. of P., Court of Calanthe and Sublime Order of Archery, and has held the office of chancellor commander in the K. of P., Banking Archer in the S. O. of A., and is actively associated with Johnson Home Industrial College, Plains, Ga., and owns real estate.
Johnson, Prof. Charles Henry, was born in Ashland, Ohio, 1874. He attended Wilberforce University from which he graduated in 1893. He received the degree A.M. from Morris Brown University. He graduated from the Art Institution of Chicago in 1900. He was converted in 1887 and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He taught Sunday school at Wilberforce for ten years. Taught at State College, Normal, Ala., one year; taught five years at Kittrell College, and at Wilberforce since 1900. He was elected in 1912 at Kansas City, general secretary of the Laymen's Missionary Movement of the A. M. E. Church. He married Miss Costello Carr, of Kentucky, who was born in Abingdon, Ohio, in 1915. Mrs. Johnson was principal of the Kirksville, Ky., school before marriage. He has contributed to the church papers and the local papers of Green County, Ohio. He wrote the pamphlet, "Men at Work," and "Laymen Missionary Movement." He campaigned in the Laymen's Movement in Memphis and Nashville, Tenn., Little Rock, Ark., New Orleans, La., Jackson, Miss., Birmingham and Huntsville, Ala., Atlanta, Columbus, Americus, Savannah, Millen, Thomasville, Haharra and Bainbridge, Ga., Louisville and Paducah, Ky., Metropolis, Springfield, and Chicago, Ill., Indianapolis, Ind., Cleveland, Toledo, Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus, Ohio, and Charleston, West Virginia. He was government official at Jamestown Exposition, 1907, custodian of Ohio Exhibit at Lincoln Jubilee in Chicago, 1915. He is associated with the Teachers' Association of Western Drawing and Art Teachers' Association.
Johnson, Rev. David Templeton, was born in Morristown, N. J., November 29, 1867. He was educated in the public schools of New York, and returned to his native town in 1884, at which time he entered the employ of W. F. Day, one of Morristown's most prominent business men, and learned the catering
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. DAVID T. JOHNSON.
business, himself becoming a popular caterer and successful restauranteur. In 1892 he married Miss Mary V. Smith, of Virginia.
In 1897 he was converted and became an active member of Bethel A. M. E. Church, Morristown. In 1904 he became totally blind, and has since mastered the letter system. In 1913 he was ordained deacon by Bishop Evans Tyree. He is a Sunday school teacher of ability and a good preacher, and possesses a good library.
His great grandfather, with his two brothers, was brought to New York direct from Africa. His own father was a veteran of the Civil War, being honorably discharged and pensioned by the Government. His mother was a member of the A. M. E. Church until her death.
Johnson, Rev. David Henry, the eldest son of the late Griffin C. Johnson and Henrietta Johnson, was
born five or six years before the Civil War, in Jacks township, Laurens County, S. C.
His educational advantages were limited, in early life, to attendance for three weeks in the settlement school and to home instructions by his father, and such information as he could pick up from time to
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. DAVID HENRY JOHNSON, D.D.
time until after the death of his father, when he began the struggle in life for himself. He went to town, worked in the office of the clerk of the court, who was a cousin, Ira W. Rice, working mornings and afternoons
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. D. H. JOHNSON.
and attending school of the city, of which Rev. Benjamin F. McDowell was principal.
At the close of the term young Johnson received a certificate and taught in the public school during the summer of 1873; in the fall he entered the normal department of the then South Carolina College, and continued in this department until the spring of 1877, when the Democrats took the Government and turned colored students out of the institution. David Henry continued to teach and study under the direction of private schools and teachers. He studied Greek and theology under the direction of Rev. Alfred A. Wright.
He was taken early and given work in the Church as clerk to the stewards, while he was yet in his teens, then was placed on the steward board to fill a vacancy caused by death; was made superintendent of the Sunday school, leader of the choir, class leader, local preacher; taken up and appointed to Kelton Mission in 1881; was admitted into the Columbia Conference, in 1882, and served Sandy Run Circuit three years; St. Matthew's Station, three years; Cokesbury, four years; Abbeville, five years; Warrenton Circuit, one year; president Allen University, five years; Sumter Station, one year; Spartanburg Station, four years; Abbeville District, four years; Greenwood District, one year; Greenville Station present charge.
He is a Republican, and has filled such positions as manager, commissioner and supervisor of county elections. Member of the General Conference of 1892, Philadelphia; 1904, Chicago; 1908, Norfolk, and 1912, Kansas City, and the Centennial General Conference of 1916. Trustee for years of Allen University and treasurer of the same from 1913 to 1916. When the Piedmont negotiated for the Sterling College property he was selected the acting president and treasurer of same.
In 1896 Allen University conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity upon him. Rev. F. Y. Dendy writes of him: "Dr. Johnson is one of the most pious and scholarly men of the A. M. E. Church in South Carolina, and has the respect and confidence of all who know him."
Johnson, Rev. George Clyde, is the son of Rev. Ivory and Laura Johnson, both members of the A. M. E. Church, Rev. Ivory Johnson being one of the
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. GEORGE CLYDE JOHNSON.
pioneer preachers of South Carolina. He was born September 7, 1877, at Helena, S. C., and was one of eight children. He attended the public schools, and
in 1892 entered Allen University, where he spent four years, graduating in 1896. He was converted in 1892, joining the A. M. E. Church the same year. He was licensed to preach in 1900, at Sumter, S. C.; was ordained deacon in 1901, at Minning, S. C., by Bishop Gaines, and elder in 1904, at Marion, by Bishop Coppin. He joined the annual conference in 1900, at Sumter, under Bishop W. J. Gaines, and has held the following appointments: Zion Hill Mission, 1901; Russell Mission, 1902-1904; Faneston Circuit, 1905; Good Hope Circuit, 1906; St. Peter's Station, 1907-10; Feldenville, 1911-1914; presiding elder of Columbia District, 1915 to date.
He built Alderman's Chapel, Alcoln, at a cost of $5000, in 1904; lifted a mortgage on St. Peter's Church, at Cameron, to the amount of $200, in 1908. He has been secretary of the Northern and Southern Conferences, and treasurer of the Missionary Board of the Columbia Conference.
He married Mrs. Emma Lela Johnson, of Bishopville, S. C., in 1901. He has contributed to the several Recorders, and wrote the "History of the Life of the late Nathaniel Chiles." He is connected with the K. of P., F. and A. M., Knights of King David, Eastern Star and Calantha. He has held prominent offices in each. He is a property owner. Rev. Johnson is a member of the Centennial General Conference.
Johnson, George F., was born in Elizabethtown, N. J., March 15, 1842. His childhood days were spent in Williamsburg, L. I., N. Y. Through the Christian influence of his mother he became a preacher, and has been the means of bringing many souls to Christ. He served in the U. S. Army during the Civil War as second sergeant of Company C., Fourteenth Rhode
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. GEORGE F. JOHNSON
Island Heavy Artillery; Eleventh Regiment United States Colored Troops. He is past commander and adjutant of I. M. Tucker Post, G. A. R., and past chaplain of the Morning Star Lodge, No. 15, F. and A. M. He was converted in 1867 and joined the U. A. M. E. Church; he was called to the ministry in 1869. In 1877 he was licensed to preach; ordained deacon in 1880, and ordained elder in 1888. He held many appointments in the U. A. M. E. Church in New York. In 1902, while president of the second Episcopal district, he withdrew from that Church and joined the Baptist Church. In 1909 he joined the A. M. E. Church, at Asbury Park, and joined the annual conference the following year, and has pastored Mt. Teman, Elizabeth, N. J.; Greenfield, Mass.. He was sent back to New Jersey by the annual conference, in 1915, because of ill health.
Johnson, Bishop John Albert, son of John and Mary Johnson, both members of the Church in their community, was born October 29. 1857, at Oakville, Ont., Canada. He was one of four children. Began
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP J. ALBERT JOHNSON.
attending school at four years of age, and spent in all, sixteen years in school, receiving his education at the High School, Hamilton Institute and Upper Canada College. He was converted, and joined the British M. E. Church, in 1874. He was licensed to
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. J. ALBERT JOHNSON.
preach in 1874, at Toronto, by Rev. S. D. Smith, and joined the annual conference in 1875, under Bishop Nazrey; was ordained deacon in 1876, at Halifax, N. S., by Bishop Disney, and elder in 1880 by Bishop Disney.
He has been a delegate to every general conference since 1880; was a fraternal delegate to the M. E. General Conference, Cleveland, 1896, and delegate to two ecumenical conferences of 1891 and 1901. He was voted for the bishopric in 1908, in Norfolk, Va., and elected bishop for South Africa, where he has served very successfully for eight years, coming to America only twice in that time to attend the general conferences of 1912 and 1916. He is now presiding bishop of the second episcopal district. He was a member of two ecumenical conferences.
He married Minnie S. Goosley, of Liverpool, N. S., in the Dominion of Canada, in 1880. They have two children--Roland R. and Percival Courtland Johnson. The elder, Roland R., is a successful physician in New York, while the younger practices dentistry in Philadelphia, Pa. He owns a home.
Johnson, Rev. John Quincy, whose father, Andrew Johnson, was a member of the Catholic Church, and whose mother, Jackette Johnson, was a member of the Christian Church; was born May 30, 1870, at Nashville, Tenn., one of eleven children. He began school at the age of six and attended until the age of twenty-five, going principally to the Keys School, Belleview School and Fisk University, in Nashville; Princeton University, N. J., and Hartford Divinity School, Hartford, Conn. He received B.A. degree
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JOHN QUINCY JOHNSON, D.D.
from Fisk; B.D. from Hartford, and D.D. from Morris Brown, and took two years' post-graduate work in the Princeton Theological Seminary. He joined St. John's Church, Nashville, in 1878, and has, therefore, been an African Methodist nearly all of his life. In his Church he served as trustee, class leader, exhorter, local preacer, and Sunday school teacher. Held appointments at the following places: Mt. Pisgah, Princeton, N. J.; St. John's, Montgomery, Ala., 1895-1898; St. John's, Birmingham, Ala., 1898-1900; St. Paul's, Nashville, Tenn., 1900-1903; presiding elder of Columbia District, 1905-1910; pastor at Woodfork Chapel, Shelbyville, 1910-1911; presiding Elder of North Nashville District, 1911 to date, and dean of theology, Turner College, since 1914. Was delegate to general conference at Columbia, O., 1900; Chicago, 1904; Norfolk, 1908, and is a member of the Centennial General Conference of 1916; was a member of the Education Board, 1904 to 1908, and president of Allen University, Columbia, S. C., 1894-5; fraternal delegate to C. M. E. General Conference, at Nashville, 1902.
Married Miss Hallie Tanner, daughter of Bishop Tanner, in 1894, and their children were four--John Q., Jr., Benjamin T., Henry T., Sadie T. Miss Sadie T. Johnson is a graduate of Fisk University. Benjamin T. Johnson is a graduate of West High School, Pennsylvania. After the death of Mrs. Hallie T. Johnson, Dr. Johnson married Miss Quintella Hall, the daughter of J. Q. Hall and Mrs. Priscilla Hall of Mt. Pleasant, Tenn., and they had one daughter, Ruth Johnson. Dr. Johnson has been a newspaper correspondent for twenty-five years. He wrote "The Fifth Tuskegee Negro Conference" for the John F. Slater Fund; delivered an address, "The New Emancipation," at Alabama State Normal School, Morris Brown College, Fisk University, and Meharry Medical College, and at one time taught mathematics at Tuskegee Institute. He is a member of G. U. O. of O. F., F. and A. M., K. of P. Has been more or less connected with politics, and has been independent. Owns his home. He is a trustee of Wilberforce University, of Turner College and a member of Southern Sociological Congress.
Johnson, King S., son of Pendleton and Rebecca Johnson, was born less than 40 years ago in the State of Texas, attended the public schools of his home town, Brazoria, graduated from Tuskegee Normal School in 1903; taught a year in Hungerford Industrial School, Eatonville, Fla. He had a desire to try the business field and went to Sanford, Fla., and opened a general merchandise store, which after working five years was destroyed by fire. He then opened an undertaking establishment, and at the same time took a course in theology, entered the ministry, and was appointed to Stone Bridge mission near Sanford, Fla. His wife was Miss Lizzie Johnson, of Sanford, Fla. They have five children. Brother Johnson was a lay delegate to the general conference of 1916, elected from the South Florida Conference.
Johnson, Rev. L. J., was born in Vicksburg, Miss., April 1, 1865; was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church, at Burlington, Kan., in 1886; was admitted into the itinerancy in 1890, at Wichita, Kan. He has served the following named places: Elwood and Tracy, White Cloud and Highland, Ellsworth, Kan.; Beatrice, Neb.; Quindaro, Kan.; St. James, Lawrence, Kan.; was manager of the boarding department of Quindaro, Kan., for three years; Cheyenne, Wyoming; Jackson, Mo.; Perry, Okla.; El Reno, Okla; Enid, Okla., six years, at which place a neat, modern church was built and paid for during his jurisdiction. He is now serving the third year as presiding elder of the Guthrie District. Faithful service has been rendered at all of the afore-named places, and much good was accomplished for the Church. In the meantime he has secured four houses and ten lots in the beautiful little city of Enid, at which place he has resided for the past ten years. He is blessed by having for his companion
a cultured lady, Mrs. Lalla M. Johnson, a teacher for several years in the public schools of the state. He studied for the ministry at Western University, Quindaro,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. L. J. JOHNSON, B.D.
Kan. He served in the Kansas Conference eleven years; Colorado Conference, one year; Missouri Conference, two years; Oklahoma Conference, ten years.
Johnson, Moses G., a steward in Mother Bethel A. M. E. Church, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., June 9, 1855. His parents, Mr. George and Mrs. Mary Ann Johnson, were both members of Mother Bethel Church, and his grandmother was a member of the
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. MOSES G. JOHNSON.
first Bethel A. M. E. Church during the days of Bishop Richard Allen, hence he has more than ordinary attachment to this cradle of African Methodism. He attended school from the age of seven for about nine years, attending principally Bird's School, at Sixth, above Lombard street, Philadelphia. He was converted in January, 1897, and joined Bethel Church, in which he is steward, Sunday school teacher and church marshal. His wife is Mrs. Rosa E. Johnson, to whom he was married, in 1908. He is founder and president of Bethel Historical Commission, and author of the centennial souvenir of Mother Bethel; a charter member and secretary of Allen Guards, the custodian of Bishop Allen's tomb, charter member of Sarah Allen League, founder of Bethel's Young People's Association, former president of Bethel A. C. E. League. Mr. Johnson has been a member of the Central Committee of Colored Republicans, a contributor to several periodicals and is a lay delegate to the Centennial General Conference, representing the Philadelphia Conference.
Johnson, Mrs. Rosa, was born in 1861, in Washington, D. C., the seventh of twelve children of William and Jane Budd. She was educated in the public schools of Washington, D. C., graduating from the High School in 1879, and taught for awhile in the public schools of Washington. She was married to Mr. James Johnson, and moved to Cleveland, O., where she continued to reside.
In 1897 she received a definite call to the missionary work, and offered herself to her Church as a missionary
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. ROSA JOHNSON.
to Africa, but the thought that her health would not permit the test of the African climate prevented this much coveted service. Since the death of Mr. Johnson, in 1905, she has given her entire time to the missionary work of the A. M. E. Church. She gave ten years of service in the slums of Cleveland, and scores of young men and women are now living strong Christian lives, who were rescued from the thraldom of sin through her efforts. She has been elected president of the Woman's Mite Missionary Society of the North Ohio Conference for twenty-five consecutive years, and has traveled constantly through the conference organizing and strengthening the Junior and Woman's Mite Missionary Societies. In 1903, at Pittsburgh, she was elected field agent for the parent body, and traveled extensively when in that office, lecturing on various topics relative to the missionary work. She has been elected for the third term first vice-president of the parent Mite Society. She
edited the Missionary Circular for the North Ohio missionary societies. When the Woman's Missionary Recorder was issued the Circular was abolished, and she is now a constant contributor to this journal.
She is also interested in the temperance work, having served as president for eight years of the Thurman Union, of Cleveland, O., and also as county evangelist. At the annual conference, held at Oxford, O., Bishop Arnett requested her to deliver an address on temperance to the students of Miami College, of that town, during this session of conference, and when the appointments were given he said to her, "Take this," and it was her evangelistic license, so that with her other duties, she entered the field as an evangelist, and has held meetings in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina, winning hundreds of souls for the Master.
Johnson, Samuel James, one of nine children of Green and Sarah Johnson, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born February 22, 1877, at Nelsonville, Tex.; began attending school in 1885; received degree of D.D. from Campbell College, Jackson, Miss.; attended Bible school at Tillottson College, at Austin, Tex., two years; was converted April 28, 1895; joined Sealine Chapel A. M. E. Church 1895; held offices of steward, trustee, class leader, exhorter, local preacher, Sunday school teacher, Sunday school superintendent; was licensed to preach 1899 at Chapel
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. S. J. JOHNSON, D.D.
Hill, Tex., by Rev. G. E. Taylor; was ordained deacon 1902 in Victoria, Tex., by Bishop Salters; ordained elder 1904 at Smithville, Tex., by Bishop Tyree; joined the annual conference 1901 at Bostrop, Tex., under Bishop Salter; held the following appointments, all in Texas: Colvin mission, 1901; Somerville mission, three years; Bostrop station, two years; Tunis mission, one year; Samey Chapel circuit, two years; Chapel Hill station, three years; now in his fourth year at Metropolitan station, Austin; built churches at King Chapel, at Colvin, Tex., $200, 1901; Chapel Hill, $2000, 1906; Samuel Chapel, Buckhorn, $200, 1907; parsonage, Chapel Hill, $1200, 1912; has taken over 700 people into church; baptized 259; was delegate to general conferences of 1908, 1912, 1916; member educational board 1908-1912; secretary West Texas Conference four years; trustee of Paul Quinn College six years; member of executive board of Paul Quinn College four years; chairman of the general conference delegation of Tenth Episcopal District, 1916. He was twice married, first in 1899 and second in 1912, his first wife having died. He has had three children: Roberta Camoler, Bessie Burgan (deceased), Coppin Roosevelt. Dr. Johnson is a member of the following secret orders: K. of P., G. U. O. O. F., A. O. O. P., I. O. O. C., F. and A. M.; held offices of junior grand warden of G. L. F. and A. Masons of Texas; past grand chaplain, past grand Joshua Heroines of Jericho, of Texas. He owns his home.
Johnson, Rev. Samuel M., was born July 7, 1857, in Burkettsville, Md., the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Johnson. He was reared in a mountain valley, in pure atmosphere and picturesque scenes, amidst beautiful landscapes. His father and mother nourished his mind with the milk of Gospel grace, and taught him that by humility and fear of the Lord were riches,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. SAMUEL M. JOHNSON, D.D.
honor and life. In the year 1872 he was converted, and joined "Serious" Bethel Church, a church in the Petersville Circuit, in the Baltimore Conference of the A. M. E. Church. He was licensed to preach in 1876, by Rev. J. R. Henry; admitted into the itinerancy in 1879, at Washington, D. C.; ordained deacon at Hagerstown, Md., in 1883; ordained elder at Havre de Grace, Md., in 1885; entered Howard University, Washington, D. C., in 1880, graduating from the preparatory and theological departments. For twenty-five years he served in the state of his nativity acceptably and successfully. He was one of those faithful men who never had to explain why he did not have conference claims or neglected other things in his pastoral work. Morris Brown College, Atlanta, Ga., conferred upon him the degree of doctor of divinity in 1904. He
Bishop Lee, and appointed presiding elder of the was transferred to the Virginia Conference in 1903 by Portsmouth District, and served five years. Bishop Gaines appointed him presiding elder of the Norfolk District, and he served one year. He was then appointed to St. John's Church, Norfolk, Va., and served two years, and was transferred back to the Baltimore Conference in 1911 by Bishop Coppin, and appointed presiding elder of the Hagerstown district, and served three years; then sent to his present charge, Trinty A. M. E. Church, Baltimore, Md. Dr. Johnson was a delegate to the general conference of 1912, and is an alternate to the Centennial General Conference of 1916.
Johnson, W. B., was born of Christian parents at Cheshire, Ohio. He graduated from the High School of Middleport, Ohio. After having taught four years in Ohio and one year in West Virginia he entered Wilberforce University, graduated from this institution with the degree of Bachelor of Science and with first honors. After serving as principal of Tullibody Academy, Greensboro, Ala., for one year, he resigned to become the first president of our school work at
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. W. B. JOHNSON, B.S., D.D.
Selma, Ala., Payne University, which position he creditably filled for seven years. He entered the ministry in 1889, under Bishop Gaines and was ordained by Bishop Grant at Mobile, Ala. He has been elected as a ministerial delegate to five consecutive general conferences. He has pastored for the full time the leading charges of Alabama, and has served as presiding elder for seven years; first the Birmingham District and now the South Birmingham District. He received the master's degree from his Alma Mater in 1900, and the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him in 1903 by Allen University. Dr. Johnson is earnest and convincing in argument and is much in demand as a platform speaker. He has an exemplary wife and three children and a nice home.
Johnson, Rev. William Decker, former commissioner and secretary of education of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Calvert County, Md., March 19, 1842. He was the son of George Hamilton and Elizabeth Johnson. He attended both private and public school. He was converted in 1861. He entered Lincoln University in 1862, and graduated in 1868, receiving the degree of A.B. In 1871 Lincoln conferred upon him A.M., and in 1880 D.D. He was always a student. He was a member of the general conferences since 1876. He was licensed to preach at Oxford, Pa., in 1863, by Rev. Andrew Till. He was ordained deacon in Philadelphia, in 1867, by Bishop Wayman, and ordained elder by Bishop Brown, in 1872. He held appointments at St. Paul's, Washington, D. C.; Tallahassee, Fla.; Apalachicola, Fla.; Eatonton, Ga.; Atlanta, Savannah, Macon, Columbus, Athens, and was presiding elder of Marietta and Griffin Districts. He was commissioner of education of the A. M. E. Church from 1884 to 1896, and president of Allen University from 1904 to 1908. He was several times voted for the bishopric, and came within a very few votes of election. He died at Athens, Ga., April 10, 1909.
Johnson, Rev. William Decker, was born at Glasgow, Thomas County, Ga., November 15, 1869. His father, Rev. A. J. Johnson, was one of the pioneers of the A. M. E. Church in South Georgia. His mother, Mattie McCullough Johnson, was of good old Methodist parentage. William was placed in school at the age of four, and always had good teachers. He was an apt
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. WILLIAM DECKER JOHNSON, D.D.
student. At the age of fourteen years he was granted a first grade certificate to teach in the public schools, and began teaching in Ware County, Ga. It was while teaching in this county that his father died, leaving to his care a mother and five young children.
In 1879 he was converted, and united with the church at Whigham, Ga. He was licensed to exhort in 1887, by Rev. W. H. Powell, and in October of the same year he was granted a license to preach by Dr. J. B. Lofton. In July, 1889, he was assigned by Rev. W. O. P. Sherman to the pastoral charge of Westonia
Mission, and was admitted into the Georgia Conference in December of the same year, at Brunswick, Ga. During the year 1890 he served as district Sunday school superintendent of the Thomasville District.
The Conference of 1890 met in Dawson, Ga., and here Rev. Johnson was assigned to the pastoral charge of Dawson Mission. Here he built the church at Graves Station, teaching school for the money to pay for the same. Here also he met Miss Winnifred E. Simon, a young lady of ability and culture, to whom he was married, December 3, 1891, by Rev. A. W. Lowe. In 1893 he was assigned to the Cuthbert Circuit; in 1894-95, Blakely Station; 1896-97, Arlington Circuit; 1898-99, Albany Station; 1900-1903, presiding elder of the Bainbridge District. In three years he had so developed the work that it became necessary to form a new district, the Blakely District. Rev. Johnson would often walk to his appointments, regardless of distance, would lift collections, giving all to the pastors and then walk home again. During 1904-05 he served as pastor of Americus Station; 1906-07, presiding elder of the Thomasville District; 1908, presiding elder of the Columbus District; 1909-11, was pastor of St. James Station, one of the largest in the state; 1912-16, presiding elder of the Cuthbert District.
Rev. Johnson served as secretary of the Georgia Conference for three years; has served the Southwest Georgia Conference in a like capacity for nineteen years; has served as secretary of the trustee board of Morris Brown University for twelve years. The degree of doctor of divinity was conferred upon him by Morris Brown College in 1904.
He is a prominent Mason, Odd Fellow, Pythian, Circler, Archer (being the founder of the Order), and in many other organizations of his state. He is the founder of Johnson Home-Industrial College, located at Archery, Ga., a little village founded by him for the education of the poorest of the poor. He is a fluent and interesting speaker, and a hard student and worker. He has kept abreast with the times by private study and wide reading, having taken several correspondence courses.
He was a member of the general conferences of 1900, 1904, 1908 and 1912, and served as chief secretary of the last two sessions. He was a delegate to the Ecumenical Conference of 1911, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and is a delegate to the Centennial General Conference of 1916. He is the recognized leader of the Southwest Georgia Conference.
Johnson, W. T., was born August 4, 1881, in Tallahachic County, Miss.; joined the A. M. E. Church in 1898; was ordained elder by Bishop Derrick, at Greenville, Miss., in 1900. He attended public school of his home and Zion College, Winona, Miss.; Rust University, Holly Springs, Miss.; Baptist College, Muskogee, Okla., and Campbell College, Jackson, Miss.; traveled 13 years as pastor, and is now serving as presiding elder of Yazoo City (Miss.) District of East Mississippi Conference. The degree of D.D. was conferred by Campbell College in 1915. He was a delegate to the general conference of 1916.
Joiner, Edwin Carrol, was born April 14, 1841, in St. Clair County, Ill., and died at Springfield, Ill., January 26, 1888. He was one of six children. He entered school in 1848 and received about eight years' schooling. After he became of age he entered the ministry and taught in evening classes and to private students, always being very studious and ambitious, not only to help others, but also to advance himself intellectually as well as spiritually. He was converted in 1853 and joined the A. M. E. Church at Bloomington, Ill., the same year. He held almost every office in the church. He was licensed to preach in 1858 at Peoria, Ill., by J. W. Davis, joined the Annual Conference in 1858, and was often called the "Boy Preacher." He held appointments at Richmond, Ind.; Des
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. E. C. JOINER.
Moines, Ia.; Muscatine, Keokuk, Bloomington, Lincoln, Decatur, Bellville, Alton, Cairo, Springfield, Quincy, Metropolis, Peoria, Danville, Pontiac, East St. Louis and Chicago. He built the following churches: Quinn Chapel, Chicago, at a cost of $50,000, in 1876-7; St. John, at Springfield; one church at Decatur and one at Bellville.
He paid off many church debts. He took over 2500 people into the church, baptized about 2,000 and married 550. He was delegate to the General Conferences of 1880 and '84. He married Francis Badgett, of Muscatine, Ia., July 1862. They had four children: Laura, William, Ida and Harry. Laura E. Joiner is a graduate of Springfield High School and Howard University Medical School. William A. Joiner is a graduate of High School, Wilberforce and Howard Universities. Rev. E. C. Joiner was a Mason and a Republican and property owner. He was one of the pioneers in the A. M. E. Church.
Joiner, William A., the son of Rev. E. C. and Frances E. (Badgett) Joiner, both of whom were members of the A. M. E. Church, was born at Alton, Ill., July, 1867, the second of seven children, all of whom died before reaching maturity except himself and one sister, Dr. Laura E. Joiner, now residing in Washington, D. C.
William A. Joiner completed the common schools of Illinois, attending in many cities as is the lot of a
Methodist minister's children. In the high school at Springfield, Ill., he showed evidence of superior ability. During three years of the course he worked on a newspaper, reporting at 3 A. M. for duty; waiting two meals a day at a hotel for his board and the extra he could make, at the same time learning the photographer's trade, doing this to save money with a view of going to college. Notwithstanding these six to seven teams of the school, and graduated third in a large class, all white, except himself and sister.
Winning a scholarship on the George Washington fund, out of a half dozen colleges (including Harvard,
[ILLUSTRATION]
PROF. WILLIAM A. JOINER, LL.M.
Michigan, Oberlin and University of Illinois), he chose Wilberforce, and entered scientific course with advanced standing. Not finding enough work in this course he took studies in the normal department, completed both courses, graduating with B.S. and a Normal diploma, 1888, being the first student to take both these courses at one time. He taught school at Jerseyville, Ill., two and a half years. In 1890 he entered a competitive examination with 600 applicants, in Sangamon County, and with his sister, passed at the head of the list, both being appointed to clerkships in Washington. Entered Howard University Law School, 1891; again demonstrated exceptional ability by completing the two year law course in one year, graduating in 1892 as valedictorian in class of thirty-three; took post course next year, graduating LL.M cum laude. Passed bar examination; was admitted to practice before Supreme Court, District of Columbia; admitted to bar of Illinois, 1894.
Was in great Ford Theatre disaster; escaped unhurt. Went out of office under Cleveland administration. Opened and successfully managed confectionery business for four years, while studying in Teachers' College, Howard University. Taught Latin, M Street High School, Washington, D. C., 1898 to 1904; Supervisor of Training School, Teachers' College, Howard University, 1904 to 1910. Superintendent combined normal and industrial department Wilberforce University, since 1910.
Converted in childhood, he has been a member of A. M. E. Church ever since. Has been steward, trustee, Sunday school teacher and superintendent; served on building committee, and raised large part of funds for building church at Jerseyville, Ill; served several years on educational and examining committee of the Illinois Annual Conference, rendering good service in interest of an educated ministry. Permanent aluminal trustee of Wilberforce. Organized Wilbeforcian Society of Washington; was twelve years its president. Projected and presided at the great national meeting for Wilberforce, March 8, 1910, President Taft being the principal speaker, with Justice John M. Harlan, Senator Dick, Bishop Hurst, Dr. Scarborough and W. T. Vernon.
In interest of purer athletics among Negro schools he organized the Interscholastic Athletic Association and as the president of that organization he edited the first Spaulding Guide giving athletic records and accomplishments of Negro youth. Took a year's post-graduate work in School of Education, University of Chicago, where he is, credited with degree of Ph.B. in education. His best work has probably been done as superintendent and financial officer of Normal and Industrial Departments of Wilberforce University, where he now is. In six years he added two years to the Normal Course, standardized the work, accrediting the department so that graduates may now receive lite certificates in the state without examination; increased the salaries of all instructors 40 to 60 per cent.; added new positions; revolutionized processes of the library, placed trained librarian in charge; completed senior girls' home where girls with trained nurse in charge, to care for sick students; placed physical training under medical director; secured preceptress for social instruction of girls; improved living conditions of teachers by building model homes with all modern improvements; secured legislation permitting buildings to be erected with student labor, thus paying out to students about ten thousand dollars annually and enabling them to learn trades under working conditions, at the same time supporting themselves; secured up-to-date equipment for all departments; installed a wireless station, the only radio station controlled by a Negro institution; induced Legislature to appropriate funds to complete $42,000 girls' dormitory, and to construct mechanic arts building, a $40,000 gymnasium, a $60,000 recitation building, an adequate water system, hospital building, five teachers' residences and generally improve buildings and grounds. He secured in less than state. (See Auditor's report, 1914 and 1915.) He established the first summer school at Wilberforce in 1916.
Teachers are required to take one month each year on pay for self-improvement. The compensation paid to the college department of Wilberforce University for teaching service was increased from $3500 to $5000 annually, and the University now shares benefits directly and indirectly amounting to from $15,000 to $20,000 a year, and Mr. Joiner is making the attempt to organize his teaching force in such manner as to help the University secure such collegiate recognition in the state as the normal department now has. His vision for Wilberforce is that of the greatest negro educational center in the country, with higher education and vocational training working hand in hand. He spent summer of 1913 in Europe studying school
systems of France, Germany, Belgium and England. He has published "Brief History Development of Negro Schools of the District of Columbia," "Half Century of Freedom of Negro in Ohio," a middle epic on Frederick Douglas, and much other readable verse, Class Song of '88, and School Song, "Dear Old Wilberforce." He is a Mason, Knight templar degree, member of National Educational Association, National Geographic Society, Ohio State Superintendents' Association, I. S. A. A.
Jones, G. W., was born February 4, 1870, near Alton, in Madison County, Ill. He received his education in the public schools of this county and Beloit College, Beloit, Wis. He was converted in 1894 in Edwardsville, Ill., and licensed to preach and entered the itinerate work in 1895. He married in 1898 and was transferred the same year to the Iowa Conference,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. G. W. JONES.
now known as the Chicago Conference, where he pastored eight years very successfully. In 1908 he was transferred back to the Illinois Conference, of which he is now a member, and for seven years pastored some of the leading charges in his conference. He is now serving his third year as presiding elder of the Quincy District and was a delegate to the Centennial General Conference, at Philadelphia, May, 1916.
Jones, H. L. P., was born June 21, 1874, in Giles County, near Pulaski, Tenn.; was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church at Boone Hill, Lincoln County, Tenn., in 1893; was licensed to preach under Dr. G. L. Jackson, then presiding elder of the North Nashville District; joined the Tennessee Conference at Chattanooga, Tenn., under Bishop Salter in 1893, and was ordained deacon under the missionary rule the same year. He was married to Miss Mary Bobbin Fannon, of Fayetteville, Tenn., January 9, 1895. He has pastored successfully the following charges: Belleview, Delbrose, Aspen Hill, Hartsville, Mt. Pleasant station, Payne chapel, Nashville Tenn., and is now the pastor of St. Paul, Nashville, Tenn., one of the largest churches of the connection. He was presiding elder of Shelbyville and Columbia districts six years. He built Payne chapel, Nashville, one of the most modern church edifices in Tennessee,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. H. L. P. JONES,. D.D.
at a cost of $20,000. He is a graduate of Turner College, Shelbyville, Tenn., of which he is now a trustee; he is also chief secretary of the Tennessee Conference, and delegate to general conference, 1916. 1860, in Maury County, near Mt. Pleasant, Tenn.
Jones, James A., was born of humble parents in His father was a North Carolinian, having come to Tennessee with his owners when quite a young man. His mother was the daughter of a half-breed Indian, her mother having died while she was quite a child. Dr. Jones was the fourth child born into a family of thirteen children. Early in life he imbibed a strong desire to learn to read and write. His mother was his first teacher. He attended such schools as were available during that early period of freedom, the teachers, for the most part, being scarcely above the third grade themselves. He would walk ten miles a day, going to and from school through a period of five months, and many a day rode twenty miles on horseback. He entered Fisk University at the age of 12 years and during his whole career in school, was regarded as a brilliant student. He was converted at the age of 17 while in college, and immediately joined St. John A. M. E. Church, where he was at that time a member of the Sunday school. He was licensed to exhort and preach by Rev. George H. Shaffer, who was pastoring the church in 1880. In 1881 he joined the Tennessee annual conference at Payne Chapel, Nashville, Bishop Campbell presiding. His first charge was Mt. Pleasant circuit, which was in reality a mission, for the congregation had no property of its own. In the second year of his administration, he bought the lot and church building in which his congregation had been worshipping alternately,
or in partnership with another denomination for a number of years. This is now one of the most important charges in the conference. He afterwards served the following charges: Tullahoma, Murfreesboro, Shelbyville, Fayetteville, Chattanooga, Pulaski and St. Paul, Nashville. From St. Paul he was elected president of Turner College, located at Shelbyville. His appointment to Shelbyville the first time had a twofold meaning--to pastor the church and serve as second principal of the school under Dr. B. A. J. Nixon. The following year he was promoted to the principalship, in which position he served acceptably. He built Warren Chapel A. M. E. Church, Chattanooga, during his four years' pastorate in that city, and dedicated the building. He has been serving Turner College as its president for
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JAMES A. JONES, A.M., D.D.
eleven years, and during that period, the property valuation has increased from about $1000 to about $40,000; and a student body from not more than 25, all-day students, to an enrollment of 150, 40 per cent. of whom are boarders in the buildings of the institution, representing several different States. Dr. Jones is frequently in demand to address public gatherings. He has twice delivered commencement addresses at the A. and M. College, Normal, Ala., and delivered a course of lectures at the same institution. He has preached baccalaureate sermons at Morris Brown and Payne Universities. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Turner College, and the degree of Master of Arts by Morris Brown. He has been a prominent candidate for the editorship of the Southern Christian Recorder for the last three general conferences. He was assistant editor of this journal under Dr. M. E. Bryant. Dr. Jones married in 1880 to Miss Gazella C. Roberts, of Memphis, Tenn., and from that union eight children were born, five of whom are living. His wife has been a constant support to him in all his labors both in the pastorate and in his school work. She now serves as matron of Turner College.
Jones, Bishop Joshua H., 38th bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Lexington County, South Carolina, June 15, 1856. He was converted at the age of ten years and immediately joined the Shady Grove A. M. E. Church of the Bull Swamp Circuit, Columbia Annual Conference, South Carolina. At the age of fourteen years he was made Sunday school teacher, and at the age of sixteen years he was made superintendent.
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP JOSHUA H. JONES, D.D., LL.D.
By the time he was eighteen years old he had served in all of the local spiritual and temporal offices of his church and was then licensed as a local preacher. He was a hard student, pursuing his studies into the late hours of the night by the pine-torchlight.
At the age of twenty-one years, he entered the Normal and College Preparatory Course of Claflin University, Orangeburg, South Carolina, finishing the course in 1880. He then went out to teach and preach one year; returning to Claflin he entered the College Course in 1881, graduating with the degree B.A. in 1885. He then entered Howard University, Washington, D. C., and studied for awhile, leaving to enter Wilberforce University, from which he was graduated in 1887, receiving the degree B.D. And after leaving the university walls he still prosecuted his studies. He served eight years on the School Board of Columbus, Ohio, where he acquired a large experience in school management. In 1900 he was elected president of Wilberforce University, where he served for eight years. Thence he returned to the pastorate and presiding eldership for four years. At the general conference at Kansas City, Mo., he was elected one of the bishops of the A. M. E. Church, and was assigned to the Ninth Episcopal District, including Tennessee and Alabama. He now is bishop of Texas.
Jones, J. J., was born July, 1867; attended the public school in North Carolina and the Christian Theological Seminary in Franklin, N. C.; went to Boston, Mass., and was at the unveiling of Crispus Attucks' monument; joined the church August 15, 1881, and was licensed to preach March, 1900; ordained elder May 20, 1907; transferred to Virginia and stationed at Bedford City, and paid a large part of the debt; was appointed to New Bethel circuit,
sold the old church, bought two lots in the town of South Hill and had the church rebuilt at a cost of
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. J. JONES.
$1325 in three months, and was transferred back to the Baltimore conference, where he now is.
Jones, Otho Eli, one of three children of Philip and Esther Elizabeth Jones, was born April 20, 1870, at Winton Place, Cincinnati, Ohio; began attending school at the age of seven, and attended Winton Place Grammar School, Gaines High, Wilberforce University and Payne Theological Seminary; received normal and industrial diplomas, Wilberforce; the degrees of B. D. and D. D. from Payne Theological Seminary; also teacher's diploma from Kentucky Reading Circle; was converted in 1888 and joined A. M. E. Church, Wilberforce, 1890; held offce of steward, trustee, class leader, exhorter, local preacher and Sunday school teacher; was licensed to preach in 1894, at Elmwood Place Mission, Rev. W. J. Johnson, pastor; Chas. Bundy, P. E.; was ordained deacon in 1897 at Columbus, Ohio, by Bishop Lee; ordained elder 1899 at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, by Bishop Lee; joined the annual conference in 1895 at Washington C. H., Ohio, under Bishop Arnett; held the following appointments: South Charleston Mission, Ohio, 1895-98; Toledo Station, Ohio, 1898-99; Cedarville, Ohio, 1900-1901; Oakland, Cal., 1901-1907; Kansas City, Kansas, 1907-13; presiding elder Hannibal district, North Missouri conference, 1913; pastor, Lexington, Ky., 1913 to date; also professor at Payne Theological Seminary, 1898-1901; at present chairman of board of examiners of Kentucky conference; taught in district and city schools of Kentucky; remodeled Fifteenth Street church, Oakland, Cal., at cost of $8000 in 1906; lifted mortgage on Fifteenth Street church, Oakland, Cal.; also on First A. M. E. church, Kansas City, Kansas. Dr. Jones is a member of Federal Council of Churches of Christ, of America. He married Miss Susannah Wesley Coleman, daughter of Rev. John Coleman, of Wilberforce, Ohio, in 1905. They have four children: Julia Esther, Kathryn L. Lorence (deceased), Otho Eli, Jr., and John Gazaway Jones. He has contributed to the Recorder, Review and many secular papers; made many addresses to fraternities and missionary societies (one time member of Western Federation of Missions as lecturer), and chautauqua addresses at various places, alumni address of Wilberforce University; addresses school commencements, emancipation addresses, etc. He was one of the committee in the erection of a monument to Jno. Brown on the campus of Western University, Quindaro, Kansas; was treasurer of Douglas hospital, Kansas, Mo., for several years; a member of Emancipation Organization, at Lexington, Kentucky, and active in charitable work. Was a member of the general conferences of 1912 and 1916.
Jones, Scott B., one of ten children of James and Elizabeth Brown, both members of the A. M. E. church; was born in Huntsville, Alabama, September 2, 1870. He began school at the age of eight years and was for some time a student at the Cook county normal school, Chicago; the State University, St. Paul, Minn., and Beloit (Wis.) College. In 1882 he was converted and joined Allen Temple, Cincinnati, Ohio. He held offices as steward, class leader, trustee, Sunday school teacher, exhorter, and was licensed to preach in 1886 at St. Mary's church, Chicago, by Rev. J. M. Henderson. In 1887 he joined the annual conference at Chicago under Bishop J. M. Brown, who ordained him deacon in 1888 at Oskaloosa, Iowa. In 1892 he was ordained elder by Bishop Wayman at St. Paul, Minn. He has held the following appointments: Helena, Mont., 1889; Macomb, Ill., 1890; Rockford, Ill., 1891; Ottumwa, Iowa, 1892-3; Oskaloosa, 1894; St. Paul, Minn., 1895-6; Quinn Chapel, Louisville, Ky., 1900-01; presiding elder Bowling Green district, W. Kentucky conference, 1902-3; Versailles, Ky., 1904; Paris, Ill., 1905; Mattson, Ill., 1906; Decatur, Ill., 1907-08; E. St. Louis, 1909-12; Peoria, Ill., Ward Chapel, 1912 to present. He built St. James at Helena, Mont., at a cost of $4000; St. Peter's, Ottumwa, $6000; Allen Chapel, Rockford, Ill., $3000; and paid mortgages at Decatur ($900), Oskaloosa ($800), Terre Haute, Ind. ($1000), St. Paul, Minn. ($1200), and Louisville, Ky. ($800); has received into the church about 1000 people and baptized about 300; was leader of delegation to the general conference of 1912 and appointed on the Allen League Connectional Board (1912-16). He was married in 1891. His wife, Mrs. Sarah A. Jones, was born in Frederick, Md. He has been a frequent contributor to the daily papers in the cities in which he has resided. He wrote "An Appeal to President Taft in Reference to the Exposition;" has delivered many important addresses on public occasions; is a Mason, Odd Fellow, K. of P. and K. of T., a Republican and home owner and was financial agent of the Negro exposition at Chicago in 1915.
Jordan, Augustus Moses, son of Robert and Amy Jordan, was born in 1865 in Wilberforce county, Ga., one of five children. He began to attend school when six years of age, receiving his education in the public schools and Morris Brown University. He took a correspondence course from Professor Wright and also from Boston School of Correspondence, from
which he received a diploma. He was converted in 1882 and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He has held nearly every office in the church. He was licensed to preach in 1883 by Rev. A. W. Lowe; joined the annual conference in 1891 at Macon, Ga., under Bishop Gaines; was ordained deacon in 1892 at Forsyth, Ga., by Bishop Grant; ordained elder in 1894 at Eatonton, Ga., by Bishop Grant; has held the following appointments: St. James', Holly Bluff, Ocmulgee Circuit, Haddox Circuit, Tennille Circuit,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. A. M. JORDAN, D.D.
Dublin, Monticello, Griffin, Cosmopolitan, Atlanta, Milledgeville, Bethel, Augusta; P. E. of Sandersville District. He built churches at Dublin and Haddox at a cost of $500 each, a small church at Holly Bluff at a cost of $100; has taken over 1300 people into the church; was delegate to the general conferences of 1904, 1908, 1912 and 1916. He married Nancy Jordan, of Jasper Co., Ga., in 1886. They have eight children, two of them graduates. He has made many Emancipation Day addresses and addresses to many schools and societies. He is connected with the G. U. O. of O. F. and I. B. O. and owns his home.
Jordan, Prof. D. J., was born October 18, 1866, at Cuthbert, Ga. His father, Rev. Giles D. Jordan, was a well known and highly respected minister of the A. M. E. Church in the Georgia Conference for twenty-four years. His mother, Julia White-Jordan, is a woman of strong personality and marked Christian piety.
Prof. Jordan was educated at Payne High School (now Payne College), Cuthbert, Ga., and Allen University, Columbia, S. C. He has earned the degrees of B.S., M.S., LL.B. Was admitted to the bar in South Carolina in 1892, and in Georgia in 1904. His life has been given to teaching and he has held numerous important positions in the line of his profession. Among these may be mentioned the following: Twelve years a professor in Morris Brown College (now Morris Brown University), Atlanta, Ga., serving much of that time as vice president also; president of Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, Fla., and of Kittrell College, Kittrell, N. C.; for several years president State Teachers' Association of Georgia; now director of the teacher training department of the Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina, at Greensboro.
Has always taken a keen interest in all affairs of his church, and was a member of the General Conferences of 1896, 1904 and 1912. Enjoys the distinction of being the author of the law providing for lay representation in annual conferences, which was passed at Chicago in 1904. Was strongly supported for secretary of education at the general conference at Kansas City, in 1912. He represented the church at the Fourth Ecumenical Conference of Methodism held in 1911 at Toronto, Canada, and was honored with a prominent place on the official program. He addressed the conference on the subject, "The Work of the Young People of the Church," and the effort was highly spoken of. Dr. J. A. Bray, of the C. M. E. Church, said in a note to the speaker:
"My dear Prof. Jordan:--
"Your address last night was up to the demand of the occasion. It was a splendid address splendidly delivered and every Afro-American felt proud of you. It was good--not good as a Negro production, but good as the production of a man. I hear only praise on every side. Congratulations.
"Yours sincerely,
J. A. Bray."
Prof. Jordan married, December 31, 1895, Miss Carrie J. Thomas, daughter of Rev. Lawrence Thomas (see sketch), one of the most prominent ministers of the A. M. E. Church in Georgia. She was at the time principal of one of the city schools of Atlanta. They have four promising children: Edwin Adolphus, Frederick Douglass, Frances Marie and Alice Julia, to all of whom the parents are most fondly devoted.
Jordan, Rev. Patrick James, the son of Willis and Frances Jordan, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born in 1862 near Wilmington, N. C. His parents had eleven children. He spent several years at Shaw University, but is largely self-made, so far as education is concerned. He received D.D. from Kittrell College, North Carolina. He was converted when quite a boy and joined the A. M. E. Church. In his local church he was always active, serving as steward, trustee, class leader, Sunday school teacher, exhorter, etc. He was licensed to preach in 1885 at Wilmington, N. C., by Dr. J. G. Fry; joined the North Carolina Conference in 1886, at Newburn; was ordained deacon in 1888, by Bishop Campbell, at Greensboro, N. C.; ordained elder in 1892, at Kinston, N. C., by Bishop W. J. Gaines. He has held the following appointments in North Carolina: South Port, Richlands, Lincolnville, Hillsboro, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Ashville and Washington, D. C. Built churches at Lincolnville, at cost of $350; Fayetteville, at a cost of $4,000; at Ashville, at a cost of $5,000. Remodeled churches at Hillsboro, at a cost of $1,500; at Washington, D. C., at a cost of $2,000. Lifted mortgages on churches at Fayetteville, Hillsboro and at Greensboro to the amount of $500. He has taken hundreds of people into the church. Was delegate to the general conference at Kansas City, Mo., in 1912. Married Mrs. L. A. Jordan, of Newbern, N. C., in 1888. He is a property owner, and a substantial and highly respected citizen, always to be counted with the progressive forces in any community in which he is located.
KEALING, PROF. H. T., president Western University, Quindaro, Kansas, was born 1859 at Austin, Tex., educated in Austin public schools, Straight University, New Orleans, La., and Tabor College, Tabor, Iowa. He was converted in New Orleans in 1875; joined the church and served as Sunday school superintendent; secretary to presiding elder in Texas, and assistant in church pastorates. He was principal of Paul Quinn College from the beginning in 1881 to 1883; assistant principal of Prairie View State Normal School, 1883 to 1886; principal grammar school, Austin, Tex., and organized the colored high school of Austin in 1887; was supervisor all colored schools from 1890 to 1892; president of Paul Quinn College from 1892 to 1896, and at the general conference at Wilmington, N. C., in 1896, was elected editor of the A. M. E. Review, serving till 1912. In 1910 he was chosen president of Western University, Quindaro, Kansas, which position he now holds.
He has been a member of all general conferences since 1884; was a member of Ecumenical Conference in
[ILLUSTRATION]
PROF. H. T. KEALING, LL.D.
London, England, in 1901, and elected spokesman of the delegation of the A. M. E. Church, and delivered one of the principal addresses; member Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America, fraternal delegate to M. E. Church, South, Dallas, Texas. Member National Educational Association, American Academy of Social and Political Science, American Negro Academy, National Negro Business League, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Author of "Hosea;' and editor of "Minor Prophets," "How to Live Longer," "Church Problems" and numerous pamphlets.
He has been married twice: first to Miss Selina Saucier, of New Orleans, in 1887; last, in Austin, Tex., in 1891, to Miss Celia G. Shaw. They have six children, five girls, one boy. Miss Goldie E. Kealing attended Fisk University, and graduated from the Philadelphia Girls' High School, the Philadelphia Normal School, specializing in kindergarten work, in 1916. Miss Frances F. Kealing attended Fisk University, graduated from Kansas State University, Lawrence, Kansas, majoring in mathematics, 1915, and now teaches in Tuskegee Institute. Miss Carrie I. Kealing graduated from Western University, in 1916. Prof. Kealing was ordained elder in Nashville, Tenn., by Bishop Parks, assisted by Bishop Tyree, in 1909. He received the A.M. degree from Tabor college, 1904; Ph.D. from Morris Brown College, Atlanta; LL.D. from Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio, 1911.
Kinch, Emily Christmas, daughter of Rev. Jordan C. H. Christmas, was born in Orange, N. J.; educated in public schools of New Jersey and Pennsylvania and is an undergraduate of the Institute for Colored Youth, of Philadelphia. She is a pioneer Sunday school worker in the advance movement of later methods, the first graduated colored Sunday school teacher in N. J., founder and first president of the New Jersey conference Sunday school institute. She was the only colored delegate elected to represent the State of New Jersey, with 48 whites, in 1905 to the International Sunday School Convention in Toronto, Canada. She has been identified with the missionary
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. E. C. KINCH.
work in New Jersey ever since its organization, served as organizer for four years, organizing an auxiliary in every charge in the New Jersey conference; served as secretary of the New Jersey conference branch three years and president of the New Jersey conference Sunday school institute 1906-08. In December, 1908, she sailed as missionary to West Africa and began the work of the Eliza Turner primary school at Monrovia with 20 pupils, which grew to be one of the acknowledged educational forces of the Liberian Republic. She is a trained musician, popular lecturer, correspondent and writes for the different church periodicals, which she frequently represents before the different conferences.
Kincheon, Lula Brackett, was born in Kincheonville, Texas, in 1876, the son of Francis Marion and Emily Wiley Kincheon, both members of the A. M. E. Church. There were three other children. Lula began attending school at the age of nine and continued till 1892 when he was compelled to leave Paul Quinn College in his senior year on account of the death of his father. He received the degree of A.M. from Paul Quinn and holds a first grade state certificate to teach
in Texas. He takes pride in his well-read library. He has read courses in law and in business, having also taught the latter. In 1889 Mr. Kincheon was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in Buda, Texas. He has served his church as steward, trustee, class leader, Sunday school teacher and secretary. He was a delegate to the general conferences in 1912 and 1916; a member of the Western Christian Recorder board 1912-1916; is a trustee of Paul Quinn College and has frequently represented the church at conventions. His wife, Mrs. Necia Luline Gramlin Kincheon, whom he married in 1896, is a native of Beaumont, Texas. The children are: L. B., Jr., Ian Brackett, Francis Gramlin, Alexander Johnson Moore, Edna Marguerite, and Ollie Harris Kincheon. L. B. Kincheon, Jr., has finished the high school and is pursuing the scientific course at Paul Quinn College. All of Mr. Kincheon's children have been given places of honor in Sunday school and church work. He has contributed to the ian Journal, besides writing several pamphlets. Among his public addresses are one delivered at the emancipation celebration in Austin, Texas, in 1900; and one delivered at Columbus, Ohio, entitled "Delivered From Bondage." He is a pleasing speaker. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows, Masons, Friends-In-Need, American Woodmen. For eight years he was supreme deputy chancellor; for sixteen years grand lecturer, jurisdiction of Texas; supreme recorder of D. O. D. O. of Knights of Pythias. He is connected with the Texas State Teachers' Association and the American Civic League. He was in politics, at one time associated with the late Norris Wright Cuney.
King, Rev. C. H., was born in Georgia over fifty years ago, was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1874; licensed to exhort in 1875; licensed to preach in 1877. He attended the public schools of Georgia and studied theology under Dr. Ashley, a Northern minister, and under Rev. R. A. Hall, in Atlanta, Ga. He served successfully his church as Sunday school teacher, class leader, steward and trustee.
At the request of Bethel Church, Atlanta, Ga., Rev. (later Bishop) W. J. Gaines, pastor, he was ordained a deacon by Rt. Rev. William F. Dickerson, January 15, 1882. He joined the Tennessee Conference in 1884 under Bishop Turner. His first charge was at Knoxville, Tenn., where he served for two years, and built a church valued at $6,000.00, which was the first A. M. E. church built in that city. It is said he constructed most of the building with his own hands. He was ordained elder, by Bishop Turner, in Pulaski, Tenn., Nov. 1, 1885, and transferred to the North Carolina Conference, succeeding Rev. W. H. H. Butler as presiding elder of the Wilmington District. He has since remained in North Carolina, where he has attained a high place among his brethren. He has served also as presiding elder of the Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham and Morganton Districts. During this long service as presiding elder a number of new churches were built, and many old ones were remodelled.
He pastored at Greensboro, N. C., where he built the present brick church, during the panic in 1893, which caused the entire community to marvel. He pastored four years at St. Joseph Church, Durham, N. C., and remodeled the church. He was a member of the general
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. C. H. KING, D.D.
conferences in 1888, 1892, 1896 and 1912. He has been a trustee of Kittrell College for over twenty-five years. Kittrell conferred the degree of D.D. upon him in 1901. Dr. King is one of the leading officers of the Independent Order of St. Luke, having served the Order in the capacity of Right Worthy Grand Chief, and is now a member of its executive board.
In 1907 he was elected a delegate to the World's Sunday school Convention, Rome, Italy, by the National Sunday school Convention. He was the only member of the A. M. E. Church who was elected and was present at this great gathering of Sunday school workers from all parts of the world. During Dr. King's trip abroad he visited Italy, Switzerland, France, England and Ireland, and other countries of the Old World, being cordially received everywhere. In 1887 he was married to Miss Ella M. Pope, the ceremony being performed by Rev. (now bishop) J. S. Flipper.
LACEY, REV. WILLIAM, was born in Nashville, Tenn., October 7, 1869. He attended several schools in his native city. At the early age of 12 he went with his parents to Topeka, Kans., where he continued his schooling until he had spent a year in high school, then worked a year and saved money with which to go to college. He completed the normal course in Clark University, Atlanta, Ga., pursued the classical course and graduated in theology from Gammon Theological Seminary in May, 1895. He was converted when sixteen years of age under Evangelist Fields, during the pastorate of Rev. J. F. Peck, in 1886, in Topeka, Kans. While in Atlanta, Ga., he was licensed to preach in Big Bethel Church, under Rev. L. Thomas, pastor, and R. A. Hall, presiding elder, in 1892, and admitted to the North Georgia Conference the following year, after he had pastored several months. His second charge was Moor's Mill, some ten miles below
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. WILLIAM H. LACEY, D.D.
South Atlanta, and from which he usually walked. He declined to take another charge till he had finished college, but taught school during the vacation and one month during the winter. In December, 1895, he was chosen president of the Wayman Institute, at Harrodsburg, Ky., and served two years. He resigned the presidency to accept mission work in the Sommer's Islands, where he spent five years, and was married to Miss Ada A. Parker, the eldest daughter of John James Parker, who published "The People's Journal," of Hamilton, Bermuda. The great debt for erecting the new church at Southampton was nearly cleared; a lot purchased and nearly enough stone cut and paid for with which to build a new church at Somerset, Sandy's Parish.
On returning to America he entered the New York Conference and was stationed at Olean. He subsequently pastored at Glen Cove, Flushing, Brooklyn and Chatham, N. Y. In Glen Cove he improved the church and parsonage; paid off the standing debt. At Flushing he put in new pews; paid for the same; painted the church, and did much carpentry work himself. In Brooklyn he paid $200.00 on the mortgage of Bethel, which was the first amount ever paid on the principal. The church was renovated and beautified inside and outside; side-walk put in by himself; new lights, etc. Sickness and death entered his family during the year of his Chatham pastorate. He was then transferred to New England Conference, and stationed at New Haven, where he has been three years. Here he has beautified the church; put in new lights; added quite a few members, and is arranging to complete the church. He is also taking a course in the Yale School of Religion. Dr. Lacey received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Morris Brown College in 1904.
Lampton, Bishop Edward Wilkinson, thirty-first bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born at Hopkinsville, Ky., October 21, 1857, the son of Albert R. Lampton, who lived at Bowling Green, Ky., for some time before moving to Miliken's Bend, La. Bishop Lampton was converted September 18, 1874. He was admitted into the conference in 1886; ordained deacon by Bishop Ward in 1886; and ordained elder by the same bishop in 1888. He was a delegate to every general conference from 1892 to 1908. Upon the death of Dr. P. A. Hubbard, Rev.
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP E. W. LAMPTON.
Lampton was made financial secretary of the A. M. E. Church. His secular education was acquired at Bowling Green, Ky. He received D.D. from Shorter College, and LL.D. from Alcorn State College, Miss. His works, "Analysis on Baptism" and "Digest and Decisions of the Bishops of A. M. E. Church," have had a wide circulation.
Elected bishop, May, 1908, Norfolk, Va., and assigned to the Eighth Episcopal District, comprising Mississippi and Louisiana. He died in 1910 in Michigan, and is buried in Mississippi. He was Grand Master of the Masons of Mississippi for many years. He was twice married and had four daughters. When he died he was rated very high financially.
Lawrence, Theodore Houston, son of Peter W. and Harriet Lawrence, was born in N. Y. City, N. Y., December 27th, 1889; he grew up in Bethel A. M. E. Sunday school, his parents being members of that church, and was converted in 1877. He entered the public school of New York at the age of 9 years,
graduated at the age of 17, and entered the College of the City of New York, remaining three years; studied medicine two years under Dr. William M. Liveley, of New York; then began in Salem county, N. J., a successful career as a public school teacher for twenty years, teaching during this time at Fenwick, N. J.; Yorktown, N. J.; at Hendon Hill, Md.; Belair, Md.; Freehold, N. J.; Havre de Grace, Md.; Ellicott City, Md.; Frederick, Md. While teaching in Ellicott City in 1897 he was licensed to preach by Rev. L. M. Beckett. He was admitted to the Baltimore conference at Cambridge, Md., in 1898, and received his first appointment from Bishop James A. Handy to St. Mark's A. M. E. church, Baltimore, in 1899. During
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. T. H. LAWRENCE.
that year he attended the theological school of Morgan College. At the annual conference sitting in St. John's A. M. E. church, Baltimore, he was ordained deacon April 22nd by Bishop James A. Handy and on May 3rd, 1903, was ordained elder in Allen A. M. E. church, Baltimore, by Bishop B. F. Lee. During his pastorate at Galesville, West River, at the request of the county superintendent he organized and taught the school at Tracey's Landing, Anne Arundel county, Md., and later took charge of the school at Galesville. In the church he has served as Sunday school superintendent, local preacher, steward, district Sunday school superintendent, of both the Hagerstown and Baltimore districts. As a young man in New York he was always active in literary circles and was one of the founders of St. Mark's Lyceum, of St. Mark's M. E. church, which has become the leading literary organization of the city; while pastor at Amityville, N. Y., he organized Zohar Lodge, G. U. O. of O. F. He is a Master Mason, was recording secretary of the Philadelphia annual conference two years and has been chief secretary of the New York annual conference for five years. In 1890 he was married to Miss Ophelia Williams, of Freehold, N. J., who is one of the prominent women of the Women's Mite Missionary Society, having been corresponding secretary of the New York conference branch for five years. Three children have resulted from their union: Misses Ethel B., Maud E. and Peter S. Rev. Lawrence has successfully pastored the following charges: St. Mark, Baltimore, 1899; West River Circuit, Md., 1900-01; Crisfield, Md., 1902-03; Elkton, Md., 1904-05; Pottstown, Pa., 1906; Elmwood, Philadelphia, 1907; Shippensburg, Pa., 1908; Malvern Circuit, Pa., 1908-09; Amityville, N. Y., 1910-14; Glen Cove, N. Y., 1915-16.
Laws, William Joseph, son of John and Anna Laws, both members of Bethel A. M. E., Philadelphia, was born in Frederica, Delaware, one of four children. He entered school in 1859, receiving his education in the public schools and Lincoln University, from which he graduated. He received the degree of D.D. from Lincoln University and Guadalupe College, Sequin, Texas. He was converted in 1864 and joined the A. M. E. church; was licensed to preach in 1868 at Oxford, Pa., by Rev. Cuff; joined the annual Conference in 1871 at Boston, Mass., under Bishop
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. WM. J. LAWS, D.D.
Campbell; was ordained deacon in 1871 in New York by Bishop Campbell, and ordained elder in 1872 at Lynn, Mass., by Bishop Shorter. He has held the following appointments: New Haven, Conn., 1873-75; Lynn, Mass., 1871-72; Providence, R. I., 1875-77; New Bedford, Mass., 1877-79; Albany, 1870; Keokuk, Iowa, 1879-83; Chicago, 1884-86; Galesburg, Ill., 1887-89; Minneapolis, Minn., 1890; Des Moines, Ia., 1891-92; Oswego, N. Y., one year; Dallas, Texas, 1894-98; Corsicana, Texas, 1899-1901; Austin, Texas, 1902-03; president of Paul Quinn College, five years; P. E. Beaumont district, two years; pastor Beaumont, Texas, one year, and San Antonio, Texas, two years. He remodeled churches at New Bedford, Mass., $2000 in 1878; New Haven, Conn., $3000 in 1874; Galesburg, Ill., $2500 in 1884, and Dallas, Texas, $3800 in 1894. He lifted mortgages on Bethel church, Providence, R. I., to the amount of $1500 in 1876, and on St. Paul, at Minneapolis, Minn., to the amount of $1000 in 1890. He has taken 5000 into the church and baptized 2500. He was delegate to the general conferences at St. Louis, Indianapolis, Norfolk, Chicago and Philadelphia
(1916); was a member of the financial board in 1888; was voted for for the Bishopric at Norfolk and Kansas City. His wife is Mrs. Marguerite Amelia Laws, who was born in New York in 1871. He has contributed to the church and secular press, and made many addresses on different occasions. He is connected with the F. and A. M. and G. U. O. of O. F. and has held important offices in each; is Republican, and has been interested in all movements for social and religious improvement wherever his lot has been cast.
Lawyer, Rev. Cornelius Broughton, was born May 9, 1882, at Lorenzen, Sharkey County, Mississippi. His parents, who had four other children, were both members of the A. M. E. Church.
Cornelius entered school in 1888, attending fifteen years in all. He was graduated from Lampton Theological Seminary, Campbell College, Jackson, Miss., and from the English and Normal Department of Alcorn H. and M. College, Alcorn, Miss. Besides this he took a post English and Normal course at Campbell College.
Converted in 1892, he joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He has held the offices of steward, trustee, class leader, exhorter, local preacher, Sunday school
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. CORNELIUS BROUGHTON LAWYER, D.D
teacher, Sunday school secretary and district Sunday school superintendent. He was licensed to preach in 1901, at Rolling Fork, Miss., by Rev. W. F. Dangerfield. In 1905 Bishop Salter ordained him deacon, at Leland, Miss., and in 1910 Bishop Turner ordained him elder at Hollandale, Miss. He joined the annual conference in 1903 at Jackson, Miss., under Bishop Tyree.
Rev. Lawyer has held the following appointments in Mississippi: Edwards Mission, St. James, Indianola Station, and Leland Station, where he is serving his fourth year. He built Bekingham A. M. E. Church, at Edwards, Miss., at a cost of $400; remodeled Bryant, Indianola, at a cost of $3,000; lifted a mortgage of $100 on St. James, Vicksburg; a mortgage of $700 on Bryant Chapel, Indianola, and a mortgage of $900 on St. James, Leland, Miss. He has received into the church 250 persons, has baptized 100 and married 100. He has been secretary of the Central Mississippi Conference since 1912; was delegate to the Young People's Congress, Atlanta, Ga., in 1914, and a delegate to the Centennial General Conference in 1916.
His wife is Mrs. Susie E. Lawyer, to whom he was married December 31, 1912. He has contributed to many newspapers, edited the "Leland Bee," "Jackson Record," and "Theological Journal," and written a pamphlet "The Aim and Object of the Sunday school." He wrote the class song for Campbell College in 1910; delivered the commencement oration at Greenwood Academy, and preached the annual sermon at Campbell College. He manages a 100-acre farm of his father's estate.
Leak, Rev. R. H. W., former business manager of Book Concern, was born in Richmond, N. C., about 1842. He was the son of Richmond and Hannah Leak. He received no other training except in the Sunday school and is largely self-made, so far as education goes. He was always a hard student. He was converted in 1862, was licensed to preach in Wilmington, N. C., April 10, 1868; was received into the itinerancy in 1874. He was ordained deacon by Bishop Campbell and ordained elder by Bishop J. M. Brown. He held the following charges: Kenansville, Magnolia Circuit, Scott's Hill Circuit, Kinston Station and was presiding elder of the Morganton District and Raleigh Station, and other important points. He was a delegate to every general conference since 1884, and in 1900 he was elected general business manager of the Book Concern. He is now presiding elder in the Western North Carolina Conference.
Lebala, John Metiro Pangone, presiding elder, prince of the Matseke Tribe, was born in 1863 at Hutwene, Kraal, Spelonken, Zoutpansburg, District Transvaal, South Africa, and converted July, 1887, in the Wesleyan church, Pretoria. He was first steward and superintendent of the Sunday school of the Ethiopian church, founded by Rev. Mangena Make Mokone in November, 1892, at Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa, which church was amalgamated with the African Methodist Episcopal church in 1896; ordained deacon by Bishop Turner April 8, 1898, at Pretoria; ordained elder by Bishop Coppin February 27, 1903, at Bruhgersdorp, and appointed presiding elder of the Pretoria District by the Bishop Johnson November 10, 1910. He is a member of the Trustee Board of the Wilberforce institution, Evaton, Transvaal, and is ministerial book steward of the Transvaal and Natal Annual Conferences. He was a delegate to the Centennial General Conference May, 1916, held in Philadelphia, Pa., and while in United States of America he visited many places of interest, and was well received by the people.
Lee, Benjamin Franklin, twentieth bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born September 18, 1841, near Bridgeton, N. J. He studied at Wilberforce University, graduating A.B., in 1872. He was converted in 1865, at Wilberforce, licensed in 1868, at Xenia, Ohio, by Rev. J. P. Underwood, ordained deacon in 1870 and elder in 1872. He married Miss Mary E. Ashe, a graduate of Wilberforce, December 30, 1872. He taught in his Alma Mater as professor of homiletics, etc., 1873 to 1875. In 1876 he succeeded Bishop Payne
as president of Wilberforce, remaining in this position until 1883, when he was elected editor of the "Christian Recorder," which he served until 1892, when he was elected bishop at the general conference in Philadelphia.
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP B. F. LEE, D.D., LL.D.
He has served over the tenth Episcopal district, the third, the twelfth, the seventh, the second, the fourth, and is now Bishop of Alabama and Tennessee, the ninth district. Upon the death of Bishop Arnett, 1906, he was elected secretary of the Bishops' Council, and served till the death of Bishop Turner,
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. MARY E. LEE
1915, when he became senior bishop of the A. M. E. Church. He is the author of "Wesley, the Worker" and "Causes of Success of Methodism." He lives in his home at Wilberforce University. Of his children, B. F. Lee, Jr., is a teacher in the high school at Gallipolis, Ohio; Addie for a long time taught Latin and French in Wilberforce, and is now Mrs. S. W. Thomas, wife of Professor Thomas, of Payne Seminary; Sarah is a teacher in Kansas City.
Lee, Israel S., son of Charles and Ellen Lee, both members of the Presbyterian church, was born in Walterboro, Colleton County, S. C., September 26, 1852, one of seven children. He did not begin to attend school until he was 12 years of age. He attended Howard University. He was converted at 20 years of age and joined the Presbyterian church in that year. He later joined the A. M. E. Church. He was licensed to preach in 1876 in Fairfield, S. C., by Rev. Hiram Young; was ordained deacon in 1882 in St. Matthews, S. C., and elder in 1884, both by Bishop Dickerson. He joined the annual conference at Columbia, S. C., in 1878 under Bishop John M. Brown. He has built several churches, taken about 2500 people into the church; baptized about 500 persons. Has been a delegate to general conferences of 1884, 1888, 1892 and 1896, and has been a member of the Missionary Board, as well as serving as a trustee of both Allen and Wilberforce Universities. He has represented the church as fraternal delegate to the M. E. church, and member of the commission appointed for organic union of colored Methodists. He married Miss Harriet A. Duffield in 1881. Six children have blessed their union. Wilberforce University conferred the degree of D.D. upon him.
Lee, Mrs. Harriet A. (Duffield), was born at Martin's Ferry, Ohio, and was educated in Oberlin, Ohio, and Washington, D. C. She is the daughter of Major and Mrs. Milton B. Duffield, her father having served under Gen. Freemont, and her mother being among the first graduates of Oberlin. She married
Rev. I. S. Lee in 1881 and is the joyful mother of six sons and daughters. Mrs. Lee has faithfully assisted her husband in every department of his church work and has been active in club work, having had the honor of organizing and becoming the president of the first Woman's Suffrage Club in Pennsylvania, and having been sent as delegate to the national convention. She is at present librarian of the Colored School Department of the City Library, of Memphis, Tenn.
Lewis, W. Benjamin, was born in Louisiana, October 25, 1856; joined the A. M. E. Conference in 1891, in Greenville, Miss., under Bishop Tanner; has pastored most of the larger charges of the North Mississippi and East Mississippi Conferences; was appointed
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. W. B. LEWIS.
presiding elder by Bishop Derrick, in 1899, at Grenada, Miss.; assigned by Bishop Conner in 1914 to St. Matthew's Church, Greenville; at present pastor of Bethel A. M. E. Church, Mound Bayou, Miss.
Lewis, Rev. Jeremiah, was born a slave, February 11th, 1811, in Caroline county, Virginia, his parents belonging to Judge Pendleton, of that county. When the judge died all his slaves fell into the hands of his brothers and sisters. He lived in Virginia until 1825, when he was sold to a slave trader, who took him to Alabama, where he was sold to one Mr. Leach. Soon afterwards Mr. Leach became a Christian, and believing that slavery was wrong, freed all of his slaves and removed to Indiana. Though his master had given him his freedom, yet he had to pay him $400. He remained in Alabama two years when he, too, went to Indiana, but he found that all was still dark and gloomy--freedom was not all that he thought it was, but he never gave up hope. In the year 1833 he became a Christian and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church; in 1836 he moved to Oxford, Ohio, where the greater part of his life was spent. Here he joined the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which was organized by Robert Johnson, of Hillsboro, in 1842. In speaking of this organization he once said that he never felt as much like a man as he did there. In 1847 he heard the call to preach and was licensed to exhort. In 1849 he entered the itinerant service and labored for the Master until 1881. He was one of the pioneers of African Methodism in the middle west, going from place to place in all kinds of weather, on horse-back or by stage, preaching the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ. He first served in the Indiana Conference and afterwards the Ohio Conference. He served acceptably churches in Urbana, Bellefontaine, Xenia (where he built a new church), Walnut Hills, Jonesville, Oxford, Hamilton, Cambridge, New Richmond, Troy, Piqua, in Ohio, and Brownsville, Washington, Pittsburgh and Uniontown, in Pennsylvania. At one of his revivals in Brownsville, the late Bishop Arnett was converted. Many were the souls that were added to the church during his ministerial service. He was no eloquent speaker, but a plain preacher of the gospel, preaching it in its simplicity and purity. He was well liked by his brethren and counted among his friends, Bishops Nazrey, Paul Quinn, Payne and Shorter, Revs. Underwood, Johnson, Tolliver and many others. He was a member of the general conferences of 1856 and 1892. For a number of years he was a trustee of Wilberforce
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JEREMIAH LEWIS.
University. He was twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Shores, of Hanover, Md. Of this union there were three girls, only one of whom reached the age of maturity. Two of her children are living in Indianapolis, Md. In 1857 he married Mary C. King, of Brownsville, Penn., who survived him thirteen years. Of this union there were three children, two daughters and a son, all of whom are living today. They are Mrs. A. L. Anderson, wife of Dr. H. P. Anderson, of the New Jersey Conference; Miss Hattie F. Lewis and Prof. G. S. Lewis, a teacher in the public schools of Birmingham, Ala. He died in February, 1895, at 84 years of age. For several years before his death he was blind, but bore his affliction with patience, and without complaint.
Lewis, Theodore Wright, the son of Isum and Delia Lewis, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born March 5, 1853, in Iroquois County, Illinois. He was one of eleven children. He entered school at the age of 7 years and remained for 7 or 8 years. He was converted at the age of twenty. He has held several offices in the church. He was licensed to preach 1886 at Great Bend, Kansas, by Rev. B. F. Watson. He was ordained deacon in 1886 at Great Bend by Rev. B. F. Watson and ordained elder in 1891 at Chicago, Ill., by Bishop Brown. He joined the Annual Conference 1887 at Emporia, Kansas, under Bishop Brown.
He held the following appointments: Great Bend, 1886; Arkansas City, Kansas, 1887; Olathe, Kansas,
1888; Albia, Ia., 1891; Washington, Ia., 1892; Mt. Pleasant, Ia., 1893-94; Oskaloosa, Ia., 1895; Princeton, Ill., 1896; Newton, Ia., 1897; Monmouth, Ill., 1898-99; Milwaukee, Wis., 1900-01; Keokuk, Ia., 1902-06; Moline, Ill., 1907-09; Minneapolis, Minn., 1910-12; P. E. St. Paul District, 1913-14; Davenport, Ia., 1915.
He built a parsonage at Arkansas City. He lifted
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. THEODORE W. LEWIS.
mortgages on Arkansas City $175 in 1887; Albia, Ia., $75 in 1891; Monmouth, $110 in 1898.
He married Anna Lewis September 20, 1903. He was editor of a local church paper. He is a member of the F. and A. M. and Mystic Shrine. He has held offices in them. He is a property owner.
Lindsay, Rev. James A., is a South Carolinian by birth, and spent his boyhood days on the farm in Union County. His parents were humble Christian people, who put God above everything else. He was converted and joined Ebenezer A. M. E. Church, in his native state, September, 1878, during the "big camp-meeting" conducted by Rev. George Dardis and I. S. Grant--both powerful preachers in their day. He began school at the age of six, under the instruction of Joseph Bailey, who prophesied a great future for "Jim" who always stood "head of his class." The instructions received from the public schools simply sharpened his educational appetite for more, so he decided to go up higher. Realizing that his qualification was not sufficient to meet the demands of his aspirations he entered Clark University, and while there pursued also the course of theology in Gammon Theological Seminary, graduating from the latter in June, 1888.
He taught school ten years in South Carolina and Georgia, and refers with great pride and delight to his labors at Etta Jane and Lawn, South Carolina; Ben Hill, Woodbury, and Hampton, in Georgia.
He was admitted to the North Georgia Conference, at Dalton, Ga., November, 1888, under Bishop W. J. Gaines; ordained deacon under the missionary rule, and assigned to the Jonesboro Circuit, where he labored successfully for three years. He bought the lot and erected a new church at Hampton, renovating the churches at Love Joy and Jonesboro during his three years pastorate on the circuit. In November, 1891, he was married to Miss Pearl Slade, who has been a great power for good in his ministerial career. His four years pastorate at Monticello and Shady Dale were crowned with success, two hundred and thirty-five members were added to the church, and a mortgage debt of $1400 on the new brick church in Monticello was paid during his administration. He went from Monticello to Griffin, Ga., where he erected a neat, six-room parsonage, paying for it in full, and greatly strengthened African Methodism in that city. He was presiding elder eight years, having jurisdiction over the Marietta and Macon Districts in the state of Georgia. He was chief secretary of the North
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. A. LINDSAY, D.D.
Georgia Conference, trustee and member of the Executive Board, Morris Brown College, for many years. In 1902 he was elected dean in Morris Brown College, but declined the honor, preferring to remain in his favorite work--the pastorate. His four years' stay at St. Philip's, West Broad and Charles streets, Savannah, Ga., was the most successful in his career up to this time. Great revivals crowned his labors at St. Philip's. On Easter morning, 1908, more than one hundred converts were baptized and added to the church. During his pastorate at St. Philip's he broke the financial record in the state by raising three thousand dollars in one day. He also had wonderful success at Bethel A. M. E. Church, Augusta, Ga.
Since leaving school Rev. Lindsay has taken special courses in French, Greek, Hebrew, literature and philosophy. He is a printer by trade. He contributes from time to time to several papers.
He has been a delegate to every general conference since 1896. He is at present the recording secretary of the Board of Missions, New York City. He received his honorary degree of doctor of divinity from Paul Quinn College and Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce University. After five years pastorate of Avery Chapel A. M. E. Church, Memphis, Tenn., he
was appointed, November, 1915, as pastor of St. John's Church, Birmingham, Ala., where he is having his usual success.
Link, John Lewis, the son of Stephen and Susan Link, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born in 1884 in Milton, N. C., one of nine children. He entered school in 1889. He graduated from Kittrell College and Lincoln University. He received from the latter institutuion the degrees of A.B., S.T.B.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JOHN LEWIS LINK.
and A.M. He was converted in 1902 and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1903. He has held the following offices: Steward, Trustee, Class Leader, Local Preacher and Sunday School Teacher. He was licensed to preach in 1910 at Oxford, Pa., by Rev. F. T. M. Webster, joined the Philadelphia Annual Conference in 1912, at Chester, Pa., was ordained deacon at Wilmington, Del., in 1913 by Bishop Tyree, and ordained elder at Dover, Del., in 1915 by Bishop Evans Tyree. He has held appointments at Shippensburg, Pa., 1913-14, and Downingtown, Pa., 1914-15.
Logan, Lee Andrew, son of James and Adelina Logan, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born 1877 at Spartansburg, S. C. He was one of 14 children. He received his education in the graded schools of Spartansburg and Allen University, from which he graduated and received degree of B.D. He was converted in 1900 and joined the A. M. E. Church, serving as class leader, local preacher, Sunday school teacher and superintendent. He was licensed to preach in 1903 at Spartansburg by Rev. W. H. Clark and joined the Columbia annual conference the same year at Newberry, S. C., under Bishop Gaines; was ordained deacon in 1906 at Winnsboro, S. C., by Bishop Coppin, and elder in 1908 at Abbeville, S. C., by Bishop Lee. He has held the following appointments, all in the Columbia conference: Johnston, Miss.; Hopkins, Leesville, Hyatt Park, Carlisle Ct., Taylor Chapel Circuit, Shiloh Circuit, Antioch Station and presiding elder of the Winnsboro District. He built a church at Leesville, S. C., in 1908 and Cedar Creek at Bookman, S. C., in 1911. He was the leader of the Columbia annual conference delegation to the general conference of 1916. He is secretary of his conference. He was married to his wife, Mrs. Lois Ethel Logan,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. LEE A. LOGAN, B.D.
of Ridgeway, S. C., January 16, 1906. He has contributed to the several Recorders and is editor of the Southern Monitor and is a home owner. He is connected with the K. of P. and has been prelate of the same.
Lomax, John Thomas, son of Thomas and Charlotte Lomax, both members of the A. M. E. church, was born in 1872 at Abbeville County, S. C., one of two children; attended school at Sterling College and
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. T. LOMAX, D.D.
Allen University. He was converted in 1888 and joined the A. M. E. Church; held many offices in the local church; was licensed to preach 1891 by Rev. William Thomas; joined the annual conference in 1899 at
Columbia, S. C., under Bishop Grant; was ordained deacon in 1901 at Newberry, S. C., and elder in 1903 at Greenville, S. C., both by Bishop Gaines; held the following appointments: Seneca City, Greenville Circuit, Wood Ruff, St. Pave Ct., Edgefield Station, Sandy Run Circuit, Salada Circuit, Mt. Pisgah Station. He built a church at Wood Ruff at a cost of $800. He lifted a mortgage of $1200 on Mt. Pisgah at Sumter, S. C., in 1912. He has taken 969 members into the church and baptized 468; was delegate to the general conference of 1916. He is now presiding elder of the Manning District. His wife is Mrs. Minnie Lomax, of Abbeville, S. C. He owns several pieces of real estate and is held in high esteem.
Lowe, J. I., the son of Mathew and Deborah Lowe, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born in the Bahama Islands. He was one of twelve children. He entered school in 1856 and attended in all about seven years. He graduated from the Bahama High School at Harbour Island, Bahama. He was converted in 1859 and joined the Wesleyan Methodist Church. He was in the local church: steward, trustee, class leader, exhorter, local preacher and Sunday school teacher.
He was licensed to preach in 1871 at Key West, Fla., by Rev. T. W. Long. He joined the Conference in 1872 at Gainesville, Fla., and was ordained deacon the same year by Bishop T. M. D. Ward and ordained elder in 1876 at Jacksonville, Fla., by Bishop T. M. D. Ward.
He has held the following appointments: St. Salvador, Bahamas, 1872; Fernandina, Fla., 1876; Vicksburg,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JACOB ISRAEL LOWE, D.D.
Miss., 1879; St. Stephen's, St. Louis, 1882; Arkadelphia, Ark., 1883; Forest City, Ark., 1885; Magnolia, Ark., 1887; P. E. of Arkadelphia District, 1889; Arkansas City District, 1892; Claredon District, 1904; Forest City District, 1908; elected General Manager of Book Concern, 1912; built church at Vicksburg, Miss., at a cost of $12,000 in 1881-83. He has been delegate to all General Conferences from 1880 to 1916, several times a member of the Episcopal Committee and once its chairman. He was a member of the Church Extension Board for twelve years. He is a power in debates in the General Conference.
Luckie, Rev. Peter Alpheus, pastor St. Peter's A. M. E. Church and principal of the A. M. E. Normal and Industrial Institute, at Georgetown, British Guiana, South America, was born forty-three years ago--born in dire poverty. In December, 1899, Bishop Lee discovered and sent him to Wilberforce University, Ohio, where he remained four years, graduating in June, 1904, and returning to South America in July, 1904, to re-establish the A. M. E. Church. The work here was started by Bishop Nazery, in 1874, as a part of the B. M. E. Church, which was united with the A. M. E. Church, in 1884. Since that period the Church had had a rather precarious existence till Mr. Luckie returned to take charge.
In September, 1905, a $3000 building was erected. In October, 1909, the second building, costing $2500, was erected, and July, 1913, the third one, of $1500, was in order. These buildings are situated in the most popular and healthful section of the city, upon our own properties, consisting of a whole city block.
But not only has the work made progress materially, but more so spiritually. Since Rev. Luckie has had charge over 800 persons have accepted the Gospel, partly through his pulpit work and partly through his faithful assistants. He organized the Woman's Mite Missionary Society, five missionary bands, to do yard work, a Sunday school of over 100 scholars, a dramatic club, to minister to the social side of the young people. He also organized the normal and industrial institute, and Rankin Theological Seminary, to perpetuate our ministry in South America.
In 1902 he visited Great Britain and France. He saw the coronation of King Edward. In 1906 he made a wedding trip to England, which was the present of his wife's father. In 1911 he was in England again, when his Majesty, King George, honored him with a seat in Carlton Gardens, "The Mall," to view the Royal Progress of June 23, 1911.
Lynch, James, editor of the Christian Recorder 1866-67, was born in Baltimore, January 8, 1839. After a thorough course of study, joined in 1858 the Presbyterian Church in New York, but soon after the A. M. E. Church conference in Indiana. He transfered to Baltimore and in May, 1863, went to South Carolina with Rev. J. D. S. Hall as the first African Methodist preacher to that part of the South. He labored at Port Royal, Beaufort and Charleston, S. C., and Savannah, Ga., and was one of the original members of the first South Carolina conference in 1865. From February 24, 1866, to June 15, 1867, he was editor of the Christian Recorder. Later he was connected with the Freedmen's Bureau under General Howard in the State of Mississippi and in that relation became also active in politics. He was elected in 1871 Secretary of State for a two-year term. Early in 1872 Mr. Lynch, by reason of the severe strain of the political campaign of 1871, manifested symptoms of nervous prostration and died December 18, 1872.
MACKALL, JAMES OGLE, the son of Joseph and Cathrine M. Mackall, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Prince George's County, Md., in August, 1858, one of six children. He entered school in 1868 and attended about five years. He spent over two years in the rural schools in Montgomery County, Md., and received the rest of his education chiefly from private instructors. He was converted in 1884 and joined Charles Street church, Boston, Mass., the same year. He has held the offices of trustee, exhorter, local preacher and superintendent of Sunday school. He was licensed to
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JAMES OGLE MACKALL.
preach in 1892 at Asbury, Chester, by Rev. C. T. Shaffer. He joined the Philadelphia annual conference at Dover, Del., in 1894, under Bishop Tanner, was ordained deacon in 1896 at Reading, Pa., by Bishop Grant, ordained elder in 1900 at Bethel, Philadelphia, by Bishop Grant.
He has held the following appointments: Paschall, Philadelphia, 1895-1900; Linwood, 1900-01; Atglen, 1901-04; Concord Ct., 1904-09; Columbia, Pa., 1909-12; Phoenixville, 1912-13; Wayne, 1913 to date.
He built an annex at Concordville at a cost of $200 in 1907, remodeled church at Thornbury to the amount of $200 in 1909. He has taken about 125 people into the church. He married Mrs. Addie Mackall, of Lancaster County, Pa., November 23, 1881, at Attleboro, Mass. He has contributed to the Christian Recorder, Quarterly Review, Voice of Missions and Twentieth Century Pastor. He is connected with the Masons and Odd Fellows. He has held the office of W. C. in Masons and N. G. and Secretary in Odd Fellows.
He owns a home and is held in high esteem for his sterling manhood.
Makel, Mrs. Flora Lewis, was born in Philadelphia, and a true product of African Methodism. She was converted in 1892, and joined Bethel A. M. E. Church; in 1895 she became a member of the choir, and in 1897 its leading soprano, which she has been for nineteen years. She is an accomplished vocalist, and has appeared in a number of concerts before large and cultured audiences of both races. She is a singer of rare and exceptional ability, possessing a voice of great clearness and flexibility. She will sing at the Centennial General Conference.
She taught Sunday school in Bethel Church for ten years, and attended the post office for the General
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. FLORA LEWIS MAKEL.
Conference of 1892. In 1907 she married Mr. Alexander E. Makel, a prominent young business man in Philadelphia, and has been a partner with him in conducting a good-sized men's furnishing store. Mr. and Mrs. Makel have three children--Alexander, Jr., aged 8; Marion, aged 6, and Elanor, aged 2. Notwithstanding the care of her family and the demands of her business, Mrs. Makel is active in church work and devoted to her art.
Malone, G. W., was born in Butler, Choctaw County, Ala., in 1872, and was taken to Mississippi when only two years old. He attended the public schools of Sharkey and Washington Counties. When only thirteen years old he matriculated in Alcorn University, and completed the scientific, preparatory course in 1887. He entered Allen High School in 1892, and graduated with honors the same year.
He now began teaching in the public schools of Coahoma County until the summer of 1892. He secured a first grade state license in 1897, having taken examination at the close of the State Normal in Greenville, Miss. He received exemption papers, having made three First Grade State Licenses in 1903.
He entered Walden University Law School in 1907, and graduated with the degree LL.B. in 1910. In the fall of 1910 he was admitted to the Mississippi Bar, after passing a very rigid examination. He has practiced continually before all the courts of Mississippi.
Mr. Malone joined the A. M. E. Church when only eight years old. He grew up in the Sunday
school and church work, and has filled every office in the Sunday school and local church open to a layman.
[ILLUSTRATION]
HON. G. W. MALONE.
He is lay delegate to the Centennial General Conference of 1916.
Mance, Rev. Robert Weston, was born September 27, 1876, at Cokesbury, S. C. His father was Rev. Montgomery Mercer Mance, of the South Carolina Conference, and a charter trustee of Allen University, Columbia, S. C. His mother was Charity A. Nash, of the well-known Nash family, of Abbeville County, whose father was a prominent political leader during and just after the Reconstruction period in South Carolina. This subject was born in Cokesbury, in the old Paine College building, where his father was attending school, and in which village he was the station pastor of the A. M. E. Church. He attended several private schools and the Hoge High School, in Newberry, S. C., and Claflin University, Orangeburg, N. C., completing the college preparatory and college courses, and received the degree of bachelor of arts from this last school, May, 1899. He was principal of the Hoge High School, Newberry, S. C., from 1899 to 1907, when he resigned to serve Bethel Church, Georgetown, S. C.
Rev. Mance was converted in 1889, and joined Miller Chapel, A. M. E. Church, at Newberry, S. C., where he served as local preacher, steward and Sunday school superintendent. He was licensed to preach July, 1901, by Rev. Hiram Young; was admitted to the Columbia Conference the same year, at Greenville, S. C.; was ordained deacon November 29, 1903, at Newberry, S. C., by Bishop Gaines, and elder by Bishop Coppin, December 3, 1905, and held the following appointments in the Columbia Conference: New Miller Mission, Saluda, S. C., 1904; Enoree Circuit, Jalapa, S. C., 1905; St. Paul Circuit, Chapin, S. C., 1906-1907. In the South Carolina Conference: Bethel Station, Georgetown, S. C., 1907-1909; presiding elder, Beaufort District, 1910-1914; Mount Zion Station, Charleston, S. C., 1914-16; president of Allen University, Columbia, S. C., since June, 1916.
At Georgetown he remodeled Bethel Church, at a cost of more than $14,000; paid $7000 on the indebtedness of the trustees in less than one year, raising over $1000 in one set collection. He has taken 400 persons into the church and baptized 150. He was elected leader of the South Carolina Conference delegation to the General Conference of 1912, Kansas City, Mo., and a delegate to the Centennial General Conference of 1916, and has been a member of the Financial Board since 1912. He has also served as trustee of
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. ROBERT W. MANCE.
Allen University and of Wilberforce University, and contributed to all the A. M. E. Church and many secular papers. He is Past Master of Meridian Lodge of Free Masonry, and Grand Prelate of the Grand Lodge of Knights of Pythias, South Carolina jurisdiction. He has delivered addresses on "The Aristocracy of Youth." "The Black Man's Burden," "Democracy in America," "The Standard of Good Citizenship" and "Our Modernized Church System." He was married in 1902, and is the father of two boys and three girls.
Manning, Rev. Cornelius Maxwell, son of Moses and Millie Manning, both members of the A. M. E. Zion Church, was born December 8, 1845, at Edenton, N. C. He was one of six children. He began attending school in 1857. He attended Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, until the senior year. He received the degree of A.M. and D.D. from Morris Brown College. He was converted in October, 1867, and joined the A. M. E. Zion Church the same year. He has held nearly every local office in the church. He was licensed to preach in 1873, at Philadelphia, Pa., by Rev. J. E. Price; ordained deacon in December, 1878, at Montgomery, Ala., by Bishop Thompson, and ordained elder November 30, 1879, at Athens, Ga., by Bishop Thompson. He joined the Annual Conference of the A. M. E. Zion Church, in 1875, at Harrisburg, Pa., under Rev. J. J. Moore. He has held the following appointments: Clinton Chapel, A. M. E. Zion, 1875; Mt. Zion, A. M. E. Zion, 1878-80, and the following A. M. E. churches: Bethel A. M. E., 1881-82; Rocky Hill,
1883; Cartersville; Swidid Acworth, 1887-88; Madison, 1889; Palmetto, 1890-91; Lexington, 1892-94; Washington, Ga., 1896; Flovillo, 1895; Monrovia, Liberia, 1897-98; Gaines Chapel, Savannah, 1899-1900; presiding elder, Hawkinsville District, 1901; Valdosta District, 1902; St. John's, Columbus, Ga., 1903-04; principal of Normal department A. and M. College, Normal, Ala., 1905-06; professor homiletics, Morris Brown College, 1907-1914; pastor Pierce Chapel, 1915 to date.
He built Clinton Chapel, at Frankford, at a cost of $1800, in 1875; Mt. Zion, Augusta, Ga., $2000, in 1879-80; Bethel, Savannah, Ga., $3000, in 1882; Mt. Zion, Coweta County, at a cost of $1500, in 1883; Pierce Chapel and parsonage, at Athens, Ga., $10,000, in 1916. He lifted the mortgage on Gaines Chapel, at Savannah, $1800, in 1899-1900. He has taken about 3500 people into the church, and baptized about 3000 people. He was a delegate to the general conferences of 1892, 1896, 1900, 1908 and 1916. He was
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. C. MAX MANNING, D.D.
voted for the bishopric in 1900. He married Mary Ann Manning, February 19, 1884. They had four children--Lorenzo, Robert, Louise and Sarah. Two have graduated, Robert and Louise (deceased). He has contributed to the Christian and Southern Recorders and New York Weekly Witness. He wrote "Is God Knowable" and "Creative Week." He delivered the Emancipation Address in 1889 at Madison; 1915, Athens; Memorial Day Address at Marietta, 1891. He owns a home. He is a member of the Masons, Odd Fellows and Samaritans. He has held the offices of Deputy Grand Master of Masons, Georgia; W. M. in Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Republican party. He attended the Constitutional Convention, North Carolina, 1867; Secretary of the United States Legation, Monrovia, Liberia, west coast Africa. He was Honorary Commissioner of World's Fair, at New Orleans, 1884, and is actively associated with the Y. M. C. A.
Marshall, Cornelia, was born in Accomac county, Virginia, March 26, 1865; converted in 1877, and joined Friendship M. E. church; was a member there for 11 years; came to Philadelphia, Penna., in 1888, and joined Mt. Pisgah A. M. E. church in 1889, and has
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. CORNELIA MARSHALL.
served as stewardess, member of the Ladies' Auxiliary, and class leader of Class "B" of No. 4, the first woman class leader ever appointed in Mt. Pisgah church, Philadelphia, Pa.
Martin, Rev. James Glover, was born in Charleston, S. C. His grandparents were among the first to assist in forming the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. Robert Scott, whose picture now hangs in Emmanuel Church, is his uncle. In 1883
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JAMES GLOVER MARTIN.
he became a member of Emmanuel Church, Charleston, under Dr. L. R. Nichols. He was licensed to preach by Dr. Paul H. Johnson, at Emmanuel Church. From Charleston he went to Allen University, in 1894, and graduated in 1887. In the fall of 1887 he entered
Howard University, Washington, D. C. He was appointed chaplain of the Freedman Hospital, in the city of Washington, and remained there three years. Joined the Baltimore Conference, under Bishop Campbell, and served his first appointment at West River Circuit, in 1890. He was ordained deacon at Trinity A. M. E. Church, Baltimore, Md., 1890, by Bishop Tanner, and ordained elder, 1892, by Bishop Arnett, at Elkton, Md. After pastoring on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, remodeling churches, building parsonages and adding members to the church, he was appointed to Allen, Baltimore, to succeed Doctor, now Bishop J. Albert Johnson, where he remained for five years. He is now serving his fourth year at Payne Memorial Church, Baltimore. His married life has been successful and happy; a large family is being reared with bright prospects for useful careers.
Martin, Rev. Joseph Henry, is the son of John Henry and Lorianna Martin. He was born in St. Crouix, West Indian Islands, on September 18, 1864. When a boy he was sent to school, according to the laws of the island. He attended school in the country while his father was employed at the King's estate. In 1879 his father was selected coachman to the governor-general, and moved to St. Thomas, where John Henry, Jr., entered the Moravian School. His mother having died while he was a small boy, his father took excellent care of him. It was his duty to attend the governor's daughters after school and take their riding horses to the mansion every afternoon. When Prince Waldemar visited the Island John was
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. H. A. MARTIN.
his horse boy from 1879 to 1880. In 1884 he left the island of St. Thomas for Santo Domingo, where he spent five years, part of that time working as a carpenter's apprentice in San Padro de Macoris, then in Santo Domingo City. The last three years were spent on the Bay State fruit farm, near Samana. At this place, which belongs to a Boston Company, he acted as overseer and interpreter, and it was here, on January 1, 1887, that he received the glorious light of salvation, and soon thereafter began to preach. He organized a Sabbath school by the help of a local preacher by the name of John Smith, of St. Thomas A. M. E. Church, of which Rev. E. M. Harper was builder and pastor. The Rev. James, Sr., of Samana, often visited them and gave them great help.
He left Santo Domingo, March 29, 1888, for Boston, to complete his education. However, he landed in Baltimore, April 21 of said year; he was robbed of all he had except the suit he wore. This proved a great drawback to him, so he went to sea until he got some money and clothes. Not being able to go to Boston, he settled in Baltimore, Md., and joined St. Peter's Mission, in the spring of 1890, under the pastorate of Rev. D. J. Bryan. On November 17, 1890, he was licensed to exhort, by Rev. R. F. Wayman, presiding elder. On June 2 he was licensed to preach by Rev. W. R. Arnold, presiding elder. He entered the itinerancy of the Baltimore Annual Conference, April, 1895, under Bishop W. J. Gaines; he was ordained deacon May 5, 1897 and ordained elder May 14, 1899, under Bishop James A. Handy. On May 1, 1900, he was transferred and appointed as missionary to Santo Domingo by Bishop James A. Handy, but the Missionary Department being without funds, he was not sent. The following year he was transferred back to the Baltimore Conference by Bishop C. S. Smith to Bishop Lee. On April 30, 1911, Bishop L. J. Coppin transferred him to the Virginia Conference, and stationed him at Blacksburg, Va. After two years in Blacksburg he was sent to Waynesboro Circuit, where he is now completing his third year, and his twenty-first in the ministry of the A. M. E. Church. His life has been very checkered and of varied experience, but he says that nothing brings such joy and satisfaction as the ministry, with all of its hardships and complexities. His wife, Mrs. Gertrude E. Martin, is a great help and comfort to him.
Mason, D. James, superintendent of Bethel A. M. E. Sunday school, Philadelphia, is the only son of
Robert James and Margaret Shorts Mason. He was born in Philadelphia, March 19, 1862. His parents died when he was quite young and he was reared by
his aunt, Phoebe A. Mason. He attended the James Forten Grammar School, and received a good scholastic training.
At the age of five years he was enrolled as a scholar in Bethel A. M. E. Sunday School, was converted January 19, 1880, at a revival service, under the pastorate of Rev. Levi J. Coppin, joined the church and has ever since remained therein. He has served three terms as superintendent. First term, three years; second, four; and the third, fourteen consecutive years, in which he has earnestly and faithfully performed the duties of the office which has won for him the esteem of his school. He has served longer than any superintendent of the school. He also holds the offices of church clerk, secretary of the stewards' board, secretary of the quarterly conference, class leader and a member of the choir. He was married to Miss Henrietta Fassitt, of Philadelphia, January 25, 1893, by Rev. William D. Cook. This happy union was severed by the death of Mrs. Mason, August 22, 1906, leaving four children--J. Winsmore, Henrietta C., George A. and Evelyn K., who have been in the care of their father, and are active in Mother Bethel Church and Sunday school, Philadelphia.
Means, Rev. Samuel George, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Means, both African Methodists, was born November 8, 1873, in Early County, Ga. He joined the A. M. E. Church on probation, September
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. SAMUEL GEORGE MEANS.
16, 1883. He was converted and became a full member August 28, 1889. He was licensed to exhort February 9, 1894.
He joined the North Georgia Conference, November 12, 1895, and was appointed pastor of the Canton (Ga.) Mission, November 18, 1895; three years were spent on said Mission, during which time he built it from a small mission to a circuit of more than 350 members, and five preaching points. At the end of the three years the conference moved him from the circuit and appointed two pastors to take charge of the work he had given the Church where it had none before.
He was ordained deacon November 7, 1897; he was ordained elder November 13, 1899. He has pastored with success many large charges in the State of Georgia. He was presiding elder two years on the South Atlanta District under Bishop Smith. His district was a success. He is now finishing up his fourth year at St. James' Church, at Columbus, Ga.
He finished from the correspondence course of theology at Morris Brown University, June, 1908, and was that same year given the degree of doctor of divinity by Campbell College, Jackson, Miss. He has engaged extensively in evangelistic work, having in the last twenty years added to the Church more than 18,000 souls. He was a member of the general conference of 1912. Dr. Means has many more calls than he is able to fill.
Merrick, John, was born in Clinton, Sampson County, N. C., September 7, 1859. When a boy the family moved to Chapel Hill and then to Raleigh, where he grew to manhood. He began life as a brick mason, but afterwards became a barber. In this capacity signal success has attended him. When twenty-two years of age, Mr. Merrick moved to Durham with his bride of two years, Mrs. Martha Hunter Merrick. When he retired from the barber business a few
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. JOHN MERRICK.
years ago, it had grown to be one of the finest and most successful in the state. To his success in this business is possibly due the nucleus of his fortune.
The North Carolina Mutual and Provident Association was founded by Mr. Merrick in 1899, and since its organization he has been of invaluable assistance in its growth and management. He is president of the Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank, the S. G. Treasurer of the Royal Knights of King David, director and president of the Board of Lincoln Hospital, and an influential member of St. Joseph's A. M. E. Church, being a trustee and president of the A. C. E. League of the same. Indeed, his activity has made the League probably the best in the South. Mr. Merrick has two
boys and three girls; a very happy and delightful family, and he is a large property holder, being highly respected by all classes of citizens.
Michell, James Mathew Benjamin, son of Andrew and Ellen Michell, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Hickman, Ark., one of eight children. He began attending school at the age of seven years; received his education from Wilberforce, Helena Normal, graduating from the same. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1894; was licensed to preach in 1896 at Hickman, Ark., by Rev. J. E. Neal; joined the annual conference in 1897 at Argenta, Ark., under Bishop Derrick, who ordained him deacon in 1898 at Fort Smith, Ark.; was ordained elder in 1901 at Redfield, Ark., by Bishop Tyree; has held appointments at Madison, Miss., 1897; Wyome Station, 1898; 'Caldwell Circuit,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. M. B. MICHELL.
1899; Dewitt Circuit, 1900; Helena, 1901; Marvel Circuit, 1902-03; Westover Circuit, 1904; Payne Theological Institute, 1905-07; Brookley Station, 1907-08; Newport Station, 1909-10; Batesville Station, 1911-12; presiding elder of Jonesboro District, 1913-16. He built St. Paul church at Marvel, Ark. at a cost of $1,200 in 1902; lifted $350 mortgage on St. Paul church at Newport, Ark., in 1909; a delegate to the general conference of 1916; is a trustee of Shorter College. His wife to whom he was married in 1908 is Mrs. Ardelia Michell of Edmondson, Ark. They have three children: Charles, Catharine and Ellen Louise. He is connected with the International Order of Travelers and the F. and A. M. He has held the office of W. M. in the Masons. He owns a home at Jonesboro, Ark.
Mickens, Milton H., was born about thirty-eight years ago; was given by holy baptism to the church when a babe of thirty days, and at eleven years of age experienced sound conversion. He passed through the graded and high schools and studied at Chicago and Yale Universities. He holds the degree of A.M. He was for some time a public school teacher, and in 1904 was principal of Delhi, (La.) Institute (now Lampton College). He founded and edited the "Negro Lamp." He has repaired, completed and beautified church buildings, paid debts, burnt mortgages and has received more than one thousand persons into the church. He filled from the
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. MILTON H. MICKENS, A.M.
humblest backwoods mission to the presiding eldership, and from the "little" mission station to the metropolitan charge. At this time he is pastoring at Seattle, Wash., one of the largest and most important charges in the Puget Sound conference, serving his second year. He has added nearly two hundred persons to this church, and has broken the record for converts and dollar money in the Northwest.
Mills, Rev. Peter Emanuel, was born in the Island of St. Christopher, British West Indies, of Christian parents, devout members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, his father, Benjamin L. Mills, being a class leader. At an early age he became the subject of serious impressions, and while yet a boy showed marked signs of his future life's work. At the age of twelve he gave his heart to God, joined the Wesleyan Methodist Church and soon after was appointed leader of the children's (catachumen's) class.
After graduating from school he was licensed to preach in the Wesleyan Methodist Church. At this time Rev. David Wright, of England, superintendent of the Wesleyan Church in the Island of St. Vincent invited him to attend his theological seminary, where he studied for four consecutive years, and graduated with high honors, after having been ordained to the Wesleyan Methodist ministry.
He then made an extensive tour of the United States and Europe, visiting the chief points of interest in several states and all the principal cities and points of interest in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; also Paris and other points in France. Being under the direction of the missionary office in
London, he preached in City Road Chapel, and a score of other churches, and made addresses at Richmond Wesleyan College and other institutions. He visited the Wesleyan Methodist Conference, in the city of Hull, and it appointed him to the superintendency of Bath Circuit, Jamaica, West Indies. The degree of A.M. was conferred upon him while in England, and that of D.D. in America, by Shorter University in Arkansas.
In 1885 the subject of this sketch returned to the United States and joined the A. M. E. connection, in Buffalo, N. Y., under Bishop Cain. Since then he has
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. P. E. MILLS, A.M., D.D.
held the following charges: Elizabeth, New Jersey; Princeton, New Jersey, Union Bethel, Brooklyn, New York; Coxsackie, New York; Lockport, New York; Bethel, New Haven, Conn. (which he recovered from the M. E. Church of that city and restored it back to the A. M. E. Church, after it had been out of our connection seven (7) years); Narragansett, R. I.; Bethel, Vicksburg, Miss.; Bethel, West Chester, Pa.; Mt. Pisgah, Philadelphia, Pa.; Media, Pa.; Bethel, Wiley Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. (which he completed and dedicated), and Brown Chapel, Cincinnati, O. He has paid off debts on churches in different parts of the connection, and has taken about one thousand persons into the Church.
He served as presiding elder under Bishop Tyree, in the Mississippi Conference; under Bishop Derrick, Bishop Arnett and Bishop Gaines, in the Philadelphia Conference, and under Bishop Shaffer in the Ohio Conference.
He was elected delegate to the general conference of 1900. He has contributed articles to the Christian Recorder and Southern Recorder, Voice of Missions and to the A. M. E. Review. He is an Odd Fellow and owns his own home.
Mills, Victoria H., was born in Plaquemine, La.; attended and graduated from the public schools of that town; attended New Orleans University, and graduated with honor in 1900; in 1901 was married to Rev. Dr. P. E. Mills, then pastor at West Chester, Pa. When a girl she was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church, at Plaquemine. She is in her native sphere when doing work for the Church. In testimony of her church devotion she has several times received gold medals. In 1892 she received a gold medal from Bethel A. M. E. Church, in Plaquemine, La.; in 1908 another medal was given her by the members of the Philadelphia
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. P. E. MILLS.
Conference Branch Mite Missionary Society, and in 1909 a third medal was presented her for faithful service by the members of Bethel A. M. E. Church, Wylie Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. Mrs. Mills makes an ideal minister's wife.
Mixon, Rev. W. H., the son of Andrew J. and Maria Mixon, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born about 1859 or 1860, at Dallas County, Ala., one of thirteen children. He spent a very short time in school, and is largely a self-made man, though he attended Selma University for a short time. He received the degree of D.D. from Wilberforce University. In 1876 he was converted, and joined the A. M. E. Church, in which he served as steward, trustee, class leader and exhorter before he was licensed to preach. In 1876 he was licensed to preach at Pea Ridge, by Rev. W. D. Morton; joined the annual conference in 1879, at Huntsville, Ala.; was ordained deacon in 1881, by Bishop A. W. Wayman, at Greensboro, and elder, in 1882, at Selma, Ala., by Bishop Wayman. He has had the following appointments: Decatur, Pratt City, Bailey's Chapel, Star of the East. Brown Chapel, St. John, Columbiana and Rosebud. He has presided over the following districts: Birmingham, Selma, Greensboro, Montgomery, Ivory, Camden and Huntsville. Built churches at Rosedale, at a cost of $500; Fachler, at $1000; at Meltonville, Marion and Andalusia. He lifted the mortgages on Montgomery, Columbiana and parsonage. He has taken 10,000 people into the Church; has been elected delegate to the general conferences of the following years: 1888, 1892, 1896, 1900, 1904, 1908 and 1916. Was a member of the Educational Board in 1892; is the historian of the A. M. E. Church in Alabama; was voted for general office in 1900 and 1904. Married Miss Elizabeth Jackson,
of Wilberforce, in 1898. Has contributed to the Christian Recorder, Selma News, Dallas Post. Wrote the following pamphlets and books: "History of African Methodism in Alabama," "Methodist Seminary," "Broken Chain." Made addresses for Theodore Roosevelt in 1912; the G. U. O. of O. F., at Atlanta, Ga.; Washington, D. C.; Chattanooga, Tenn., and Indianapolis, Ind. He is a director of K. of P., G. C. Mason, national auditor of the G. U. O. of O. F. Dr. Mixon is connected with the F. and A. M., G. U. O. of O. F., K. of P., I. O. B. and S. of C., Supreme Master. He has held the offices of Deputy G. M. Grand Director, Supreme Master, G. C. Grand Auditor. Member of Republican and Progressive Parties. Owns a home at Selma, Ala. He is now presiding elder of Huntsville District, and financial agent of Payne University.
Moore, Morris Marcellus, twenty-seventh bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born November 15, 1856, in Quincy, Fla., and was converted in 1861, and licensed to preach in 1876, by Rev. J. H. Armstrong, in the same city. He commenced traveling in 1878; was
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP M. M. MOORE.
ordained deacon in 1880, and elder in 1881; he was elected financial secretary of the A. M. E. Church in 1896, and was elected bishop May --, 1900. He died November 23, 1900, serving as bishop only six months. He was buried in Jacksonville, Fla., where his widow now lives.
Moore, Thomas Y., was born in Shelbyville, Tenn., August 31, 1862; attended the city school there, also Central Tennessee College, now Walden University; was converted in August, 1885; was licensed to preach in 1886; joined the Tennessee conference in 1889, and has pastored some the largest churches in the Tennessee conference. In the organization of the East Tennessee conference he took a prominent part, and has been presiding elder almost ever since it was set apart. He has been a member of four general conferences--1904 to 1916 inclusive, leading his delegation in 1904, 1912 and 1916. Rev. Moore also has a prosperous undertaking business in Huntsville, Ala. He graduated from Cincinnati College of Embalming.
Morant, Asbury Benjamin, son of Charles and Phoebe Morant, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born February 14, 1874, at Fort Long, Miss., one of twelve children. He spent twelve years in school, receiving his education in Avoca public schools and Lakes' graded school. He was converted in 1890 and joined the A. M. E. Church, and has served as steward, trustee, class leader, Sunday school teacher, organist and district superintendent of Sunday schools. He has been a lay delegate to the Central Mississippi Annual Conference since 1906, and has been secretary of the same for ten consecutive years. He is delegate to the general conference of 1916. He was editor of the "Signal (Miss.) American" for two years; is postmaster at Signal, Miss., and is connected with the Knights of Honor and K. of P., and is a home owner. He was grand secretary of the Knights of Honor for twelve years.
Morant, D. R., an elder of the Central Mississippi Annual Conference, the elder son of Charles and Phoebe Morant. He was born in Selma, Ala., February 16, 1867, and was converted at Signal, near Vicksburg, Miss., September 17, 1891. He obtained his education in the public schools of Yazoo County, and by
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. D. R. MORANT.
persistent study in night school, under Prof. C. R. Custard, of Vicksburg, Miss., he was admitted into conference by Bishop H. M. Turner, December, 1897. He was ordained deacon by Bishop Derrick, January 26, 1898; ordained elder by Bishop Tyree, December 23, 1900. During the period of twenty years which marks his ministerial career, he has made splendid success. He succeeds where others fail, and is classed among the best preachers of the state. He was a delegate to the general conference in Kansas City, Mo., in 1912, and is a delegate to the Centennial General Conference in Philadelphia. He has held the following churches: Valley Park Mission, served eight months, had three converts; Flower Hill Mission, served one year, had two converts, built one new church; Warren
Circuit, served three years, had thirty-five converts, two churches remodeled; Anguilla Circuit, served three years, had twenty-seven converts, built one new church; Signal Circuit, served four years, had fifty-eight converts, built one new church; Hollandale Circuit, served three years, had seventy-five converts, built one new parsonage; Grenada Station, served one year, had seven converts, built one new parsonage; Glen Allen Circuit, served three years, had forty converts, built one new church. He has raised for building and repairs, $4008; for dollar money, $1628; built and paid for four new churches, remodeled two and built and laid the foundations for two parsonages. He is married and his wife is a great aid to him, and is now president of the Conference Branch of the W. H. and F. M. Society of the Central Mississippi Conference. He owns property in the city of Vicksburg. He is highly respected in every community to which he goes.
Morant, Rev. John James, son of Charles and Phoebe Morant, both loyal members of the A. M. E. Church, was born at Selma, Ala., in 1873. His parents had six children. Entered school in 1879, and spent about eleven years in all. Spent over two years in each of the following: public schools, Wilberforce and Payne Seminary. Received B.D., D.D. from Wilberforce.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JOHN JAMES MORANT.
Converted in 1884 and joined the A. M. E. Church in the same year; has held several offices in the Church. Licensed to preach in 1888 at Vicksburg Circuit, by Rev. Thomas W. Stringer; ordained deacon in 1890, at Grenada, Miss., by Bishop A. R. Disney; ordained elder by Bishop Arnett, at West Point, Miss., in 1893. Joined the annual conference in 1891, at Vicksburg, Miss., under Bishop Disney. He held the following appointments: Corinth Mission, 1890-91; West Point, 1891-92; Winterville, 1892; Stonesville Circuit, 1893; Oklahoma Mission, 1894; Tunica, 1895; Piqua, O., 1896; Dayton, O., 1897-99; Brookhaven, Miss., 1899; Greenwood, Miss., 1900-01; Rosedale, Miss., 1902-03; Greenville Station, 1904-05; Vicksburg, Bethel, 1906-12. Built St. Paul's, at Stoneville Circuit, at a cost of $500, in 1892; Bethel, Rosedale, Miss., at a cost of $2000, in 1902; Mother Bethel, at Vicksburg, Miss., at a cost of $21,000, in 1912. He has received about 2000 into the Church, baptized 8000 people and married 250. Was delegate to general conference in 1904, 1908, 1912. He was a member of the Educational Board in 1908-12. Appointed presiding elder in 1913-14. Endorsed unanimously by Central Mississippi Conference for the Episcopacy, December 8, 1904. Dr. Morant, in 1912, was the most formidable ministerial aspirant for Secretary of Education, and withdrew in the interest of Prof. A. S. Jackson, the present incumbent. Married Mary Jean Morant, of Ebenezer, Miss., in 1903. They had four children, John V. Morant, Jr., Christa B., Richard L. and Edward A. Has contributed to Commercial Appeal, Christian and Southern Recorders, and Vicksburg Herald. He has made several addresses, and was editor of Monitor in 1900. Dr. Morant made the following addresses: National Decoration, 1913; Commencement Address, at Campbell College, in 1906; Address to Farmers' Conference, 1910; Emancipation address, 1898, at Dayton, O. He is connected with the Masons, Odd Fellows, K. of P. and others. Member of Republican party, and attended convention in 1908. Owns a home.
Morris, Rev. S. S., was born in Portsmouth, Va., in 1878. His parents were among the first families of Tidewater, Va. His mother has been a Sunday school teacher for fifty years in Emanuel A. M. E. Church. Rev. Morris was converted at the aged of fourteen,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. S. S. MORRIS, A.M., B.D.
and became an energetic Christian worker as a Sunday school teacher and Allen League official. He received his elementary education in the public schools of Norfolk County, Va.; Providence, R. I., and Washington
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP B. W. ARNETT (See sketch Page 25)
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REV. K. C. HOLT (See sketch Page 115)
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BISHOP J. H. ARMSTRONG (See sketch Page 25)
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DR. A. D. BYAS (See sketch Page 55)
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MR. T. H. HOOPER (See sketch Page 115)
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REV. A. L. BRISBANE (See sketch Page 43)
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COL. PHILLIP H. EDWARDS (See sketch Page 86)
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REV. P. A. LUCKIE (See sketch Page 153)
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. O. IVERSON (See sketch Page 123)
D. C., and later graduated from the classical course of Morris Brown College and from Gammon Theological Seminary.
Rev. Morris was licensed as a local preacher in 1899, and joined the Virginia Conference of the African Methodist Church in April, 1901. He was transferred later to the Atlanta (Ga.) Conference, and in December, 1901, received his first appointment as pastor of West End Church, Atlanta. In 1903 he was appointed to Thomasville Station, Fulton County, Ga., and the same year became superintendent of the Industrial Department of Morris Brown College. He returned to Virginia in 1905, and has served the following charges: Tanner's Creek Circuit, three years (debt reduced); Suffolk Station, three years (mortgage burned); Third Street Bethel A. M. E. Church, Richmond, for a term of five years. This church was remodeled at a cost of $15,000, and is one of the most modern and beautiful of the state. He is now serving his first year at St. John's, Norfolk, Va., succeeding Rev. E. H. Hunter.
Rev. Morris is president of the Civic League of Richmond; secretary of the Social Study Club and Interdenominational Ministers' Union; executive member of the Neighborhood Club and Negro Welfare League; trustee of Kittrell College; member of Missionary Board A. M. E. Church, member of general conference, 1912 and 1916, and Grand Worthy Master, Grand Fountain U. of True Reformers. He has served for ten years at the head of the League work in the state.
In 1912 he was united in matrimony to Miss Mary H. Lawson, of Danville, and a son, William Lawson, has blessed the union.
Moseley, Mrs. Nannie, born in Columbia, Tenn. After finishing public school she attended Mt. Tabor Academy, a Presbyterian school of that town. Her mother being a widow, and in order that her daughter
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. NANNIE W. E. MOSELEY.
might have better advantages for the study of music, she moved to Nashville, in 1881, where she studied with some of the best teachers. By hard work and close application she met with success, and went back to her home town. She began teaching music, and was elected organist for St. Paul's A. M. E. Church. During this time she was married, and in 1892 she, with her husband, moved to Birmingham, Ala., and joined St. John's Church. She entered into the musical work and has been a successful teacher and organist. She also directed the musical department at Campbell College, Jackson, Miss., and St. Mark's Industrial School, of Birmingham, Ala., for a while. She was president of St. John's W. H. and F. local society five years. She resigned that office because she was elected president of the District Missionary Society, in which capacity she now is still serving. She is also superintendent of the women's missionary work of the Ninth Episcopal District.
Murcherson, Rev. A. R., was born in East Carroll Parish, La., November 25, 1858. After the war he attended private and public school until 1875. His parents sent him to New Orleans, where he entered the Sumner Boys' High School. After finishing the eighth grade he returned to the farm to assist his parents, but continued in night school under Mr. F. R. Bartholomue. He was known by all from boyhood to be a pious and sober young man, and on account of his Christian training he does not know of any time in his
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. A. R. MURCHERSON.
life when he was not a Christian, but he came into a full confession of Jesus August 27, 1878. He felt called to the ministry for some time before he entered upon that work. He married Miss Olley Amelia Murphy, of Madison Parish, La., December 18, 1878. A baby boy was born to their union, but lived to be only four and a half months old.
He became a member of the Order of K. of P., in 1883, and rose to the rank of Past District Deputy Grand Chancellor. He was elected, in 1884, constable of his ward, and was twice appointed deputy sheriff, and once appointed constable to fill a vacancy. In December, 1884, he was appointed by the Clyde Detective Agency of Kansas, as detective for the northern part of the State of Louisiana, and served until
October, 1886, when he was forced to surrender by an armed force of lawless white men. He was always appointed either a commissioner or supervisor of election for thirty years, and was shot at many times while counting votes and forced to take refuge in the swamps.
For some time Brother Murcherson followed the sea, but became convinced that he must enter the active itinerancy (he had been a local preacher nearly thirty years). He did so in 1906. His first charge was at Clear Creek, La., in 1906, and the membership increased from 42 to 92 members. He was transferred at his request to New York Conference by Bishop Salter. He served the following charges in New York: Kinderbrook, 1907-9; Albion, 1909-10; Babylon, 1910-13; Payne Memorial, 1913-15; Metropolitan A. M. E. Church, New York, 1915 to date. He is now statistical secretary of the New York Conference.
Murray, Charles H., was born about fifty years ago, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, a few miles from the birthplace of Bishop Wayman and Frederick Douglass. He is the son of Mary C. and Joseph Murray, whose ancestors, without a missing link, have been identified with the A. M. E. Church for the last seventy-five years. Before entering the ministry he was a member of the Mother Bethel, Baltimore, at six
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. C. H. MURRAY, D.D.
years old joining the Sunday school, being converted at ten years of age. He was educated in the public schools of Baltimore and New Jersey, studied in Douglass Institute two years, studied also under Prof. S. Ulelings, of New Jersey; Drs. F. J. Peck, J. H. A. Johnson, J. W. Beckett, J. F. Lane, of Baltimore; Dr. G. J. G. Webster (white), of M. E. Church and Professor Moor; was admitted into the Baltimore Conference, 1893, under Bishop Gaines, and served Keedysville, one year; Carroll, three years; Frederick City, five years; Randallstown, two years; Port Deposit, one year; presiding elder five years; Catonsville Station, six years; served as trustee of Kittrell College and Wilberforce; elected delegate to the general conferences of 1908, 1912 and 1916, and was chairman of the Baltimore Conference delegation in 1912.
Myers, Prof. I. M. A., was born in Sandy Run township, Lexington County, near Columbia, S. C., in 1880. He attended the country schools of Orangeburg and Lexington Counties, where he received his grammar school training. He attended Allen University for seven years, graduated and spent there three years as a teacher. Prof. Myers also attended the state summer schools in Benedict College, Columbia, several sessions. In the summer of 1910, he conducted the summer school for Negro
[ILLUSTRATION]
PROF. I. M. A. MYERS.
teachers in Clarendon County, with credit. For six years Prof. Myers was news and city editor of the Southern Sun, a widely read paper published at Columbia, S. C., and in this capacity he traveled over the State and wrote a number of interesting articles on the progress of the colored people. He also has contributed to the white papers in South Carolina pertaining to the conventions and other gatherings of colored people.
In 1908 Prof. Myers went to Manning, S. C., to take charge of the colored graded school of that city. The school, when he took charge, had only four teachers and lived out of an annual income of $600. The school has now ten full grades, with three years of credited high school work, a first-class domestic art and science department, an $8,000 school building with seven teachers added, and lives out of an annual income of $2,000, receiving annuities from both the Jeanes and John F. Slater funds. The county teachers' monthly meetings inaugurated by Prof. Myers are attended each month by scores of rural teachers, who meet for institute work and conference, and the annual field day celebrations bring thousands of people to the county seat to see the demonstrations of the school fair and the exhibition of what is being done in the rural schools of the county. Prof. Myers is also one of the strongest laymen in the church in South Carolina. He was elected on the first ballot to the general conference in the electoral college of the Northeast South Carolina Conference last summer. His great grandparents were members of the A. M. E. Church. He has been a Sunday school teacher
for 16 years, is a steward in his church, and for the past eight years has served on the board of trustees of Allen University.
Myers, Joshua H., son of Moses and Oleania Myers, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born December 27, 1865, at Decatur County, Ga. He received his education at Beach School and Morris Brown College. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1880, and held every office in the local church except trustee; he was licensed to preach in 1893, at Savannah, Ga., by Rev. J. B. Lofton, and joined the annual conference the same year at Albany, Ga., under Bishop Grant, who ordained him deacon in 1895, at Savannah. He was ordained elder in 1897, at Atlanta, Ga., by Bishop Turner, and has held the following appointments: Old St. Philip, Savannah; Chapel Street, Atlanta; Jackson Station, Conyers Station, St. James, Altanta; North Street Church, Macon; Jackson Chapel, Washington, Ga.; St. Paul, Rome, Ga.; Wesley Chapel, Rockmart, Ga.; presiding elder of Athens District. He bought the parsonage of North Street Church, Macon, Ga., at a cost of $550; lifted the mortgage at Jackson, Ga., to the amount of $47, and Conyers, to the amount of $593. He was delegate to the general conferences of 1912 and 1916. He married Mrs. Selena C. Myers, of Macon, Ga., in 1885. He has contributed to the several "Recorders," "A. M. E. Review" and "Voice of Missions." He is connected with the G. U. O. of O. F., A. F. and A. M. and F. C. B., the G. O. P. and is a home owner.
McClendon, Rev. William Anderson, son of Anderson and Rosina McClendon, was born at Columbus, Ga., February 19, 1880. His father was a member
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. WILLIAM A. McCLENDON, B.D.
of the Baptist Church and his mother a member of the A. M. E. Church. His parents had twelve children. He entered school in 1886. He is a graduate of the public schools and Turner Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Ga.; received his degree from the latter. He was converted in Aug., 1898, and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He has held nearly every office in the Church. He was licensed to preach September, 1899, at Union Springs, Ala., by Rev. Calhoun. He was ordained deacon in 1906, at Atlanta, Ga., by Bishop Turner, and ordained elder in 1908 at Griffin, Ga., by Bishop Smith. He joined the Annual Conference of 1904 at Bainbridge, Ga., under Bishop Turner.
He has held the following appointments: Mt. Airy Mission, 1902; Waverly Hall Mission, 1903; Ellsley Circuit, 1904; Rice, Cussette and Jackson End Mission, 1906-7; St. James' Station, 1908-9; Pleasant Grove, 1908; Barnesville, 1910-11; Warrenton, Ga., 1912-14; St. Paul, Atlanta, Ga., 1915-16.
He built a church at Pleasant Grove. He lifted a mortgage on Trinity, at Warrenton, Ga., to the amount of $110, in 1912. He has received over 500 into the church, baptized 320 and married 40. He has been elected delegate to the General Conference of 1916.
He married Mattie B. Owens, of Barnesville, Ga., December 7, 1911. He delivered the Emancipation Address at Warrenton, Ga., in 1914, and Commencement Oration to Sparta Normal School, in 1914. He is a member of the F. and A. M., K. of P., and G. U. O. of O. F.
McDonald, J. Frank, editor of Western Christian Recorder, was born in Lafayette County, Mo., five miles south of Dover, during the dark days of slavery. At the age of twelve he escaped to Lexington, Mo., a distance of fifteen miles through the woods. Upon reaching the fort, where Colonel Mulligan surrendered to General Price, the Confederate chieftain, he found scores of fugitive slaves from all parts of the state who were enlisting in the United States Army. He presented
[ILLUSTRATION]
DR. J. FRANK McDONALD.
himself for enlistment, but on account of his youth, weight and height, he was rejected. He remained at the fort from September, 1862, until January, 1863, when he left for Kansas. There was a deep snow which had fallen in December which made passage
very difficult. In passing through Fire Prairie Bottom, young Mat, with frozen feet, strength exhausted, hungry, chilled through and through, was left behind, but afterwards made his way to Independence, Mo., riding behind a soldier who picked him up. He tried to enlist again but was rejected. After a dozen or more attempts, at different times, and under as many aliases, he finally hired himself to a captain of the Second Colorado Regiment, as a body servant, and "he loyally followed through the smoke of battle, unterrified by the scream of shell or shower of bullets and shot that fell around him." On Mr. Lincoln's last call for volunteers he was enlisted.
He learned his A B C's forward and backward with his eyes shut during the dark days of his youth (not knowing them when he looked at them with his eyes open). A missionary teacher from Iowa taught him to read. Upon his discharge from the army at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., he returned to Independence, Mo., where he entered school and remained several terms, working at odd jobs to buy books, etc. For several years he traveled from place to place visiting nearly every large city in the South, East and North, and locating finally in Kansas City, Mo., where, in a revival conducted by Rev. T. Wellington Henderson, he was happily converted and joined Allen Chapel. His mind at once reverted to his books, and he returned to Lexington, Mo., near the old homestead, entered school and applied himself diligently to his books. He was licensed as a local preacher, and at the same time he became a public school teacher.
September 25, 1876, in Columbia, Mo., he was admitted to the annual conference, and served as missionary, circuit rider, pastor, and presiding elder, building churches, paying off debts, raising connectional claims, and at the same time serving as an educator. Wilberforce University conferred upon him the degree of D.D., and Paul Quinn College, Ph.D. Dr. McDonald has served on all the important committees in the three conferences in Missouri, also chief secretary of the North Missouri Conference and the Missouri Conference, and has represented these conferences a number of times in the general conference.
In 1878 he was married to Miss L. Louise Sanford, of Macon, Mo., at that time a teacher in the public schools. Dr. McDonald studied the dead languages at St. Vincent College, Cape Girardeau, Mo., for two years. He still spends from three to five hours a day with the Bible, philosophy, history and science. He established the Western Christian Recorder, in 1891, with no funds save what he, his wife and friends raised. In 1904 he was put on a salary by the general conference, and has been continued ever since, being elected by acclamation in 1912.
In the year 1904 Dr. McDonald took up the study of law. He has traveled extensively through the United States and Canada, and in 1901 was an alternate to the Ecumenical Conference, in London, England.
In his younger days he devoted a great deal of his time to secret societies, and now carries the honors of past master, past grand master and other titles in the various benevolent orders to which he belongs. He is a Thirty-second Degree Mason.
He owns property at Macon, Lexington and Kansas City, Mo., where he now resides.
McEaddy, Rev. J. C., pastor of Metropolitan A. M. E. Church, Cumberland, Md., was born in Florence County, S. C. He was converted in St. Luke's A. M. E. Church of that place. Attending Allen University,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. C. McEADDY, B.D.
he was graduated in the Class of 1889, and taught school in the state for a few years. He entered Howard University, being graduated in the Class of 1893, from the theological department, having also taken special studies in the college department.
He joined the Baltimore Annual Conference, and was appointed pastor of Mt. Pisgah A. M. E. Church, Washington, D. C. He has pastored churches in the District of Columbia, in Baltimore, on the Eastern Shore, Md., and in North Carolina. He was married to Miss Laura V. Seldon, of Washington, D. C., March 16, 1897. She departed this life August 28, 1912, at Newbern, N. C.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. CHARLES A. McGEE.
McGee, Charles A., was born of slave parents in the State of Virginia. He has never attended public
school or college, but studied diligently on the farm all day. He was converted in 1876 and joined the church the same year. He has served in every capacity in the church from janitor to presiding elder. He was ordained deacon in 1886 at Meadville, Pa., by Bishop Campbell, and elder in 1888 at Brownsville, Pa., by Bishop Payne. He joined the annual conference in 1885 at Pittsburgh, Pa., under Bishop Campbell. He has held the following appointments: Parkersburg, W. Va., 1885; Monongahela City, Pa., 1887; presiding elder of the Wheeling district, 1888; Scranton, Pa., 1892; Bradford, Pa., 1896; Brownsville, Pa., 1897; presiding elder Wheeling district, 1899; Uniontown, 1904; Canonsburg, 1908; St. James, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1912. At Parkersburg, W. Va., he built a church at a cost of $3,000, and one at Pike Run, Pa., at a cost of $300. He lifted a mortgage of $2,500 at St. James church, Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1915.
NELSON, REV. L. E., was born to Rev. B. J. and Enthia Nelson, near Columbiana, Ala., August 31, 1867, one of sixteen children. He was baptized 1878, while a child, by Rev. J. H. Henderson, presiding elder of the Selma District. Was converted at Pratt City, Alabama, May 7, 1891; licensed to preach at Milldale, Ala., by Rev. J. S. Shaw, presiding elder of the Birmingham District, April 20, 1892; received his first appointment from Rev. T. M. Coffee, presiding elder, Birmingham District, May 18, 1895; joined the conference, November 28, 1895, at his home town, under Bishop A. Grant. He has served the following charges in Alabama: Oakman, 1895-6;
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. L. E. NELSON.
Palos, 1897; Bankston, 1898; Jasper, 1899; Mapleville, 1900; Blossburg, No. 2, 1901; Kingston, 48th Street, Birmingham, 1902-3; S. Ensley, 1904.
He was ordained deacon October 4, 1898, by Bishop H. M. Turner, at Huntsville, Ala.; ordained elder November 8, 1903, at Birmingham, Ala., by Bishop W. J. Gaines; was transferred to the Indian Mission Conference, November 14, 1914, by Bishop L. J. Coppin, and has served the following charges in Oklahoma: Coalgate, the first six months of 1905; and Huttonville the balance of the year; Alderson, 1906; Sutler, 1907; Big Creek, 1908; Ft. Gibson, 1909; Redland, October, 1909-April, 1910; and presiding elder of the Ft. Gibson District from April 1910 to date. Rev. Nelson has paid mortgages at Oakman, Ala., $300; at Fort Gibson, $200. He built parsonages at Big Creek and Alderson, Okla. He married Lilly Pearl Nelson, of Opelika, Ala., in 1905. Owns a home in Fort Gibson, Okla. He was a member of the general conference of 1912 and is a member of the Centennial General Conference of 1916, representing the Northeast Oklahoma Annual Conference.
Nelson, Mrs. M. V., was born January 3, 1865, in Austin, Travis County, Texas; attended school in Austin and Brenham, Texas; was converted and joined Reedy Chapel A. M. E. Church, Galveston, Texas, in 1895, under the pastorate of Rev. L. H. Reynolds; was appointed a stewardess by Rev. M. D. Moody, in 1897, and has served continuously up to the present; was appointed
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. M. V. NELSON.
leader of class No. 3, by Rev. G. W. Hamilton, in 1910, and has proven a faithful leader and worker in almost every department of the church. From 1906 to 1909, under Rev. D. B. Stovall, presiding elder, she served as district missionary. She was appointed March, 1910, by Bishop Tyree, as president of the conference branch missionary society of the Texas Annual Conference. She organized a society based on love and charity known as the Independent Order of Good Shepherds. This society cares for the poor and aged, aiding them with clothing and money when possible. In July, 1902, she also organized the Juvenile of the Sons and Daughters of Bethlehem, of which she was member. She is also president of several church and social clubs; the M. V. Nelson Tabernacle, No. 526, Daughters of Tabor, was organized in her home, of which she is the Chief Preceptress. She is also a member of the State Grand Tabernacle of Knights and Daughters of Tabor.
Newton, Rev. Alexander H., was born in Newbern, N. C., November 5, 1837. His parents were Thaddeus A. and Mary Newton. His father was a slave, owned by Mrs. Kittie Custis, but bought his freedom by paying $1,000, and moved the family with him to Brooklyn, N. Y., in the year 1857.
Alexander Newton was married June 28, 1859, to Miss Olivia Augusta Hamilton, daughter of Robert and Adeline Hamilton, at Brooklyn, N. Y.; was converted March 15, 1869, and later joined on six months' probation Fleet Street A. M. E. Church, Brooklyn, N. Y., Sunday, March 20, 1869; Elder Theo. Gould, pastor, and was received into full membership September, 1869; June 10, 1870, he was licensed to preach at quarterly conference, Fleet Street Church. Bishop Jabez P. Campbell appointed him to Pennington Circuit, N. J., in the
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. ALEXANDER H. NEWTON.
interval of conference; he was received by Bishop William Paul Quinn into the Philadelphia Conference at the Union Church, Coates Street, Philadelphia, Pa., May, 1871; was ordained deacon October 25, 1873, St. John Chapel, Nashville, Tenn., by Bishop J. M. Brown; ordained elder November 1, 1875, at Pine Bluff, Ark., by Bishop John M. Brown. D.D.
He has served the following charges: Pennington Circuit, N. J.; Oxford, Pa.; Warren Chapel, Chattanooga, Tenn.; Little Rock, Ala.; Algiers, La.; St. Paul, Raleigh, N. C.; Rues Chapel, Newbern, N. C.; Hillsboro, N. C.; since 1880 in the New Jersey conference: Morristown, Madison, Trenton, Camden (Macedonia), Bridgeton, Vineland and Millville Circuit, New Brunswick, Cape May, presiding elder Trenton District, Woodbury, Burlington, Camden (Hosanna church), Beverly, Bordentown, Haddonfield, Mt. Holly and Hosanna, Camden, where he is now serving his eighth year. He was a delegate to the general conference four times, and opened the Legislature of New Jersey with prayer March 29-April 3, 1886. During his pastoral career he has built and repaired 15 churches, repaired and furnished 4 parsonages, and received into the church 2310 members.
He is the author of "Out of the Briars," a handsomely illustrated book containing 269 pages, printed by the A. M. E. Book Concern, telling of events of antebellum days and of the Civil War, in which Rev. Newton was a soldier, a member of the 29th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers. Rev. Newton has been a member of the Masonic Fraternity since 1859; was 20 years Grand Chaplain of Grand Lodge, F. and A. M., State of New Jersey; Eminent Grand Prelate of the Grand Commandary, K. T., State of New Jersey; 33d degree Mason of the A. A. Scottish Rite, and Treasurer General Supreme Council, Northern Jurisdiction U. S. A. He is also a member of Knights of Pythias, N. A., S. A., E., A. A. & A.; Past Chaplain-in-chief of Uniform Rank, and six years Supreme Prelate of the Supreme Lodge of K. P.
Nichols, Rev. James H., was born in Binghamton, N. Y., 1842, the son of Henry and Mary Nichols. Married Prudence A. Brown; was licensed to preach at Owego, October, 1869, by Rev. Edward Thompson; ordained local deacon by Bishop Payne, in 1872; ordained elder by Bishop Payne, 1878, and joined the annual conference
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JAMES H. NICHOLS.
in 1878. He has held the following appointments in New York: Setauket, Coxsackie, Lockport, Amityville Circuit, Albion Mission, Middletown, Owego, Chatham Station, Jamestown, Rochester, Glencove and was missionary agent, appointed by Bishop Derrick, of the New York Conference. Died at Setauket, N. Y., 1899.
Nichols, Rev. L. R., was born in Raleigh, N. C., in January, 1857, and was educated in the public schools of that city, having attended the Johnson school, and a school taught by a Mr. Harris Lealand, from Boston, Mass. He joined St. Paul's A. M. E. Church in 1868, under the Rev. W. W. Morgan, and was happily converted in 1869, and fellowshipped by the Rev. Joseph Nicholas.
He was licensed to exhort by the Rev. George W. Brodie, and in May of that year (1872) was sent as an aid to the Rev. Samuel Brown, at Greensboro & Company Shops, North Carolina; from here he was appointed to
the Pittsboro Circuit, where he remained for three years. Next he was sent by Bishop Campbell to Halifax, N. C., where he labored for two years, and from here was sent to a place in lower North Carolina called Magnolia. He remained here for only three months, being transferred by Bishop J. M. Brown to the South Carolina Conference and stationed at St. John's Church, Marion, which he served for three years, going from here to the Marion District; to the Charleston District for one year; then to Emanuel Church, Charleston, for four years. From Emanuel he was appointed to the Edisto District, of
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. LEWIS RUFFIN NICHOLS, D.D.
which Emanuel Church was the head. After serving the Edisto District for a term, Bishop Arnett sent him back to Emanuel, and he built a brick church at a cost of $60,000, leaving only the steeple to be finished. From Emanuel he was appointed to the Georgetown District, where he served for five years, increased the dollar money from about $750 to over $1,600. From the Georgetown District he was appointed by Bishop Grant to Morris Brown Church, Charleston, where he served for four years, doubling the membership. Bishop Gaines sent him back to the Charleston District, which he served for five years, and made it a first-class district. Bishop Lee returned him to Morris Brown, and he succeeded in building up the total membership to over 3,000 persons. After serving Morris Brown for the second time, he was sent back to the Georgetown District by Bishop Coppin, where he is now doing heroic work for Christ and African Methodism. He has held every office in the church save that of a general officer and bishop, and his highest aim in life is to be an evangelic gospel minister of Jesus Christ.
Nichols, Rev. Pleasant Augustus, Secretary Wilberforce University, was born near Leesburg, Harrison County, Kentucky, December 24, 1863. Was the son of William and Pliny Nichols, who were the proud possessors of a family of fourteen children, only four of whom are now living.
At the age of six years he began his education in the district public schools, which he attended continuously until old enough to make a work-hand on the farm. During the winter months, when farm work was slack, he attended school. In spring, summer and fall, when called to the farm, he studied at night, under private instructors, and at spare times, until he was able to secure a county teacher's certificate, and for fourteen years taught in the public schools of Kentucky, becoming principal of the Newport City school, being rated as one of the most efficient and progressive teachers in the State.
He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church, at Leesburg, Kentucky, May 14, 1884, under the pastorate of Rev. C. G. Cannon, and was licensed as a local preacher by Rev. J. F. Thomas, P. E., March 5, 1885, and joined the Kentucky Conference, at Ashland, September, 1886, under Bishop H. M. Turner; was ordained deacon at Harrodsburg, by Bishop Turner, September, 1888, and elder, at Covington, by Bishop Wayman, September, 1889. He has pastored the following charges: Beattyville, 3 years; Newport, 2 years; Mackville, 2 years; Richmond, 2 years; Nicholasville, 3 years; Frankfort,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. P. A. NICHOLS.
3 years; Covington, 2 years; Midway, 2 years; Danville, 2 years; Paducah, 3 years, and presiding elder, 5 years, at Willisburg, one of the points on the Mackville Circuit; he built a large frame church; at Richmond he paid a long standing debt on the old church, purchased and paid for a lot and laid the foundation for the commodious brick church, which was afterwards erected by Rev. J. W. Caldwell; at Frankfort he reduced the mortgage debt from $3,500 to $1,400 in two years; at Midway he paid a $400 debt of 20 years standing; at Danville he remodeled the parsonage at a cost of $600, paying cash for the work when finished; laid the foundation and began the erection of a lecture room adjoining the church; was transferred to the West Kentucky Conference by Bishop Shaffer, and stationed at Paducah, where he built Burks Chapel, said to be one of the most beautiful church buildings owned by the African Methodists in the State, at a cost of $2,600.
He was delegate to the general conferences of 1908
and 1912 and served as assistant secretary of the latter. He has contributed to some of the leading magazines and newspapers of the country on some phase of politics, civics, sociology and religion. His pamphlets: "Five Years Under Trial" and "The Priesthood of Melchisdeck," excited favorable comment by the press of the country. He was appointed by Governor J. B. McCreary as a delegate to represent the State at the fiftieth anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation held at Atlantic City, New Jersey, October, 1913. For three years he owned and edited "The Negro Citizen," a weekly newspaper, at Paducah, Ky., and his editorials on the race problem, politics and economics were the means of placing a trained Negro nurse in the city hospital and securing the appointment of a Negro assistant city physician.
In 1887 he married Miss Dovie Candaca Haddox, of Beattyville, Ky., whose love for and fidelity to the cause of the ministry have contributed largely to whatever success has attended his work. They are blessed with two children: Leota I. Nichols, who is a graduate of Wayman Institute and Wilberforce University, and is the wife of Dr. R. B. Hamilton, of Danville, Ky., and Roscoe G. Nichols, who, at this writing, is an insurance solicitor at Louisville, Ky.
As a preacher, orator and pastor, Rev. Nichols takes high rank among his brethren of Kentucky, who are proud of him and delight to do him honor because of his sterling character, honesty and worth. He is a delegate to the Centennial General Conference representing the West Kentucky Conference. He is now secretary of Wilberforce University since February, 1916.
Nottingham, Rev. A. J., was born at Eastville, Northampton County, Va., August 18th, 1868, of A. M. E. parentage. He was converted at the age of fifteen years, and baptized by Rev. J. E. W. Moore. He attended the public schools of Lynn, Mass., and of his native county. He graduated from the Hampton Normal School in 1891, after which he taught in the public schools seven years. He studied theology under private tutors, and took a partial correspondence course from Morris Brown College. He was licensed to preach in 1895, and entered the itinerant ministry in 1896, was ordained deacon 1898, and elder in 1900 by Bishop James A. Handy.
Pastored the following charges in the Virginia Annual Conference: Tanner's Creek, 3 years; Oceana Circuit, 2 years, and built parsonage; St. James Station, Berkley, 5 years, built parsonage and paid for same; reduced mortgage debt on church; Third Street, Richmond, 2 years, reduced mortgage debt; Roanoke Station, 3 years, renovated church and parsonage; now serving fourth year at Hampton with success where he has renovated church and parsonage, and almost doubled the membership.
He served as recording secretary of his conference four years and chief secretary four years. He has been serving as secretary of the Finance Committee of the Virginia Conference for nine years; secretary of the Norfolk A. M. E. Preachers' Meeting eight years; a member of the General Conference of 1912, and was appointed first assistant recording secretary.
He married Miss Mattie J. C. Robins, a classmate of his, in 1893, who has shared his ministerial labors all these years. She served two years as State President of the W. M. M. Society of Virginia, and succeeded in raising
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. A. J. NOTTINGHAM, D.D.
more money for the mission field than was raised before or since.
The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon Rev. Nottingham in 1908 by Morris Brown College.
Nutter, Isaac Henry, lay delegate, lawyer; born at Princess Anne, Md., August 20, 1878; son of William and Emma (Henry) Nutter; LL.B. Howard University School of Law, Washington, D. C., 1901; honorary LL.D. Wilberforce University, 1913; married Alice E. Reed, of Coatesville, Pa., April 27, 1904; admitted to the New Jersey bar, 1905; practiced in Atlantic City since June, 1905; was for some time associated with ex-Judge John J. Crandall; court practice averages about 20 civil and criminal cases a month; defended in 30 murder cases, 1 of which was convicted in second degree, 4 sentenced for manslaughter and 25 acquitted; in the County Court at Mays Landing, N. J.; in less than four days, February 23-27, 1915, he secured acquittals in two murder cases, and in the middle of the trial of the third client had a "not guilty" of murder plea changed to "guilty" of manslaughter, with imprisonment for one year; solicitor and general advisor New Jersey State Republican League, solicitor of Atlantic County Republican League; president Nutter Real Estate Co., Mason, member Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Elks. Mr. Nutter is a member and an officer in St. James A. M. E. Church, Atlantic City, and the legal adviser of the church. He is a lay delegate to the Centennial General Conference, representing the New Jersey Conference.
OSBORNE, REV. W. T., A.M., was born near Monroeville, Monroe County, Alabama. At the age of ten years he was brought to Illinois by Colonel Jonathan Merriam, Colonel of the 117th Illinois Regiment, and reared by him on a farm in Logan County near Atlanta, Ill.
He graduated at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Ill., in 1876, with the degree of A.B., being the only colored person in his class. In 1879 the degree of A.M. was conferred upon him by the institution. He taught in the public schools of Missouri for a number of years. He then entered the ministry, joining the North Missouri Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, under the late Bishop Ward in 1883. He was ordained
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. W. T. OSBORNE.
deacon in 1884, and elder by the late Bishop J. M. Brown in 1888. He pastored with great success the leading churches in the North Missouri conference. He was conference trustee of Wilberforce for a number of years. In 1906 he was transferred to the Colorado conference by the late Bishop Grant and stationed at Helena, Montana. He made the speech that detached Helena from the Colorado conference and attached it to the Puget Sound conference. He went from Helena to Seattle, Wash. There he erected a magnificent church, the finest and most modern in the northwest, which raised high the standard of African Methodism in the far west.
He was leader of the delegation to the general conference at Kansas City, Mo., in 1912. He was known in the North Missouri Conference and on the coast, as the "Little Giant" and "Gospel Preacher." He built, completed and improved a number of churches and parsonages, and added thousands of members to the church.
His amiable wife, Pinkie Jackson Osborne, a graduate of the public school of Glasgow, Mo.; Walden University, Nashville, Tenn.; Western University, Macon, Mo.; a post-graduate student of Dixon College, Dixon, Ill., and a teacher in the public schools of Missouri, has been a great power behind the throne in his successes. She made the Mite Missionary work in the Puget Sound Conference a success.
Overall, Rev. L. S., the leader of the delegation of the East Arkansas conference to the Centennial General Conference at Philadelphia, Pa., is one of the products of the A. M. E. Church in Arkansas, a graduate of Shorter College, and an aggressive and progressive
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. L. S. OVERALL, B.D.
young minister who by superior ability has worked his way to the top in his state, where he enjoys the confidence of ministry and laity, of white as well as colored citizens.
PALMER, REV. JOHN MOORE, was born at Lewistown, Mifflin County, Pa., April 15, 1854.
He was converted in Wayman A. M. E. Church of his native-town, Rev. William P. Ross, pastor, in October, 1876, and was licensed to preach July, 1877, by Rev. Cornelius Asbury. He was admitted with his brother to the Pittsburgh conference under Bishop Wayman at Salem, Ohio, October, 1878.
His first appointment was in 1878 to the Bellefonte Circuit. He has pastored the following charges in the Pittsburgh Conference: Meadville, Crawford County, Pa.; Williamsport Station, Williamsport City, Pa.; Elizabeth Circuit, composing Elizabeth, West Elizabeth and West Newton, Pa.; Uniontown, Fayette County, from which charge he was transferred to the Philadelphia Conference, where he served as pastor of the Campbell A. M. E. Church, Frankford, followed by a period of three years' service as presiding elder of the then Lancaster District, under Bishop H. M. Turner. He was sent to Germantown and built the present church. He was sent next to Union A. M. E. Church, Philadelphia,
and after a period of two years he was sent to Allen A. M. E. Chapel in the same city. Remaining here three years he was sent to Smyrna, Delaware, where he remained for but one year and was transferred to the New York Conference by Bishop Derrick and stationed at St. John's Church, Brooklyn, where he remained for two years and was transferred back to the Philadelphia Conference by Bishop Derrick to save the church at Germantown. Here he remained five years and was then sent to Asbury Church, Chester, Pa., by Bishop Gaines and remained for six years, at which time he was sent to his present charge, Mt. Olive, Philadelphia.
Nothing but success has followed his ministry. Many churches have been remodeled, at least 4000 souls converted and not a single church divided, disrupted or lost, debts, mortgages, etc., cancelled.
He was a party Prohibitionist in 1888 and was the first colored man in Pennsylvania to run on a ticket for Congressman-at-large. He stumped the state with the late Hon. Chas. S. Wolfe, of Union County, who ran for Governor of Pennsylvania, and also with Governor John P. St. John, of Kansas, for President of the U. S., and received 30,675 votes in the election.
He has served as the official stenographer of three general conferences, '92, '96 and 1912. He was father of the Connectional Preachers' Aid. Much of the success of the reform movement in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania is declared to have been due to his effectual work since 1905.
He married Miss Jennie Weaver, of Harrisburg, in May, 1881. They have had ten children, six of whom are living.
He received his training in his home school, at the Bellefonte Academy, the Allegheny College, and, lastly, the Philadelphia Divinity College.
Parker, H. H., lay delegate; one of eight children of I. L. and Adaline Parker, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born December 4, 1867, at Richlands,
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. H. H. PARKER.
N. C., and was educated in the public schools. He was converted in 1885, having joined the church the year before. He has been steward, trustee, class leader for fifteen years, Sunday school teacher and superintendent for twenty years and district superintendent for eight years. He was elected lay delegate to the general conferences, 1896, 1900 and 1916. His wife is Mrs. Inda L. Parker, a native of Richlands, to whom he was married December 19, 1888. They have children--S. Phillis, P. E. A., Peter L., H. H., Jr., Libby J., N. Ruth, L. E., Daisy A., Katie L., Samuel J., Inda A. and William A. Mr. Parker is a home owner and prominent in secret orders.
Patterson, Rev. S. J., was born in Greenville, S. C., February 16, 1867. With his parents, Isaac and Rachel Patterson, he moved to Florida when six years old. Was converted May 1, 1887; licensed to preach July 8, 1889, by Dr. S. H. Coleman; joined the conference, March 6, 1894. He was made general missionary by Bishop T. W. D. Ward in February, 1896. His first appointment was to Cottage Hill, "Ybor City," a Cuban
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. S. J. PATTERSON.
town with one member. He was ordained deacon by Bishop W. J. Gaines, March 9, 1897, and elder, March 5, 1899, at Orlando, by Rt. Rev. W. J. Gaines. He graduated June, 1903, from Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, Ohio. He was elected delegate to the general conferences of 1908 and 1912. He was appointed presiding elder February, 1906, by Bishop B. T. Tanner and has been successively and successfully presiding elder since that time. He is well known and highly esteemed.
Payne, Daniel Alexander, sixth bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Charleston, S. C., February 24, 1811. At twelve years of age he was put to the carpenter's trade, in which he spent four and one-half years. While working here he read the first number of Rev. John Brown's "Self-Interpreting Bible," and he resolved to be what John Bunyan was. He was converted in 1829, about three years after he had joined church on probation. In 1835 he left Charleston, S. C., his native city, and returned thirty years later as a bishop of the A. M. E. Church. He planted the banner of the connection on the soil where he had thirty years before suffered imprisonment and oppression. He was licensed to preach in Gettysburg College
by Rev. Frank Syn, G.X. He commenced traveling the A. M. E. Church in 1842. He was ordained deacon in 1838 and elder in 1838; was ordained bishop May 13, 1852. Died November 29, 1893, and was
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP D. A. PAYNE.
buried in Baltimore, Md. He was senior bishop for over 20 years. He was the Negroes' first apostle of education. founded Wilberforce University, in 1856, in connection with others, and bought the property for the A. M. E. Church in 1863.
Pendergrass, Rev. Durant Percival, was born December 26th, 1872. His parents, Jack Pendergrass and Sarah Pendergrass, were slaves, reared on the Oliver plantation near Foreston, S. C., Clarendon County. Opportunity for schooling was very limited, until in 1889
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. DURANT PERCIVAL PENDERGRASS.
his teacher, Prof. W. D. Tardif, suggested that he go to Hampton, Va., where four years were spent.
He married, in 1901, Miss Maud Beula Chavis, whose father, the Rev. J. M. Chavis, was a minister in the A. M. E. Church back in the '80's.
In 1903 he was admitted to the North East S. C. Conference under the late Bishop W. J. Gaines. He was ordained deacon by Bishop Coppin December, 1905. In 1907 he was ordained traveling elder.
He has served some of the best charges of the Northeast South Carolina Conference. Among them are Unionville Station, and the famous Couterboro Station. At Unionville Station, he settled, and took up mortgages of long standing that had threatened to close the church. At Couterboro he built and seated and paid for one of the finest churches in the conference. At the conference sitting in Sumter, 1913, Bishop L. J. Coppin, D.D., appointed him presiding elder of the Sumter District, where he is now serving.
Perrin, D. A., was born in Greenwood, S. C., in 1869; graduated from Allen University in 1889, and
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. D. A. PERRIN, A.B.
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. D. A. PERRIN.
from Claflin University in 1895; taught in the public schools and for a short while held the chair of history in the State College of Orangeburg, S. C. He was
converted in his seventeenth year and joined the ministry at Marion, S. C., in 1892, under Bishop Salter. He was stationed at Orangeburg, S. C., where he rebuilt the church and increased the membership from 30 to 300. In 1897 he resigned the chair of history in the State College and was stationed at Bethel, Tallahassee, Fla., where he did a great work in building up the church and saving souls. While there he was married to Miss Rowena E. Andrews, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Andrews, of Sumter, S. C., and four children have blessed their union. In 1900 he was sent by Bishop Gaines to St. Paul, Tampa, Fla., where he pastored with great success, paid off the debts and burnt the mortgage. In 1902 he was made presiding elder and presided for thirteen years. He has been a delegate to every general conference since 1900, and led the delegation in 1904 and 1908. He is now pastor in charge of Mt. Olive A. M. E. Church, Orlando, Fla. He made the best report that has ever been made from that church at the last conference, which was held in Tampa, Fla., February 23, 1916.
Perrin, Mrs. Rowena E. (Andrews), was born in Sumter, S. C., the only child of W. J. and Amelia J. Andrews. She was educated in Scotia Seminary, North Carolina, and Boston, Mass., spending two years in the New England Conservatory of Music and in the law office of Johnson W. Ramsay. After leaving Boston she taught in Allen University and in the State College of South Carolina. She was married to Rev. D. A. Perrin in 1898, was principal of the Tampa (Fla.) Musical Studio for ten years and trained several brilliant pupils. She has proved an ideal minister's wife and has been of invaluable service to her husband at all times, acting as his private secretary. When the Mite Missionary Society was organized in South Florida conference during the administration of Bishop Handy, Mrs. Perrin was appointed first president and Miss Emma Moore secretary. She proved to be an earnest missionary worker. She was again elected president of the Mite Missionary Society in 1914. The report for that year was $500; for the year 1915, $800.05, and in 1916, $811. She was appointed a notary public in 1911, and was the first Negro woman to hold that position in South Florida. Her commission continues until June, 1919. She is the mother of four children, namely, Horace C. A., William J., Amelia H. and Mary Rowena.
Phillips, W. A. J., was born of free parents, January 15, 1831, in Rappahannock County, Va., where he lived until September, 1851, when he went to Pittsburgh, Pa., where he learned the barber's trade, which he followed until 1868. He was converted in Wylie Avenue Church, Pittsburgh, Pa., August 27, 1853, during the pastorate of the Rev. Hiram R. Revels. He was married to Miss Martha Benson, of Uniontown, Pa., January 2, 1854, with whom he is still living, in a comfortable home in Little Rock, Ark. He served in every local office of the church, was licensed to preach by the Rev. Levin Gross in 1867; was admitted in the Pittsburgh conference on probation April 7, 1869; was ordained deacon by Bishop J. M. Brown, in Wylie Avenue Church, April, 1870, and elder, by Bishop D. A. Payne, at Meadville, in 1872. He served the following charges in the Pittsburgh Conference: Allen Chapel, Pittsburgh, Pa. missionary to West Virginia; Uniontown, Pa., where he rebuilt and beautified the church; Wilkes-Barre, Pa., where much improvements were made; Washington, Pa., where he built the present house of worship; Meadville Circuit, which included Meadville, Oil City, Titusville and Erie; at Meadville, where the church had been recently burned he at once rebuilt; at Oil City a large debt on the church was paid and the church beautified; at Erie, where there was no house of worship he secured a lot, and a substantial house of worship was donated by the Young Men's Christian Association. He was pastor of Oil City and Titusville; presiding elder of the Allegheny district; pastor of Monongahela Station. In October, 1880, he was transferred to the Arkansas conference and was stationed at Bethel Church, Little Rock, where he served three years. He was then presiding elder of the Fort Smith district seven years, of Newport district four years, Little Rock district seven years, Arkadelphia district four years, Camden district four years, making a total of 26 years as presiding elder. He was financial agent for Shorter College for three years and a member of eight general conferences consecutively, beginning at St. Louis, in 1880, and ending at Norfolk, Va., in 1908. He was a member of the second Ecumenical Conference of Methodism held in Washington, D. C., in 1891, and proposed and advocated the union of all Negro Methodist bodies. He was a member of the Advisory Council of the Parliament of Religions, held in Chicago in 1893, during the World's Fair; was a member of the general Board of Missions, Board of Education and Financial Board. In the organization of our school work in Little Rock, in 1885, he was elected president of the board of trustees, which position he held until 1894. He was again elected president of the same board in 1901, and served until 1909, during which time four additional lots were bought, and the present building, which is now occupied, built, furnished and other important improvements made. He has received the degree of D.D.
Pierce, Rev. Alexander Wayman, was born at Gouldtown, N. J., October 14th, 1858, the son of Rev James V. and Matilda Pierce. His father was an A. M. E. minister for thirty-five years. Alexander was religiously awakened in his fifteenth year and united with the home church. Thirteen years from this time he and his wife, Dorothy A. Pierce, happily received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and became active workers in the home church. He served as class leader, Sunday school teacher, and superintendent until he entered the ministry.
In 1886, during the pastorate of his father, at Gouldtown, he was licensed to preach. He joined the N. J. Conference at Trenton, N. J., 1887, Bishop Wayman presiding. He received an appointment to Haleyville Circuit, which included Port Elizabeth, N. J. He was next appointed to Crosswicks Circuit, which included Cookstown, N. J., where he served two years, revived and fitted up the church, paying all the debt. He was ordained deacon by Bishop Turner at Mt. Holly in 1889. He was ordained elder by Bishop Turner at Asbury Park, N. J., in 1900. From Crosswicks he was sent to Millville, N. J., including Vineland, and served two years, paid the debt at Vineland and built a new parsonage at Millville. Next he served Rahway, N. J., for one year
and paid the debt on the church, which Rev. Joseph Ross started to build. He next served Woodbury, including South and North Woodbury, and furnished the parsonage built by Rev. J. H. Morgan, and had a good revival. Next he served Cape May, N. J., had a revival and adjusted the debt on the new church. He next went to Greenwich, N. J., had a big revival and considerably decreased the debt on the new parsonage. While at Woodbury he took a course in theology at the Protestant Episcopal Seminary in Philadelphia. At the conference held at Salem, N. J., he was sent to Roslyn Circuit, including Port Washington and Westbury, N. Y. He paid off the debts at Westbury and Roslyn. He went next to Coxsackie, N. Y. During the two years he had a revival, paid off the debt of the lecture room and fitted up the main auditorium. He next went to Amityville, L. I. Three years here he paid off the debt of the church, and had
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. ALEXANDER WAYMAN PIERCE.
a good revival. He next went to Chatham, N. Y., for two years, paid off the debt, burned the mortgage, and left the church in good spiritual condition. He next went to Bayshore, L. I., for three years, paid the first money on their mortgage, which had stood for seventeen years, and strengthened the church spiritually. He was returned a second time to Westbury, N. Y., for four years, built a new basement, renovated and improved the auditorium, paying for all and leaving a balance in the treasury. He next went to Roslyn for two years, built an addition, put in new stained glass windows and electric lights, and paid for all work, leaving a balance in treasury. He is now serving Amityville charge for the second term, making a strenuous effort to pay off the heavy debt left on the new church. It has been his fortune to pay off debts as well as to add souls to the church. He has been greatly assisted by his good wife and large family of ten children, all of whom are in the church as active and earnest workers. He has traveled ten years in the New Jersey Conference, and eighteen years in the New York Conference.
Pinckney, Rev. Henry Hammond, one of eight children of Joseph and Matilda Pinkney, was born January 11, 1861, in Charleston, S. C. His father was a member of the A. M. E. Church, but his mother was a member of M. E. Church. He attended school about fourteen years beginning as a small boy. He attended Avery Normal Institute, and after graduation from the same went to the South Carolina University, but was not able to finish on account of the seizure of the school by the Democratic State government, which determined that it should be for whites only. He later studied nearly two years at the Reformed Episcopal Seminary at Philadelphia, Pa., and at Princeton Theological Seminary, N. J. The degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Paul Quinn College. He was converted in 1878 and joined A. M. E. Church the same year. He has held the following offices in the local church, that of steward, trustee,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. H. H. PINCKNEY
exhorter, local preacher and Sunday school teacher. He was licensed to preach at Charleston, S. C., in 1883, by Rev. E. Winston Taylor, joined the South Carolina Annual Conference in 1884 under Bishop Shorter; was ordained deacon in 1885 by Bishop Shorter, and was ordained elder in 1887 at Trenton, N. J., by Bishop A. W. Wayman. He has held appointments in Jersey City, N. J.; Rahway, N. J.; Snow Hill, N. J.; Burlington, N. J.; Princeton, N. J.; Jersey City, N. J.; Gouldtown, N. J.; Bordentown, N. J.; Elmira, N. Y., and New Haven, Conn. He has twice been presiding elder, and is now presiding elder of the Boston district of the New England Conference in his fourth year. He built Ebenezer at Rahway, N. J.; remodeled parsonage at Snow Hill, N. J.; repaired Mt. Pisgah at Princeton, and Trinity at Gouldtown, and the church at Burlington, N. J. He has taken about 2000 people into the church and baptized about 900 people.
Was delegate to general conferences of 1900, 1904, 1908 and 1916.
He was voted for for editor of the Christian Recorder in 1900 and 1908. In 1882 he was married to Miss Harriet O. Generette, of Charleston, S. C., and two children, Ersylind T. and Pauline L., were born to them.
Has contributed to Christian Recorder, A. M. E. Review and various daily papers. He is author of one
book, "The Prophet Zachariah." Principal addresses made were "Charles Sumner" and "The Civil Rights Bill." He is connected with F. and A. M. and G. U. O. of O. F. and has held prominent offices in each; is a Republican and owns a home.
Polk, Rev. P. H., was born of slave parents, in Yallabusha, Miss., in 1861. His father and mother, George and Milly Polk, moved to Shelby County, Tenn., when he was four years old. He attended the public schools in Memphis.
At twenty-one years of age he professed religion, joining the A. M. E. Church. He was licensed to preach by the deceased Editor Johnson of the Christian Recorder, who was at that time presiding elder of the South Memphis District. He became a member of the West Tennessee Conference in 1888 under Bishop Wayman. He pastored in Tennessee fourteen years with remarkable
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. P. H. POLK, D.D.
success, and was transferred to Arkansas at his own request under Bishop Tanner. He built a splendid brick church at Jonesboro, Ark.
He was next transferred to the Mississippi Conference and stationed at Brookhaven, Miss. Here he erected a church at a cost of three thousand dollars.
Campbell College conferred upon him the degree of D.D. He was elected leader of his delegation from the Mississippi Conference to the general conference at Norfolk, Va. He was elected delegate to the general conference, Kansas City, Mo. For five years he was presiding elder with great success. He has been twice elected trustee of Wilberforce.
He has pastored some of the leading charges in Mississippi, Brookhaven, Natchez, and is at present stationed at Clarksdale, where he has contracted to build a six thousand dollar church. He is a delegate to the general conference at Philadelphia. He is a great believer in his church and his race.
Pope, Robert Luther, the son of Monroe and Hannah Pope, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born September 2, 1870, in Clarke County, Ga., one of eleven children. He entered school when seven years of age and attended school about eighteen years in all, attending the county public schools of Wintersville, Knox Institute, Allen University, Morris Brown College and Gammon Theological Seminary. He received the degree of A.B. and A.M. from Morris Brown and D.D. from Gammon Seminary. He was converted in 1890 and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year; was licensed to preach in 1895, at Athens, Ga., by Rev. J. S. (now Bishop) Flipper; joined the annual conference under Bishop A. Grant; was ordained deacon in 1897, at Thomaston, Ga., by Bishop Gaines and elder in 1899, at Atlanta, Ga., by Bishop Gaines. He has had the following appointments: Kirkwood Mission, Atlanta, Ga., 1896; West End, Atlanta, Ga., 1897-98; Trinity Station, Atlanta, Ga., 1898-1901; St. Paul, Troy, Ala., 1901-04; St. Luke, Eufaula, Ala., 1904-08; St. John, Montgomery, Ala., 1908-12; Campbell and Shorter Chapels, Denver, Col., 1912-16.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. R. L. POPE, A.M., D.D.
He built St. Paul's Church, at Troy, at a cost of $3000, in 1902; parsonage at Troy, at a cost of $1200, in 1904; parsonage at St. John's, Montgomery, Ala., at a cost of $2500, in 1911. He lifted the mortgages on Trinity, Atlanta, Ga., to the amount of $1600, in 1900, and on Shorter Chapel, at Denver, Col., to the amount of $300, in 1916. He has taken 2092 people into the church and baptized 869. He was a delegate to the general conferences of 1908, 1912 and 1916; was appointed a member of the Fourth Ecumenical Conference of Methodism held in Toronto, Canada, in 1911; was second assistant secretary of general conference of 1912. He married Jane Crane, of Pensacola, Fla., in 1899. He has contributed to "New York Independent," "A. M. E. Review" and "Recorders." He made the annual address for Morris Brown College, also annual sermon for Payne Institute, and one of the educational addresses at the Centennial General Conference. He is connected with the F. and A. M. and K. of P., and is a home owner.
Pope, W. T., born 1870, Washington, Ga., son of William and Sarah Ann Pope; educated in public schools; was several years on public works, mostly
railroad, where he served as foreman; taught school in Jefferson Co., Ark.; edited "The Sentinel," Prescott, Ark.; "Voice of Twentieth Century," Argenta; "Free Lance," Augusta, Ark.; "Co-operator," Forrest City, Ark.; "African Methodist," Argenta, Ark.; was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church, 1897, at Prescott, Ark.; licensed to preach May, 1897, by Rev. W. H. Jones; admitted to conference. by Bishop W. B. Derrick, at Arkadelphia, in 1898; ordained deacon, 1898; ordained elder, April, 1900; pastored Mineral Springs, Ashdown, McNeil, Gurdon, Gregory, McComb City, Miss.; Fordyce, Holly Grove and Forrest
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. W. T. POPE, D.D.
City, Ark.; presiding elder of Clarendon and Sherrill districts; originator of the laymen's movement in Arkansas, through which $1100 was turned over to the treasurer of Shorter College after paying the expenses of the rally and the expense of the commencement for that year. Dr. J. G. Thornton is the present head of the movement and it promises much for Shorter College. He believes that the Negro has the solution of the race problem largely in his own hands. Cooperation is his hobby. Member of the general conferences of 1912-1916; is trustee of Shorter College and treasurer of Trustee Board.
Porter, George Wellington, the son of Thomas and Adeline Porter, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born at Paris, Tenn., one of twelve children; attended school about eight years. He is a graduate of Morris Brown College. He received the degree D.D. from both Morris Brown and Turner College. He was converted in 1884 and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He has held many important offices in the church. He was licensed to preach in 1890 at Paris, Tenn., by Rev. D. E. Asbury. He was ordained deacon in 1891 at Clarksville, Tenn., by Bishop Wayman, and ordained Elder in 1893 at Waverly, Tenn., by Bishop M. B. Salter. He joined the Annual Conference in 1890 at Paris, Tenn., under Bishop Wayman. He has had the following appointments: Huntingdon, Miss., 1890-91; Crossland, Miss., 1891-94; Tyler Chapel, Memphis, 1894-95; St. Peter's, Clarksville, 1895-1900; Bethel, Vicksburg, Miss., 1900-05; Avery Chapel, Memphis, 1905-08; P. E. Clarksville District, 1908-11; St. John, Nashville, 1911-15. He has built churches at Crossland, Tenn., at a cost of $1,500 in 1893; Trainer Chapel, at Crossland, Miss., at a cost of $700, in 1892.
He has lifted mortgages on St. Peter, at Clarksville, to the amount of $4,000, in 1897; Bethel, at Vicksburg, Miss., to the amount of $3,500, in 1903; Avery Chapel, at Memphis, to the amount of $3,600, in 1907; on St. John, at Nashville, to the amount of
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. G. W. PORTER
$1,363, in 1914. He was delegate to the General Conferences of 1896, 1900, 1904, 1908, 1912, and is a delegate to the Centennial General Conference of 1916. He was a member of the Financial Board in 1904-08; Southern Recorder Board, 1900-04, and A. C. E. League Board for four years.
He was Assistant Secretary of the General Conference of 1904 to 1912. He married Mrs. Llewlyn Porter, of Paris, Tenn., in 1884. They have one child, Lela B. Porter, who is a graduate of Straight University, New Orleans, La., and Walden University, Nashville, Tenn. He has contributed to many papers and has written many pamphlets, and made many addresses on different occasions. His little book of poems, "Streamlets of Poetry," has been highly commended. He is connected with the F. & A. M., G. U. O. of O. F., K. of P., Mosaic Templars, and has held prominent offices in each. He is a member of the Republican Party and has attended many conventions, and owns a comfortable home. Dr. Porter was the first Negro Magistrate elected in Henry County, Tenn. He is actively associated with Nashville Institute for Training Christian Workers, Southern Sociological Congress, and several schools and colleges.
Powell, Rev. Benjamin Joseph, was born December 25, 1865, was brought up in the A. M. E. Church and Sunday school at Cuthbert, Ga. At twelve years of age he was converted and joined the church during the pastorate of Rev. D. T. Greene and has not missed attending Sunday school but five times in 38 years. In 1882 Dr. Joseph A. Wood licensed him to preach. He was admitted into the Georgia Annual Conference December, 1887; was ordained deacon in Brunswick, Ga., and was ordained elder in Marietta, Ga., in 1893.
During his pastorate he served the following charges: Morris Station Mission, McDonald Mission, West Atlanta Mission, Summertown Circuit, Sylvania Circuit, Statesboro Circuit, Darien Station, Milledgeville Station, Mt. Gilead Circuit, Lumpkin Circuit, Millen Circuit, Cedartown Station, Bethel Circuit, Americus Station, Thomasville Station and is now serving his second year as presiding elder of the Bainbridge District.
For ten years he was a successful public school teacher having attended school at Howard Normal, Cuthbert, Ga., Morris Brown College and Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Ga.
On March 12, 1897, he was married to Miss Laura Pearl Lemon, of Atlanta, Ga. Later was divorced by the Superior Court of Fulton County, Atlanta, Ga., August 16, 1904, and was married to Miss Mildred E. Austin, November 18, 1908, Columbus, Ga.
He has been a trustee of Morris Brown College for 22 years; trustee of Payne College for 15 years. He is connected with many progressive movements of his race, church and state. He is a member of the Centennial General Conference.
Prince, Rev. W. H., was born December 8, 1867, in Mobile, Ala., son of William Henry and Dora Prince, who were both zealous Christians and enthusiastic Methodists. He was one of three children. His education in early life was neglected because of his father's death. In 1888 he was converted and joined Big Zion A. M. E.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. W. H. PRINCE, B.D.
Zion Church. In 1889 he entered Livingstone College, Salisbury, N. C., and spent about two years there. He was licensed to preach in 1894 by Rev. (now Bishop) A. J. Warner; joined the West Alabama Annual Conference of the A. M. E. Zion connection in 1894 under Bishop C. C. Petty. He was ordained deacon at Scranton, Miss., by Bishop Petty and elected chief secretary of the conference. In 1898 he decided to cast his lot with the A. M. E. Church and he joined the Southwest Georgia Conference at Tolbotton, Ga., under Bishop Turner. He was ordained elder in 1900 at Fort Gaines, Ga., by Bishop Turner.
He has served the following charges: St. Peter Circuit, where St. Peter was rebuilt at the cost of $800, which was paid; St. James Station, Atlanta, Ga., paying a mortgage of $350, and conducting a great revival; Trinity Station, Atlanta, Ga., where many souls were brought into the church and a mortgage for $712 was lifted. While in Atlanta, he matriculated in Turner Theological Seminary, Morris Brown College, from which he finished with honors in 1907. In 1906 he was awarded the class medal in the oratorical contest, and in 1907 the first prize medal was awarded him in the oratorical contest between the "theologs" and the "collegiates" of Morris Brown College.
Upon the completion of his course in theology he went west and took charge of St. Paul Station, Pueblo, Colorado; next to Hubbard Chapel, La Junta, Colo., where he erected a nice parsonage, and wrote the booklet,
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. W. H. PRINCE.
"Reflections of the Ten Commandments." From this point he went to the Pueblo District of the Colorado Conference, over which he presided four years, during which time he purchased lots for the church at Salida, Colo., for $300; Alamosa, Colo., for $375; Tucson, Ariz., $600; Clifton, Ariz., $1100; Douglass, Ariz., $150. He was elected leader of the delegation to the general conference of 1912, receiving every vote but one. This district composed the then prospective Arizona Annual Conference. During this time he wrote a book of poems, "Musings on the Western Plains." Leaving the Southwest, he went to Spartanburg, S. C., and lifted a $450 mortgage from Trinity Station. From there he was stationed at Montevallo, Ala., where he relieved Ward Chapel Station of a debt of $390.
From Montevallo he transferred to the Northwest and stationed at Union Bethel, Great Falls, Montana, where he compiled a booklet, "Observations of the Lord's Prayer." He is now stationed at Portland, Oregon.
Prince, Frances Leontine, wife of Rev. W. H. Prince, of Portland, Oregon, is an invaluable aid to her husband in his ministry, a woman of marked affability, unusual business ability and a successful dramatic reader. She has taken an active and important part in the work both of the W. H. & F. Society and the W. M. M. Society and has been an inspiration to hundreds.
Prioleau, Rev. George W., Chaplain, United States Army, was born of slave parents, L. S. and Susan A. Prioleau, in Charleston, S. C., attended the public schools of that city and Avery Institute. In 1875 he attended Claflin University, Orangeburg, S. C. During the winter months, from 1875 to 1879, he taught the primary public school, Lyons Township, Orangeburg County. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church, St. Matthews, S. C., his father being pastor. Served his church
[ILLUSTRATION]
CHAPLAIN GEORGE W. PRIOLEAU, U. S. A.
as leader of the choir. Sunday school teacher, superintendent, class leader and local preacher. Joined the Columbia, S. C., Conference December, 1879, under Bishop Brown. Was assigned as pastor to the Double Springs Mission, Laurens County, S. C. December, 1880, was sent to Wilberforce University by the Columbia, S. C., Conference, but the conference having failed to support him, he did so himself by working at his trade during hours of recreation, in the harvest fields of Green and Clark Counties, Ohio; and was assisted by his father. Was assigned to the Selma Ohio Mission by Bishop Shorter in the year 1881, held this charge three years. Graduated from the Theological Department, Wilberforce University. June, 1884, with the degree of B.D. Taught in the public school, Selma, Ohio, September, 1884, to September, 1885; in connection was pastor of A. M. E. Mission, Yellow Springs, Ohio, North Ohio Conference. Was appointed pastor of A. M. E. Church, Hamilton, Ohio, September, 1885. Was married to Miss Anna L. Scovell, class 1885, Wilberforce University, December 23rd, 1885. Appointed pastor of A. M. E. Church, Troy, Ohio, by Bishop Campbell, 1887. Was elected to fill the chair of Ecclesiastical History and Homiletics, September, 1889, and in this connection was pastor of Trinity A. M. E. Church, Wilberforce University. Appointed Presiding Elder Springfield District, Northern Ohio Conference, A. M. E. Church, September, 1890, in connection with duties as instructor Wilberforce University. This dual position was held until September, 1892. Elected delegate to the general conference held at Philadelphia, May, 1892. Was elected secretary for four consecutive times of the North Ohio Conference; president North Ohio Sunday School Institute for three years. Was appointed pastor of St. John's A. M. E. Church, Xenia, Ohio, in connection with professorship at Payne Theological Seminary. Associate Editor A. M. E. Sunday School Lesson Leaf for three years. Was appointed Chaplain of the 9th Cavalry, U. S. Army, by President Cleveland, April 25th, 1895, with the rank of Captain, and served with the regiment until November, 15, 1915, twenty years, six months and twenty days. Transferred to 10th Cavalry November 15, 1915. Was married after the loss of his first wife February 27th, 1902, to Miss Ethel C. Stafford, Kansas City, Kansas, February 20th, 1905. Two girls, Mary S. and Ethel S., are the fruit of this marriage. The Chaplain has crossed the Pacific Ocean six times, four times with his regiment and twice on detached service. He is a 33 deg. Mason, Odd Fellow and was initiated as a K. of P. Appointed D. D. G. M. by G. M. N. C. Crews, Jurisdiction of Missouri, over Arizona and New Mexico. Organized William H. Carney Lodge, No. 89, G. U. O. of O. F. Reorganized Joppa Military Lodge No. 150, A. F. and A. M. He paid off a long standing debt of nearly $1100 on church at Troy, Ohio, and built the present structure. Paid off a large debt on St. John's Church, Xenia, Ohio, and Payne A. M. E. Chapel, Hamilton, Ohio. His reports have always been satisfactory to the Bishop. Many souls were converted through his preaching at Hamilton, Selma, Xenia, and in the army.
Payne Theological Seminary conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity in June, 1895, but after fifteen years, on account of his high conception of the meaning of the degree, and the prevailing abuse of it, he publicly disclaimed all rights to the degree June, 1910, at Wilberforce University, just before he preached the Baccalaureate sermon to the class of 1910.
Pryor, Still Paul, one of twelve children of Reuben Still Pryor and Angeline Pryor, was born March 6, 1865, in Brundige, Ala. He attended school for five years, part of the time attending Tuskegee Institute; also took a correspondence course from Morris Brown College. He was converted in 1889 and joined the Wayman Chapel, A. M. E. Church, Union Springs, Ala.; served as steward, trustee, class leader, exhorter, local preacher and Sunday school teacher. He was licensed to preach May 8, 1891, at Union Springs, Ala., by Rev. E. H. Dickerson; joined the annual conference in 1891, at Montgomery, under Bishop Gaines; ordained deacon 1894, in Troy, Ala., by Bishop Grant; ordained elder September, 1899, by Bishop Turner; held the following appointments: Suspension Mission 1893; Hurtsboro, 1894; Troy circuit, 1895-96; Clopton circuit, 1897-98; Troy Station, 1899; pastor Cherry Street, Dothan, 1900-02; presiding elder, columbia district, 1904-06; presiding elder, Ozark district, 1907-1910; presiding elder, Columbia district, 1911-12; pastor Elba circuit, 1913; presiding elder, Eufaula district, 1913 to date. He built church at Suspension, for $400, in 1893; parsonage at Dothan, for $800,
in 1900; a church at Clopton, for $1500, in 1897; a church at Madrid, for $1200, in 1911; lifted $500 mortgage
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. S. P. PRYOR.
from church at Dothan, in 1912; has taken in church more than 1500 people and baptized over 500;
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. S. P. PRYOR.
was delegate to general conference in Chicago, Ill., 1904; has four children--John B., age 21; Gaines Washington, age 13; Ruby May, age 10; Minnie Lee, age 8 years.
Purnell, Sydney E., was born January 2, 1867, at Snow Hill, Worcester County, Maryland, the son of William P. and Nellie Purnell. Received his education in the public schools at his home and in New York City. At the age of seventeen he was forced to stop school and go to work. His father had become blind and his mother a cripple. He took up seafaring life and traveled on the Atlantic Ocean for three years. He then located in New York and was chief steward of a yacht club for two years. He moved to Philadelphia, December 31, 1888, and on January 7th, 1889, secured position as porter
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. SYDNEY E. PURNELL.
with a millinery firm; after two years he was promoted to shipping and receiving clerk and holds that position until now. He was converted at Snow Hill when eleven years old and joined the church immediately. His mother entered him on the Sunday school Roll when he was three years old and he has continued an active member of the church and Sunday school. He joined Bethel Church and Sunday school, Philadelphia, January, 1889; has served as a class leader, steward, church clerk, secretary of the stewards' board and Sunday school teacher. He served as district superintendent of the Philadelphia district fourteen years. He served as secretary of the Publication Board for a number of years. Mr. Purnell is well informed on the discipline and church law, and an influential and prominent citizen.
He was married on November 27th, 1895, in Philadelphia, to Miss Julia Lucinda Sumby, who was formerly of Alexandria, Va., and the union has been a happy one.
RANDOLPH, JAMES WELDON, son of William and Rachel Randolph, both members of the A. M. E.. Church, was born October 15, 1842, at Philadelphia, Pa., one of eight children of his parents. He entered school at six years of age, and spent about nine years receiving his education from Northern Liberty and James Bird's Schools, Philadelphia. He has given special study to the subjects of music, French, German and Spanish, and received the D.D. degree from Paul Quinn College. He was converted in 1863, and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He was licensed to preach by Rev. A. S. Stanford. He was ordained deacon in 1870, at Columbus, Ga., by Bishop J. M. Brown, and ordained elder in 1871, at Columbus, Ga., by Bishop Brown. He joined the annual conference of 1869 at Americus, Ga.,
under Bishop Brown. He has held appointments at Augusta, Athens, Helena, Ark.; Galveston, Waco, Brenham, Bryan, Hearne, Houston, Dennison, Fort Worth, San Diego, Cal.; Danville, Va.; Pottsville, Pottstown, Pa.; Long Branch, Washington, N. J.; Camden, N. J.; Wilmington, Del.; Lansdowne, Pa. He remodeled the church at Galveston, Tex., and Pottsville, Pa., and the
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. W. RANDOLPH, D.D.
parsonage at Sherman, Tex. He lifted the mortgages at Reedy Chapel, Bethel, Lake Charles, La.; St. Peter's, La. He was married to Anna Eliza Randolph, of Savannah, Ga., in 1869. They had four children--Gaetana, Edmonia, Olivia and Emily. Their daughter, Edmonia, is a graduate of Wilberforce, Ohio. He has contributed to the several Recorders. He published "The Everlasting Joy," a music book. He has published several copies of sheet music. He is a teacher of vocal and instrumental music.
Rankin, Rev. J. W., Secretary of Missions, was born a slave, and reared in the State of Mississippi. His father was a tanner and made or tanned the leather on his master's plantation to make shoes for more than one hundred and fifty slaves, and it is said that the Rev. Rankin was born in the field while his mother was working under her taskmaster.
His first school was at night on the plantation quarters, and his first book was a Webster's spelling book, known as the "blue back" speller, which, during the war, was bought by his mother, who sold eggs to the soldiers. Immediately after freedom, his father sent him to a country school until he advanced to the fourth grade.
He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1877, at Brookhaven, Miss. He was licensed to preach the same year by the Rev. M. T. Newson, presiding elder. After that time, he attended the city school at Memphis, Tenn., and subsequently entered the LeMoyne Institute, a school founded by the American Missionary Association. There he made rapid progress with his studies. But upon the death of his father he had to discontinue school to assist his widowed mother on the farm with eight other small children.
He joined the annual conference at Friarpoint, Miss., in 1878, under Bishop Campbell, who ordained him a deacon under the missionary rule for special work, and sent him to his first charge, at Senatobia, Miss. Afterwards he was sent by his presiding elder, John Miller, to Harrison Mission charge, where he found eight members. Serving three years, he built them a splendid church and took in more than one hundred members.
He has served as pastor and presiding elder in Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas for the past thirty-five years with great success. He spent eighteen
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. W. RANKIN, D.D.
years in the Texas ministry, from which State he was elected to the office of Secretary of Missions of his (A. M. E.) Church, with headquarters at New York City. Dr. Rankin is a business man of no mean ability. He is the editor of the Voice of Missions, and has published two books for the study of missions.
He has nearly one hundred missionaries under his department. During his quadrennium just closing he has visited the foreign field in West Africa, and in the West Indies. He also instituted special missionary rallies in the large cities. Dr. Rankin has been honored with the degree of doctor of divinity by two leading schools of the A. M. E. Connection, and in 1912 another university in the State of Indiana honored him with the degree of doctor of common law.
Ransom, J. R., was born June 30, 1861, in Murfreesboro, Tenn., the son of Samuel and Hettie Ransom. He was reared principally on a farm, attending the country district schools until he was converted, August 16, 1878. He married November 23, 1881. He attended after his marriage for about three years the Central Tennessee College, Nashville, Tenn., now Walden University. He was licensed to preach February 10, 1882, and entered the ministry under Bishop Turner September, 1885, at Pulaski, Tenn.
His first appointment was Lebanon Mission, where he found neither church nor members, but bought the ground, built a church and took 125 members into his church the first year. His second year in this charge he paid the debt off his church and organized
and built three other churches during that and the following year, namely, Webb's Chapel, Perry's Chapel, both in Wilson county, and Gladesville, in Davidson county. He was transferred by Bishop Wayman to the Kansas Conference in 1888, was ordained Deacon by Bishop Turner in Murfreesboro in 1885, Elder in Nashville in 1887. His first appointment in the Kansas Conference was at Council Grove, where he remodeled, almost making anew our church. He was moved from there to Argentine, Kans., where he found no church or ground. He purchased ground and built the church at this point and remained there as pastor in charge three years.
From this place he was assigned to Parsons, Kans., where he built a brick church with a stone basement and a six-room parsonage. He bought half the ground on which this property stands and remained in this charge four years. He was sent from this point by Bishop Tanner to St. John A. M. E. Church, of Topeka, Kans. There he found a debt of $9987.45 with the parsonage property sold. But he succeeded in paying off this parsonage debt and reducing the obligation to $4500 within three years. Next he was appointed Presiding Elder of Omaha District. He served four years and was assigned by Bishop Shaffer to the Kansas City District and served for five years, and Bishop Grant assigned him to the Topeka District, where he served four years. After these thirteen years of faithful and successful work as Presiding Elder Bishop Parks assigned him as pastor of the First A. M. E. Church, of Kansas City, Kans., where he canceled the $2265 debt the first year. The second year he raised $1000 toward a building fund and this, his third year, he has all of his plans arranged and will soon erect an eight-room modern parsonage, enlarge the church, putting a basement under the same with all modern equipments. He has taken in more than 500 members in this church during his short pastorate.
Dr. Ransom is classed among the strong preachers of our race. Although largely self-made, he is recognized as one of the most resourceful and thoughtful preachers of our church. He has been a delegate to the General Conference for sixteen years. He has been a member of the Trustee Board of Wilberforce University and Western University for twenty years. He helped to establish the Industrial Department of Western University, being responsible for the most part for the first $10,000 the State of Kansas appropriated for that department.
Rev. Ransom has a family of five sons and one daughter. One son, Dr. J. Louis Ransom, is a practicing physician. Another, Edward Ransom, is a successful embalmer. William Ransom is the fireman at the State heating plant, Topeka, Kans. J. R. Ransom, Jr., is engineer at Western University. The daughter, Mrs., Ethlyn Ransom Henderson, is the wife of Dr. R. C. Henderson, pastor of one of the A. M. E. Churches in St. Louis, Mo. T. P. Ransom, who is studying medicine at the State University, at Lawrence, Kans., is the youngest. Rev. Ransom has a younger brother who is just entering the ministry in Detroit, Mich., by name of Dr. Wayman Ransom, dentist. Dr. Ransom, the subject of this sketch, was a candidate for Financial Secretary during the General Conference of 1912 and received the second highest vote.
He enjoys the distinction of being one of the leaders in the Republican party in this State, and is classed as one of the ablest political speakers upon the platform. For twenty-six years the State Central Committee has used him in every one of their campaigns. Dr. Ransom has refused at all times to either take money or an office for his service, preferring to use his influence in the interest of his race and church, and in the past twenty years he has been responsible for 167 persons of his race receiving good positions.
Ransom, Rev. Reverdy Cassius, editor A. M. E. Review, only child of George and Hattie Ransom, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born January 1, 1861, at Flushing, Ohio. He began attending school at six years of age and spent 17 years in all in school, attending chiefly the public schools of Washington, Ohio, and Cambridge, Ohio, Oberlin College and Wilberforce, receiving from Wilberforce the degree of B.D. and D.D.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. R. C. RANSOM.
He was converted in 1881 and joined the A. M. E. Church and served as class leader and Sunday school teacher. He was licensed to preach October, 1883, at Wilberforce by Dr. T. H. Jackson, joined the annual conference in 1885 at Zanesville, Ohio, under Bishop Campbell; was ordained deacon 1886 at Meadville, Pa., by Bishop Campbell, and elder in 1888 at Canonsburg, Pa., by Bishop Payne. He has held the following appointments:
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. R. C. RANSOM.
Selma, Ohio, 1885; Altoona, Pa., 1886-88; Allegheny City, 1888-90; Springfield, Ohio, 1890-93; Cleveland, 1893-96; Bethel, Chicago, 1900-04; Bethel, New Bedford, Mass., 1904-05; Charles St. Church, Boston, Mass., 1905-07; Bethel, New York City, 1907-1912. He built a church at Allegheny City, Pa., $4500, in 1889,
and lifted the mortgage on St. John's Cleveland, Ohio, $1500, in 1894.
He has been a delegate to all general conferences from 1896 to 1916. He was a member of the Publication Board from 1900 to 1904 and Church Extension Board from 1908 to 1912. He was delegate to the Ecumenical Conference, London, in 1901. He was elected editor of the A. M. E. Review in 1912. He married Emma S. Ransom, of Virginia, in 1887. He has two children, Harold G. and R. C. Ransom, Jr. Their son, R. C., Jr., is a graduate of Drew Seminary and a minister in the New York conference now at the A. M. E. Church of Simon the Cyrene, a mission started by his father in the slums of New York.
Dr. Ransom has contributed to all church papers and many newspapers and magazines of Chicago, Boston and New York. He has written pamphlets and books on William Lloyd Garrison, Wendell Phillips, J. G. Whittier, Charles Sumner, John Brown, "School Days at Wilberforce," "Study and Destiny." He has often spoken at Fanueil Hall, Boston; Plymouth Church, Brooklyn; Free Synagogue, New York. He has been employed by lecture bureaus, Chautauquas and colleges as lecturer. He has been an independent Republican since 1904. He organized the first Board of Deaconesses in the A. M. E. Church, 1893, at Cleveland, Ohio; organized first Men's Club in the church in 1890, and organized the Institutional Church, Chicago, Ill. He owns a home.
Reese, Rev. B. T., was born in 1863, at Rome, Ga., and attended school at the same place. He was converted in 1874 and came to Houston, Texas, in 1886,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. B. T. REESE.
and joined St. Paul A. M. E. Church, was licensed to preach by Rev. J. W. Rankin, at Houston, the same year. Ordained deacon 1900, at Willis, Texas, by Bishop M. B. Salter. Ordained elder at Houston, Texas, 1903, by Bishop Salter.
Joined the Texas Annual Conference, 1898, at Galveston, Texas, under Bishop Salter.
Has held the following appointments: Payne Chapel, 1898-1903; Fulcher Circuit, 1903-04; Shiloh, at Galveston, 1904-08; Brown Chapel, Houston, 1908-10; Mt. Vernon, Palestine, 1910-12; Presiding Elder of Palestine District, 1912-16.
At Brown Chapel, Houston, Texas, lifted a mortgage of $700, repaired church at the cost of $736, and paid $800 on the debt.
At Palestine, Texas, he paid $450 on mortgage. Has taken 225 members into the church. Has baptized 40 and married 31.
Rice, David Eugene, was born near Wallaceville, Fairfield County, S. C., November 2, 1883, the second son of Rev. William P. and Sarah (Gary) Rice; the grandson of Mrs. Harriet and Rev. D. S. Rice, who was one of the pioneer ministers of the A. M. E. Church in South Carolina. His mother died when he was but nine months old, and his father, a young minister of promise, died a year later. The two children were given to their grandparents, who reared them. His grandmother died in 1893. They remained with their grandfather till his death, July 21, 1903. On account of being reared from such early age by their grandparents they were called "Rice" instead of "Gary." While their grandparents took the best of care of them, he, young Rice, was not able to secure the proper early school advantages. He, however, attended the Winnsboro Graded School in 1898, Brainerd Institute, Chester, S. C., in 1900; Allen University, 1896-97 and 1901. He was converted and called to the ministry in 1900. In July he was licensed as an exhorter and in November of the same year was given local preacher's license. In 1901 he was recommended to the annual conference but failed, and in 1902 was admitted to the Columbia (S. C.) Conference, at Spartanburg, S. C., under Bishop Gaines. Upon the death of his grandfather young Rice was asked for by the officers of the Enoree circuit, of which his grandfather was the pastor, to fill the unexpired term. Presiding Elder Hiram Young granted their request, and at the annual conference Bro. Rice was ordained deacon and returned to the Enoree circuit. At the annual conference at Greenwood, S. C., he was given a conference scholarship in Wilberforce University. In 1909 he won the prize for oratory; in 1910 he represented Payne Theological Seminary in the Founder's Day celebration. He was popular in his school circles, being a member of the Y. M. C. A. Cabinet, president of the Junior Class, also of the Preacher's Aid Association of Payne Theological Seminary, the Debating Team and the John G. Mitchell Literary Society. He graduated from Payne Theological Seminary, 1911, with the degree of B.D., delivering his salutatory oration "The Task of the Modern Theologian." He served the following pastorates: Enoree circuit in the Columbia (S. C.) Conference, 1903-4; Selma and Jeffersonville (O.) Conference, 1909-11; Allen Chapel, Springfield, North Ohio Conference, 1911. He returned to his native state in 1911, and was secretary to Bishop Lee for the State of South Carolina during the annual conferences; was ordained elder at Anderson, S. C., by Bishop Lee, December 3, 1911. From this
conference he was appointed to the pastorate of the Mt. Pisgah Temple, Greenwood, S. C., in which he is now spending his fifth year. He is a trustee of Allen University and engrossing secretary of the Piedmont Annual Conference. He built a church in 1904 at St. Paul, Newberry, at a cost of $500, and lifted mortgages of $300, at Springfield, O., in 1911, and another
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. D. E. RICE, D.D.
at Greenwood, amounting to $750, in 1912. He has delivered the sermon to the graduating class of the East High School, Greenwood, S. C., in 1913 and 1915; to Brewer Normal School, 1915, and orator of the day at the fiftieth anniversary celebration of the Emancipation, at Greenwood, in 1913. He was married to Miss
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. D. E. RICE.
Mayme E. Johnson, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. D. H. Johnson, of Abbeville, S. C., December 25, 1912. Miss Johnson was teacher of music at Allen University, and secretary to the president. She is a graduate of the South Carolina Colored College, also of the scientific department of Allen University, and studied music at the Boston Conservatory of Music.
Rice, William Franklin, son of Benjamin and Janie Rice, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born July, 1875, at Laurens County, S. C. He was one of four children. He entered school when quite young and spent twelve years in school, receiving his education at Ferguson School and Allen University, from which he graduated with the degree B.D. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1886; served the local church as steward, trustee, class leader, exhorter, local preacher, Sunday school teacher and superintendent; was licensed to preach in 1897 by Rev. J. W. Sykes, and joined the annual conference in 1898, at Clinton, S. C., under Bishop Arnett; was ordained deacon 1900, at Newberry, S. C., by Bishop Grant, and ordained elder, 1902, at Greenville, S. C., by Bishop Gaines. He has held the following appointments:
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. W. F. RICE, B.D.
Seneca City, 1900; Nebo circuit, 1901; Newberry circuit, 1902; Mountville circuit, 1903-06; Mt. Hebron, 1906; Flat Rock Station, 1910-11; Silver St. circuit, 1907-09; St. James station, 1912-16. He remodeled the church at Newberry, at a cost of $500, in 1901; New Hope Church, at Mountville, $3000, in 1903; built Fairview Church, near Clinton, for $2500, in 1903; Trinity Church, at Silver Street circuit, for $3500, in 1908; Mt. Hebron Church, at Kiblers, S. C., for $3000, in 1906. He lifted mortgages on Fairview Church, at Clinton, to the amount of $2000, in 1905; Trinity Church, at Silver Street, $3000, in 1907; St. James Church, at Abbeville, to the amount of $5000, in 1912. He has taken over 1200 people into the Church, and baptized 780. He was a delegate to the General Conference of 1916; trustee of Allen University, 1907-16; secretary of the annual conference for eight years. He was married in 1897, and has three children--Minnie, Bessie and William. Minnie is a graduate of Morris Brown University. He has contributed to the "Piedmont Voice." He addressed the class of 1915, at Allen University. He is connected with the G. U. O. of O. F., F. and A. M., K. of P., and is a home owner.
Richard, Eliza, was born at Lochapoca, Ala., August 30, 1859, reared at Dangerfield, Texas, and moved to Texarkana, Texas. In the year 1876, August 24, she married Cornelius Richard, and two years later she was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church, under the charge of Rev. Daniel Austin. She has been
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. ELIZA RICHARD.
stewardess since the first year of her connection with the Church, and for eighteen years she has been class leader in the church of which her husband was the founder, and for fifteen years she has been laboring in the missionary cause.
Richardson, Addison McClain, son of Joseph and Nancy Richardson, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born at Shelby County, O. He was one
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. A. M. RICHARDSON.
of five children. He entered school when six years of age, and attended about eight years. He received his education at the district school and Wilberforce University. He was converted in 1888, and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He has held several offices in the Church. He married Cassie Morton, of Wilmington, O., in 1890. They have eight children, Alexander, 24 years; Blanche, 21 years; Leonard, 20 years; Addison, 18 years; Harry, 16 years; Myrtle, 13 years; Edward, 11 years; Lawrence, 4 years. His daughter, Blanche, is a graduate of the Anna High School. He is a member of the Republican party.
Richardson, P. A., was born and reared on a small farm in Halifax County, N. C., where he remained until nearly grown, when he moved to his present home, and went into a barber shop, which trade he followed for over twenty-four years very successfully. He gave up his work to devote his entire time to the rehabilitation
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. P. A. RICHARDSON.
of the Endowment Department of District Grand Lodge, No. 71, G. U. O. of O. F. When he took charge of this department, in August, 1906, it was over $10,000 in debt, trying to pay a $100 death benefit. All debts have been paid, and assets amounting to more than $26,000 have been accumulated without making an extra assessment or raising the dues. Besides, it pays $200 instead of one hundred as formerly. He was converted early in life, and joined the A. M. E. Church, which has honored him with every office up to chief recording secretary of the general conference, which position he filled at four consecutive general conferences, 1906, 1907, 1908 and 1912. An active worker in the Sunday school, where he held all the positions of trust. A thirty-second degree Mason, and at present D. D. Grand Master Thirty-first District, Grand Lodge of North Carolina, F. and A. M. He is an alternate to the 1916 General Conference. A progressive in Church and lodge matters. His home is in Nashville, N. C.
Ringgold, Rev. Isaac Henry, son of Mary and Isaac Ringgold. His mother was a member of the A. M. E. Church. He was born September 4, 1879, at Woodstown, N. J. He was one of three children. He entered school in 1885, and attended seventeen years
in all, chiefly at Fenwick, N. J.; Woodstown, N. J., and Lincoln University. He received the degrees A.B., A.M., S.T.B. from Lincoln, and S.T.D. from Bible College. He was converted in 1892, and joined church the same year. He has held the offices of class leader, local preacher, Sunday school teacher and chorister. He was licensed to preach in 1899, at Fenwick, N. J., by Rev. W. H. Giles; was ordained deacon in 1902 by Bishop Derrick, at Asbury Park, N. J.; elder, at Trenton, N. J., in 1904, by Bishop Derrick. Joined Conference
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. I. H. RINGGOLD.
at Bethel church, Camden, N. J., 1901; pastored Flemington, N. J., 1903-4; Payne, Philadelphia, 1904-5; Middletown, Pa., 1905-7; Wayne, Pa., 1907-11; Germantown, Philadelphia, 1911-14; Zion, Philadelphia, 1914, to date. He has taken over 500 people into the Church, baptized over 200 and married 60. He is a delegate to the church conference of 1916. He married Fannie Ringgold, of Philadelphia, in 1901. He is connected with the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. He has held the offices of P. N. S. and Prelate. He has been associated with the Equal Rights Association.
Roberts, Rev. Dolphin Pernanders, son of Elias and Mariah Roberts, was born on a farm in Hamilton County, Ind., March 17, 1856. He began attending school at the age of seven years and went in all about fourteen years. Among the schools attended were Spiceland University, the Evansville Medical School and the National Medical College of Louisville, Ky. He received diplomas from the Westfield High School, the Spiceland University, and the National Medical College, with the degree of doctor of medicine, and received the degree of doctor of divinity from Wilberforce University. His theological training was largely under the instruction of private teachers.
He was converted and joined the Wesleyan Methodist Church in 1869, was ordained elder in 1876, joined the Ohio Conference, under Bishop Wayman, in 1876, and was assistant pastor to the late Rev. A. A. Whitman, in Zanesville, O. In 1877 he was transferred to the New England Conference and assigned to the Chelsea Mission, succeeding the late Dr. Cheeks. In 1879 he was transferred to the Indiana Conference, and has pastored the following charges since that time: Bethel, Detroit, 1879; Alexander Chapel, Evansville, 1882; Bethel, Indianapolis, 1884; Terre Haute, 1886; Richmond, 1887; Alexander Chapel, Evansville, 1889; Mt. Pisgah, Washington, D. C., 1892; Charles Street, Boston, 1893; Union Church, Philadelphia, 1898; St. Paul, St. Louis, 1900; Quinn Chapel, Chicago, 1904; Bethel, Chicago, 1909; and Bethel, Indianapolis, 1913, where he is now serving his third year of his second term.
During his ministry Dr. Roberts paid off the indebtedness on Bethel Church, Detroit, and Alexander Chapel, Evansville, Ind., and paid about $27,000 on the indebtedness of other churches. He has taken into the Church about 5000 persons, baptized about 900
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. D. P. ROBERTS, M.D., D.D.
persons and married something over 800 couple. He has been elected to nine consecutive general conferences, the first being in 1884, the last 1916. He was a member of the Board of Church Extension sixteen years, and a member of the Financial Board four years. He was elected in 1884 a member of the Joint Commission on organic union of the A. M. E. and the A. M. E. Z. Churches, was a member of and secretary to the General Conference Commission of 1904, was voted for for the office of general manager of the Book Concern in 1896 and 1900, and was voted for for bishop in 1908 and 1912.
Dr. Roberts' first marriage was to Leda S. Spellman, of Cincinnati, O., in 1875, to which union there were born five children: Walter M., William B., Arthur C., Charles S., and Della C. His first wife having died, he was married to Mamie B. Gee, of Richmond, Ind., to which union there were born six children: Dolphin P., Jr., Estella B. (deceased), Helen M., Flora M. (deceased), Ruth A. and Leda C. Walter and Arthur are graduates in law, and Helen, Ruth and Leda are pupils in Shortrage High School, Indianapolis.
Dr. Roberts' eulogies on the life of Bishops Allen, Payne, Arnett, Salter, Turner, Lincoln, Douglass and Booker T. Washington, together with his speeches before the Missouri Legislature against a Separate Car Bill, on President Roosevelt and the Brownsville incident, and on the Springfield (Ill.)
mob and the murder of innocent colored people, all may be considered worthy of mention.
Dr. Roberts is a mason and an Odd Fellow. He is a Republican in politics. He was appointed Recorder of the General Land Office by President Harrison, and accepted, on the advice of the late Bishop Brown, and served two years. He let the contract and superintended the building and dedication of the Alpha Home, an institution for the Aged Colored of Indianapolis, Ind. He was one of the promoters of the Y. M. C. A. of Indianapolis, and also a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Roberts, Rev. Primos Ruben, was born January 14, 1869, at Waukwenah, Jefferson County, Fla. He is the son of the Rev. J. E. Roberts, one of the superannuates of the Florida Conference. He was converted in 1891 under the pastorate of the Rev. K. P. Neal, at Ashville, Fla., and licensed to preach the same year by
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. P. R. ROBERTS.
Presiding Elder Thomas Moorer. He entered the itinerant work in 1897 and has pastored the following charges: Warthington Springs, Hague, Dutton, Mt. Olive, Katherline, Crystal River, Halder, Cedar Keys, Floral City, St. Petersburg, and is now presiding elder of the New Gainesville District, Central Florida Conference.
He rendered commendable reports from each of these charges, especially from Katherline and Crystal River. When Dr. G. W. Jenkins died Rev. Roberts was sent to Bethel, the leading charge in Central Florida, and no pastor has ever had a warmer place in the hearts of the people than he had. He has to his credit in the way of church building the structures at Hague and Holder. He has built parsonages at Crystal River, Floral City, also St. Petersburg. He was until the past year the Conference Educational Money King. He has been successful as a revivalist, having been instrumental in the conversion of thousands of souls. He is a delegate to the Centennial General Conference at Philadelphia, 1916.
Robinson, Edward Daniel, the son of Reed and Maria Robinson, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born May 9, 1880, at Pittsville, Virginia. He was one of twelve children. He entered school when six years of age and attended about seventeen years, attending the public schools in Bellaire, Ohio, Wilberforce University, and Central University. He received the degree B.D. from Wilberforce, and A. M. from Central Correspondence course for one and a half years from an English University while in the British colony. He was converted in 1892 at Bellaire, Ohio, and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He has held several offices in the church. He was licensed to preach in 1904 at Zanesville, Ohio, by Rev. Marion F. Sydes. He joined the Ohio Annual Conference at Cincinnati in 1905; was ordained deacon in 1907 at St. Paul, Columbus, Ohio, by Bishop Derrick, and ordained elder in 1909 at Irvington, Ohio, by Bishop Derrick. He has pastored the following charges: Selma, Ohio, 1905; Cedarville, Ohio, 1906-08; South Charleston, Ohio, 1908-10; Bermuda Islands, 1910-12; Clearfield, Curwensville, Pittston, Waverly, Bellefonte and Elizabeth, all of Pennsylvania.
He lifted mortgages on churches at Cedarville, $200, in 1908; South Charleston, $250, in 1909; Bermuda, $400, in 1911; Clearfield, $80, in 1912; Bellefonte, $118, in 1913; Elizabeth, $350, in 1914. He has taken about 200 into the church, baptized 150 and married 30.
He married Mildred Eliza Robinson, of Bermuda, in 1911. He has contributed to the Zanesville Advocate, Bermuda Colonist, Gazette and Mid-Ocean and Christian Recorder. He has written several pamphlets. He is a member of the F. and A. M. He completed a course in typewriting and stenography, and printing.
Robinson, John Henley, was born October 31, 1854, at Columbia, Virginia. He was the son of Peter and Lucinda Henley Robinson. His mother was a
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JOHN HENLEY ROBINSON.
member of the Baptist Church. He is one of six children. He entered school at the age of 7. He spent over two years in the Camden Public Night Schools,
Pennington Seminary. He was converted in 1880 and joined Bethel A. M. E. Church at Moorestown, N. J., the same year. He has held almost all of the offices in the church. He was licensed to preach September 24, 1892, at Bethel, Moorestown, by Rev. A. H. Newton, P. E. He was ordained deacon, May 8, 1898, at Trenton, N. J., by Bishop Grant; ordained elder, May 12, 1903, at Asbury Park, N. J., by Bishop W. B. Derrick. He joined the Annual Conference, 1896, at Newark, N. J., under Bishop Tanner. He held the following appointments: Summit Mission, 1896-97; Beverly Mission, 1897-98; Bethel, Trenton, and Crosswicks Circuit, 1898-1900; Manalapan Mission, 1900-01; Pennington and Skillman Circuit, in 1901-1904; Bethel, Pensauken, 1904-08; Mt. Pisgah, Princeton, 1908-10; Bethel, Burlington, 1910-11; Mt. Pisgah, Washington, 1911-12; Trinity, Gouldtown, 1912-16. He completed Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church at Skillman at a cost of $500 in 1902; improved Bethel A. M. E. Church at Pensauken at a cost of $500, in 1905; he finished Mt. Pisgah A. M. E. Church, at Princeton, at a cost of $6,600 in 1909. He has taken about 400 people into the church; baptized 175 people and married 50 couples. In 1879 he married Emma Wester, of New Jersey. Their only child, Eleanor L. Robinson, born September 7, 1883, is a graduate.
Rodgers, Frank H., the son of Joseph and Annie Rodgers, was born 1878 in Philadelphia. He received his education in the Philadelphia public schools and Hampton Industrial School, Va., from which he graduated as a painter. He works at his trade and also
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. FRANK H. RODGERS.
as a caterer. He was reared in Mt. Pisgah A. M. E. Church, Philadelphia, and has served as steward, trustee, assistant superintendent and superintendent of Sunday school. He has held every office assigned him with credit to himself and the Church, and has endeared himself to all who know him, and especially the Sunday school children. He is now superintendent of the Sunday school.
Rogers, Rev. Frank S., the son of Smith and Sarah Rogers, was born in Aberdeen, Monroe County, Miss., January 18, 1862. He received license to preach in 1895; was admitted to the Central Mississippi Conference, of which he is still a member, in 1898; was ordained deacon by Bishop W. B. Derrick in 1898, and ordained an elder by Bishop Evans Tyree in 1900, and has held several charges in the Central Mississippi Conference. After receiving a common school education
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. FRANK S. ROGERS.
he entered Buena Vista Normal School to finish his course, but lacked six months of graduating. He studied law by correspondence with the Chicago Law School, beginning in 1912 and graduating in 1915. He has also been before the Mississippi bar for admission as a practicing attorney. He was elected delegate to represent the Central Mississippi Conference in the Centennial General Conference in Philadelphia, May, 1916. He lives at Itta Bena, Miss., where he owns a good home and other property. He is also prominently identified with secret societies, and is highly respected by all classes.
Roman, Charles Victor, the son of James and Anne Roman, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born July 4, 1864, at Williamsport, Pa. He was one of twelve children. He entered school in 1870 and attended irregularly. He is a graduate of Hamilton Collegiate Institute, Fisk University and Meharry Medical College. He received the degree of M.D. from Meharry and LL.D. from Wilberforce University. He was brought up in the A. M. E. Church. He was delegate to the General Conference of 1904, 1912 and 1916. He was a delegate to the Ecumenical Conference of Methodism at Toronto, Canada, in 1911.
He married Margaret Lee Roman in 1891. He has contributed to the daily and weekly press, Editor of the Journal of National Medical Association. He has written many pamphlets, some of which are "Science and Christian Ethics," "After Life, What?" "Dethronement of a King." He has been an acceptable speaker on many occasions. He is connected with the K. of P., and G. U. O. of O. F. He has had
all degrees in Odd Fellowship and has been Grand Lecturer of K. of P. He is a property owner. He is an enthusiastic and constructive Sunday School worker. He has been associated with the Southern Sociological Congress, American Academy of Political and Social Science, the Nashville Negro Board of Trade,
[ILLUSTRATION]
CHARLES VICTOR ROMAN, M.D.
National Medical Association and Young Men's Christian Association. Dr. Roman has been one of the strongest personalities in America so far as influencing the religious life of young Negro professional men, by thousands of whom in every part of the New World he is sincerely loved.
Roseborough, Sandy D., son of John B. and Maria Roseborough, was born July 4, 1850, in Winnsboro, S. C.; moved to Georgia, in 1867; was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church, in 1872; was licensed to preach by Rev. W. H. Noble, in 1876, at Key, Ga.; was admitted to the Georgia Conference, at Bainbridge, in 1877, under Bishop Campbell; was ordained deacon by Bishop Campbell, at Cuthbert, Ga., 1879; ordained elder at Savannah, by Bishop Dickerson, in 1881. He has held the following charges, all in Georgia: Hickory Head Mission, 1877-8; Mitchell county circuit, 1879-80; Arlington circuit, 1881-4; Bainbridge, 1885; Cuthbert, 1886-8; presiding elder, Thomasville district, 1889-'92; Rome, 1893; Shellman circuit; presiding elder, Cuthbert district, 1894; Savannah district, 1895-7; St. John, Columbus, 1898-9; Americus, 1900-'01; Bainbridge, 1902-'05; presiding elder, Blakely district, 1906; Cuthbert district, 1907-'09; Talbotton district, 1910; Columbus district, 1911-14. He built churches at Hickory Head, Pelham, Arlington, Edison and Bainbridge; paid $1500 mortgage on St. Paul, Rome, Ga., and $250 on Campbell, Americus; has taken about 3000 people into the church and baptized about 2000; was delegate to general conferences of 1888, 1892, 1896, 1900, 1908, 1916; chairman Georgia delegation, 1916; member Sunday School Union Board, 1907-'10; self-educated; received D.D. from Morris Brown; trustee of Morris Brown 25 years; of Payne College, 8 years; treasurer of Southwest Georgia Conference; was twice married, 1874 and 1889. Present wife, Mrs. Irene V. Roseborough, was
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. S. D. ROSEBOROUGH, D.D.
born in Lumpkin, Ga. He is the father of fourteen children, of whom A. L. and Fred Roseborough graduated from College; has contributed to all church papers, delivered addresses to secret orders, Emancipation Day addresses and preached baccalaureate sermons; is a home owner, Mason, Odd Fellow, Knight of Pythias, and interested in several businesses, president of Cuthbert Business Men's League.
Ross, Isaac Nelson, 41st bishop of the African Methodist Church, was born January 22, 1856, in Hawkins County, East Tennessee. In 1861 his parents moved to Green County, Ohio, with ten children. His father was a sturdy, painstaking, thrifty farmer, a man of sobriety and integrity. His mother was a woman of strong personality and Christian piety. Four of the five sons of the Christian parents became ministers of the A. M. E. Church.
Rev. W. P. Ross was founder of the Divinity High School, now Edward Waters College. Rev. O. P. Ross, at the time of his death, was dean of Campbell College, Jackson, Miss. Rev. A. H. Ross was one of the founders of Wayman Institute, of Harrodsburg, Ky., and at the time of his death, was the Chairman of its Trustee Board.
Bishop I. N. Ross is the youngest and only surviving member of the well known quartette of "Ross" preachers. He received his early school training in his home town, Bowersville. His early life was spent in work on the farm, when he was not in school.
On January 1, 1879, he was married to Miss Mary Robinson Fletcher of Elizabethtown, Harding County, Ky. Six children, four of whom are living, blessed this union. The oldest son is a practicing physician in Cincinnati. The oldest daughter, who is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, is a teacher in the public
schools there. The youngest daughter, who is a graduate of the Teachers' College of Howard University, Washington, D. C., is a Kindergarten teacher in Cincinnati; and the youngest son, of the Physical Culture Department of Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., is a professor of physical culture in the public schools of Cincinnati.
Dr. Ross joined the Ohio Conference in 1880 and pastored the following churches: Oberlin Mission, O.; St. Paul's A. M. E. Church, Washington, Pa.; Oil City and Titusville Circuit, Pennsylvania; Brown's Chapel, Allegheny City, and Wiley Avenue A. M. E. Church, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Warren Chapel, Toledo, Ohio; St. Paul's Church, Columbus, Ohio, where he
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP ISAAC NELSON ROSS.
entertained the general conference in 1900; 5 years at Allen Temple, Cincinnati, Ohio; 3 years and 6 months at Big Bethel, Atlanta, Georgia, and 4 years and 9 months at Metropolitan A. M. E. Church, Washington, D. C., 2 years at Ebenezer, Baltimore, until May, 1916. All of these churches have been financially and spiritually quickened and improved. Some of them were relieved of their heavy indebtedness. Most prominent among those relieved were Brown Chapel, Allegheny City, where a mortgage debt of $3,858.00, of 27 years' standing, was entirely lifted and the mortgage burned. A sinking fund was created at Wiley Avenue A. M. E. Church for the building of a new church. A new site was purchased at Titusville. The church was moved-from a back street to one of the main streets of the town. Brown Chapel, Oil City, was made almost new. The church at Toledo was paid entirely out of debt. The indebtedness of St. Paul's Church was changed and arranged so as to make it practical to meet the obligations as they came due, and the church at Cincinnati was improved and remodeled on the interior, completely from top to bottom, fitted up with all modern appliances at an expense of several hundred dollars, which was paid off as the work advanced. At Big Bethel Church, Atlanta, Ga., his work as pastor was marked all the way with consecration and seriousness; thousands of dollars were paid on the indebtedness; the basement, which had been untouched from the time of the erection of the church, was put in excellent condition for regular use, electric lights were installed and renovated and the interior remodeled. At Metropolitan A. M. E. Church he installed steam heat and made other needed improvements on the interior and exterior of the church; reduced its bonded debt $2,000, and greatly increased the congregation.
He was a delegate to the general conferences of 1892 to 1908, and is a delegate to the Centennial General Conference of 1916. In 1912 he received a large vote for the bishopric. He was one of the most popular pastors of the A. M. E. Church. He received "D. D." from Wilberforce in 1903. He was elected bishop on the third ballot to the bishopric May 18, 1916.
Ross, Mamie Robinson Fletcher, wife of Bishop I. N. Ross, was born in Elizabethtown, Ky., six years before the war which marked the close of slavery. When a babe she was given as a bridal present to a
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. I. N. ROSS.
young lady in the family in which her mother had served faithfully. Being in a good family and so young, she escaped the horrors and cruel treatment to which many slaves were subjected. After the war she went to a little cottage to live with her mother and brother. She attended the school established in her town. She grew up into a much-respected young lady. Her pastor introduced her to his brother, the Rev. I. N. Ross, whom she married later and early in her twenties. She has served faithfully with him from the small mission to the bishopric. Mrs. Ross was always closely identified with the missionary societies of the churches which her husband served. Beginning at Cincinnati, she started a chain of societies known as "The Lend-a-Hand Association of Ministers' Wives." Another plan she adopted is that of gathering the new women members of the churches and getting them in line to help the church in an organization known as "The Willing Workers." Both of these organizations are doing good work in the various communities in which she planted the seed. Mrs. Ross is
also an enthusiastic member of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs. Although deprived of a regular and complete education, she has read good books, subscribed to helpful magazines, attended lectures and conventions, traveled considerably, and is known and loved wherever she has worked.
Roundtree, Rev. I. W. L., is a native of Georgia. His father, Rev. Wm. Roundtree, was a man of sterling worth and in possession of more than ordinary intelligence. His mother was also a woman of ability and strong character.
Doctor Roundtree spent the early part of his life on the farm and in the country school. He graduated from Cookman Institute in Jacksonville, Florida, studied in the Home Missionary Institute, Live Oak, Florida. Later he entered Howard University, Washington, D. C., and Lincoln University, where he was graduated in 1886, receiving the degree of A.B. Three years later he graduated from Drew Theological Seminary at Madison, N. J., with the degree of B.D. He also studied in the famous Princeton Theological Seminary, from which he also graduated. He has specialized in Hebrew, Old Testament and New Testament Theology, Comparative Religion and Biblical Criticism. These branches he supplemented in Princeton University by the study of biology and astronomy and kindred subjects.
Dr. Roundtree has been honored in the city and state with positions of responsibility. He was one of the founders of Bordentown Industrial School. He represented the race at the World's Temperance Congress in Chicago in 1892.
Doctor Roundtree has been elected as a member to the general conference continually since 1892. He was also voted for for the bishopric, and is now serving as presiding elder. He is also State Commissioner for the Bordentown Industrial School at Bordentown, N. J., being appointed by the State Board of Education.
As a teacher he made good, having taught in Georgia, Florida and Virginia. His Christian faith and his uncompromising determination to do something for mankind endear him to the hearts of those with whom he comes in contact. His wife was Miss Fannie C. Colson, of Petersburg, Va.
SAMPSON, JOHN PATTERSON, was born in Wilmington, N. C., August 13, 1837; is of mixed African and Scottish descent, educated in the public schools of Cambridge, Mass., graduated from Comer's College, Boston, 1856; began life as a teacher of public school at Jamaica, L. I., in 1862; published and edited the Colored Citizen at Cincinnati, continuing as a Negro war policy paper
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. P. SAMPSON.
till the close of the war, about which time was made assessor and clerk to Superintendent of Freedman Schools, at Wilmington, N. C.; took an active part by appointment in reconstruction, was nominated for Congress, defeated by the Democratic candidate; was appointed and continued fifteen years a clerk in the Treasury Department at Washington, during which time he studied and graduated from the National Law University in 1868; was admitted to practice in the District Supreme Court, was subsequently appointed by the Commissioners Justice of a District Court, became a public lecturer on social and scientific subjects; was engaged by General Armstrong to deliver a course of lectures at Hampton School. Called to the ministry, studied Theology at the Western Theological
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. J. P. SAMPSON.
Seminary, Allegheny, Pa., joined the New Jersey conference, held many leading charges, elected several times a delegate to the general conference; made presiding elder two terms in the Philadelphia conference. During his absence was elected president of Frederick
Douglass Hospital and Training School, continuing as such five years. D.D. conferred by Wilberforce University, Ohio, 1888. Married Mary A. Cole, of Borlentown, Sept. 10, 1880.
Author of "Common Sense Physiology," "Temperament and Phrenology of Mixed Races," "Jolly People," "Pastoral Theology," "The Disappointed Bride" and "How to Live One Hundred Years." Was appointed and continued nine years presiding elder in the New England Conference. At present pastor at Morristown, N. J.
Sanders, Rev. Albert Carter, was born October 16, 1863, in Georgetown County, South Carolina. He attended the public schools of Charleston. Was a Sunday school pupil in Emanuel A. M. E. Church, Charleston during the pastorate of Rev. Moses B. Salter. He went to New York in 1883 and attended night
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. A. C. SANDERS.
schools there; was converted in New York, January, 1894. Impressed with the call to the ministry, he began the study of theology under Rev. H. G. Miller, a graduate of Lincoln University. He joined Bethel Church, West 25th St., Rev. John M. Henderson, pastor, in 1897. Served as local preacher until May, 1899, when he joined the New York Conference; was ordained deacon by Bishop Grant in New York City and was assigned to Little Neck Circuit, including Maspeth and Port Washington, Long Island. At Maspeth the church was condemned by the building department, doors closed for two years. Rev. Sanders, with a membership of five to work with, contracted for a stone foundation at a cost of $350.00 and in three months the doors were opened for religious worship. In May, 1902, was ordained elder by Bishop Derrick in Bridge St. Church, Brooklyn, N. Y.
With a membership of only 9 persons a church at Port Washington was built near the railroad station in 1904 and dedicated as "Underdunk's Chapel." The same year the church at Little Neck was remodeled and enlarged, a new organ installed and many improvements made. Rev. Sanders served this circuit five years.
In June, 1904, he was sent to Amityville, Long Island, where he served four years, bought a site and built a parsonage at a cost of $2500.00; enlarged the church with a membership of 50 and raised $7000.00. In 1909 was sent to Israel A. M. E. Church, Albany, N. Y. It was said by those who knew that the status of the church was better during the Rev. Sanders' pastorate than any in its history, excluding the pastorate of Rev. Wm. B. Derrick. In June, 1910, the church in Buffalo, N. Y., was about to be sold on the block. Rev. Sanders was appointed to Buffalo and in 8 months
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. A. C. SANDERS.
he was able to satisfy all of his creditors. He held this charge for four years and increased its wealth to $5000 worth of real estate. In May, 1913, he was transferred from the New York to the New England Conference by Bishop Tyree, and stationed at Cambridge, Mass., where he is serving his third year. In two years he gathered into the church 123 new members, installed two new furnaces, placed a new roof on parsonage and has just installed a beautiful pipe organ in St. Paul's Church. He is a P. N. F. in the Odd Fellows and for two consecutive years has preached the annual Thanksgiving sermons to all the lodges in Boston, in Tremont Temple. He is engaged in civicwork, and is thoroughly a race man.
On March 22nd, 1891, he married Miss Fannie Williams, of Beaufort, N. C., who is a tower of strength to him in his ministerial labors. Five children were born to them, Albert C., Jr., H. Leroy, Agnes L., Anna E. and Walter J., Agnes L. and H. Leroy having died.
Sanders, James Woods, son of John and Mary Sanders. Mother a member of A. M. E. Church. Born near Nashville, Tenn., April 30, 1857. Was one of four children. Entered school in 1866 and attended school about 7 years in all. Spent over two years at McKee's Presbyterian Mission and the public schools. Graduated from normal department in 1872, but has done most study under private teachers, received degree D.D. from Kittrell College, N. C. Converted in
1878 and joined A. M. E. Church, 1884. Has held offices of steward, class leader, exhorter, local preacher, Sunday school teacher, general missionary and fiscal agent of Colorado Conference. Was secretary of Colorado Conference for five years. Licensed to preach in 1884 at Pueblo, Colorado, by Rev. Wooton. Ordained deacon 1886 at Lincoln, Nebraska, by Bishop Brown. Ordained elder in 1889 at Pueblo, Colorado, by Bishop Ward. Joined the annual conference in 1885 at Parsons, Kansas, under Bishop Brown.
Dr. Sanders is one of the trustees of Wilberforce and Kittrell College. He has held the following appointments with credit: Colorado Springs, Trinidad, Minneapolis, Salina, Kansas; Helena, Montana; Salt
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JAMES WOODS SANDERS.
Lake City, Albuquerque, Cheyenne, Wyoming; Denver, Colo., 2 years; Hannibal, Mo., 2 years; Leadville, Silverton, Col.; Staunton, Va.; Smithfield, Va., and Bethel, Baltimore. He organized churches at Eddy and Roswell, N. M. He paid $2000 on a debt at Helena, Montana. At Salt Lake City he built a church worth $2500 and paid $2000 of it.
He was married to his first wife in 1891 and his present wife, Mrs. Corinthia May Sanders, in 1899. He has three children, Bernice, John W., Jr. and George F. Miss Bernice graduated as valedictorian in Denver, Colorado, and with the highest honors from Wilberforce, where she was president of the Greek letter sorority.
Rev. Sanders has contributed to all of our church papers, local papers and Independent of New York. He has addressed many conferences and societies. Member of the Republican party and attended conventions in New Mexico and Colorado. He is a property owner. Member of a Negro Organization Society of Virginia,
Sands, Rev. I. S., was converted in 1859 at Ben Salem, Pa., in the A. M. E. Church. His life has been one of hard struggle, but having strong faith in God, he has surmounted every difficulty. He has built many churches and paid off many debts. He has held the following appointments: Camp Town, Pa., 1890; Flemington, N. J., until 1892; Bristol, R. I.; Norwalk, Conn.; Lynn, Mass.; Providence, R. I.; Binghamton, N. Y.; Roslyn, L. I.; St. John, Brooklyn, N. Y.; Elmira, N. Y.; Lockport, N. Y.; Chatham, N. Y.
He has been a source of inspiration to many and has been instrumental in bringing many into the fold of Christ.
Scarborough, William Sanders, president of Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio, was born in Macon, Georgia, in 1854. He received his early education in his native city before and during the Civil War. From 1869 to 1871 he attended Atlanta University, and entered Oberlin College in 1871, from which he received the degree of A.B. in 1875, later receiving from Oberlin the degree of M.A. He spent a part of 1876 in Oberlin Theological Seminary in special study of the Semitic languages and Hellenistic Greek. In 1877 he was elected head of the Classical Department in Wilberforce University. In 1881 he published through A. S. Barnes & Co., "First Lessons in Greek," the first Greek text book ever written by an American
[ILLUSTRATION]
PRESIDENT WILLIAM SANDERS SCARBOROUGH, M.A., Ph.D., LL.D.
Negro. He has also written a treatise entitled, "The Birds of Aristophanes--a Theory of Interpretation"--aside from numerous tracts and pamphlets, covering a variety of subjects, classical, archaeological, sociological and racial. He has written many papers for various societies to which he belongs, especially the Philological Society. In 1891 he was given chair of Hellenistic Greek in Payne Theological Seminary, at its opening. In 1897 he was again elected as professor of Latin and Greek in Wilberforce University and was made vice-president of the same. In 1908 he was elected president of Wilberforce University, a position which he now holds.
In 1881 he married Sarah C. Bierce, a lady of high literary attainments, and a writer for many magazines.
President Scarborough has been for many years the exegetical editor of the A. M. E. Church Sunday school publications. He is a member of the following societies: American Philological, American Dialect, American Social Science, Archaeological Institute of America, American Spelling Reform, American Folk-Lore, American Modern Language, American Political and Social Science, the Egyptian Exploration Fund Association, National Geographical Society, American Negro Academy, of which he is first vice-president. He has often been orator at the banquet of the Lincoln League of Ohio. He was president of the Afro-American
State League, was appointed by the Governor of Ohio a delegate to the National Conference in St. Louis in the interest of Negro Education. He is the only Negro representative on the Board of the Lincoln Memorial Association of Ohio, which is presided over by the Governor. He was a delegate to the Ecumenical Methodist Conference held in London in 1901, and was in attendance upon the Universal Race Congress in London representing Wilberforce University.
Scott, Oscar J. W., captain and chaplain 25th Infantry, United States Army, was born in Gallipolis, Ohio, July 31, 1867. He attended the public schools during his childhood, in the vicinity of his birthplace. While still in his youth, he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, from which he graduated with the degree of A.B., later earning the degree of A.M. from the same institution, and the degree of B.D. from Drew
[ILLUSTRATION]
CHAPLAIN OSCAR J. W. SCOTT, A.M., D.D.
Theological Seminary. The University of Denver bestowed upon him the degrees of B.A. and S.T.B., after he had completed a course of study in that institution. The honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Payne Theological Seminary.
Chaplain Scott has served his church with marked fidelity and ability, having been pastor of churches at Madison, New Jersey; Kansas City, Missouri; Denver, Colorado, and of the Metropolitan Church at Washington, D. C. His work as a pastor was always of a highly constructive character, morally and materially.
In 1895 Chaplain Scott was married to Miss Nettie Poindexter, of Columbus, Ohio. Mrs. Scott possesses a rare charm, is an accomplished musician, and is in every way a fit help-mate for her distinguished husband. As a result of their union, there are three children, Albert, James and Ruth.
On April 17, 1907, while pastor of the Metropolitan Church, Washington, Dr. Scott was appointed a chaplain in the United States Army, and assigned to the 25th Infantry. Since the very beginning of his career as an army chaplain, Doctor Scott has continued to gain in popularity and efficiency. He is popular with both the officers and men of his regiment, and was recently recommended by his commanding officer as being worthy of distinction for special efficiency. He has served with his regiment in Texas, the Philippines, in the state of Washington, and is now stationed with the command in the Hawaiian Islands. While in the Philippines, he was engaged for a number of months compiling an historical, descriptive work dealing with the history, habits and characteristics of one of the old Moro tribes of the Island of Mindanao.
As a public speaker he is much sought after by congregations, Y. M. C. A. meetings and assemblies wherever he is stationed. He was kept busy addressing various gatherings while in the state of Washington, and since his arrival in the Hawaiian Islands he has been in great demand as a speaker at public meetings of various sorts. He has responded in many cases and has been the principal speaker at the Y. M. C. A., various Hawaiian religious gatherings in Honolulu as well as on the Island of Hawaii and Maui, and at clubs and associations of business men of the city.
He has organized and maintains the Young Men's Bible Study Class, the Scott Literary Society, and is said to have a larger congregation in attendance upon his services on Sundays than any other chaplain in the post.
Scott, Price Andrew, eldest son of David and Sallie Scott, was born near Lynchburg, Va., November 25, 1866. He learned to read and write at home and at 12 years of age entered the public school at Lynch's Sta., Va., and progressed so rapidly that at the age of 16 he became the teacher of a country school at Good Hope, W. Va. In the meantime under his father's instruction he became an accomplished blacksmith. His further education was secured at Storer College, Meadville (Pa.) Theological Seminary, the latter institution conferring upon him the D.D. degree. He also graduated from the Pennsylvania Sabbath School Association and the International Sabbath School Association. He was the only regular colored delegate from Pennsylvania at the International Sunday School Convention in Louisville, Ky., in 1908. For two years he was the editor and publisher of "The Oil City Herald" and was for a time the associate editor of "The Vindicator," a white prohibition paper in Franklin, Pa. He is the author of a large number of poems and songs, which he contemplates publishing in book form. He was converted in Evington, Va., November 25, 1890, and was licensed to preach by Rev. C. A. McGee, P. E., May 7, 1891, at Clarksburg, W. Va.; ordained deacon by Bishop Payne in October, 1891, in Allegheny, Pa., and elder by Bishop Arnett in October, 1894, in Wheeling, W. Va. He has held the following charges: A mission in Charleston, W. Va., one year and a half from May, 1891, serving as pastor and public school teacher; Wheeling, paying off a large indebtedness and extensively repairing the church building; Meadville, repairing the church and doubling its membership; Erie, holding a large revival and partly building the new church structure; Oil City, buying and paying for a parsonage for $1500, improving the church building and nearly doubling the membership; McKeesport, nearly doubling the membership in one year; Chartiers Street Church,
Allegheny, in two years paying off a debt of $1100 and buying a beautiful brick church which was dedicated by Bishop Derrick December 10, 1905, as Allen Chapel and is now a strong church; Williamsport, in three years nearly doubling the membership and remodeling the church building, paying $1000 for the same; Wilkes-Barre, repairing the church building, purchasing a new church organ and increasing the membership; Bethel Church, Wylie Avenue, Pittsburgh, for four years and three months, the longest pastorate in the history of that church, having 600 additions to the membership and raising over $20,000 for all purposes,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. PRICE A. SCOTT, D.D.
also purchasing large electric motor pipe organ which was paid for when dedicated, and extensively beautifying the church building for the annual conference which he handsomely entertained at the close of his pastorate. In October, 1915, he was sent to St. Paul Church, Washington, Pa., and in less than nine months completely revolutionized the charge, and on June 25, 1916, held one of the most successful rallies in its history, raising over $1200 in cash, and paid off a second mortgage of over ten years' standing and three bank notes. Dr. Scott was a delegate to the general conference, May, 1916; was chosen as one of its reading clerks and was voted for for the office of bishop. He has recorded over 1300 conversions, received over 2000 members into the church and married over 300 couples. He is an Odd Fellow and a high Mason, being at present the grand prelate of the International Conference of Knights Templar of the United States and Canada. He is actively interested in many movements of civic and racial uplift. In 1891 he married Miss Cornelia D. Chinn, of Bridgeport, W. Va. Their only child, Miss Clara Maude, is a graduate of the Nossokoff School of Hairdressing and is successfully practicing her art.
Scott, Timothy Dwight, son of William and Mary Frances Scott, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born June 21, 1860, at Circleville, Ohio. He was the thirteenth child in a family of fifteen children. He entered school at the age of ten years, and received his education from the public school and Wilberforce University, from which he graduated in 1886, with the degree of A.B., subsequently receiving A.M. from his Alma Mater. He was converted in 1871, and joined the A. M. E. Church in his native city; held every office in the local church and Sunday school excepting pastor. He was licensed to preach at Wilberforce by Rev. Grafton H. Graham; joined the annual conference in 1887, at Parkersburg, W. Va., under Bishop Campbell; was ordained deacon in 1892, at Allegheny,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. T. D. SCOTT, A.M.
Pa., by Bishop Payne, and elder in 1894, at Wheeling, W. Va., by Bishop Arnett. He has held appointments at Parkersburg, W. Va.; Erie, Pa.; Xenia, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio, and Zanesville, Ohio; rebuilt St. Paul A. M. E. Church and a new parsonage at Zanesville, Ohio, in 1912, at a cost of $13,000; lifted an $800 mortgage on Allen Temple, Cincinnati, Ohio; has taken about 300 into the Church and baptized about 200. He was a delegate to the Centennial General Conference, in 1916. He married Mary Lillian McKinley, of Macon, Ga., December 27, 1887. They had six children, as follows: Lewis McKinley, Lillian Eliza, Laura Eloise (deceased), Amanda Louise (deceased), Francis Gregory, Timothy Dwight, Jr. He has one other child, Cecil Hall, by a subsequent marriage, the former wife having died in 1903. The two oldest children are graduates of the Xenia (Ohio) High School. He has contributed to the "A. M. E. Review" and "Christian Recorder," and many daily papers. He wrote the class song for the Class of '86 and the Class Ode for the Quarto-Centennial of the Class of 1911 of Wilberforce; was principal of the Circleville High School one year, the Parkersburg High School five years, was professor of science at Wilberforce University for three years, principal of Xenia High School for fifteen years, resigning that position to accept the pastoral charge of Allen Temple, at Cincinnati, Ohio, on the death of the Rev. David Caliman; has been connected with the F. and A. M., K. of P. and G. U. O. of O. F.; is a Republican, and was a member of the convention
that nominated the Hon. Robert Kennedy for Representative in Congress in 1886; is secretary and historian of the Ohio A. M. E. Annual Conference. He is at present pastor of Brown Chapel, A. M. E. Church, Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, Ohio. He delivered the annual address before the Religious Societies at his Alma Mater, June 9, 1916, concerning which the "Southern Christian Recorder" said: "His theme, 'The Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness,' was beautifully illustrated, and applied to modern day conditions. In all it was a masterly effort, scholarly and practical."
Seabrook, Captain E., was born in South Carolina about forty-five years ago. As a young lad he came to Georgia and for twenty-five years followed the pilot-age business. He has been master of some of the finest steam vessels plying the Savannah river. Because of his knowledge of the coast from the Saint Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico, he has often been selected to bring palatial steamers and private yachts down the
[ILLUSTRATION]
CAPTAIN E. SEABROOK
coast. He has the reputation of never having an accident to a vessel while he was in charge. In 1906 Captain Seabrook launched into the undertaking business and has made great progress in such a short space of time. Today he is rated as one of the largest colored undertakers in the United States. For the convenience of his patrons he has a seven-passenger automobile, a motor ambulance and white, silver gray and black funeral cars. He gives employment to six men regularly, including two embalmers. His business is located at No. 514 West Broad Street, Savannah, Ga., in a three-story brick building owned by him. He is an active member and trustee of St. Philip A. M. E. Church, Savannah, Ga., and his wife, a stewardess, is a leader in all church and charitable work among the women of the city. Captain and Mrs. Seabrook are a worthy example of what prosperous people ought to do in the church.
Shackleford, William Henry, was born at Selma, Ala., January 21, 1878; educated at Payne University of the same city from which he graduated as valedictorian of the Class of 1894. His mother was a devout African Methodist, and her son seems to have inherited her disposition and Christian qualities. He was presented in infancy to the Church at Brown Chapel, Selma, and he grew up in the service of the church. He has an excellent record as a Sunday school scholar, officer, teacher and superintendent. The better portion of his time since graduation was spent in the profession of teaching, and it was from the principalship of the city school of Greensboro, Ala., that he was called to accept the position of proof-reader
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. WILLIAM HENRY SHACKLEFORD.
and associate editor of the "A. M. E. Sunday School Union," Nashville, Tenn. In this institution he has proven his aptitude for the work, being possessed of a versatility that allows him to fill with ease and credit almost any position in this department of the Church. He reads practically every line of proof, is manager of the publications, also originates and designs all the blackboard illustrations which appear in the periodicals of the "Sunday School Union." He has been superintendent of Bethel Sunday School, Nashville, Tenn., for five years. When he took charge the enrollment was about 50 and collections averaged 35 to 50 cents. At present the enrollment in all seven of the departments is over 600. Here may be found in excellent working order, under capable superintendents, the Cradle Roll, Beginners', Primary, Intermediate, Junior, Adult and Home Departments, also a Temperance Legion. Thirty officers and teachers carry on the work, and recently over 500 attended a regular morning session of the school. The whole school has been resolved into a missionary society, and pays annually the conference missionary claim, besides the minute and contingent moneys. Electric lights, at a cost of $100 have been installed in the auditorium of the church as a gift from the Sunday school. Mr. Shackleford is president of the Methodist Sunday School Alliance, composed of the Sunday school workers
in Methodist churches of Nashville, which he organized in 1914.
Shaffer, Cornelius Thaddeus, the twenty-ninth bishop of the A. M. E. Church, the third son of John and Margaret Shaffer, was born in Troy, Ohio, January 3, 1847. He attended the public schools of his native state and of Indiana. When he was but little past seventeen years of age he enlisted as a soldier in the Civil War. On returning from the war, feeling the need of further preparation for his life work, he soon after, being in Kentucky, entered Berea College, pursuing his studies for more than two years. Later, after his entrance into the ministry, he took up special courses in Cadiz, Ohio, under the superintendent of the public schools; in Brooklyn, N. Y., with a Jewish Rabbi, and in Philadelphia, with Dr. W. R. Harper,
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP C. T. SHAFFER, M.D., D.D.
the late president of the University of Chicago, and finally he entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating with the degree of M.D., in the Class of 1888. The degree of D.D. was first conferred upon him by Allen University, Columbia, S. C., 1888. Later Wilberforce University honored him with the same degree--D.D., and finally with the degree of LL.D., he having been most actively engaged in the work of development and maintenance of the said Wilberforce University throughout his entire public career. He was converted in the A. M. E. Church and united with the same in 1861; he held nearly every office in the Church, being licensed to preach in 1867, by his brother, Rev. G. H. Shaffer, D.D., at Frankfort, Ky., where he was at that time engaged in business. He was admitted into the conference and itinerancy by Bishop Payne, at Bowling Green, Ky., in 1870, and was immediately transferred to the Ohio Conference in his native state, and stationed at Newark, Ohio. He was ordained deacon by Bishop Payne, at Portsmouth, Ohio, 1872, and elder by the same bishop in 1874, at Zanesville, Ohio, from whose hand he received eleven consecutive annual appointments. He served the following charges as pastor: Newark, Ohio, one year; Delaware, two years; Cadiz, one year; Xenia, Ohio, three years, when he was transferred by Bishop Payne to the New York Conference, and stationed at Fleet Street Church, Brooklyn, N. Y., which church he served three years. He was again transferred by the same bishop and stationed at Allen Chapel, Philadelphia, which he served four years. He was then transferred by Bishop Payne to Baltimore Conference, and appointed to Mother Bethel, Baltimore, Md., serving said church two years, when he was returned to the Philadelphia Conference, and stationed at Union Church, Philadelphia, which he served for two years, when the late Bishop H. M. Turner, at the most earnest solicitation of the officiary of the Mother Church (Bethel), Philadelphia, assigned him to the said church, where during two years, which filled up the limit possible in any one city, he paid off a mortgage of $900 on the old church, purchased additional ground costing $6000, laid the plans, tore down the old church and erected the present and new Bethel, at a cost of $50,000, on which he paid more than $20,000. This was in 1889-91. As pastor he lifted mortgages and paid on principal debts as follows: Newark, Ohio, $300; Fleet Street, Brooklyn, N. Y., $1500; Allen Chapel, Philadelphia, $5000; Union Church, Philadelphia, $9000; Bethel, Philadelphia; old mortgage of $900 on new building, $20,000. During his pastorate he took into the Church about 1400 members, as presiding elder and bishop about 300 more, or about 1700 members; he baptized about 400, married 350 couples. He was the grand secretary of the Good Templars of the World for the State of New York, composed of both races, and was elected as delegate to the Good Templars Grand Lodge of the World, which met in Liverpool, England, 1879, whose head was the world famous Hon. William E. Gladstone. He was fraternal delegate from the A. M. E. to the M. E. General Conference which met in New York, 1888. A delegate to the World's Congress of Religions in Chicago, 1893, and delegate to the Ecumenical Conference, which met in London in 1901, though he did not go as he had to make a trip to Africa early in 1902. He was also a member of the Ecumenical meeting in Toronto, in 1911. He was elected secretary-treasurer of the Church Extension Department, 1892, which he organized and developed from not a single penny to the sum of $104,875.30, leaving in the treasury when he turned it over to his successor, in 1900, $12,025.79, as a cash balance; though he had aided some 500 churches, schools and departments, of the connection, he served the department for the first year without salary, serving as presiding elder of the Philadelphia P. E. District, from which he received his support; and this though during the year he collected for the department $4,817.07, which was placed in savings banks at 3 per cent. interest for the department. He was elected bishop at Columbus, Ohio, in May, 1900, and assigned to preside over the fifth Episcopal district embracing more than one-quarter of the territory of the U. S. A., with a stretch from St. Louis to Seattle, Wash, of nearly 3000 miles. Yet on the death of Bishop M. M. Moore, D.D., his colleague and classmate, he accepted in addition to his own work, Bishop Moore's work in Africa. He visited said field in 1902; held the Sierra Leone and the Liberia Conferences, delivered nine sermons and addresses in the country; arranged to secure 100 acres of land near Arthington, Liberia, as a school farm for a boys' industrial school. On his way home, in the City of Liverpool,
he purchased the iron for the building, paid for and shipped the same to the Rev. Curtis, acting superintendent for the erection of the first school building ever erected by the A. M. E. Church on the continent of Africa for the education of the native African youth on their native soil, which school was established, built and all the debts paid off under his administration of that work. The school was originally established and known as "The Industrial Institute for Boys," the name being changed by the people there to the "Shaffer Boys' High School," as it is now called. A most interesting feature of this educational movement in Africa was that the National Legislature of Liberia passed a bill appropriating from the National Treasury $2500, to be paid in annual installments of $500 toward the maintenance of the school for five years. During his administration of the fifth Episcopal district the school work of the Western University, of Kansas City, Kans., was specially fostered and developed, and the most permanent building of the plant, "The Stanley Hall," with a splendid assembly room or chapel being erected and duly dedicated. From 1904 to 1912, two quadrenniums, he presided over the fourth Episcopal district, embracing the Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Ontario and the two Kentucky Conferences; 1912-1916 he presided over the third Episcopal district, embracing the Ohio, North Ohio, West Virginia and the Pittsburgh Conferences. In all of these fields he has always been very painstaking and successful in his work whatever the sphere. He was united in marriage to Miss Annie Marie Taylor, of Lexington, Ky., in 1870. To this union three children were born, two girls--Mary Naomi and Claria Belzoora, both of whom passed away in infancy, while their son, Carl Wilberforce survives. He was graduated from the Pharmaceutical College of Howard University, as doctor of pharmacy. The bishop has written a number of pamphlets, lectures, addresses, and is the author and publisher of several works to unify and facilitate the work of the pastor, presiding elder and the quarterly and annual conference work, such as "The Minister's Companion," "The Presiding Elder's Quarterly Journal," "The Quarterly Conference Journal," "The Annual Conference Statistical Journal," making a complete set of most practical, helpful and time-saving publications which fill a great need of the Church.
Shelton, Rev. R. E. was born 1856 at Lake Village, Ark., converted 1868, joined Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church near Wilmar, Ark.; received exhorter's license 1871, Rev. Soloman Smith, pastor; was ordained deacon in 1876 by Bishop Ward at Arkadelphia, Ark. He has served the following named charges: Star City Mission, 4 years; Tarletter Mission, 2 years; Long Vewure Mission, 3 years; Falkom Mission, 1 year; St. James Mission, 2 years. After this he ceased to travel on account of his health, but he has not ceased to work in Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church, of which is a member serving in every capacity that he has been called. During his pastorate he built three churches and bought and paid for twelve acres of land for the A. M. E. Church. He has received and baptized in the church 129 members, and baptized about 400 children. He married Miss Missouri Rhodes in 1877. They had eight children, five of whom are now living. He is now living in his own home near Wilmar, Ark.
Shelton, Rev. W. C., was born in Columbus, Ga. Reared without a father he began life with the cares of a mother upon him whom he loved dearly. In youth he attended the public schools of his city. He had a private teacher to teach him until he was able
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. W. C. SHELTON,D.D.
to attend high school. He completed the correspondence course of Iowa Christian College at Oskaloosa, Iowa, with the degree of M.A.L. conferred upon him.
He was converted and joined St. James A. M. E. Church, Columbus, the church of his parents, and
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. W. C. SHELTON.
licensed to preach at an early age in 1878. He joined the Georgia conference in 1879, ordained deacon 1880 by Bishop Campbell, ordained elder 1883 by Bishop Dickerson.
He served the following charges: Stewart County Circuit, Chattahoochee Circuit, Geneva Circuit, Barnesville Station, Forsyth, Talbotton, Sandersville,
Davisboro, Camp Hope, Clinton, Gaines Chapel, Savannah; Cordele, Covington, Tennille, Turner's Tabernacle, Macon; presiding elder of the Waycross district, presiding elder of the Ft. Valley district. He was transferred to North Alabama Conference by Bishop Gaines and served the following charges: Huntsville and Pratt City; was transferred by Bishop Grant to the Kansas Conference and served the following charges: Iola, Topeka, Kansas City, Kans. He was transferred to the Michigan Conference by Bishop Derrick and stationed at Ypsilanti. He is at present presiding elder of the Detroit district, Michigan Conference.
He has built 10 churches, repaired and paid for 9, built 2 parsonages, cancelled 2 mortgages in full, organized 15 mission churches, and added 2985 persons to the church. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Morris Brown University.
Rev. Shelton has spent many years of usefulness in the church. He has been a very successful pastor and presiding elder. As a preacher he belongs to the first rank. He enjoys the confidence of all classes of people. He says he owes his success largely to his present wife, who is an active missionary worker.
Sherman, W. O. P., was born 1854. Became a Christian early in life and joined the A. M. E. Church. Studied to be a minister at the Academy at Cuthbert, Ga. Took correspondence courses and attended night schools.
Has been engaged in the ministry over 30 years. He has served nearly all of the offices in the church.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. W. O. P. SHERMAN, D.D.
He has met with success, both as pastor and Presiding Elder. He received the degree D.D. from Morris Brown University, in 1904. Was a member of every General Conference since 1884 to 1916. He has taken many people into the church. Dr. Sherman has built and repaired many churches, paid off a large number of debts. Has been publisher and editor of the Savannah Independent for fifteen years. He has been succeeded in this by his son, Rev. W. O. P. Sherman, Jr. He is highly respected for his good works.
Shorter, James A., ninth bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born February 4, 1817, in Washington, D. C. When quite a boy he went to Galena, Ill., where he was converted in 1839 and joined the M. E. Church. Coming east the same year he joined Bethel A. M. E. Church in Philadelphia, Pa. He married Miss Julia Steward, of Washington, D. C., returned to Washington and united with Israel Church, and was elected one of the first trustees of this church. He was licensed to preach in 1839 by Rev. John Cornish in Washington. Having held nearly every lay office in the church he was recommended for the itinerant service in the Baltimore Conference and admitted April, 1846.
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP JAMES A. SHORTER.
He was ordained deacon in 1848 and elder in 1850. At the time of the opening of Wilberforce University he moved with his family to Greene County to give the children the benefits offered by this institution.
He served the following charges: Gettysburg and Lewiston circuit, Seningtonville circuit, Lancaster circuit, Bethel, Baltimore; Israel Church, Washington, D. C.; Ebenezer, Baltimore; Xenia, Ohio; Zanesville Station, Allen Chapel, Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1866 he was agent for Wilberforce University and collected about $3000 for educational purposes. In 1867 he pastored at Wylie A. M. E. Church, Pittsburgh, Pa. In 1868 he was elected bishop at the general conference in Washington, D. C. He organized many conferences: Tennessee annual conference, Louisiana conference, Texas and Arkansas conferences. He died July 1, 1887, and is buried at Xenia, Ohio.
Shorter, Joseph Proctor, was born at Washington, D. C., March 31, 1845. His parents were Bishop James A. and Julia A. Shorter. Joseph received his first schooling in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, in a private school, taught by Mr. George Watkins. Seeing there were no satisfactory advantages for the education of his children, his father removed, with his family of six children, to Wilberforce, Ohio, chiefly to educate them, taking work in the Ohio Conference as an itinerant minister. Joseph entered the primary department of Wilberforce, and was graduated from the classical department in 1871.
His tastes from earliest childhood were for teaching. After graduation, he went to Leavenworth, Kansan,
and for three years was principal of the colored schools there, and met with flattering success; at the end of his second year he had a call to Washington, D. C., to teach, at an increased salary. The committee on teachers of the Leavenworth Board of Education would not consent to his leaving and offered him an increase of one hundred dollars, which amounted to a much larger salary than they had ever given any teacher, as principal of the schools, pledging if the Board could not see its way clear to this raise, they would pay it out of their own pockets. At the close of his third year's work, September, 1874, at Leavenworth, he was called to fill the chair of mathematics at Wilberforce,
[ILLUSTRATION]
PROF. JOSEPH P. SHORTER.
and filled this chair acceptably for 23 years. In 1896 he was chosen superintendent of the Combined Normal and Industrial Department of Wilberforce University.
The degrees of A.M. and LL.D. have been conferred upon him, but he respectfully declined both. Believing that teaching was his calling, he turned aside but seldom, and only for a short interval, to anything else. He was a director of the public schools of Wilberforce from the time of their organization to the change of the law, abolishing the directorship. He traveled in England, France and Switzerland, visiting Mt. Blanc, Geneva, and boating on the Rhine and Lake Geneva.
Professor Shorter was a lay delegate to five general conferences, and for twelve years was a member of the financial board, serving as recording secretary of the board. He was a delegate to the first Ecumenical Conference of Methodism in City Road Chapel, London, England, in 1881, and read a paper, by appointment, which is found in the proceedings of that body. He was also chosen as an alternate to the second Ecumenical Conference, that met in Washington, D. C., October, 1891.
Professor Shorter was married December 25th, 1878, to Miss Susie I. Lankford, daughter of Rev. Whitten Lankford, one of the pioneers of the Indiana Conference. She was a woman of generous, kindly disposition, and was interested much in missionary and club work. Her Ohio Federation Club song, "Lifting as we Climb," has been adopted by many other states than the state for which it was written.
Of the eight children who came to these parents, only three remain, Lee Jackson Shorter, Joseph Prattis and Mrs. Pearl Shorter-Smith.
He superintended the construction of Arnett Hall, Galloway Hall, and one wing of Mitchell Hall, besides several small buildings on the grounds. The electric light plant was installed and most of the cement walks were laid under his superintendency.
He was an exceptionally frank and honest man, and very earnest and faithful in the discharge of his duties. He was a strong Christian gentleman, and was sincerely respected both by his friends and those with whom he came in contact in merely business relations.
During the 37 years he labored at Wilberforce he not only did his duty as a teacher and as superintendent, but many lives were better, many ideals higher because of contact with him.
On March 25, 1910, the Friday before Easter, after an illness of only 10 days, he departed this life. His dearly beloved wife survived him until Feb. 27, 1912.
Simmons, Rev. Sandy, was born in Georgetown County, S. C., December 12, 1867. At the age of two years was carried to the city of Charleston, S. C. His mother dying at an early age, he was reared by his paternal grandmother, who brought him up in the old fashioned way.
After finishing the public school course, owing to the death of his grandmother, he was compelled to go to work for himself. The first job he got paid him the sum of twenty-five cents a week. After knocking around working at odd jobs for some time, he finally got a situation as house servant of one of the aristocratic families of Charleston, who gave him free access to their splendid library.
In the summer of 1885 he was converted and joined Emanuel A. M. E. Church under Rev. L. R. Nichols. In 1887 the church sent him as a student to Allen University, Columbia, South Carolina, where he spent five years, finishing the normal and classical courses, coming out with the degree of A.B. He was valedictorian of both normal and college classes. While in the junior college year he was elected a tutor in Allen University. Leaving school in 1892, was elected principal of Payne High School (now Payne College), Cuthbert, Ga. After teaching one term, feeling a divine call to the ministry he returned to South Carolina and entered the ministerial ranks under Bishop Salter, being appointed to the South Santee Circuit, remaining there from December to the following August, when he was transferred to the Michigan conference by Bishop Turner, 1894, remained in Michigan ten years and pastored Flint, Ann Arbor and Jackson. Was made presiding elder by Bishop Grant in 1901, and given charge of the Grand Rapids District. While pastoring Ann Arbor he entered the University of Michigan and took the full law course of three years, graduating with credit with the degree of LL.B. in a class of 250, only three being colored.
Returning to South Carolina in the latter part of 1904, he was elected to fill a vacancy in Allen University, teaching the subjects of physics, political
economy and general history. Bethel Church, Columbia, becoming vacant, he was appointed to same by Bishop Coppin. In ten months he succeeded in cancelling a debt of 22 years' standing, thus saving that historic church to the connection.
After a stay of four years at Bethel, refusing to
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. SANDY SIMMONS, D.D.
stay for the fifth year, he was transferred to the South Carolina Conference by Bishop Lee and stationed at Ebenezer, Charleston. At the end of the year he was made presiding elder of the Georgetown district. The first year raised over $1800 for education. After four
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. S. G. SIMMONS.
years on the district, was appointed to Morris Brown Sta., Charleston, and raised $250 for education the first year. He has been a member of five general conferences: Columbus, Ohio; Chicago, Norfolk, Kansas City and Philadelphia. At Columbus he was elected fourth assistant secretary; at Chicago and Norfolk he was chief reading clerk, and at Kansas City chief marshal of the episcopal committee.
Since entering the ministry in 1893 he has been a success. At one time he was the "dollar money king" of Michigan, being the first to raise more than one dollar per capita. After delivering the address to the graduating classes of 1907, Allen University conferred the degree of D.D. upon him.
Dr. Simmons is a 32 degree Mason, a member of the uniform rank, K. of P., an M. V. P. of the G. U. O. of O. F. and a Good Samaritan. He is also a trustee of Wilberforce and Allen Universities.
Simmons, Mrs. S. G., acting president of the W. H. & F. Missionary Society, is the wife of Rev. Sandy Simmons, of Charleston, S. C. She was made president of the Columbia branch of W. H. & F. Missionary Society in 1905 by Bishop Coppin, serving two years with success. Moving to the South Carolina Conference, she was made president of the same by Bishop Lee. After serving one year, the conference was divided and she was appointed president of the Palmetto Conference, which position she still occupies (1915).
Going as a delegate to the quadrennial meeting of the W. H. & F. M. Society at Birmingham, Ala., in 1911, she was unanimously elected connectional vice-president. At the quadrennial session at New Orleans, in 1915, she was again elected to the same position. Upon the death of Mrs. Laura Lemon Turner, Oct., 1915, she became president of the W. H. & F. M. Society and was chosen editor of the Woman's Missionary Recorder.
Sims, Handy Samuel, one of nine children, of Robert and Eva Sims, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born in 1869 at Madison County, Florida.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. H. S. SIMS, D.D.
He attended school from the age of six to fifteen years, going to Richardson's Academy, Lake City, Florida; received the degree of D.D. from Paul Quinn College; was converted in 1881 and joined the Hamburg A. M. E. Church; served as steward, trustee, class leader,
exhorter, local preacher, Sunday school teacher and superintendent; was licensed to preach 1890 at Lake City, Florida, by Dr. S. M. Coleman; ordained deacon in 1894, at Ocala, Fla., by Bishop Grant; ordained elder in 1895 at Tampa, Florida, by Bishop Grant; joined the annual conference in 1893 at Sanford, Florida, under Bishop Ward; held the following appointments in Florida: West Palm Beach, Florida, 1894-95; Crescent City, Florida, 1896-97; Wildwood Station, 1898-1899; Goldsboro, Florida, Station, 1900-1902; Eatonville, Fla., 1903-04; in Texas, presiding elder El Paso district, 1905-09; presiding elder Austin district, 1910-11; pastor Mt. Vernon Station, 1912-13; Bethel Station, 1914-15. He built Payne Chapel, West Palm Beach, at a cost of $2500, in 1894; Allen Chapel in Wildwood, Florida, $400, 1898; parsonage, Goldsboro, Fla., $1000, 1901; repaired parsonage at Eatonville, Fla., $250, 1903; Bethel A. M. E. Church at San Antonio, Texas, $11,500; parsonage at San Antonio, Texas, $1500. Lifted mortgages on Bethel A. M. E. Church, at Crescent City, Florida, $248, 1896; Mt. Vernon A. M. E. Church, at Palestine, Texas, $502, 1912; has taken into church about 2150 people and baptized 285; was a delegate to general conferences at Kansas City (1912) and Philadelphia (1916).
Singleton, Richard Henry, son of Richard and Cecilia Singleton, members of the Baptist Church, was born September 11, 1865, at Hilton Head, S. C. Was one of twelve children. Entered school in 1871 and spent about 12 years in school. Attended over two years primary public school, Giles Academy, Morris
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. RICHARD HENRY SINGLETON.
Brown College. Received diploma and degree of D.D. from Morris Brown, also a diploma from Giles Academy. Studied to a great extent under private instructors. Converted November 28, 1888, and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He has held many offices in the church. Licensed to preach October 10, 1890, at Brunswick, Ga., by Rev. Henry Strickland, P. E. Ordained deacon in 1891 at Savannah, by Bishop W. J. Gaines. Ordained elder in 1896 at Bainbridge, Ga., by Bishop Turner. Joined the Annual Conference in 1892, at Thomasville, Ga., under Bishop Grant.
Held the following appointments: Payne's Chapel, Brunswick, Ga., 1892-97; Gaines Chapel, Waycross, 1897-99; St. Philip Monumental Station, Savannah,
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MRS. R. H. SINGLETON.
1899-1904; St. Philip Station, 1909-1916; Presiding Elder of Valdosta District, 1904-1908; West Savannah District, 1908-09.
Built churches at Brunswick, Ga., Payne Chapel, at a cost of $1,200, in 1895; St. Philip, at Savannah, Ga., at a cost of $42,500, in 1911. Rebuilt St. Philip Monumental at Savannah, Ga., at a cost of $18,500, in 1902. Rev. Singleton has taken 2,312 people into the church, baptized 657 people, and married 342.
Was a delegate to General Conferences, 1904-08-12, and leads his delegation in the Georgia Conference to the Centennial General Conference of 1916. He is at present a member of the Financial Board, 1912-16.
In General Conference of 1908, Dr. Singleton was voted for Bishop for West Africa. He married Mrs. Josephine Singleton, of Lumber City, Ga., April 18, 1889, who is a great aid to him in all of his work for the church and race. He has contributed to the Recorders, Atlanta Independent and Savannah Tribune.
Has made the "Opening Address, Bishop Turner's Quarto-Centenary," St. Louis, Mo., an address to the graduates of Morris Brown College in 1904; to the graduates of Allen University; to the Y. W. C. A., etc. He is director in Union Development Co., Savannah, Ga.
Member of F. and A. M., G. U. O. of O. F., and K. of P. Has held important offices in each; is a Republican and a property owner. Founder of Central Park Normal and Industrial Institute, Savannah, Ga., treasurer of Negro Civic League, trustee of Old Folks' Home, treasurer of Savannah Branch of Urban Condition of Negroes. Dr. Singleton is a man of unimpeachable character and a great asset to any community.
He has pastored nearly 12 years in Savannah, now in his seventh year at St. Philips, and is more popular and useful today than ever before.
Smith, Charles Spencer, son of Nehemiah Henry and Catherine Smith, was born in Colborne, Canada, March 16th, 1852. He resided in Canada for about fourteen years, chiefly at Bowmanville, a town about forty miles east of Toronto, and in the public school of Bowmanville he received his elementary education. When about twelve years of age he was apprenticed to learn the trade of furniture finishing. A disastrous fire having destroyed the factory in which he worked, his apprenticeship ended about one year after it had begun.
At the age of fourteen he left Bowmanville and went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he was employed as a general utility boy in a boarding house. In 1868 he went to Chicago, where he worked for a time as a porter in a barber shop. He was there during the meeting
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP C. S. SMITH, D.D.
of the National Republican convention which nominated General Grant for the presidency. He then engaged in service on certain boats plying the Great Lakes, serving as deck hand, second cook and waiter. The last boat on which he was employed ran in the lumber trade between Detroit and Saginaw, Mich. This was in 1869, and the last trip for the season was made in the latter part of October of that year. With a cold winter staring him in the face, and finding himself but ill-adapted to the service which he had rendered on board various boats, and despairing of making a success of similar duties in connection with hotel service, and remembering that he had knowledge of the elements of a common school education, he decided to go south and engage in teaching, and try to obtain a position under the Freedman's Bureau.
He went to Louisville, Ky., and reported to Col. Runkel, who had charge of the Freedman's Bureau for that state, and who employed him as a teacher and sent him to Payne's station on the Lexington branch of the Louisville and Nashville railroad, about 11 miles from Lexington. His stay here was short, as the Ku-Klux broke up his school and ordered him to leave within forty-eight hours. He returned to Louisville, reported the facts to Col. Runkel, who assigned him to duty at Hopkinsville, Ky. He was very successful at this place, very much enjoyed his work, and formed the acquaintance of a young lady who afterward became his wife. He remained here from November, 1869, to June, 1870. While at Hopkinsville he was strongly convicted of sin, and sought and obtained forgiveness therefor. He was succeeded as teacher at Hopkinsville by the Rev. Allen Allensworth, a Baptist minister, who afterward became a chaplain in the United States army.
From Hopkinsville he went to Jackson, Miss., where he became acquainted with most of the colored men who figured conspicuously in politics. Among them were James Lynch, secretary of state; John R. Lynch, speaker of the House of Representatives; B. K. Bruce, sergeant of the Senate and afterwards United States senator; Sam. Ireland, sergeant of the House; Thomas W. Stringer, and James Hill, afterwards
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. C. S. SMITH.
secretary of state. Hiram Revels was then United States senator, but he did not meet him while he occupied that position. After remaining in Jackson a brief time, he went to Greenwood, afterwards the home of Governor Vardaman, where he taught school for a few months. He also taught school in Yazoo City, Meridian, Loundes County, Noxubes County, West Point, and Kemper, DeKalb County.
During 1871 he spent several months in and around Jackson, and, in partnership with a Mr. Chas. Evans, conducted a panorama of Biblical scenes.
In August, 1871, he was licensed as a local preacher by the quarterly conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, in Jackson, Miss., under the pastorate of Rev. O. A. Douglass. At the suggestion of Rev. O. A. Douglass he attended the Mississippi Annual Conference of the A. M. E. Church, in session at Yazoo City, in December, 1872, Bishop T. M. D. Ward presiding, for the purpose of making application to be received into the conference on trial as an itinerant preacher. For some inexplicable reason he found that there was considerable prejudice against his being received, and on the advice of the Rev. Adam Jackson and the Rev, John Allen, he withdrew his application,
and thus made it possible for him to be taken up and given an appointment ad interim of the annual conference. Bishop Ward, who was very favorably impressed with him, appointed him to the China Grove Mission. This was immediately after the adjournment of the conference, but on reaching Jackson Bishop Ward was induced to change the appointment and send him to Raymond Mission, where he remained until the end of November, 1873, when he was transferred to the Alabama Conference, where he was ordained a deacon under Bishop Ward in Emanuel Church, Mobile, Ala., December 6th, 1873, and was appointed pastor of the church at Union Springs, the county seat of Bullock County. Here he became active in politics, and Nov. 3d, 1874, was elected a member of the House of Representatives of the State Legislature of Alabama for a period of two years. One of his colleagues, G. W. Allen, afterwards became a minister of the A. M. E. Church, and in 1904 was elected editor of the Southern Christian Recorder, one of the official organs of said church. In 1875 he performed the ceremony which united his colleague, Mr. Allen, in the bonds of holy wedlock. In 1876 he was a delegate to and a leader of the Colored Men's National convention, which met in Nashville, Tenn., in the hall of the House of Representatives of the capitol building. Many distinguished men were in attendance at that conference, among them John M. Langston, P. B. S. Pinchback and M. W. Gibbs.
On October 22, 1876, he was ordained an elder by Bishop R. S. Foster, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Nashville, Tenn. This is explained on the ground that desiring to obtain favorable facilities for pursuing some special lines of study, he temporarily changed his relationship from the A. M. E. Church to the M. E. Church, and became a student in Central Tennessee College, now Walden University, Nashville, Tenn. During his brief connection with the M. E. Church he held pastorates in Nashville and Murfreesboro. In April, 1876, during his pastorate at Murfreesboro, he was married to Miss Katie Josephine Black, the ceremony being performed in Nashville, Tenn., by the Rev. John Braden, D.D., the founder of and for many years the president of Central Tennessee college. This union was blessed by three children, two of whom died in early life, leaving one still living, Susan Elnora. Death deprived him of the further care and affection of his wife, July 28th, 1885. She died while on a visit to his sister, Mrs. Lucy Thurman, Jackson, Mich., and was buried in Mt. Evergreen Cemetery of said city. In 1904 the body was disentombed and re-interred in Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit, Mich. While a student at Central Tennessee college, in connection with other studies, he pursued a course in medicine and was graduated from the medical department in 1880. He never, however, entered upon the active practice of the profession.
In the spring of 1878 he rejoined the A. M. E. Church, and was appointed by Bishop Wayman to Brownsville, Pa., where a vacancy at that time existed. October, 1878, he was received by the Pittsburgh Conference, in session at Salem, O., and was appointed to the charge of Allen Chapel and East Liberty Circuit, both churches being located in Pittsburgh. At the Pittsburgh Conference, held September, 1879, East Liberty was made a station and he was appointed to the pastorate thereof. At the general conference of 1880, Bishop Ward having been assigned to the supervision of the Illinois Conference, and being fondly attached to him, he desired to be connected with one of his conferences, and in July, 1880, made application to Bishop Shorter, who then had charge of the Pittsburgh Conference, for a transfer to the Illinois Conference. In the following September he placed his transfer in the Illinois Conference, and was appointed to Bloomington. While at Bloomington he engaged his services as traveling agent for the great Sunday school Publishing House of David C. Cook, of Chicago. In September, 1881, at the session of the Illinois Conference, Chicago, Ill., he asked for and was granted a supernumerary relation in order that he might enter Mr. Cook's employ. During his brief connection with the M. E. Church, he had been much impressed with the utility and value of its Sunday school Union, so much so that when he resumed his connection with the A. M. E. Church he formulated a plan for the organization of a similar institution therefor, and presented the plan to the Bishops' Council, held in New York City, May, 1882. This being a special session of the Council, it was decided by the Bishops to waive the formal consideration of the plan until the meeting of their annual session, which took place August, 1882, at Cape May, N. J., where his plan for the organization of the Sunday school Union was formally approved, and he was appointed the corresponding secretary. The plan was carried to the general conference of 1884, in session at Baltimore, Maryland, and was unanimously adopted. He was elected without opposition its corresponding secretary and treasurer, a position in which he continued until May, 1900. The work he accomplished for the Sunday school Union during the 18 years of his connection with it is so well known that it need not be recited here.
He was a delegate to the second Ecumenical Methodist Conference, held in Washington City, D. C., 1891; was a delegate to the third Ecumenical Methodist Conference, held in London, England, September, 1901. At this conference he participated in the discussion on Ecumenical Methodism, in which he emphasized the capacity of the native African for intellectual development, and asserted that in the empire of intellect no color line can be drawn. At the close of the London Conference he delivered addresses in provincial meetings in Hull and Sheffield. He was a delegate to the fourth Ecumenical Methodist Conference, Toronto, Canada, October, 1911. He assisted in all the preliminary work of the executive committee, the business committee and the committee on program. Through his watchfulness and insistency, the distinctively Colored Methodist denominations were more largely represented on the program than at any of the preceding conferences. He presided at the morning session of the third day, during which he delivered a brief address on foreign missionary enterprises, which was regarded as one of the unique features of the conference. The ease and dignity with which he presided was the subject of general and most favorable comment. While in attendance at this conference, Victoria College, located in Toronto, conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity, which was the first time that it had conferred that degree on a man of color. June, 1913, Wilberforce University honored him with the title of LL.D.
He has been much sought after as a political speaker, and was elected an alternate delegate by the
Illinois State Republican convention to the National Republican convention of 1884, which nominated Jas. G. Blaine as its presidential candidate. He possesses oratorical powers of a high order and is an eloquent and impressive speaker, whether on the platform or in the pulpit. His three most memorable addresses are, "Ballots and Bullets," "The Conflict between John and Tom--a Review of the Race Question" and "The Noachian Curse." He produced three sermons which may be regarded as masterpieces: "What is Truth?", "A Great Tribute Unwittingly Paid," and "Love, the Essential of Christianity." He delivered a magnificent and thrilling address on "The Relation of the British Government to the Natives of South Africa," before the Negro Young People's Christian Educational Congress, in Convention Hall, Washington, D. C., August 1st, 1906. He is a frequent contributor to the leading newspapers and magazines, and his writings are characterized by originality of thought, vigor of expression and elegance of diction.
December, 1888, he married Miss Christine Shoecraft, of Muncie, Ind. The ceremony took place at Nashville, Tenn., and was performed by the Rev. G. L. Jackson. The fruit of this union was one child, Charles Spencer Smith, Jr.
In 1900 he was elected a bishop by the general conference of the A. M. E. Church, in session at Columbus, Ohio, and was assigned to the Twelfth Episcopal District, comprising Ontario, Nova Scotia, Bermuda, Windward Islands and the South American Annual Conferences. Bishop Moore having died in 1900, he was given the additional work of superintending the Louisiana and the North Louisiana Annual Conferences. At the general conference held in Chicago, 1904, he was assigned to the Thirteenth Episcopal District, comprising the annual conferences in South Africa. Complications of a formidable and intricate nature, which had formed before his going there greatly militated against him, and finally led to an exchange of jurisdictions in the African work between him and Bishop Derrick, so that the latter assumed charge of South Africa, while he took over the supervision of the work in West Africa, November 24, 1906. He sailed from New York for West Africa, via Liverpool, to hold the Sierra Leone and Liberia Annual Conferences. At the General Conference held in Norfolk, Va., 1908, he was assigned to the Sixth Episcopal District, which embraces the State of Georgia. The outstanding feature of his administration in Georgia was the raising, in 1910, of $30,000 for Christian education. This was the largest amount raised for education, as the result of a single rally, by any fragment of colored people in the history of America. In addition to this, the increase in the Dollar Money for the quadrennium was over $23,000. At the General Conference held in Kansas City, Mo., 1912, he was assigned to the Tenth Episcopal District, which embraces the State of Texas. His administration in that district was chiefly characterized by rescuing Paul Quinn College, Waco, from serious financial embarrassment, and the extensive repairing and improving of the several buildings situated on the campus.
In 1887 Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, O., conferred on him the title of D.D., and in 1913 the title of LL.D.
Smith, George Thomas, was born December 30, 1863, in Pittsylvania Co., Va.; attended school at Lexington, Va., and the rural schools; was licensed to preach by Rev. D. F. Callinan; admitted to the Pittsburgh Conference by Bishop Lee, October 14, 1898; was ordained elder by Bishop Arnett, October 19, 1902; has held the following appointments: Erie, Pa.;
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. G. T. SMITH, D.D.
Bellvernon, Conn.; Bradford, Conn.; McKeesport, Pa.; Clarksburg, W. Va.; Phillipsburg, Conn.; Scranton, Pa., and Williamsport, his present charge. He built the following churches: Phillipsburg, Scranton, Pa., at a cost of over $13,500. He has always been a hard student; received the degree of D.D. from Princeton (Ind.) University. His wife has worked faithfully with him. He edited "The Christian Sentinel," a journal that had a large circulation.
Smith, Irene B., whose parents were Rone and Kate Smith, was reared on her father's farm near Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Ark. She was educated at
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. IRENE B. SMITH.
the Branch Normal College, Pine Bluff, and taught several years in the rural school of Arkansas. At the age of 14 she joined Warren A. M. E. Church, and has
served as superintendent, secretary and teacher in the Sunday school; also as class leader, stewardess, secretary of the stewards' and trustees' board, juvenile superintendent of the Sherrill district; also a missionary representative to the general conference at Philadelphia, Pa., May, 1916.
Smith, James Henry, was born of Henry and Edith Smith, both of whom were slaves, in Lincoln County, Tenn., January 3, 1874. He was educated in the public schools of Lincoln County and at Turner College, Shelbyville, Tenn., from which he graduated in 1904, and received the degree of D.D. in 1914. He began public life in 1880 as a public school teacher, and taught some of the best schools in Lincoln County.
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REV. J. H. SMITH.
He was converted and joined St. John A. M. E. Church, Mulberry, Tenn., April, 1894, under the pastorate of the Rev. E. Crockrel; licensed to preach October, 1895, by Dr. S. R. Reed, Presiding Elder of the North Nashville District, and admitted into the Tennessee Annual Conference, at Fayetteville, Tenn., October, 1898, by Bishop Salter. He was ordained deacon in Nashville, Tenn., October 22, 1899, by Bishop Salter and ordained elder, November 9, 1903, by Bishop Tanner.
Dr. Smith has filled the following charges with credit to himself and church: Shelbyville Mission, from 1898-1899; Center Grove Circuit, 1899-1900; Chapel Hill Circuit, 1900-1902; Lewisburg Circuit, 1902-1904. Having been transferred to the East Tennessee Conference by Bishop Lee in 1904 he has served the following appointments: Bethel, Knoxville, 1904-1905; Presiding Elder over the Knoxville District, 1905-1906; Presiding Elder of the Fayetteville District, 1906-1911; pastor Warren Chapel, Chattanooga, 1911 to the present. During his services as Presiding Elder on the Knoxville and Fayetteville Districts he won for himself the title "Educational Money King" of Tennessee.
Dr. Smith is a member of the Masonic, Knights of Pythias and Odd Fellows Lodges; Secretary of the East Tennessee Conference; Treasurer of Turner College; Secretary of the United Pastors' Association (composed of white and colored ministers), of Chattanooga, Tenn.; President of the Board of Directors of the Associated Charities of Chattanooga (colored department); Trustee of Wilberforce University and Turner College and a member of the General Conference from 1908-1916.
He was married November 20, 1898, to Mrs. Mattie J. Mitchell, who has proven a faithful companion.
Smith, Rev. Lewis Henry, the third son of Joseph and Ann Smith, both slaves, was born June 11, 1853, in Talbot County, Ga. He remembers, when six years old, that his mother took him to a Methodist church.
From the year 1859, when he decided for the Lord, to the year 1866, the preaching he heard and the teaching he received were not the best for deep, wide and high growth in the truth, the way of life, and the
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. LEWIS HENRY SMITH, SR.
knowledge of God as taught by Jesus Christ. But as a minder of his slave master's sheep he was aided much spiritually. Hence Lewis Henry was very anxious to study and know the truth and the way of the true Christian life.
In 1886 he found a colored man who agreed to aid him in the study at nights. His father, seeing his desire and efforts to learn, allowed him to go on Sunday to a colored man, two miles away, who aided him some in spelling and reading. It was then and there near his father's home that a Christian white man of their community opened a day school for Negro children, but other white men forced him to discontinue his teaching at the end of one month. But that good month added so much to Lewis Henry's stock of book learning that he thereafter allowed no opportunity to pass him by which he could increase it.
He was baptized and fellowshipped in the Methodist Church; he opened a Sunday school which he superintended and taught each Sunday as best he could, and as soon as he could reach Presiding Elder H. M. Turner's camp-meeting, in Talbotton, Ga., he joined the A. M. E. Church, and then returned to his own church in the county and resumed his Sunday
school work, looking for stronger help and better days when Dr. Turner would send to his home church an ordained A. M. E. preacher. The Rev. Robert Strickland and Presiding Elder Andrew Brown were thus sent, and with them young Smith served faithfully as steward and secretary of the church and superintendent of the Sunday school.
He was licensed to exhort and then to preach as per A. M. E. Discipline, and, in June, 1874, when their pastor, Rev. Zachariah Armstrong died, he was appointed, by Presiding Elder William Ravens, to pastor his home church.
He thus entered the itinerant ranks, where he has served as follows: pastor, one year on the Guyton Circuit, at Guyton, Ga.; two years at Mobley Pond Circuit, Scriven County, Ga.; two years, Darien, Ga.; two years, Bainbridge, Ga.; four years, Eatonton, Ga.; one year, Augusta, Ga.; two years, presiding elder, Augusta (Ga.) District; pastored four years, steward A. M. E. Church, Macon, Ga.; presided two years on the Macon (Ga.) Presiding Elder District; returned to Macon, serving one year as pastor to redeem the credit of the church; pastored St. Philip's Church, Savannah, Ga., four years; served Milledgeville District as presiding elder one year; Forsyth District, four years; Milledgeville District again, three years; the Augusta District again, one year; the Macon District again, five years, and is now serving the Forsyth District as presiding elder, the second time and in this second conference year.
In Sept., 1873, he married Miss Hester S. Love and they have been blessed with ten children, three of whom have died: Miss M. Etta Smith, the oldest and the first C. E. president in the A. M. E. Church in Georgia, June 20, 1903; Mrs. Mattie J. Smith Johnson, wife of Prof. J. A. Johnson, June 6, 1915, and one in infancy. The other seven, with their mother and father, are alive and working for Jesus.
Rev. Lewis H., Jr., is a faithful and very successful pastor of the A. M. E. Church in the State of Georgia. The daughters are Miss Minnie L. Smith, one of the best teachers of the public schools of Macon, Ga.; Miss Beda A. Smith, a successful dressmaker; Miss Lovia T. Smith, a well-trained sick nurse, and Miss Roberta F. Smith, one of the teachers at Payne College, Cuthbert, Ga.; Nathaniel Grant and James LeRoy Smith are under age. Of the children of his deceased brother, Rev. R. V. Smith, which children were reared by Rev. L. H. Smith and wife, there remain alive Dr. Edward W. Smith, a practicing dentist, of Winston-Salem, N. C., and Mrs. Lillian S. Youngblood.
The Rev. L. H. Smith, Sr., having entered the itinerant ministry of the A. M. E. Church in the year 1874, continued to study. His clearest and most saving knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ was obtained by him when he first read Whitfield's sermon on Christ the Redeemer of the world; and then his study of Wesley's works, John Fletcher's works, Clark's Commentary, the Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation, etc., so fixed his mind, heart and soul in God's truth and way, and also in the doctrine and principles of Methodism that he has accomplished much for God, the A. M. E. Church and mankind, as the records of churches and districts he served will show.
For many years he has held that many theologians, preachers and seekers of the Christian religion have misunderstandingly magnified Nicodemus' visit to Jesus by night, and also the words then and there spoken by Nicodemus to Jesus and also Jesus' answers to Nicodemus. He is now writing a book explaining more fully his view.
The degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Morris Brown College, in 1900. He has been elected by his annual conference as delegate and has attended seven consecutive A. M. E. general conferences. For nearly eight years he has been the treasurer of Morris Brown College or of the A. M. E. university system in the State of Georgia.
Smyth, Rev. Theobald Augustus, was born on the Island of Jamaica. After attending school on that island he came to America and entered Boston University School of Theology. After spending one year in that school he entered the Wesleyan College of McGill University, Montreal, Canada. The following year he joined the annual conference, being the first and only colored man to be admitted and given work in the Methodist Church of Canada. Graduating in
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. THEOBALD AUGUSTUS SMYTH, D.D.
first-class standing he returned to the States and took up work in the Philadelphia Conference until 1906, when he was transferred to the Michigan Conference, and took charge of Bethel Church in Detroit.
At this station the congregations became so large that galleries had to be added for the accommodation of those who came to worship there. Here also was installed a pipe organ, had the church renovated, the parsonage remodeled, paid for all the improvements and reduced the debt from $7000 to $3000.
From here he went to Indianapolis, where he paid off a long-standing mortgage indebtedness, decorated the church, installed electric lights and left the church free of debt. In 1912 he was appointed to Bethel Church, Chicago, where he remained until his death, January 24, 1916.
Snelson, Rev. F. Grant, the son of Rev. Floyd and Nancy Snelson. He was born December 19, 1865, at Ellaville, Ga. He was one of three children. He entered school at the age of six years and attended nineteen
years, attending principally Dorchester Academy, Beach Institute and Atlanta University. He has received the following degrees: A.B. from Atlanta University; M.A. from Allen University; Ph.D. from Wilberforce; D.D. from Morris Brown; F.R.G.S., London, England, Fellow Royal Society of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce of Great Britain. He was converted in 1874 and joined the A. M. E. Church at McIntosh, Ga. He has held nearly every office in the church. He was superintendent of African mission work 1896-1900. He was licensed to preach in 1889 at Atlanta, Ga., by Rev. D. T. Green. He was ordained deacon in 1894 at Athens, Ga., by Bishop A. Grant, and ordained elder in 1896 at Cedartown, Ga., by Bishop Turner. He joined the annual conference in 1892 at Marietta, Ga., under Bishop Grant. He has held the following appointments: St. Peter's Mission, Atlanta,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. FLOYD GRANT SNELSON, F.R.G.S.
Ga., six years; St. Matthew's Mission, 1891-92; Warrenton, N. C., 1893; Cartersville, 1894-95; Bethel, Athens, Ga., 1896; Supt. of West African Missions, 1896-1900; Bethel, San Francisco, Cal., 1900-02; Topeka, Kan., 1903-04; P. E. Kansas City District, 1904-05; St. Paul, Cambridge, Mass., 1905-07; Supt. P. E. Bermuda Islands, 1907-08; Hamilton, Lockland, Bellaire, Flushing, Cleveland, Steubenville, Columbus and St. Mary's, Chicago, 1908-1915.
He built Bethel, Cartersville, Ga., at a cost of $900 in 1894; Mt. Zion, Freetown, Sierra Leone, at a cost of $5000, in 1897; Allen Chapel, Rotumba and Port Lokkoh, all of Sierra Leone, in 1898 and 1899. He lifted mortgages on Bethel, San Francisco, to the amount of $2500 in 1901; St. John, Topeka, Kan., to the amount of $8000 in 1904; Benton, Springfield, Mo., to the amount of $800 in 1905; St. Paul, Cambridge, Mass., to the amount of $9600 in 1906; St. Paul, Hamilton, Bermuda, to the amount of $2300 in 1907; Bethel, Bellaire, Ohio, to the amount of $600 in 1910.
He has taken 4030 people into the church, baptized 2500 and married 600. He has been delegate to the general conferences of 1896, 1900, 1904 and 1908. He was a member of the educational board of 1900-04. He was voted for for the bishopric in 1900.
His first wife was Mrs. Waterloo Bullock Snelson, of Atlanta, Ga. His second wife is Mrs. Blanche Ward Snelson, of Columbus, Ohio. He has four children living by the first wife, Floyd G. Snelson, Jr., age 24 years; La Ursa, age 22; Blydena Lovett, age 20, and Arnetta Snelson, age 9 years. Floyd is a graduate of the high school and La Ursa is a graduate of Wilberforce.
He has contributed to many church papers and has written many pamphlets. He has made noted addresses in this country and abroad. He is connected with the Knights of Pythias and has held offices in it. He owns his home.
Snelson, Mrs. Blanche Ward, daughter of William Shelton Ward and Mary Hodge Ward, grand-daughter of John Thomas and Katherine Moss Ward,
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. BLANCHE W. SNELSON.
and great granddaughter of Littleberry Moss and Elizabeth Moss, all of whom lived in Columbus, Ohio, for more than fifty years, comes of royal Virginia blood. The grandparents were farmers and stockraisers on their owned land in Truro Township. The grandparents were useful in "The Underground Railroad," assisting many slaves to freedom. The grandfather was, for fifty years, messenger for the City Council. The father of Mrs. Snelson, when a boy, was employed as a messenger in "The Underground Railroad" service, and during the Civil War conducted teams, hauling bread for the commissary, then stationed at Camp Chase; later on engaged in the transfer business until his death. Mrs. Snelson was born in Columbus, Ohio, June 18, 1879. She entered the public schools at an early age, and came out of the High School in the year 1894, well equipped for the position of bookkeeper, secretary and treasurer of the E. E. Ward Transfer and Storage Company, which does a $20,000. annual business, and which position she filled for about fourteen years. At the age of seven years Mrs. Snelson started in the Sunday school of the Mt. Vernon Avenue A. M. E. Church, and still possesses cups, vases, etc., she received for soliciting pennies for the Woman's Mite Missionary Society,
and in all the succeeding years she has ever been found busy in the interest of the A. M. E. Church in Sunday school work, missionary work and every other department of the church.
At twelve years she was elected secretary of Mt. Vernon Avenue Sunday school, and served faithfully nearly five years. She was junior superintendent of the same Sunday school for four years; taught in same Sunday school for about ten years, was delegate to the Sunday school Institute for seven consecutive years, vice-president of the Allen Christian Endeavor League for three years; she was junior stewardess in Mt. Vernon Ave. Church for several years. She was converted under Rev. C. S. Gee and baptized by him in 1893. In 1900, when the general conference met in Columbus, she represented Mt. Vernon Ave. Church in serving refreshments to the delegates and visitors. She was delegate to the Missionary Convention of 1914; delegate to the State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, 1914; was delegate to the Quadrennial Convention at Detroit, 1915; was a member of "The Married Ladies' League" of Columbus, Ohio, for more than eleven years, a member of the National Association for Advancement of Colored People for more than three years; a member of Civic Betterment Association, the City Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, vice-president of Pierian Coterie Literary Club, secretary of Ministers' Wives' Circle of Columbus, Ohio, and a member of Queen Etta Court of Calantha. She is a real estate owner, and bought her first piece of real estate when single and under 23 years of age. She now owns in her own right two valuable pieces of residence property.
Mrs. Snelson was married to Rev. James Timothy Byrd, December 31, 1905, and they lived happily together until his death about 3 years ago. On October 21, 1914, she was married to Rev. Dr. Floyd Grant Snelson, F.R.G.S., now pastor of St. Mary's A. M. E. Church, Chicago, Ill. Besides her husband, she has living with her in Chicago, her mother, Mary J. Ward. She also has three brothers in business in Columbus, Ohio. She has at various times read papers on the following subjects: "A Model Christian Endeavor," "What Our Men are Doing in Foreign Fields," "A Cluster Ring of Women," "Mother, Her Charms," "The Importance of Personal Work," "Gleanings from Mission Fields," "The Modern Esther," "Palm Tree Christians," "The Need of Temperance," "The Necessity of Education."
Snowden, Mrs. Leanna C., was born in Lexington, Ky. Six years of her childhood was spent in Cincinnati, O. She became a member of Quinn Chapel, A. M. E., of Lexington, Ky., when she was twelve years of age, later on transferring her membership to St. Paul A. M. E. Church, of Lexington, Ky., where for twenty years she has been an active and an energetic worker. Although a teacher in the public schools she was never too busy to respond to any request from her church. Her faithfulness to duty and earnestness in whatever she undertakes has won for her great esteem. She served as recording secretary of the local missionary society fourteen years, being elected conference branch president of the W. M. M. Society of Kentucky in 1912, and has succeeded herself up to the present time. She was elected a delegate to the Parent Mite Missionary Society, which convened in Detroit, October, 1916, where she responded pleasingly to the welcome address of Michigan. At present she is president of Allen C. E. League, a member of the stewardess board, choir and Sunday school and one of three in her church who hold a diploma of the Standard Teachers' Training Course of the International Sunday School Association. She is the wife of
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. LEANNA C. SNOWDEN.
John B. Snowden, U. S. mail carrier and fraternal man, to whom she was married in 1898. She has one daughter, Leland Weldon Snowden, who is a student at K. N. & I. I., at Frankfort, Kentucky. She is also interested in club work, being the first president of the City Federation of Women's Clubs in Lexington and at present first vice-president of State Clubs, and an influential worker in the women's department of the fraternal orders in Kentucky.
Spearman, Henry Kuhns, son of Edward Daniel and Josephine E. Spearman, was born in Newberry, S. C., Dec. 21, 1875. Both parents were slaves, but the father later became one of the pioneer A. M. E. preachers in South Carolina, where he labored 35 years, dying in 1908. The mother, a woman of strong personality, simple, direct, forceful, stood shoulder to shoulder with her husband and made thereby doubly strong the goodly heritage that was to come to Henry Kuhns Spearman as his birthright. The subject of this sketch attended the public schools of Sumter, Winnisboro and Newberry, S. C., and was graduated from the Hoge graded school of Newberry, S. C., in 1895. He taught one year in Newberry County, spent one year at the Colored State College of South Carolina, winning oratorical honors; one year at Biddle University, and in 1898 entered Lincoln University and was graduated with the class of 1901. He was awarded the mental science honor and oration, and the degree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred upon him. He entered Yale Divinity School, of Yale University, at New Haven, Conn., where he completed the full course of three years with credit to himself and to his race, and was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Divinity. After
delivering the annual address at the Literary Societies of Allen University in June, 1914, the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him. Rev. Spearman not only worked his way through school and secured his education without cost to his parents, but in the meantime became the support of his widowed
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. HENRY K. SPEARMAN, B.A., B.D., D.D.
mother. He was converted in 1895 and joined Miller Chapel A. M. E. Church at Newberry, S. C. He was licensed to preach in 1899 at Oxford, Pa., by Rev. J. H. Buckner. In June, 1901, he was admitted to the New England Conference and in June, 1903, was ordained elder by Bishop Derrick at Newport, Rhode
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. HENRY K. SPEARMAN
Island. His first appointment was People's A. M. E. Church, at Chelsea, Mass., where he served for two years acceptably. While here he joined the Knights of Pythias, Star of the East Lodge of Chelsea, Mass., and became Keeper of Records and Seals. He went next (1905) to Mailey St. A. M. E. Church at Lynn, Mass., and in four years increased the membership list from 17 to 60 and erected a handsome church edifice. Rev. Spearman was transferred to the New Jersey Conference, and entered upon his first appointment in June, 1909, at Macedonia A. M. E. Church, Camden, N. J. Signal success marked this six years' pastorate, the chief accomplishment of which was the payment of a $3000 mortgage indebtedness and the burning of the mortgage on April 23, 1914.
His present appointment at St. James A. M. E. Church, Newark, N. J., was received at the hands of Bishop Tyree in May, 1915. June 30, 1915, he was married to Elizabeth Frances Morris, of Philadelphia, Pa., a teacher in the public schools of Camden, N. J. He was elected an alternate delegate to the general conference of 1912 at Kansas City, Missouri, and a delegate to the Centennial General Conference of 1916 at Mother Bethel, Phila., Pa.
Stark, Rev. William H., was born May 11, 1842, at Medina, New York, and reared in St. Catherine, Ontario. He attended the common schools up to the opening of the Civil War, when he ran away and enlisted in the 3rd United States Infantry and served with honor until the close of the war. Then he followed cooking on lake steamers and dining cars for a number of years, making Buffalo, N. Y., his home. At a revival in Buffalo he was converted. Soon after his
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. WILLIAM H. STARK.
conversion the call was laid upon him to preach the Gospel. He went west and settled in Bedford, Iowa, and married Miss Laura B. Keen, his Christian companion and faithful worker from nineteen years of age. Brother Stark was admitted to the Chicago Conference in local relations as he was past the age limit. He has pastored two years in Centerville, where he built the foundation for a new church; 2 years in Boone and Marshalltown, Iowa, and straightened the title to the church property at Marshalltown, and at Newton, Iowa. Brother Stark is a forceful speaker, an ardent revivalist, a power as a temperance worker.
Stepteau, Rev. C. Harold, pastor of the Metropolitan A. M. E. Church, Washington, D. C., was born in Lynchburg, Va. He attended the public schools of
Wytheville, Va., went through the high school of the same city, and completed his education at Wilberforce University at Wilberforce, Ohio. He has traveled very extensively throughout the South, West, and Northern States and has visited Cuba in interest of his church. He began his public life as a school teacher and has taught in Virginia, Ohio, Texas and Louisiana. He was pastor of the Ebenezer A. M. E. Church
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. C. H. STEPTEAU.
at Baltimore, Md., for four years, afterward serving as presiding elder of Potomac district five years. Shortly after graduating from Wilberforce University, which was in 1892, he was unanimously elected president of Ward Academy, at Natchez, Miss., where he served for three years, and served as principal of the
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. E. L. STEPTEAU.
Algiers High School, at New Orleans, Louisiana, for two years, and while in this capacity he did very much for the colored people of that vicinity. He has served as a pastor and presiding elder in the Louisiana, Virginia and the Baltimore Conferences. He is now pastor of the Metropolitan A. M. E. Church, Washington, D. C. Since he has taken charge he has made wonderful improvement in the building and has added many to the church.
Steady, Rev. H. M., was born at the village of Waterloo in Sierra Leone, West Africa, June 21, 1859. He was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Steady, and grandson of the Rev. Henry Steady, the founder of St. Mark's Church, of the Countess of Huntingdon's Connection, Waterloo.
He received his primary education at the Countess of Huntingdon, Wesleyan and Church of England Schools, respectively, at Waterloo. In the latter he was appointed pupil-teacher to the Cathedral School in Freetown, by the Rt. Rev. Henry Cheetham, D.D., Bishop of Sierra Leone. In 1879 he was received in the C. M. S. Grammar School, Freetown, for his secondary education, and after two years and six months of diligent and successful career, he was elected and appointed among his comrades Head Master of Kent, Church of England School in January, 1882.
In 1885 he was invited by the Rev. S. Trotter Williams,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. H. M. STEADY.
superintendent of the Countess of Huntingdon, to take charge of St. Mark's School, Waterloo. Here under the influence of Mother Elizabeth Steady, he knew Christ as his personal Saviour, and became more devoted to the cause of Christianity, and after a year of successful service, he was promoted to serve as assistant to the superintendent.
In 1887 he married to Miss Hannah Adelicia Beatrice George, the sister of Rev. A. T. George (Wesleyan).
In 1889, in consequence of some misunderstanding on the Great Doctrine of Sanctification, he resigned his official relation with St. Mark's, Countess of Huntingdon.
In 1890 he accepted an invitation to take charge of "Zion" A. M. E. school in the metropolis of Sierra Leone, and there he joined the church and became a licensed local preacher under the Rev. J. R. Frederick, superintendent. In November, 1891, at the arrival of
Bishop Turner, he was recommended, examined and ordained deacon of the A. M. E. Church. In April, 1893, at the second visit of Bishop Turner, he was ordained an elder. In March, 1895, at the third visit of Bishop Turner, he was appointed pastor-in-charge of St. John's (Maroon) Methodist, and principal for the educational work in the Sierra Leone Conference. In 1896 he was appointed acting presiding elder of the Sierra Leone Conference, by the Rev. W. H. Heard, who was the general superintendent of Sierra Leone and Liberia Conferences. In February, 1897, he resigned his pastoral relation with St. John's, as they separated themselves from the A. M. E. Church. In March, 1897, he started open-air preaching, which was marvelously blessed by God, and after one year of devoted and successful labors with the help of Bishop Turner and Dr. Parks, the general secretary of missions, he built "New Zion" Church, at a cost of $3600. In 1899, at the arrival of Bishop Grant, who held a session of the conference, he was elected delegate to the general conference, sitting in Columbus, Ohio, in May, 1900. In 1903 he was appointed by Bishop Shaffer presiding elder of the Sierra Leone Conference. On June 16, 1910, the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on him by the faculty of Wilberforce University.
For twelve years he was the presiding elder of the Sierra Leone Conference, a position which he holds with credit to himself and his church. He has faithfully served and still serving the church under Bishops Turner, Moore, Grant, Shaffer, Derrick, Smith and Heard. He has been a delegate to every general conference since 1900, and is a delegate to the Centennial Session in Philadelphia, 1916. His son, Mr. Isaac E. Steady, is a student at Wilberforce, O.
Sterrett, Rev. Norman B., was born on his father's farm at Annapolis, in Baltimore County, Maryland, September 28th, 1841, the youngest son of Jesse and Rachel Ann Sterrett.
He was converted at a revival during the pastorate of the Rev. J. M. Brown, at Bethel Church, Baltimore, in 1858, and was licensed to preach in 1862.
He entered the Army as Sergeant-Major and served during the war.
He served as pastor in the Baltimore, Florida and Georgia Conferences. During his pastorate in the Baltimore Conference he built the church in "Quaker Bottom," known as Stephen's Chapel. While pastor at Gainesville, Florida, he purchased the lot on which the fine church now stands.
He was elected principal of the Gainesville Academy at a salary of one hundred dollars a month, which position he served so acceptably that the board offered to increase his salary if he would return. He also served as magistrate of Duval County, Fla.
In the year 1877 he was transferred to the South Carolina Conference and appointed to Beaufort. During his two years' pastorate he remodeled the church and entertained the annual conference.
He was appointed to Emanuel Church, Charleston, by Bishop John M. Brown, where he paid off the indebtedness, remodeled the church and bought another church for $15,000. He divided Emanuel's congregation and organized what is now known as Mount Zion Church.
After four years' pastorate at Emanuel he served one year at Mt. Zion, and paid off all the purchase debt except $8000. He served three years at Bethel Church, Georgetown, at which time he paid off a large debt under which the people had become greatly discouraged.
He served as presiding elder of the Georgetown
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. N. B. STERRETT, D.D.
District for four years, and raised the dollar money from five hundred dollars to fourteen hundred dollars. He served four years as presiding elder of the Charleston
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. N. B. STERRETT.
District and one year on the Beaufort District. He was then appointed the second time to Emanuel Church, which was overshadowed with an immense debt, that he managed with skilled ability. He put a steel ceiling in the church, installed two furnaces and fitted up temporarily the main audience room, moving the congregation from the basement to the same, and raised the dollar money from three hundred
dollars to seven hundred and fifty dollars. He again served five years as presiding elder of the Georgetown District and five years on the Edisto District.
He has just closed his third term at Emanuel Church, where he has again liquidated the debt and thoroughly renovated the church, purchased the lot next door and completed the steeple.
He has been a member of several general conferences and is now the oldest member of the South Carolina Conference.
Steward, Dr. S. Maria, wife of Rev. T. G. Steward, of Wilberforce, O., was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., the daughter of Sylvanus and Anna Smith. When Dr. Steward undertook the study of medicine it was a rare thing for a woman of any race. She studied in the New York Medical College and Hospital for Women, and was valedictorian of her class; took a
[ILLUSTRATION]
S. MARIA STEWARD, M.D.
post-graduate course in the Long Island College Hospital, the only woman student in her class. She maintained consulting offices in two different sections of New York City and catered to both white and colored. She was a member of the Kings County Homeopathic Society and of the New York State Medical Society. She is a proficient musician and served as organist of Bridge Street A. M. E. Church 28 years. Dr. Steward is now resident physician at Wilberforce University. She has traveled extensively both at home and abroad.
Stewart, Henry E., son of Henry and Louise Stewart, both members of A. M. E. Church, was born in 1867 at New Albany, Ind. Was one of ten children. Entered school at age of six and continued about nine years. Spent over two years at Seymour, Ind., Wilberforce University and Payne Seminary. Received degrees B.D. and D.D. from Wilberforce. Converted in 1881 and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. Has held nearly every office in the church. Licensed to preach in 1889 at Seymour, Ind., by Rev. A. A. Mason. Ordained deacon in 1891, at Indianapolis, Ind., by Bishop J. M. Brown. Ordained elder, 1893, at South Bend, Ind., by Bishop Turner. Joined Annual Conference at Marion, Ind., in 1890, under Bishop J. M. Brown.
Has pastored the following churches: Indianapolis Mission, 1890; Dublin Circuit, 1890-92; Pontiac, Michigan, 1892; Adrian, Michigan, 1893; Greencastle,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. HENRY ELIJAH STEWART.
1894; Mineie, 1895-96; Washington Court House, O., 1897-8-9; Columbus, Ohio, 1900; Allen Chapel, Terre Haute, 1901-03; Allen Chapel, Indianapolis, 1904-05; Institutional Church, Chicago, 1906 to 1909; Wayman
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. LIDA E. STEWART, B.S.
Chapel, Chicago, 1910 to 1913; Ebenezer, Evanston, 1914. Built churches at Pontiac, Mich., $400, in 1892; Muncie, Ind., $1200, in 1895; Allen Chapel, Terre Haute, $2,500, in 1901 and 1903.
Lifted mortgage on Allen Chapel, Terre Haute, to the amount of $500, in 1901. Has taken about 1,100 people into the church, baptized 400 and married 200. Delegate to General Conference in 1904. Member of
Educational Board and Church Extension, 1904-1908. Married Lida Stewart, of Canada, in 1893. They have five children. His son, Hilbert, is a graduate of High School and Chicago Musical College, from which he won a gold medal.
Made addresses at High School Commencement, Princeton, Ind., and Payne Seminary.
Wrote the muscial number, "Hold Thou My Hand." Member of K. of P. and Eastern Star. Member of Lincoln and Fred Douglass Law and Order League.
Stewart, Mrs. Lida E., wife of Rev. H. E. Stewart, was born in Amherstburg, Ontario. At the age of four her family moved to Michigan. After finishing high school at Adrian she went to Wilberforce University and completed the scientific course in 1892, where she made a splendid record. She organized the first Colored Y. W. C. A. in Ohio and the second in the United States. At the time of graduation she was president of the Y. W. C. A., president of the Philomathian Society, also secretary of the Sunday school.
In 1892 she went to Georgia and taught school in Columbus and Lumber City. She married Rev. H. E. Stewart in October, 1893. To this union have been four sons and one girl, the oldest son completing high school and Chicago Musical College. The second son completed high school and is now taking classical course in Northwestern University.
While her husband was pastor of the Institutional Church she had charge of the various departments of the church and was the head of the millinery class, graduating a large number of women, many of them now successful business women in Chicago and various parts of the country. She has been for a number of years closely identified with the women's clubs of the city, was one of the first in forming the Chicago City Federation of Women's Clubs, which is now an important factor in the city of Chicago. She is at the present time chairman of the executive committee of the City Federation, president of the Chicago Coupon Branch of the Women's Mite Missionary Society and the president of the Loyal Temperance League of Evanston, colored department; president of Girls' Club and a worker in various organizations for social and racial advancement.
Stewart, Rev. Nicholas Bernard, a native of Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana, South America, was converted July 4, 1875. His early training was given to him by the Protestant Episcopal Church school. Deciding to preach the Gospel, it was his privilege to study theology in the University at Edinburgh, Scotland, and from this venerable institution he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He was ordained at Chatham, Canada, by Bishop R. R. Disney in 1884, He returned to South America and organized the A. M. E. Church in Dutch Guiana; also established a church in British Guiana, planted the church in Porto Rico, in Trinidad, Toago and Barbadoes. He was presiding elder of the isles of San Salvador under Bishop Arnett. He operated in Hayti and St. Thomas. Returning to the United States again, he became connected with the New Jersey conference, was transferred to Florida, then to Mississippi. He served as pastor in Canada, Washington and New York City and was presiding elder in New York City and pastored in city of Chicago.
He was dean in Edward Waters College in Florida and also dean in Campbell College, Mississippi, and served as financial agent to Campbell College. His culture in ancient and modern languages is very wide. He reads without difficulty Greek, Latin and Hebrew and speaks fluently the Spanish and Hindustan tongues and can preach with ease in the vernacular of the "Bush Negroes" of Dutch Guiana. He is now trustee of Campbell and dean of the theological department.
Stewart, Mr. William Augustus, was born in New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana, March 4th, 1869, a son of Henry and Louisa Stewart, devout Christian people. When he was a child he was taken, by his father and mother, to reside at Martinsburg, Washington
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. WILLIAM AUGUSTUS STEWART.
County, Indiana. There being no colored church within twenty miles, the parents joined the United Brethren Church of that place, and kept their children under divine instruction. The family remained at Martinsburg until 1878, when they removed to Seymour, Jackson County, Indiana, where they united with the A. M. E. Church.
Mr. Stewart was converted in early life, and joined the A. M. E. Church, in which his entire Christian life and work have been placed.
He spent his boyhood much the same as other country lads of his day, pursuing studies during the winter and working on the farm during the summer. He later learned the barber trade and was successfully employed in that pursuit until appointed to his present position, by the Supreme Court of Indiana. He has the distinction of being the first colored man to have been employed by that court, and recommended to confidence by that honoroble body. He is a member and trustee of Bethel A. M. E. Church, Indianapolis, Ind.
He was elected a member of the general conference held in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1908, and again to the Centennial General Conference in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1916.
Rev. H. E. Stewart, D.D., of Evanston, Illinois, a ministerial delegate to the Centennial General Conference, is a brother of the subject of this sketch.
Stinson, George T., was born in Grenada County, Mississippi, son of Rev. S. B. and Sallie J, Stinson, and had his early training in the rural school of his native county. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1895; was licensed to preach in 1902 by Rev. S. R. Andrews; joined the North East Mississippi Conference in 1906 at Grenada, Miss.; ordained
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. GEORGE T. STINSON, B.D.
deacon in 1907 at Coldwater, Miss., by Bishop M. B. Salter, and appointed to the pastoral charge of the Okolona Station, where he served faithfully two years. Having a desire for a better education he matriculated in the Okolona Normal College, where he was a student for two years, as well as pastor. In 1907 he and Miss Nancy B. Wilson, of Grenada, Miss., were married, and after talking the matter over with his wife, he decided to go to Campbell College, where he graduated from the regular theological course in 1912, the degree of B.D. being conferred upon him; was ordained elder at Grenada, Miss., by Bishop Turner, and is now appointed to the pastoral charge of the West Point Station three years, where he is meeting with large success. He is a delegate to the Centennial General Conference at Philadelphia, May, 1916.
The Lord has blessed his home with four children: Dorothy J., Priscilla B., Urias B. and G. T. Stinson, Jr.
Stovall, Thomas Beauford, was born at West Point, Ky., August 15, 1865, the son of Beauford and Edna Wales Stovall. He was bound out at the age of six years to T. F. McClure, a white man, with whom he remained until he was fourteen years of age, learning at this time that he was to be McClure's servant until he was twenty-one years of age. So he decided to seek a place where he would be free. Accordingly he went to a distant relative, not over thirty miles from McClure's, who sought him diligently, but did not find him. He stayed well under cover until he was assisted by his relative to Jeffersonville, Indiana, arriving there in 1879, when he entered the public schools, having received up to this time but very little education.
He finished his common school education in Jeffersonville, removing from there to New Albany, Indiana, where he graduated from the old Scribner High School in May, 1889.
After finishing High School he taught a part of a year in the New Albany public school, being used as
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. T. B. STOVALL.
a substitute for the principal. After this he taught in Logan County, Kentucky, for three years.
Thomas B. Stovall was converted at the age of thirteen at Cecilia Junction, Kentucky, and joined the Baptist Church, remaining a Baptist until he had an opportunity of coming in contact with the African Zion Methodist Church in New Albany, Indiana, which he joined.
Coming to Chicago later, where there was no
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. T. B. STOVALL.
Zion A. M. E. Church at that time, he became a member of Bethel A. M. E. Church under Dr. R. C. Ransom. Becoming active in that great church, he soon felt impressed to enter the ministry and the pastor, Rev. R. C. Ransom, put him up for a trial sermon.
The result of his trial sermon was that young Thomas B. was granted a local license in May, 1899,
and ordained deacon by Bishop A. Grant on March 3, 1902, at St. Mary's A. M. E. Church.
Admitted on trial in 1902; full member in 1905. Ordained elder in 1904 at Galesburg, Ill. Has pastored successfully at the following charges: Redeemer's Mission, Chicago, two years; A. M. E. Church at Superior, Wis., one year; Wayman Chapel, Racine, Wis., one year; Bethel A. M. E. Church, at Beloit, and Delavan, Wis., two years; Shorter Chapel A. M. E. Church, Oskaloosa, Ia., one year; Washington and Fairfield Circuit, two years, building a new church at Fairfield costing $2,700, leaving it free of debt.
Appointed to Davenport, Iowa, charge in 1909. Here Rev. W. W. Williams had started a new $10,000 church. The church was up and under cover. Money had given out and two mechanics' liens had been placed on the church by the contractors, carpenter's lien for $2,200, and mason's lien for $1,100, making this indeed a difficult problem to handle. He held services in one half of the basement in three weeks after his appointment as pastor. The five years' stay in this charge has resulted in one of the finest A. M. E. Churches in the Middle West. He is now the successful pastor of St. Peter's, Minneapolis, Minn.
Storm, Jeddie L., the son of Raleigh H. and Mary Ann Storm. was born June 17, 1884, at Caldwell, Texas. He began to attend school at seven years of age and attended about eleven years, studying at Prairie View State Normal and Industrial School. He was converted
[ILLUSTRATION]
PROF. JEDDIE L. STORM.
in April, 1808, and joined the A. M. E. Church, though his father was a Baptist and his mother a member of the M. E. Church. He has served as steward, class leader, teacher, secretary, treasurer and superintendent of the Sunday school. He was married in 1909 and owns his home. His wife, Mrs. Elvira O. Storm, was born in Tanglewood, Texas; they have had two children, Blanche and Jewel L. (deceased). Prof. Storm was a delegate to the Centennial General Conference, is assistant secretary of the West Texas annual conference, and has been teaching for ten years, six of which as principal of the Lexington colored school.
Sturges, Littleton, was born in Washington County, Md., October 12, 1840. His parents took him to New York at the age of ten years where he first attended school in the old Union church on 15th street, between 6th and 7th. From New York he moved to Frogtown, now Marshallville, N. J. At the age of twenty-one or twenty-two he left home, went to Philadelphia; he then went to Liverpool, England, and followed the sea for about ten years, going to Aspinwall, Trinidad, St. Thomas, Greenland, and many other places. He was converted and joined the A. M.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. LITTLETON STURGES.
E. Church, Fenwick, N. J., under the pastorate of Rev. Peter Loper; received exhorter's license in 1875; entered the New Jersey conference at Trenton in 1877; was ordained deacon at Morristown, N. J., by Bishop J. M. Brown in 1882 and ordained elder under Bishop Turner. He held the following appointments, all in New Jersey: Bethel, Camden, and East Camden as a circuit; Orange, where he served three years, and attended Drew Theological Seminary; Asbury Park, where he served three years very acceptably; New Brunswick, where he attended Rutgers College; Woodbury, where he built a new church at North Woodbury; Atlantic City, where he served two years with marked success and entertained the annual conference; presiding elder of the Newark district, which he served for five years with great success; presiding elder of the Camden district for one year; pastor at Orange one year; Atlantic Highlands, five years; Morristown, where he served four years; Plainfield, serving two years, and Riverton, where he was taken with a fatal illness and fell asleep, going home to meet his God. Rev. L. Sturges was one of the best known men of the New Jersey conference and he did as much for the spread of African Methodism in the State of New Jersey as any man of his day.
Sturges, Samuel L., was born in Salem County, N. J., September 1, 1874, and was raised on a farm in that county, in which he attended the public schools. Upon reaching manhood he served as waiter and coachman at nearby seashore resorts. For two winters
he attended the Institute for Colored Youths in Philadelphia. In 1896 he entered Wilberforce University, graduating in 1901. He then entered upon ministerial work in the New Jersey annual conference. The first two years he spent at Heightstown; then three years at Haddonfield. From here he was sent to Cape May, where he married Miss Edith Murray, of St. Louis, Mo., daughter of Prof. P. H. Murray. He served two years here and entertained the New Jersey
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. S. L. STURGES.
annual conference. From here he was appointed to Salem, N. J., one of the leading charges, and served five years with marked success, receiving into the church 300 persons; also renovating and repairing the church. He was then sent to Princeton, where the church had been sold and the congregation scattered. He redeemed the church and brought the congregation together, receiving 80 persons into the church the first year, and re-establishing a mission at Rocky Hill, where a burying ground was bought and paid for. Rev. Sturges has received 456 converts into the church.
Sutton, Rev. J. M., was born of humble parents, Silas and Elmill Sutton, at Holly Grove, Monroe Co., Arkansas, 1865. He attended the public schools of his county. Later attended Southland College in Phillips Co., Ark. (Quaker institution). He took a private course in English theology under Dr. Frank Lawson, a Presbyterian. He taught public school in Monroe, Bradley, Dallas and Woodrough Counties, Arkansas. He served two years principal of Flipper Academy in Columbia Co. Dr. Sutton is a pulpit orator. He delivered the baccalaureate sermon at the Presbyterian Seminary, Monticello, in 1901, the annual sermon at Harrison Academy in 1902, the annual missionary sermon at Shorter College in 1907. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by the Turner Normal and Industrial Institute, Tenn., in 1906.
He was converted in 1883 at Holly Grove, Ark., joined the annual conference in 1890 at Holly Grove under Bishop Disney. He has had the following charges: Poplar Grove Circuit, 2 years; Old Town Circuit, 1 year; Marianna Station, 3 years; Warren Station, 3 years; Monticello Station, 5 years; Fordyce Station, 4 years; 15 years a station preacher; 3 years presiding elder of the Magnolia District West Arkansas Conference, and now serving the third year on the Augusta District as presiding elder. He served three years as chief secretary of the South Arkansas Conference and was delegate to three general conferences, viz.: Chicago, Ill., 1904; Norfolk, Va., 1908, and Kansas City, Mo., 1912, leading his delegation to
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. M. SUTTON.
the last named conference. As a musician he has acquired considerable proficiency in the art, and is an instructor both vocal and instrumental.
He owns a beautiful home at Holly Grove, besides owning some property in Pine Bluff and Marianna, Ark. Dr. Sutton has twice married. His first wife died in 1910. Each of his wives being a model woman, made home a model one. His second wife was a public school teacher. He is a Mason, Odd Fellow, Mosaic Templar and Grand Chief of the St. Joseph Aid of Texas.
As a debater he is forceful and logical, and is one of the most popular preachers of Arkansas. He was ordained a deacon by Bishop Tanner in 1891; an elder by Bishop Turner in 1893; appointed presiding elder by Bishop J. S. Flipper and Bishop Chappelle.
TALBERT, REV. HORACE, the son of William and Jane Ellen Talbert, his father a Baptist, and mother was a member of Zion A. M. E. Church. Was born in Louisville, Ky., in 1853. Began attending school in 1868 and received about ten years schooling.
Parents had seven children. He is a graduate of Wilberforce, receiving degrees of B.A., M.A. and D.D. from Wilberforce, Payne Seminary and Paul Quinn
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. HORACE TALBERT, D.D.
College. Took special courses in Hebrew, Greek and Philosophy at Boston University. Converted in 1864 and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. Has held nearly every office in the church. Licensed to preach at Wilberforce by Rev. R. G. Mortimer, at Wilberforce. Ordained deacon in 1877 at Midway, Ky., by Bishop A. W. Wayman. Ordained elder in 1879 at New Bedford, Mass., by Bishop D. A. Payne. Joined Annual Conference in 1875 at Springfield, Ohio, under Bishop Payne.
Has held the following appointments: Cambridge Port, Mass., 1877; Lynn, Mass., 1879; Bridgeport, Conn., 1880; Bordentown, N. J., 1883; Albany, N. Y., 1884; Elmira, N. Y., 1886; Jamaica, L. I., N. Y., 1889; Buffalo, N. Y., 1891; Walnut Hills, Ohio, 1896; Dayton, Ohio, 1897. Bought church and parsonage at Elmira, N. Y., in 1886 at a cost of $1,000; bought church at Westberry, L. I., N. Y., at a cost of $2,000 in 1889. Secured parsonage at Bordentown, N. J., in 1883 at the amount of $1,900.
He has received 833 people into the church, baptized 780 and married 670. Was delegate to General Conferences at Indianapolis and Norfolk, Va. Member of the Missionary Board in 1892. Made a professor at Wilberforce in 1892.
In 1879 he married Sarah Black, of Baltimore, Md. They had fourteen children. The following ones have graduated: Eugene, Henry, Wendell, William, Ruby and Elizabeth. All of these have good positions. Dr. Talbert is Editor and Manager of "The African Watchman." Has written the following pamphlets and books: "Life and Times of Moses," "Qualification Needed to Succeed in the Methodist Ministry," and "The Sons of Allen," "My Graduation Ode," a musical selection.
Talbert, Mr. Henry P., is one of ten sons born to Doctor and Mrs. Horace Talbert; was born in Albany, N. Y., March 13, 1884. He, with his parents, moved to Wilberforce University, Ohio, in the fall of 1892,
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. HENRY P. TALBERT.
where he received his training. He was connected with Wilberforce University from 1908 to 1916 as assistant secretary, and for a short time acting secretary of the institution. Mr. Talbert is director of the public schools of Wilberforce and a clerk of the election board of his precinct, and in 1910 was appointed one of the representatives of Holy Trinity church, Wilberforce, O., to the Laymen's Missionary Convention in Dayton, Ohio, and in May, 1915, was elected lay delegate to the Centennial General Conference from the Ohio conference. He is a steward in the A. M. E. Church at Wilberforce. Mr. Talbert was married to Miss Dora A. Russell, of Xenia, Ohio, in June, 1909. Four children have come to bless their home.
Tanner, Benjamin Tucker, eighteenth bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Pittsburgh, Pa.,
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP B. T. TANNER, D.D., LL.D.
December 25, 1835, the son of Hugh S. and Isabel H. Tanner; was educated at Avery College, Allegheny, and Western Theological Seminary; received the A.M.
degree from Avery in 1870; D.D. and LL.D. from Wilberforce; married Sarah E. Miller, August 19, 1858; was converted in Pittsburg in 1856 and joined the A. M. E. Church; was licensed to preach 1856 by Rev. J. A. Warren; admitted to conference and ordained deacon in 1860; also elder the same year; was editor of the Christian Recorder from 1868 to 1884; founder and editor A. M. E. Church Review, 1884-8; elected bishop in 1888; retired in 1908. Author: "The Origin of the Negro," "Is the Negro Cursed?" "Apology for African Methodism," "Outline of A. M. E. Church History," "The Dispensations in the History of the Church," "The Negro in Holy Writ," "Hints to Ministers, Especially of the A. M. E. Church," "The Color of Solomon--What?" He was a delegate to the third Ecumenical Conference of Methodism, September, 1901, in London, England, and read a paper before that body on "The Elements of Pulpit Effectiveness." He is the father of Henry O. Tanner, distinguished artist of Paris, France; Dr. Carl Tanner, of Georgia; Mrs. Bell Temple, one of the editors of the Women's Recorder, and Dr. Hallie Johnson (deceased), first Negro woman physician of Alabama, and three other daughters.
Taylor, George C., was born in Putnam Co., near Eatonton, Ga., July 12, 1862. His parents were George and Mary Anne Taylor. He was reared in Sparta, Ga., and worked on his father's farm. He received his first schooling in the public schools of that town. He entered
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. GEORGE CLAUDIUS TAYLOR, D.D.
the Payne College, of Augusta, Ga., in 1884, from which he graduated in 1888. Feeling the need of better preparation for his vocation he entered Gammon Theological Seminary in 1891, and graduated in 1893. Payne Theological Seminary conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity on him in 1903.
He was converted in Sparta, Ga., in 1879, and received into the church by Rev. Wm. Smalley. He has served in every office in the church from a Sunday School teacher to a Presiding Elder. He was licensed to exhort by Rev. Samuel Stinson, in 1881, and licensed to preach by Elder J. R. Jones, in 1883. Joined the traveling connection in 1886; ordained deacon in 1887, at Milledgeville, Ga., and ordained elder in 1889, at Atlanta, Ga.
He bought the church lot for the Methodist Church of East Athens, Ga.; paid the church out of debt in West Augusta, Ga.; remodeled the church at Elberton, Ga., at a cost of $1,200; bought the church lot on West Mitchell Street, Atlanta, Ga., and was transferred to Washington, D. C., and made Presiding Elder of the Washington District. Built the church at Oakland, Md., and renovated the church at Westernport, Md. Paid off a debt on the church at Hagerstown which had been standing for twenty-six years, and left enough money in the bank to pay off the second mortgage debt on the church.
Bishop Lee asked him to go to Newport News, Va., and save our church, which was to be sold in thirty days. He consented and saved the church, and bought a nice nine-room parsonage. He remodeled the parsonage at Oceana, Va., and comfortably furnished
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. G. C. TAYLOR.
it. At Roanoke, his present charge, he bought a nice lot and built a church at a cost of $1,745, and has paid more than half of it. The parsonage is being remodeled at a cost of $750 and forty clubs are at work preparing to pay for it when completed.
Since he has been in the ministry he has taken into the church 3,763 souls and has never been at the Annual Conference and reported a cent behind on our General Claims.
Today he is a trustee of Kittrell College, and a delegate elected to represent the Virginia Annual Conference at the Centennial General Conference to be held at Philadelphia, Pa., in 1916.
Married to Miss Siddie A. Morrison, of Augusta, Ga., 1889, who traveled with him and helped him to build up the Master's Kingdom for twenty-four years and eight months. Unto them were born ten children. She died at Oceana, Va., June 1, 1912, and was buried in Norfolk, Va., in Calvary Cemetery.
He then married Mrs. Nora Belle Satchell, of Kindall Grove, Va., principal of the Thernsville graded school, who is helping him to succeed in his present charge.
Taylor, Rev. Frederick D., was born of Christian parents in St. Louis, Mo., April 1, 1859. His parents were John and Katie Taylor. At the time of his birth his parents were members of the Missionary Baptist Church and trained their children up in that faith. He was converted in his youth. In 1879, at the age of twenty, he married Miss Rosa Williams, who was of the same age. One child, a girl, was born to this union, Katherine E. Taylor. His wife died in 1882, leaving him the care of the infant daughter, who
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. F. D. TAYLOR, D.D.
reached an honorable womanhood and died in her senior year at Wilberforce University, July 19, 1903.
In 1885, at the death of his parents, he joined the A. M. E. Church at Edwardsville, Ill., and in August, 1893, he joined the Illinois Conference under the late Bishop Wayman. His first appointment was Quincy Mission, Quincy, Ill. From there he went to Villa Ridge, Ill., where he married Mrs. Frances E. Todd, of Quincy, in 1894.
At Equality (his next charge), he built a frame church and paid for it. In 1896 Bishop Arnett transferred him to the Pittsburgh Conference under Bishop B. F. Lee. He was appointed to Charleston, W. Va., where he built a fine brick church at a cost of $7,500. In order that the church might be completed for the conference in 1897 he and his wife obligated themselves for and paid several hundred dollars, for which they took notes, but they were never paid. The transaction was unfortunate, as it resulted in domestic trouble later on. In 1898 he was transferred to the Ohio Conference by Bishop B. F. Lee, in order that he might send his daughter to Wilberforce University. Circleville was his first charge in that conference. From there he was sent to Sabina. While pastoring this charge he took a correspondence course in theology in the Iowa Christian College, from which he graduated with the degree of Master of Ancient Literature. He next pastored Ironton, from where he was sent to Mt. Vernon Ave. Church, Columbus, to fill out the unexpired term of Rev. J. S. Masterton. During this pastorate the old church was sold and lots purchased on 21st Street and Mt. Vernon Ave., and a beautiful brick building erected at the cost of more than twenty thousand dollars. From this point he was sent as a presiding elder to the West Virginia Conference. He was returned from this appointment by Bishop Derrick to the Ohio Conference, to succeed Rev. W. H. Thomas at Portsmouth. In 1910, while pastoring at Georgetown, he married Mrs. Anna Blanche Berry. In 1911 Bishop Derrick transferred him to the North Ohio Conference and appointed him to Kenton, where the old church being condemned by the authorities he sold, and built the first story of the
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. F. D. TAYLOR.
new church at a cost of fourteen hundred and fifty dollars. One thousand dollars were paid before he left. In 1913 he was sent to Van Wert and Wren by Bishop Shaffer. Here the old church was dilapidated to such a shape you could not remain inside when it rained. It has been remodeled at a cost of five hundred and thirty-five dollars. It was dedicated to C. T. Shaffer. In 1915 he was transferred to the Pittsburgh Annual Conference and stationed at Donora, Penna. In all of these churches the spiritual interest kept pace with the financial.
Taylor, Mrs. Nora Fields, the evangelist, was born of humble Christian parents in Carrollton, Carroll Co., Mo., January 22, 1870. At the age of six years was found to be an exceptional child. She was converted at the age of 12 years and began an active Christian life. She was greatly intimidated by older persons who doubted child conversion. However, she joined the church of her father and mother and was baptized March, 1881, and became a teacher in the Sabbath school. She also spent all of her spare time in the homes of the sick, the infirm and distressed, being a succor to many. The thought of her conversion being doubted, weighed heavily upon her, so at the age of 18 years she sought positive evidence of her acceptance with God and received it, and having then moved to Kansas City, Mo., she joined Ebenezer A. M. E. Church in 1888, Rev. B. W. Stewart, pastor. In March, 1889, while on her knees at the altar in a revival praying over mourners, the Holy Ghost was poured out on her and God gave a definite call to the work of an evangelist. She was too timid to begin at once, but spent 13 years in preparation, during which
time she served three years as stewardess in her home church. She came to Chicago in 1891 for a short stay and united with Quinn Chapel A. M. E. Church, Rev. J. T. Jenifer, pastor. In 1892 she moved to Chicago to live, bringing her letter from Ebenezer A. M. E. Church, Kansas City, Mo. She was received into full membership of Quinn Chapel by Dr. Geo. C. Booth, pastor, where she spent three years as stewardess, at the same time doing a great deal of prison and slum work. The Iowa Annual Conference, which met at Des Moines, Iowa, September, 1903, Bishop A. Grant,
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. NORA FIELDS TAYLOR.
of sainted memory presiding officially authorized her as singing missionary evangelist and from that time she has given her life to the call of God and the cause of humanity. She is now president of the Local Mite Missionary Society of Quinn Chapel, president of the Chicago District Missionary Society, which she organized, and treasurer of the Chicago Conference Branch Missionary Society, a position she has held for several years, and an active member of the Parent Mite Missionary Society, at whose conventions in Chicago and Detroit she took active part. She has held successful revival services in the North and East, and is always in demand. She is the author of several songs and small pamphlets, and is a woman of great force and unspotted reputation.
Thomas, Rev. Charles Henry, was born of slave parents, near Decatur, Morgan County, Alabama, August 3d, 1849. His name was originally Bolden Thompson, but he ran away from slavery at the age of thirteen years and changed his name. He came with the 34th Indiana to Indianapolis, Indiana, where the regiment was mustered out of service. He went to Greensburg, Decatur County, Indiana, where he lived in the family of Captain William Joshlin, who befriended him and helped him in his education.
He attended the First M. E. Sunday school, having learned the barber's trade; he went to Indianapolis, pursued his trade, studied in Bryant and Stratton's Business College at night; also in a school in Allen Chapel A. M. E. Church. He moved to Franklin, Ind., and there joined the A. M. E. Church, afterwards returning to Indianapolis to go into business. He was licensed to preach and joined the Indiana Conference at Ypsilanti, Mich., in 1879, under Bishop Shorter. He served the following charges: Spencer Circuit (Ind.), 2 years, built parsonage and repaired church, and added 11 members; Brownsville (Mich.) Circuit, 2 years; Richmond, Ind., 2 years, building parsonage, raising membership from 47 to 133; Grand Rapids, Mich., 2 years; Jackson, Mich., 1 year; Bethel, Chicago; St. Peter's, Minneapolis, Minn., 9 months; St. James, St. Paul, 3 months; Ottumwa, Iowa, 2 years; Washington, Iowa, 2 years; Monmouth, Ill., 3 months; presiding elder of Chicago district, 2 years, during which time churches were organized at Englewood (St. John), Hyde Park, and North Side, Chicago (Wayman),
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. CHARLES HENRY THOMAS.
St. Paul Mission and Bismark, N. D., Mission, La Grange and Hinsdale Missions reorganized; Galesburg, Ill., 1 year; Rock Island, 1 year; Batavia, 1 year; Litchfield and Taylorville Circuit (Ill.) 1 year; Quincy and Pittsfield Circuit; Belleville and Kohoky Circuit, 2 years; Clinton, Ia., 2 years; Cedar Rapids, Ia., Trinity Mission, Chicago, 1 year; Burlington, Ia., 3 years; Madison, Wis., 2 years, and is now evangelist of the Chicago Annual Conference.
He was a delegate to the convention of colored men in Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1884. He presented a plan for a temperance department to the Bishops' Council, at Columbus, Ohio; was nominated for legislature, was delegate to National Negro Educational Congress, and connected with the Wisconsin exhibit at the Half Century Lincoln Jubilee of Freedom at Chicago in 1915.
Thomas, John Edward, was born in "Thomas Town," Bishopville, South Carolina, August 19, 1875. His father, Mr. Ned Thomas, a soldier and farmer, and his mother, Mrs. Hettie Thomas, were practically unlearned, but endeavored to give their eleven children a good education. John Edward worked on the farm and attended the public school until of age. He entered Allen University, October 1, 1894, and graduated
from the Normal Course, and in Law in 1898, under the presidency of Rev. W. D. Chappelle. His father having died, he had to leave college and take charge of the farm. He also taught the "Thomas Town" school one year, and the St. Charles school one year; was principal of the Whitamore graded school, Conway, S. C., two years; principal of the Flegler High School, Marion, S. C., two years. He had been a probationer in St. John A. M. E. Church, Bishopville, from boyhood. After witnessing the new birth, he was called to the ministry and licensed to exhort and to preach by Rev. C. P. Nelson, pastor, and Rev. G. J. Hamilton, P. E. After teaching on the Waccamaw, Little River section, and preaching a
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. E. THOMAS, A.B., B.D.
while, he entered Turner Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Ga., 1905, worked at night, studied during the day, and graduated with B.D. degree in 1907. After pastoring Allen Mission he was ordained deacon at "Thomas Town" by Bishop Turner, and appointed pastor of Trinity Station, South Atlanta. Here the membership was doubled and the church remodeled. He was ordained elder by Bishop Turner, assisted by Bishop Smith. He finished the college course at Morris Brown College June, 1908. He married Miss Hattie Louise Ware, who graduated from Clark University, and was appointed by Bishop Smith as pastor of the Rock A. M. E. Church, Conyers, Ga., succeeded one year and transferred to the N. E. South Carolina Conference, Bishop Lee presiding, and sent to Hartsville Mission; from there to Camden Mission, where he served acceptably ten months. Then he was sent to Allen Temple A. M. E. Church, Greenville, S. C., October 26, 1910; remained there four years and five weeks, doubled the membership, improved the property, both church and parsonage, and left $750 for the new church, all mortgages having been burned during his stay. In 1914 he was appointed presiding elder of the Newberry District and in 1915 was re-appointed and elected a delegate to the Centennial General Conference from the Piedmont Conference. He has three children, Louise Eddie, Gladys Madora and Francis.
Thomas, Rev. Lawrence, was born at Mariana, Fla., about 1848 or 1849, but was reared in Atlanta, Ga. His education was obtained from some of the first missionary teachers that came to Georgia after the war of secession, among whom was Prof. Edmund A. Ware, founder and first president of Atlanta University. This training was afterwards supplemented by private instruction running through almost all the rest of his life. In younger manhood he taught school with marked success and at the same time was interested in business ventures. During his whole life as a man his word was unquestioned and his check good with business men wherever he was known.
Soon after the war he joined the A. M. E. Church, under the influence of Rev. J. A. Wood, in Atlanta, and was admitted to the Georgia Conference in 1869. From that time to the day of his death he was ever
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. LAWRENCE THOMAS.
faithful to every trust and pastored successfully some of the most important charges in our Southern work, among which were Mt. Zion, Jacksonville, Fla.; St. James, Columbus, Ga., and Big Bethel, Atlanta, Ga. The present site of that great church was purchased and a magnificent building erected during his pastorate. The building was afterwards remodeled on account of certain errors made by the firm of architects that furnished the plans.
He was always deeply interested in all questions involving the interest of his people or his church, and was associated with Bishop Gaines and others in the building of Morris Brown College from the beginning. He was a liberal giver while he lived, and bequeathed his library to that institution. He was alive to the material advancement of our people, and hundreds of persons in Georgia would gladly testify to the fact that they owe their first start upward to his advice and example.
He was a member of the general conference of 1880 at St. Louis; 1884, Baltimore; 1888, Indianapolis, and 1896, Wilmington, N. C.
Was married in 1869 to Miss Mary Green Tinsley, of Atlanta, and eleven children were born to them. He died at his home in Atlanta, Dec. 1, 1899, loved and honored by all who knew him.
Thomas, Rev. Wm. H., was born in Utica, New York, October 22, 1871, and is a son of the late Rev. Wm. H. Thomas, Sr., who for many years was one of the honored preachers of the New England Conference and who in 1902 was transferred to the pastorate of Mother Bethel, Philadelphia, Pa., where he died in 1903.
Rev. Wm. H. Thomas, Jr., was educated in the public and high schools of New England. In 1890 he entered the Lincoln University, the Alma Mater of his father, where he was graduated from both the college and theological departments. In 1895 he joined the New England Conference and was ordained deacon under the missionary rule and sent to Jamestown, R. I., where he organized the A. M. E. Church and bought the property which we hold there today. In 1897 he
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. WILLIAM H. THOMAS, JR., D.D.
was sent to Chelsea, Mass., a suburb of Boston, where he labored for three years, during which time he took the post-graduate course at Boston University, School of Theology. He received the Master's degree from his Alma Mater in 1897, and the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1913.
His successive pastorates have been New Bedford, Mass.; Providence, R. I.; Newport, R. I., where during a five year pastorate he burnt the mortgage which had been standing for thirty-three years; his next pastorate was at the old historic Charles Street Church, Boston, Mass. His work here attracted such attention that when the pulpit of Allen Chapel, Kansas City, Mo., the seat of the general conference of 1912, became vacant, he was invited by Bishop H. B. Parks to become its pastor, which pastorate he assumed in October, 1913. His work at Kansas City has been steadily successful; over five hundred members have been added to the Church in less than two years.
In 1901 he was married to Miss Margaret Emily Webster, of New Bedford, Mass., who has been a helpmate in every way. Three children--two boys and a girl--adorn their happy home.
Rev. Thomas is not long in a city before he identifies himself with all matters of public interest. He seeks to come in touch with the larger relationships of life. He is a man of broad sympathies and is genuinely fraternal. He never shirks. He is always at his post, and can be counted on. He was a delegate to the general conference of 1912 from New England Conference, and is a member of the Centennial General Conference of 1916. He was an officially appointed delegate from the A. M. E. Church at the Second Quadrennial Council of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America, which convened in Chicago, December 4-9, 1912.
Thompson, Blanche Victoria, daughter of James and Elizabeth Thompson; was born in Goldsboro, N. C. She was one of 10 children. Her father died when she was quite young, and her mother moved to Philadelphia. She entered school when six years of age, receiving her education in the Philadelphia public schools. She graduated from the High and Normal School of Philadelphia, completing a six year course
[ILLUSTRATION]
MISS BLANCHE V. THOMPSON.
in four years. She has been teaching in the Philadelphia public schools since 1908. Besides carrying on her school work she is matriculated in Temple University, taking a course for A.B. degree. She was converted in 1898, and is a member of Mt. Pisgah A. M. E. Church. She has been a Sunday school teacher, superintendent of primary department and is district superintendent of the West Philadelphia district Sunday schools.
Thompson, Charles Wesley, was born in Caroline County, Md., in 1870, one of the thirteen children of J. M. and Mary Thompson, who were both members of the M. E. Church. Charles began school at the age of 15, attending 10 years in all. He started at Princess Ann Academy, Md., the Delaware State College and the Extension University, St. Louis, Mo. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1882. He has held all the offices in the local church. He was licensed to preach in 1892 in Maryland by Rev. A. R. Shorley; was ordained deacon in 1896, in Philadelphia, by Bishop Grant, and Elder in 1902 in Indiana by Bishop Grant. In 1897 he joined the
Annual Conference in Philadelphia, Bishop Grant presiding. He has held the following appointments: West Dover, Del., three years; Coatesville, three years; Wayman, Indianapolis, three years; Joliet, Ill., three years; Carbondale, Ill., three years; Alton, Ill., three years; Louisville, Ky., St. James, three years, and is now presiding elder of the Louisville District. He built St. Paul A. M. E. Church, at West Dover, Del., at a cost of $500, in 1898; Brown's Chapel, Joliet, Ill., at a cost of $800, in 1901; Bethel A. M. E. Church, Carbondale, Ill., at a cost of $1,000, in 1904; Campbell Chapel, Alton, Ill., at a cost of $2,000, in 1907, and St. James, Louisville, Ky., at a cost of $500, in 1911. He lifted a mortgage of $1,700 on Wayman Chapel, Indianapolis; a mortgage of $340 on the Church at Coatesville, and a $500 mortgage on St. James, Louisville. He has taken into the church 300 people and baptized 175. His wife, Mrs. Estella Thompson, of Sparta, Ill., he married in 1906, and they have one son. Rev. Thompson has the degree of D.D., and has twice been elected a member of the World's Christian Endeavor Convention. He has contributed to the Christian Recorder, Voice of Missions, and was editor of the Kentucky Reporter. He is a member of the U. B. F. and K. of P., in which organization he has served as chaplain. He was a notary public for four years in Illinois. He served as corresponding secretary of the Home Finding Society, of Louisville. Politically he is a Republican, and he owns a home.
Thompson, Rev. J. O. S., of Lower Buchanan, Liberia, Africa, was born a slave, in Jackson, La., July 27, 1860. His father entered the Civil War, and was a member of Company D, Eighty-fourth Colored United States Troops, and his mother, thinking that her husband had been killed, moved to Arkansas in 1865, and there was married again, to William Reed, January 23, 1879. His mother died March 14, 1879, leaving four small children, two boys and two girls, who were cared for until 1882 by their step-father. In 1882 Rev. Thompson entered Natchez Seminary, working his way through school by milking cows, sawing wood, washing, etc. Began teaching school in 1884, and aided his younger brothers and sisters in their education. Married Miss Martha Moore in 1885. Married again in 1888 to Mrs. T. J. Gelippie, of Pine Bluff, Ark., who still labors with him. He was converted March 11, 1891. In 1895 he felt called to the ministry, but sought not to obey the call, which, however, was so insistent, that in 1908 he felt impressed to enter the foreign mission field, and that year went with Bishop Heard to Liberia, where he has had a successful eight years stay. He is presiding elder of the Lower Buchanan District in Liberia Annual Conference, which has a membership of 278 and six appointments. Rev. Thompson and his wife have sacrificed much for the good of the work to which God seems to have called them.
Thompson, Rev. William, was born in Marion County, Fla., 1872; converted in 1889, at Palatka, under Rev. S. P. Patties. He has built four churches and pastored Loveview Mission, Nesbit, Silver Hill, Fettnal Point and North Palatka, in the Central Florida Conference.
Thornton, Rev. Montrose William, was born at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, February 3, 1873. His early life was spent in the public schools of his native town until his twelfth year. His parents moving to Des Moines, Iowa, he entered the High School, completed the course with honor, ranking with the youngest graduates of this school. He took a business course at the Capital City Commercial College, expecting to enter business. At this time he was impressed with the work of the Christian ministry. Being a Christian and a member of the African M. E. Church since eight years old, an officer and superintendent at the time in the St. Paul Church and Sunday school, he entered Drake University as a divinity student, becoming its first Negro graduate, June 15, 1892, receiving the bachelor's degree. He went South and served a year in the Freedmen's Bureau. Having been ordained elder upon graduation, one of the theological conditions of Drake, he joined the West Tennessee Conference, at Memphis, Tenn., November 13, 1892. He was ordained a deacon by Bishop John M. Brown, and appointed to Etna and Allen Creek, Tenn. Transferred to the Iowa Conference, September 12, 1893, assigned
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. MONTROSE WILLIAM THORNTON, D.D.
to Iowa City, Iowa, thence Davenport and Washington. Transferred to the Illinois Conference and assigned to Carmi Circuit. Re-obligated as an elder at Peoria, Ill., presided over by Bishop B. W. Arnett, transferred to the Michigan Conference and assigned at Lansing, August 13, 1896. Married Miss Olive E. Black, of Wabash, Ind., September 1, 1897, from which union their were born four children. Appointed pastor at Logansport, Ind. Transferred to the Central Mississippi Conference January 23, 1898, to take charge of the educational work of the Eighth Episcopal District; appointed educational commissioner and president of Campbell College under Bishop W. B. Derrick. It was here the subject of our sketch began to demonstrate his great abilities as an organizer and a man of affairs, and came into connectional prominence. Five acres of land were purchased, the first college building erected, at a cost of $3000, fully equipped, and an enrollment of one hundred and fifty students recorded; under his management Campbell
prospered. Elected delegate to the general conference at Columbus, Ohio, he was transferred to the Philadelphia Conference, and was assigned to Bryn Mawr, Pa., June 11, 1900, and educational commissioner of the First Episcopal District; June 3, 1901, appointed presiding elder of the Harrisburg District; October 16, 1902, appointed pastor of Bethel, Wilmington, Del., the second largest church in the conference, where he served for five years, breaking any previous record of time, made numerous improvements, established the fund for relieving the mortgage on the parsonage; became most prominent in the fight against the mobs that burned George White, stirring the country with his burning words of denunciation which held the attention of the press of the country for several days. Was a delegate to the general conference at Chicago, in 1904; was elected leader of his conference as delegate to the general conference at Norfolk, in 1908, and appointed pastor of Mother Bethel, Philadelphia, May 15, 1907, serving this historic church for five years, breaking the record of time in successive appointments. Here he reduced the bonded indebtedness from $24,000 to $16,000, burned one of the mortgages, completed the tomb of the sainted Bishop Allen and other endeavors that made his pastorate one of the most brilliant in the history of Bethel. Was appointed presiding elder of the Philadelphia District, the mother district of the connection at Chester, Pa., June, 1912, where he served with distinction, being called to the Charles Street Church, Boston, to assume the pastorate in the vacancy made by the transfer of Rev. W. H. Thomas; here, as elsewhere, Dr. Thornton is doing a great work. One mortgage paid and electric lights installed after forty years at present site. Dr. Thornton is the recipient of the doctor's degrees from three colleges, Campbell College, Jackson, Miss.; Paul Quinn College and Wilberforce University, and the philosophy degree from the Philadelphia Bible College. He is the author of several books, under nom de plume titles; he has edited a magazine, several weekly papers, and a contributor to racial and church literature. He is vice-president of the National Equal Rights League; has presided and addressed large audiences at Faneuil Hall, Boston; Tremont Temple and other historic forums. He is the leader of the delegation from the New England Annual Conference to the Centennial General Conference of 1916.
Tillman, Dr. George M., is a native of Pennsylvania, having been born and reared on a farm in York County, forty miles from Baltimore. Born of pious parents, the subject of this sketch was converted at seventeen, and soon after entered Wilberforce University, where by dint of much hard work and sacrifice he was able to stay four years, part of which time he lived in the home of Bishop Shorter, who proved a strong friend to the young lad.
While at Wilberforce the young student was licensed to preach, and was sent by Bishop Payne to supply both Cedarville and Selina, Ohio. The next decisive step of his life was the entering of the active ministry in 1890, at Galesburg, Ill., under Bishop Brown, as a member of the Iowa, now the Chicago Conference.
He has served successively: Yankton, S. D.; Osceola, Newton, Davenport, Keokuk and Clinton, in Iowa, and five years at St. John's A. M. E. Church, Chicago, where he paid off the mortgage, improved the property and more than trebled the membership. From Chicago he was sent by Bishop Grant to Payne Chapel, Colorado Springs; here he paid the church debt and purchased a handsome six-room parsonage,
[ILLUSTRATION]
DR. G. M. TILLMAN.
with bath, electricity, gas and a handsome lawn, at a cost of $2500. From this point he went to Oakland, Cal., to the pastorate of the First A. M. E. Church. A splendid revival was held here, over a hundred dollars raised each Easter for missions and the debt reduced. From Oakland the doctor went to Pasadena, in Southern
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MRS. KATHERINE D. TILLMAN, A.M.
California, where he built a beautiful $10,000 concrete church in mission style; bought and remodeled a five-room modern parsonage; held successful revivals each year, and increased all conference claims. After a three years' stay at Pasadena, Dr. Tillman
was brought by Bishop Parks to the North Missouri Conference, and appointed presiding elder of St. Joseph District. After a most successful year's labor with the splendid ministers of this district he was assigned to the historic church at Hannibal, where he remained two years, reducing the mortgage and paying off many floating debts, with Dr. R. L. Beal as presiding elder. At the last session of the North Missouri Conference, Dr. Tillman was assigned to St. Paul's A. M. E. Church, at the head of the Columbia District, with Rev. P. C. Crews as presiding elder. A robed choir, garbed stewardess board, Junior League choir, and five hundred dollars raised are the improvements made in the two months of his stay in his new field. Dr. Tillman is an earnest, aggressive pastor, and has a wife, Mrs. Katherine D. Tillman, who takes a deep interest in his work and plans. She is a great lover of the missionary work and was elected president of the conference branch at their last session in St. Joseph.
Since leaving school Dr. Tillman has studied at Moody Institute, Chicago; Bible School of the University of Berkeley, Cal., and with private teachers. His sermons are marked by deep spirituality, and have resulted in the transformation of many lives. His conference has honored him with the position of trustee of Western University, and elected him first alternate to the general conference. Campbell College gave him the degree of D.D. in 1914.
Tillman, Mrs. Katherine D., is a product of Illinois, and was educated in the public schools of Louisville, Ky., at the State University, the public schools of Yankton, S. D., and was for awhile a student at Wilberforce. Mrs. Tillman has a strong literary tendency and has been a constant contributor to church and secular periodicals. She has published in book form "How to Live Well on a Small Salary," "The Afro-American Queen," "Thirty Years of Freedom." Of her recitations and dramas, "Fifty Years of Freedom" is well-known and over a thousand copies of her poem, "Bring Me the Flowers Now," have been sold, and there is a constant demand for her poems and plays for entertainments. Mrs. Tillman has a book of new plays and poems almost ready for the press now.
She is an enthusiastic worker in the W. M. M. S., serving as secretary of the Iowa branch twelve years. She is now president of the North Missouri Conference Branch. She is also president of the Junior League of St. Paul's Church, Columbia, Mrs. Tillman has also taken a deep interest in the work of the federated clubs, and is honorary president of the City Federation of Colorado Springs, honorary president of the California State Federation, and is serving her sixth year as an officer of the National Association of Colored Women, being elected chairman of ways and means, and afterwards appointed by Mrs. Booker T. Washington as superintendent of public posters and prints. She is the wife of Dr. G. M. Tillman, pastor of St. Paul's A. M. E. Church, Columbia, Mo.
Tisdale, James, was born at Taft, S. C., April 12, 1883, converted August 21, 1906, and became a member of St. Mary A. M. E. Church, Taft, S. C. He is an ardent church and Sunday school worker. His life has not been one round of success. He has regarded failures as stepping stones to success. His parents were great church workers.
Townsend, Rev. James Matthew, was born in Gallipolis, Ohio, August 18, 1841, the only son of his parents, who gave him the most careful religious and moral instruction. At the age of twelve, after moving to Oxford, Ohio, he professed religion and united with the A. M. E. Church. He had a common school education, to which he added much by habits of reading and thought. He became an exhorter at sixteen and a local preacher two years later. At the beginning of the war he enlisted in the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteers, and served till the close of the war. During a two years' stay at Oberlin College, at the close of the war, he lost his father, and upon him was left the care of the family. He secured a commission from the American Missionary Board, and later was made principal of the colored schools of Evansville, Ind.
In 1871 Bishop Wayman ordained him deacon, and the same year he married. The next year he took a charge in Richmond, Ind. Two years later he was ordained elder and sent to Terre Haute. He was a delegate in 1876 to the general conference and served as secretary to the same. The same year he was sent to Indianapolis, and while here was elected corresponding secretary of the Parent Home and Foreign Missionary Society. He was one of the commissioners on "Organic Union" and a delegate to the Ecumenical Conference, which met in London, in 1881. A unique accomplishment of his was the securing of an iron church for Hayti. In 1884 he was elected to the Legislature of his State.
Townsend, V. M., is a native of Arkadelphia, Ark., was converted at the age of thirteen years and joined the A. M. E. Church. Though a child and converted in a big Baptist revival with many others who went to the Baptist Church, he was the one in the whole crowd that could not be moved from his faith in the African Methodist Church. He worked at the carpenter's
trade until grown, then he entered the ministry of the West Arkansas Conference of the A. M. E. Church, receiving his first appointment to a mission charge from the hands of Bishop Derrick. He labored and studied, and his rapid progress soon turned the eyes of the whole state upon him. Though having been admitted into the conference three years previous, he attended the general conference at Columbus,
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REV. V. M. TOWNSEND, D.D.
Ohio, in 1900, and again at Chicago in 1904 at his own expense. Because of young Townsend's push and efforts to prepare himself the brethren of his conference honored him as a delegate to the general conference at Norfolk in 1908, and Kansas City in 1912. He was the honored chairman of the state delegation in the general conference at Kansas City. He served as a member of the Financial Board from 1912 to 1916, also represented the A. M. E. Church on the Commission of Federation of Negro Methodists, which met in Cincinnati, Ohio, June 30, 1915, and was secretary of the A. M. E. Commission.
Townsley, Rev. Luther Alexander, was born in Talbottom, Talbot County, Ga., September 15, 1865. He is a self-made man. His mother died when he was nine months old and his father when he was three.
He is the baby child of Reuben and Frances Townsley. After the death of his father he was given away to Mr. Anderson Stroud, of Strouds, Ga. This gentleman was kind to him, but he being a blacksmith was away from the farm life, and thus the life of little Luther was made very unhappy and miserable by those on the farm where he was reared. He entered public school at Strouds, Ga., in 1872, and attended consecutively till 1877. In 1878 he attended the public school at Russelville, Pine Grove Academy, and 1879-80-81, Strouds Academy, Strouds, Ga.; in 1882, Antioch Academy, where he prepared himself to enter college. Circumstances then prevented him, but he took hold of bookkeeping, and so well did he carry on this work, Mr. Anderson Stroud rewarded him with a gift of money, and from that moment he pushed forward with a zeal and determination to become a man. He organized the Cross Roads Debating Society, and became locally famous as a debater. He married Miss Sarah A. Rooks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rooks, of Yatesville, Ga. In 1883 he took charge of the dairy of Mr. William Parker (white) at Barnesville, Ga., and held this position until he moved to Atlanta, Ga., in 1884, where he was employed as one of the first Negro telegraph messengers in that city. Here, under private tutors, he studied philosophy, Latin and higher mathematics. He returned to farm life in 1887 to 1889. He was converted at Sugar Hill Church, in Monroe County, Ga., September 6, 1888. He has served his church in every capacity, served as janitor of the public schools of Griffin, Ga., two years, taking private lessons from Prof. Bothwell Graham,
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REV. LUTHER ALEXANDER TOWNSLEY.
superintendent of the public schools. He took the public school examination, made the highest mark, and was appointed teacher in the public schools of Griffin, Ga., which place he held from 1893 to 1895, when he moved to Senoia, Ga., his second pastorate. While in Griffin, Ga., he studied Greek under Dr. E. W. Lee.
Dr. Townsley joined the conference at Monticello, Ga., November, 1891, under Rt. Rev. W. J. Gaines, was ordained deacon in 1893, at Marietta, Ga., and elder in 1895, by Rt. Rev. Abraham Grant, at Atlanta, Ga.
He studied Hebrew in 1900-4-5. He began at a mission near Griffin, Ga., and had success at Double Cabin, Bethlehem A. M. E. Church. At Senioa, Ga., he doubled the work, adding hundreds to the church in three years. At Thomaston, Ga., he was a most successful pastor. He was an acceptable pastor at (Shiloh) Little Bethel, Atlanta, Ga.; at Convington, Ga., for three years, paying off all debts, and built a new church after the old one was destroyed by fire, and paid for it, leaving only $600 due on the parsonage and church furniture. Over three hundred members were added to the church. He pastored two years at St. Paul, Atlanta, and was made presiding elder of the Griffin district. He added over 250 members to the church, and had the esteem and confidence of both races. He was removed next to the Atlanta District,
and he was as a magnet to the ministers and people of this district. He was assigned to St. Philip Monumental A. M. E. Church, in December, 1908, by Bishop C. S. Smith.
While pastoring at Savannah he added 1128 members to the old Monumental Church, raised $27,855, and paid every debt, and a mortgage of more than twenty years' standing. He has added to the church 4475 members. After serving five years the people asked for his return to Monumental Church, but he was appointed to Steward, Macon, Ga. After he had spent two successful years here he was made presiding elder of the South Atlanta District. He was the first chief secretary of the Atlanta (Georgia) Conference after it was set apart in 1900, and he held this position for nine years, when he was transferred to the Georgia Conference. He is thirfty, and owns a beautiful home, 421 West Mitchell street, Atlanta, Ga. He owns more than fifteen thousand ($15,000) dollars worth of real estate in Savannah, Ga., and fine renting property in Edgewood, Atlanta. He received the degree of D.D. from Morris Brown University. He is treasurer of Central Park Normal and Industrial Institute, at Savannah, a permanent trustee of Morris Brown University, and a member of the General Conference Commission of 1916.
He has been elected four times as delegate to the general conference, and is now the chairman of the delegation from Georgia. He is a thirty-third degree Mason, Knight Templar, Royal Illustrious Imperial Potentate of the Mystic Shrine, R. W. Grand Chaplain of the M. W. Union Grand Lodge of Georgia, Past Chancellor Commander and U. R. K. of P.; member Grand Council G. U. O. of O. F., P. M. W. Governor H. H. of Ruth and Worthy Deputy Grand Master P. B. and S. of Light. Dr. Townsley is one of the leading ministers of the A. M. E. connection, and eminently qualified to fill any place in the Church.
Traverse, Rev. Matthew William, son of John W. and Anna M. Traverse, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Baltimore, Md. His parents had seven children. His father became a member of the A. M. E. Church and was such for thirty-five years. He began attending school in 1860, and spent about ten years in all in school, principally in the public schools of Baltimore and Douglas Institute. He received his degree, D.D., from Livingston College, in 1900. He has specialized in mathematics and languages. He was converted in October, 1868, and joined the M. E. Church the same year. He was licensed to preach March 26, 1876, by Rev. John Brice. He was ordained deacon 1871, at Rome, Ga., by Bishop Isaac Wiley, of the M. E. Church, and ordained elder by Bishop Matthew Simpson, in 1881, at Brunswick, Ga. In 1883 he joined the annual conference of the A. M. E. Church, at Macon, Ga., under Bishop Dickerson. He has held the following appointments in the A. M. E. Church: Sandersville, Ga., 1883; Smithville, Ga., 1884; Leary Circuit, 1885; Long Green, Md., 1886-7; East Baltimore, Md., 1888; Allen's Chapel, Washington, D. C., 1889-90; Metropolitan, Cumberland, Md., 1891-3; Ebenezer, Hagerstown, Md., 1894-5; presiding elder Louisville District, Ky., 1896-8; pastor Avery, Memphis, Tenn., 1898; St. Paul's, Atlanta, Ga., 1899; St. Paul, Columbia, Tenn., 1899; Payne's Memorial, Baltimore, 1900-2; Mt. Moriah, Annapolis, Md., 1903-5; St. Paul, Washington, D. C., 1906; Vine Street, Buffalo, N. Y., 1907; Coxsackie, N. Y., 1908; St. Mark's, Kingston, N. Y., 1908-10; Catskills, N. Y., 1911; Lockport, N. Y., 1912; Thomaston, Md., 1913; Elkridge, Md., 1913. He built the Metropolitan Church at Cumberland, Md., in 1892, at a cost of $10,000. He has taken about 2000 people into the Church, baptized about 500 and married about 100 couples. He was a delegate to general conference in 1888. He is a trustee of Wilberforce. January 10, 1878, he married Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Traverse, of Baltimore, Md. Their children are William, Florence, Lewis, Anna, Pearl, Elzenah, Maurice, Leonard, and Mary. The
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. M. W. TRAVERSE.
ones that have graduated are Florence, Lewis, Mary and Leonard. Miss Florence Traverse is a teacher; Miss Mary has the special gift of song. One of Rev. Traverse's sons married a granddaughter of Bishop Quinn. He has contributed to the A. M. E. Review and other church papers. He made an address on Decoration Day at Coxsackie, N. Y., and at Annapolis, Md. He is a member of the F. and A. M., Knight Templar, G. U. O. of O. F., K. of P. He is a member of the Republican party and a delegate to the State Convention at Baltimore, Md., 1894. He owns property in Washington, Baltimore, New York and Catonsville. He has been associated with the Civic League of New York and the Associated Charities, of Cumberland, Md.
Turner, Henry McNeal, was born at Newberry C. H., S. C., February 1, 1831, son of Hardy and Sarah Turner, learned to read and write by his own perseverance; was employed, when 15 years of age, in law office at Abbeville, where lawyers assisted him with his studies. He joined the M. E. Church South in 1848; was licensed to preach 1853 by Dr. Boyd, of the M. E. Church South; transferred his membership to the A. M. E. Church in 1858; studied Latin, Greek, Hebrew and theology at Trinity College; was ordained deacon in 1860, and ordained elder in 1862; received the degree of D.D. from Wilberforce in 1873; was
married four times: Eliza Ann Peacher, of Columbia, S. C., August 31, 1856; second, Mrs. Martha DeWitt, of Bristol, Pa., August, 1893; third, Harriet A., widow of late Bishop Wayman, of Baltimore, August 16, 1900; fourth, Laura Pearle Lemon, of Atlanta, Ga., December 3, 1907. Was pastor of Israel A. M. E. Church, Washington, D. C., in 1863; commissioned chaplain U. S. Colored Troops by President Lincoln, being the first colored chaplain ever commissioned in the U. S. Army; mustered out September, 1865; commissioned
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP H. M. TURNER.
by President Johnson as chaplain in the regular army; detailed as officer of Freedmen's Bureau in Georgia; after serving a while resigned to resume his ministry; organized churches in Georgia and schools for colored children; was elected member of Constitutional Convention of Georgia in 1867; member of Georgia Legislature in 1868 and 1870; appointed postmaster of Macon, Ga., later inspector of customs and U. S. secret detective, at the same time attending to his ministerial duties. Elected manager of the Book Concern of the A. M. E. Church in 1876; elected bishop, 1880; for years was one of principal agitators of the return of his race to Africa; visited West Africa and South Africa, and organized four annual conferences in Africa; served as bishop of Georgia 12 years, making Georgia the leading state for African Methodism; was fluent speaker, man of great personal force and much versatility; founded the Southern Christian Recorder, the Voice of Missions, Woman's Christian Recorder; author of the "Methodist Polity," compiler of Hymn Book of A. M. E. Church; also Turner's Catechism, various sermons and lectures. He died in Winsor, Canada, May 8, 1915, and was buried in Atlanta, Ga. His widow, Mrs. Laura P. L. Turner, died October, 1915.
Rev. J. H. Turner, of Chattanooga, Tenn., the son of Lucinda Turner (Allen), a member of the A. M. E. Church, was born in 1848, on the plantation of Strother S. Jones, near Newton, now Stephen City, in Frederick Co., Va. His mother, who had seven children, was sold as a slave when he was a year old
Entered school in 1863 and attended about thirteen years in all. Spent over two years in the county public schools in New York and Maine, public schools of Washington, D. C., Lincoln Night School, of Washington, D. C., Schofield's Commercial College, in 1868, Drew Seminary, Howard University, Central Tennessee College, National Medical School of Chattanooga, Tenn. Finished 1903 and received the degree of M.D.
Converted March, 1874, and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year.
Has held many offices in the church. Licensed to preach, 1877, at Springfield, Ill., by Rev. John Malone. Ordained deacon, April, 1880, at Salem, N.
[ILLUSTRATION]
JAMES HENRY TURNER, M.D.
J., by Bishop Payne. Ordained elder, April, 1881, at Danville, Va., by Bishop Payne. Joined Annual Conference at Trenton, N. J., under Bishop Payne.
Held appointments at Madison and Washington, N. J.; Asbury Park, St. James, Richmond, Va.; Salem, Va.; Quinn Chapel, Frederick City, Md.; Bethel Chapel, Macon City, Mo.; Bethel, Leavenworth, Kans.; Ottawa, Kans.; St. Paul, Brown Chapel, Allen Chapel, Bethel, all of Texas. The following in Tennessee: Woodfolk, Shelbyville; St. Paul, Columbia; Bethel, Nashville; Knoxville Mission, Knoxville; Bethel, Chattanooga; Quinn, Chattanooga.
Built church at Washington, N. J., at a cost of $1,000 in 1879; church and hall at Leavenworth, Kans., $300, in 1886; church and hall at Bryant, Texas, $200, in 1890; Brown Chapel, at Houston, Texas, $350, in 1888. He has taken 1,825 people into the church and baptized 275 and married 90. Delegate to General Conference in 1904. Member of Historical and Literary Boards in 1908. Has served office of Statistician and Secretary of the several Conferences of which he was a member. Presiding Elder in Kansas Conference. Trustee of Turner College. He has established several schools. Joined Wilcox Post 16, G. A. R.
Tyree, Bishop Evans, twenty-sixth bishop of the A. M. E. Church, the son of Harry and Winifred Tyree, both African Methodists, was born a slave, in Tennessee, in 1853, one of his parents' twelve children. He began attending school in 1876, and received about ten years schooling in all, attending principally Central Tennessee College, Walden University, and graduated from the theological department without a degree. He received D.D. degree from Livingston; M.D. from Louisville Medical School; LL.D. from Paul Quinn, and also from Wilberforce. Most of his
educational struggle was outside of school by private instructors. He was converted in 1866, at Carthage, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church the same year, as there was no A. M. E. Church then. He was
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP EVANS TYREE.
always active in the Church, and has held almost every office in the Church. He was licensed to preach in 1869, at Hartsville, Tenn., by Rev. Jordan W. Earley; ordained deacon in 1875, at Chattanooga,
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. EVANS TYREE.
Tenn., by Bishop Brown; ordained elder in 1876, by Bishop Wayman, at Pulaski, Tenn. He joined the annual conference at Clarksville, Tenn., in 1872, under Bishop Brown, and held the following appointments: Santa Fe Mission, 1874-77; Alexander Mission, 1872-74; Salem Station, 1877-79; Franklin Station, 1879-81; Payne Chapel, 1881-85; Pulaski, 1885-86; presiding elder, 1886-87; St. Paul Chapel, 1887-1891; St. Paul, Columbia, Tenn., 1891-92; Quinn Chapel, Louisville, Ky., 1892-97; St. John, Nashville, Tenn., 1897-1900. Lifted mortgage on St. Paul's, Nashville, 1891, to the amount of $3000, and paid many other debts. He was always a popular pastor.
He was elected bishop at the general conference at Columbus, Ohio, in 1900, and ordained May 23, 1900. He has served over the Eighth Episcopal District, embracing Mississippi and Arkansas, 1900-4; the Tenth District, embracing Texas and Oklahoma, 1904-1908, and Texas, 1908-12. He filled Bishop Gaines' unexpired term in the First District, in 1912, and is now serving a full term over that district, including the Philadelphia, New Jersey, New England and New York Conferences, 1912-1916. He is chairman of the Publication Board and also of the General Conference Commission for 1916.
He owns a beautiful home in Nashville, Tenn.
Tucks, Mrs. L. H. Maxey, was born in Missouri. Educated at Wilberforce, O. Was science teacher at Western University three years; conference secretary, W. H. and F. Missionary Society of the Texas Conference; was delegate from this body to represent the
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MRS. L. H. MAXEY TUCKS.
W. H. and F. Missionary Society at the Third Quadrennial Session, in New Orleans, La., in February, 1915. Mrs. Tucks is said to be the first woman to place the Cradle Roll in the A. M. E. Sunday schools of the South.
VANDERHORST, REV. JOHN FRANCIS, now of Long Branch, N. J., the son of Robert and Mary C. Vanderhorst, was born at Georgetown, S. C. He is brother to the late Rev. E. J. Gregg, former secretary of A. C. E. League and cousin to the late Rev. H. T. Johnson, for seventeen years editor Christian Recorder, Dr. W. A. Sinclair
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REV. JOHN FRANCIS VANDERHORST.
clair and Rev. Ephraim Johnson. Young Vanderhorst received his training in the public schools of
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MRS. MARY C. VANDERHORST.
South Carolina, and is a graduate of the School of Theology of Howard University, Class of 1906. He joined the New Jersey conference under Bishop Arnett, in 1906, at Long Branch, N. J., and was ordained deacon in 1906, by Bishop Gaines, in Orange, N. J., and ordained elder in 1910, by Bishop Gaines, in Camden, N. J. Has held appointments at the following places, all in the New Jersey Conference: Stroudsburg, Pa.; St. Luke, Newark, N. J.; Milburn, N. J.; Rahway, N. J., and Long Branch, N. J. In Stroudsburg, Milburn and Rahway, he was the only Negro member of the Ministers' Union. Has been recording secretary of New Jersey Annual Conference
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MRS. J. F. VANDERHORST.
for five years; chief secretary of the Newark district conference for six years, and four years secretary of trustees of the district parsonage. He is a member of the F. and A. M., K. of P., and G. U. O. of O. F. At Trinity Church, Long Branch, N. J., he paid $500 on the principal and all of the back interest paid up in full. Rev. Vanderhorst cleared a debt of $925 on our church at Rahway, N. J., and for two years has been a successful pastor at Long Branch. During the first year he paid $500 on the principal of the church mortgage and all of the overdue interest, and installed a new pipe organ. His presiding elder said of him, in his report to the conference in 1912, "Marvelous has been his achievements," and again, in 1913, "Undoubtedly this young man ranks with the aggressive ministers of the age," and still again, in 1914, "He is highly respected by the community." "They unanimously asked for his return." He is ably assisted by a consecrated wife.
Vanderhorst, Mary Catherine (Johnson), was born in Georgetown, S. C., and was member of the Bethel A. M. E. Church, Georgetown. She was mother of Rev. J. Francis Vanderhorst, B.D., now pastor at Long Branch, N. J., and Rev. E. J. Gregg, secretary of Allen Christian Endeavor League, 1904-08.
Vann, Rev. Richard Henry, the son of Richard and Malinda Vann, both members of A. M. E. Church, was born May 5, 1869, at New Arlington, Tenn., and was a member of a family of 17. He began attending
school in 1880, and attended in all about five years, spending over two years at Hayes Grove School. He
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. RICHARD HENRY VANN.
was converted in 1886, and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. Has held nearly every office in the local church; was licensed to preach in 1889, at Shelby County, Tenn., by Rev. Z. Harris; ordained deacon in 1895, at Memphis, Tenn., by Bishop Salter, and ordained elder in 1899 at Clarksville, Tenn., by Bishop Salter. Rev. Vann joined the West Tennessee Annual Conference in 1892, at St. Andrews, Memphis, Tenn., under Bishop Brown, and has held the following appointments: Lexington Circuit, 1892; Indian Creek Mission, 1893; Union City Mission, 1894-5; Huntington Circuit, 1896-7; Centreville Circuit, 1898-9; Pierce Station, 1900-01; Martin Circuit, 1902-3 Humboldt Circuit, 1904; Dickson Station, 1905-6-7; New Tyler Station, 1908-9-10; Waverly Station, 1911. He built a church at Hollow Rock, Tenn., at a cost of $800, in 1896, and repaired churches at Greenfield, Tenn., at a cost of $300, in 1902; Memphis, at a cost of $900, in 1908; Dickson, at a cost of $500, in 1905; Dresden, at a cost of $300, in 1903. Lifted mortgages at Jackson to the amount of $600, in 1904, and Dickson, to the amount of $100, 1906. He has received over 1200 people into the Church, and baptized about 500 people. He has been presiding elder of the Dickson District since 1911. His wife is Julia Vann, of Mansfield, Tenn., whom he married in 1898. They had five children. Rev. Vann is a member of F. and A. M. and K. of P., a Republican, and owns his home. He has been a member of the executive board of Turner College for thirteen years, and is considered a valuable asset to this institution.
WALKER, REV. JAMES W., was born at Cokesbury, S. C., May 15, 1867. His parents, Isaac H. and Maria E. Walker, were ex-slaves, and had twelve children, of whom James was third. James W. Walker was given early educational advantages and successively attended Payne Institute, Brewer Normal School and Allen University, maintaining a high record in each. He received his theological training at Gammon Theological Seminary, graduating in 1890. He taught school successfully in the public schools of South Carolina and Georgia.
He was licensed to preach in 1884, and entered the itinerant ministry in 1885 and traveled as a missionary in the Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) for one year. He has pastored as follows: Fairburn and Fayetteville, while in school, sometimes walking twenty-five miles to his appointment: Fort Gaines, Ga., two years; Dawson, Ga., two years; Emanuel, Mobile, Ala., four years; Brown Chapel, Selma, Ala., five years; Bethel, Mobile, Ala., five years; Brown Chapel, Selma, Ala., five years. Few pastors have served so successfully the full time limit with a continuous request. Rev. Walker served as presiding Elder of the Selma District for three years, during which time the gold medal for excellence in missionary work throughout the conference bounds was awarded to his district. He is now presiding elder of the Prattville District.
He has five times been elected delegate to the general conference, twice leading his delegation. For twelve years he has held the position of treasurer of the building fund at Payne University; he is now secretary of the board of trustees of Payne University, having already rendered three years of efficient and faithful service in that capacity; he is also the quadrennial trustee of the Central Alabama Conference for Wilberforce University; for four years he was a member of the General Board of Missions of the A. M. E. Church; he served as secretary of the A. M. E. delegation
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JAMES W. WALKER, D.D.
to the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America, and was the only Negro secretary at the Council held in Chicago, December, 1912; he is now president of the International Alabama State League
of Christian Endeavor (the only Negro State League in America); he was chosen an alternate to the late Ecumenical Conference of Methodism held in London, England, in 1901.
While a local preacher he built a church at Central, S. C., with five members; at Ft. Gaines, though appointed three months before conference, he brought up all back claims for the year, and made the largest dollar money report in the history of the charge. The next year he left several hundred dollars in the treasury with which to begin a new church; at Dawson, Ga., he paid the church out of debt, save $75. At Emanuel, Mobile, he paid forty-eight notes, of $45 each, greatly reduced the mortgage debt, finished and paid for the annex; at Brown Chapel, during his first administration, he paid the entire balance of $1000 on parsonage during the first year, and renovated the church; at Bethel, Mobile, he finished the basement, at a cost of $1200, and paid for same in cash, reduced the debt on the church, erected two-story brick parsonage at a cost of $5000 and paid $4000 of the amount; at Brown Chapel, Selma, during his second administration, he finished the new brick building--one of the handsomest in the connection--erected the annex to the same, put in beautiful memorial windows, paying for the same in full, paid off sixty notes of $75 each, interest on mortgage debts and made many other improvements demanded by the advance of the work. He has added thousands of members to the Church; and invariably made dollar money increases each year. He was voted for missionary secretary at the general conference, Kansas City, 1912.
Rev. Walker is a Christian of excellent character, good address, splendid ability, careful training and broad experience. His entire career has been marked by his whole-hearted devotion to the development of whatever work came to his hands.
Walker, Rev. W. E., was born in Franklin County, Va., January 21, 1869. In his boyhood days he worked on the farm. At the age of eleven years he was converted, joined the A. M. E. Church and was baptized by Rev. J. C. Williams. He worked on the railroad to secure money to buy a home for his mother. After this had been accomplished he went to Danville, Va. Here he clerked and joined St. Paul's A. M. E. Church, and was appointed class leader by Rev. George D. Jamison; was teacher in Sunday School, steward, and also elected president of Y. M. C. A., in which capacity he served for two years. He was also elected president of the Royal League, whose motto was, "Young men to the front, mentally, morally and socially." He felt God had called him to preach. In the fall of 1887 he entered Shaw University, Raleigh, N. C., and graduated May 18, 1893, from the scientific and theological departments. While he was attending this college he was elected superintendent of St. Paul's A. M. E. Sunday school, and served five terms. Joined the Virginia Conference in April, 1893, and was elected to teach at Kittrell College, N. C., as Virginia's representative, but owing to some misunderstanding he was not received by the trustee board. He was then transferred to Western North Carolina Conference by Bishop W. J. Gaines, D.D., who gave him his first appointment, at Chapel Hill, N. C., in May, 1893. Was ordained deacon at Asheville, N. C., by Bishop Gaines, November 28, 1893; ordained elder at Readville, N. C., by Bishop Gaines. He served the following appointments: Chapel Hill, N. C., two years; completed the church, at $1200, and received eighty members; St. James', Winston-Salem, N. C., three years; paid the debt of $1700, bought a lot and built a mission on Belor Pond, and received 330 members; St. Joseph's, Durham, N. C., three years; built a new parsonage, paid $6000 on church debt, received 480 members; organized a mission in North Durham and built a church; St. Paul's A. M. E. Church, Raleigh, N. C., completed this church, which
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. W. E. WALKER.
had been in the course of erection for twenty years, paid on same the sum of $20,000, and received 880 members; Hamilton, Ont., transferred by Bishop James A. Handy, served two years; Charleston, W. Va., three years, remodeled the church and paid $1000 on local debt, received 130 members; Chillicothe, O., two years, built a new church, at a cost of $15,000, received 120 members; St. Paul's, Hamilton, Bermuda, and presiding elder of Bermuda Conference, now serving fourth term, having received into the Church 104 members, paid the church out of debt, increased Sunday school over 300, and created and collected a parsonage fund of $500. Has received about 2004 people into the Church.
Walters, Rev. J. Josiah, was born February 5, 1855, in Tobago, British West Indies; educated in the public schools and under private tutors. He became a member of the Moravian Church, in Montgomery, in 1870; was principal of public institutes from 1879 to 1885, and won two government monetary prizes, 1884 and 1885. He entered the Moravian Theological Seminary, Nisky, St. Thomas, Danish West Indies, in 1885, graduating in 1889. He served twelve years in the Moravian ministry, British West Indies; Bethel, St. Kitts, six years; Gracefield, Antigua, two and one-half years; Gracebay, Antigua, three and one-half years. In 1901 he came to the United States of America and joined the A. M. E. Church, at Elmira, N. Y., and served in the capacity of assistant pastor and organist, being soon afterward commissioned by Presiding
Elder Rev. J. C. Ayler, to start a mission at Horse-heads, N. Y. Joined New York Annual Conference, 1902, at Jamaica; served at Tompkinsville, N. Y., 1902-1903; ordained deacon, 1903, at Albany, N. Y., by Bishop W. B. Derrick; served Albion, N. Y., 1903-1906;
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. JOSIAH WALTERS.
ordained elder, 1905, at Buffalo, N. Y., by Bishop B. W. Arnett; served Binghamton, N. Y., 1906-1910; served Warwick, N. Y., 1910-1912; presiding elder Long Island district, New York conference, 1912-16; presiding elder Albany District since June, 1916. Rev. Walters is author of the Centennial Anthem and the Centennial Ode.
Ward, Rev. Armstead Milton, was born on a farm in Lafayette County, Mo., May 30, 1860. He was one of four children of Wesley and Hannah Gordon Ward, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Early in his life the family moved to Salina County, farming on a large scale. Here young Ward attended school, his father building a school house for the accommodation of his children. After reaching manhood he attended the Lincoln School, at Sedalia, Mo., and later entered Hobson Normal School (established by the Quakers of Iowa), in Parsons, Kan., and graduated in 1886. He studied theology under Methodist Episcopal ministers, wherever he was located during his early ministry. He taught school for several years in the states of Missouri and Kansas, which assisted him materially while serving in the pastorate in the early stage of his ministry. He was converted in the Methodist Episcopal Church January 21, 1881, and united with Taylor M. E. Church. There was no African M. E. Church there at that time. While a student in Hobson Normal Institute, Parsons, Kan., he united with Brown Chapel A. M. E. Church, and was licensed to preach by the Rev. J. W. Wilson, then presiding elder in the South Kansas African M. E. Conference, September, 1886; was ordained deacon by Bishop John M. Brown, September, 1887, at Emporia, Kan., and was ordained elder by Bishop Ward, assisted by Bishop Grant, at Wichita, Kan., in 1890.
Up to date he has served the pastorate of the following churches: Oswego, Garnet, Ossawatomie, Baxter Springs and Pittsburgh Circuits, two years each; at St. James' Church, Lawrence, Kan., and Bethel Church, Leavenworth, Kan., one year each; he was made presiding elder, and served six successive years over Fort Scott (now Kansas City District), and the Topeka Districts. Following this he served Campbell Chapel, Atchison, one year; at St. John's, Topeka, two years, and the First A. M. E. Church, Kansas City, Kan., five years. Then he was transferred by Bishop A. Grant to the Colorado Conference and stationed at
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. A. M. WARD.
Shorter Chapel, serving five years. He is now serving his third year as presiding elder of the Rocky Mountain District. He is styled the pastor-evangelist. In nearly every charge he has served he has more than doubled the church membership. The Lord has used him in the conversion of more than 15000 persons, and in adding over 2000 to the Church.
In Kansas City, Kan., he built a magnificent brick structure at Eighth and Nebraska avenue, and thereby restored African Methodism in that city, where he found a discouraged and almost disheartened people. This church society, through someone's blunder, had lost one of the most magnificent and beautiful as well as valuable church sites of any denomination in the United States of America, on the corner of City Hall Park, that had been given and deeded to our Church by the Indians, who still hold as sacred, by the authority of the United States, a little burial ground. Following his successes at Kansas City, Bishop Grant transferred him to the Colorado Conference, and appointed him to Shorter Chapel, where in one rally and in one day he raised $2200, and purchased for a parsonage the finest building owned by any congregation of color west of the Mississippi River. It is a modern,
nine-room brick structure, has all improvements, nicely located, within about eight blocks of the State Capitol. He has been a member of the general conference, attending each session since 1900; and he has led the delegation of both the Kansas and the Colorado Conferences. From 1900 to 1904 and 1912 to 1916 he was a member of the Church Extension and the Educational General Boards respectively. For a number of years he has been a member of the school boards of Wilberforce and Western Universities, having served as treasurer of the latter. He served also as a director and manager of Douglas Hospital, Kansas City, Kan. He took the initiative in the establishment of the Denver Y. M. C. A. for Colored Men, and led the movement in the purchase of its present building and site. He was united in marriage to Ella Nora Crosby, September 30, 1887. She was born in Hannibal, Mo., and died September 15, 1912. Their children
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. A. M. WARD.
are Rev. Alexander Wayman Ward, aged 27 years, graduate of Denver, Wilberforce and Yale Universities; Hannah Vera Ward (twin), aged 24 years, a music special at Fiske University; Thomas Virgil Ward (twin), aged 24 years, graduate of Denver High School, student two years in Denver University, and now in the dental department of Meharry Medical College. He was again united in marriage February 10, 1915, to Mrs. Lydia Cuffey Smith, general secretary of the Kansas City (Kan.) Young Women's Christian Association. She was born in Berkley, Norfolk County, Va., December 3, 1870, a daughter of the late Jeremiah Cuffey, of the Virginia Conference, and widow of Richard T. W. Smith. This second marriage gave him two step-sons, Harry Godwin Smith, aged 20 years, and Frissell Jeremiah Smith, aged 17 years. Presiding Elder Ward and his family are residing at 2422 Lafayette street, Denver, Col. He owns a home in Kansas City, Kan., and has interest in a farm which his father owned, in Saline County, Mo.
Ward, Mrs. Lydia Cuffey Smith, wife of Rev. A. M. Ward, of Denver, Col., was on the reportorial staff of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle for more than twelve years, and was the only colored woman to be thus employed on a New York City daily paper. She served two years as general secretary of the Young Women's Christian Association, in Kansas City, Kans., and resigned to marry Rev. A. M. Ward, February 10, 1915. She is now president of the Y. W. C. A. for colored women and girls in Denver (organized October, 1915). It has up to date 112 members.
Ward, Thomas M. D., tenth bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Hanover, Pa., September 28, 1823. He was converted in 1838 at Philadelphia and joined the A. M. E. Church; was licensed to preach in 1843 at Harrisburg, Pa., by Rev. Levin Lee, and in 1846 was admitted to the New England conference; was ordained deacon in 1847, and elder in 1849. After being ordained elder he was appointed missionary for
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP T. M. D. WARD.
the Pacific coast, where he remained several years, organizing churches in that section, then but sparsely populated. In 1868 he was elected bishop, ordained Lexington, Va., and the rural schools; was licensed to May 25, 1868, and returned as bishop to the Pacific coast, where he remained four years. He was afterwards assigned to Alabama, Florida and Mississippi and other districts in the South, where he did much to build up the church, and distinguished himself as a pulpit orator of the first class. The degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Wilberforce University. He died June 10, 1894, and is buried in Washington, D. C.
Warren, Rev. F. W., was born in Macon, Ga., September 3, 1869. His parents, Edler N. and Patience Warren, came to Texas in 1883, and put him in the Garfield High School, from which school he graduated in 1889, and he entered Paul Quinn College, and is an undergraduate of that institution.
He taught public school in Texas eleven years. In 1888 he was happily converted, and joined the A. M. E. Church, at Tyler, Texas. He was licensed to preach in 1889, and joined the traveling connection in 1892, and was ordained deacon in 1893, by Bishop B. F. Lee, and elder in 1896, by Bishop J. H. Armstrong. He has pastored the following charges: Quitman Circuit;
Forney Circuit, Shiloh Station, Galveston, Texas; Bastrop Station, Huntsville Station, Grant Chapel Station, Austin, Tex.; Alta Station, Grant Chapel Station, Palestine, Texas, and St. Paul Station, Beaumont, Texas. He has built seven churches and four parsonages, and cancelled five mortgage debts;
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. F. W. WARREN, B.D.
had 638 converts and 900 accessions. He was united in holy matrimony, in May, 1907, to Miss Mary J. Nauls, the accomplished daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Nauls, of Madisonville, Texas. She was a student of Prairie View State Normal College. They
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. MARY J. WARREN.
have two children, Mary Belle Warren and Frederick Wilkerson Warren, Jr. He is at this writing presiding elder of the Beaumont District, where he has labored for three years, during which time he has raised for Paul Quinn College over $2000. In this respect he has led all the districts of his (Texas) Conference. He is loved and respected by the brethren and members of his conference. He has been trustee of Paul Quinn College twelve years, and took great interest in paying off the mortgage debt of the college in 1914. He was elected delegate and attended the Young People's Educational Congress at Atlanta, Ga., in 1902. He is the founder of the Royal Sons and Daughters, a fraternal beneficiary association, with 104 lodges and 3800 members. He has been Grand Master of this organization sixteen years. It has a capital of $8000. He owns forty-seven city lots and two splendid farms. He is a logical and forceful speaker.
Warren, Mrs. Mary J., was born in Madisonville, Texas, April 29, 1879, and attended Mary Allen Seminary and Prairie View State Normal and Industrial College, of Texas.
She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Nauls, and was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Rev. F. W. Warren, in the year of 1907. They were blessed with two children--Mary Belle and Frederick Wilkerson Warren.
They own a beautiful home at Conroe, Texas, where they now reside. She taught successfully in the public schools of Texas nine years. She is a devoted wife and mother, a faithful Christian and a great help to her husband in the ministry.
Washington, Rev. Samson Pearl, was born December 21, 1882, at Peete, Miss., son of Ralph and Rebecca Washington. Attended public school in early life at Halcomb, Peete and Oxberry, Miss. At the latter place was converted August 12, 1897. Received exhorter's license September 1, 1897; local license,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. S. P. WASHINGTON.
April 15, 1899; joined the conference in 1900. First charge, Duck Hill, in 1899; successfully pastored and arranged to build a church. In 1900 entered Campbell College, Jackson, Miss., remaining part of two years, and successfully pastored a mission point there. He was ordained deacon December, 1901, by Bishop Tyree, at West Point, Miss., and elder, September 28, 1911, by Bishop Derrick, at Youngstown, O. He pastored
in his home conference, viz., Northeast Mississippi Conference, Duck Hill, Ramis and Oakland. While at the last charge, by unanimous consent of his conference, he was granted a scholarship to Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, Ohio. Remained there seven years, working his way through school, at the home of Bishop Arnett. He spent four years in the college department and three years in the theological department. Pastored in Ohio at Harrisburg, Jackson, Berlin and Stewardsville, also Winsor, Canada, where he was very successful clearing indebtedness and placing the church on a better basis. Graduated from the divinity course of Payne Theological Seminary, in 1911. Returned to his home state. At the first conference at Grenada, Miss., he was transferred by Bishop Turner to Mississippi Conference, convened at Biloxi, and as a good man was wanted for Gulfport, one of the most particular places, the bishop decided to appoint him. Here he was successful in building a church. The next year he was sent to Meridian Station, where a church was needed, and he built it.
Dr. J. G. Thompson, B.S., presiding elder of the Meridian District, died November 9, 1913. Bishop Connor wired the young man to look after the district until conference. November 25, when he was appointed presiding elder over the Meridian District, which position he still holds. He was married June 9, 1914, to Miss Georgia Lorena Dunklin, of Meridian, Miss., one of the city teachers. He is assistant secretary of the Mississippi Conference, a trustee of Campbell College, and lecturer on theology in Lampton Theological Seminary, and is a delegate to the Centennial General Conference. He is aggressive and popular.
Waters, Edward, third bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born in West River, Md.; was converted in Baltimore, Md., and licensed to preach in that city; commenced traveling in 1818; was ordained deacon in
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP EDWARD WATERS.
same year; ordained elder in 1820; ordained bishop May 25, 1836. He died May 5, 1847, and was buried in Baltimore, Md. He never presided independently over an annual conference.
Waters, Rev. Hodson, son of William and Laura Waters, both members of the M. E. Church, was born December 12, 1873, at Somerset County, Md. Parents had nineteen children. He began attending school at the age of seven, and attended about ten years in all. Attended public school at Fairmount, Md., and correspondence school of Morgan College. Converted June 29, 1884, and joined the M. E. Church the same year, as there was no A. M. E. Church in the community. He has held several offices in the Church. Licensed to preach in 1902, at Fairmount, Md., by Rev. Joseph Waters, and in 1903 joined the M. E. Conference. In 1907 he joined the A. M. E. Church and became a member of the Philadelphia Conference. He was ordained deacon in 1908, at Carlisle, by Bishop Gaines; ordained elder in 1909, at Milford, Del., by Bishop Gaines. He has held the following appointments in the M. E. Church: Marion Circuit, Md., 1902; Girdletree, Md., 1903-7. In the A. M. E. Church, Ward A. M. E., Philadelphia, 1907-12; Columbia, Pa., 1912-14; Chambersburg, Pa., 1914 to the present. Built a church at Girdletree, Md., at a cost of $3750, in 1905; lifted the mortgage on Ward A. M. E. Church, Philadelphia, to the amount of $1350 in 1909. He has taken 318 people into the Church, baptized 117 and married 40. Married Mrs. Lillian Belle Waters, of Fairmount, Md., April 12, 1893. They have seven children--Hodson, Jr., aged 20; Bertie E., aged 18; Theodore, aged 12; Mildred, aged 9; Dorothy, aged 7; William, aged 4; Margaret, aged 2. Hodson, Jr., graduated from Manual Training, Philadelphia High School. Rev. Waters is connected with K. of P. and F. and A. M.. Has held offices in each.
Watkins, John Calvin, was born a slave, July 10, 1858, near Madison, Rockingham County, N. C. In 1865 his father, two brothers and sister died, the result of an epidemic of typhoid fever. After the Civil War, the Watkins family remained on their former master's place, and here young John Calvin got his first lessons from Miss Phoebe Ann, his former mistress, studying with her daughter. He attended the Presbyterian Sunday school Sunday mornings, and the Union Sunday school, for colored people, Sunday afternoons. At the age of twelve years he went to school to a colored lady, and was able at sixteen to teach. In 1875 he was converted and joined the Church. In 1876 he entered Howard University, from which he graduated in 1883, receiving the degree of B.D. He went to South Carolina to preach and to teach, settling in Winnsboro, where he met Rev. W. D. Chappelle, his cousin. In September, 1883, he was ordained elder. He pastored at Amelia, Va.; Winnsboro, S. C.; Sumter, St. Charles, St. Matthew's, Marion and Greenwood, S. C. He was dean of theology at Allen University, and is now presiding elder of the Manning District of the Northeast South Carolina Conference. He has founded three schools, built three school houses, and taught more than 5000 children. He has built six churches and made improvements and paid debts to the amount of several thousand dollars. He was married in 1885 to Miss Alice S. Hill, of Amelia, Va., and they have had six children, those living being Mrs. Sarah B. Bethel, and Ethel L., at Tuskegee, Ala.; John C., Jr., in Allen University, and Paul, in Lincoln High School, Sumter, S. C. He has contributed frequently to newspapers and published
a book entitled "The Preacher, His Call and Preparation."
Watson, Augustus William, chief secretary and historian of the West Florida Annual Conference. Converted in 1867, graduated in 1870, admitted to the bar in 1872, ordained a deacon by Bishop Dickerson, an elder by Bishop Shorter, received degrees of LL.B., Ph.D., and D.D., 1870, 1893 and 1906; has repaired and built many churches and parsonages. He was a delegate to the general conference of 1908, and an alternate from the Macon, Ga., conference to the general conference at Philadelphia, in 1892, also an alternate in 1904 from the Florida Conference.
Watson, Joseph Hamilton, son of Ralph and Delia Watson, was born in Warrenton, Ga., in 1861. His parents, who were missionary Baptists, moved to Albany, Ga., in the early sixties, where Joseph entered the Albany public school at the age of six years. Later he graduated from the Freedmen's Institute, which was founded by Mrs. Lucy E. Case, of Massachusetts.
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. JOSEPH HAMILTON WATSON.
Being one of the oldest of a family of thirteen children, he had to help provide for the younger children, therefore he was not able to attend school any longer, but this did not end his education. He became his own instructor and studied at night. After working as an apprentice under a brick-mason several years, he soon became proficient and later was known as one of the best brick-masons in Georgia, as well as tile-setter and plasterer. For several years he was a contractor.
At the age of twenty-three he was married to Miss Carrie Eveline Jackson, of Culloden, Ga. Later three children were born--Sara, Irene and Joseph. Sara graduated from Atlanta University in 1906, after which she went to Boston, Mass., where she took a course in bookkeeping, typewriting and embalming and was the first woman to pass the examination of the Georgia State Board of Embalmers. Joseph is now attending Meharry Medical College at Nashville, Tenn.
In 1903 Mr. Watson was converted and joined Bethel A. M. E. Church at Albany and has served as steward, trustee and Sunday school teacher since. In 1912 he was a delegate to the general conference at Kansas City, Mo., and is now a delegate to the Centennial General Conference at Philadelphia.
In 1911 he built the Albany Mission Church in East Albany, Ga. He has served as a trustee of Morris Brown University since 1910 and has given scholarships to its theological department, and to that of Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, Fla., and now has a student in each of them. He has also contributed to the Christian Recorder and the Western Christian Recorder.
Mr. Watson has been a successful business man and owns considerable real estate in Albany, one piece of which is said to be valued at $40,000. He is Supreme Ruler of the Supreme Circle, president and manager of the Supreme Circle News, president and manager of the Circle Coffin and Casket Co., and vice-president of the Artesian Drug Co. He is a staunch Republican and is a member of the County, District and State Central Committee and has been to the Republican National Convention at Chicago several times.
Mr. Watson is active in all charitable and benevolent institutions to which he belongs and has held responsible positions in each as follows: Masons--Senior and Junior Warden; Odd Fellows--Noble Grand, Advocate and Past Noble Father; Knights of Pythias--Chancellor Commander, Master of Works, Member of Temple Commission and Representative to Supreme Lodge; Supreme Circle--Advocate and Supreme Ruler, and he is a member of the Eastern Star, Household of Ruth and Court of Calanthe.
In 1913 Mr. Watson addressed the East Florida Conference at Jacksonville, Fla. In 1914 he addressed the same conference at Ocala, Fla., and in 1915 he delivered the commencement address to the students of Turner Theological Department of Morris Brown University, Atlanta, Ga. He is a liberal contributor to the cause of Christ.
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP ALEXANDER W. WAYMAN.
Wayman, Alexander, seventh bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Caroline County, Md., September, 1821. He worked on his father's farm when he
was quite young. His father taught him to spell and read. He taught himself to write. In 1835 he was converted. In 1837 he joined the M. E. Church. In 1839 he was licensed to preach by Rev. Richard Williams. In 1840 he united with the A. M. E. Church. In 1843 he joined the Philadelphia annual conference and was ordained deacon and elder. He served as pastor in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D. C. He was chief secretary of the general conferences of 1856, 1860 and 1864. The degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Howard University. He was elected bishop in 1864 while pastor in Baltimore, and ordained May 23, 1864. He served as bishop 31 years and six months. He became senior bishop upon the death of Bishop Payne, November 29, 1893. Bishop Wayman died November 30, 1895, and was buried at Baltimore.
Webb, Willis J., one of 14 children of Wiley M. and Charity Webb, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born May 24, 1875, in Dawson, Ga.; began school in 1882, and attended the public schools and Normal School at Dawson for seven years; also studied under private teachers; was converted June, 1894, and served as class leader, steward, trustee, exhorter, Sunday school teacher and superintendent; was licensed to preach at Albany, Ga., August, 1894, by Rev. D. W. Moore; ordained deacon at Cuthbert, Ga., 1897, by Bishop Turner; elder, 1901, by Bishop Gaines, at Opelika, Ala., was admitted to annual conference at Cuthbert, Ga., in 1897, and has held the following appointments: St. James Mission, Southwest Georgia Conference, 1897-98; Coal Ridge Mission, 1899; Lawrenceville circuit in Alabama Conference, 1900; Graham circuit, 1901-2; Ozark circuit, 1903; Ohio circuit, 1904; Hartford circuit, 1904-8; Newton circuit, 1909; Ohio circuit, 1910; Andalusia, 1911; Allen Chapel, Bekam, 1912; Bethel, Elba, 1914. Built St. James, at Graham, Ala., and Bethel and West Chapel, at Hartford; paid mortgages of $2,050 on Bethel, Andalusia; $1,150 on Allen, Bekam, Ala.; $2,050 on Bethel, Elba, Ala.; has taken 2,500 people into the church, and baptized 1,800; was a delegate to the Centennial General Conference, 1916; a Mason, Republican, home owner, author of book of poems, trustee of Payne University, Selma, Ala. His wife, Mrs. Lizzie J. Webb, was born in Fort Michel, Ala. They were married in 1901, and have five children: C. Beatrice, J. Albert, S. Lucile, James and J. David Webb.
Webster, Frank T. M., son of Andrew and Harriett Webster, both members of the M. E. Church, was born May 1, 1853, in Montgomery County, Md. He was one of sixteen children. He entered school in 1865 and attended in all 8 years, completing his education at the Theological Seminary, Phila. He received the degree D.D. from Morris Brown College. He was converted January, 1880, and joined Macedonia A. M. E. Church, Camden, N. J., the same year. He has been class leader and Sunday school teacher. He was licensed to preach June, 1881, at Macedonia, Camden, N. J., by Rev. Samuel B. Williams. He joined the annual conference in April, 1885, at Burlington, N. J., under Bishop Cain. He was ordained deacon in 1887 at Trenton, N. J., by Bishop A. Wayman, and ordained elder in 1889 at Mt. Holly, N. J., by Bishop H. M. Turner. He has held the following appointments; Heightstown Circuit, 1885-86; Rock Hill, 1887-88; Flemington, N. J., 1889; Fair Haven, N. J., 1889-90; Burlington, 1890-91; P. E. New England Conference 1891-92; Greenwich, Conn., 1893; Mt. Pisgah, Phila., 1894-98; Mt. Olive, 1898-1904; Zion Chapel, Phila., 1905; P. E. West Philadelphia District, 1905-10; Mt. Pisgah, Phila., 1911; York, 1912; Zion, 1913-14; P. E. Harrisburg District 1914 to 1916; pastor Lancaster, Pa., since June, 1916.
He built a church at Bound Brook, $1000, in 1888. He lifted the mortgage on Heightstown to the amount
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. F. T. M. WEBSTER, D.D.
of $300 in 1886; at Flemington, N. J., he bought a lot to the amount of $250 in 1889; built parsonage at Fair Haven to the amount of $2000 in 1890; remodeled at Burlington to the amount of $780 in 1891; paid $2500 at Mt. Pisgah; paid $5100 on Mt. Olive. He has taken about 2619 persons into the church, baptized 350 people and married 215 persons. He has been delegate to the general conferences of 1904-08-12-16. He was a member of the Missionary board, 1904-8. He married Miss Ella E. Holland, of Lewes, Del., September 22, 1878. He has contributed to the A. M. E. Review. He is a member of F. and A. M. He was master of the Subordinate ten years, P. G. M. of the State of New Jersey, High Priest, Most Eminent Grand Commander, Crown Prince of the Royal Secret of the 33rd degree and Grand Treasurer. He is a member of the Republican party. He owns a home. He is actively associated with the prisons and charitable work in general.
West, Rev. George Hamilton, was born in Richmond, Va., Sept. 4, 1870, son of Barney and Anna E. West. He finished the grammar and high schools of Richmond, winning in a school of 824 pupils the "Peabody" medal, three years in succession.
He was converted in May, 1889, under the preaching of Dr. Geo. D. Jimmerson, of Virginia, and licensed to preach by Rev. R. Wm. Fickland at St. James A.
M. E. Church, Atlantic City, N. J. He has held every office in the Sunday school and church.
He entered Howard University at Washington, D. C., in 1895, graduating from the Theological Department in 1898, having won prizes in Hebrew and Greek in 1897 and 1898. Two more years were spent in the college department and one in the medical department of Howard University.
Rev. West joined the New Jersey Conference at Bethel Church, South Camden, May, 1901, under Bishop Derrick. He was transferred to the Philadelphia Conference, which convened at Wilmington, Delaware, obtained deacon and appointed to Morris Brown A. M. E. Church, Philadelphia.
He spent two years at Morris Brown. The church
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. GEORGE HAMILTON WEST, B.D.
was renovated, the interior painted, furnace repaired. A revival each winter resulted in a large number of conversions and accessions to the church.
At the end of the second year Rev. West was transferred to the New Jersey Conference, and was stationed at Flemington for one year. In 1904 he was ordained elder by Bishop Arnett, at Bridge St. A. M. E. Church, Brooklyn, N. Y.
His next appointment was Millville, N. J., where he found the membership very much discouraged. At the end of two years the church was paid entirely out of debt the first time in forty years. A new roof was put on, and arrangements were made to renovate the church. The next charge was Mt. Zion, Bordentown, N. J., and chaplain Bordentown Industrial School. Here he spent three years. Here he had revivals that had not been equalled in seventeen years. Here he renovated the parsonage entirely and furnished it at a cost of $300. He paid off the mortgage on the church and burned the same in February, 1908, and then remodeled the church at a cost of $900, paying $600 on account, leaving in the building and loan only $300.
In 1910 he was appointed by Bishop W. J. Gaines to Asbury Park, N. J., where there was a debt of $3300. In two years he succeeded in cutting the debt in half. Here also the parsonage was furnished and a new foundation put under it. New carpet in the church, a new choir loft, ladies' toilet, stained glass in all the windows, cement coal cellers, re-arrangement of the vestibule were among some of the important improvements made and paid for.
In 1912 Rev. West preached the annual conference sermon and was appointed to Bethel, Jersey City, N. J., on which there were two mortgages of $2300. There were also five judgments in the courts and other debts amounting to $2250. The congregation had also recently been split and a new M. E. Church had been organized. In twenty months, however, the debt was reduced to $1900, and the church improved. He had fifty-nine converts and 160 accessions. He resigned the charge, an exchange being made with Rev. W. H. Burrell, of Greenwich, Conn., where he is now serving his third year. He has paid the church out of debt, put in $110 worth of furniture, and is now preparing to remodel the church at a cost of $2000.
Rev. West has had during his ministry 540 conversions and more than 1000 accessions. On March 20, 1901, he was united in holy wedlock to Miss M. A. Toney, of Newport, R. I. Their union has been blessed with 5 children.
West, Simon Peter, was born at Vienna, Pa., June 18, 1858; spent his early life on a farm; attended the country school about 3 months in the year; finished the public school course; in 1875-76 attended the academy in West Alexander; attended California State
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. S. P. WEST, D.D.
Normal College from 1884 to 1886; graduating in 1886, the only colored student in the class of 24; was selected to write the "Class Ode"; was also elected president of the Alumni Association, presiding that year at the alumni banquet, being the only one of his race present. He taught school in Brownsville, Pa., in 1888 and 1889 and was principal of the colored school at Uniontown, Pa., from 1889 to 1890. In 1892 he joined the Pittsburgh conference at Oil City, Pa.; was sent to Erie, Pa., with 24 members; remained 3 years and increased the membership and improved the property. In 1895 he was elected as delegate-at-large from
Erie County to the International Convention of Christian Endeavorers in Boston, Mass. He next served Franklin, Pa., for three years; then Monongahela, Pa.; next Charleroi for three years. Here he built a neat parsonage and also organized the congregation in the new town of Donora, built the chapel there and gave to the connection a property worth $3000, and with only a debt of $1000 in the last two years of his administration at Charleroi. From Charleroi he went to Elizabeth for 2 years, during which time he added one-third to the congregation, paid off a long standing debt and put a basement under the church; then to Wilkes-Barre, where he paid off a debt of $1600 of ten years' standing and entertained the annual conference; to Scranton, where again he paid off some chronic obligations on the church, added some 46 to the membership in a single year. He then was appointed presiding elder of the West Virginia district of the Pittsburgh Conference. In this district he had phenomenal success and in 1908 the Pittsburgh Conference elected him a delegate to the general conference, with specific instructions to press the claims of West Virginia as an annual conference, which he succeeded in doing. In 1909-11 he was pastor at Clarksburg, W. Va. Then he was transferred to the Ohio conference and stationed at Chillicothe. From Chillicothe he was sent to Xenia, where he raised $2876 in a single rally effort for a new church. From Xenia he went to Ironton, where he had a successful year. Last year he was assigned to the Columbus presiding elder's district, where he is now popular and successful. He took the degree of Bachelor of Didactics from California in 1886 and in 1888 he took the degree of Master of Didactics from the same school. He took the degree of D.D. from Wilberforce and Morris Brown, both in the same year, from the former for conformity to theological requirements upon application, and from the latter as an honorary gratuity from the faculty.
Whales, Lavinia, was born a slave and belonged to a family named Ruffners, the same people who held
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. LAVINIA WHALES.
Booker T. Washington in slavery. At the close of the Civil War she came to Cincinnati, Ohio, and grew up to womanhood. Has been a resident of Kentucky for over 30 years. Converted over 35 years ago and has been an ardent church worker ever since. Now connected with Quinn Chapel, Louisville, Ky. Married James Whales, of Woodford County, Ky.
White, Mrs. Ella, was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She joined St. John A. M. E. Church when but a child in 1878, and has been actively engaged in all parts of the church work a faithful, true and tried member ever since. She has filled every office in the Sunday school from assistant secretary to superintendent; was a member of the stewardesses' board for many years. Was one of the founders of the W. M. M. S. of St. John, and for twelve years has been the faithful president, supported by a band of noble women.
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. ELLA WHITE.
During these twelve years this society has raised over $2,000 for the sacred cause of missions and stands at the head of the Third Episcopal District.
Mrs. White is also one of the organizers of the North Ohio Conference band of the W. M. M. S. and is one of its most active members and has been one of its oganizers, a member of the executive board, and at present is contingent treasurer. She is also actively engaged in charity work, being president of the Women's Auxiliary to the Juvenile Court, chairman of the Lady Board of Managers of the Phyllis Wheatly Home for working girls and vice-president of the Federation of Women's Missionary Societies and instructor of missions in the Sunday school, and a member of the Parent Body of the W. M. M. S.
White, Mrs. L. E., was born in Amherst County, Virginia, but reared in Ohio. She has given her life services to the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She served as superintendent of the Sunday school at Portsmouth, Ohio, in Allen Chapel Church four years without being tardy or absent once in that period; she served as choir leader a number of years successfully. She was consecrated deaconess at Cincinnati during the last Ohio Annual Conference, by Bishop
Shaffer. She is class leader and teacher in the Sunday school and chorister of the same; also president of the W. M. M. S.
She was chosen by Bishop Payne, with whom she was not then personally acquainted, as chairman of the executive board of the W. P. M. M. Society, organized in Columbus, Ohio, in 1892. It was at this meeting that she gave her name and five dollars to Mrs. Fanny J. Coppin to become a life member in the Parent Society.
For thirteen years she served as secretary of the local W. C. T. U., which has a membership of more than one hundred, and was sent as a delegate to state
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. L. E. WHITE.
conventions not less than six times during her administration as secretary. She represented the white people, because they elected her so to do. She represented colored people because she is a colored woman.
She collected the first religious census of Scioto County, having been duly appointed secretary of the county by Dr. Carroll, of Plainville, N. J., of the Census Bureau. She also called the First County Convention, which was held at the First Presbyterian Church at Portsmouth, and gave the first money accredited to the county. She mothered the cradle roll in Allen Chapel for six years. For years she had charge of the Band of Hope and other juvenile departments of the community, and was a member of Dr. Elder's Biblical Class, which numbered almost one thousand, and was graduated, having never missed a meeting or been late. She is a member of the Mother Chautauqua at Lake Chautauqua, having studied the four year course, and in 1893 journeyed to that beautiful summer resort to be recognized with her class.
Mrs. White has attended the Ohio Sunday school conventions for twenty years. She is faithful and active in a number of societies with which she is connected.
Whitfield, Rev. Cupid Aleyus, was born March 31, 1868, in Gadsen County, Florida, seven miles from Quincy, the son of Cato and Amanda Whitfield, former slaves of General William Gilchrist, whose son was governor of Florida from 1909 to 1913. Cupid started to school at five years of age. He soon won the distinction of being the best scholar in the entire school. Though the school term was about three months, he could not attend more than half of the time, because he had to help his father on the farm.
He often went to school with no dinner but a piece of corn bread, wrapped in a rag, or peanuts.
When he was about sixteen years old he began teaching school and because of studious habits became
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. C. A. WHITFIELD.
known as one of the leading colored teachers of Gadsden County. He made 99 per cent. in algebra in the teachers' examination, which had not been done before by any teacher in Gadsden County. He now holds a first grade certificate good for life in the state of Florida. He learned Hebrew, Greek and Latin without the help of a teacher, and he speaks and writes German and French. He is a graduate of the State Agricultural and Mechanical College, Tallahassee.
In 1889 he married Miss Rebecca Z. Goodson. Fourteen children have resulted from this union, all of whom, but one, are alive. Two of them, Misses Angenia and Clementina, are promising school teachers of Gadsden County.
One daughter, Mrs. Amanda J. Davis, is married and lives at Climax, Ga. One son, Mr. Cato Whitfield, is married and lives at Millville, Florida, while another son, Mr. Wm. F. Whitfield, is at Perry, Fla. The others are at home.
He was converted September 17th, 1891, at Chattahoochee at a meeting conducted by Rev. Geo. H. Washington. He was licensed that year to exhort, by the Rev. A. J. Kershaw, and the next year to preach. In January, 1893, he joined the Florida Annual Conference, which met in Quincy.
In December, 1899, he was ordained a deacon at Apalachicola, by Bishop W. J. Gaines, and December 17th, 1901, he was ordained an elder at Marianna, by
Bishop James A. Handy. In 1906 Morris Brown College conferred D.D. upon him.
Dr. Whitfield was a delegate to the general conference at Norfolk, Va., 1908, and at Kansas City, Mo., 1912.
Dr. Whitfield has pastored some of the leading churches of the Florida Conference, among them Bethel Church, Tallahassee, which was built by Rev. (afterwards Bishop) A. Grant.
All of Dr. Whitfield's ministerial labors have been spent in Florida with the exception of one year, which was spent in Mississippi. He was professor of English Literature and Ancient History in Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, 1910-1911, and principal of Edward Waters College, 1911-1912.
For many years Dr. Whitfield was editor of the Golden Rule, the only colored newspaper of Middle Florida at that time. Dr. Whitfield owns more than one hundred acres of land at Mt. Pleasant, Florida.
He is now conference missionary of the Florida Conference, and is endeavoring to establish a high school in Quincy, Fla. He has a literary turn of mind and has written several excellent poems, among them one concerning the gallant conduct of the Negro soldiers in the Spanish War, entitled "The Negro Soldiers Saved the Day." He also published a book of "Poems to Today, or Some from the Everglades."
Whithurst, Raymond Witherspoon, one of three children of William and Jessie Whithurst, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born December 10, 1881, near Marianna, Fla., began school at six years and attended public schools near home, Edward
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. R. W. WHITHURST.
Waters College and Turner Theological Seminary, receiving diploma from Turner. He was converted in 1902, and joined church; served as steward, trustee, class leader, exhorter, Sunday school superintendent and teacher; was licensed to preach in 1903, at Marianna, by Rev. E. W. Johnson; joined West Florida Conference in 1906, under Bishop Tanner, at Pensacola, was ordained deacon in 1907, at Marianna, by Bishop Tanner, elder at Carrabelle, in 1909, by Bishop Salter, and appointments as follows, all in Florida: Branch Mission, 1907; Sneads Mission, 1908; Antioch circuit, 1909-10; conference student, 1912; Springfield circuit, Cottondale station, 1913; Campbellton, 1914-16; built St. Paul, Campbellton, $3,000, in 1914; paid mortgages at Cottondale and Antioch; has received 340 persons into church and baptized 316; member of general conference, 1916; was married February 13, 1908; has one child, Katura Elizabeth; is a trustee of Edward Waters College, Mason and owns plantation. His wife's name is Mrs. Laura Whithurst, who was born near Marianna, Fla.
Wiggins, S. T., lawyer, Wagoner, Okla., was born in Columbus, O.; graduated from the Columbus High School in 1885; taught school at Appomattox, Va., from 1885 to 1887, and attended two years the summer normals at Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute, Petersburg, Va., under President John Mercer
[ILLUSTRATION]
S. T. WIGGINS, ESQ.
Langston. In 1887 he went to Dangerfield, Texas, and taught school for four years, attended all summer institutes and was president of the county organization, by first appointment from County Judge David Rhoades. In 1891 he entered the law department of the University of Michigan, supplemented this course with literary work and graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Law in the class of 1893. He entered the Ohio State University, Columbus, O., in the fall of 1893, for post-graduate work in law and in philosophy, graduated with the degree of Master of Law, class of 1894, and from his study of philosophy with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy, class of 1897. While at the Ohio State University under the required two years' drill as military discipline, he was commissioned by the then Governor Wm. McKinley as adjutant of the 9th Battalion, Ohio National Guard, ranking seventh in the state upon retirement. He again went to Texas in the fall of 1897; taught school in Red River County, near Clarksville, Texas; in 1898 he was appointed conductor of the Red River County Summer Normal, also received a lieutenant's commission from President McKinley, and served a few weeks with the U. S. V. I. at New Orleans, La., and from there to the 8th U. S.
V. I., then stationed at Ft. Thomas, Ky., to which regiment he was assigned, Col. E. L. Huggins, now retired Gen. Huggins, commanding; he was mustered out with the regiment with honorable discharge at Chickamauga Park, Ga., in 1899; located for the practice of law at Coffeyville, Kans., and was admitted to the District and Supreme Courts of said state, already having Supreme Court license from Michigan. In 1900 he came to the then Indian Territory and was admitted to the bar at McAlester, Okla. He practiced for a while at Wewoka and McAlester and then moved to Ardmore, where he practiced law for seven years until Oklahoma statehood. He was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, D. C., 1905. At the beginning of statehood he came to Wagoner, where he has since practiced. He traveled in Europe in the fall of 1911. He has held the head and leading positions in various grand lodges and conventions of the state; he is past grand master of Masons, being a 33rd degree Mason. He has remained within the realms of literary research, with his interest always for racial advancement. He is now also the president of the Interstate Oil, Gas, Mining and Refining Company, recently organized with a capital stock of $50,000.
Williams, Cyrus L., was born in Lexington County, S. C., August 21, 1876. He attended the free common school at Lexington C. H., S. C., under Rev. W. D. Chappelle and Prof. E. R. Carter. He attended Allen University, and was a favorite at Allen for his judgment. He graduated from Normal Department in 1895, and was elected principal of the Clinton High
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. CYRUS L. WILLIAMS, B.S., D.D.
School, Clinton, S. C.; resigned after two years, reentered Allen University and finished the college course in 1898; joined the A. M. E. Church in 1890 and was converted in 1892; joined the Columbia, S. C., Conference at Union, S. C., studied at Gammon Theological Seminary, at Atlanta, Ga., graduating in 1901. He has served as follows: while in Gammon Seminary, Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church, near Decatur, Ga.; principal of Lawrenceville City School, Lawrenceville, Ga., and pastor of said church two years; Jefferson Station, Jefferson, Ga., five years and principal of Winder City School; St. John's Station, Athens, Ga., three years, and principal of Winder City School; at St. Luke's A. M. E. Church, Cartersville, Ga., three years; Marietta, at present. He was a member of the general conference in 1908, 1912 and in 1916; recording secretary of North Georgia Conference; trustee and member of the Executive Board of Morris Brown College. As a financier he ranks among the first. As a pastor he is said to be one of the best. He has good financial standing in the business world. He was leader of the North Georgia delegation to the general conference, 1916. He is president of the A. C. E. League of the North Georgia Conference. He is General Manager of the Cartersville Undertaking Co.
Williams, Rev. Charles Sumner, was born at Brookhaven, Miss., the son of Elizabeth Jackson and Patrick Franklin Williams, who were the parents of six other children. He began attending school in 1886, going about seventeen years in all. He was graduated from the Brookhaven public schools and Wilberforce University. He also attended Tuskegee Institute. The degree of D.D. was conferred upon him
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. CHARLES SUMNER WILLIAMS, D.D.
in 1908 by Morris Brown College, Atlanta, Ga. He has made a sort of a special study of history, Anthropology and Sociology.
In 1896 he was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church. He has served as class leader, exhorter, local preacher, Sunday school teacher and district Sunday school superintendent of the Brookhaven District. He was licensed to preach in 1898 by Rev. I. N. Fitzpatrick at Tuskegee, Ala. In 1903 Bishop Arnett ordained him deacon at Xenia, O. In 1904, at Ellisville, Miss., he was ordained elder by Bishop M. B. Salter. He joined the annual conference in 1899 at Natchez, Miss., under Bishop Derrick.
Rev. Williams has pastored the following charges, a number of them while in school: Tolsons Mission, 1899; South Charleston, Ohio, 1903; Shubuta Mission,
1904; Hillston, Ohio, 1905; Washington C. H., Ohio, 1906; Ironton, Ohio, 1907-1909; Brown Chapel, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1909-10; Zanesville, Ohio, 1910-11; Allen Temple Circuit, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1911-16. He built Quinn Chapel at Ironton, Ohio, at a cost of $8000. He has taken 1000 persons into the church and baptized 420.
He is a member of the Missionary Board, 1912-1916; was a delegate to the general conference at Kansas City, 1912, and is a delegate to the Centennial General Conference in Philadelphia. In 1899 he was elected as the conference student to Wilberforce University from the Mississippi Conference. He was endorsed by the Ohio Conference and the W. Virginia Conference in 1911 for secretary of the Allen C. E. League; also received votes for missionary secretary in 1912.
Rev. Williams married Miss Jessie May Rembert, of Brookhaven, Miss., in September, 1904.
Politically he is a Republican. He is president of the Cincinnati branch of "The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People."
Williams, Ebenezer, of Westbury, N. Y., a farmer and gardener and one of the pillars of the church, was born about seventy years ago. He enlisted for service in the Civil War, September, 1863, and was
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. EBENEZER WILLIAMS.
assigned to the 14th Rhode Island Heavy Artillery. He served until October, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. He then returned to Westbury, having about $90, and started to gardening. He also connected with the church, being then a Baptist. By attention to business, by honesty, courtesy and reliability, he has made himself an important factor in his community. He was one of the founders of the Bethel A. M. E. Church, Westbury. He has been steward trustee in this church for many years.
He has been a lay delegate from district conference to the annual conference ever since the law passed the general conference. He has been chairman of electoral college for 24 years and delegate to general conferences of 1900, 1908, 1912, 1916. Property holder in Westbury, N. Y. He is married and has a son. His daughter, now deceased, graduated from the State Normal School at Albany, N. Y. Many years ago he purchased on Long Island 50 acres of land and sold it for $50,000. He is now comfortably fixed on earth and has a home in heaven. He is one of the most loyal members of the A. M. E. Church in the country.
Williams, G. W., was born in Marietta, Ga., Cobb County, September 10, 1863; he was converted at the age of 11 years, and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. September 8, 1888, he was admitted, upon recommendation of the quarterly conference of Quinn Chapel, Chicago, to the Iowa Conference, at Oskaloosa, Iowa, Bishop John M. Brown presiding. He has served as follows: Allen Chapel, Chicago, two
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. G. W. WILLIAMS, D.D.
years, during which time he started the Englewood and North Side missions; Osceola, Iowa, and while there bought the church at Creston, Ia.; Jerseyville, Ill., where he built a church; Danville, Ky.; Versailles, Ky.; Richmond, Ky., where he bought the lot on which the church now stands; Lexington, Ky.; Delaware, Ohio; Middleport, Ohio; Lancaster, Ohio, during which time he built a beautiful church in Nelsonville, Ohio; Wilmington, Ohio, where he bought a parsonage; Homestead, Pa., where he repaired and beautified the lecture room of the church; Oil City, Pa., where he remodeled the church; South Side Church, Pittsburgh; Williamsport; Brown Chapel, Pittsburgh, where the mortgage debt was reduced $1,700 and over $1,200 paid on back current expenses, the membership increased 250 and the largest report made for conference claims ever reported before from Brown Chapel, and Bethel Church, Scranton, Pa., his present charge, where he found an indebtedness of $14,500, which during his first year was reduced $5,600, aside from paying all current expenses, his report to conference from all sources being $8,697.53. During his 28 years' service in the ministry many souls have been brought to Christ, waste places have been built up and success has attended his work. No
charge to which he has been sent has ever closed its door against him, and up until 1916 no mark has ever been placed in conference against his character.
Williams, George Washington, son of Joseph and Margaret Williams, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born in 1871, at Live Oak, Suwanee County, Fla. His parents had seven children. Beginning at the age of seven, he attended principally the public schools, Cookman Institute, Baptist College, Live Oak, Fla., and Morris Brown University, receiving B.D. and D.D. from Morris Brown. He was converted and joined the church in 1887; served as steward, Class leader, trustee, Sunday school teacher and superintendent, exhorter, local preacher; was licensed to preach at Live Oak, Fla., in 1887, by Rev. S. H. Coleman; admitted to conference at Galnesville, Fla., under Bishop Arnett, in 1888; ordained deacon, 1894, by Bishop Arnett, at Orlando; elder, 1896, at Columbus, Ala., by Bishop Grant. Held the following appointments: South Ocala (Fla.) Mission, 1888; Fort Payne, Ala.; Redding station, Ala., 1892; Contreville circuit, Ala., 1894; Columbiana, Ala., 1895; Lythonia station, Ala., 1899; Okmulgee Circuit, Ga., 1900; Camp Hope, 1901; Bethel, Albany, Ga., 1903; St. James, Atlanta, 1904; Gaines Chapel, Waycross, 1908; St. John, Columbus, 1909; Nelson Chapel, Bainbridge, 1912; built churches at Newberry, Fla., $700, 1895; Shelby, Ala., $700, 1894; Duersville, Ga., $500, 1902; parsonages at Bainbridge, Ga., $1800, 1914; Albany, Ga., $1904; paid $3600 mortgage on St. John, Columbus, and $700 on Bethel, Albany; received about 1250 into the Church and baptized 813; delegate to general conferences 1904, 1908, 1912, 1916; member of "Southern Recorder" Board, 1912-16; secretary Georgia delegation, 1916; was married in 1893; has one son, G. W., Jr., age 21, now in Morris Brown College; is a Mason, Odd Fellow, K. of P.; has delivered many addresses on Emancipation Day, and to colleges; interested, but not active in politics; owns a home.
Williams, Rev. Isaac Fremont, was born in Richmond, Ind., in 1864; studied in Wilberforce University from 1888 to 1891. He was a law student at Fort Wayne, Ind., in 1892 and 1893, and in the firm of Randal & Doughman in 1903. He completed the correspondence theological course in Morris Brown College, Atlanta, Ga., and received the diploma in 1905; completed a course in the Bible Training School, Toronto, Canada, in 1906. The Iowa Christian College conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Sacred Literature. He studied Latin, Greek and Hebrew under tutors. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1886, at Dayton, Ohio. In 1887 he was licensed as a local preacher. He built up an elaborate library, containing many books concerning the race and church. He was received into the Michigan Annual Conference in 1897 and stationed at Pontiac, Mich., where he served three years, clearing the church of a long standing debt. In 1900 Bishop Grant sent him to Wabash, Ind., where he met another large and stubborn debt, and in two years he paid the last cent of indebtedness on this church. From Wabash, Ind., Bishop Grant sent him to Toronto, Canada, where he served three years and did a good work in the way of disciplining the church. Then Bishop Handy appointed him presiding elder. Under his management the Ontario Conference took on new life. He was elected leader of his delegation to the general conference in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1908. The same year Bishop Shaffer transferred him back to the Michigan Conference and stationed him at Battle Creek, Michigan, where he served two years paying off all the floating
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. ISAAC FREMONT WILLIAMS.
debt of the church and reducing the mortgage. He was then sent to Flint, Michigan, where he served three years, built a new church at the cost of $9000 and entertained the annual conference. He was then stationed at Ypsilanti, Michigan, the second oldest church in the conference, where at present he enjoys the confidence of a large congregation. As a preacher he is both persuasive and impressive, being blessed with both natural and acquired ability.
Williams, Rev. Noah Wellington, was born in Springfield Township, Springfield, Ill., December 25, 1876. He was the sixth of the seven sons of Charles Henry and Harriett Williams. His early training was in the public grammar and high schools of Springfield. At the age of fifteen Noah was converted, and joined St. Paul's A. M. E. Church, Springfield, during the pastorate of Rev. T. W. Henderson, D.D., and was licensed a local preacher four years later. He always claimed that he was born to preach, since from the earliest of his remembrance he felt the impression. His paternal grandfather was an ante-bellum preacher in Missouri, where he had been taken by his master from Tennessee. In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, Noah W. Williams, with his brother John, enlisted as a member of the Eighth Illinois Volunteers, Company B. With this regiment he went to Cuba, where he spent seven months on detached duty, assisting the chaplain. He conducted a revival while there, and twenty-two of his comrades were converted, twelve of whom he assisted the chaplain to baptize in a river on the island. With the help of some of the natives he built a church, in which to hold services, paying for it with subscriptions he collected from the soldiers. Returning to America in March,
1899, he was honorably discharged in Chicago, and returned to his home in Springfield. In July following, Bishop B. W. Arnett sent him to Tuscola, Ill., to organize and build a church, which he did by the time the Illinois Conference convened the following September, at which time Bishop Arnett ordained him deacon, and returned him to the pastoral charge of Tuscola. In the fall of 1900 the Illinois Conference sent the Rev. Williams to Wilberforce University on the Bishop C. S. Smith scholarship, to study theology, Bishop Grant voluntarily paying for all his books while a student at Payne Seminary. Bishop Abram Grant ordained him elder in September, 1901. Other schools in which Noah W. Williams studied are De
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. NOAH W. WILLIAMS, D.D.
Pauw University, of Greencastle, Ind.; State Normal, Terre Haute, Ind., and Earlham College, of Richmond, Ind., while he was pastor at these respective places.
He was married to Miss Hallie C. Johnson, daughter of Rev. Benjamin and Sallie Johnson, of Springfield, Ill., October 15, 1903.
Other churches pastored by Noah W. Williams are Hannibal, Mo.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Shelbyville, Tenn, and at the time of this writing, 1916, he is pastor of St. Peter's Chapel, Clarksville, Tenn. He was elected to the Centennial General Conference from the Tennessee Annual Conference.
Williams, John K., one of seven children of John and Eliza Williams, was born March 25, 1863, at Waxahachie, Texas. His father was a member of the Methodist Church and his mother a member of the A. M. E. Church. He began attending school in 1875. and spent about twelve years in school, receiving his education in the public schools and Paul Quinn College, graduating and receiving the degrees B.S. and M.S. He studied medicine for one year and business for two years; was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1888; served his church as steward, trustee and in the Sunday school. He was delegate to the general conference of 1892 in Philadelphia. He married in 1887. His wife, Mrs. Alice Beatrice Williams, was born in Honey Grove, Texas. They have six children--Jessie M., Bessie, Carlton, Payne M., John Leroy
[ILLUSTRATION]
PRES. J. K. WILLIAMS, M.S.
and Dale M. Professor Williams has been for many years connected with Paul Quinn College, Waco, Texas, and has for the past three years been its president.
Williams, Rev. Robert J., was born in Philadelphia, Pa., May 3, 1871. Was taken to Berlin, Md., the home of his parents, Charles and Caroline Williams. Being the oldest of a family of eighteen children he was compelled to assist his father in caring for the family. He worked on the farm until he was fourteen, attending the public school two months during the winter. He was converted at the age of twelve, in the M. E. Church, Berlin, Md. Because of the poor school facilities his father thought it best to bring his children back to Philadelphia. He attended the Institute for (Colored) Youths, and graduated under Mrs. Fannie J. Coppin. He was licensed to preach in Philadelphia, June 20, 1897, by Rev. A. F. Ennels, of the M. E. Church, was taken up as a supply by Rev. A. R. Shockley, presiding elder, and sent to Harrington, Del. While on a trip to Philadelphia, he heard the Rt. Rev. Abram Grant preach at Bethel, and he decided to cast his lot with the Church of Allen. In the year 1902 he joined St. Paul's A. M. E. Church, Harrington, Del., Rev. C. E. Wilson, pastor; Rev. J. B. Stansberry, presiding elder. He was recommended by the quarterly conference of Lewes, Del., and joined the Philadelphia. Annual Conference, at Wilmington, Del., in 1902, under Bishop Derrick. He served as follows in this conference: Grant Chapel, South Wilmington, where he saved the church from the sheriff's hammer, and added fifty members to the Church; Payne, Philadelphia, one year, where he met the sheriff again, but saved the church; Kennett Square, Pa., 3 years, where he remodeled the church, added seventy members, paid off the debt and left $60 in the treasury; York, Pa., two years, where he remodeled the
church, erected a hall, at a cost of $600, paying $400, added 120 members to the Church, and reduced the mortgage debt by $400; Murphy, Chester, Pa., five years, where he found the people divided, with a debt of $2750, reduced the debt to $1000, added 203 members to the Church, made $1200, and paid all but $400; he
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. R. J. WILLIAMS.
was appointed presiding elder over the West Philadelphia District, by Bishop Tyree, 1913; he has organized Tyree Mission, Berlin, Md., 128 members; Tyree Mission, Philadelphia, 28 members; Asbury Mission, Lipperville, Delaware County, Pa. Conversions
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. R. J. WILLIAMS.
under his ministry, 2100; accessions, 1100. He is a leader not only of the Philadelphia delegation to the Centennial General Conference of 1916, but also the chairman of the First Episcopal District delegation and of the executive committee of the Centennial Banquet Committee. He is a popular and forceful preacher. He is a member of Eastern Light Lodge, No. 48, F. and A. M.; Cooper Chapter, No. 6, R. A M.; Master of Works, J. D. Webster, No. 11, K. of P.; Grand Senior Warden, State of Pennsylvania, F. and A. M., and District Deputy Grand Master, Second District, F. and A. M. He succeded Dr. C. C. Dunlap as pastor of Mother Bethel Church, Philadelphia, in June, 1916.
Williams, M.D., Reden Reche, was born on a farm near Williston, Marion County, Fla., February 25, 1881. His father, John E. Williams, and mother, Mary E. Williams, were slaves, but his father received a meagre education after freedom, and served as a member of County School Board and Board of County Commissioners during the reconstruction period, and was the founder of the A. M. E. Church in his section of Florida.
Reden Reche Williams, the youngest of ten children, received his primary training in the log school houses of his native county. He availed himself of the opportunity to attend the County Normals, and on account
[ILLUSTRATION]
DR. R. RECHE WILLIAMS.
of his natural ability, was able to pass the required examination to teach in the public schools, and began teaching at the age of fifteen.
His father having died when he was but a year old, leaving his widowed mother with five other small children, it made it necessary for young Reden to earn his own livelihood. He went to Jacksonville and entered Cookman Institute, an M. E. Church institution, and earned money to pay his schooling by delivering newspapers after school hours. At Cookman he exhibited qualities of leadership and intellectual power, at the age of twenty he graduating as valedictorian of his class. After graduation he became agent for an insurance company; then entered the grocery business, but not being very successful, he was soon forced out of business and was compelled to connect himself with a newspaper firm.
He then began private study in college work, and in 1903 entered Meharry Medical College, at Nashville, Tenn. He was president of his class of 115 members, graduating in medicine in 1907. He then
returned to Florida, and passed the Medical Board with the highest mark of any taking the examination at that time.
As a physician he has been successful, having performed several difficult major operations. He has served as secretary, vice-president and president of the State Medical Association of Florida, and is now a life-member of the Tristate Medical Association, and examiner of several insurance companies.
As a churchman he is an active and staunch African Methodist, having served for a number of years as both trustee and steward in his church. Was a lay delegate to the general conference in 1912, at Kansas City, and has been reelected to the Centennial General Conference, 1916, at Philadelphia.
He is now a director in the Metropolitan Bank of Ocala, and is a large stockholder in several real estate companies. He is also very prominent in secret orders, having served as First Grand Medical Director of the Odd Fellows of the State of Florida, and is now Grand director of that Order. He is a member of the Uniform Rank of the Knights of Pythians, and surgeon of the First Regiment, with rank of major; a member of the Building Fund Board of that Order, and a trustee of the Grand Lodge of the Sons and Daughters of Jacob. He is a man of pronounced individuality, decided opinions, and has the courage to state and defend his opinions at any and all times. In January, 1914, he married Miss Clotelle Chappelle, the youngest daughter of Bishop W. D. Chappelle, of Columbia, S. C.
Williams, Rev. Thomas James, son of Muck Oliver and Malinda Williams, was born April 28, 1869, near Williston, Fla. His mother was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. He was one of fourteen
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. THOMAS JAMES WILLIAMS, D.D.
children. He entered school in 1875 and spent about eleven years in school. He is a graduate of the schools of his native city, and received the degree of D.D. from Edward Waters College. He is a close student and taught school for twenty years. He was converted June 6, 1883, and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He has held many offices in the Church. He was licensed to preach July 28, 1888, at Ocala, Fla., by Rev. (later bishop) M. M. Moore. He was ordained deacon March 3, 1895, at Ocala, Fla., by Bishop Grant, and ordained elder, March 2, 1896, at Tampa, Fla., by Bishop Grant. He joined the annual conference February 21, 1891, at Jacksonville, Fla., under Bishop Arnett. He held the following appointments: Gordontown, 1893; Williston, 1894; Orange Lake, 1895; Bronson, 1896; Sanford, 1897; Leland, 1898; Eatonville, 1899-1901; Punta Gorda, 1902-1903; Winter Park, 1904-1905; Crescent City, 1906; Allen Temple, 1907-1911; St. James Station, 1912; Bethel, Miami, 1913-1914, and presiding elder, Sanford, Fla., 1915 to date. He built Allen Temple, at Tampa, Fla., 1909-1910, at a cost of $15,000, and started St. James, at Sanford, 1912, at a cost of $8000. He lifted mortgages on Bethel, at Punta Gorda, in 1903, to the amount of $200; on Ward Chapel at Winter Park, to the amount of $300, in 1904; on Bethel, at Miami, in 1914, to the amount of $1200. He has taken 830 people into the Church, baptized 475 people and married 152 couples. In 1897 he married Mrs. Sarah Beulah Williams, of Abbeville, S. C. They have two children, Beatrice and Homer T. Williams. He has contributed to the following magazines: Florida Times-Union, Metropolis, Recorder, Ledger, Southern and Christian Recorder. He wrote a booklet entitled "The Kingdom of Judah and Israel." He made addresses at Crescent City, Fla., on the "Aftermath of Slavery," and at Edward Waters College, 1914, on "The Service of Mankind in Religious and Literary Movements." He is a member of the K. of P., a member of the Republican party, and attended the county conventions. He is a property owner. He organized the Allen Temple Primary and Kindergarten School. He was a member of the general conference of 1912, and is a member of the Centennial General Conference of 1916.
Wilson, Rev. Charles Emory, was born at Philadelphia, Pa., March 2, 1878, the elder of two children of Jacob Henry and Catharine Arity Wilson, both members of the A. M. E. Church. His brother and mother dying before he was three years old, he was taken to Seaford, Del., and reared by his grandparents, Rev. E. C. Gaines, and Charlotte, his wife. He attended the public schools in Seaford until he was fifteen years old. At the age of seventeen he went to Philadelphia in pursuit of an education, and supported himself in the Institute for Colored Children for nearly three years.
He was converted at the age of fifteen, February 28, 1894, and was made superintendent of the Sunday school the same year, and licensed to exhort by Rev. W. H. Davis. He was licensed to preach in 1895. His first appointment was a supply to Shorter Chapel, Wilmington, Del., from which he joined the Philadelphia Conference in 1899, and was ordained deacon in 1900, and elder in 1902, by Bishop W. B. Derrick. He has served the following charges: Harrington, Del., five years; Oxford, Pa.; organized Cannon Mission, Delaware, 1904; Frankford, Del.; Moore's Chapel, Wilmington, Del., four years; Albany, N. Y., two years; Jamaica, N. Y., where he is serving his fifth year. At every point he has had success. The church at Harrington was renovated, Moore's Chapel renovated, church at Albany renovated, and at the present
charge he is installing a new basement, with other improvements during the five years, at a cost of over $2300, and paid the first hundred dollars on an old mortgage. At nearly every point he has doubled the Church membership. He married the widow of Rev.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. CHARLES E. WILSON.
Philip Hunter, in 1909, and the same year graduated from the Reformed Episcopal Seminary, Philadelphia He is a Mason and P. N. F. in the G. U. O. of O. F. Rev. Wilson was secretary of the Philadelphia Conference in 1908, and was elected alternate of the New York Conference to the Centennial General Conference in 1916.
Wilson, Robert Edmund, was born July 8, 1865, in Charleston, S. C. His education was received in the public schools and Avery Normal Institute, Charleston; Claflin University, Clark University and Gammon Theological Seminary. At an early age he became a student in the law offices of Lee and Bowen, leading attorneys at the Charleston bar. Completing his law course he engaged in teaching in the public schools of Georgia and South Carolina, and became principal of schools in Florence, S. C., and Rock Hill, S. C. He was converted in 1883 and joined Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church; licensed to preach in 1884, and was admitted on trial in February, 1885, in the South Carolina Conference, by Bishop Shorter; ordained deacon in 1886 and elder in 1889. He pastored with success in the North Georgia and South Carolina Conferences, and became a member of the Iowa (now the Chicago) Conference, in 1901, and at once took his place among the leaders of the conference in which he has served as follows: Batavia, Ill.; Mt. Pleasant, Ia.; St. Peter, Minneapolis, Minn., three years; St. Stephen, Chicago, Ill., five years; St. John, Chicago, three years, and is now serving his first year as presiding elder of the Chicago district. During his pastorate in Mt. Pleasant, Ia., his sermons and addresses attracted such wide attention that an invitation was extended to him by the faculty of the Iowa Wesleyan University to deliver a lecture to the faculty and students on "Sociological and Economic Conditions in the South in Relation to the Negro," which was well received by faculty, students and the general public. He was an alternate to the general conferences of 1912 and 1916. Dr. Wilson takes an active part in politics, and is a forceful and vigilant defender of his race. He married
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. R. E. WILSON, M.A., D.D.
Miss Fannye A. Watson, of Henderson, Ky., in 1901, and their union has been blessed with five bright and interesting children--one boy and four girls. He received the M.A. degree from his Alma Mater in 1892, and in 1895 he was honored with the degree of Doctor of Divinity by Livingstone College, Salisbury, N. C.
Wilson, Miss Sarah Ella, was born in Worcester, Mass., forty-two years ago, of George M. and Elizabeth (Allen) Wilson. Both of her parents were members of the A. M. E. Church. While her father was active at his trade in support of the family, her mother was very conscientious and faithful in her home life, where she gave attention to Sarah Ella's early training in prayer, letters, art, music and domestic science. After completing the grammar school course she entered and was graduated from the Classical High School; thence to the State Normal School of Worcester, from where she took her diploma with honors in delivering her thesis, "The Child's Disappointment in Science." She has been employed as teacher in the public schools of Worcester ever since.
Miss Wilson in addition to being well informed in polite literature, has attended several courses of lectures at Clark University, in pedagogy and sociology. She is not only well read in science, history and art, but reads, writes and speaks English and French fluently. As a musician, Miss Wilson is a teacher (popular and busy) after the regular public school hours. She is an adept at the piano, as well as being efficient in vocal music, having studied technique, expression and harmony with a celebrated teacher and composer, Prof. C. P. Morrison.
Her popularity is marked, and as such, it becomes interesting for one in Worcester to observe the respect and esteem she sustains with the masses, and to
see her greeted by hundreds of young men and women of the Caucasian race, in whom Miss Wilson has inspired the rudiments of learning. Miss Wilson's pupils are almost exclusively Caucasians.
As a business woman she demonstrates great ability in the management of real estate, including that of her own fine home, situated in an exclusive section of the city. In her life of devotion to the home, to the Church, and to the cause of education, the observer sees reflections of consecrated parents beaming forth in the daughter.
The subject of this sketch shows much evidence of her early Christian training in her every day life of fidelity to the A. M. E. Church, of which she is a member. Miss Wilson is a study in respect to her
[ILLUSTRATION]
MISS SARAH ELLA WILSON.
versatility as teacher in letters, music and art and the Sunday school. She is a Bible student of close application, having pursued a three years' course in synthetic study under Rev. James M. Gray, D.D., and later completing her normal training course for efficient Bible teaching. Therefore, as Sunday school superintendent, as she is at Worcester, her genius as an exponent of the Bible is manifest.
Other evidences of her leadership are shown not only in the many local positions of honor and trust, but from the fact of her being superintendent of the department of education in the Northeastern Federation of Women's Clubs. She also has the honor of being vice-president of the New England Conference Branch of the Woman's Mite Missionary Society of the A. M. E. Church. Not only do her efforts prove inspiration and encouragement to scores of followers, but also from the pen and from the platform does she radiate much enthusiasm to practical service for God and for humanity.
Wingfield, C. A., son of Jack and Louisa Wingfield, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born June 11, 1874, at Washington, Wilkes County, Ga. He was one of nine children. He entered school at the age of ten and spent part of twenty-three years in school. He received A.B., B.D. and D.D., all from Morris Brown College. He was converted in 1883 and joined the A. M. E. Church. He has held nearly every lay office in the local church. He was licensed to preach September, 1892, at Atlanta, Ga., by Rev. D. T. Greene. He was ordained a deacon in 1894, by Bishop Turner, at Thomaston, Ga., and ordained elder in 1895, by Bishop Turner; joined the annual conference at Athens, Ga., under Bishop Grant. Has held the following appointments: East Atlanta Mission, 1893-96;
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. C. A. WINGFIELD.
St. Phillips, Reynoldstown, 1897-1900; Mt. Zion, Newman, 1901-2; Barnesville, 1902-3; in 1903-4 he was superintendent and organizer of industries at Morris Brown; Eatonton, 1905-7; Athens, 1907-9; presiding elder, Gainesville district; pastor at Forsyth four years, and Milledgeville, one and a half years; at present presiding elder Milledgeville district; he built St. Phillip's Church at East Atlanta, in 1909, at a cost of $1200; church at Newman, Ga., at a cost of $4000 and another at Forsyth, Ga. He lifted a mortgage on Pierce Chapel, Athens, Ga., in 1906, to the amount of $705, and on St. Luke's, at Forsyth, in 1909, to the amount of $202. He has taken about 700 people into the Church and baptized about 500 people. He was delegate to the general conferences of 1904, 1908, 1912 and 1916, and was voted for for manager of the Book Concern in 1912. December, 1903, he married Mrs. Bessie L. Williams, of Warrenton, Ga. They have two children, Charles and Rubilue Wingfield. He is author of a "Modern Class Book" for the A. M. E. Church, and "Morris Brown Budget." He has contributed to the "Recorders," delivered baccalaureate sermons at Knox Institute, Athens, Ga., and Eddy High School, of Milledgeville, Ga. He is a member of F. and A. M. G. U. O. of O. F. and K. of P., and is a property owner.
Winn, Rev. A. Granville was born at Hemstead, Waller County, Texas, in 1882; was reared by Christian parents, and early imbibed the traits necessary for substantial manhood. He received a common school education in the public schools of Waller County,
after which he entered Prairie View Normal School. Rev. J. H. L. Rhone was at one time his teacher. When quite a youth he was deprived of the strong arm of a father, which placed upon him the responsibility of caring for a widowed mother. He spent several years in the schoolroom, during which time he was happily converted, and shortly after he entered the ministry. He was ordained deacon under Bishop Salter, in 1902; was ordained elder in 1908 by Bishop Tyree. He did mission work in East Texas. Next he served three years at Navasota, improving the church; he also served three years at
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. A. GRANVILLE WINN, D.D.
Hearne, Texas. He was transferred to the Northeast Texas Conference, and stationed at the A. M. E. Church, at Terrell, Texas, where he remained four years, raising more than $2000 for church building purposes while there.
In 1913, at Corsicana, Bishop Smith appointed him presiding elder of the Bonham District. The reports from the last conference, which was held at Dallas, are sufficient evidence of the fact that he is making good. In 1907 he was elected alternate to the general conference; in 1915 he was elected leader of the delegation of the Northeast Texas Conference, which shows how highly he is esteemed by the brethren. As the result of a creditable thesis, Paul Quinn College conferred upon him the degree of D.D. He was elected as an alternate to the general conference at Kansas City, Mo., 1912.
Wise, John Milton, one of six children of Albert and Arby Reed Wise, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born May 28, 1866, in Gadsden County, Fla. He attended school for eight terms at Quincy and Tallahassee, Fla.; later at Morris Brown College. He also studied under private teachers, and received the degree of D.D. from Edward Waters College. He was converted July 4, 1889, and joined the church at Carabelle, Fla.; served as steward, trustee, class leader, chorister, sexton, exhorter, Sunday school teacher and superintendent; was licensed to preach August, 1892, by Rev. J. A. Wood, at Steam Mill, Ga.; ordained deacon December, 1896, at Monticello, Ga., by Bishop Grant; elder, December, 1898, at Pensacola, Fla., by Bishop Gaines. he joined the annual conference at Apalachicola, Fla., in 1894, under Bishop Grant. Has served the following charges: St. Thomas Mission, 1894; Antioch Mission, 1895; Union Hill Circuit, 1896-8; Sinai Circuit, 1899-1900; Fountain Head circuit, 1901-2; Tallahassee circuit, 1903; Concord circuit, 1904; Marianna circuit, 1905-8; Campbellton, 1909-10; Apalachicola, 1911-14; presiding elder, Campbellton district, 1915-16; built the following
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. M. WISE, D.D.
churches in Jefferson County, Fla.: St. Thomas, antioch and Union Hill; also parsonages at Fountain Head; remodeled church at Apalachicola and Campbellton, and paid mortgages on St. James, Marianna. He has taken 1157 persons into the Church, and baptized 842. He was delegate to four general conferences, 1904 to 1916; member of "Western Recorder" Board, 1912-16; contributor to "Recorders;" Mason, Odd Fellow, K. of P. and American Woodman; treasurer of West Florida Conference four years; trustee and member of executive board of Edward Waters College; member and director Co-operative Business League. Married to Mrs. Josephine Wise, who was born in Decatur County, Ga. They have one child, Miss Eureka Wise, B.S., and own a comfortable home.
Wittenberg, Edward, one of the nine children of Henry and Elizabeth Wittenberg, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born April 27, 1873, at New Orleans, La. He entered school at the age of eight years and spent ten years in school, attending Fisk Public School, New Orleans, and Wilberforce University, graduating from the latter with the degree B.D. He also received the degree D.D. from Campbell College, Jackson, Miss. He was converted in June, 1892, and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He has held almost every office in the church. He was licensed to preach in 1895 at New Orleans, La., by Rev. A. M. Green. He joined the Annual Conference in 1898, at Lima, Ohio, under Bishop Lee;
was ordained deacon, October 7, 1900, at Oxford, Ohio, by Bishop Arnett, ordained elder, 1902, at Dayton, Ohio, by Bishop C. S. Smith.
He has held the following appointments: Harveysburg, Ohio, 1898 to 1900; Yellow Springs, Ohio, 1901-03; Plaquemine, La., 1903; Patterson, La., 1904-05; Baton Rouge, La., 1906-08; Greenville, Miss., 1909-12; Bethel, Vicksburg, Miss., 1913-16. He built a parsonage
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. EDWARD WITTENBERG, D.D.
at Baton Rouge, La., at a cost of $2,000, in 1906. He paid a $600 mortgage on the church at Yellow Springs, Ohio, in 1902. He installed new pipe organ in St. Matthew's Church, at Greenville, Miss., and new pews at a cost of $500, in 1909.
He has taken at least 600 people into the church, baptized 175 and married 42.
He was delegate to General Conference in 1912 and 1916. He was elected President of Lampton Institute, Alexandria, La., in 1908.
He married Mrs. Lillie Wittenberg, of New Orleans, February 25, 1896. His children are William, aged thirteen, Flora, aged twelve, Mary, aged eight, Edward, aged six, Juanita, aged four, Marguerite, aged two, Carl, aged one. He wrote a pamphlet called "Principal Factor in the Building of a Race." He delivered the Commencement Addresses at Campbell College in 1906 and Shorter College in 1914. He is connected with Odd Fellows and Masons. He held the office of Assistant District Grand Secretary of Odd Fellows in Ohio. He is a Republican and a property owner.
Woods, Rev. A. K., was born on the island of St. Kitts, British West Indies, April 29, 1862. He was converted and joined the Wesleyan Church, at the age of 7 years. He attended one of the high schools of the island, where he received his diploma in 1876. He came to America in 1883, and connected himself with St. Andrew's A. M. E. Church, Darien, Ga., and in 1894 joined the Georgia Annual Conference. He has been an active minister ever since, and has filled the following appointments: Fleming, 1894-1896; Dittmersville (Savannah), 1896-1898; Jesup, 1898-1899; Summertown, 1899-1903; Gaines Chapel, Savannah, 1903; Sylvester, 1901-1907; Helena, 1907-1908; Hawkinsville, 1908-1912; Valdosta, 1912 to date. He took a correspondence course in theology from Turner Theological Seminary (Morris Brown University) and graduated in 1907, and the same year the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on him. He is one of the trustees of Morris Brown University, and has
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. A. K. WOODS, D.D.
been for fourteen years. He has been very successful on his charges. He is known to improve charges wherever he goes, remodeling the churches and parsonages and paying off detbs. He has recently renovated and remodeled the church at Valdosta, installing a beautiful pipe organ, at a cost of $2500. He is now the secretary of the South Georgia Annual Conference. He is a delegate to the Centennial General Conference of 1916.
Woods, Rev. C. A., joined the A. M. E. Church in 1883. Joined the Kansas Conference in 1898, under Bishop B. F. Tanner. He served the following places: Beatrice, Neb., one year, and received $8.75 for salary; Garden City Circuit, Kan., paid off debt of $122; Ellsworth Circuit, Council Grove Circuit, Osage City, Olathe and Hillsdale; put new roof on church at Olathe, and sidewalk in front of church at Hillsdale; Ward's Chapel, Iola, Kan.; South Omaha, Bethel, Pratt City; St. Mark's, Topeka; Emporia, Mt. Olive Chapel, St. James, Lawrence, Kan. He has been the cause of many souls being saved. and added many to the several churches he pastored. He had paid many debts on the churches he served. He is a hard worker.
Woodson, Rev. Thomas Wesley, is the son of James and Elizabeth Woodson and grandson of Thomas Woodson, originally of Shadwell, Va., a direct descendant of Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence. His grandfather, grandmother and seven children came to Chillicothe, O., in the year of 1813 or 1814. He and his wife were charter members of the first A. M. E. Church organized west of the Allegheny Mountains--Quinn Chapel, Chillicothe, O., organized 1821, by Paul Quinn.
Thomas Wesley was born on his father's farm, near Berlin Cross Roads, Jackson County, O., February 15, 1853. He attended the district school of his neighborhood, which was famous for turning out school teachers, also the high school, in Jackson, O., and Wilberforce University. Was converted during the administration of Rev. W. T. Artis, 1877-1878, and united with the A. M. E. Church, at Berlin, filling the offices of trustee, steward, class leader and Sunday school superintendent.
He was married to Miss Emma Worthington, at Middleport, O., October 26, 1881. To this union were born six children--Carrie L., Jessie M., Thomas E., Bertha E., Mamie A. and Mabel A., all of whom are
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. THOMAS WESLEY WOODSON.
living. He was licensed a local preacher by the quarterly conference of the A. M. E. Church, at Nelsonville, O., September 1, 1885, Rev. William J. Johnson, D.D., presiding elder. He moved to Findlay, O., July, 1886, and the same year organized and built an A. M. E. Church. This he pastored until he joined the North Ohio Annual Conference, September, 1887, at Delaware, O., under Bishop J. P. Campbell. He was ordained deacon by Bishop D. A. Payne, at Eaker Street A. M. E. Church, Dayton, O., September 20, 1891; elder by Bishop B. W. Arnett, at Steubenville, O., September, 1894. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Morris Brown College, 1913. He has filled the following appointments: Carthagena and Shelby Circuit, Lebanon, Yellow Springs, Mechanicsburg and Marysville Circuit, Troy, Lockland, Piqua, Urbana, Newark, North Street, Springfield; Wayman, Eaker Street, Dayton (North Ohio Conference). The following in the Ohio Annual Conference: Portsmouth, Wilmington, St. John, Xenia; Washington C. H., Mt. Vernon, Columbus, Quinn Chapel, Chillicothe, and Wayne Chapel, Mt. Vernon, North Ohio Conference. He built the second church at Dayton while pastoring Eaker Street, 1907. He has received 512 persons into the Church and baptized 207.
He was a delegate, representing the North Ohio Annual Conference, at the general conference at Chicago, Ill., 1904, and a member of the General Board of the Allen C. E. League. He was president of the North Ohio Sunday school Institute, from July, 1903, to 1910, and president of the Ohio Conference Sunday school Institute for three years. He was the first state superintendent of the Allen C. E. League in Ohio, and organized the work in the state, holding the first state convention in St. John's A. M. E. Church, Cleveland, O., July, 1908 (I. A. Collins, pastor). He served as statistical secretary of the North Ohio Conference eight consecutive years, and is now filling the same office in the Ohio Conference. A trustee of Wilberforce University, and also a member of the Executive Board. He is a trustee of the Ohio Anti-Saloon League.
He has been a member of the G. U. O. of O. F. for thirty years, and is a most venerable patriarch, and served as District Grand Chaplain of the District Grand Lodge of Ohio for a number of years. He is a Republican.
Work, Prof. Monroe N., was born in Iredell County, N. C. He was reared in Illinois and Kansas. His education has been as follows: Graduated from the high school, Arkansas City, Kan., 1892; in 1895, entered the Chicago Theological Seminary, graduating in 1898. While here he became interested in the subject of sociology, and decided to enter the University
[ILLUSTRATION]
PROF. MONROE N. WORK.
of Chicago and prepare himself for work in this field. He remained in that institution five years. In 1902 he received the degree of bachelor of philosophy, and in 1903 the degree of master of arts, with sociology as a major subject and experimental psychology as a minor. His theses for the master's degree was "Negro Real Estate Holding in Chicago." This attracted widespread attention and brought forth many comments from the press throughout the country. He showed that the first owner of property on the site of what is now Chicago was a San Domingan Negro, Baptiste Point Du Sable, who settled here as an Indian trader in 1790.
His first position after graduation from the University of Chicago was with the Georgia State Industrial
College as professor of history and education. This position he held for five years. In 1908 he went to Tuskegee Institute and established the Department of Records and Research. The results of the work of this department are embodied in the Negro Year Book, the first edition of which appeared in 1912. This publication has become a standard authority on matters pertaining to the race. It circulates widely, not only in this country, but throughout the world. Wherever there are persons interested in the Negro and wishing to secure reliable, comprehensive facts concerning him they consult the Negro Year Book.
The subjects of the important articles which he has published in magazines and periodicals are: "Some Parallelisms in the Development of Africans and Other Races," "The African Family as an Institution," "The African Medicine Man," "African Agriculture," "An African System of Writing," "The Negro and Crime in Chicago," "Negro Crime in Cities," "Negro Criminality in the South," "The Negro Church and the Community," "How to Fit the School to the Needs of the Community," "The Negroes of Warsaw, Georgia," "The Negroes' Industrial Problem," "Self Help Among Negroes," "Educational Problems," "Fifty Years of Negro Progress," "The Spirit of Negro Poetry," "The South and Negro Health," "Geechee Folklore," "Negro Occupations."
Wortham, Rev. P. W., was born of slave parents, in Warrenton, N. C., April 4, 1862. He received his early education in the public schools of Warrenton. Later he entered the Hampton Normal School, of Hampton, Va. After completing the course at Hampton, he began the study of law, but later gave it up and took a course in theology. In 1887 he was licensed to preach, and was appointed by the annual conference
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. P. W. WORTHAM.
pastor of Oak Chapel A. M. E. Church, the church in which he was reared. He served this charge for four years, and was sent to Pittsboro, where he remained three years, adding more than a hundred to the membership. His next appointment was Roxboro, N. C. After serving this charge three months he was sent to Burlington, N. C., a church greatly disturbed by internal dissension. To Annapolis, Md., he was next sent and immediately set himself to the task of relieving the church of its very heavy financial burden. A very much needed parsonage was built during the last year of his administration. From here he was sent to Payne A. M. E. Church, Baltimore, Md., and while here increased the church membership and brought into the connection the A. U. M. P., at Towson, Md. He has also served as presiding elder of the Baltimore District of the Baltimore Conference. From here he went to Morgantown, N. C., where the people were struggling to build a new church. He remained here two years, during which time he built a new church and made many improvements, besides adding to the church membership. When he had completed his pastorate at this church he was transferred to the Baltimore Conference, and stationed at St. Paul's A. M. E. Church, Washington, D. C. He remained here four years, and terminated a very successful pastorate, to be sent to Cumberland, Md., which he also served four years. While here he enlivened every department of the church and became an active worker in every movement looking to the best interests of the colored citizens of the city.
Wright, Rev. Major Charles, is the son of Major Anthony and Lottie Wright. His mother was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. He was born at Vicksburg, Miss., November 25, 1873. His parents had nine children. He began attending school when quite young, and spent at least twelve years in school. He spent over two years in the Eureka High School, Campbell College and Morris Brown University. He received the degree of B.D. from Turner Theological Seminary, and D.D. from Campbell College. He was converted in 1895, and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He has held many offices in the Church, such as steward, trustee, class leader, exhorter, local preacher, Sunday school teacher, superintendent and district superintendent. He was licensed to preach in 1897, at Anquilla, by Rev. W. F. Dangerfield; was ordained deacon, 1899, at Durant, Miss., by Bishop W. B. Derrick, and ordained elder December 20, 1902, at Rosedale, Miss., by Bishop Tyree. He entered the annual conference in 1899, at Durant, Miss., under Bishop Derrick. He has held the following appointments: Jackson Mission, 1899; Rolling Fork Circuit, 1900; Duncan Circuit, 1902; Stoneville Circuit, 1903-4; Woodville Station, 1907; Summit Station, 1908; Hattiesburg Station, 1909-10; Port Gibson, 1911, and Greenville Station, 1913-14. He was presiding elder of the Greenville District in 1915, and has been pastor at Natchez, Miss., since 1915. He built a parsonage at Hattiesburg, in 1909, at a cost of $800. He lifted a mortgage on St. Peter's Church, at Port Gibson. He has taken about 500 people into the Church and baptized about 200 people. In 1895 he married Mrs. Amanda E. Wright, of Benoit, Miss. They have four children--Lenora, age 21; M. C. Wright, Jr., age 18; Edmonia, age 16, and Luther, age 14. His daughter, Miss Lenora, is a graduate from Campbell College, and is a teacher in Clarksdale, Miss. Miss Edmonia from Natchez High School. He has contributed to newspapers and magazines. He delivered the baccalaureate sermon at Alcorn A. and M. College, at Natchez College, and addressed the Vicksburg city
school. He is a member of the Eastern Star, Masons, and Sons and Daughters of Gideon. He owns a home. He is chairman of the Executive Board of Ward Academy,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. M. C. WRIGHT.
and a delegate to the Centennial General Conference.
Wright, Mrs. Amanda, is the wife of Rev. M. C. Wright, of Natchez, Miss. She is a native of Mississippi, and was married in 1895. She is the state organizer of the Allen Christian Endeavor League of Mississippi, and an earnest Christian worker.
Wright, Perry Alexander, was born in Cecil County, Md., on January 30, 1832. His parents, Emory and Matilda Wright, were free people, as were
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MR. PERRY A. WRIGHT.
all of their people, and well to do. From a child Mr. Wright was a strong, reliable character. His parents and neighbors recognized him as such. At the age of sixteen years he embraced religion and joined the A. M. E. Church. He was married to Eliza Douglass January 6, 1858, who bore him nine children, five of whom are living. Mrs. Wright died in 1911. In 1865 Mr. Wright enlisted in the army. There his strong Christian character shone forth brightly. It has often been told how he would assemble the men and have prayer-meeting, and many a sick and wounded man was the better for having come in contact with him. In 1869 he moved to Chester, Pa., where he at once interested himself in the church. He has always been a strong pillar in Murphy's A. M. E. Church. In 1909, when the church went under the sheriff's hammer, Mr. Wright put up his own valuable property to save the church. He is one of our best-known colored business men, and is especially popular among the young people, who lovingly call him Uncle Perry. He is of a genial disposition. One son is Dr. Wright, of Chicago, while a daughter, Mrs. Baker, is one of the most useful members of Bethel Church, New York.
Wright, Richard Robert, Jr., is the son of Major R. R. and Mrs. Lydia Elizabeth (Howard) Wright. His father has been for twenty-five years the president of the Georgia State Industrial College, Savannah, Ga., and was major and paymaster of the United States Volunteers in the Spanish-American war. He was born April 16, 1878, at Cuthbert, Ga. He is a member of a family of nine children. Entered school at the age of six years, and attended school about eighteen years in all, attending the graded schools of Augusta, Ga.; Haines Institute, Augusta, Ga.; Georgia State College, University of Chicago and University of Pennsylvania. Graduated from the normal department of the Georgia State College in 1895, receiving gold medal for scholarship. He received A.B. degree from Georgia State College, 1898; A.M., Georgia State College, 1901; B.D., from the University of Chicago, W. Rainey Harper, president, 1901; A.M., from the University of Chicago, in 1904; Ph.D., from the University of Pennsylvania, in 1911. He was Research Fellow in Sociology in 1905-6, and Special University Fellow in Sociology at University of Pennsylvania, 1906-8. During 1903 and 1904 he studied in the University of Berlin, Germany; in 1904 he was a student at the University of Leipsig, Germany. He refused to accept the honorary degree of D.D. from Wilberforce University, in 1914, because of the conviction that no man under forty years of age should receive an honorary degree. He was converted February, 1891, and joined Bethel A. M. E. Church, Augusta, Ga. He has been an exhorter, local preacher, Sunday school teacher, secretary and assistant superintendent of Sunday schools, and president of Allen Christian Endeavor. Licensed to exhort by Rev. S. D. Roseborough, in 1898, and licensed to preach in 1899 at St. Philip's, Savannah, Ga., by Rev. T. N. M. Smith; joined the Iowa Annual Conference under Bishop Arnett, September, 1899, at Bethel Church, Chicago, Rev. R. C. Ransom, pastor; ordained deacon, September, 1900, at Minneapolis, Minn., by Bishop Grant; ordained elder September, 1901, at St. Stephen's, Chicago, by Bishop Grant. Dr. Wright has held the following appointments: Assistant pastor of the Institutional Church, Chicago, 1900-01; instructor of Hebrew and New Testament Greek in Payne Theological Seminary, 1901-1903; on leave of
absence to study in Germany, 1903-1904; Elgin, Ill., 1904; Trinity, Chicago, 1904-1905; in University of Pennsylvania, 1905-1908; Conshohockon, Penna., 1908; editor Christian Recorder since 1909. He was a member of the general conference of 1912, and business manager of the Book Concern, as well as editor from February, 1909 to 1912, succeeding Dr. H. T. Johnson editor and Dr. J. H. Collett, manager, both deceased. He was a delegate to the Ecumenical Conference, Toronto, Canada, 1911; was elected editor of Christian Recorder in 1912 and re-elected without opposition in 1916. Married Miss Charlotte Crogman, daughter of Dr. W. H. Crogman, then president of
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REV. RICHARD R. WRIGHT, JR.
Clark University, at Atlanta, Ga., in 1909. They have three children--Ruth, 5 years; Richard R., III, 3 years; Alberta, 1 year. In July, 1911, when the Book Concern was to be sold by the sheriff for a $5000 judgment, Dr. Wright prevented the sale by purchasing the judgment for $1900 of his own funds. In 1916 he purchased a permanent church home for St. John's Mission, Philadelphia, for more than $2000 cash.
Dr. Wright was elected instructor of sociology in Howard University, at $1500 per year, but declined. He is the founder and president of Eighth Ward Settlement Building and Loan Association, member of board of managers of Association for Protection of Colored Women, Spring Street Social Settlement, member board of direction of Work for Colored churches, of Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America, Abolition Society, Mercy Hospital, member American Academy of Political and Social Science, Sigma Pi Phi, Alpha Boule, American Negro Academy, etc., etc. Author of "Negro in Pennsylvania," "Teaching of Jesus," "The Negro Problem," numerous pamphlets, magazine articles. His sociological studies have been published by United States Bureau of Labor, Pennsylvania Bureau of Industrial Statistics, Pittsburgh
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MRS. R. R. WRIGHT, JR.
Survey, Annals of American Academy of Political and Social Science, Southern Workmen, Star Center, Inter-Municipal Review, publications of the Southern Sociological Society, etc., etc. He has lectured at Howard University, Wilberforce, Georgia State College, Morris Brown University, Allen University, Campbell College, A. and M. College (Mississippi), Lincoln Institute (Missouri), A. and T. College (Greensboro, N. C.), the University of Pennsylvania, Institute for Colored Youths, and numerous educational institutions.
YOUNG, REV. JOHN HENRY, the son of Solomon and Sarah Young, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born September 2, 1855, at Sussex County, Delaware. He was one of seven children. He entered school in 1870, and attended about five years in all, but did much private study. Later he attended the Reformed Episcopal Divinity School, at Philadelphia, Pa. He received the degree B.D. at Bible College, Philadelphia. He was converted in 1871, and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He has held almost every office in the Church. He was licensed to preach June 29, 1889, at Bristol, Pa., by Rev. B. F. Lee, presiding elder. He was ordained deacon May 27, 1895, at Mt. Pisgah, Philadelphia, by Bishop Tanner, and ordained elder May 22, 1898, at Columbia, Pa., by Bishop Grant. He joined the annual conference in May, 1894, at Dover, Del., under Bishop Tanner. He has held the following appointments: Wilmington, Del., 1894-95; Marietta, Pa., 1896-98; Ward, Philadelphia, 1899-1900; Middletown, Pa., 1901; New Hope, Pa., 1902; Unionville, Pa., 1902-03; Norwood, Pa., 1904-07; Kennett Square, Pa., 1908-11; Concordville, Pa., 1912-14, and Phoenixville, Pa., 1915. He lifted a mortgage on Bethel Church, Middletown, Pa., to the amount of $500, in 1901, and on Bethel, Kennett Square, Pa., to the amount of $400, in 1901. He has taken 300 people into the Church, baptized 75 and
married 45 couples. In 1885 he married Carrie E. Young, and they had two children, Catherine R. C., age 21, and Tanner S., age 13. His daughter, Catherine, is a graduate of the High School. Rev. Young has been a contributor to the A. M. E. Review. He
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. JOHN HENRY YOUNG.
has made addresses in the Lutheran and Baptist churches. He is connected with the F. and A. M., A. P. A., and National Benefit Association, and has held prominent offices. He is a Republican, and the owner of a home.
Young, George Benjamin, was born in Texas, in the year 1865; reared on a farm; converted when quite a boy; attended the rural schools. His father sent him to Paul Quinn College, Waco, Texas, which he attended for five or six years, during which time he entered the ministry. Since there was no theological department connected with Paul Quinn, Bishop Lee and others advised him to go to Wilberforce. On motion of Dr. J. R. Bryan, D.D., he matriculated as a conference student at Wilberforce University, from which
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. G. B. YOUNG, B.D., D.D.
he finished the regular theological course. Returning to Texas he was ordained elder by Bishop Lee, and has served successfully five appointments, one year as Dean of Theology in Paul Quinn College, and has purchased wisely a few lots and built church edifices for the great A. M. E. Church. He is now presiding elder of the Dallas district, Northeast Texas Conference. He was elected to four general conferences, including the Centennial General Conference.
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REV. JAMES M. HENDERSON, D. D. (See sketch Page 144.)
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REV. W. T. JOHNSON (See sketch on Page 138.)
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REV. T. W. COFFEE (See sketch on Page 67.)
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PROF. C. H. JOHNSON (See sketch on Page 131.)
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REV. I. W. L. ROUNDTREE (See sketch on Page 193.)
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REV. JOHN W. FLEMING (See sketch on Page 90.)
ADAMS, MISS JUANITA W., daughter of John Quincy and Mayme B. Adams, was born March 19, 1888, at Independence, Kansas. Her mother and her mother's family being staunch A. M. E. workers, she was trained from infancy in the Sunday school and church, becoming secretary of the Sunday school in her eleventh year, and being continually re-elected until her boarding school career began. From her earliest remembrance, the home of her parents and grandmother were set stopping places for A. M. E. ministers, and in her fourteenth
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MISS JUANITA W. ADAMS
year Miss Adams was converted and joined Quinn Chapel A. M. E. Church in her home town, under the pastorate of Rev. T. W. Walthall. She made a splendid record throughout public school, and electing to take a business course, entered Western University, Quindaro, Kansas, then presided over by Hon. W. T. Vernon. She was graduated with honors in June, 1905. Returning home, Miss Adams was idle just three weeks, when she was recalled to take temporary work under President Vernon and Bishop Grant, then residing in Kansas City. Her work was eminently satisfactory to them, but branching into a wider field, under their recommendation she entered the service of Mr. Nick Chiles, editor of the Topeka Plaindealer, Topeka, Kansas, in November, 1905. This position she filled creditably for over a year, when she accepted employment as secretary to Miss Nannie H. Burroughs, secretary of the Women's National Baptist Convention, with headquarters then in Louisville, Kentucky. This was a post of considerable responsibility and a training course in itself. The young lady liked the work and liked the Baptists, but feeling that her usefulness was somewhat divided, after remaining with Miss Burroughs and traveling with her to various points for three years or more, Miss Adams went to Nashville to work for Mr. Ira T. Bryant, secretary of the A. M. E. Sunday School Union. Here she has filled positions of monotype keyboard operator, assistant proofreader, general clerk, etc., and is at present holding the post of private secretary to Mr. Bryant, who is gratified to have in his employ a versatile young woman who is able to work in most any place he may want to use her.
Allen, Sarah, wife of Bishop Richard Allen, was born in 1764 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. She was brought to Philadelphia to live at about eight
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. SARAH ALLEN.
years of age. About 1800 she was married to Richard Allen and labored with him till his death. Her son, Richard Allen, Jr., was secretary of the first conference. She died July 16, 1849, in Philadelphia at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Ann Adams.
Allen, C. Emery, the popular pastor of Mt. Olivet A. M. E. Church, South Bend, Ind., is one of the best pastors of the Connection. Last year he added 36
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REV. C. EMERY ALLEN, D. D.
members to the church and in his mid-summer rally raised $5,000, which was deposited in bank, making over $6,000 cash on hand for building purposes. Allen
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MRS. C. EMERY ALLEN (President Woman's Mite Missionary Society of Indiana Conference)
received the degree of D. D. from Wilberforce University. He has been a member of several general conferences and Connectional Boards.
Ashley, Mrs. M. A., widow of Rev. H. C. Ashley, only daughter of the late Rev. Moses and Elvira Burks. Her father was a pioneer African Methodist minister in Kentucky, even in the days of slavery. Mrs. Ashley had two brothers, both of whom devoted their
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. M. A. ASHLEY.
lives to the ministry of the A. M. E. Church. Her older brother, Rev. G. H. Burks, died March 2, 1915, and her other brother, Rev. T. W. Green, is now serving his third year as pastor, in Iola, Kansas.
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MRS. SARA WALLACE ARNETT (Wife of Rev. H. Y. Arnett)
Berry, Richard, was born in Conowingo, Cecil County, Md., December 9, 1815. He was the son of John and Charlotte Berry, and was one of 12 children. They were all free born. He was converted when a boy. His father and uncle belonged to the Underground Railroad and through them many slaves escaped to Canada. In 1834 his parents moved to Philadelphia. He joined Mother Bethel and was a class leader. In 1837 he married Miss Sophia Ann Simpson, of Port Deposit, Md. They had three daughters. He moved to West Philadelphia, then called Hamilton Village. He obtained his letter and joined Mt. Pisgah
A. M. E. Church, then in its infancy. He was ordained deacon and filled every office in the church--class leader, steward, exhorter, preacher, deacon and elder. He was instrumental in assisting to erect the present Mt. Pisgah, and at one time placed his home and interest at stake to save the church from creditors.
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REV. RICHARD BERRY
He has brought many to the fold of Christ and done much for the up-building of God's Kingdom. Some of the churches he assisted in raising are Horntown, Darby, Paschal, Cape May, Murphy Chapel, Disney, Ward, and Morris Brown. He died May 25, 1897, at the age of 82.
Belliny, D. S. D., is a native Floridian, whose mother and grandmother were Methodists; a life-long Sunday school worker; founder and publisher of the Florida Templar, 1885, the first temperance newspaper owned and controlled by colored men in America; for 17 years an active member of the Health Department of the city of Jacksonville, Fla., being the first Negro to secure a certificate from a regular organized board of health of the South as an expert sanitarian. He organized the first Sunday school institute, 1901, in Florida; has been continuously elected district superintendent for eighteen years of Sunday school work of the Jacksonville district. Founder of the "Jacksonville Sunday School Institute" and has been professor of Bible School Pedagogy for twelve years. Prof. Belliny is a prominent Odd Fellow. He was a delegate to the B. M. C. at Boston, Mass., 1894, receiving the unanimous vote of his lodge. He was elected a delegate to the session of Good Templars International Supreme Lodge, 1897, which met at Zurich, Switzerland; was very prominent among the organizers of the Christian Endeavor movement in Florida, holding the positions of district and conference superintendent, covering a period of twelve years. He was appointed by Bishop Hurst state superintendent of the Allen Christian Endeavor League of Florida, and by recommendation of Dr. J. C. Caldwell, general secretary, which state leads the connection with 400 organized leagues. Prof. Belliny had the honor of serving as the principal instructor of the superintendents' conference at the Young People's Congress at the Atlanta, Ga., session, July, 1914; at the close of the conference he was elected by his colleagues president of the conference and state superintendents' council of the A. M. E. Church. He was elected a delegate to the general conferences of 1908 and 1912. He is a prominent real estate dealer and holder of much valuable
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PROF. D. S. D. BELLINY.
Florida property, both in the city and state. He is the father of two daughters and one son, D. S. D., Jr. His daughter, Miss Corinne J., is a graduate of Wilberforce University, class 1914, and is a teacher in the public schools of Jacksonville, Fla. Prof. Belliny is a prominent member of Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church, Jacksonville, holding the position of recording steward.
Branch, R. V., was born in Muskogee County, Ga., near Columbus. His father and mother operated
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. R. V. BRANCH, D. D.
a farm in the early life of this boy, and gave him training on the same. The first school he attended was organized by his father, Ben Branch, and five
other men of the community, it being a pay school. He continued in this second until he reached what we would call the third grade.
Ben Branch and Eliza Branch were of the old early Methodist stock, and young Branch has always been a Methodist. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church at the age of 12 years; was licensed to preach by Rev. E. P. Holmes, then presiding elder of the Columbus District of the Macon (Ga.) Conference, April, 1894; was admitted to the Macon (Ga.) Conference at Augusta, Ga., November 1894, Bishop Grant presiding; was ordained deacon at Eatonton, Ga., November, 1895; ordained elder at Tolbotton, Ga., by Bishop Turner, in 1897; pastored the following charges: Prospect Circuit, Glenalta Circuit; Mt. Zion Circuit, Cuthbert Station, Thomasville, St. Phillip Monumental, Savannah, Ga.; was presiding elder three years of the Atlanta District, at which time, under Bishop C. S. Smith, in the Quarto-Centennial Rally, he led all the districts in the State, raising for education $1,400--$293 more than any other presiding elder in the State; then appointed pastor of Allen Temple, Atlanta, and remained in this charge four years, remodeling the church and putting in a $2,500 pipe organ, all at a cost of $5,000; now presiding elder of the West Savannah District of the Georgia Conference.
Bray, H. Franklin, pastor Hutchinson, Kansas, was born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, May 14, 1875; received his early education in the public schools of Indiana, Wilberforce University and Payne Theological Seminary, where he prepared himself for his life's work. He has served the following appointments: Paducah, (Ky.), Elizabethtown (Ky.), presiding elder of the
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REV. H. FRANKLIN BRAY, D. D.
Louisville (Ky.) District, Pueblo (Colo.), Phoenix (Ariz.) and Hutchinson (Kans.). In Phoenix he built a mammoth modern church and a modern parsonage property valued at $15,000. He has written many poems and articles on current and sociological subjects that have attracted much favorable comment. Dr. Bray was prominently mentioned for editor of the Western Christian Recorder. He bears the distinction of having been the youngest presiding elder in the connection. He was also the youngest ministerial delegate, elected to the General Conference at Chicago in 1904. He was delegate to the General Conferences of 1912 and 1916, and is a trustee of Wilberforce and Western Universities.
Butler, Daniel H., presiding elder, Gulfport District, Mississippi Annual Conference. Dr. Butler is a graduate of Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Ga., has pastored successfully in Georgia and Mississippi; was president of Campbell College, Jackson, Miss., and Paul Quinn College, Waco, Tex.
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REV. D. H. BUTLER, D. D.
Since 1912 he has been presiding elder in the Mississippi Annual Conference. Has been delegate to several General Conferences, was voted for for Business Manager, was elected to the General Conference of 1916 without opposition and by acclamation. Mrs. Mamie Brockman-Butler, his wife, died May, 1916.
Byrd, Mrs. Malinda L., daughter of John and Ruth Kendall, was born April 21, 1880. She was educated at Southland College; converted at the age of ten years. She married in 1901, Mr. F. E. Byrd, of
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MRS. M. L. BYRD.
Marvel, Ark.; taught in the public schools of Phillips and Lee Counties, Ark., for fifteen years. She is superintendent of Helena District A. C. E. League; secretary of W. H. and F. Missionary Society of the
Helena district; was delegate to the quadrennial W. H. and F. Missionary Convention, New Orleans, La., 1915; also one of the representatives of the W. H. and F. Missionary Society of the East Arkansas Conference Branch to the Centennial General Conference, Philadelphia, Pa., May, 1916; matron of Shorter College, and has been substitute R. F. D. No. 2 mail carrier, Marvel, for seven years.
Cain, Richard Harvey, fourteenth bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Greensboro County, W. Va., April 28, 1826. In early manhood he moved with his parents to Ohio, where he worked as a steamboat hand. He was converted at Portsmouth, O., in 1841, and on moving to Hannibal, Mo., in 1844 was licensed to preach by Rev. William Jackson, of the M. E. Church. Soon afterward he joined the A. M. E. Church and was admitted to the Indiana Conference in 1854, having his first charge at Muscatine, Iowa. In 1859 he was ordained deacon by Bishop Paul Quinn and the next year entered Wilberforce University,
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BISHOP RICHARD H. CAIN.
proving himself an untiring student. Transferred to the New York Conference in 1861, he had charge of Bridge Street Church in Brooklyn. The next year, 1862, he was ordained elder by Bishop Payne in Washington. In 1865 he was sent to the South Carolina Conference and in this state he performed invaluable service for African Methodism, serving as pastor of Emanuel Church, Charleston, and also as presiding elder. He also interested himself in state affairs, being a member of the constitutional convention which revised the constitution of South Carolina, serving two years as state senator, editing a Republican newspaper and in 1879 being elected to the Forty-third Congress and in 1881 to the Forty-fifth Congress. He served very acceptably as president of Paul Quinn College at Waco, Texas. Wilberforce University conferred upon him the degree of D.D. He was elected bishop in 1880 and was appointed to organize work in Africa. He died January 18, 1887, and was buried in Washington, D. C.
Carpenter, W. Spencer, pastor of Allen A. M. E. Church, Philadelphia, Pa., was born under the English flag, in November, 1875. When a babe, he was brought to Cambridge, Mass., where he was reared, he being one out of a family of ten children born to his parents, Alexander C. and Phoebe A. Carpenter. In his twelfth year, adversity, through illness, having struck his father, he was obliged to leave school and assist in the support of his home. A position was secured for him as apprentice in the famous University Press, of Cambridge, Mass., in which institution, nine
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. W. SPENCER CARPENTER.
years later, he was promoted to a journeyman printer and assigned to the job and art department in that establishment, being the first of his race to have finished an apprenticeship in that institution. When 18 years of age, he enlisted in the services of the Massachusetts Volunteers and, in 1898, when the call for men to enter the Spanish-American War came he, with his company, volunteered, and he saw service in Cuba and Porto Rico and, in the engagement at Guanica, P. R., he was shot in the hand. After the war, Rev. Carpenter entered business for himself, and later on sold out to his partner and entered the establishment of a large printing house--the C. & C. Press, Cambridge, where as a designing printer, he held a permanent position. In the meantime, he had entered and passed through the evening grammar and high schools. In 1906 he was converted under the preaching of Rev. R. C. Ransom, who promoted him to the superintendency of Charles Street Church Sunday School. During this time he gave his full life to the Church, and, under tutors from Harvard and Boston Universities, he was prepared for the ministry. For two years he was assistant pastor of Charles Street Church, Boston. From there he was sent to Bridgeport, Conn., and two years later was transferred to the Philadelphia Conference, where for the past five years he has remained. Rev. Carpenter has contributed articles to the race magazines and to the daily press. He has written and produced two musical comedies; was
department chaplain of Pennsylvania-American War veterans for two years; is a past master in the Masonic fraternity, and now holds the commission of major general in the uniform rank, K. P., E. & W. H. In the Massachusetts Volunteers he rose from private to first lieutenant, resigning the latter commission in 1909. In 1908 he was married to Anna M. Williams, of Boston, Mass., which union has been blessed with two children. He is serving his sixth year at Allen A. M. E. Church, Philadelphia.
Clayborn, John Henry, the son of David and Martha Clayborn, was born December 2, 1881, at Arkadelphia, Ark.; joined the A. M. E. Church in 1897 and was licensed to preach by Dr. W. H. Jones, in 1903. In 1902 he married Miss Lula B. Mitchell, and they have six children. He joined the annual conference under Bishop Evans Tyree, 1902; was ordained deacon in 1904, and elder in 1906, both by Bishop Lee. He has held the following appointments: Broggs circuit,
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REV. J. H. CLAYBORN.
1903; Onalaska circuit, 1904-5; Glenville circuit, 1906; New Salem circuit, 1907; New Edinburg circuit, 1908-9; Manchester circuit, 1910; Stamp station, 1911-12; presiding elder of Dumas district, 1913-14; Hamberg district, 1915; served three years as secretary of West Arkansas Conference; is a graduate of the National Business College, Quincy, Ill., 1905; Bush College, 1908; also attended Philander Smith and Shorter Colleges; studied under the American Correspondence School of Law; taught school in Arkansas for thirteen years; editor of "Arkansas Grub-Ax;" trustee of Shorter College; notary public since 1912; grand chaplain, O. E. S., of Arkansas N. D. G. M. of the M. T. of A.; commissioner of the S. K. and D., Temple Building; delegate to the general conference of 1916, and delegate to the Emancipation Celebration at Chicago, Ill., 1915, appointed by Governor Hay, of Arkansas.
Coleman, William H., the eldest son of Peter L. and Georgiana Coleman, was born in Natchez, Miss., December 13, 1840. His father was a slave, but the mother being free, the children were also free. The family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1850, where he entered school. His schooling was limited to about three years in the public schools. Later he studied theology. He was converted in 1862 joined the A. M. E. Church. In 1867 he married Miss Fannie J. Hartzell, of Ripley, Ohio. He later joined the A. M. E. Church; joined the annual conference in 1871, under Bishop Payne. Has held the following appointments: Ripley, O., Berlin Mission; Talicity, O.; Dayton, O.; Lima, O. He has lifted many mortgages and cancelled several debts on church property. He was
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. W. H. COLEMAN.
founder of the Ohio Sunday School Institute. He was appointed presiding elder in 1885, at Newark, O.; he has written several pamphlets and books, among which are "A Casket of Pulpit Thoughts." He was one of the founders of the Church Extension Society and Mite Missionary Society of Ohio. His wife is an exemplary companion, always faithful and helpful to him; her beautiful Christian character has shown as a bright light in her thirty-eight years on the ministerial road with him. He is now pastoring a small mission of his own selection, at Glendale, O. He has achieved greatness by daring to venture with his small charges that others feared. Numerous sacrifices have been his; simplicity of preaching he has ever considered; he has organized more than twenty churches in Ohio.
Cotten, T. W., son of Robert and Annis, was born at Bynum, N. C., September, 1872; was baptized in infancy and converted at twelve years of age; received a common school education, after which he attended St. Augustine College and Shaw University, Raleigh, N. C. While a boy he served an apprenticeship under his father as carpenter. He taught in the public schools several years, four of which he was principal of the Pittsboro public school, which position he resigned to become pastor of Cary circuit. A. M. E. Church, in 1900. Married Miss Lillie E. Cotten, Pittsboro, N. C., to which union four children--Lemuel, Maud, Robert and Lillian--have been born. He owns very valuable property in Pittsboro and Lenoir, N. C., also in Newport News, Va. He was first licensed an exhorter in 1898, and later local preacher, each by Dr. R. H. W. Leak, P. E. He was admitted to the Western
North Carolina Conference, November, 1899, under Bishop Handy, at Durham, N. C.; was ordained deacon by Bishop Lee, at Greensboro, 1900, and elder, by Bishop W. J. Gaines, in 1904, at Morganton, N. C. He served for eight consecutive years as secretary of the Western North Carolina Conference, during which time he was elected delegate to the general conference at Norfolk, Va., in 1908. He has served acceptably the following charges: Cary circuit, Roxboro circuit, Charlotte, N. C.; Lenoir, N. C. (Here the church was remodeled and paid for and a mission organized at Dulatown); Winston-Salem (St. James). At these
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. T. W. COTTEN, D.D.
places the church buildings were much improved, the congregations greatly strengthened and the mortgage debts either greatly reduced or entirely cancelled. From Winston-Salem, N. C., he was transferred by Bishop Coppin to the Virginia Conference and stationed at Wytheville. Here the mortgage debt, of twenty-five years' standing, was cancelled and burned the second year; the third year here he put a new roof on the church, built new fences, and left the congregation out of debt. The trustees and faculty of Kittrell College conferred upon him the degree of doctor of divinity in 1913. He is now serving his third year at Oceana, Va., where the bonded debt has been cancelled, mortgage burned and a new and flourishing mission organized at Broad Creek, Va. He is secretary of the Norfolk (Va.) A. M. E. Preachers' Meeting. In addition to his pastoral work he is now taking a special theological course at Howard University, Washington, D. C.
Cummings, P. C., was born in Abbeville, S. C., December 6, 1868. His father's name was Thomas Cummings, and his mother's name Isabella Cummings. They had nine children, and being poor, were not able to educate them as they wished. Rev. Cummings, like the other children, had only a few years' advantage of the public schools. He was converted in 1885, and joined the church of his choice, Old Glover's Chapel, A. M. E. Church, in Abbeville County. Shortly after he felt the divine call to preach the Gospel. In 1896 he was licensed to preach by that sainted man of God, Hiram Young, presiding elder of Abbeville district. He then attended night schools and took private studies, and afterward he taught night school. In 1899, December 15, he and his family moved from South Carolina to Mississippi, and in April of 1900, at the district conference, at Moorehead, Miss., he received his first appointment to Dodd's Mission, by Rev. W. B. Lewis, presiding elder of the Greenwood district. It had two points, one had three members, the other none, and there wasn't even an organization. He organized and built up a large membership, and at the other point he built a nice church and named it Bethel. He afterward pastored the following charges: Sharkey, two years; Beauford, one year; Holly Ridge, two years; Rosedale, two years; Shelby, one year. In
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. P. C. CUMMINGS.
1904 he began the theology course under Dr. James M. Henderson, of Morris Brown College, by correspondence, and continued for five years; in 1909 the conference gave him a scholarship for two terms in Campbell College, and in May, 1911, he was graduated from the theological course with the degree of B.D. In 1911, the same school conferred the honor of D.D. upon him. He pastored Mound Bayou Station, 1914-1915, a church in the greatest Negro town in the United States. He was sent from there to Greenville, Miss., as pastor of St. Matthew's Station, the leading charge in the North Mississippi Annual Conference. He was delegate to the general conference of 1916.
Devlin, Thomas C., joined the A. M. E. conference January 20, 1877; appointed to Greenville, S. C., where he remained five years and built the following-named churches: Bakers Chapel, Shady Grove, Mount Sinai, St. Peters, St. Paul and also increased the congregation from 2 to 438 members, and purchased the land for the above-named churches. He was sent next to Louisville circuit, where he built Flat Rock, Cedar Grove, Diamond Hill, Brown Oak, Clovers Church,
Ebenezer, Pine Grove, Springfield and Bethlehem; then sent to St. James' circuit, in Newberry County; built St. James' Church and St. Mark's Church; then to Cochran, and built Moore's Chapel; then to Smyrna in Laurence County, and built Bethlehem; then to Oak Park, Ill., and took charge of a congregation of three persons and enlarged the congregation to fortyeight
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. T. C. DEVLIN.
members, and built Canaan Chapel. During his career he has built and founded twenty-one churches, nine school-houses and eleven wells and two parsonages. he served Shady Grove circuit for two years and paid $844 on a $900 debt; served St. Paul's Church, Madison, Wis., and paid the entire debt and carried the ashes of the mortgage to the conference.
Disney, Richard R., fifteenth bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born June 24, 1830, in North East,
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP R. R. DISNEY.
Md.; was converted in 1843, in Baltimore, Md., and was licensed to preach in 1856, in Massachusetts, by Rev. G. A. Rue. He commenced traveling in 1857; was ordained deacon in 1858, and elder in 1860; was ordained bishop November 21, 1875. Died April 20, 1891, and was buried in Chatham, Canada.
Downs, R. R., was born in the state of Louisiana. He joined the A. M. E. Church after being convinced that it was the best church for his ideals. He has
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. R. R. DOWNS, D.D.
pastored and presided successfully in Florida, Georgia, Ohio and West Virginia, and is now presiding elder of
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. MARGARET T. DOWNS
the West Virginia conference. He has been a member of the Publication Board, the S. S. Union Board, and is now a member of the Missionary Board. He has reared a large and successful family. He is a forceful writer and has contributed to all church periodicals. Wherever he is, he is known as an outspoken enemy of all unfairness and injustice.
Dunlap, Coleman C., for 4 years pastor of Mother Bethel A. M. E. Church, Philadelphia, was born near Clinton, S. C., in the year 1861.
He was converted at the age of 18 years and joined New Bethel Church about three miles from Clinton. He was licensed to preach by Wm. S. Thomas during the pastorate of Nathaniel Childs in 1879, serving as a local preacher for two years.
In 1881 he joined the Columbia Conference, under Bishop Dickerson, at Spartansburg, S. C.
After securing a primary education at the public
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. COLEMAN C. DUNLAP, D.D.
school of Clinton, he entered Allen University at Columbia, S. C., in 1881. His parents being poor, were unable to render him any material assistance.
President J. C. Waters and Bishop Wm. F. Dickerson, seeing that he was studious and trustworthy, gave him assistance. He was assigned to a Mission Church on Wheeler Hill, Columbia, where he spent four years, and also acted as assistant teacher of the primary department. He served several small appointments around the country, during his stay of six years at Allen University.
In 1887 he graduated in the first college class of Allen University as valedictorian of his class. Among the members of the class were:
Bishop Wm. D. Chappelle, A. J. Hunter, of Alabama, and D. T. MacDaniel, of South Carolina. This same year he married Miss Martha Henderson, of Abbeville, South Carolina.
He pastored some of the best appointments of the Columbia Conference, among which were:--Abbeville, S. C., Winnsboro, S. C., and Greenville, S. C.
In 1894 he was transferred by Bishop Turner, to take charge and superintend the work of the Churches in the Bermuda Islands.
He served for four years very acceptably St. Paul Church, Hamilton, Bermuda, and nearly paid the entire indebtedness of 600 pound sterling on the church.
On returning to America he was stationed at Coxsackie, N. Y.
In 1899 he was transferred to the New England Conference and stationed at Bethel Church, Providence, R. I. Here he did wonderful work, uniting the church which had been torn asunder and increasing the congregation by 50 per cent. While here he took a special course in English literature in Brown University.
In 1903 Bishop Derrick transferred him to the Philadelphia Conference and stationed him at Chester, Pa., where he spent five successful years. He was
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. M. HENDERSON DUNLAP.
then sent to Harrisburg, Pa., and found the church well-nigh deserted. Here he possibly did the best work of his life and in 1912 Bishop Evans Tyree removed him after four years of successful labor in Harrisburg, to take charge of Mother Bethel Church, Philadelphia. It required considerable patience, endurance and diplomacy to unite the factions in this church and to bring her back to her former glory. He has accomplished a good work at Mother Bethel, paid off current expenses of $1500, which he found, kept up the mortgage indebtedness each year of $1000 and interest, repaired the memorial windows, which cost considerable, placed electric lights in the church, built two three-story houses on the church lot that bring a rental of $95 a month, decorated the entire church and paid for all these repairs in full as the work was being done. He was a delegate to the General Conferences of 1896 and 1912, and is chairman of the local committee to entertain the Centennial General Conference.
Dunlap, Mrs. M. Henderson, wife of Rev. C. C. Dunlap, was born Aug. 14, 1865, at Abbeville, S. C. She attended the public schools at her home and later Claflin University, Orangeburg, S. C. At an early age she joined the St. James A. M. E. Church, the church home of her parents. She was married to Rev. C. C. Dunlap September 22, 1887. From this happy union were born 5 boys and 1 girl.
Gaines, Wesley John, sixteenth bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born a slave, in Wilkes County, Ga., October 4, 1840; received his theological training from an Episcopal clergyman, at Athens, Ga. Married Miss Julia A. Camper, August 30, 1863. He was licensed to preach in 1860; joined the A. M. E. Church in 1865; was ordained deacon in 1866, at Savannah, by
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP W. J. GAINES.
Bishop Payne, and elder in 1867, by the same bishop. Served as pastor, presiding elder, missionary secretary, and was elected bishop May, 1888. He founded Morris Brown College; was builder of Big Bethel, Atlanta, at that time the largest colored church in the South. He is the author of "History of African Methodism in the South," "The Negro and the White Man." He had one daughter, Miss Mary C. Gaines. He died January, 1912, at Atlanta, Ga., where he is buried.
Golden, John W., pastor of Pearl Street A. M. E. Church, Jackson, Miss., son of Rev. Eli and Mrs. Cynthia Golden, was born in the early sixties. He was at birth very feeble and it is said that, to end his suffering, a physician gave him a dose calculated to take his life, but which, instead of killing him, cured him. His mother died when he was 12 years of age and he was reared by his grandmother, Mrs. Christine Roberts. His school advantages were meagre. He was converted in 1879 in Oil City, Pa., under the preaching of Rev. R. M. Green; entered the traveling ministry in 1886, was ordained deacon by Bishop Ward in 1886 at Meridian, Miss.; elder by Bishop Arnett at Friars Point, Miss.; served many charges in Mississippi and was appointed presiding elder by Bishop J. M. Conner, and in 1915 pastor at Jackson, Miss. He is considered one of the best preachers in the state of Mississippi.
Grant, Abraham, nineteenth bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born a slave in Lake City, Fla., August 25, 1848; was sold at auction at Columbus, Ga., just before the close of the Civil War, and brought $6000 in Confederate money. After the war he returned to Florida and clerked in a grocery store and studied in one of the missionary schools. Later he attended night school at Cookman Institute, Jacksonville, Fla., while he acted as steward in hotels; was converted in 1869, in Jacksonville; was licensed to preach by Rev. J. R. Scott, April 3, 1873; ordained deacon December, 1873; ordained elder March 4, 1876. While in Jacksonville he was inspector of customs, and was appointed by Governer Stearns county commissioner of Duval County. In 1878 he was transferred to Texas, and pastored San Antonio and Dallas, served as presiding elder, and became vice-president of Paul Quinn College. He was elected bishop May 24, 1888, and served over the ninth, first, fourth and fifth Episcopal districts. He was always welcome wherever he had served. He served as president of the Trustee Board of Wilberforce, and of Western University; president
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP A. GRANT.
of the Church Extension Board, president of the Publication Board, president of the Missionary Board and president of Financial Board. He visited West Africa and presided over the Sierra Leone Annual Conference. He was a member of the Anna T. Jeannes Fund Board; the second and third Ecumenical Conferences of Methodism, and died at Kansas City, Kans., where he then made his home, January, 1911.
Greene, Rev. C. A. A., was born in Barbados, British West Indies, of parents who were Christians and who early taught him the fear of God. He was well acquainted with letters before he went to school. He was converted on the way while on an errand. He attended public and other schools at times until he stood an examination at the high school of Lord Cumbermere in Bridgetown. He also learned carpentry, by which trade he was able to aid his parents when reverses came to them. He was confirmed by the Bishop of Barbados at St. Michaels Cathedral, and was a member of that church where he taught in the school. Hoping for better wages, he went to Bermuda where he met with the A. M. E. Church, joined the lyceum and became a teacher in the Sunday school. Here, also, he first met Bishop Turner, also Dr. James Porter, C. C. Dunlap, R. H. Shirley, H. H. Cooper, and J. A. Johnson (now bishop), and others in their turn. This latter's influence caused him to join the A. M. E. Church. The great-hearted Bishop Turner talked personally to him, sold him many books that had been
used by himself and gave him his first papers with authority to preach. He built up a mission in the North village at the house of a member, Mrs. S. Spencer, where meetings were held during the week and on Sunday afternoons. He also founded the Model Primary School in the same village. Bishop B. T. Tanner was next to sign his papers and he was given charge of the church at St. George and St. David's Island. He gathered material for the building of a new church at St. George's, when Bishop
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. C. A. A. GREENE
Grant came over and brought Rev. C. V. Monk to succeed him, and the next year Bishop W. B. Derrick ordained him deacon and sent him to Canada to take charge of the church in Amherst, Nova Scotia. He served two years, during which time he was ordained elder by Bishop Derrick, who brought him to the Philadelphia Conference in 1900, where he was sent to the church at Pottsville, Pa., and at the next conference was introduced at Harrisburg, Pa., where he first met the brethren. This is his fifteenth year among them, serving charges in Delaware and Pennsylvania; but his family prefers to live in Boston. The degree of S. T. D. was conferred upon him by the Bible of College of the Bible Educational Association 'of Philadelphia, an institution founded by the Rev. Dr. S. G. Miller, a learned Presbyterian clergyman, who, after four years of hard work, was taken away suddenly by death, the work falling into the hands of C. A. A. Greene, who was then secretary. The name was changed to Miller College and C. A. A. Greene is president and the good work goes on. He stands always for temperance and is chairman of that committee in his conference.
Hadden, Rev. Thomas Gary, was born in Greenville, S. C., December 18, 1867, and is the second child of Sophia Hadden and Captain Thomas Gary, of Newberry, S. C. Young Hadden attended public school at Greenville, S. C. during six or seven years, and was assisted by Rev. J. B. Middleton and Prof. C. C. Scott to enter Clark University, Atlanta, Ga., in 1883. After completing the trade of blacksmith, he left school to marry and entered the newspaper business as city editor and advertising agent of the Atlanta Defiance. He then entered the railway mail service and served until he resigned so as to devote his whole life's energies to the ministry. He was converted in 1897 and was duly impressed with the call to preach. He entered Gammon Theological Seminary as a day student. In the meantime he had accepted ordination as deacon and was busy exhorting for two or more years wherever the pastors gave him an appointment, but finally he fell from grace and backslided and remained in a fallen state until 1903, when he repented, was re-converted and returned to the service
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. THOMAS GARY HADDEN
of the Master. He resigned the mail service and joined the A. M. E. Church at Privateer, S. C., where he was appointed exhorter by Rev. L. M. Jackson, pastor. He was licensed to preach by Rev. W. M. Thomas, presiding elder, and was appointed missionary of the Wateree District of the Northeast South Carolina Conference.
Brother Hadden moved to Ashville, N. C., in 1906, and was admitted to the East Tennessee Annual Conference on trial at Knoxville, Tenn., on October 28, 1907, Bishop B. F. Lee presiding, and was appointed to the mission at St. Elmo in South Chattanooga, Tenn., where he bought and built what is now known as St. John's A. M. E. Church. On March 7, 1908, Bishop Lee appointed him to St. Paul's on Williams Street, in connection with St. Elmo. Bishop Parks sent him to Harriman, where he bought a church and parsonage and left a good working membership and only $28 due on the property. In 1910 he was transferred to the Tennessee Conference and stationed at Brooklyn Circuit. He was ordained an elder by Bishop Parks on October 29, 1911, at St. John's A. M. E. Church, Nashville, Tenn, and was returned to the East Tennessee Conference. Bishop Jones transferred him to West Tennessee and appointed him to Jackson, Tenn. On November 7, 1915, he was given the appointment to Pierce Circuit, which consists of St. John's Temple and Shad's Grove Mission.
Brother Hadden's family consists of his wife, Ella M., two daughters, Rosa L. and Ruth Ellie, and two sons, Thomas Garfield and Edward Ulysses. He has a comfortable home in Asheville, N. C., and is a Mason.
Hall, Walter P., one of the leading laymen of the A. M. E. Church. Member of Union A. M. E. Church, where he has been trustee, steward, superintendent of Sunday school, class leader, etc. Has been lay delegate to several general conferences, and member
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. WALTER P. HALL
for 12 years of the Publication Board; is regarded as one of the best business men of the race; conducts large poultry business in Philadelphia, is president of the Pioneer Building and Loan Association, Reliable Aid Society, Mercy Hospital, and active in many other movements for the religious, social and economic advance of the race.
Heath, William H. B., was born in Craven Cy., N. C., November 15, 1848, son of Nathan and Laura
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. W. H. B. HEATH.
Heath, moved to Connecticut in 1862 with a U. S. Army officer, and received common school education in New England; was ordained deacon at New Bedford, Mass., in 1875; elder in Boston in 1876, both by Bishop J. M. Brown; pastored Great Barrington, Mass.; New Bedford, Mass.; Norwich, Conn.; Plainville, Conn.; Fall River, Mass.; Unionville, Md.; Fruitland, Crisfield, Centerville, Church Hill, Piney Neck, in Maryland; Port Jefferson and Kinderhook in New York, and the following in New Jersey: Allentown, Pensauken, Fenwick, Bethel, Camden, South Woodbury, Haddonfield (twice), Wrightsville, Swedesboro, Rahway, Millville, Vineland (twice), and East Camden (twice).
Jameson, Henry Washington, clergyman, lawyer; born at Mexico, Mo., June 15, 1865; son of William and Elizabeth (Miller) Jameson; public school education, Macon, Mo., 1871-8; Galesburg, Ill., 1878-80; A.B., Knox College, Galesburg, 1888; LL.B., Wesleyan Law School, Bloomington, Ill., 1897; studied theology at Morgan Park, Ill.; (LL.D., Central Law
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REV. H. W. JAMESON, LL.B., D.D.
School, Louisville, Ky., 1906; D.D., Morris Brown College, Atlanta, Ga., 1907). Married Nannie L. Crabbe, of Galva, Ill., June 18, 1887; second marriage, Lillian E. Jenkins, of Evansville, Ind., Nov. 19, 1903; one child, Henry W., Jr. Admitted to the bar at Bloomington, Ill., 1896; was editor and publisher "American Pilot," Bloomington; licensed to preach in A. M. E. Church, 1896; his work has been confined to fourth Episcopal district in the Illinois, Iowa and West Kentucky Conferences; now pastor Bethel Church, Champaign, Ill.; was delegate from Illinois to World's Sunday School Congress, Washington, D. C., 1910; Zurich, Switzerland, 1913; instructor in Sunday school methods at Young People's Congress, Atlanta, Ga., 1914; his Sunday school work is endorsed by three Sunday school associations. Trustee Wilberforce University. Served in Spanish-American war; commissioned first lieutenant Eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and later appointed judge-advocate general courts-martial, Military District of Mayori, Province of Santiago, Cuba; was first colored clergyman to serve as chaplain in Legislature of Wisconsin; now
chaplain Spanish-American War Veterans, Department of Illinois; major U. S. Boy Scouts, Republican, member Kappa Alpha Nu, Masons, Order Eastern Star.
Kitchens, Mrs. C. B., of Jacksonville, Fla., is an active member and officer of Mt. Zion A. M. E.
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. C. B. KITCHENS
Church, Jacksonville, Fla., and a woman of power, influence and long and unselfish service.
Lankford, John Anderson, architect, builder and mechanical engineer, was born in Potosi, Miss., December 4, 1874, son of Anderson and Nancy Lankford, was educated in the public schools of his native home, the State College, Lincoln Institute, Jefferson, Mo., Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School, Tuskegee, Alabama, and the Architectural College of Scranton, Pa., and was a student of a noted German architect and mechanical engineer for over four years.
He received the degree of B. S. from Shaw University in 1898; M. S. from Morris Brown University in 1901; M. S. from Wilberforce University in 1902; and Master of Mechanical Science from the State Agricultural College, Normal, Ala., in 1908. He has designed, supervised and constructed some of the largest and most costly buildings owned by Negroes in America, and many for other races, among them being Palmer Hall, the large $70,000 building for the A. and M. College, Normal, Ala., the $40,000 First Baptist Church, Raleigh, N. C., the overhauling and building of a new parsonage for St. John A. M. E. Church, Norfolk, Va., where the General Conference of the A. M. E. Church was held, May, 1908; the $25,000 building for the Southern Aid Insurance Company; a 26-room residence and three three-story flats for Dr. W. L. Taylor; the $100,000 True Reformer's Building, John Wesley A. M. E. Zion Church, St. John's M. E. Church, Odd Fellows Hall, Hillsdale; a large cigar factory, Dave Stewart's $5,000 undertaking establishment, Winslow's and Dabney's large livery and undertaking stables, of Washington, D. C., and hundreds of other buildings throughout the country. He was appointed supervising architect of the National Negro Fair Association, of Mobile, Ala., director general of the Jamestown Exposition for the District of Columbia, was one of the vice presidents of the National Negro Business League, organizer and president of the Washington Negro Business League, District of Columbia, and was one of the directors and founders of the Y. M. C. A., District of Columbia. At the General Conferences of the A. M. E. Church in 1908 and 1912 he was elected supervising architect of the A. M. E. Church.
He has just written, published and had copyrighted a book entitled "Lankford's Artistic Church and Other Designs," the first work of its kind to be published by a Negro in this country. Dr. R. C. Ransom published in the A. M. E. Review of May, 1916, an article written by Mr. Lankford on "The Church Edifice," which has had quite a deal of favorable comment from many of the leading newspapers and magazines of the country. He is intensely interested in any movement for the betterment of the race; is a Shriner, Knights Templar and a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason. In 1901 he married the refined and cultured grand-daughted of the late Bishop H. M. Turner, and by this union they have one daughter.
Leake, William, was born about 1838, in Rockingham, Richmond County, N. C. He learned the trade of blacksmith while a slave. He was converted when thirteen years of age, and joined the M. E. Church, in which he was a class leader for several years and afterwards became a preacher. His first sermon was preached to his master and a large number of white people in a yard. He married Miss Harriet Plummet, about 1856, and they had nine children. In 1865 he went to live in Austin County, Texas, and joined the A. M. E. Church and was made a local preacher. He joined the annual conference under Bishop Shorter, in 1871, and was ordained deacon at the same time; was ordained elder in 1873 by Bishop Brown and appointed presiding elder of the Chapel Hill district, which he held for fourteen years, first as pastor, then as presiding elder. He transferred to the Northeast Texas Conference, where he spent twenty years as presiding elder. He superannuated in November, 1913, and died June, 1915. He took over 5000 persons into the Church; he had but little education but wonderful resourcefulness.
Lewis, Rev. Walter A., was born in Florence, Ga., of slave parents. He had a great desire to learn to read and write, so he applied to Mrs. Fannie Ellis (white) for instruction, and she agreed to teach him at night for $1.00 per month. When he was old enough to begin managing for himself he hired to Col. Shepherd for $10.00 per month, and by this saved enough money to pay two terms in Claflin High School, Columbus, Ga. In 1876 he left his home in Columbus, Ga., for Edwards, Mississippi, where he was put to making brick. Next he went to Claiborne county and secured a school at Port Gibson, Miss. He was converted at the age of eleven years, but did not join the church until he was fourteen. In 1877 Rev. M. T. Newsom, presiding elder of Port Gibson District, licensed him to preach at Raymond, Miss. In 1880 Bishop Turner sent him to Canton, Miss., where he organized a church and bought a church lot. In the fall of 1880 he joined the conference at Summit, Miss., and
was ordained deacon and sent to Crystal Springs, Miss., where he built a church for $900 and paid for it, and received sixty members. In 1882 he was transferred to Arkansas and stationed on the Harrisburg Circuit, where he received twenty-five members in the Church, and secured a lot at Whitehall Station. He was ordained elder by Bishop Turner, in 1882, at Little Rock. In 1883 he went to Osceola, Ark., where there was no church and only a few Methodist people. These were soon organized, and that year 125 members were added to the Church. The next year, 1884, the Lord blessed his efforts with a great revival, and ninety souls were converted and seventy joined the Church. By this time a church had been built and Osceola was a good point. The same year he organized a church at Elmot, Ark., with twenty members.
In December, 1885, he was married to Miss Carrie E. Cayton, of Hermanville, Miss., who has ever been his faithful companion for the past thirty years. In 1887 he was transferred to West Tennessee Conference and stationed on the Lucy Circuit. While here he organized a church in the adjoining town, Millington, which proved to be the strongest point on the circuit. In 1888 he was sent to Mt. Zion Circuit, where he repaired the church, built a parsonage and received thirty-five members in the Church. In 1889 Bishop Wayman sent him to Union City, to gather a discouraged membership; harmony soon prevailed, and thirty-five persons were added. The first $250 toward building a new church was raised, and he entertained the conference that year with much satisfaction. At the close of that conference he was appointed presiding elder of the South Memphis District. He served that district four years, and organized the following churches; Bethel Church, Memphis, Tenn.; Moore's Chapel, Brownsville, Tenn.; Pilgrim, McCulley and North Memphis, and during that time he received 300 members into the fold.
In 1893 he was appointed presiding elder of the Memphis District, served four years, received over five hundred members, and organized Dyersburg Church, and built a house of worship; also organized a church at Covington, Atoka, Quito, Richardson Landing and Greenleaf. In 1897 he was appointed pastor of Quinn Chapel, Paris, Tenn.; served two years with great success, adding forty members to the Church; built the best parsonage then in the state. In 1899 he was returned to Memphis and stationed at St. Andrew. While there forty precious souls were saved, seventy-five were added to the church, the church was renovated, and he made the best report that had ever been made from that church up to that time. In 1909 he was again made presiding elder and placed over the Dixon District, serving acceptably five years, organizing Promise Land and Fort Cooper Churches, and receiving 200 members. In 1905 he was appointed the second time to the South Memphis District, where he served three years, and planted the following churches: Old Tyler, Gilchrist, Wayman Chapel, Ward's Chapel, Allen's Chapel; reorganized Mt. Zion and rebuilt the church.
The general conference of 1904 adopted the People's Benefit Association of the A. M. E. Church, of which he was the founder, and made him the secretary. From 1904 to 1908 he collected and paid more than $1000 to sick ministers and their wives. In 1908 the general conference of Norfolk, Va., combined the P. B. A. and the C. P. A., and overwhelmingly elected Rev. Lewis secretary. This organization did more in his administration than during the two previous administrations of its existence. In 1912 he was appointed to New Tyler, Memphis, where a splendid year's work was accomplished; twenty-five members were received into the church; $200 was paid on the lot for a new church. In 1913 he was placed on the Paris District as presiding elder, where he is doing much for this Church and race.
He has been a member of each general conference since 1884. Was a delegate to the World's Parliament of Religion in Chicago. Has been a director of the People's Bank and Trust Company, Nashville, Tenn., since its organization in 1911; also of the Solvent Saving Bank, Memphis, Tenn., two years. He was president of the trustee board of Turner College for three years, and no man has done more for the perpetuation of that school than he.
In 1911 he bought Scovel Street A. M. E. Church, Nashville, Tenn., paying $300 of his own money to bind the contract, thus giving the connection another church in Nashville, and received D.D. from Turner College, 1915.
Martin, Miles Madison, was born May 4, 1861, at Ninety-six, Abbeville County, S. C. His parents, who were slaves, both died when he was fifteen years old. He joined the A. M. E. Church, of which his mother was a member, at ten years of age, and was converted and received as a full member in 1878, under Rev. G. W. Marshall. He was licensed to preach May 17,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. M. M. MARTIN.
1880, by Rev. S. H. Jefferson. Married Miss Clarissa Childs November 14, 1880. He learned to write by picking up old letters and copying from them, studying by a wood knot light. After four years' struggle he went to the Brewal Normal School, Greenwood, S. C., with a wife and four children, and remained four years. He taught the public school in 1884 and 1885. He joined the annual conference in 1884, was ordained deacon in 1885, by Bishop Shorter, at Greenville, S. C., and elder. Served the following charges: Greenville Mission, 1884, 16 members; taught mixed school of white and colored children, bought one acre of land and built church, paying $500; Seneca and Walhalla, 1886; taught school and bought church, which
had been sold at auction. for $250 of his own money; St. Matthew's, Orangeburg, remodeled church and paid $200 debt; St. Mark's Mission, Clarendon County, taught school, bought land and built church, all in five months; Wedgefield circuit, paid debt and remodeled church; Vance circuit, Live Oak circuit, paid $280 debt, and for parsonage; Mt. Olive, Sumter County, remodeled church; St. Luke's circuit; Marysville circuit, Laurel Hill circuit, St. Paul's circuit, Mt. Pleasant station, paid mortgage, remodeled church; Beulah circuit, remodeled one church, raised $118 to build another; Cypress Fork circuit, remodeled church, raised $180 to build another, and presiding elder Dillon district; has taken 1368 persons into the Church, baptized 103 children and married 69 couples; studied theology under Drs. J. E. Haynes and J. M. Henderson.
Morris, Rev. Joseph Edward, the third of the thirteen children and the first of seven sons of Christian and Susan Morris, was born in Turkeyville, Lancaster County, Pa., November 24, 1866. At seven years he went to his grandmother (Kittie Morris) at Washingtonboro, below Columbia, Pa., where he attended school. At 14 he hired to a farmer (Jacob Staman), and attended school in the winter. He left the farm at the age of 19 and went to Lancaster, Pa., and was foreman in a rolling mill. He was converted in the A. M. E. Church, 1886. He went to Pittsburgh, Pa., October, 1891; joined Brown Chapel A. M. E. Church, Allegheny, November, 1891; joined Chartiers' (now Allen Chapel) Church in 1892, and became superintendent of the Sunday school. He was licensed to exhort by Rev. W. H. Brown in September, 1894. He was licensed to preach in August, 1895, by Dr. Cornelius Asbury, and joined the annual conference October, 1895, in Wilkesbarre, Pa., under Bishop Arnett. The conference being full, he was sent home, but on Easter Sunday he was sent to Belleview. At Washington, Pa., October, 1896, he was ordained deacon by Bishop Lee, and sent to Olean, N. Y., where he cleared the church of debt and added to its membership. West Middletown, Pa., Parkersburg and Clarksburg, W. Va., were his next charges. In Clarksburg he cleared the church of debt, trebled the Dollar Money, and entertained the conference in 1900. He was ordained elder by Bishop Lee in 1899. He went next to Tyrone, Pa., where he lifted the mortgage of $1,400 in six months; thence to Bellefonte, where he bought a parsonage. After two years he went to Erie and laid the plans for the clearing of the debt of that church amounting to $2,500. During his two years there he received the degree of D. D. from Morris Brown College for work done in a correspondence course. He went next to Monongahela City; then acted as financial agent of Wilberforce University and raised $1,700. He was next sent to Braddock, remaining there three years and paying $1,000 on the debt; thence to Monessen, Pa., for three years, improving property, increasing the membership and paying over $1,500 of the debt. he is now serving his first year acceptably at Uniontown, Pa. He has been a trustee of Wilberforce University for 15 years; has received about 1,000 persons into the Church; was an alternate to the General Conference of 1912; has contributed articles to the Christian Recorder and Southern Recorder; composed a song, "The Congo for Jesus"; he has taken an active part in civic, political and racial affairs. He now owns and controls considerable real estate. He was married to Miss Emma L. Gilkerson, June, 1892, by Rev. I. N. Ross. They have had four children, all girls--Irene, Mahulda, Lois and Josephine--three of whom are still living, Mahulda having been killed by a railroad train when she was 14 years of age and in the second year in high school. Irene is a graduate of Braddock High School and is active in A. C. E. League work. Lois and Josephine, who are 14 and 11, respectively, are in school.
Murray, Abraham Lincoln, was born at Ypsilanti, Mich., in 1863, of Kentucky parents. His mother died when he was but a lad, and he was placed under the care of an aunt who took the part of a mother. His early education was received in the public schools at Charlestown and Greencastle, Ind., De Pauw and Wilberforce Universities, from the last named receiving the degrees of B. D. and D. D. In 1888 he was appointed to supply at Brazil, Ind., where he found three full members and two probationers. Yet he erected a church costing $2,500 and increased the membership to 64. In 1891 Bishop Brown ordained him elder and transferred him to the Michigan Conference,
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. A. L. MURRAY, D. D.
sending him to Jackson, Mich., where the foundation had been laid for a new church. He completed it at a cost of $4,000. He then went to Lafayette and Vincennes, and many new members were received at each charge. He was next assigned to Allen Chapel, Indianapolis. He remodeled the church at a cost of $5,000 and paid for it. His work attracted the attention of Governor James A. Mount, who was loud in his praises. Six years were spent in this charge. Then Bishop Grant appointed him to Bethel A. M. E. Church, Chicago. During his stay here of four years, the membership was increased and some good work was accomplished. He was next sent from Chicago to Quincy, Ill., where he remained only four weeks, Bishop Arnett having asked for him to go to Atlantic City, N. J. Here he remained five years and erected one of the prettiest A. M. E. Churches in New Jersey. He served as presiding elder of the Newark District three years, and is now pastor at Jersey City.
He was a delegate to the General Conferences of 1908, 1912 and 1916; was a member of the financial board, 1908 to 1912, and the missionary board, 1912 to 1916; is a trustee of Wilberforce University, and one of the most popular pastors in the Church. He has taken into the Church more than 5,000 persons and raised more than a quarter of a million dollars for the Church.
Nazrey, Willis, fifth bishop of the A. M. E. Church; was born March 5, 1808, in Isle of Wight, Va. He was converted in 1837, in New York, and was licensed to preach in the same year in Sullivan Street,
New York City, by Rev. William Cornish; commenced traveling in 1840; was ordained deacon 1841; ordained elder two years later; was ordained bishop May 13, 1852. Died August 22, 1874, and was buried in Chatham, Canada.
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REV. JOHN W. NORRIS, D. D.
Norris, John William, presiding elder of the Hagerstown District, of the Baltimore Annual Conference, is one of the most sucessful ministers in the Second Episcopal District. He has pastored some of the best charges in his conference, and is the author of "The Ethiopian's Place in History and His Contribution to the World's Civilization."
Parks, Henry Blanton, bishop of the A. M. E. Church, and now bishop of the Fifth Episcopal District, was born in Georgia about 60 years ago; educated in Atlanta University. He was brought up in Big Bethel A. M. E. Church, Atlanta, Ga. In 1896 he was elected missionary secretary and served
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP H. B. PARKS, D. D.
faithfully for 12 years. In 1908 he was elected bishop and assigned to Alabama and Tennessee. Upon the death of Bishop Grant, in 1911, he was assigned to the additional work of the Fifth Episcopal District comprising all of the Northwestern part of the United States. He was also elected the president of the Financial Board and served as such until 1916. Bishop Parks was a delegate to the Ecumenical Conference in 1911 at Toronto, Canada, and delivered one of the welcome addresses. He is regarded as one of the greatest orators and preachers of Methodism, regardless of race.
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BISHOP WILLIAM PAUL QUINN.
Quinn, William Paul, fourth bishop, was born in the East Indies, in 1788, and was converted in 1808,
in Bucks County, Pa. He was licensed to preach in 1812, in Bucks County, Pa., and commenced traveling in 1816; was ordained deacon in 1818, and elder in 1838. He was ordained bishop May 19, 1844, and died February 3, 1873, and was buried in Richmond, Ind. He served as senior bishop 24 years, 9 months and 14 days, and was the pioneer of the work in the western part of the country.
Rice, Ulysses S., was born March 19, 1876, at Clinton, S. C. He attended the State College of South Carolina and graduated from the same in 1900. Having felt called to the ministry, he entered Lincoln University, Pa., and graduated from the Theological Department in 1903. He joined the Philadelphia Conference and was offered work, but he preferred to go back to his uative State and work among his own people. Rev. Rice served as principal of Friendship Graded School in Clinton, S. C., for four years,
and of Poplar Grove Graded School, Abbeville, S. C., for two years, being engaged in church work at the same time. He was married September 25, 1906, to Miss Sulpearl S. Suber, of Laurens, and to this union three children have been born Ulylles S., Jr., Clara Gladys and Pansy Victoria. Rev. Rice has pastored some of the leading churches in his conference, and is now pastor of Weston Chapel A. M. E. Church, Greenwood, S. C.
Salter, Moses Buckingham, twenty-first bishop, the son of Moses B. and Mary M. D. Salter, was born February 13, 1841, in Charleston, S. C., and was converted in 1857; in 1860 he was made a class leader and licensed to preach in 1865, by Rev. R. H. Cain, all in the same city. He commenced traveling in 1866, and was ordained both deacon and elder in the same year, 1866; 1868-70 he was presiding elder; 1870-74 he studied at Wilberforce University; 1895 he was pastor of Emanuel Church, Charleston, and in 1892 he was elected bishop. He died March 25, 1913, at his home, in Charleston, having been retired since May, 1912. He married Miss Priscilla Smith, September 2, 1874, and she survives him.
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BISHOP M. B. SALTER.
Schemmerhorn, Thomas H., pastor of Bethel A. M. E. Church, Kinderhook, N. Y., when a boy attended the church of which he is now pastor, was secretary and librarian of its Sunday school, was converted in it and served as class leader. He then joined the
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. THOMAS H. SCHEMMERHORN
A. M. E. Church at Chatham, N. Y., became a local preacher, was ordained local deacon September 10, 1909, by Bishop Gaines, and May, 1915, was ordained local elder by Bishop Tyree. September, 1912, he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Rev. J. Cuff at Kinderhook, and has been there ever since, where he is doing commendable work. The church at Kinderhook was erected April, 1851.
Vernon, William Tecumseh, was born at Lebanon, Mo. Adam Vernon, his father, was a Christian over 60 years and a minister of the A. M. E. Church nearly 50 years, having assisted in the organization of the
A. M. E. Church in Southwest Missouri. Margaret Vernon, his mother, who still lives, is a God-fearing Christian woman, who early schooled her children in Christian virtues and correct living. The son at an
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. WILLIAM TECUMSEH VERNON, D. D.
early age entered school and was graduated from Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Mo., while still in his teens, finishing as class orator and valedictorian. Feeling the call to the ministry, he studied for a time at Wilberforce University. In 1896 he joined the Missouri
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. WILLIAM T. VERNON
Conference of the A. M. E. Church, and was assigned to the presidency of Western University at Quindaro, Kans. The school then consisted of one small building and about a dozen students. After 10 years' labor there, where Dr. Vernon's eloquence and ability were given to advance his race, school and church, Western University had four large building 400 students, and through his efforts the State of Kansas had appropriated a quarter of a million dollars for the work. He had made it one of the leading schools of the Church and race. By this time he had become a national figure and was called to Washington, D. C., by President Roosevelt to become the Register of the United States Treasury. While there he labored for the Church as earnestly as when in the West, traveling, lecturing and preaching all over America. Dr. Vernon resigned this position, continuing work for the Church and race in the heart of the South as president of Campbell College at Jackson, Miss. He traveled through the North and raised hundreds of dollars for the school. He is now pastoring successfully Avery Chapel A. M. E. Church, Memphis, Tenn., one of the historic churches of the connection. This great church of over a thousand members is moving forward harmoniously under his leadership.
He is Master of Arts, Doctor of Divinity, and Doctor of Laws from Lincoln and Wilberforce Universities. He is an Odd Fellow and a thirty-third degree Mason. In 1901 he was married to Miss Emily J. Embry, a graduate of Wilberforce University and daughter of the late Bishop Embry.
Waddleton, Mrs. Anna Amelia Everett, was born in Washington, D. C. She is a graduate of the Washington high and normal schools. Whatever of success has come into her life was due to the influence of the strong Christian character of her dear mother, Mrs. C. J. Geary, who served her church as a stewardess
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. A. E. WADDLETON.
for fifteen years. Mrs. Waddleton entered the Sunday school at the age of three years; at 13, taught a class of boys; was converted and united with Bethel, now Metropolitan, Church, Washington, D. C., between the ages of 16 and 17; was then placed in charge of the boys of the primary department, later was made superintendent of the entire primary department, which place she now holds. She introduced the
Cradle Roll and Home Department in Metropolitan Sunday school and is now superintendent of the Cradle Roll for Metropolitan and for the connection. She writes the juvenile and gem lesson papers and the picture cards. She is also secretary of the Juvenile League for the general church; has charge of the Junior M. M. societies for the Baltimore conference. She served for six years as superintendent of Sunday schools of the Potomac district of the Baltimore conference. She has been a member of the Elementary S. S. Union of Washington since its organization, about thirty years ago. She has been a teacher in the public schools, having been appointed at the age of seventeen. She resigned and married John P. Waddleton, of Columbia, S. C. She is the mother of four daughters and two sons; the boys died in infancy. After the death of her husband she entered once again upon her life's work as a public school teacher in the city of Washington. She is interested in all work for the uplift of her people, particularly among the children, and has been very successful in handling the street boy. She is a forceful writer and a frequent contributor to the Christian Recorder.
[ILLUSTRATION]
REV. J. W. WHITESIDES, D. D.
A leading A. M. E. pastor in the State of Arkansas.
[ILLUSTRATION]
MR. WILLIAM WATTS
One of the leading laymen of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Louisiana.
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MRS. JOSEPHINE WINTERS.
Winters, Mrs. Josephine, is the highly respected superintendent of the A. M. E. Sunday school, of Horntown, Pa. She is a native of Pennsylvania, and has served as superintendent more than twenty years.
Abstinence.--An act or practice whereby an individual voluntarily refrains from the gratification of appetites and animal passions. In a religious sense this act or practice is to enable the inividual to keep the body in subjection that soul may grow. Abstinence is recommended by the Discipline of the A. M. E. Church as one of the preacher's personal duties.
Admission of Preachers.--A preacher who wishes to be admitted to an annual conference of the A. M. E. Church must not be over 40 years old; must be recommended by a district conference or for other reasons set forth in the Discipline. He then may be admitted: On trial by vote of the annual conference: provided he proves himself well versed in the discipline and doctrines of the Church and in the studies prescribed by the Discipline; he may be admitted to full connection provided he has "maintained a good character two years on trial, proved his fitness, given the annual conference satisfaction in the studies for the second year, and in the special examination for admission," but an unordained preacher from another denomination can enter the itinerant ministry of the A. M. E. Church, only by becoming a member of a [local] church and entering the annual conference regularly." "An ordained preacher may come in the same way or he may be received by an annual conference on proving his ordination, accepting our
doctrine * * * giving satisfactory evidence of gifts, graces, etc., provided, however, that ministers who come from churches that recognize only one order of the ministry shall be received as deacons."
Admission to Church Membership.--Persons admitted into full membership of the Church must prove through questionings their belief in the doctrines, etc., of the Church in toto and their willingness to support the same. They must have served a probationship of at least three months satisfactorily to their pastor and class leader. Persons, however, who bear certificates of full membership from other Methodist churches need not necessarily serve the three-months' probation.
Addresses of Bishops.--The addresses of the bishops are as follows:
Bishop B. F. Lee, D. D., Wilberforce, Ohio.
B. T. Tanner, D. D., D. C. L. (ineffective), 2908 Diamond Street, Philadelphia, P.
Bishop Evans Tyree, M. D., D. D., 15 North Hill Street, Nashville, Tenn.
Bishop C. S. Smith, M. D., D. D., 35 East Alexandrine Avenue, Detroit, Mich.
Bishop C. T. Shaffer, M. D., D. D., 3742 Forest Avenue, Chicago, Ill.
Bishop L. J. Coppin, D. D., 1913 Bainbridge Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Bishop H. B. Parks, 3312 Calumet Avenue, Chicago, Ill.
Bishop J. S. Flipper, D. D., 401 Houston Street, Atlanta, Ga.
Bishop J. A. Johnson, D. D., 1412 North Eighteenth Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Bishop William H. Heard, D. D., 1426 Rockland Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Bishop John Hurst, D. D., 1808 McCulloh Street, Baltimore, Md.
Bishop W. D. Chappelle, A. M., D. D., 1208 Harden Street, Columbia, S. C.
Bishop Joshua H. Jones, A. M., D. D., Wilberforce, Ohio.
Bishop James M. Conner, D. D., 1519 Pulaski Street, Little Rock, Ark.
Bishop W. W. Beckett, Charleston, S. C.
Bishop I. N. Ross, Washington, D. C.
Addresses of General Officers.--
Rev. J. I. Lowe, D. D., General Manager of Book Concern, 631 Pine Street, Philadelphia, Pa. (resigned).
Rev. R. R. Wright, Jr., B. D., Ph. D., Editor Christian Recorder, 631 Pine Street, Philadelphia, Pa., also Manager of Book Concern.
Rev. J. W. Rankin, D. D., Missionary Secretary, 61 Bible House, New York, N. Y.
Prof. John R. Hawkins, A. M., LL. B., Secretary of Finance, 1541 Fourteenth Street, N. W., Washing, ton, D. C.
Prof. A. S. Jackson, A. M., Secretary of Education, Waco, Tex.
Rev. R. C. Ransom, D. D., Managing Editor A. M. E. Review, 631 Pine Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Mr. Ira T. Bryant, A. B., LL. B., Secretary-Treasurer Sunday-School Union, Eighth and Lea Avenues, Nashville, Tenn.
Rev. G. W. Allen, Editor Southern Christian Recorder, Eighth and Lea Avenues, Nashville, Tenn.
Rev. B. F. Watson, D. D., Secretary Church Extension Society, 1535 Fourteenth Street, N. W., Washington, D. C.
Rev. J. C. Caldwell, D. D., Secretary Allen Christian Endeavor League, Eighth and Lea Avenues, Nashville, Tenn.
Rev. J. Frank McDonald, D. D., Editor Western Christian Recorder, 2517 Grove Street, Kansas City, Kan.
Rev. John T. Jenifer, D. D., Historiographer, 3430 Vernon Avenue, Chicago, Ill.
Africa, the second largest continent of the globe, is in the eastern hemisphere, partly in the north temperate, torrid and south temperate zones. It contains about 11,262,000 square miles, and has a population, no one knows how many, but variously estimated from 150,000,000 to 400,000,000 people. In latitude Africa reaches from 37 degrees, 21 minutes, North (about the latitude of Norfolk, Va.), to 34 degrees 51 minutes, South (the latitude of Buenos Ayres), and in longitude from 17 degrees, 30 minutes, West, to 51 degrees, 28 minutes, East. It is about 5,000 miles long and 4,000 miles wide. It is bounded on the North by the Mediterranean Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar, which separate it from Europe; on the East by the Red Sea, which separates it from Asia, and also by the Indian Ocean; on the South by the Indian and Atlantic Oceans; and on the West by the Atlantic Ocean. The origin of the name "Africa" is uncertain, though thought to be Pheonician as a designation of Carthage, which was a colony of Tyre. The inhabitants of Africa are chiefly brown and black.
African M. E. Church, Origin of.--As a result of unkind treatment at the hands of their white brethren, the colored people belonging to the Methodist Society of St. George, in Philadelphia, Pa., gathered themselves, in September, 1787, and formed the beginnings of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which was fully organized in a general convention held in April, 1816, in Philadelphia, Pa.
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was organized in 1820, at New York, in Mother Zion Church. It grew out of about the same conditions which caused the organization of the A. M. E. Church. Richard Allen endeavored to get them to join his movement but did not succeed. "Mother Zion" was started in New York about 1796, and Wesley Zion Church in Philadelphia soon afterward. In 1820 the organization was formed. The head of the Church was called a general superintendent and not a bishop, and was not elected for life, but for four years only, with the right of re-election. James Varick was the first superintendent.
Africa, South.--On November 1, 1892, the Rev. M. M. Mokone felt conscientiously moved to withdraw from the Wesleyan Methodist Church of South Africa. The eternal color line made itself manifest, even in the District Synod of the Wesleyan Church, and resulted in the separation of the white from the native and colored ministers, causing the delberations of the latter to be presided over by a European president and white secretary. Rev. M. M. Mokone and others felt the sting of an unnecessary humiliation unbecoming the Christian ministry and unworthy of the
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP H. M. TURNER First bishop of A. M. E. Church to visit South Africa.
Saviour's teaching of oneness amongst His followers, and so he, with about 50 members, organized "The Ethiopian Church" in Pretoria on November 20, 1892. Under President Kruger's regime, the Transvaal Government recognized "The Ethiopian Church" in January, 1893. November 20, 1893, the first church was opened in the Marabastard Native Location, in an old thatched house, the property of one Mr. William Makanda, who though a Wesleyan, was in great sympathy with the movement. The Rev. George Wearind, chairman and general superintendent of the "White Wesleyan Church" in Pretoria, was invited to preach at the opening service, but was unable to attend, and the Rev. W. J. Underwood, of the White Wesleyan Congregation preached the dedicatory sermon. His text was Genesis xxix, 10, the same passage that Bishop Francis Asbury, of the M. E. Church, used at the dedication of Bethel Church in Philadelphia, the Mother Church of our Connection in 1794.
The first preachers ordained in "The Ethiopian Church" were Rev. J. Z. Tantsi and Rev. J. G. Xaba. They were ordained by Rev. M. M. Mokone, asisted by Rev. J. M. Kanjane, of the African Church. This new-born Church became abundant with life, because of its freedom and independence.
The time came when the ministers and officers of the Ethiopian Church felt the need of new stimulus, wise counsellor and sustained energies. A native young woman of keen intelligence named Charlotte Manye, who lived in Johannesburg,
[ILLUSTRATION]
BETHEL INSTITUTE, SOUTH AFRICA.
Transvaal (and who afterwards became a graduate of Wilberforce University), first called the attention of Rev. Mokone to a letter-head of Bishop H. M. Turner, D. D., of Atlanta, Ga., U. S. A., as representative of the greatest Negro Church in the world--the African Methodist Episcopal Church. On May 21, 1895, Elder Mokone wrote Bishop Turner for information as to school facilities for his son. Later he wrote again, asking to be told something of the A. M. E. Church in America. In reply, Bishop Turner sent a discipline, a hymnal and other books pertaining to the Church life. The African brethren, after carefully reading and pondering over the contents of the Church literature, came to the unanimous conclusion that that was the Church for them--one in racial affinity, one in color and one in hope. Hence, at the third session of the Ethiopian Conference, held in Pretoria, March 17, 1896, it was resolved to be united, if possible, with the A. M. E. Church of America. It was at this conference that Rev. James M. Dwane joined as a minister in good standing, having withdrawn from the Wesleyan Church of South Africa; also that two delegates--Rev. James M. Dwane and Rev. J. G. Xaba--were elected to go to America to consummate the union. The Rev. Dwane was the first to arrive at Cape Town en route for America. Before booking his passage, he called upon Mr. F. M. Gow, at his business place in Shortmarket Street, showed him the resolution of the Ethiopian Conference, and said, "Now, Mr. Gow, do you think the brethren in America will accept us?" He replied, "Gladly." Rev. Dwane said, "We have long desired to join hands with our brethren across the seas--we have nothing to offer them but our needs; for indeed, and after all, we are but seeking our own." Mr. Gow replied, "That is so, I am satisfied that our Church in America will accord you a hearty welcome." "And now," he said, "I am satisfied. I have to wait for Brother Xaba, but I do not think he cares for a sea voyage. If he does not come tomorrow, I must go without him. I am sorry to go without him, but I can't afford to wait another week in Cape Town for him." Brother Xaba did not arrive the day when they both should have sailed together; and so on April 15, 1896, Rev. Dwane left for America with the official documents of affiliation. Brother Dwane arrived in America June 10, 1896, to find that the General Conference had just closed its session, and this explained Brother Dwane's reason for being so anxious to be in America and not waiting for Brother Xaba.
Rev. Dwane met Revs. H. B. Parks (missionary secretary), and J. S. Flipper, who presented him to Bishop H. M. Turner. The Bishop's Council accepted favorably the proposition for the amalgamation of the Churches. Rev. James W. Dwane was appointed general superintendent and returned to Africa September 22, 1896. Before returning to Africa he was re-obligated with instructions to re-obligate the ministers of the late Ethiopian Church. This appointment of Rev. Dwane as general superintendent did not meet with the approval of the Native brethren, because he had but newly joined their movement and in that he had gone to America without Rev. Xaba.
The first session of the A. M. E. Church Conference was held by Superintendent Dwane at Lessyton, Queenstown, on April 7, 1897. Here the ministers were re-obligated.
One morning, on March 22, 1898, it was noised in the city of Cape Town that a black bishop had arrived at the docks and had inquired for the home of an A. M. E. Church minister in Cape Town (who was then the Rev. P. Kuze), to which place he was driven in a cab. About the middle of the day a minister of arresting and commanding appearance came with another gentleman into the office of Rev. Gow, at Shortmarket Street, Cape Town. "Whom may I have the honor of addressing?" "Ahem! I am Bishop Turner, of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and this is my son, David." "Oh! Ah! indeed, I am very glad to see you sir, and to shake hands with you, also proud to welcome you at the gateway of this great continent, the home of our forefathers." The great bishop was much affected, and after a while he said, "I am mighty glad to get
my feet once more on the soil of renowned Africa." It is not possible within the limited space at our disposal to tell half the things he did and said during his short stay in the city, uttering words of benediction, inspiration and hope to the many who were privileged to enjoy his precious company. He stayed with Rev. P. S. Kuze, then A. M. E. pastor in Cape Town, making, however his home his business center, as it has ever been with every bishop since, and he has felt greatly honored and blessed by their distinguished presence. Bishop Turner did not stay long in Cape Town. He said, "My Master's business requires haste." He proceed to the Transvaal, visiting Johannesburg and Pretoria. At the latter place he called upon President Paul Kruger, who received him graciously, remarking, "You are the first black man whose hand I have ever shaken." He spoke to the President of the object of his mission to Africa, and received from him words of encouragement.
With the best intentions and prompted by the pressing request of the brethren at the first session of the A. M. E. Church Conference held in the city of Queenstown, Lessyton, Bishop Turner made General Superintendent James M. Dwane vicar bishop, and left him in charge of the work. The result of this extraordinary act would fill pages, but why dwell on them? Enough to say that the Bishops' Council, after much deliberation, almost unanimously endorsed and even commended the act of the senior bishop, whilst the ministry and laity of the Church were practically unanimous in their approval.
On Bishop Turner's return to Cape Town, en route to America, after organizing the Transvaal and South African Conferences, a farewell reception was accorded him at a great meeting held in the Opera House, Cape Town. This large building was crowded by white and colored citizens, anxious to see and hear the message of the first black
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP J. ALBERT JOHNSON Retiring bishop of South Africa.
bishop that had stepped on South African soil. It was on Sunday afternoon, May 22, 1898. The great throng sat breathless as the writer led the bishop to the platform, accompanied by several native and colored ministers, with representative lay citizens. After introduction, the bishop arose to adrdess the meeting, receiving such an ovation as that building had never witnessed before. For an hour and a half the great and eloquent speaker swayed the mighty audience at his will to tears, to smiles and rapturous applause. Although we paid £13 for the hire of that building, we have never regretted it, for as an outcome of that service the formation of the first A. M. E. church amongst the Cape people had its rise, on the 25th of May, 1898. It was called "Bethel."
On September 28, 1898, Elder Dwane left for America, being called there by the Bishops' Council. It was thought that his visit to America would enable him to study the actual working of the Church, where it had its birth. Favors and receptions were lavished upon him on every hand, thousands rejoicing to see and shake hands with a real, pure African.
He returned home to Africa in March, 1899, much delighted with his stay and looking forward to great things. He called the second session of the Transvaal Conference in March, 1899, at Bloemfontein, and the third--the South African Conference--in April of the same year at Derba Marela, in the district of King william's Town. During this period General Superintendent Dwane was in eager expectation to receive from America the sum of £2,000 ($10,000) promised him for establishing a South African college. He had no doubt persuaded himself to believe that the amount promised would be sent him in round sum. The Church in America, however, was not prepared to entrust this amount of money to any of its agents before they were satisfied as to his ability in wisely using the same.
This thoughtful delay was not appreciated by Brother Dwane. He then came to the conclusion that the Church had failed in fulfilling her promises, so he called a special conference to meet at Queenstown on October 6, 1899. There were about 30 ministers present. Elder Dwane told the conference in brief that the Church in America had failed and refused to give the money promised for the South African college, also that his being made a vicar bishop was the cause of much dispute amongst the American bishops and brethren. He next told them that he also had been convinced that his being made a bishop was not in line with the apostolic order, and with many other reasons he felt that his only course was to resign from the A. M. E. Church. Deep down, there were stronger racial reasons upon which we cannot dwell in this brief article which compelled him to take the step he did. And so, with the exception of these faithful few, namely, Revs. Kuze, Mquebisa, William Mashalaba and J. Z. Tantsi, the whole of the conference went with him. This action, depressing and painful though it was at the time, made it better to establish the A. M. E. Church proper. These four brethren who remained wrote the same day to Bishop Turner, asking for advice and instruction, and took steps to adjust matters as far as they were. A meeting was held at the Friendly Hall, Cape Town, in November, 1899, there being present Elders Sishuba (in the chair), Ngcayiya, G. Z. Tantsi, J. W. Roberts, F. M. Gow, Spawn, Songica and others. Thy decided to place the situation before those ministers and churches who had not withdrawn and, if possible, prevent the trouble spreading. This had the desired effect and many who had joined Elder Dwane's movement returned with a determination to stand by the A. M. E. Church.
In response to an urgent cable sent to Rev. F. M. Gow to Bishop Turner, the Rev. I. N. Fitzpatrick was sent out to just matters and hold the annual conference, as general superintendent. It might be stated here that on learning of the trouble that had befallen us, Bishop Turner wrote to Presiding Elder Tantsi to take charge of the work until the arrival of America's representative. This good brother, with his accustomed humility, declined, saying it was too great an honor and responsibility to be undertaken by him.
Rev. I. N. Fitzpatrick's arrival was most timely. He at once called the fourth session of the South African Conference, which was held in the Friendly Hall, Cape Town, on March 8, 1900. After this, he was introduced to the Premier of the Colony, the Hon. W. P. Schreiner, who received him graciously and assured him that had he been appointed definitely to stay in South Africa as the Church's representative, he would have granted the Church and him the necessary recognition. Owing to the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War, the Transvaal Conference could not be held. General Superintendent Fitzpatrick left for America on March 28, 1900, together with Rev. F. M. Gow, then as a lay delegate to the General Conference at Columbus, Ohio. They were followed soon after by the Revs. M. M. Mokone, J. Z. Tantsi and A. S. Gabashane. The two former brethren were delayed in attendance, having sustained shipwreck not many miles from Cape Town. No lives were lost, however, thank God, and the brethren were able to attend the General Conference ere its close. At this General Conference, Rev. Levi Jenkins Coppin was elected to the office of Bishop, and assigned as first resident bishop of South Africa, known as the Fourteenth Episcopal District.
In February, 1901, we welcomed Bishop Coppin to our shores. Our rejoicing was such as to move the city of Cape Town to enquire, "What is up? Who is this? Another black Bishop?" "Yes," we reply, "Another black bishop has come to stay, and make sure, by the help of God, the work of the A. M. E. church. Less than one month after the arrival of Bishop Coppin, an important victory was gained for the Church. On March 21st, 1901, the Government of Cape Colony, formally recognized our Church, granting license
to her fully ordained ministers to perform marriages and making application for church sites in locations, etc. The clouds began to disappear and all started to work with renewed energy, zeal and determination. Shortly after this, the first real estate owned by the A. M. E. Church was secured by the Bishop. It was named Bethel Institute. Here the fifth session of the South African Conference was held on December 8th, 1901, in conjunction with the Transvaal Conference. This was necessary, owing to the continuance of the Anglo-Boer War.
Bethel Institute, a commodious building of twelve rooms, was purchased by us and was situated in Hanover street, Cape Town. It was converted into a school and church and cost about $20,000. Rev. A. H. Attaway, who had now arrived, was given charge of the school, while the Rev. F. M. Gow was given oversight of the church. It was decided that, rather than erect a school in any one native territory and thus have as students only the members of that particular tribe, it would be better to operate a school in a place where members of the various tribes and colored Africanders would feel free to come. Hence the location of Bethel Institute in Cape Town. The school was equipped with modern furniture, and put on a favorable footing with the best schools of the country and soon grew to such proportions, that a corps of twelve teachers was needed.
The arrival in Cape Town of Mrs. Fanny Coppin and Dr. C. M. Tanner in December, 1902 on the return visit of Bishop Coppin from America, gave an additional impetus to the
[ILLUSTRATION]
BISHOP W. W. BECKETT Present bishop of South Africa.
work. Mrs. Coppin was the ideal lady on whom the eyes of our African women were turned for counsel and instruction. Her unobstrusive, simple spirituality weaved a chaplet of inspired lives wherever she moved. She was a great gain to South Africa. The Mite Missionary Society, established by her persevering effort, still lives. The South African Christian Recorder, established by Rev. C. M. Tanner, D. D., was another conspicuous addition to the interest of the Church and of much service to the race. It ceased to exist for want of sufficient financial support. The work of the A. M. E. Church as conducted by Bishop Coppin was deep and systematic, and although he was not permitted to visit the Transvaal and Orange Free State, yet his active itinerary carried him to all parts of Cape Colony, strengthening what had been started previous to his coming, setting up new work where it was needed. Mission churches and schools were established at the Friendly Hall, Cape Town; Green River, Maitland Location, Rondebosch, Wellington, Montague, Worcester, Bloemfontein, Pretoria, Queentown, Johannesburg, Piquetburg, and Port Elizabeth.
We are tempted to write more of the great and good work done by those two messengers of the Cross, Bishop Levi and Mrs. Fanny Coppin. Bishop and Lady Coppin, with Dr. C. M. Tanner, left Cape Town by the R. M. S. Saxon on Wednesday, the 16th of December, 1903.
Bishop Charles Spencer Smith was appointed to the South African Diocese to succeed Bishop Coppin at the General Conference of 1904. The short time that elapsed between the retirement of the one and the appointment of the other Bishop served to throw the Church into a state of spiritual restlessness and ecclesiastical embarrassment in consequence of which our reception to Bishop Smith on October 24th, 1904 had to be repeated on April 25th, 1905, because his Lordship had to return to America to adjust matters--administrative and financial pertaining to the welfare of the Church.
Bishop Smith came to Africa in troublous times. Troubles, no doubt, incidental to the formation of a new work amongst inexperienced ministers, laymen and members, who not fully conversant with the spirit and genius of the A. M. E. Church, abrogated to themselves powers and authorities, subversive to the best interests of the Church, and the subsequent loss of Bethel Institute building, bankruptcy and suspension of a bishop. This was a severe and unprecedented blow to the Church and will take years to bring about confidence.
This much, however, must be, and has been admitted by the many who have been privileged to listen to our brilliant and scholarly Bishop, that had he returned to Africa, i. e., had it been possible for him to return, he would have lifted and placed the Church upon an eminence beneficial to all. Certainly the ability shown at the conference held on the 15th of November, 1905, in Beaufort West, convinced all the brethren that we had in our Bishop, a deep thinker, an orator of no mean order and a sympathetic, conscientious and wise counsellor. During this period Rev. Professor J. A. Gregg--now president of Edward Waters College--with his wife, arrived in Cape Town. They were just the couple needed for our work. A gentleman of high attainments and forceful character was Rev. Prof. Gregg and Mrs. Gregg, a cultured lady with the touch-stone of fine Christian sentiment. Their ministerial services were very acceptable and inspiring. They had charge of Chastworth Industrial High School, and though their stay was comparatively brief, yet they left kindly memories of a Godly life, usefully employed.
Owing to what has been referred to as spiritual restlessness, the Bishop's council deputed the Rt. Rev. Bishop W. B. Derrick to visit South Africa and report the situation. The Bishop arrived in Cape Town on June 17th, 1907, and was received with hearty and sincere welcome. The same being accorded to Professor Thomas, of Wilberforce University, who accompanied him. He visited and was unstinted in his praise of Bethel Institute and its school operations, and urged the Church at home to redeem it from bankruptcy. From Cape Town we proceed to Bloemfontein, Bishop Derrick being the first bishop to visit this town, held there a joint session of three conferences, and went by special appointment to the Government House for an interview with His Excellency the Governor. From thence we left for Pretoria, the capital of the Transvaal, and the Bishop, who was the first of our Bishops to enter the Transvaal, was granted an audience with Lord Selborne. His Majesty's High Commissioner, and other dignataries of United South Africa. On our return journey to Cape Colony, a joint conference was held at Kimberly, which was honored by a visit of His Honor, the Mayor of Kimberly, who addressed words of encouragement and help to the conference. An incident which gave joy to the Bishop's heart was the visit of a distinguished native chief who was very much impressed with the assembled ministers and ere his departure, gave evidence of a changed life. We have endeavored to compress in few words what would fill up pages of eventful days spent in this sub-continent by His Lordship. We would call attention to this fact, that if the Bishop's presence did naught else but elicit this from the department of native affairs, then his journey to Africa has not been in vain. The statement is this, "That in no case has a member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church been charged with sedition, rebellion or any act that could bring them under condemnation by the Government." The people of Cape Town will not soon forget his arresting presence, the deep spirituality of his sermon in Bethel, nor the masterly eloquence of his lecture "Under Two Flags," He left a convincing impression of the moral and potential worth of the Church he so ably represents. Bishop Derrick on his return to America, January 11th, 1908, strongly recommended that the Bethel Institute property be redeemed at all costs and that the missionary operation should not suffer for want of support.
To the Rt. Rev. J. Albert Johnson was left the task of consolidating and permanently establishing the work so nobly begun by Bishops Turner and Coppin. After the consecration and appointment of Bishop Johnson at St. John's African Methodist Episcopal Church, Norfolk, Virginia, May 20th, 1908, he was made cognizant of the great task awaiting him in South Africa. His reply was, "I will go and do my best, and if the Bethel Institute property is worth redeeming, I shall recommend its redemption." So all eyes were fastened upon him, as the man on whose recommendation the continuance or otherwise of our work in South Africa depended. Bishop Johnson sailed from New York, Oct. 5th, 1908. The general Church insisted on giving him a hearty reception on Nov. 24th, and Bethel Church an "At Home" on December 1st, 1908.
After going into the heart of things, he wrote and advised the Home Church that Bethel Institute property must be redeemed at all cost, and to the eternal credit of Afro-American Methodism, the response was prompt, February 15, 1911, quite a year before the payment became due, the last penny being $5,250, was paid.
Now, then, if this was all Bishop Johnson accomplished he would have left his mark on the pages of South African Missions. Without this institution every door would have soon closed against us in South Africa, on account of our failure and bankrupt proceeding.
Presiding Elder F. M. Gow, with his staff of workers, including Bros. E. G. Willenburg, and H. A. Fortuin held a special thanksgiving service, February 15, 1911, passing resolution
[ILLUSTRATION]
A GROUP OF SOUTH AFRICAN STUDENTS AT WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY.
of grateful appreciation for the effort put forth by our beloved Bishop J. Albert Johnson. We cannot tell within this limited space of the growth of the work under his masterful, patient and conscientious supervision. There is no point of interest in this vast field that he has not visited. The lonely heights of Basutoland, travelling over precipitous mountains on a small Basuto pony, now crossing treacherous rivers, made doubly dangerous by incessant rainfall, then sleeping on wet ground in an open field, exposed to all kinds of weather, returning to Cape Town after a long trip from the interior, weak and worn and broken up, to be literally nursed into health again, and yet without complaining, and all without letting his friends in the homeland know of his condition, for fear of causing them anxiety.
Then after a little rest he would start on a journey to far away Pondoland, a dry and sparsely populated country, to see and learn of the condition of our people there, and cheer the lonely missionaries, who so much desire to see their Bishop. And with all this, find time to visit adjacent circuits and stations, Cape Colony, Bloemfontein and Orange River Colony. He knows every minister in his home, or hut, and learned to call their unpronounceable names as if to the manner born.
The five conferences, running smoothly and methodically are evidence of his genius and ability to take matters well in hand.
The establishment of the Evaton College, the erection of the magnificent Fanny Jackson Coppin Girls Hall, and the securing of a large and splendid piece of ground, not far from the College, where it is intended in the near future to build a Home of Rest for our worn out ministers, will stand as a monument to his far-seeing thoroughness and painstaking zeal. We are well aware that we are not writing the life of Bishop Johnson, but the history of our Church here from 1908 to 1916, almost eight years, is so wrapped up with him, and he has done so much which it would be almost incredible to believe, that one can scarcely write a sentence without mentioning him, and yet we have not told, because we cannot tell all. His pulpit utterances, illuminating, eloquent and soul-uplifting are treasured memories, his interpretation of the spirit and letter of our Book of Discipline at our annual conferences are a help to our understanding the genius and trend of African Methodism. The future is brighter because Bishop J. Albert Johnson came and lived in South Africa for eight years.
The Church has grown from 10,000 to 18,000 full membership, and in spite of war and general depression the financial returns exceed all expectations. From an income of £199 in 1903, to £609.12.6 in 1911 we have increased to over £2,000 ($10,000) as reported at our last conference at Bloemfontein, 1915. Our day school numbers over 1,100 children, and we receive Government grant in aid of our schools £700 ($3,500) per annum. Bethel school takes the lead in having an enrollment of 350 scholars, and thus the Church is moving on. The spiritual work is bracing; there is living interests in the things of God. We have 135 buildings set apart for the worship of God, with 104 ordained ministers and 216 preachers and other lay helpers. We are eagerly looking forward to active work in connection with Evaton College, where we can train our own men for the Master's service. No race can hope to accomplish its highest destiny without being properly trained and equipped.
During the last few years our Church has suffered the loss of some of our most gifted ministers and laymen and some of our noble women. Notably amongst them, we
might mention P. E. Kumalo, P. E. Tantsi, Father Gabashane, Rev. Mbadla, and last, but not least, our talented principal of Evaton College, Rev. H. C. Msikinya, a teacher of matchless worth, trained at Wilberforce University, U. S. A. Heaven has also claimed two of our beloved sisters, Mrs. S. E. Gow and Mrs. Emma Tunki. (By Rev. F. M. Gow, conference historian.)
Allen C. E. League, The, the Young People's Department of the A. M. E. Church, is the result of three separate and distinct names or organizations. "Allen," the name of the founder and first Bishop of our Church, also from the name of an organization started some years ago by Bishop W. B. Derrick in the city of Philadelphia, called "The Sons of Allen." "Christian Endeavor," a world-wide and interdenominational society organized in Portland, Maine, in the early 80's, by Rev. F. E. Clark, and which is today the most powerful young people's movement in the world. "League," taken from the "Epworth League," which is the name of the
[ILLUSTRATION]
ARNETT HALL, ALLEN UNIVERSITY, COLUMBIA, S. C.
young people's organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The name Allen Christian Endeavor League stands for church loyalty, interdenominational fellowship and denominational pride. In 1896 at the general conference at Wilmington, N. C., the Rev. D. P. Roberts, D.D., offered a resolution to adopt the Christian Endeavor Society as the official young people's society of the Church, which was done. The bishops in their quadrennial address in 1900 recommended the Christian Endeavor and asked that a young minister be selected as general secretary, and Rev. B. W. Arnett, Jr., was appointed. He began this new work without salary and without the co-operation of the majority of the ministers, as but very few of them knew anything about the work. In 1904 Rev. E. J. Gregg. D.D., was elected secretary, and the general conference changed the name to "The Allen Christian Endeavor League," and a pledge and constitution, better adapted to the A. M. E. Church, were adopted, and a salary provided. In 1908 he was succeeded by Rev. Julian C. Caldwell, D.D., who entered enthusiastically into the work and traveled extensively, spending from seven to eight months of the year in the field. He published literature for the Department, including a monthly paper, "The Allen Christian Endeavorer," and secured general recognition of the value of the young people's work. Under his administration new Leagues have been organized, old Leagues revived and thousands of young people enlisted under its fold. Young People's Day (Richard Allen's birthday) and Self-Denial Week have been made vital by the A. C. E. League. At the recent World's and Interdenominational Christian Endeavor Convention in 1915 the Allen C. E. League reported 4,215 Leagues with a membership approximating 150,000. The cardinal principles of the League are: 1. Confession of Christ. 2. Service for Christ. 3. Fellowship in Christ. 4. Loyalty to Christ's Church.
Allen University, Columbia, S. C., was established in December, 1880, by Bishop W. F. Dickerson and Rev. Bruce H. Williams and others. It absorbed Payne Institute, which had been established at Lakesbury, in 1870. Its presidents have been, Rev. J. C. Waters, 1881-85; Prof. J. W. Morris, 1885-94, 1895-97; Rev. J. S. Johnson, 1894-95; Rev. W. D. Chappelle, 1897-99; Rev. David H. Johnson, 1899-1904; Rev. W. D. Johnson, 1904-08; Rev. W. D. Chappelle, 1908-12; Rev. W. W. Beckett, 1912-16; Rev. R. W. Mance, 1916-. Courses are given from the primary classes through college course. There is also a scientific and theological department. The number of students of 1916 was 686; graduates since beginning, 980 the most distinguished being Bishop W. D. Chappelle; buildings, 2; acres, 58; value of property, $180,000. The income averaged about $12.500 for the past two years.
Annual Conference, so called because it is a meeting which takes place once a year. In the A. M. E. Church it is composed of all the traveling elders, deacons and licentiates, and all the local elders and local deacons, also two laymen from each district conference within its bounds. The boundaries are set by the General Conference. The business of an annual conference is judicial and administrative and not legislative. Reports of all pastors and presiding elders are had, young preachers are examined for admission, for ordination and in their studies; deacons and elders are elected and ordained; the character of ministers of the conference is examined; finances of the conference are regulated; the appointments of the preachers made; educational and missionary anniversaries held, and such other business as may relate to the welfare of the Church within the boundary of the conference is transacted. A bishop appointed by the General Conference presides, and is held responsible by the General Conference for proper administration of the law, but the conference elects other officers. Sessions generally are held from Wednesday to Sunday night at a time selected by the bishop and a place selected by the conference. The annual conference elects ministerial delegates to the General Conference, one minister for every
thirty members, or final fraction over fifteen. It also confirms the election of lay delegates elected at least three months prior by the electoral lay college.
Annual Conferences.--The number of annual conferences at the Centennial (1916) was 82; 71 in the United States, 2 in West Africa, 5 in South Africa, 1 in West Indies, 1 in South America, 2 in Canada. (For their boundaries see discipline.
Annual Conference Boundaries are fixed by the General Conference, on recommendation of a committee on boundaries. The boundaries are, however, usually agreed upon by the conferences concerned and the same approved by the General Conference.
Antigua, an island in the West Indies, a dependency of Great Britain, famed as the first place in America in which the Methodist doctrine was preached, being brought from England by Nathaniel Gilbert and two of his Negro servants, who were converted and baptized by John Wesley in 1758. The first Methodist class in the new world was formed in this island in 1759, out of black people, and between 1774 and 1778, was led by two black women. Bishop Derrick and several other of our ministers were born in Antigua.
Antinomianism.--The name given to doctrines which claim that the law is made void through faith. The chief thought is that Christ abolished the moral law, hence Christians are not obliged to observe it. This doctrine has done a great deal of harm.
Apostles' Creed, The, is as follows: "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from whence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen." This creed contains the essentials of Christian faith. The Catholic Church says that the apostles wrote the creed in the upper room at Jerusalem, each contributing a part; but this is probably untrue. The creed or its essentials probably came from the apostles in some shape, and is of such great antiquity as to be the most revered creed to the Church. It is accepted by Protestant and Catholic Churches, but the term "Catholic Church" in the creed does not mean either the Greek or the Roman Catholic Church, but the "Universal Church."
Apostolic Succession.--This doctrine holds that "a ministry can trace its orders back through Episcopal hand to the Apostles." Methodists believe this to be erroneous. Why? See Discipline, page 432, 1912.
Appeals.--An appeal is entered when one is not satisfied that the law has been properly applied in his case, and asks it to be taken to a higher authority. This cannot be denied him, as the right of appeal is fundamental to Methodism. A member tried by a committee may appeal to the quarterly conference, thence to the annual conference, thence to the general conference, which has the final decision.
Arkansas Annual Conference was organized 1868 by Bishop Shorter, and embraced all of the State of Arkansas and the then Indian Territory. There were at that time 14 preachers, 16 churches, valued at $2,359, and about 3,500 members and 450 Sunday-school scholars. To-day the same territory is the Twelfth Episcopal District and embraces the Arkansas, South Arkansas, East Arkansas, West Arkansas, Oklahoma, Northeast Oklahoma and Central Oklahoma Conferences, having about 500 ministers and 40,000 members.
Arkansas Conference (East).--In 1898 Bishop Derrick advised the division of Arkansas forces by the making of a new conference. A committee composed of Revs. J. W. Whitesides, A. A. Williams, F. B. Carolina, H. M. Deaver, J. M. Murchison, J. W. Walker, W. A. J. Phillips, G. G. Baker, J. I. Lowe, P. W. Wade, E. W. Lampton and H. C. Jones was appointed on division and conference boundary. The committee's report, which was unanimously adopted, recommended that the territory covered by the Clarendon, Helena and Redfield Districts be set apart as the new conference and the same to be known as the East Arkansas Conference. Thus at its organization the conference had three districts, namely: Helena, Rev. A. A. Williams, presiding elder; Clarendon, Rev. J. W. Whitesides, presiding elder; and Redfield, Rev. J. I. Lowe, presiding elder. There were 3,360 members with 37 organized places of worship. There were 33 traveling elders, 17 traveling deacons, 14 traveling licentiates, 6 local elders, 16 local deacons, 61 Sunday schools, with 61 superintendents, 279 teachers and officers, 1,990 scholars; dollar money collected from the territory the year it was divided, $1,159.75.
Fifteen years later, in 1913, there were five districts: Sherrill, Rev. W. T. Pope, presiding elder; Helena, Rev. L. S. Overall, presiding elder; Forrest City, Rev. R. C. Holbrooks, presiding elder; Clarendon, Rev. J. G. Robinson, presiding elder; Marianna, Rev. B. J. Finney, presiding elder; 6,861 members, 71 traveling elders, 38 traveling deacons, 15 traveling licentiates, 3 supernumeraries, 7 superannuates, 2 local elders, 17 local deacons, 98 charges with 136 preaching points. Fifteen thousand, eight hundred and fifty-six dollars and thirty-four cents was paid for pastors' salaries, $694.66 for benevolence, $519.19 for missions, and $3,199.08 for dollar money. The conference owns church property valued at $87,930. Converts reported were 379 and accessions 651. Revs. A. H. Hill, O. L. Moddy, H. S. Graves and P. S. Hill received assistance while attending Wilberforce University, while Revs. L. S. Overall, and E. C. Foreman were assisted through Shorter, graduating with B. D. The conference has furnished one general officer--Dr. J. I. Lowe, manager of the Book Concern, Philadelphia, Pa., 1912-16, one college president--Dr. O. L. Moody, president for two years of Shorter College; two matrons, of Shorter,--Miss Janie Wilson and Mrs. M. L. Byrd (the present incumbent); Professors O. I. Moppin and H. J. Lucas, of Shorter College, and Dr. J. N. Campbell, dean of theology, are all from this conference.
The bishops who have presided over the conference sessions have been: Derrick, 1899; Tyree, 1900-3; Lee, 1904-7; Flipper, 1908-11; Chappelle, 1912-15; Conner, 1916--. Beginning with Marianna in 1899, the conference has met at the following places in successive years: Holly Grove, Redfield, Brinkley, Helena, Forest City, Stuttgart, Wynne, Holly Grove, Marianna, Clarendon, Forest City, Helena, Brinkley, Stuttgart, Holly Grove and Helena. (W. T. Pope, historian.)
Arminianism, the name of a system of theology followed by most Methodists, promulgated by James Arminius, who was born in 1560 in Holland and was professor in University of Leyden from 1603 till his death in 1609. The essentials of Arminianism are opposed to John Calvin's doctrine of election and predestination, Calvin holding that persons are elected to salvation or damnation by God without regard to any exercise of their own will. Arminius held that election was only because of the omniscience of God who foreknows all things, but was primarily based upon the foreknowlege of the free choice or rejection of salvation which the individuals should make. This doctrine is not only philosophically sound, but socially for more serviceable than Calvinism. Still Arminius did not hold that man's salvation is due entirely to man's choice. For he held that man in a sinful state cannot come to God except through the working of the Holy Spirit.
Articles of Religion.--The African M. E. Church has 25 Articles of Religion, as follows: I. Of Faith in The Holy Trinity; II. Of the Word or Son of God, who was made very Man; III. Of the Resurrection of Christ; IV. Of the Holy Ghost; V. The Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation; VI. O the Old Testament; VII. Of Original or Birth Sin; VIII. Of Free Will; IX. Of the Justification of Man; X. Of Good Works; XI. Of Works of Supererogation; XII. Of Sin after Justification; XIII. Of the Church; XIV. Of Purgatory; XV. Of Speaking in the Congregation in Such a Tongue as the People Understand; XVI, Of the Sacraments; XVII. Of Baptism; XVIII. Of the Lord's Supper; XIX. Of Both Kinds; XX. Of the one Oblation of Christ, finished upon the Cross; XXI. Of the Marriage of Ministers; XXII. Of the Rites and Ceremonies of Churches; XXIII. Of the Rulers of the United States of America; XXIV. Of Christian Men's Goods; XXV. Of a Christian Man's Oath. These articles were taken by Wesley mainly from the 39 articles of The Anglican (Episcopal) Church. For the full text, see the discipline.
Assignment of Bishops, 1916-1920.--The General Conference of 1916, through the Episcopal Committee, made the following assignment of bishops:
To the First Episcopal District: Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York and New England Annual Conferences, Presiding Bishop, Evans Tyree, M. D., D. D.
To the Second Episcopal District: Baltimore, Virginia, North Carolina and Western North Carolina Conferences, Presiding Bishop, J. Albert Johnson, D. D.
The Third Episcopal District: Ohio, North Ohio, Pittsburgh and West Virginia Conferences, Presiding Bishop, C. T. Shaffer, D. D., M. D.
The Fourth Episcopal District: Indiana, Illinois, Chicago, Kentucky and West Kentucky Conferences, Presiding Bishop, Levi J. Coppin, D. D.
The Fifth Episcopal District: Missouri, North Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, California and Puget Sound Conferences, Presiding Bishop, H. B. Parks, D. D.
The Sixth Episcopal District: Georgia, North Georgia, Macon, Atlanta, Southwest Georgia, South Georgia and Augusta Conferences, Presiding Bishop, Joseph S. Flipper, D. D.
[ILLUSTRATION]
ST. JAMES A. M. E. CHURCH, ATLANTIC CITY, N. J. Rev. H. P. Anderson, D. D., Pastor.
The Seventh Episcopal District: South Carolina, Columbia, Northeast South Carolina, Piedmont and Palmetto Conferences, Presiding Bishop, W. D. Chappelle, D. D.
The Eighth Episcopal District: Mississippi, North Mississippi, Northeast Mississippi, Central Mississippi, East Mississippi, Northwest Mississippi, Louisiana and North Louisiana Conferences, Presiding Bishop, William H. Heard, D. D.
The Ninth Episcopal District: Tennessee, West Tennessee, East Tennessee, Alabama, North Alabama, East Alabama, Central Alabama and South Alabama Conferences, Presiding Bishop, B. F. Lee, D. D.
The Tenth Episcopal District: Texas, West Texas, Northeast Texas, Central Texas and Southwest Texas Conferences, Presiding Bishop, J. H. Jones, D. D.
The Eleventh Episcopal District: Florida, East Florida, South Florida, Central Florida, West Florida and Middle Florida Conferences, Presiding Bishop, John Hurst, D. D.
The Twelfth Episcopal District: Arkansas, West Arkansas, South Arkansas, East Arkansas, Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma and Northeast Oklahoma Conferences, Presiding Bishop, J. M. Conner, D. D.
The Thirteenth Episcopal District: Liberia and Sierra Leone Conferences, Presiding Bishop, Isaac N. Ross, D. D.
The Fourteenth Episcopal District: Cape Colony, Transvaal, Orange River, Zambesi and Natal Conferences, Presiding Bishop, W. W. Beckett, D. D.
The Fifteenth Episcopal District: Bermuda, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Michigan, West Indies and South America Conferences, Presiding Bishop, C. S. Smith, D. D., M. D.
Bishop Benjamin Tucker Tanner, D. D., to remain on superannuated or retired list of Bishops.
Avery Fund.--Charles Avery, a merchant and minister in the Methodist Protestant Church. In 1849 he gave funds
to establish Avery Institute at Pittsburgh, Pa., from which Bishop Tanner graduated. He also gave a considerable sum to the A. M. E. Church at Pittsburgh, from which it now has an income of about $3,000 per year; also gave $10,000 to Wilberforce, and was a liberal contributor to the educational and religious work of the Negro and especially of the A. M. E. Church. He left funds for 12 scholarships exclusively for young Negroes in the University of Pittsburgh, but we are sorry to say these have not been all taken.
Baltimore Annual Conference, The, was, according to Bishop Handy, first held at the house of Nicholas Gilliard on Low St., Baltimore, April 12, 1817. Bishop Allen presided and his son, Richard Allen, Jr., was secretary. The appointments were: Henry Harden, Baltimore; David Smith, Prince George County, Md.; Herculean Shureman, Frederick Road, Md. Daniel Coker was left without appointment on account of damaging rumors. The next session was at the house of Samuel Williams. Bishop Allen presided and there were present Revs. Harden, Jacob Matthews, David Smith, Edward Waters, Abner Coker, Jacob Richardson, Joseph Clare, Charles Pierce as members, and Jacob Tapsico and William Cousins, as visitors.
Bands.--The weekly meeting of two or three persons together for the purpose of reading Scripture, prayer, relating experiences and rigorous personal examination was called a band meeting and was especially useful in early Methodism in promoting a deep spiritual life. The bands are never mixed--they are all men or all women. Among the directions of band members are: Not to buy or sell on the Lord's Day; to taste no spirituous liquors, unless prescribed by a physician; not to mention the faults of any one behind his back; to wear no needless ornaments; to use no needless self-indulgence; zealously to maintain good works, and "constantly to attend on all the ordinances of God."
Baptism is the application of water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to one presenting himself to the Church. "It is not only a sign of profession and mark of difference, whereby Christians are distinguished from others that are not baptised, but it is also a sign of regeneration, or the new birth." Baptism is essentially by Christ, and generally recognized as essential by Christian Churches. Methodists prescribe no particular mode, putting more emphasis on the spiritual condition than the physical act. The usual modes are sprinkling, pouring and immersing. Sprinkling and pouring are most generally used by us.
Benediction, from Latin words, "bene" and "dicere," meaning to speak well of, a blessing, is the invocation of the favor and blessings of God. St. Paul used the benediction frequently in his letters. The benediction is always used at the close of the service. Methodists usually give the benediction in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. II. Corinthians, xiii, 14, is called the Apostolic Benediction.
Bethel means "House of God," from two Hebrew words, "Beth" and "El" (See Genesis xxviii, 16-19). Bethel was the name given to the house of worship first erected by Richard Allen and his followers in Philadelphia in 1794. Bethel was the name given to the first African Methodist Church in Baltimore, also the first in New York and various other places. On this account for many years the A. M. E. Church was called the "Bethel Connection." Even at this day "Bethel" is appropriately the most popular name for churches in our connection. Nearly every large city has a "Bethel."
Bishops are the head of the African Methodist Episcopal Church as of all Episcopal Churches. A bishop is elected by ballot at the general conference, "provided he shall be blameless in character and qualifications," and "consecrated to the office of a bishop by the imposition of the hands of a bishop and six elders." He presides over conferences and connectional boards and is general superintendent directly of the work in the district to which he is appointed by the general conference, and in council with other bishops of the whole work of the Church. Bishops ordain men elected to the orders; and after counsel with presiding elders, appoint pastors to their charges. They are ordered to travel at large through their Episcopal districts, and held accountable for the strict enforcement of the discipline within these districts. At the general conference they must give an accounting to the Episcopal Committee and their character must be passed by the general conference before they can be assigned. A bishop's assignment is from general conference to general conference, a period of four years; but he may be returned for a second or third term if the conference sees fit. The first bishop elected for superintendence was Richard Allen, who was set apart for the episcopal office April 11, 1816. Since that time we have elected and set apart for this office 41 bishops, 16 of whom are living, 15 active and 1 retired. The names of the bishops are as follows: (1) Richard Allen*; (2) Morris Brown*; (3) Edward Waters*; (4) Paul Quinn*; (5) Willis Nazrey*; (6) Daniel A. Payne*; (7) A. W. Wayman*; (8) J. P. Campbell*; (9) James A. Shorter*; (10) T. M. D. Ward*; (11) J. M. Brown*; (12) H. M. Turner*; (13) W. F. Dickerson*; (14) Richard H. Cain*; (15) R. R. Disney*; (16) W. J. Gaines*; (17) B. W. Arnett*; (18) B. T. Tanner* (19) A. Grant*; (20) B. F. Lee; (21) M. B. Salter*; (22) James A. Handy*; (23) W. B. Derrick*; (24) J. H. Armstrong*; (25) J. C. Embry*; (26) Evans Tyree; (27) M. M. Moore*; (28) C. S. Smith; (29) C. T. Shaffer; (30) L. J. Coppin; (31) E. W. Lampton*; (32) H. B. Parks; (33) J. S. Flipper; (34) J. A. Johnson; (35) W. H. Heard; (36) John Hurst; (37) W. D. Chappelle; (38) J. H. Jones; (39) J. M. Conner; (40) W. W. Beckett; (41) I. N. Ross. [*Deceased. *Retired.]
Bishops' Council is a meeting of the bishops to consider the work of the Church. There was no specific law creating this council; but in 1852 the three bishops, Quinn, Nazrey and Payne, met to confer about the supervision of the work, which was divided into three districts. The council has grown to be a sort of general conference ad interim, and exercises great influence. There are two meetings-- a summer meeting usually at Wilberforce University, Ohio, at commencement, and a mid-winter meeting in February, usually in some Southern city. The council is attended by hundreds of ministers and laymen, though they cannot enter the meetings, which as a rule are behind closed doors.
Bishops' Widows.--The widows of bishops receive a pension from the Church of $25 per month, paid by the financial department, provided they retain their widowhood and membership in the A. M. E. Church.
Blacksmith Shop.--Richard Allen purchased a discarded blacksmith shop and moved it upon the lot at Sixth and Lombard Streets, repaired it and dedicated it as Bethel Church. No blacksmith business was ever conducted upon the ground where Bethel Church is located, so far as we know, and Richard Allen was not a blacksmith.
Boards, General.--Each department is under a general Board, made up as a rule of one member from each Episcopal District. Each board is presided over by a bishop. The principal boards meet once per year to examine the accounts and general condition of the department, and serve whatever other interests they may. The Bishops' Council appoints the Publication and Allen Christian Endeavor Boards, which need no confirmation by the General Conference; the bishops nominate the Church Extension Board, and Sunday-School Union Board. The Financial Board is elected by the General Conference without special nomination by the Bishops' Council. The general boards as at present constituted are as follows:
Publication Board--Bishop Evans Tyree, president: Rev. H. H. Cooper, Rev. R. B. Smith, Rev. C. C. Dunlap, Rev. S. S. Morris, Rev. C. H. Murray, Rev. R. H. Bumry, Mr. Moses Johnson, Dr. W. A. Sinclair, Mr. Blair.
Board of Missions--Bishop J. A. Johnson, president: First District, Rev. R. J. Williams; Second District, Rev. E. H. Hunter; Third District, Rev. R. R. Downs; Fourth District, Rev. J. P. Q. Wallace; Fifth District, Rev. N. C. Buren; Sixth District, Rev. W. O. P. Sherman; Seventh District, Rev. D. H. Johnson; Eighth District, Rev. C. E. Brooks; Ninth District, ----; Tenth District, Rev. C. W. Abington; Eleventh District, Rev. S. A. Harris; Twelfth District, Rev. C. R. Tucker; Thirteenth District, Rev. A. L. Brisbane; Fourteenth District, ---- Fifteenth District, Rev. C. E. Allen.
Financial Board--Bishop B. F. Lee, president: First District, Rev. M. W. Thornton; Second District, Rev. A. L. Gaines; Third District, Rev. T. H. Jackson; Fourth District, Rev. A. J. Carey; Fifth District, Rev. J. R. Ransom; Sixth District, Rev. S. D. Roseboro; Seventh District, Rev. R. W. Mance; Eighth District, Rev. W. H. Edwards; Ninth District, ----; Tenth District, Rev. S. J. Johnson; Eleventh District, Rev. J. E. Starks; Twelfth District, Rev. J. D. Dennis, Thirteenth District, Rev. H. M. Steady; Fourteenth District, ----; Fifteenth District, Rev. J. W. Sanders.
Board of Education--Bishop W. D. Chappelle, president: First District, Rev. H. P. Anderson; Second District, Rev. K. C. Holt; Third District, Rev. W. H. H. Butler; Fourth District, Rev. O. E. Jones; Fifth District, Rev. J. H. Wilson; Sixth District, Rev. P. W. Greatheart.; Seventh District, Rev. Sandy Simmons; Eighth District. Mr. L. A. Lacey; Ninth District, ----; Tenth District, Mr. L. B. Kincheon; Eleventh District, Rev. G. W. Hawkins; Twelfth District, Rev. O. L. Moody; Thirteenth District, Rev. J. P. Richards; Fourteenth District, Mr. W. H. Fortuin; Fifteenth District, Rev. James M. Henderson.
Board of Sunday-School Union--Bishop J. S. Flipper, president: Rev. T. J. Askew, Rev. M. S. Bryant, Rev. A. P. Gray; Rev. J. A. Hadley, Mr. Levi Adams, Mr. Jeff Rhodes, Mr. Richard Hill.
Board of Church Extension--Bishop W. H. Heard, president: First District, Rev. C. P. Cole; Second District, Rev. A. J. Wilson; Third District, Rev. Charles Bundy; Fourth District, Rev. J. H. Sydes; Fifth District, Rev. W. H. Peck; Sixth District, Rev. J. T. Hall; Seventh District, Rev. Lee A. Logan; Eighth District, Rev. F. R. C. Durden; Ninth District, ----; Tenth District, Rev. G. B. Young; Eleventh District, Rev. J. M. Wise; Twelfth District, Rev. James Jones; Thirteenth District, Mr. George Herring; Fourteenth Rev. P. S. Kuze; Fifteenth District, Rev. W. H. Jones.
Board of Western Christian Recorder--Bishop I. N. Ross, president: First District, Rev. H. H. Pinckney; Second District, Rev. C. G. Taylor; Third District, Rev. T. D. Scott; Fourth District, Mr. W. A. Stewart; Fifth District, Rev. A. A. Gilbert; Sixth District, Rev. E. Griggs; Seventh District, Rev. D. J. Turpin; Eight District, Rev. M. C. Wright; Ninth District, ----; Tenth District, Rev. W. J. Laws; Eleventh District, Rev. R. B. Brooks; Twelfth District, Rev. H. Scott; Thirteenth District, Mr. T. W. Haynes; Fourteenth District, ----; Fifteenth District, Rev. D. P. Tolbert.
Board of the Allen Christian Endeavor League--Bishop J. M. Conner, president; Rev. H. E. Stewart, Rev. W. S. Brooks, Rev. I. J. Pruitt, Rev. A. Thomas, Rev. P. C. Hunt, Rev. D. M. Baxter, George Carter (Fifteenth District).
Board of Historical and Literary Societies--Bishop W. W. Beckett, president: First District, Rev. H. K. Spearman; Second District, Rev. R. H. W. Leak; Third District, Rev. P. A. Scott; Fourth District, Rev. J. W. Frazier; Fifth District, Rev. J. Logan Craw; Sixth District, Rev. M. T. Robinson; Seventh District, Rev. P. J. Chavis; Eighth District, Rev. I. B. Grandison; Ninth District, ----; Tenth District, Mr. J. A. Kirk; Eleventh District, Rev. W. R. Whitehurst; Twelfth District, Rev. P. W. De Lisle; Thirteenth District, Mr. W. I. Cole; Fourteenth District, Rev. J. Y. Tantsi; Fifteenth District, Rev. J. P. James.
Board of Southern Christian Recorder--Bishop J. H. Jones, president; First District, Rev. B. W. Arnett; Second District, Rev. G. D. Carnes; Third District, Rev. J. A. Collins; Fourth District, Rev. D. C. Carter, Fifth District, Rev. R. L. Pope; Sixth District, Rev. C. J. Jones; Seventh District, Rev. C. L. Henderson; Eighth District, Rev. S. W. White; Ninth District, ----; Tenth District, Rev. H. S. Simms; Eleventh District, Rev. H. E. Daniels; Twelfth District, Rev. W. T. Pope; Thirteenth District, Rev. A. F. Holt; Fourteenth District, ----; Fifteenth District, Rev. Austin Richardson.
Book Concern of the A. M. E. Church, The, was provided for in the first discipline of the A. M. E. Church, which stated that the profits from the same should go for the support of superannuated preachers and widows and orphans of decreased ministers. But at that time it was no more than a book agency. In 1817 the first discipline was published, and in 1832 a second was published. A hymn book was published in 1818 and another in 1835. Bishop Allen was first general steward. In 1835 Joseph M. Corr reported as general book steward that he had printed 1,000 copies of the discipline and bound 500, also 1,000 hymn books, 2,000 minutes at a cost of about $600. He had sold $300 worth of hymnals and disciplines and "had succeeded in getting through with all this huge debt, and had on hand clear of all contingencies $60, with which to commence the Publishing Fund." James M. Corr died October, 1835, and was succeeded by George Hogarth (see sketch). The Book Concern was moved from Philadelphia to New York. Here
[ILLUSTRATION]
THE A. M. E. BOOK CONCERN Philadelphia, Pa.
it had a more or less precarious time. In 1845 it is reported that "the condition of the Book Concern is painful." Mr. Hogarth was succeeded by Augustus N. Green, and he by M. M. Clark in 1852. W. T. Catto was general book steward from 1852 to 1854, when he was succeeded by Rev. J. P. Campbell. Other book stewards were Elisha Weaver, 1860-68; Joshua A. Woodlin, A. L. Stanford and B. T. Tanner, 1868-72; W. H. Hunter, 1872-76; H. M. Turner, 1876-80; T. Gould, 1880-84; J. C. Embry, 1884-96; T. W. Henderson, 1896 1900; R. H. W. Leak, 1900-02; J. H. Collett, 1902-09; R. R. Wright, Jr., 1909-12; J. I. Lowe, 1912-16; R. R. Wright, Jr., since August 18, 1916. The Book Concern was located in Pittsburgh in 1848, removed to Philadelphia in 1852, and given its present location, 631 Pine Street, in 1866. The present structure was built by J. C. Embry in 1892. It is a three-story building with a two-story back building and cemented basement, size 18 ft. × 100 ft. The front basement is used as a store room and wholesale shipping room, and the rear as a boiler room. The first floor contains retail book store, manager's office and office for bookkeeper and Christian Recorder mailing department, also bindery department; in the rear is the press room, containing two cylinder presses for book work and the Recorder, two job presses, one folder, one paper cutter, one stitcher, all run by electric power. The second floor contains the office of the editors of the Christian Recorder and of the A. M. E. Review, and the composing room in which are thousands of dollars worth of printing materials, including a linotype of the best make. On the third floor is an assembly room used for the Philadelphia Preachers' Meeting, board and committee meetings. The publications of the Book Concern are the Christian
Recorder, Review, discipline, hymn books, polity, Digest of Theology and other books, blanks, etc., necessary for the work of the Church.
The income of the Book Concern since 1836, as nearly as can be ascertained from reports is as follows, under each business manager:
| George Hogarth, 1836-1840 | $1,954.11 |
| George Hogarth, 1840-1844 | 2,168.00 |
| George Hogarth, 1844-1848 | 8,407.58 |
| Total | 12,529.69 |
| A. R. Green, 1848-1852 | 11,585.47 |
| W. T. Catto, M. M. Clarke and J. P. Campbell, 1852-1856 | 3,995.80 |
| J. P. Campbell, 1856-1860 | 6,449.57 |
| Elisha Weaver, 1860-1864 | 7,410.26 |
| Elisha Weaver, 1864-1868 | 29,149.86 |
| J. Woodlin, A. L. Stanford and B. T. Tanner, 1868-1872 | 25,275.47 |
| W. H. Hunter, 1872-1876 | 41,368.69 |
| H. M. Turner, 1876-1880 | 50,142.27 |
| T. Gould, 1880-1884 | 63,139.65 |
| J. C. Embry, 1884-1888 | 49,123.49 |
| J. C. Embry, 1888-1892 | 55,597.86 |
| J. C. Embry, 1892-1896 | 67,876.46 |
| T. W. Henderson, 1896-1900 | 65,811.27 |
| R. H. W. Leak and J. H. Collett, 1900-1904 | . . . . . |
| J. H. Collett, 1904-1908 | . . . . . |
| J. H. Collett and R. R. Wright, Jr., 1908-1912 | 63,702.25 |
| J. I. Lowe, 1912-1916 | 53,161.24 |
Borrowing.--The discipline of the A. M. E. Church discourages borrowing money and specifically borrowing by ministers without the probability of paying. It should be a rule of every man's life not to borrow, except under absolute necessity. Pride, ambition, self indulgence and the desire to make a show should never force persons to borrow. And no person should indulge in luxuries or extravagances as long as he is in debt.
Boston, Mass.--The First African Methodist Episcopal Church, more generally known as "The Charles Street A. M. E. Church," was organized in Boston in 1833. Its founder was Noah C. W. Cannon, a man of piety and capability; the church was first located in the West End, on a street named Belnap; it afterwards occupied the following sites: West Cedar Street, Cambridge Street, North Russel Street, then to Anderson Street, from which place it moved to its present house of worship at the corner of Charles and Mount Vernon Streets, December 15, 1876. The membership at this time was about 200 persons. The church building and ground, which is just below Beacon Hill and the State House, a block and a half from the beautiful Charles River basin and the same in another direction from the historic public gardens, includes a pipe organ, the first installed in any church in Boston, magnificent oak pews and other furnishings, was purchased from the Charles Street Baptist Society for the sum of $40,000 .The undertaking was a stupendous one for this small number. Rev. William H. Hunter was the pastor. Rev. Ebenezer T. Williams paid off the mortgage on the church building on Anderson Street, and opened the way for the larger venture. Rev. Josesph P. Shreves, the next pastor, looking to the future of the society, began a sinking fund, held a rally, raised the sum of $3,050.50, which was deposited in the bank for the purchasing of a new church. Rev. William H. Hunter took charge about this time and within six months had launched plans for the purchase of the present property. The property on Anderson Street was mortgaged for $6,000, which with the sinking fund made a total of $9,050.50; it was resolved to raise $10,000 for the first payment on the indebtedness; the good women led off in the endeavor. Mrs. Elizabeth Clinton pledged the sum of $50, also Mrs. Rosetta Allston, Mrs. Collins, Mrs. Richardson, Mrs. Ruth Hill, Mrs. Mary Thomas and others contributed like sums, which with the aid of other friends succeeded in making the grand total. Dr. J. T. Jenifer, who served this congregation as pastor from 1881 to 1887, in the year 1882, raised and paid $22,000 on the property; this is probably the largest amount ever raised at one time by any church in the connection.
A charter was granted the society in 1839 by the Legislature, the same signed by the Speaker of the House, the Hon. Edward Hale. In the early history of this church the Negroes of Boston were only allowed to occupy the first two rows in the gallery on the Charles Street side during the services. Now they own the building. Wendell Phillips, William Lloyd Garrison, Dr. E. E. Hale, General Ben. Butler, Phillips Brooks, W. H. Foote, Brook Hereford, Dr. Dura and other notables of world-wide fame have been a part of this congregation and contributed some of the best service in times past. In its history and within her walls the "Boston Associated Charity Society" was organized. "The St. Andrew's Church" was born here, as well as the great "Tremont Temple" and its mighty following of the present. Four of its pastors have served as general officers in the great connection of which it is a part, viz., Theodore
[ILLUSTRATION]
CHARLES STREET A. M. E. CHURCH, BOSTON, MASS.
Gould, T. W. Henderson, J. T. Jenifer, and Reverdy C. Ransom. Two have also been elevated to the bishopric--Revs. J. P. Campbell and W. F. Dickerson. Other able ministers have served this congregation adding to its advancement and prosperity, namely, Father Johnson, R. F. Hurley, D. P. Roberts, W. H. Thomas, Sr., R. W. Fickland, J. M. Henderson, W. H. Thomas, Jr., and the present incumbent, Montrose William Thornton. Under Dr. Thornton's administration the mortgage had been reduced and electric lights installed. Charles Street Church is considered the leading church among the Negroes in New England. Its present trustees are Samuel Griffin, vice chairman; James H. Hawkins, secretary; Dr. William Worthy, treasurer; William C. Lovett, S. M. Hoxter, Theodore Gould, Jr., E. P. Tucker, J. D. Augustine and G. A. Bisbee. Its membership includes some of the leading and most representative men and women of Boston, many of whom are in business and professional service and are large property owners. Its present membership is 649, seating capacity, 1,140. It has 16 classes,
16 auxiliary societies, 4 local preachers, parsonage, raised in 1914, $7,100. It contains a bell and has stood intact as it is on one present foundation 108 years, owned and occupied by the present congregation 39 years.
"Both Kinds."--The Roman Catholics do not give the wine of the Lord's Supper to the laity, but only the bread; the A. M. E. Church, as most Protestant Churches, gives it in "both kinds" to laity, namely, the bread and wine, in accordance with the Scriptural injunction.
British Methodist Episcopal Church, The, grew out of the A. M. E. Church. The preachers of the A. M. E.
[ILLUSTRATION]
PASTOR AND OFFICERS OF BRIDGE STREET A. M. E. CHURCH, BROOKLYN, N. Y.
Church went early to Canada, where many fugitive slaves had gone, and there the Church grew. In 1840 the Upper Canada Conference was organized by Bishop Morris Brown at Toronto. But the question of difference in political allegiance arose and it was thought best to form a separate Church out of the Canada societies, and in 1855 a committee was appointed to look into the matter. In 1856 the B. M. E. Church was set apart and Bishop Nazrey, who was a British subject, was elected its bishop. Bishop Nazrey died in 1875 and was succeeded by Bishop Disney. In 1884 a reunion with the A. M. E. Church took place and Bishop Disney became one of our bishops. All of the Canadian B. M. E. churches, however, did not come with the A. M. E. Church, and a small British M. E. Church still exists.
Budgets of the A. M. E. Church.--Rev. (afterwards bishop) B. W. Arnett, first suggested the idea of a budget, and was the first one to publish the same. In 1880 he was elected financial secretary, and at the end of six months found that there was a need to inform the Church of the condition of the treasury. The executive committee approved of his plan of sending out a statement of the receipts and expenditures for six months. The plan met with general favor, and the financial board at its meeting, April, 1881, ordered him to print an annual report and such other matter as he thought best for the information of the ministry and membership. This was the beginning of the "Budgets." Later the budgets contained much information of the history of the A. M. E. Church and other Churches under the control of the Race, and other facts relating to the Race, Church and country, arranged in such a form that the minister could convey them to his congregation. "Budgets" appeared in 1881, '82, '83, '84, '85, '86, '87, '88, '91, 1901 and 1904.
Calvinism.--The system of doctrines taught by John Calvin (born 1506, died 1564), which ascribes all good to the free grace of God, denies all natural free will and all power antecedent to grace, and excludes all merit from man for what he has or does by the grace of God.
Campbell College, Jackson, Miss., was inaugurated in 1887. It was headed by chartered trustees and located in the cities of Vicksburg and Friars Point, Miss. Until 1898 it remained at the two respective places as separate wings, but during the administration of Bishop W. B. Derrick, it was decided to unite these two in one institution and locate same at Jackson, Miss. The founders were Revs. T. W. Stringer, W. R. Carson, L. W. W. Manaway, E. R. Carter, W. T. Anderson, W. H. Coleman, J. G. Johnson and J. W. Watson, and I. T. Montgomery, W. H. Reynolds, H. T. Risher, Granville Carter and Thomas Richardson. The school at Vicksburg was started in 1890 in Bethel Church. A large hall next to the church was built, and 1,000 acres of the best land in the Mississippi Delta were given by Collis P. Huntington. Since 1898 the following have served as presidents: M. W. Thornton, D. H. Butler, M. M. Ponton,
P. W. Howard, H. H. Buckingham, W. T. Vernon, J. L. Johnson and A. Henry Attaway, the present president. The departments are theological, collegiate, scientific, academic, normal, musical, industrial, commercial and grammar school.
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ELLEN TYREE HALL, CAMPBELL COLLEGE, JACKSON, MISS.
There were last year 230 students and 11 teachers. There have been 3,800 students in all since 1890 and 65 graduates. The property consists of two large brick buildings and 1,137 acres of land, the whole valued at $50,000.
Canada, African Methodism in.--It would be a difficult task to tell who was the first one to plant African Methodism in Canada. We have traces of societies as early as 1826. In May, 1828, a petition was sent to the Philadelphia Conference from New York State and Canada praying them to send them a preacher, which was referred to the New York Conference, as Canada was under their jurisdiction. The New York Conference of 1832 sent Jeremiah Miller as a missionary to Canada. African Methodism became very popular in Canada and societies were organized in nearly every town and village of any size where our people resided. June 10, 1837, a petition was sent from St. Catharines to the New York Conference, asking for pastoral care. The matter was taken up by this conference and a resolution was passed to send missionaries into Canada to explore, and, as far as possible, to organize and regulate the societies in these regions, with the added provisions "That they shall be subject to the orders of the bishops of the A. M. E. Church and amenable to the annual conference of the New York District." Rev. Richard Williams, who had been sent out by the previous conference, made his report, stating that he had had an interview with the authorities of Canada and had received their sanction to plant churches, and that he had planted a church at Niagara Falls with 22 members, one at St. David with 29 members, and one at St. Catharines with 40 members, and at this place he had licensed two local preachers. June 15, 1839, reports to New York Conference showed that churches had been planted during the past year at Toronto, Malden, Hamilton (Ont.), and Brandford (Ont.). In 1840 Willis Nazrey was received on probation at the New York Conference. By order of the General Conference of the same year, Bishop Morris Brown was given authority to organize an A. M. E. Church Conference in Canada, which was done, July 21, 1840, in Toronto, Ont. There were 12 members of this first conference, namely, Elder Edmund Grosby, Deacon George Weir (of Rochester, N. Y.), and the following preachers, all residents of Canada: William Edwards, Samuel Brown, James Harper, Alexander Hemsely, Jeremiah Taylor, Daniel D. Thompson, Peter O'Banyoun, Jacob Dorsey and Henry Bullard. Brother Weir was elected secretary. The appointments were as follows: St. Catharines, Brandford, Lordon and Toronto, with a membership of 265. The second session of the Canadian A. M. E. Conference was held at St. Catharines, October 2, 1831. Neither Bishop Brown nor Bishop Waters was present. Rev. Edmund Crosby was chosen president, and George Weir was elected secretary. The reports showed a membership of 448. The third session was held July 2, 1842, in Hamilton, Ont., with Bishop Brown presiding. At this conference Josiah Henson the original "Uncle Tom" was ordained a deacon. The territory was enlarged by the organization of a church in The Queen's Bush, Peel County, and Detroit, Mich. The fourth session met in Toronto, July 1, 1843. Elder Cannon was elected president, as neither of the bishops was present; the attendance was very small, as there had been some local difference at St. Catharines and an attempt had been made to hold a conference there. July 18, 1844, the fifth session met again at Toronto; Bishop Brown presided. The bishop was stricken with paralysis and had to be taken home to Philadelphia by Rev. C. Noah Cannon. Josiah Henson was ordained elder at this conference. The sixth session met September 13, 1845, in St. Catharines. N. C. Cannon was chosen chairman as neither of the bishops was present, and Rev. Weir was elected secretary. The seventh session met at The Queen's Bush, Peel County, July 31, 1846, Bishop Quinn presiding. The closing of the church at Toronto against Rev. N. Cannon was discussed at this conference and the actions of the trustees of said church were severely condemned. The minutes of 1847 to 1850 cannot be found, but during this time the people of Canada had thrown open their arms to the slaves of the South to come and seek shelter and found homes. The twelfth session met in Toronto, and found itself in great difficulty as every member was impeached for rebelling against the A. M. E. Church by electing Sam H. Brown to superintend the A. M. E. Church in Canada until the sitting of the next General Conference. But after being rebuked they were all forgiven. The minutes of 1852 cannot be found. The next session was held in Peel County, July 13, 1853, Bishop Quinn presiding, assisted by Bishop Willis Nazrey. Rev. W. H. Jones was elected secretary. The next session met in
Chatham, July 21, 1854; the three bishops (Quinn, Payne and Nazrey) presided alternately. At this conference the Rev. Benjamin Steward was ordained elder and started the movement to have the A. M. E. Church of Canada set apart as the B. M. E. Church by presenting a short resolution to that effect, which was presented to the General Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, through a special committee. The General Conference, after hearing the request of the Canadian Church, granted it, and in order to keep the fraternal spirit they were allowed to send fraternal delegates to the General Conferences of the United States. The General Conference also appointed a special committee to meet the Canadian Conference, which was to meet in Chatham, Ont., Monday, September 29, 1856. On Monday morning of said date, at 10 a. m., the conference met in Chatham at the home of of Mrs. Taylor to terminate the existence of the A. M. E. Church in Canada. Bishop Quinn rose and gave out the hymn, "Come, let us join our cheerful songs," and after singing he called on Rev. Samuel Brown to pronounce the benediction. Bishop Payne announced the fact that the A. M. E. Church was extinct in Canada and said that a convention would open at 12 o'clock to effect the new organization, afterwards known as the British Methodist Episcopal Church. The convention opened at 12 o'clock, according to appointment, and after a long and tedious session with many debates as to what portions of the A. M. E. discipline they would adopt and what would be the relation of the new Church to the "Mother" Church, the convention came to a close deciding to retain friendly relationship with the Mother Church in the United States. This relationship was kept up for some time, as, we see the names of Bishop Nazrey, Josephus O'Banyoun, Walter Hawkins, Bishop R. R. Disney, L. C. Chambers, T. W. Stringer and others among the fraternal delegates attending the different general conferences. The A. M. E. Church therefore withdrew from Canada and left the field to the British M. E. Church. In 1880, however, a petition was sent to the General Conference of the A. M. E. Church by the B. M. E. Church asking for organic union. A joint commission was created and came to agreement as to terms of union. These were confirmed by the General Conference of 1884, and the Canadian churches again became a part of the A. M. E. Church at the Ontario Conference, their bishop, R. R. Disney, becoming a bishop of the A. M. E. Church.
The first session of the Ontario Annual Conference after the reunion met in St. Paul A. M. E. Church, Hamilton, Ont., Tuesday, June 30, 1885, Bishop Disney presiding. Rev. J. O'Banyoun was elected secretary. Twelve traveling elders, 5 traveling deacons, 2 traveling licentiates, 2 superannuated elders, 1 local elder, 3 local preachers and 2 local deacons were enrolled. Bishops Campbell, J. M. Brown and R. H. Cain, Dr. W. B. Derrick (pastor of Sullivan Street Church, New York City), Dr. B. T. Tanner (editor of the A. M. E. Quarterly Beview), and Prof. S. T. Mitchell (president of Wilberforce University) visited the conference. The afternoon session was presided over by Bishop R. H. Cain. Reports being called, there were seven appointments that had neither reports nor pastors present, and the presiding elder informed the conference that the ministers of those appointments had decided not to be governed by the A. M. E. Church and were determined to maintain the B. M. E. Church against the union. He stated that with but few exceptions he found the doors of the churches closed against him and the A. M. E. Church. Bishop Disney explained about the law suit at Chatham, stating that he went to Victoria Chapel on the second Sunday after the rise of the General Conference in September, 1884, and found the doors locked and guarded by four men, who refused to let him in, in consequence of which he entered a law-suit against them for his right of way to the pulpit of said church. This conference organized a missionary society and elected the following trustees to Wilberforce: N. Murray (of Chatham), Amos Johnson (of Hamilton), Revs. Miller, J. H. Buckner, and J. B. Roberts. This conference raised $63.60, of which 70 per cent. was sent to the financial department and 30 per cent. was divided between the four widows of the conference. The second session met at Amherstburg, Ont., Thursday, July 1, 1886, Bishop R. R. Disney presiding, and Rev. J. Albert Johnson secretary. A motion offered by Rev. J. O'Banyoun and seconded by Rev. J. Albert Johnson, "That whereas Benjamin Steward, L. B. Anderson, S. P. Hale, C. A. Washington, W. H. Le'Vant, J. Chauncey, Walter Hawkins, Charles Mayo, Peter Jackson, Nicholas James, Caswell Crosby, who were members of the B. M. E. Church before the union of the A. M. E. and B. M. E. Churches, have since the union, in September, 1884, failed to appear in person in this conference or by letter or by proxy, but evinced by their actions a determination to disregard the authority of the A. M. E. Church Conference, therefore be it resolved that their names be erased from this conference roll, and that this annual conference consider their actions, as stated in the above preamble, as equivalent to having withdrawn from this conference and connection," was carried. The sessions of the Ontario Conference beginning with 1887 have been held in the following places: Hamilton, 8 times; Chatham, 6 times; Amherstburg, twice; Windsor, 7 times; and Toronto, 5 times. The presiding bishops have been: Bishops Disney, 1885-7; Tanner, 1888-91; Turner, 1892-95, also 1913-4; Lee, 1896-99; Smith, 1900, also 1915-16; Grant, 1901-03; Handy, 1904-7; Shaffer, 1908-11; Derrick, 1912. The secretaries have been Revs. J. O'Banyoun, 1885, '87-9; J. Albert Johnson, 1886; E. H. North, 1890-1; S. Walton, 1892-4; T. T. Taggart, 1895-6; A. W. Hackley, 1897-1900, also 1912; T. H. Henderson, 1901-11, also 1913-15; A. R. Tulsie, 1914. Rev. Josephus O'Banyoun, the first secretary, did much to build up the A. M. E. Church in Canada. He died in 1905, while in charge of the church at Amherstburg. Rev. T. H. Henderson, who has been a member of this conference for the past 15 years has contributed no small part in the building up of this conference. Rev. R. Hatchett is worthy of mention, as he has been a member of this conference for the past 15 years as financial agent, has collected many thousands of dollars to assist in the support of this conference. Rev. A. W. Hackley, who has been a member of this conference for the past 19 years, has contributed no small part to the raising of the spiritual and financial standard of the Ontario Annual Conference, being elected four times to the general conference in that time and serving on the Sunday-School Union Board, the C. P. A. and the Church Extension Boards. The appointments for 1915 and 1916 are as follows: Rev. A. W. Hackley, presiding elder, 35 Shudell Avenue, Toronto, Ont.; Rev. R. Hatchett, financial agent, 99 Elgin Street, Hamilton, Ont.; Rev. J. H. Williams, conference evangelist, 35 McDougal Street, Windsor; Rev. T. H. Henderson, 346½ College Street, Toronto, Ont.; Rev. William H. Jones, 116 John Street, North, Hamilton, Ont.; Rev. J. H. Edgehill, Oakville, Ont.; Rev. J. O. Morley, corner Wellington and Princess Streets, Chattanooga, Ont.; Rev. Starling Harris, 28 Mercer Street, Windsor, Ont.; Rev. Sylvester Warl, New Canaan and Central Grove; Rev. J. M. Payne, Amherstburg, Ont.; Rev. Thomas Nelson, 471 George Street, Sarnia, Ont. (By A. W. Hackley, historian.)
Canonical Scriptures.--The Books in the Old Testament and New Testament about which there has never been any doubt in the Church are called canonical, the standard for Christian faith and practice containing all things necessary to salvation.
Catechism, The, is almost as old as the organized Church. It is a simple method of teaching the young and candidates for baptism, the doctrines of the Church by the use of questions and answers. The first Methodist catechism pas published in 1768, entitled "Instruction to the Young." Bishop Turner compiled the catechism for the A. M. E. Church, which is published by the Sunday-School Union, Nashville, Tenn. It is the duty of the pastor to gather the children together for instruction in the catechism.
Central Park Normal and Industrial School, situated near Savannah, Ga., is the newest A. M. E. School, and a part of Morris Brown University system. Rev. J. W. Maxwell, a graduate of the Georgia State Industrial College, is its president. The property consists of one three-story brick building and several acres of land. Bishop Flipper is president of the board of trustees.
Charleston, S. C.--Emanuel A. M. E. Church.--This church is one of the largest and most influential colored churches in the city of Charleston, S. C. It was organized in 1865 by Rev. R. H. Cain, D. D. It is situated on the north side of Calhoun Street, a few doors east of Meeting Street. The corner-stone was laid September 25, 1865. The Rev. R. H. Cain, D. D., served as pastor for three years, and was succeeded by the Rev. William H. Brown, who served in the same capacity for three years. The third pastor was the Rev. A. Thomas Carr, who served three years and was succeeded by Rev. M. B. Salter, who remained four years, and was succeeded by Rev. N. B. Sterrett, who served four years. The next pastor was the Rev. L. R. Nichols, who served four years and was succeeded by Rev. B. H. Williams. After
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TRUSTEES OF EMANUEL A. M. E. CHURCH, CHARLESTON, S. C.
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STEWARDS OF EMANUEL A. M. E. CHURCH, CHARLESTON, S. C.
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STEWARDESSES OF EMANUEL A. M. E. CHURCH, CHARLESTON, S. C.
his term of four years, the Rev. L. R. Nichols was returned, and in 1891 laid the corner-stone for the new brick church and during his four years of pastorate inclosed the same.
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EMANUEL A. M. E. CHURCH, CHARLESTON, S. C.
He was succeeded by Rev. W. W. Beckett, who remained one year, and Rev. N. B. Sterrett was returned and remained five years and was then succeeded by Rev. J. H. Welch. At the completion of his five years he was succeeded by Rev. H. W. B. Bennett, who served five years, after which the Rev. N. B. Sterrett was again returned and served five years, being succeeded by Rev. A. E. Peets. In 1882, when Rev. Sterrett divided the congregation of this church and organized Mt. Zion, it had a total membership of 3,878. The church has a basement, vestry room and ladies' parlor, galleries and vestibule, and has a seating capacity of over 2,000. It is equipped with an organ, electric blower and electric lights and is heated by two large furnaces. It has a beautiful lawn on either side, which causes the church to be cool and airy.
Chester, Pa.--Asbury A. M. E. Church, located at Concord Avenue and Patterson Street, was organized by Rev. Stephen Smith, of Philadelphia, in the year 1845. On October 26 of the same year the church property, then located on Second Street above Market, was purchased of the M. E. Church, now known as the Madison Street Church, at a cost of $700. The deed was made in trust to Stephen Smith, Thomas Lytle, Nicholas Murphy and James Campbell. The first class leader was Thomas Lancaster, the class consisting of four members who first met and organized at the home of Nicholas Murphy. In 1846 William Murphy, the brother of Nicholas Murphy, and his wife came here bringing their certificate from Bethel Church, Baltimore, Md. The same year he was licensed to exhort and was given the charge in the absence of Rev. Stephen Smith; he was also made a class leader and after two years was licensed to preach; in 1858 he was ordained deacon. He was also the prime mover in the A. M. E. Church in South Chester, known as Murphy Chapel. Rev. Henry Davis was the first pastor appointed by the conference in 1849 and was followed by Rev. H. J. Young, 1850-1851; Rev. J. G. Bulah, 1852; Rev. James Holland, 1854-1855; Rev. Adam Driver was appointed in 1856, but died before the expiration of his term and Rev. Caleb Woodyard was sent to fill out and was reappointed in 1857; he was succeeded by Rev. J. G. Bulah, 1858; Rev. E. J. Hawkens, 1859; Rev. J. C. Cornish, 1860; Rev. G. W. Johnson, 1861; Rev. W. D. W. Schureman, 1862; Rev. J. C. Cornish was again appointed in 1863-64; Rev. Peter Gardner, 1865; Rev. Jeremiah Young, 1866-68, during this time the church being rebuilt; Rev. G. Boyer was appointed in 1869-70; Rev. G. T. Waters, 1871-73; Rev. L. C. Chambers, 1874-76; Rev. T. Gould, 1877-78; Rev. J. S. Thompson, 1879-80; Rev. C. C. Felts, 1881-1882; Rev. M. F. Sulby, 1883; Rev. Leonard Patterson, 1884; Rev. C. E. Herbert, 1885-1886; Rev. William H. Bryant, 1887-90; Rev. James Porter, 1891; Rev. J. G. Yeizer, 1893-94; Rev. J. B. Stansberry, 1895-1896; Rev. C. H. Fareira, 1897-99; Rev. J. L. H. Watkins, 1900-02; Rev. C. C. Dunlap, 1903-08; Rev. J. M. Palmer, 1909-14; Rev.
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INTERIOR OF ASBURY A. M. E. CHURCH, CHESTER, PA.
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OFFICIAL BOARD OF ASBURY A. M. E. CHURCH, CHESTER, PA.
E. T. Bruce, 1914 to date. The following entered the ministry from this church: Rev. George Horsey, now in Kansas; Rev. J. O. Mackall, at Wayne; Rev. William Daniels in Delaware.
Chester, Pa.--Murphy A.M.E. Church.--In 1870 seventeen persons who had been worshipping in the public school house on Third and Jeffrey Streets, through the intercession of Rev. William Murphy, secured as a donation from Judge M. Broomall, a lot on which a neat little chapel was built in 1871. The first spade of ground was turned by Mother Murphy. The first donation, a five-dollar gold piece, was given by Mrs. Lucretia Hall, and was put in the cornerstone where it still remains. The first services were held in May, 1871, Bishop Wayman presiding, assisting the first pastor, Rev. Gilbert Waters, who served for three years, Murphy, with Asbury and Mt. Hebron constituting a circuit at that time. The following pastors have since served Murphy: Rev. Jacob Watson, two years; Rev. W. H. Davis, three years; Rev. Henderson Davis, one year; Rev. John Davis, one year; Rev. John W. Morris, four years; Rev. Thomas Moore, two years; Rev. Thomas Cuff, only a few months; Rev. S. C. Goosely, a few months Rev. J. T. Hammond, a short while; Rev. J. H. Buckner, three years; Rev. Amos Wilson, one year; Rev. Redmond Faucett, Rev. I. H. W. West, three years; Rev. Santee Birch, who built the present edifice, five years; Rev. Elijah Byrd, two years; Rev. I. D. Jones; Rev. J. G. Yeiser, two years; Rev. S. D. W. Smith, two years; Rev. C. F. Warfield, five years. During Rev. Warfield's pastorate the church was burdened with a debt of $12,800. On February 27, 1909, the church was sold by the sheriff for $2,750. Brother Perry Wright paid $250 the day of the sale, the money being raised by the church members with the promise to stand by Brother Wright if he would buy the church in for them. The next thing was to find a man who would build up the church all around and pay the debt. The members fixed on Rev. R. J. Williams. Brother Perry Wright went to the conference at Milford, Del., with a petition for Rev. Williams. Rev. Williams came and went to work at once. The church was soon in an excellent condition. Rev. Williams was rounding up his fifth year when he was made presiding elder of the West Philadelphia District. Rev. W. S. Drummond, the present pastor, is serving his third successful year. The membership is 250, divided into 11 classes with efficient leaders. Of the 17 members who started the work in 1871 only 5 are living: Brothers Perry A. Wright, Isaac Woodfaulk, Sisters Lydia Woodfaulk, Elizabeth Cooper and Rebecca Perrigan. The present trustee board is: Perry A. Wright, Benjamin Robinson, Peter Monk, John Warrick, Clarence King, Eldridge Davis (secretary), J. P. Cannon, Jacob Carter, Noah Barrett, Rev. W. S. Drummond (pastor).
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MURPHY A. M. E. CHURCH, CHESTER, PA.
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OFFICERS OF MURPHY A. M. E. CHURCH, CHESTER, PA.
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CHOIR OF MURPHY A. M. E. CHURCH, CHESTER, PA.
Chicago, Ill.--Quinn Chapel A. M. E. Church had its beginning in 1844 in the small hut of John Day in the alley near State Street, between Lake and Randolph Streets. A few people used to congregate in the hut to hold prayer meetings. Soon the hut became too small and they moved to the house of Mrs. Maria Parker, who lived near Day's humble abode. The congregation continued to increase in numbers until in 1845 it was found necessary to move to the school house in Madison, near State Street. In 1846 Madison Patterson, an eloquent exhorter, took the leadership of the religious society, and transferred it over to his house on State Street, near Van Buren Street. A. T. Hall, then a journeyman barber in the shop of Oliver Henderson, was his assistant. The members of the society were ambitious for a more pretentious place of worship and they bought one-half of the White Baptist Church at Washington and La Salle Streets, which they hauled on to a leased lot on the east side of Wells Street, now Fifth Avenue, between Jackson and Van Buren Streets. In 1847 William Paul Quinn, then bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, sent Rev. George Johnson, a missionary, to Chicago, and on July 22 of the same year the society was organized under the discipline of the A. M. E. Church and was named Quinn Chapel. The Quinn Chapel Society was the second Methodist church in Chicago. At that date there were St. Mary's Cathedral, the First Presbyterian and the First Baptist Churches. The first class leader of the Quinn Society was Rev. A. T. Hall, who was also the first colored man licensed to preach in Chicago. He died May 27 of this year. During the administration of Rev. John A. Warren, 1852-4, the society purchased the lot at the southwest corner of Jackson Street and Fourth Avenue, upon which the Monadnock Building is now erected. They moved from the Wells Street lot to this location in 1854, where they had erected a new house, which was dedicated and paid for on the same day. But the noble work of the people was doomed to be destroyed by the great fire that devasted the city in 1871. One of the earliest buildings to succumb to the quick-spreading flames was the frame house of worship owned by the Quinn Chapel Society. Under the leadership of Elder William C. Trevan the members mortgaged the old lot for $11,000 and purchased the old Mission Building on Fourth Avenue, between Taylor and Twelfth Streets. They were again doomed to be disturbed by fire. On July 15, 1874,
the building was reduced to ashes and the Methodists were again without a house of worship. They held prayer meeting for a time at Union Hall, corner of Clark and Monroe Streets, and then moved into an old store on Third Avenue, south of Van Buren Street. Having mortgaged the Fourth Avenue and Jackson Street lot, they were compelled to sell it, and with the proceeds they purchased a lot on Fourth Avenue near Van Buren Street. The members were undaunted by the catastrophes of 1871 and 1874. They worked assiduously for a new chapel, and in 1876 the corner-stone of the brick building on Fourth Avenue was laid. This was, during the administration of the eighteenth pastor, Rev. E. C. Joiner. Rev. Jenifer was appinted pastor of Quinn Chapel in 1889. The slumbering ambitions of his parishioners were awakened to the fact that better accommodations were needed for their religious worship. The changes on Fourth Avenue, caused by business and other interests, had been such as to render the building as well as its location wholly unsuitable as a place of worship. Under the guidance of Pastor Jenifer, they sold the property for $50,000 and paid off the debt of $11,000, and purchased for $29,375 a lot 75 by 192 feet at the southeast corner of Wabash Avenue and Twenty-fourth Street. The following pastors have served Quinn Chapel: 1847-48, Rev. Thomas Farnsworth; 1848-50, Rev. Aaron Parker; 1850-51, Rev. Elisha Weaver; 1852-54, Rev. John A. Warren; 1854-55, Rev. William Davis; 1855-57, Rev. Elisha Weaver; 1857-58, Rev. M. M. Clarke; 1858-61, Rev. Dr. Willis R. Revels; 1861-62, Rev. William A. Dove; 1862-64, Rev. Charles Burch; 1864-66, Rev. A. T. Hall; 1866-68, Rev. William C. Trevan; 1868-69, Rev. Amos MacIntosh; 1869-70, Rev. William S. Langford; 1870-71, Rev. William C. Trevan; 1871-74, Rev. George C. Booth; 1875-76, Rev. E. C. Joiner; 1877-79, Rev. George C. Booth (second term); 1880-84, Rev. George H. Shaffer; 1884-89, Rev. T.W. Henderson; J. T. Jenefer, 1889 to June, 1893; George C. Booth, June 1893 to October, 1893; J. M. Townsend, October, 1893-96;; George C. Booth, 1896-98; A. J. Carey, 1898-1904; D. P. Roberts, 1904-09; William D. Cook, 1909-13; J. C. Anderson, 1913 to date.
Children's Day was first proposed in our Church by Rev. C. S. Smith, secretary of the Sunday-School Union, as a measure of aiding his department. It was first celebrated in September, 1883. The collections of the day from each church and Sunday school are to be divided as follows: 25 per cent. to be sent to the Sunday-School Union, Nashville, Tenn.; 25 per cent. to the Church Extension Department, Washington, D. C.; and 50 per cent. to the secretary-treasurer of the annual conference for local mission work. Special programs are arranged and exercises are required to be held in all the churches. From 1892 to 1896 the entire Children's Day collection went to the Sunday-School Union. From 1896 to 1908 half of it went to the Sunday-School Union and half to the Church Extension Department; from 1908 to 1916 half went to the Church Extension Department and half to the annual conference. Since May 1916, the present distribution is half to the annual conference, one-fourth to the Church Extension, and one-fourth to the Sunday-School Union. The Sunday-School Union, for whom it was originally set apart has received about $100,000 from this source which is the largest amount given to any department, except the missionary, on any general day.
Choirs grew up with the growth of ritualism. The Methodist Churches in the beginning had no choir. John Wesley believed in the power of congregational singing, and he and his brother, Charles, composed and published hundreds of hymns. Choirs were first with the general congregation, those with good voices and desire to cultivate music sitting together. Later they were given by consent of the pastor and congregation a separate place. Richard Allen had no choir. The first choir in the A. M. E. Church was in New York in 1830. By our discipline the pastor is the official head of the choir, the members of which should be persons of good reputation. While the chorister may be elected by the choir, he is subject to the approval of the pastor.
Christian Recorder, The, is the oldest Negro periodical in America, and the only one in the United States whose existence dates before the Civil War. So far as we know, the first Negro newspaper was published in 1826, and the first A. M. E. magazine in 1841. In 1836 a resolution was passed by the New York Conference to establish a quarterly magazine. The first copy was printed September, 1841, and was intended to be a monthly, but it did not last long. The next literary venture was in 1848, when the newspaper edited by Dr. Martin R. Delany, of Pittsburgh, Pa., was purchased and conducted as the Christian Herald. In 1852 the Christian Herald, having had a more or less precarious existence, was moved from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, and started again under the name of the Christian Recorder. Rev. M. M. Clarke, perhaps the only college graduate at that time in the ministry of the Church who had been editor of the Christian Herald, was elected editor of the Christian Recorder; Rev. W. T. Catto, general book steward, and Rev. W. H. Jones, traveling agent. But the Recorder did not come out regularly for any length of time. Rev. Catto resigned after three months' trial, and later Rev. Clarke gave the job up after publishing 15 issues in two years. In 1854 Rev. J. P. Campbell was elected to fill the dual office of editor and general steward and he managed to bring out 24 issues of the Recorder during two years, up to the general conference from July 13, 1854, to March, 4, 1856. At this conference Rev. Campbell was continued as editor and manager. In 1860 Rev. Elisha Weaver was made general book steward. But he did not publish his first issue until June 19, 1861. Until July 13, 1861, he appears to have been both editor and publisher. At this date A. L. Stanford appears as editor and continues until December 18, 1861, having received his appointment from Bishop Nazrey as pastor of Little Wesley and editor. February 24, 1866; James Lynch became editor, with Elisha Weaver publisher. He continued as editor till June 15, 1867, when he resigned to go South on missionary and political business. Again Elisha Weaver was both editor and publisher until the general conference of May, 1868, when he was succeeded as editor by Rev. Benjamin Tucker Tanner, and as manager by Rev. Joshua Woodlin, who got out their first issue June 26, 1868. Editor Tanner continued until May, 1884; Mr. Woodlin was publisher until May 22, 1869, when he was succeeded by Rev. A. L. Stanford. Rev. W. C. Banton was assistant editor from October 3, 1868, to May 22, 1869, being so employed on account of the frequent absences of Editor Tanner. From November 25, 1871, to January 27, 1872, the paper was not issued. At the latter date B. T. Tanner became editor and publisher and carried the paper to the general conference of 1872, when Rev. W. H. Hunter was made business manager. Brother Hunter was the first general officer called "general business manager"; all before him were "general book stewards." During Rev. Hunter's time the paper became a fixture. "Notes by the Way" were started by Bishop Wayman. In 1876 Rev. H. M. Turner succeeded Rev. W. H. Hunter. In April, 1877, Rev. C. L. Bradwell was traveling agent. In 1880 Rev. Theodore Gould, who had been deputy manager since July 18, 1878, was chosen business manager. In 1884 Rev. B. F. Lee was called from the presidency of Wilberforce to the editorship, and served until he was elected bishop in 1892. He was succeeded by the scholarly Dr. H. T. Johnson, who served until 1909, when he was incapacitated by ill health, dying in 1910. Dr. Johnson was succeeded by the present incumbent, R. R. Wright, Jr., who also acted as business manager from 1909 to the general conference of 1912. During the time from 1884 to 1912 the business managers were: Rev. J. C. Embry, 1884-96; Rev. T. W. Henderson, 1896-1900; Rev. R. H. W. Leak, 1900-02; Rev. J. H. Collett, 1902-09; Rev. R. R. Wright, Jr. 1909-12; Rev. J. I. Lowe, 1912 to August, 1916; R. R. Wright, Jr. since August, 1916. The Recorder has not been published regularly since 1852. Many have been the breaks; for quite a while it was published semi-monthly. Not till Elisha Weaver took it in 1861 did it appear weekly. Then there was suspension for four weeks, May 16 to June 20, 1868; also November 25, 1871, to January 27, 1872, and December, 1908, to February 1909. It was suspended February 8 to April, 1868, on account of fire. The size of the paper has varied from time to time. Under J. P. Campbell and M. M. Clarke it was 5 columns, 4 pages, 12×16½ inches. From 1861 to 1879 it was 4 pages, 20×26½, 7 columns each. After June 12, 1879, the size was reduced to 4 columns, 4 pages, 12×21, which, in 1872, was increased to 8 pages, but in 1877 was changed to 4 pages, 8 columns each, which was in 1880 reduced to 7 columns, 4 pages, and in 1888 changed to 8 pages, 5 columns, which continued the size till 1893, when it was changed to 8 pages, 6 columns each. In June, 1908, to November, 1908, it was again reduced, but since February, 1909, has been the size it now is, 8 pages, 6 columns each. The price was $1.50 per year in 1852-60; $2 per year and 4 cents per copy from 1861 to 1863; $2.25 per year in advance and $2.50 otherwise and 5 cents per copy from 1863 to 1872,
when it was made $2 per year to all except clergymen, who got it for $1.75. In 1868 it was again $2.50, and in 1869 $2, where it remained until 1896, when it was reduced to $1 per year. In 1854 it was published at 203 Lombard Street, from 1861 to 1866 at 619 Pine Street, and since March, 1866, at 631 Pine Street. There were many changes in the physical make-up. The headline at first was undecorated. The figure of a globe with the words, "Ethiopia shall soon stretch forth her hands unto God," was first put in the heading in 1869. This was removed in 1876, when the hand bearing the torch, with the words, "God our father and man our brother" was put in. During Editor Johnson's time the present heading was made. The circulation has varied. Up to Editor Tanner's time it was always very small. With the advent of Manager Turner it leaped to 5,000, but in 1888 had gone down below 4,100. When the price was lowered in 1896, it was about 3,500, but gradually increased to 7,000 by 1900. Then it decreased till it reached 4,000 in 1902-03, and increased to 5,600 in 1908, only to fall to 3,000 in 1909, to rise again to 6,500 in 1912. Special issues in 1910 to 1912 ranged from 10,000 to 25,000 papers. At the General Conference of 1916 it was about 4,500.
Christmas Conference, so called because it met during the Christmas season. The first Methodist General Conference in America was held December 24, 1784, to January 2, 1785, at Baltimore, Md. Richard Allen was present.
Church Extension Society of the A. M. E. Church, The.--The General Conference of 1888, at Indianapolis, Ind., adopted measures connecting the work of church extension with the Parent Home and Foreign Missionary Society. Rev. W. B. Derrick, the corresponding secretary of the missionary society, after two years' trial, found it difficult to operate the two societies together, and therefore appointed Rev. B. F. Watson, of the Kansas Conference, as his assistant, to take charge of the extension work, in which capacity he served until the meeting of the General Conference in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1892. Dr. Watson traveled at large, meeting the conferences in the Southwest, in 1891, urging the necessity of the organization of a Church Extension Society for the relief and assistance of needy churches throughout the connection. He prepared the constitution for the society and submitted the same to the general conference committee on Church Extension in 1892, which was adopted by the general conference. The general conference failed to elect a secretary and the law establishing this society was thought to be a "dead letter."
Bishop Grant, however, at the Bishops' Council, urged that the society be made operative and requested that he be given the presidency of the board. This was granted and Rev. C. T. Shaffer, then a presiding elder of the Philadelphia Conference, was appointed secretary, and the following others were appointed on the board of directors for 1892 to 1896: J. H. Morgan, A. J. Chambers, W. H. Coleman, D. P. Roberts, M. S. Bryant, E. W. Lee, B. H. Williams, B. W. Wiley, P. W. Wade, J. N. Abbey and B. W. Roberts. The total receipts for the first quadrennium, 1892-96, were $40,401.30; total disbursements, $34,049.43; balance, $6,351.87. The general board from 1896 to 1900 was as follows: Bishop Grant, president; Rev. C. T. Shaffer, corresponding secretary and treasurer. Members: Revs. D. P. Roberts, A. L. Gaines, D. S. Bentley, B. F. Watson, George H. Shaffer, E. W. Lee, J. H. Welch, E. W. Lampton, J. M. Turner, T. C. Denham and J. E. Edwards. Total receipts including balance, $70,825.87; total disbursements, $58,800.06; balance at the close of second quadrennium, $12,025.81. The general board, 1900 to 1904, was Bishop Grant, president; Rev. B. F. Watson, corresponding secretary and treasurer; members: Revs. D. P. Roberts, A. L. Gaines, J. W. Gazaway, A. J. Burton, A. M. Ward, Allen Cooper, F. Y. Dendy, J. I. Lowe, G. H. Burk, T. C. Denham, A. M. Green and F. M. Gow. Total receipts, $94,528.57; disbursements, $84,713.07; balance, March 31, 1904 (in keeping with the bishops' suggestion that all our departments close their fiscal year March 31st of each year), $9,815.50. The general board, 1904-1908, was: Bishop W. J. Gaines, president; Rev. B. F. Watson, corresponding secretary and treasurer; members: Revs. W. D. Cook, R. H. W. Leak, I. N. Ross, A. J. Burton (decreased), P. C. Cooper, W. W. S. Dyett, W. W. Beckett, S. P. Felder, J. I. Lowe, T. C. Denham (deceased), J. W. Duke and W. M. Simpson. Total receipts including balance from third quadrennium, $109,999.39; total disbursements, $92,363.03; balance, March 31, 1908, $17,636.36. The general board, 1908-1912, was: Bishop W. B. Derrick, president; Rev. B. F. Watson, corresponding secretary and treasurer; members: Revs. R. C. Ransom. R. H. W. Leak, D. S. Bentley, D. P. Roberts, J. C. C. Owens, T. N. M. Smith, B. H. Williams, S. P. Felder, J. I. Lowe, F. F. Washington, D. W. Gillislee (deceased), R. B. Brooks and E. W. Williams. Total receipts including balance from fourth quadrennium, $139,443.48; disbursements, $117,477.46; balance, March 31, 1912, $20,966.03.
Summary of Beneficient Service: During its 24 years, the society has had six general boards, aggregating 70 members, 5 of whom have died in office. The longest service of a member was rendered by Dr. D. P. Roberts, who served 16 years. The society has had four presidents and two corresponding secretaries since its organization. It has aided by loans and donations 2,721 churches; purchased outright, holding deeds in fee simple, 43 church properties, estimated at a value of $156,800. It has also aided 9 schools and granted temporary loans to nearly every department of the Church at some time during its existence. The accomplishment of these results is marvelous when considered in the light of the limited resources contributed to make up the revenue, namely, 10 cents savings of the general fund (the dollar money) and one-half of the free-will offering of the Children's Day collection, put into business Christianity, tells the story. The carefulness with which its business integrity has been guarded is shown by the following letter written by the National Metropolitan Bank of Washington, D. C. to a prominent law firm in Maryland, in answer to the latter's inquiry as to the standing of the Extension Department:
"Dear Sir:
"Replying to your inquiry of the 28th instant, beg to say that we have had an account for several years with Rev. B. F. Watson, secretary and treasurer of the Church Extension Society of the A. M. E. Church, and that the account has been a splendid one at all times. No credit being asked and Mr. Watson being a man peculiarly qualified to manage the affairs he has in hand.
"We can best answer your question as to accepting a note by saying that if we were asked to grant credit to the society we would feel no hesitation whatever in the sum mentioned by you.
"Very truly yours,
"(Signed) G. O. WALSTON, Cashier."
Church Property in the United States was valued at $679,426,489 in 1890, $1,257,575,876 in 1906 and is probably $2,000,000,000 in 1916. Of the value reported in 1906 the Roman Catholics owned $292,638,787, and Methodists $229,450,996, others had less property. Property of colored denominations reported in 1906 was valued at $56,636,159, with encumbrances of $5,005,905. The property of the A. M. E. Church was valued at $11,303,489, with about $1,191,921 debts. The property in churches now owned by the race is about $70,000,000, and that of the A. M. E. Church approximately $14,000,000.
Circuit.--A circuit is an appointment in which there are two or more preaching places. The term is used in contradistinction from station, which is a single preaching point, where the pastor is stationary, while on a circuit he circulates from church to church. Methodism was made famous by the circuit and the time-limit, which give point to the idea of itinerant or traveling minister. With the growth of population, circuits tend to diminish, just as the time-limit tends to extend indefinitely.
Class Leaders.--Next to the pastor comes the class leader as a direct spiritual adviser, for he is a pastor of a class of 12 or more. He should have good judgment, some education and genuine religion; he should be an ardent student of the Scriptures and have genuine respect for the ministry and love for the Church. His reputation should be without spot. His duty is to inquire as to the condition of his members both physically and spiritually, to instruct them in Christian doctrine and practice, to comfort and console, and to keep the pastor in direct touch with each member. He is also to collect from each member something for the support of the Gospel and turn the same over to the stewards at the official board meeting. He should see that every one pays.
Class Meetings.-- A class is composed of about 12 persons and is formed for the purpose of discerning whether they are indeed working out their own salvation, and to receive what they are willing to contribute to the support
of the Gospel. One of the persons assigned to each class is styled The Leader. Class meetings are weekly. They were started by John Wesley in Bristol, England, in 1742, to meet a financial necessity. By dividing the membership into classes and making a class leader responsible for seeing each person in his class once per week and collecting at least one penny from him or her the financial responsibilties were considerably lightened. The class meeting soon became a great spiritual blessing as well as a financial agency, and is one of the most effective departments of the Methodist organization. The collections from class meetings in many churches pay all the expense of preaching.
Commentaries are books of comments, or notes, on a subject, prepared by persons who have given many years to the study of the subject and have become authorities on the same so that their notes are helpful to others who would like to understand the subject. Commentaries on the Scriptures are very common and very useful. No person who desires to undersand the Scriptures should be without a commentary. Perhaps the most popular Scripture commentaries among Methodists is Adam Clark's published between 1819 and 1826, and Joseph Benson's, published 1811 to 1818, and the Pulpit Commentary published later.
Conferences are gatherings of persons for purpose of exchanging opinions upon subjects. In the Methodist Churches it is for the purpose of considering affairs of the Church. There are in the A. M. E. Church five conferences: (a) general conference, (b) annual conference, (c) district conference, (d) quarterly conference, (e) Church conference.
Connectional Schools.--The following is a list of schools which have connectional recognition, receiving funds from the financial and educational departments:
Conversion is the turning around of a sinner from the ways of sin to the ways of God. There are two active forces in the conversion of a soul--the human choice of the individual to depart from the way of sin and to lead a new life; and the divine part, the work of the Holy Spirit which leads the individual to the choice.
Corporation, A, is an organization or a body, set apart as an individual by a legal charter or act of incorporation. Many of our local churches are corporations. The advantage of corporation is that it releases the individual members, as such from responsibility for the debts of the church, and gives the church, as such, a right to hold property. Our discipline urges all churches to incorporate. Before doing so the Church Extension Society secretary should be consulted, as this will avoid some complications into which some of our churches have unfortunately fallen. Where possible women should have voting power in all church corporations, as they support them largely, and "taxation without representation is tyranny" both in Church and State.
Course of Study.--Since most of our ministers find it impossible to attend school, the general conference authorized the bishops to prepare a course for home study, taking five years to complete. Each person admitted to the annual conference must pass the examination for admission and then pursue a course for four years. The course, if conscientiously pursued would make strong men; but, unfortunately, it is not enforced in most of the conferences. The Course of Study was first introduced at the instance of Bishop Payne in 1844. The committee making the course were Revs. D. A. Payne, H. C. Turner, David Ware, R. Robinson, A. D. Lewis, W. R. Revels, and George Weir.
Covenant of Grace.--All mankind are under the covenant of grace from the very hour that the original promise was made: "The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head."
Days, Connectional, are days set apart by the General Conference for special celebration and collections. They are as follows: Easter Day, when all the funds are devoted to missionary work; Educational Day, the third Sunday in September, when all collections are devoted to our school work; Children's Day, the second Sunday in June, when the collections go to missions, Sunday-School Union and Church Extension.
Deacon, is an officer first set apart to do the secular work of the ministry, to look after the poor. The term has various modern significations in different Churches. In the Methodist Churches a deacon is a minister who has authority to bury the dead, marry, baptise and administer the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, but he is not allowed to consecrate the same. A deacon may be local or traveling. A local deacon must have served at least four years as a local preacher and must be recommended to the annual conference by the district conference on request from his quarterly conference. A traveling deacon must have served a probation of two years traveling. Both must pass examinations, be elected by the annual conference and ordained by a bishop.
Deaconesses are female lay helpers who attend to the general interests of the church, such as visiting sick, needy, etc. They are set apart by the bishop of the district after the election by the pastor and official board. The work of deaconesses has not yet taken vital hold on the A. M. E. Church.
Delegates to General Conference.--(a) Ministerial: must be an elder who has traveled four full years next preceding the general conference, must be in good and regular standing in an annual conference of the A. M. E. Church; (b) laymen are elected by the electoral college and confirmed by the annual conference; they must be four years members of the A. M. E. Church and members of the electoral college which elects them. Annual conferences pay board of delegates and their traveling expenses to the general conference.
Deeds are legal documents, signed, sealed and delivered, by which certain rights and privileges are passed from one person to another. A deed to property shows the person who has a right or title to it. The discipline gives a form of deed which it would be well for every church to follow as closely as possible. All deeds must be examined by a competent attorney, passed upon by the annual conference and recorded in the court records. Where possible, the title should be insured with a reliable trust company. For information apply Church Extension Department, 1535 Fourteenth Street, N. W., Washington, D. C.
Degrees are gradual, successive steps by which anything may be attained. Academic degrees are the titles by which certain progress in scholarship is noted, and are of very ancient origin. In the United States the use of degrees has been very much abused, so much so as to bring them much into disrepute. The leading universities have steadily fought these abuses with some little success. The wearing of an unearned degree is regarded more and more as the worst sort of academic hypocrisy. The most common degrees are:
A. B. or B. A. (Baccalauresus Artium) Bachelor of Arts--the lowest degree, which means that the person wearing it has had an approved four years' college course, having studied Latin, Greek and higher Mathematics along with other studies.
A. M. or M. A. (Artium Magister) Master of Arts, means that the wearer has spent at least a year in graduate study after having completed his college course.
B. S. (Bachelor of Science), same as A. B., except that wearer has substituted scientific study for classical study.
Ph. D. (Philosophiae, Doctor) Doctor of Philosophy, means that the wearer has specialized in some form of philosophical study and has laid the basis of a scholarly career in the same. This means from three to five years of special study after the A. B. or B. S. is received.
D. D. (Doctor Divinitatis) Doctor of Divinity, usually given as an honorary degree to one who has shown special ability in theological research.
LL. D. (Legum Doctor) Doctor of Laws, also honorary to one who has shown special ability in scholastic endeavor. While these older degrees exist, there are more specialized and professional degrees of bachelor, master and doctor in music, medicine, letters, etc. A bachelor is a novitiate; a master is experienced; a doctor able to impart instruction to others.
Denver, Colo.--Shorter Chapel A. M. E. Church, Rev. Robert L. Pope, B. D., pastor, was organized in 1868 by Rev. J. M. Wilkerson; has a membership of 700 and owns property to the amount of $40,000, which is absolutely free
[ILLUSTRATION]
SHORTER A. M. E. CHAPEL, DENVER, COLO. Rev. R. L. Pope, Pastor.
of debt. Has the following auxiliaries: stewards, trustees, class leaders, stewardesses, deaconesses, ladies' aid, Woman's Mite Missionary, graded Sunday school, Allen Christian Endeavor League, ushers' club, junior missionary society, sewing circle and flower circle. It has employed the envelope system in making collections for more than four years, and raises upward of $6,000 annually for all purposes. Its new parsonage is considered one among, if not the most durable, modern and commodious to be found in the entire Church.
Dollar Money is the name applied to the annual one dollar which each pastor is required to collect from or for each member of his church and report to the annual conference. This "dollar money" is the chief item in the general fund of the Church. It was originated in 1872 when the Financial Department was started, and has been very successful, the collections having increased from an average of $22,000 per year during 1876-80 to $210,000 per year during 1912-16. The dollar money is reported to the Dollar Money Committee of the annual conference, and by it paid to the Finance Committee and divided as follows: 40 per cent, is paid to the Financial Department for general purposes, support of bishops, general officers, needy churches, colleges, theological seminaries, widows and children of bishops, etc.; 8 per cent. is sent to the Educational Department for support of schools; 8 per cent. to the Church Extension Department for needy churches; 8 per cent. to the Missionary Department for home and foreign missions; and 36 per cent. retained in the conference and distributed as follows by the Committee on Disbursements: 14.4 per cent. to super-annuated preachers, 9 per cent. for support of widows and orphans of deceased ministers, 9 per cent. for the underpaid preachers, and 3.6 per cent. for contingent expenses of the annual conference. (See "Financial Department.")
The following is presented by Secretary Hawkins:
"The study of our Dollar Money system shows that there is possibly no dollar handled that is divided into as many parts and appropriated to serve in as many different ways as the single dollar paid by our individual members as Dollar Money. It is particularly interesting when compared with the single dollar used by the United States Government. The New York American says: 'Out of every dollar Uncle Sam receives 63 cents goes to maintain the army and navy, 5 cents goes for rivers and harbors, 4 cents goes for fisheries and forestry, 3 cents goes for the Panama Canal, 1½ cents cents goes for the Indians, 1 cent goes for Congress. The remainder of every dollar goes to meet the miscellaneous expenses of the Government and to maintain a surplus in the Treasury.'
"The division of each dollar the Church gets as Dollar Money is as follows: Eight cents to the Church Extension Department, 8 cents to the Missionary Department, 8 cents to the Educational Department, 36 cents for each of the annual conference appropriations, 40 cents for the Financial Department. The 8 per cent. to the Church Extension Department is sub-divided into several parts so as to make loans and appropriations to help needy churches and to extend the Church work in each and all of the districts throughout the world. The 8 per cent. to the Missionary Department is subdivided and distributed so as to help open new mission fields, carry on our mission work and maintain our several missionaries throughout the Connection with the special direction that one-half of this fund is to be applied to the work in foreign mission fields and the other one-half to home mission work. The 8 per cent. to the Department of Education is subdivided and distributed so as to maintain our 24 Church schools, employing 210 teachers, with an enrollment of over 5,000 pupils. The 36 per cent. to each annual conference is appropriated at and by each conference in meeting the expenses of said conference and providing an allowance for superannuated ministers, widows and orphans of deceased ministers, for ministers serving mission points, and granting contributions for various charitable objects. The 40 per cent. to the Financial Department is subdivided into 120 different parts and applied so as to cover the salary of bishops, general officers, allowance for widows and orphans of deceased bishops, the general expenses of all meetings of the bishops in council, expenses of all special committees representing the Connection in any and all capacities, special appropriations to our schools and colleges, and for all emergency claims of a general nature not otherwise provided for. Each bishop gets a stipulated annual allowance, to make which takes about 1 cent our of each dollar of Dollar Money collected. The salary allowance for each general officer is less than five eighths of 1 cent of each dollar, while the allowance for each bishop's widow is but one-eighth of 1 cent out of each dollar.
"The latest reports show that calculating on a basis of 640,000 members as accredited to us by the secretary of the Federal Council of Churches in America, we collected last year about 33 cents from or for each member. In other words, we have not yet collected a full dollar from or for but one-third of our membership. If we will increase this proportion and collect from a greater number we will so increase our revenue as to enable us to meet all of our obligations for current expenses, extend our Church work in new fields, do far more for the cause of missions, free all of our schools of debt, equip them for better work, provide a regular monthly pension or stipend for all our superannuated ministers, widows and orphans." (By J. R. Hawkins, financial secretary.)
Doxology (from Greek doxologia--"doxa" meaning glory and "logia," speech, or "legein," to speak), is a speaking of praise or glory to God. It is usually sung at the beginning or at the close of the service. The most popular doxology in our Church and Protestant Churches generally is--
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below,
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost."
This was written by Bishop Thomas Ken (1637-1711), of the Church of England. "Gloria in Excelsis" (Glory in the highest) is called the greater doxology, and "Gloria Patri"
the lesser, and used in Episcopal and Catholic service more than in Protestant.
Dress.--Many Christian societies urge plainness of dress, and none more than the original Methodists. Our discipline still enjoins against putting on gold and costly apparel, and if this would be carried out it would be to our moral and financial benefit.
Drew Theological Seminary, Madison, N. J., a Methodist theological seminary of first rank, which has been attended by many African Methodists, was founded by Daniel Drew, of New York, who gave a half million dollars for that purpose. Among its presidents have been some of the leading scholars of Methodism.
Ecumenical Conference of Methodism, The, is a meeting of representatives of Methodist Churches of the world held every 10 years, to consider the growth of the Church, federation and fraternity. The general conference of the M. E. Church started the movement in 1876 and the first conference was held in London, September 7-20, 1881; the second in Washington, D. C., in 1891; the third in London, 1901; and the fourth in Toronto, Canada, in 1911. On the joint commission which called the first conference were Revs. B. F. Lee, R. A. Johnson and John G. Mitchell, of the A. M. E. Church. The following were the delegates of the A. M. E. Church to the first Ecumenical Conference: Bishop Daniel A. Payne, D. D., Baltimore, Md.; Bishop J. M. Brown, D. D., D. C. L., Washington, D. C.; Bishop James A. Shorter, Wilberforce, Ohio; Bishop William F. Dickerson, D. D.; Columbia, S. C.; Rev. B. F. Lee, D. D., Wilberforce, Ohio; Rev. James M. Townsend, Richmond, Ind.; Rev. Augustus T. Carr, Charleston, S. C.; Rev. James C. Embry, Leavenworth, Kan.; Alexander Clark, Esq., Iowa City, Iowa; Prof. Joseph P. Shorter, A. M., Wilberforce, Ohio; Mr. Nelson T. Gant, Zanesville, Ohio; Joseph W. Morris, Esq., Cokesbury, S. C. Bishop Payne presided September 17 and read an essay on the 12th entitled "The Relation of Methodism to the Temperance Movement." Prof. J. P. Shorter read a paper on the subject "The Catholicity of Methodism."
Editors of Church Periodicals are: Rev. R. R. Wright, Jr., Ph. D., of the Christian Recorder; Rev. G. W. Allen, D. D., Southern Christian Recorder; Rev. J. Frank McDonald, D. D., Western Christian Recorder; Rev. R. C. Ransom, D. D., A. M. E. Review; Rev. J. W. Rankin, D. D., the Voice of Missions; Mrs. W. D. Chappelle (chief) and Mrs. N. D. Temple (assistant), The Women's Missionary Recorder. Besides these there are many unofficial papers published by ministers and laymen of the Church.
Educational Department of the A. M. E. Church, The, was organized in 1884, although the Church had been in the educational work many years before. In 1884 it proposed a manual labor school in Ohio near Columbus; in 1856 cooperated with the M. E. Church in founding Wilberforce University, and in 1863 became the sole owners of Wilberforce. In 1876 the general conference passed resolutions establishing an education department and appointed Rev. J. C. Embry as commissioner of education, who was a general officer. In 1880 Dr. B. F. Watson was elected commissioner of education. In 1884 the department was permanently organized. Rev. W. D. Johnson was elected secretary of education, and in 1896 Prof. J. R. Hawkins, of Kittrell, N. C., was elected, serving until 1912 when the present incumbent, Prof. A. S. Jackson, was elected. The department is managed by a Board of Education consisting of one member from each Episcopal district appointed by the Bishops' Council and confirmed by the general conference and a secretary of education elected by the general conference. The powers of the board are largely advisory, except that it appropriates according to law the funds which come into its hands, arising chiefly from 8 per cent. of the dollar money. The headquarters are at Waco, Tex.
Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, Fla., was founded in 1884 by Revs. W. P. Ross, who was pastor of Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church, Jacksonville, Fla., and who became the first president, W. W. Sampson, who was first traveling agent, and Jno. R. Scott, who was the first principal. The following have served as presidents since Rev. Ross: J. E. Lee, J. H. Welch, B. W. Arnett, Jr., Jno. R. Scott, Jr., J. P. Q. Wallace, _____ Watson, D. J. Jordan, A. St. George Richardson, R. J. Holloway, A. H. Attaway and Jno. A. Gregg, at present. The first quarters were Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church, 1881-85; from 1885-89 the school trustees rented a building from the trustees of Mt. Zion; in 1889 this building and ground were purchased for $10,000. In 1901 the building was destroyed and the school was conducted in rented halls till 1901, when it again moved into its own building. The property now consists of 4 buildings, 6½ acres of ground valued at $85,000. The special rally of 1915 brought $10,760.50 and cleared the mortgage indebtedness. The courses given are theological, college, college preparatory, normal, music, sewing, tailoring, business and grammar. Four hundred and four students were enrolled last year; 129 persons have graduated, among the most distinguished of whom are Rev. S. T. Tice (deceased), E. C. Deas, Dr. W. W. Schell, Lucinda B. Stewart and Attorney S. D. McGill. There are 20 teachers, among whom are graduates of Kansas, Wilberforce, Fisk, Biddle and Morris Brown Universities, New England Conservatory of Music, Oberlin College and Gammon Seminary. The school term is eight months, number of theological students 28.
Electoral College is a meeting of lay delegates elected from each mission, circuit and station, at a place appointed by the annual conference, for the purpose of electing two lay delegates to the general conference. It must assemble at least three months before the annual conference which elects ministerial delegates.
Episcopal Address.--An address delivered at the opening of general conference from the bishops to the delegates, reviewing the work of the Church and making recommendations for legislation It is of late usually in printed form.
Epworth League is the young people's society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, modeled after the Christian Endeavor Society; named Epworth from Epworth, England, the place where John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was born.
Episcopacy.--(Latin: episcopatus, from episcopus; Greek; episkopos, overseer, bishop) means oversight, watch, careful inspection. Government of Church by bishops. The A. M. E. Church has been governed by bishops from the beginning. These bishops are elected for life, and assigned to work by an Episcopal Committee at general conferences.
Episcopal Committee.--A committee of one member from each annual conference appointed by the general conference at its session whose duty is to examine each bishop concerning his administration and decisions, and to make assignments of the bishops to their Episcopal districts. Usually the first man elected on each delegation of ministers represents his annual conference on this committee.
Evangelists.--This term is applied to persons doing religious work in the communities where they live and are members of the quarterly conference according to assignment of the bishop and presiding elder. Evangelists are specifically recognized by the Scripture and taken for granted by the discipline of the A. M. E. Church; they are members of the quarterly conference to which they must report. A large number of women who are unordained but who have success in revival meetings are termed evangelists for the want of a better designation.
Evangelical Bureau, officially recognized by the general conference in 1912 but not continued in 1916. Its purpose was to systematize the work of holding revivals, to give status to those styling themselves as evangelists, and to promote spiritual awakening throughout the Church.
Exhorter is a lay helper to the preacher. His office is regarded by some as the first step in the ministry, a license "to exhort" being given by the presiding elder upon vote of the quarterly conference which receives the candidate upon recommendation of his class leader and pastor. Exhorters are supposed to use their talents wherever they can. The difference between the exhorter and preacher is that the exhorter is not supposed to take a Biblical text and treat it systematically, while the preacher is supposed to do so.
Experience, as used in Methodist parlance, concerns the events of one's religious life, such as conviction, conversion, and general religious progress including the temptations met and overcome, etc. Meetings at which Christians tell of their experience in public are called "experience meetings," and are helpful in stimulating Christian fidelity and fortitude.
[ILLUSTRATION]
EDWARD WATERS COLLEGE HALLS--JACKSONVILLE, FLA.
Financial Department, The, 1541 Fourteenth Street, N. W., Washington, D. C.: One of the most interesting features of the history of the A. M. E. Church as an organization is that which pertains to the provision made for the support of its ministry, care of widows and orphans and the development of its various general departments. The fathers who laid the foundation of our Church were not insensible to the needs of a great organization and showed wonderful foresight in their plans for development and growth. First, they provided for the temporal affairs by selecting qualified persons to look after collecting money for the support of the preacher, the poor and the sick, and required that they should keep and give an accurate account of the same. Second, they encouraged the missionary spirit by providing for quarterly and annual collections to be taken in each charge and carried to the annual conference as a "general fund to be applied toward extending the work of the Church." The first tangible evidence of the virtue of such provision was the organization of annual conference missionary societies, the establishing of the Book Concern at Philadelphia and the appointment of a general book steward with authority to publish a monthly magazine.
The General Conference of 1832 made provision for the support and expenses of the general superintendents, or bishops, and also provided for the traveling expenses of the assistant general superintendents, or presiding elders. The General Conference of 1840 increased this provision for the bishops so as to enable them to employ all their time in traveling throughout the connection. In 1844 a plan was adopted under which each preacher having a charge was required to raise "two cents a month from each member for the purpose of raising a general fund, half of which was to be applied to the relief of the distressed itinerant, superannuated and supernumerary preachers and bishops' salaries. The other half to be used to create a fund for capital for carrying on the Book Concern." This two-cent assessment continued in vogue until 1868, with some slight modifications as to the manner and ratio of disbursements for the various interests of the Church. The General Conference of 1868, which met in Washington, D. C., provided
that each preacher should collect "One Dollar from or for each member annually, and that 25 cents of this one dollar be sent to the general book steward at Philadelphia, 25 cents to Wilberforce University, and that 50 cents be carried to the annual conference and turned over to the financial commttee." This was the beginning of what was known as our "Dollar Money System." In 1872 the Financial Department was organized as such by the general conference which met at Nashville, Tenn., and the Rev. J. H. W. Burley was elected as financial secretary. The "Dollar Money" provided for under the law of 1868 was made a "general fund"
[ILLUSTRATION]
FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C.
under the control of a general financial board. The "Dollar Money Law" as approved then has been subject to some slight changes, principally as it relates to the manner and ratio of distribution. The following table shows the total amount of Dollar Money reported under the different secretaries in charge of the department:
| 1872-1876, 4 years, Rev. J. H. W. Burley | $95,554.11 |
| 1876-1880, 4 years, Rev. J. C. Embry | 99,925.68 |
| 1896-1900, 4 years, Rev. M. M. Moore | 406,074.26 |
| 1880-1888, 8 years, Rev. B. W. Arnett | 368,895.86 |
| 1888-1892, 4 years, Rev. J. A. Handy | 313,341.44 |
| 1892-1896, 4 years, Rev. J. H. Armstrong | 351,942.09 |
| 1900-1902, 2 years, Rev. P. A. Hubbard | 229,417.38 |
| 1902-1908, 6 years, Rev. E. W. Lampton | 1,199,488,48 |
| 1908-1912, 4 years, Rev. John Hurst | 790,088.50 |
| 1912-1916, 4 years, Prof. J. R. Hawkins | 850,214.04 |
| Total | 4,521,486.83 |
The headquarters of the Financial Department were first at Nashville, Tenn., where it was incorporated, then in Washington, D. C., first at 1535 Fourteenth Street, N. W., now at 1541 Fourteenth Street, N. W.
Finance Committee.--This committee in an annual conference receives all conference monies and disburses them as directed by law, subject to the approval of the conference. The members of the finance committee are elected by the annual conference.
Flegler High School, Marion, S. C., named in honor of Rev. S. F. Flegler, of South Carolina, was organized in 1899 by Rev. E. J. Gregg in the A. M. E. Church of Marion. Miss Mattie E. White was the first teacher. In 1891 Rev. Flegler erected the building in which the school is now operated. It derives its support chiefly from the Marion District of the Northeast South Carolina Conference, with an occasional contribution from the Educational Department.
Florida Conference was organized June 8, 1867, and included the whole State of Florida. Since that time the State has been set apart as the Eleventh Episcopal District, and includes the Florida, East Florida, West Florida, South Florida and Middle Florida Annual Conferences, and has a membership of nearly 40,000.
Florida Annual Conference, Central, is the daughter of the South Florida Conference, and was set apart in 1900 at Tampa, Bishop Gaines presiding, by a resolution offered by Rev. B. W. Miley, presiding elder. February 25, 1901, Bishop Handy presiding at Ocala, Fla., this conference was organized, Rev. John L. Jackson secretary. The Central Florida Conference has the distinction of having held a Christmas conference in the church where it was organized,
Mt. Zion, Ocala. This was in 1903, December 23 to 29, Bishop James A. Handy presiding. The following-named bishops have served this conference: James A. Handy, B. T. Tanner, M. B. Salter and John Hurst, and under each great increases were made. The following-named persons have served as secretaries since the organization of this
conference: Revs. John L. Jackson, N. W. Bagley, R. D. McLin, S. D. Stewart. Amount paid pastors for salary and support in 1914 was $25,285.25. Collected by trustees for building and repairs, 1914, $14,234.50. Total number of Church houses in the conference 145. Since 1901, $15,997.48 has been collected for educational purposes, the largest amount, $4,985, in 1913.
When Bishop Hurst was assigned to the State, he found Edward Waters College burdened with a mortgage of $10,000 and a floating debt of $8,000. Within one year and six months,
through his plans, every cent of indebtedness was paid and a heating plant installed, also 12 rooms added to the boys' dormitory, with $7,000 cash in the bank to the school's credit for the purpose of erecting a centennial building. The following-named ministers of the conference have died: Allen Jones, J. J. Newton, R. S. Quarterman, G. W. Jenkins, D. L. Williams, J. S. Archie, Solomon Dancel, H. H. Harden, C. L. Cloie, Walter Glymp, Jacob Williams, J. H. Thomas, N. H. C. Frazier, J. J. Player, S. D. Stewart, William Jones, P. G. Gowens, T. T. Goines, B. W. Miley, E. D. McDonald, A. B. Osgood, J. A. Quarterman, Cato R. Hill, Anthony Bellamy, J. H. Thomas, Moses S. Green, Reuben Anderson, J. J. Warner, G. W. Powell, James Dean, Zancy Stary, S. P. Livingston and others.
When organized, this conference had three presiding
[ILLUSTRATION]
INTERIOR OF FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C.
elder districts--Gainesville, Ocala and Leesburg--presided over by Revs. S. H. Hadley, T. T. Gaines and B. W. Miley. To-day there are in this conference six presiding elder districts presided over by Revs. G. W. Hawkins, S. M. Gibbs, R. D. McLin, A. Jackson, P. R. Roberts and G. W. Archie. When organized there were 5,565 full members in the bounds of this conference territory; to-day there is a full membership within the bounds of the conference of 6,350. The conference membership in the organization was 104; to-day there is a conference membership of 250. The total amount of dollar money reported at the first session of the conference was $1,979.50; at the last session held in St. Petersburg, February 16-24, 1916, the total dollar money was $3,448.50. (By Rev. G. W. Hawkins, historian.)
Florida Conference (East), held its first session at Palatka, Fla., February 28, 1878. Bishop Campbell presided; Rev. J. H. Armstrong secretary. Presiding elders: Revs. M. J. Johnson, T. W. Long, J. H. Armstrong, John R. Scott, Sr., and B. W. Roberts. Traveling elders: W. W. Sampson, J. J. Sawyer, Francis Carolina, J. C. Waters, J. I. Lowe, J. Thomas, S. Jackson, T. C. Denham, T. T. Thompson, W. R. Wood, Peter Crooms, Allen Jones, Jr., Washington Jones, Richard Brigadier, W. C. Coles, A. Fort, David Hamilton, Alfred Brown, J. C. La Cruse and P. G. Gowens. Traveling deacons: Revs. R. J. Brookens, W. Glymp, R. Epton, J. S. Robinson, T. Higginbottom, J. Sutton, Simon Boggs, E. Smith, King Stockton, James Edwards, Alexander Chambers and C. A. Hadley. Local elders: Revs. Cupid Wilson and Dennis Wood. Local deacons: Alexander Loften and Dennis Fuller. Licentiates: W. S. Stewart and R. J. Brookens. Of this number all are dead except Rev. T. W. Long, J. I. Lowe and King Stockton. Membership was upward of 8,000. Duval County, Fla., then, as now, was the great A. M. E. stronghold. The second session held at Ocala, Fla., February 7, 1879, showed a period of activity in church and parsonage building. Successful revivals were held and one or two camp meetings had taken place. In 1880 the conference convened at Madison, Fla. Being near the boundary line of the "mother" conference, there came many brethren from the West. Bishop Campbell's term expired at the rise of the conference, and he received the thanks of the members for having presided with fatherly consideration during the quadrennium. January 19, 1881,
conference met at Lake City. Bishop Wayman's second coming was hailed with approval. The Church in Florida regarded the bishop as a spiritual father and his sermon "I seek my brethren" still lingered in their memory. The work called for expansion. Rev. J. J. Sawyer was secretary, serving from 1880 to 1883. In 1882 the fifth session was held at Fernandina, and the work continued to grow. Sixth session, Gainesville, February 23, 1883. Seventh session, Jacksonville, February 24, 1884. Eighth session, Ocala, February 24, 1885. Bishop Payne assumed Episcopal authority and at once impressed all that he was sincere and did much to raise the standard of the Christian ministry. The Rev. Joseph E. Lee, D. D., served as secretary in 1883 and 1884. The ninth session at Jacksonville, February 24, 1886. Tenth, Lake City, 1887. Eleventh at Palatka, 1888. There were regrets that the great man had to be changed, but his administration was as a strong piercing light, scattering ignorance and superstition as never before. Revs. R. B. Brookins, secretary, 1885-86. Rev. S. H. Coleman, secretary, 1887-88. Bishop Payne at the Ocala conference appointed the Rev. C. J. Crooms, presiding elder of the Lake City District, remarkable from the fact that Elder Crooms when appointed was only 25 years of age. He served well for two years and died during 1887.
Bishop Arnett, the organizer and historian, assumed Episcopal authority, 1889, at Madison, Fla. The keynote "You Must" became a motto for the brethren. Rev. D. W. Gillislee first came into the public eye by his ability as secretary. Thirteenth session at Gainesville, February, 1890. Fourteenth session at Jacksonville, February, 1891. Fifteenth session at Orlando, February, 1892; Rev. John R. Scott, a graduate of Wilberforce, served as secretary, 1890-1896. Sixteenth session was at Fernandina, when Bishop Ward came. His term, however, was cut short, for he died at the episcopal residence on Florida Avenue, Jacksonville. Bishop Grant delivered the funeral oration at Mt. Zion, Jacksonville. The seventeenth session met at Lake City, Fla., February, 1894. Bishop Grant succeeded Bishop Ward. Eighteenth session, St. Augustine, 1895. Nineteenth session at Jacksonville, 1896. Live Oak entertained the conference February 10, 1897, when Bishop Embry assumed episcopal authority. For some cause not yet fully understood, there was much bitterness during the conference. The result was a slight break resulting in what is known as the "Independent Church." The Rev. J. J. Sawyer, M. A. Stark, B. W. Phillip, J. W. Griffin and a few others withdrew from the connection. Elder Sawyer, however, returned at the Lake City Conference in 1906. Bishop Embry died 1897 and was succeeded by Bishop Gaines. Rev. A. J. Carey was secretary, 1897-98. The twenty-first session was at Jacksonville, February 16, 1898. Twenty-second session at Lake City, February, 1899. Twenty-third session, Jacksonville, 1900. Twenty-fourth session at Live Oak, February 24, 1901, Bishop James A. Handy presiding. Twenty-fifth session at Jacksonville, February, 1902. Twenty-sixth session, Madison, 1903. Twenty-seventh session, Jacksonville, 1904. Rev. A. Dixon was secretary all through this quadrennium. Mrs. Mary F. Handy, the bishop's wife, accompanied him, and her strong appeals aroused the women of the Church to greater effort. May 3, 1901, the great fire at Jacksonville destroyed Mt. Zion and Grant's Chapel. The twenty-eighth session found Bishop B. T. Tanner in charge at Fernandina in January, 1905. Twenty-ninth session, Lake City, 1906. Thirtieth session, St. Augustine, 1906. Thirty-first session at Jacksonville, December 18, 1907. Thirty-second session in Live Oak, December, 1908, Bishop Salter presiding. Thirty-third session at Jacksonville, 1909. Thirty-fourth session at Madison, 1910. Thirty-fifth session at Jacksonville, December, 1911. During his term the educational question was paramount. Edward Waters College was built. Bishop Salter was in feeble health, but was persistent. Through his influence Hon. J. H. Blodgett, of Jacksonville, gave thousands of feet of lumber for building of Edward Waters College. Bishop Coppin assisted Bishop Salter during his last year. Bishop Salter was succeeded by Bishop John Hurst. The thirty-sixth session met at St. Augustine, December 18, 1912. Thirty-seventh session at Jacksonville, December 17, 1913. Thirty-eighth session at Live Oak, December 16, 1914. Thirty-ninth session, Lake City, December 15, 1915. Bishop Hurst's administration may well be known as the "Golden Age" for in all departments there were marked increases and greater activity than ever. Education and experience made him a great leader. Hundreds were added to the Church and upwards of $60,000 collected for Edward Waters College. Upon his advent the college was in debt about $20,000. In a short period one rally alone brought $15,000. He freed the school of debt, raised another $6,000 and built the Boys' Dormitory, paid the interest together with the principal on bills past due. In September, 1915, he raised $10,000 under the special call and at the close of his first term is preparing to erect a three-story brick building. He has traveled practically over all of the territory within the Eleventh Episcopal District. The General Conference of 1916 returned him to Florida on account of the good work he had done and the almost universal demand for his return. Sharing his work and responsibilities is Mrs. K. B. Hurst, his wife, who has become a great favorite for her acts of kindness and words of cheer.
In 1903 the Georgia Conferences, through Bishop Turner, submitted propositions for uniting the Edward Waters College with Morris Brown College, at Atlanta, Ga. The conference accepted the proposition and requested Bishop Handy to appoint seven commissioners to cooperate with similar commissioners from the other Florida conferences and Georgia with full power to effect a consolidation. But they failed to consolidate.
Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church, Jacksonville, Fla., has kept the lead upon all material and spiritual lines. Revs. E. J. Gregg, D. D., A. J. Carey, D. D., Joseph E. Lee, D. D., S. A. Williams, D. D., John R. Scott, D. D., L. Thomas, D. D., Charles H. Pearce, D. D., William Bradwell, D. D., W. P. Ross, D. D., J. C. Waters, D. D., J. H. Welch, D. W. Gillislee, D. D., James Dean, D. D., D. M. Baxter, D. D., and James A. Long, D. D., the present pastor, have held the appointment from 1867 to 1915. Under Dr. Baxter's five-year pastorate the collections were: stewards, $26,000; trustees, $36,000.
The Allen Christian Endeavor League flourished in Florida. There have been two State superintendents--Rev. J. W. Dukes and Prof. D. S. D. Belliny, P. E. L. Prof. Belliny traveled over the State in the interest of the work and thousands enrolled beneath the banner of 1904-1915. Rev. Dukes's term was very successful also. Two hundred and sixty-seven A. M. E. ministers have died throughout Florida, from 1867 to 1915. All died natural deaths except Rev. W. W. McGriff (suicide), Rev. J. Jones (assassinated), Rev. William Mitchell (assassinated), Rev. A. C. Thomas (assassinated), Rev. J. A. Hogans (found dead), Rev. Anthony Stephens (crushed by barrel of rosin), Rev. S. H. Coleman (train wreck), while Revs. W. L. Livingston, B. F. Brockinboro, M. G. Price, A. B. Osgood suffered paralytic strokes. All died in the faith except one Landy Tyler, who is said to have cursed the day he was born. Rev. R. O. Sydney, the first fiscal agent of our educational interests is said to have drowned in the Gulf of Mexico, 1878 or 9. Bishop Abram Grant was born in an ox cart near Lake City, Fla. Bishop M. M. Moore was born in a log hut near the "G" tract in Gadsden County, Fla. The Rev. R. A. Grant is an effective preacher. Trained in science, literature and the classics, a student of civil and Church law, as well as a patient searcher of Holy Writ. He is indeed a strong, able leader of religious forces. A. D. 1911-15, canceled $3,000 debt against St. Paul's Church, Jacksonville. The Bishop's Council was held at Jacksonville, Fla., in 1909--once within the past 25 years. Rev. R. B. Brooks, D. D., was a former school teacher and United States Inspector of Customs during his career, and for a number years was styled the "Dollar Money King" from 1904 to 1912. He was a presiding elder for 12 years. Rev. E. W. Byrd, D. D., Rev. R. L. Brown, D. D., Rev. R. T. Gordon, D. D., Rev. W. D. Certain, D. D., Rev. H. Y. Tookes, A. B., are among the prominent members of this conference. A. M. E. ministers honored by the voters and by the executives as legislators and other officers, 1867-1912: Revs. C. H. Pearce, William Bradwell, John R. Scott, Sr., John R. Scott, Jr., T. W. Long, Major Johnson, G. W. Witherspoon, Robert Meecham; Rev. Joseph E. Lee, legislator and judge and collector of internal revenue, 1878-1912; R. L. Brown, John R. Scott, Jr., legislators; James Dean, judge; Revs. R. M. Perrin, John W. Jones, R. B. Brooks, deputy collectors and inspectors; A. H. Attaway, Internal Revenue Department; Rev. A. B. Osgood, postmaster.
The success attained is due, in a great measure, to the devotion and patriotism of the women of the Church. In every community, whether in city or country or town, there are found women of sterling qualities as pure as the purest and who, like the celebrated women mentioned in the Bible, would lay down their life for their Lord. Many of the ministers wives have been and are foremost leaders on this line. Mrs. M. E. C. Smith, Mrs. A. B. Thompson, Mrs. W. P. Ross, Mrs. Mary Scott, Mrs. M. E. Waller, Mrs. E. J. Gregg, Mrs. J. H. Welch, Mrs. E. F. Williams, Mrs. Georgia
Gilyord, Mrs. H. E. Brown, Mrs. M. M. Moore, Miss Minnie Young, Mrs. Jessie Wiggins, Mrs. Laura Acosta, Mrs. D. M. Baxter, Mrs. Allie Collier, Mrs. E. L. Anderson, Mrs. Phoebe Murray, Mrs. Fred Burke, Mrs. R. A. Grant, Mrs. J. W. Randolph, Mrs. A. B. Osgood, Mrs. T. D. Tyson, Mrs. Temperance Coleman, Mrs. S. A. Scott, Mrs. S. A. Williams, Mrs. Jane Taylor, Mrs. Cora Walker, Mrs. G. C. Heard, Mrs. E. C. Long, Mrs. Jennie L Brooks, Mrs. E. M. Arnold, Mrs. Adaline Broadie, Mrs. W. L. Livingston, Mrs. Mary Gillislee, Mrs. W. H. Alexander, Mrs. Nora Williams, Mrs. Anna Jones, Mrs. J. H. Jones, Mrs. H. Y. Tookes, Mrs. W. D. Certain, Mrs. R. T. Gordon, Mrs. R. L. Brown, Mrs. S. G. Baker, Mrs. G. C. Bledsoe, Mrs. W. A. Dozier, Mrs. L. B. Robinson (of California), Mrs. Maggie B. Thompson, Mrs. Pollie Duval, Mrs. Ada Braddock, Mrs. D. B. Williams, Mrs. G. N. Barnes, Mrs. Pollie Wetherspoon, Mrs. Bishop Riley, Mrs. J. E. Smith, Mrs. A. J. Bennett, Mrs. A. W. Bolden, Mr. T. D. Tyson, Mrs. Maria Andrews, Mrs. Susan Brown, Mrs. E. V. Merritt, Mrs. D. J. Jones, Mrs. Henrietta Daniels, Mrs. E. C. Fludd, Mrs. E. J. Madison, Mrs. Lavinia Armstrong, Sarah F. King, Miss Susie Austin, Mrs. Mary Wiggins, Mrs. R. A. Butler, Mrs. R. H. Dames, Mrs. Lucy Kemp, Mrs. Sarah Sawyer, Mrs. Anna Graham, Mrs. M. F. Powers, Mrs. Hattie Nellum, Emma Blake, Patsie Jones, Janie Williams, Mrs. Winnie Burroughs, Mrs. Ella Sangor, Francis Sherman, Mrs. Lucy Garey, Mrs. Sallie Lee, Mrs. Rosa B. Lee, Mrs. C. F. Attaway, Miss Dricilla Lowe, Mrs. Betsey Williams, Lizzie Billups, Maggie Young, Mrs E. S. Shrouden, Mrs. S. A. Scott, Mrs. J. W. Fleming, Mrs. Catharine Chaney, Mrs. S. Darns, Mrs. Lear Mansfield, Mrs. Randall Farnell, Mrs. Jack Farnwell, Mrs. Susan Nelson, Mrs. Emma Williams, Mrs. Annie Jefferson, Mary Morbin, Rosa Smith, Mary Willis, Ida Johnson, Ollie Madison, Mrs. Sarah West, Henrietta Davis, Mrs. Olivia Patterson, Mrs. Ella Bolden, Mrs. M. M. Young, Mrs. Clara Reed, Mrs. W. R. Roundtree, Mrs. Rachel Patterson, Mrs. Addie McLaughlin, Mrs. Joseph E. Sanks, Mrs. Anna Billings, Mrs. Alice L. Anderson, Mrs. Melisa Johnson, Mrs. Annis Gray, Mrs. Frank Brockenton, Mrs. Alice Brewer, Mrs. M. E. Green, Mrs. J. E. Parker, Mrs. Belle Roman, Mrs. J. C. Baker, Mrs. C. B. Kitchen, Mrs. J. W. Jones, Mrs. Sarah Bagley, Mrs. Estelle E. Jerry, Mrs. Octavia Wallace, Mrs. Bessie E. Gorden, Molly Cary, S. E. Brown, Miss Geneva Braswell, Mrs. W. P. Wilson, Miss E. W. Byrd, Mrs. Julia Munroe, Mrs. Nettie Madison, Mrs. J. McClain and Mrs. Adele Clayton are among the shining array of the thousands of good, faithful ones who were mighty in the battle. But some of the above have fallen asleep and are at rest. We are sending their names down the line of history.
The quarto-centenary of the Church was held at Jacksonville, Fla., May 22, 1890. Rt. Rev. Bishop B. W. Arnett, D. D., presided, and visitors came from far and near to see and hear of the success and of victories won in the name of the Lord. The presiding elders of the East Florida Conference were: Drs. S. H. Coleman, M. M. Moore, T. W. Long and P. B. Braddock. Dr. J. W. Dukes, D. W. Gillislee, D. D., P. G. Gowen, D. D., T. T. Gaines, D. D., Rev. B. W. Wiley, Dr. J. H. Welch, Rev. John R. Scott, A. B., together with the presiding elders, constituted the committee on the part of the East Florida Annual Conference. These ministers arranged in detail the program. Hundreds were there, and after listening to the addresses which told of how we had come, stood amazed. Dr. John R. Scott told of the work in East Florida, 1867-90; Mrs. M. E. C. Smith (nee Miss May E. Day, formerly of Tallahassee, Fla.), extolled the women of East Florida; Dr. Moore's theme was "The rise and progess of our educational work"; Dr. S. H. Coleman, sermon, "The triumph of Christianity," was a model sermon, and carrying with it the fire of the Holy Ghost was convincing. Great crowds heard him gladly. The annual address by Bishop Handy and the annual or principal sermon by Bishop Arnett gave new vigor and strength to the cause. Drs. R. B. Brookins and D. W. Gillislee reviewed the Sunday school and made the young people know that they too, boys and girls of the race, had a right to the tree of life. The conferences were all represented at the centenary. Florida Conference Committee were Drs. A. J. Kershaw, W. G. Stewart and W. A. Bird, Rev. Henry Call, Thomas Moorer, Cuff Brown M. A. Trapp and J. T. Mark. "Methodism in West Florida" by Dr. Kershaw, was a paper in which hitherto unknown historical facts were brought to light, while the Rev. J. J. Sawyer's paper, "The pioneer workman," told of the fathers in general. Mrs. S. V. Stewart's paper was "The pioneer woman of West Florida." The program was rendered at Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church, Dr. J. H. Welch pastor. All the participants at this recording are dead, except Revs. Bird, Long, Dukes, Scott, Kershaw, Call, Moorer, Lee, Mark, Brookins and Mrs. Stewart. (By Rev. John W. Jones, historian.)
Florida Conference (South), was organized by Bishop Ward in Tampa, Fla., March 2, 1893. It contained all that part of the peninsula of Florida, south of the line running due east and west, leaving Palatka on the north and Starke on the south. The bishops who have presided from its organization to the present are as follows: Ward, 1893-1894; Grant, 1895-1896; Embry, 1897; Gaines, 1898-1900; Handy, 1900-1904; Tanner, 1904-1908; Salter, 1908-1912; Hurst, 1912 to date. Sessions have been held in the following places: Tampa, 1893, J. H. Dickerson secretary; Sanford, 1894, R. S. Quarterman secretary; Ocala, 1895; Tampa, 1896; Palatka, 1897; Gainesville, 1898, R. B. Brooks secretary from 1895-98; Orlando, 1899, J. L. Moore secretary; Tampa, 1900, C. S. Long secretary; Daytona, 1901, C. S. Long secretary; Bartow, 1902, J. D. Hill secretary; Palatka, 1903; Tampa, 1903; Sanford, 1905, C. S. Long secretary 1903-5; Miami, 1906, T. J. Williams secretary; Orlando, 1907; Tampa, 1908, M. D. Potter secretary, 1907-8; Palatka, 1909; Sanford, 1910, T. J. Williams secretary 1909-10; Tampa, 1911; Miami, 1912, M. D. Potter secretary, 1911-2; Palatka, 1913; Daytona, 1914, T. J. Williams secretary, 1913-4; Orlando, 1915; Tampa, 1916, S. W. Adair secretary, 1915-6. The following is a list of the honored dead: Rev. John Thomas, Bishop J. M. Brown, Bishop D. A. Payne, Rev. Samuel Morgan, Rev. R. L. Spencer, Bishop A. W. Wayman, Rev. T. T. Thompson, Rev. Y. H. Young, Bishop J. C. Embry, Rev. W. T. Thomas, Rev. M. T. B. Thomas, Rev. Alfred Brown, Bishop J. H. Armstrong, Rev. H. Hankins, Rev. M. S. Green, Rev. C. Hayes, Bishop M. M. Moore, Rev. W. H. Hall, Rev. G. W. Vaughn, Rev. J. J. Johnson, Rev. R. B. Hightower, Rev. R. S. Quarterman, Rev. J. H. Johnson, Rev. B. W. Wiley, Rev. J. L. Moore, Rev. S. P. Pettis, Rev. S. Timothy Tice, Rev. L. D. Davis, Rev. E. F. Williams, Rev. A. M. Thomas, Rev. R. Foster, Rev. W. H. Brown, Rev. C. Hill, Rev. E. P. Jackson, Rev. G. C. Davis, Rev. J. D. Hill, Rev. J. W. B. Jackson, Rev. J. H. Hector, Rev. T. T. Gaines, Rev. Wyatt Nelson, Rev. J. W. Terry, Rev. A. Scott, Rev. H. F. Chisolm. Bishop M. M. Moore was elected financial secretary from this conference in 1896, and to the bishopric in 1900. There are 136 appointments, 200 ministers and 6,000 lay members. During the year 1915 $29,262.40 was raised for pastors' salaries; $4,716.65 for presiding elders' salaries; $5,577.98 for dollar money; $3,053.51 for education; for other general purposes, $3,091.61. The past four years have been very eventful for Florida, which is the Eleventh Episcopal District. Bishop John Hurst has succeeded in paying off all the out-standing debts against Edward Waters College amounting to over $13,000, and in the pre-centennial rally over $12,000 was raised for the erection of a centennial building. Dr. John A. Gregg, A. B., president of Edward Waters College, has raised the standard of the school from an educational standpoint, and the South Florida Conference has faithfully upheld the upbuilding of the school in these parts. (By D. A. Perrin, historian.)
Florida Conference (West), was set apart on motion of Rev. E. W. Johnson from the Florida Conference, December, 1906. The first session was held in the city of Pensacola, December 6, 1906, Bishop B. T. Tanner presiding. Since the organization the following-named bishops have presided: 1906-7, B. T. Tanner, D. D.; 1908-11, M. B. Salter, D. D.; 1912-6, John Hurst. Associate bishops: December 6, 1906, Abraham Grant, D. D.; December 7, 1910, W. H. Heard, D. D.; December 6, 1911, L. J. Coppin, D. D.. For the tenth consecutive session Rev. A. W. Watson, D. D., has been elected chief secretary. Revs. L. Z. Robinson, P. T. Crenshaw, S. H. Betts, D. C. Eutsay and J. R. Davis have served as assistant secretaries, and the following as presiding elders: E. W. Johnson, S. S. Herndon, Henry Call, A. B. Spencer. The following are now the presiding elders: Revs. N. Z. Graham, G. B. Williams, S. H. Betts, J. M. Wise. Sessions have been held annually from 1906 to 1915 in Pensacola, Marianna, Apalachicola, Carabelle, Campbellton, Pensacola, Marianna, Apalachicola, Pensacola and Campbellton, respectively. Among the dead are Rev. Milton A. Trapp (died September 21, 1907), Rev. J. J. Jones (died in defense of his Church, at Ponce de Leon, Fla., by the cruel hands of assassins, September 13, 1908), Rev. A. C. Corker, Rev. Silas Marshall, Rev. J. J. Mason, Rev. H. M. Martin, Rev. E. W. Johnson, Rev. I. S. Stevenson, Rev. J. M. Griggs, Rev. W. A. Neal, Rev. G. W. Tanner, Rev. S. B. Wilgus, Rev. J. S. Crawford Rev. Henry Call, Rev. J. H. Lyons, Rev. John Hill
and Rev. J. W. Jones. Statistics: Number of churches, 99; ministers and preachers, 145; number of church members, 5,675; amount raised for pastors' salaries (1915), $12,110.80; amount raised (1915) for presiding elders, $3,251.36. The Pre-Centennial Rally and Jubilee, September, 1915, under the administration of Bishop Hurst, A. M., D. D., for the erection of a Pre-Centennial Building at Edward Waters College, resulted in raising, by the West Florida Conference, of $1,229.87; Florida Conference, $716.75; East Florida Conference, $3,752.96; Central Florida Conference, $1,959.20; South Florida Conference, $3,101.77; total from the five conferences, $10,760.55. The amount of dollar money raised by the West Florida Conference from December 6, 1906, to December 8, 1915, has been more than $18,620.37. (By A. W. Watson, historian.)
Founders of the A. M. E. Church, The, were Richard Allen, James Tapsico, Thomas Durham, James Champion and Thomas Webster, of Philadelphia; Daniel Coker, Richard Williams, Henry Harden, Stephen Hill, Edward Williamson, and Nicholas Gailliard, of Baltimore; Peter Spencer, of Wilmington, Del.; Jacob Marsh, Edward Jackson and William Andrew, of Attleborough, Pa.; and Peter Cuff, of Salem, N. J. They met in Philadelphia April 9, 1816, and organized the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Foundry Chapel was the first building occupied by the Methodists. It was in Moorfields, London, England, and was opened November 11, 1739. It was a place formerly used for molding cannon. It served as the chief place for Methodists until 1779, when it gave way to City Road Chapel.
Fraternal Delegates.--A very pleasant custom has grown up among the Methodist and other Churches of sending representatives from one to the general conferences of others to bear Christian greetings. These Christian messengers are called fraternal delegates. The A. M. E. Church now sends fraternal delegates to the M. E. Church, A. M. E. Zion Church, C. M. E. Church, and has received delegates from the same. At the Centennial General Conference, Rev. A. P. (now bishop) Camphor was delegate for the M. E. Church; Rev. ---- Brown for the A. M. E. Zion Church; and Rev. J. W. McKinney for the C. M. E. Church. Out of these fraternal meetings have grown the Ecumenical Conference of Methodism, and various movements of Church federation. In the twentieth century we will send fraternal delegates not only to Methodist bodies, but Baptist, Episcopalian, Catholic and others, we trust.
General Conference, The, is the highest legislative and judicial body of the A. M. E. Church. It meets on the Wednesday next after the first Sunday in May, every fourth year, counting from 1816, when the first conference was held. The general conference determines its own composition. At present its members are all bishops, general officers, college presidents, deans of theological seminaries, two ministerial delegates from every annual conference, and an additional ministerial delegate for every 30 ministerial members or final fraction over 15 of each annual conference of more than 60 ministerial members, and also two lay delegates. The General Conference hears reports of all general departments, which are referred to committees and later acted upon, examines the bishops and assigns them through its episcopal committee, revises the discipline, considers the condition of the Church, country and race, fixes and decides appeals from annual conferences, and does such other work as it may choose for the good of the Church, only it shall not change the articles of religion or the episcopacy, or privilege of trial and appeal, or the general rules. The General Conference has met in Philadelphia, including the 1816 meeting, nine times, namely, 1816, '20, '24, '28, '36, '48, '64, '92 and 1916; in Baltimore three times, viz., 1832, '40 and '84; Pittsburgh, Pa., twice, 1844 and '60, and once each in New York, 1852; Cincinnati, 1856; Washington, 1868; Nashville, 1872; Atlanta, 1876; St. Louis, 1880; Indianapolis, 1888; Wilmington, N. C., 1896; Columbus, Ohio, 1900; Chicago, 1904; Norfolk, 1908; and Kansas City, 1912.
General Conference, The Composition.--At first it seems that all elders and deacons were members of the general conference and probably traveling licentiates. In 1836 all ministers who had traveled not less than two full years and local preachers elected from the annual conferences on the basis of not more than one for every five nor less than one for every seven members of the annual conference. As the Church grew it became necessary to discontinue the indiscriminate attendance of ordained men and to increase the basis of representation. In 1844 the number of local preachers was changed to one for every 400 local members within the conference bounds. In 1852 the rule was made that one out of every three preachers who had traveled four full years shoud be elected delegates and that one local preacher should be elected upon nomination of the quarterly conference for every 800 lay members. In 1856 the general conference adopted the rule that all preachers who had traveled six full years in the A. M. E. Church should be members of the general conference and one local preacher of four years' standing for every 800 lay members. In 1868 the rule was made for all bishops, general officers and one ministerial delegate for every seven members of the annual conference, and two laymen (not necessarily a local preacher) from each annual conference, elected by an electoral college of laymen. Lay rpresentation has remained the same since 1868, while the basis of representation for ministerial delegates was raised in 1872 to 1 to every 11 members of the annual conference, and in 1876 to 1 to every 15 members, since 1888, 1 to 30.
General Rules of the A. M. E. Church are the same as were drawn up by John and Charles Wesley, in 1743, for the government of the Methodist societies. They deal particularly with the kind of conduct Christians ought to pursue. The only addition to them is with regard to slavery. They are required to be read in the churches.
Georgia (Augusta) Annual Conference was formed by the presiding elders at Morris Brown College, June, 1914, and comprised the following districts: Augusta and Sandersville Districts, taken from the Macon (Ga.) Conference; and the Dublin and Swainsboro Districts taken from the Georgia Conference. On December 9, 1914, at Sandersville, the Augusta Conference was organized and held its first session. There were 9,285 members in the territory. The presiding elders appointed were: Augusta District, Rev. John Harmon; Dublin District, Rev. F. R. Simms; Sandersville District, Rev. C. J. Jones; Swainsboro District, Rev. B. S. Hannah. The Augusta Conference is in Southwest Georgia and is composed of some of the best farming section of the Southland; it has a large colored population and the colored people own many farms and much real estate. In Augusta, Dublin, Sandersville, Tennille and smaller towns the colored people own many fine homes and are doing well. Within the bounds of this conference is Louisville, the first capital of Georgia and the great slave auction counter of Georgia where thousands of human beings were sold as chattel. Bethel, Augusta, and Butler Creek are the two oldest appointments in this conference. At the adjournment of the first session of the South Carolina Conference, May, 1865, Rev. James Lynch went to Augusta and received into the A. M. E. Church a Protestant Church, S. W. Drayton, pastor, with about 200 members, which church to-day is Bethel, now having over 700 members and property worth $20,000. The first brick church which stands to-day was built by Rev. A. W. Lowe. Bethel has had as pastors, among others, Samuel W. Drayton, Charles L. Bradwell, H. M. Turner, A. W. Lowe, R. V. Smith, William C. Gaines and W. J. Gaines. Augusta is a strong Baptist and Catholic center and has the Walker Baptist College (C. M. E.), Haynes Institute (Presbyterian), and two Catholic schools for colored. Hence African Methodism has had from the beginning and even now a hand full to hold its own, and yet we hold second place in church membership, having more than a thousand members with Bethel, Ward, St. James and three missions.
Georgia Conference (North), The, was organized in Bethel Church, Augusta, January 8, 1874, Bishop T. M. D. Ward presiding. It was at this conference that the echo was advanced and action taken to operate a denominational school in Georgia and at the South Georgia Conference that convened at Thomasville, January 22, 1874, a committee of fifteen was appointed to act upon the same. There are many interesting events that took place from the organization of our Church in this section that would be thrilling and inspiring, but the records are lost and many of the men who were pioneers and active workers have passed to their reward; there are a probable half dozen living, but they failed to keep any record or even a minute of the conferences of those old days. According to Bishop Flipper Rev. Samuel W. Drayton, the first pastor of Bethel, was at the South Carolina Conference held by Bishop Daniel A. Payne, in St. Andrew's Church, Savannah, Ga., May 14, 1866,
and was ordained a local elder; at the South Carolina Conference which met in Wilmington, N. C., May 30, 1867, he was admitted on trial and his first appointment was Darien, Ga., 1867 He was appointed pastor of Albany Station in
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BETHEL A. M. E. CHURCH, GEORGETOWN, S. C. Rev. J. H. Chestnut, Pastor.
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TRUSTEES, BETHEL A. M. E. CHURCH, GEORGETOWN, S. C.
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STEWARDS, BETHEL A. M. E. CHURCH, GEORGETOWN, S. C.
1874, and was pastor of Thomasville Station in 1877. At the session of the Georgia Conference in Savannah, Ga., January, 1881, he was appointed presiding elder of the Sandersville District. At the session of the Georgia Conference at Thomasville, Ga., 1882, he was appointed presiding elder of the Macon District. This year the Georgia Conference was divided and the Macon (Ga.) Conference was organized at Sandersville, Ga., in January, 1883, and in the division he fell into the Macon (Ga.) Conference and at this session he was again appointed presiding elder of the Macon District. At the session of the Macon (Ga.) Conference held at Columbus, Ga., November 19, 1884, he was appointed missionary agent of the Macon Conference, which position he held until his death, 1885. The minutes do not give the date of his death. This was the report of the Committee on Memoirs: "Rev. Samuel W. Drayton united with the African M. E. Church at the conference held in May, 1866, at Savannah, Ga., and brought into the denomination Bethel Church and its membership at Augusta, Ga. Brother Drayton had the honored distinction of being the longest ordained minister of African descent in the State of Georgia, of which State he was a native, he having been ordained both deacon and elder in the days of slavery. He was an effective worker for many years. Most of the societies now constituting the circuits in the vicinity of the station at Sparta were organized by him. He was a presiding elder for eight years. At the time of his death, January, 1885, he was the conference missionary agent. A sorrow-stricken widow mourns her loss." (By Jno. Harmon.)
Georgia Conference (Macon), The, was organized and held its first session in Sanderville, Ga., January 31, 1883, Bishop Dickerson, presiding, Bishop Campbell, associate, Rev. W. C. Banton, chief secretary. The boundaries of the conference included the following five presiding elder districts: Americus, Augusta, Forsyth, Macon and Columbus, which were in the following counties, to wit: Stewart (on the Chattahoochie River), Webster, Sumpter, Dooley, Twiggs, Lawrence, Johnson, Jefferson, Washington, Harrison (on the Chattahoochie), Tolbert, Monroe, Putnam,
Hancock, Columbia, Barnesville Station (in Pike County), all of Richmond County, and the northeast portion of Burke County. Thus is embraced all the middle portion of the great State of Georgia and was commonly called the "Middle Georgia Conference." It originally embraced in its boundary three of the largest cities in Georgia, viz.: Macon, Columbus and Augusta, and therefore has always held a very conspicuous place in the annals of Georgia African Methodism. Bishop Dickerson presided at the first and second sessions in 1883; Bishop Shorter from 1884-6; Bishop Disney in 1887; Bishop Gaines from 1888-91; Bishop Grant from 1892-5; Bishop Turner from 1896-1907; Bishop Smith from 1908-11; Bishop Flipper from 1912 to date. The secretaries have been Revs. W. C. Banton, from 1883-92; C. C. Cargile, 1893-5; P. W. Greatheart, 1896-1901; C. H. Williams, 1902-12; A. S. Bailey, 1913 to date. Sessions have been held in Sandersville, January 31, 1883; Forsyth, November 28, 1883, and each year thereafter in Columbus, Eatonton, Barnesville, Talbotton, Americus, Milledgeville, Columbus, Unknown, Forsyth, Columbus, Augusta, Eatonton, Americus, Sparta, Dublin, Macon, Milledgeville, Cordele, Augusta, Forsyth, Warrenton, East Macon, Sandersville, Macon, Dublin, Eatonton, Augusta, Macon, Forsyth, Cordele, Sparta and Macon. All sessions have been in November except the first and twenty-second.
When the Southwest Georgia Conference was formed, the Columbus and Americus Districts of the Macon Conference were included in its boundary. The Macon (Ga.) Conference then divided up the remainder of its territory and formed the Macon, Forsyth, Augusta, Sandersville, Dublin and Fort Valley Districts. When the South Georgia Conference was formed, the Dublin District was attached to the Georgia Conference and the Americus District was reattached to the Macon Conference. In 1914 the Augusta Conference was organized. The Augusta, Sandersville and Dublin Districts were given to it from the Macon Conference. Bishop W. J. Gaines was elected from the Macon (Ga.) Conference. Other connectional characters produced in this conference have been: Revs. E. W. Lee, W. A. Fountain, C. C. Cargile, F. F. Boddie, C. G. Jones, L. A. Townsley, John Cooper, E. P. Holmes, L. H. Smith, C. H. Williams, J. O. Iverson, A. M. Jordan. (By Rev. L. H. Smith, Sr., historian.)
Georgia Conference (South), The, was organized December 10, 1912, at Thomasville, Ga., Bishop J. S. Flipper presiding. The officers elected were: Rev. A. K. Woods, chief secretary; Rev. G. W. Williams, assistant secretary; Rev. I. D. Davis, statistical secretary. The honored dead are: Revs. A. J. White, I. T. Epton, O. N. Finnegan. Number of churches in South Georgia Conference, 175; number of ministers, 168; number of lay members, 11,232; amount raised for pastors' salaries (1914), $21,491.06; amount raised for presiding elders' salaries (1914), $4,885.99; amount raised for all other purposes (1914), $47,648.62. (By W. G. Alexander.)
Georgia Conference (Southwest), The, was set apart from the Georgia and Macon (Ga.) Conferences in 1897, and the first session was held in Cuthbert, Ga., beginning October 27 of the same year; was organized by Bishop Turner. The devotional exercises were conducted by Rev. P. T. M. Brookins. Rev. G. R. Bass, being the oldest itinerant present, offered the following prayer: "O, Thou, the Supreme Head of the Universe, God, high over all and Maker of all things, we come to-day to tender to Thee our heartfelt thanks for all that Thou hast done for us and art still doing. Since we assembled last, many of us have been tossed and thrown about upon the tempestuous seas. Lift up, we pray Thee, the light of Thy countenance upon our dear bishop; let it be lifted up upon him that he may preside upon this occasion, this annual conference; God bless the chief of this conference. We pray Thy blessings also upon those we have left behind us. We thank Thee for the water Thou hast given us and the bread we have been enabled to procure, though often tossed and thrown about upon the tempestuous and troublesome seas of this life. Go with us to-day and guide us over this life's tempestuous seas, until the warfare is over. We thank Thee for the providence which we have and enjoy; many have passed out of this life since we came into the conference and many who were with us are now no more. Fill us with the fire of the Holy Ghost finally save us. When this life is done, admit us into that House not made with hands, into the beautiful world without end, through Christ. Amen." Revs. R. R. Downs and W. D. Johnson, Jr., were elected secretaries. The following were the presiding elders: Allen Cooper, Columbus District; D. W. Moore, Bainbridge District; S. C. Powell, Thomasville District; E. Lowery, Albany District; Richard Graham, Americus District; F. F. Boddie, Talbotton District; J. B. Lofton, Cuthbert District. The original borders of the conference extended from the northwestern corner of Harris County along the northern boundary of Harris Talbot to the Flint River, down Flint River to the point where said river enters Macon County, thence along the northern boundary of Macon County to its northeastern corner, down its eastern boundary to Flint River; down Flint River to the northeastern corner of Dougherty County, thence down the eastern boundaries of Dougherty, Mitchell and Thomas Counties to the line of Florida, thence due west to the Chattahoochee River, thence up the Chattahochie River to the starting point. The following bishops have presided over this conference: H. M. Turner, from 1897-1907; C. S. Smith, 1908-12; J. S. Flipper, 1912-6. The conference has had but two chief secretaries, viz.: R. R. Downs and William D. Johnson. The following persons have served as assistant secretaries: Lona Rice, 1898-9; A. C. Linton, 1900-3; W. B. L. Clarke, 1908-14; H. E. Davis, 1913-6; S. P. Adams, 1914-6. The sessions have been held at follows: Cuthbert, 1897; Talbotton, 1898; Columbus, St. John A. M. E. Church, 1899; Fort Gaines, 1900; Thomasville, 1901; Blakely, 1902; Columbus, St. James, 1903; Buena Vista, 1904; Dawson, 1905; Bainbridge, 1906; Americus, 1907; Arlington, 1908; Albany, 1909; Cuthbert, 1910; Columbus, St. James, 1911; Blakely, 1912; Buena Vista, 1913; Fort Gaines, 1914; Columbus, St. John, 1915. The following ministers, after having served faithfully, have answered to roll call from the conference and are now resting beyond the river with the tried and the true, to wit: Richard Ford, Giles D. Jordan, Richard Graham, Alexander Glover, G. A. Mitchell, Haley Hardie, E. D. Wood, Andrew Bingham, Alfred Dunlap, Elijah Falls, Abram Purdy, Andrew Monroe, N. L. Holmes, H. W. Williams, S. P. Jackson, A. R. Oliver, H. M. Miller, Aaron Reid, D. W. Moore, E. C. Russell, W. J. Mullen, E. J. Bush, H. H. King, J. D. Jordan, D. O. Mills, Wesley Foreman, G. H. Neeley, C. D. McBride, W. H. Roseborough, E. J. Fairfax, J. T. Jackson, R. M. Passmore, D. J. Frazier, A. P. Perkins, Z. McDonald, Samuel George, H. P. Andrews, W. Mack, H. A. Williams, Gardner Williams, Wright Newman, J. W. Wynn, A. Z. Fields, A. B. Banks, H. C. Duhart, A. S. Brown, E. D. Jefferson, J. O. Matthews, E. W. Lee, J. H. Hall, C. H. Light, J. B. Hutchins, L. A. Maunds, L. D. Hill, Joseph Collier, A. L. Reid, N. W. Williams, W. F. Harris, A. C. Linton, P. R. Hunter, H. R. Turner, T. McIver, J. S. Simon, L. C. Rowland, W. D. Thomas, L. L. Reynolds, A. W. Williams, C. H. Hall. In 1914 a part of the territory of this conference was taken off and used in the formation of the South Georgia Conference and a part was placed in the Macon Conference. Rev. William D. Johnson, a member of this conference, was elected one of the assistant secretaries of the general conference in 1900 and in 1904. In 1908, 1912 and 1916 he was elected secretary in chief of the general conference. Statistics: 201 churches; 287 ministers in the conference; 20,003 members in the conference; paid pastors in 1915, $24,470.40; paid presiding elders, $5,666.02; amount raised for other purposes not available at this time.. (By William D. Johnson, historian.)
Gloria Patri.--"Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost," etc., one of the oldest doxologies. This is at the end of our decalogue ritualistic services.
Gulfport, Miss.--St. Paul A. M. E. Church was organized in 1906 and is located at the corner of Twenty-first Street and Thirty-second Avenue. This illustration shows a view of the founders and faithful workers. From left to right, sitting: Sisters Bertha Lawson, stewardess and faithful worker, for 30 years a member of the A. M. E. Church; Lizzie Johnson, stewardess and secretary of board; C. McGogan, one of the founders and in whose home some of the first meetings were held, vice chairman of trustees sisters' board, member of A. M. E. Church 21 years and the product of Atlanta University; Eliza Bracy, member of stewardess board, financier and a life member of A. M. E. Church; M. L. James, vice chairman of stewardess board, in whose home the first meeting was held, an officer 28 years, life member of the A. M. E. Church. Standing, left to right: W. E. Simpson, vice chairman of stewardess board, president building club, organizer and representative of the Home and Foreign Missionary Society, treasurer of Sunday school, and takes part in all services; W. H. Smith, organist, chorister and instructor of music. In the center is the pastor, Rev. Wallace
Jones, B. D., serving his eleventh appointment, ordained deacon in 1906 by Bishop M. B. Salter, entered Lampton Theological Seminary, one of the two first regular graduates from that department receiving the degree of B. D., president of Alumni Association of Campbell College, and has pastored some of the leading charges--Port Gibson, Hattiesburg and Woodville--and is now at Gulfport. He is one of the alternate delegates to the general conference.
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FOUNDERS OF ST. PAUL A. M. E. CHURCH, GULFPORT, MISS.
History, The Bureau of, is the official department of history of the A. M. E. Church and is located at 3430 Vernon Avenue, Chicago. It was mooted in 1848, when the general conference elected Rev. D. A. Payne the historiographer of the A. M. E. Church. He held this office until his death, November, 1893, during which period he gathered much valuable data relating to the early history of African Methodism; out of which he compiled Vol. I of "History of the A. M. E. Church," covering the period 1787 to 1856; which was published by the Sunday School Union. He also compiled historic data for Vol. II, which has not been published. At the death of Bishop Payne, Bishop Benjamin W. Arnett became his successor and published the "Budget Series," extending to 1904. The general conference at Norfolk, Va., 1908, elected Bishop Turner historiographer, which position he held till 1912. Bishop Turner gathered some data, but published no volume of church history. He resigned the position at the general conference at Kansas City, May, 1912, nominating Dr. John T. Jenifer to fill his position. The general conference elected Dr. Jenifer, who has collected and compiled Vol. III, "The Centennial Retrospect History of the A. M. E. Church," published by the A. M. E. Sunday School Union. He has another Volume IV in process of preparation.
"Holiness, considered as an attribute of God, is His perfect moral purity. It is that perfection of His nature by which He is infinitely averse to all moral evil, and inclined to love all that is good and right. The holiness of God, then, implies the absence of all moral impurity and imperfection, and the possession, in an infinite degree, of all that is morally pure, lovely and excellent." This is the teaching of Scripture. Holiness in man is, like holiness in God, the possession in human degree of all that is morally pure, lovely and excellent in the human character, the result of the complete victory over sin so that one is not only not under the dominion of sin, but that he is not touched by the influence of sin.
Infant Baptism is the baptism of young children upon presentation of their parents or guardians, before they are old enough to make a profession of Christ for themselves. The practice is almost as old as the Christian Church, and has the direct approval of Jesus in His invitation to the children to come to Him, His blessing them and His warning to the grown people to "forbid them not," Paul, in baptising the Phillippian jailer and his household, Peter in baptising Cornelius and his household, and others of the apostles and early fathers very probably baptised children. When a child is baptised, its parents or guardians take an obligation to teach it the doctrines of the Church and bring it up under religious influence. If they do not the benefits of its early baptism are not all realized. The minister is to see that the parents or guardians carry out their obligations, and as soon as convenient he is himself to form classes and give instruction.
Itinerancy is a system by which pastors and presiding elders are appointed for a limited time, and are expected to move to another appointment at the end of that time. The itinerancy as a system is peculiar to Methodism. Appointments are only for one conference year, at the end of which any pastor may be legally moved. In the interim of conferences one may be moved for cause. The facility with which changes can be made for the benefit of both pastor and people makes the itinerancy of great value. The itinerancy grew up out of necessity and not upon any particular scriptural theory.
John Street Church in New York was the first church built by the Methodists in the United States. It was built in 1768 and dedicated October 30, the same year. Philip Embury, Barbara Heck, the pioneer Methodists of New York, were the prime movers, and very probably the colored people associated with them not only contributed, but with their own hands helped to build this first Methodist structure in this country.
Justification is by faith. The burden of Luther's preaching was that "the just shall live by faith," which was the doctrine of St. Paul, especially set forth in the letter to the Galatians. Justification is the work of God, who by His own mercy, because of the atoning blood of Jesus Christ and without any desert on the part of sinful man, their own hands helped to build this the first Methodist structure in this country.
Kittrell College, Kittrell, N. C., was established February 7, 1886, and was incorporated by the legislature of North Carolina, March 7, 1887. The North Carolina Conference, presided over by Bishop Dickerson, at its session in 1885, had authorized the establishment of the school and purchase of property. Leading spirit was Rev. R. H. W. Leak, and associated with him were Revs. George D. Jimmerson, J. E. C. Barham, George Hunter, W. D. Cook, W. H. Giles, F. F. Giles, Henry Eppes, Cornelius Sampson, W. H. Bishop, R. Lucas, J. G. Fry. The first teachers were Prof. B. B. Goines (principal), Mrs. M. A. Goines (matron), and Prof. J. R. Hawkins (business manager). In 1888 the Virginia Conference agreed to aid Kittrell. The following have served as principals since Prof. Goines: J. R. Hawkins, C. G. O'Kelly, J. S. Williams, P. W. Dawkins, John L. Wheeler, W. H. Giles, D. J. Jordan and C. G. O'Kelly (second time), but to no man does it owe more than to Prof. Hawkins, who has been in intimate touch with it since the beginning. The courses given are theological, classical, academic, normal, grammar, musical and commercial. Last year there were 311 pupils and 12 teachers; 290 have graduated, among whom are Rev. G. W. Adams, Drs. L. E. McCauley, S. L. Warren and J. L. Mills, J. M. Avery and W. S. King. There are 6 buildings, 62 acres of land, the property valued at $75,000. The income is about $15,000 per year, the term, eight months.
Lampton College, Alexandria, La., was the outgrowth of a school started at Delhi, La., in 1890, by Bishop Grant, Revs. J. Joins, J. W. Rankin, P. W. Williams and J. H. Martin, Handy Walton and L. H. Harris. The first teacher at Delhi was Prof. William Jennifer. There was one building and 20 acres of land. In 1907 this building was destroyed by fire and the school was practically abandoned. With the coming of Bishop Lampton the school was revived at Alexandria and called Lampton College. Prof. P. W. Rogers was made president. Bishop Conner, from 1912 to 1916, did much to develop it, erecting two frame buildings. The presidents have been Revs. P. W. Rogers, J. G. Monroe, M. M. Ponton, S. L. Green and J. R. Campbell, the present president. There were 210 students and 7 teachers. The departments are primary, intermediate, industrial and collegiate. Rev. A. H. Mitchell is one of the most distinguished graduates. The property, including eight acres, is valued at $11,000.
[ILLUSTRATION]
DUKE MEMORIAL HALL, KITTRELL, N. C.
Layman, as used by the Church, is a term used to describe all members of the Church who are not ministers, i. e., in the A. M. E. Church persons not members of annual conference. Women are laymen.
Local Deacon, is a local preacher who has been ordained a deacon, or a traveling deacon who has been located and assigned to a quarterly conference. The duties of a local deacon are the same as any other deacon except that he does not travel. A local preacher must serve as such for at least four years and his ordination be requested by his church before he can be ordained a deacon.
Local Elder, is an elder who has been ordained such for local purposes on request of the quarterly conference to which he is attached; or an elder who has traveled but has been located. A local deacon must serve as such at least four years before he can be ordained an elder.
Louisiana Annual Conference, The North, of the African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized December 28, 1882, by Bishop Cain, in St. Matthew Chapel A. M. E. Church, Shreveport, with the following members, viz.: Revs. G. B. Taylor, D. Logan, M. S. Mayo, P. W. Williams, J. B. Webb, John Hayes, N. Henden, W. N. Childress, R. S. Lovett, E. E. Makeil, J. R. Grimes, R. Walker, J. R. Lee, and J. H. Martin. E. E. Makeil was first secretary. It comprised all of the State of Louisiana north of the thirty-first degree, North latitude. There were 14 charges and less than 1,000 members--$400 dollar money. Lake Providence, Lind Grove (now known as Bonita), Jones and St. Mary, Delhi and St. Matthew and Shreveport were the principal charges. From 1884 to 1888 this conference was presided over by Bishop Wayman and steps were taken by Rev. P. W. Williams, presiding elder of the Lake Providence District, for the establishment of the Wayman's Memorial Agricultural Institute. From 1888 to 1892 Bishop Grant presided; revivals flourished, membership increased, new churches were built and new fields opened. In April, 1890, Wayman's Normal Agricultural Institute was chartered, having 31½ acres of land and a building with 13 rooms. From May, 1892, to May, 1896, Bishop Lee presided. May, 1896, Bishop Armstrong, the great financier, was assigned as presiding bishop, but his stay was short; he died March 23, 1898, being succeeded by Bishop Handy who held only one conference, on account of the small pox. May, 1900, the general conference detached the North Louisiana Conference from the Tenth Episcopal District and attached it to the Thirteenth District under Bishop M. M. Moore, who died November 17, 1900, without meeting the conference. Bishop Grant held the conference in December, when the dollar money ran up to $1,751,05. From
the mid-winter Council of Bishops at Philadelphia, in 1901, Bishop Smith was sent to preside over this conference and served from December, 1901, to May, 1904. From May, 1904, to May, 1908, Bishop Salter presided; Bishop Lampton presided in 1908 and 1909; Bishop Turner in 1910 and 1911; Bishop Conner from May, 1912, to May, 1916; and Bishop Heard, the present bishop, since May, 1916. The conference has grown from 14 appointments to 70, and from about 17 ministers, licentiates and all, to more than 100; from less than 1,000 lay members to about 4,000. It has church property valued at $86,034.65; raised in 1913 nearly $15,000 for pastors' support; $2,637.57 for presiding elders' support, and for all purposes, $29,443.34. Revs. J. W. Rankin and J. I. Lowe, missionary secretary and business manager, respectively, were members of this conference, though it has never had any bishops or general officers elected directly from it. Rev. E. E. Makeil, the first secretary, was succeeded by Rev. J. H. Martin, February, 1884; J. W. Rainkin, December, 1884-6; I. J. Williams, January, 1888-December, 1888; J. H. Martin, 1889-90; S. Martin, 1891; I. J. Williams, 1892-3; E. L. Crumwell, 1894; J. H. Martin, 1895; J. W. Lampton, 1896-9; J. H. Martin, 1900-2; J. W. Reese, 1903; H. M. Mickens, 1904; I. F. Walker, 1905; W. V. Meeks, 1906-8; W. Willis, 1909-12; D. B. Reynolds, 1913; J. R. Powe, 1914. Sessions have been held, up to and including 1914, in Shreveport, eight times; Lake Providence, five times; Alexandria, four times; Delhi, four times; Minden, twice; Monroe, twice; Mansfield, twice; and in Sweet Home, Homer, Bonita, Reyville, Natchitoches. (By Rev. W. V. Meeks, historian.)
Love Feast was a social meal which the early Christians held. It was usually a secret meal to which none but true believers took part. And this caused a great deal of speculation on the part of outsiders as to its real nature, and many unjust accusations were therefore made against the Christians on its account. Of it Tertullian, one of the early Church fathers, said, "We do not sit down and eat until we have first tasted of prayer to God; we eat to satisfy our hunger; we drink no more than befits the temperate; we feast as those who recollect that they are to spend the night in devotion; we converse as those who know that the Lord is a near witness." It seems that the custom of love feasts died out during the middle ages, until revived in the early part of the eighteenth century by the Moravians, from whom John Wesley learned their value, and when he established the Methodist Church he provided for love feasts. In early Methodism love feasts were behind closed doors, and none but those in good standing were permitted and then only by ticket. We do not now sit at table, but break bread and drink water, shake hands, tell our Christian experience and sing and pray, making it a feast of love of one to another. Love feast usually precedes the quarterly or monthly communion, giving all a chance to settle any differences with their brethren in this feast of love.
Liberia is a Republic situated on the West Coast of Africa; contains about 40,000 square miles. It lies south of Sierra Leone, has about 350 miles of coast, and runs back as far as 150 miles; the population is 12,000 Americo-Liberians (the ruling class), 50,000 civilized natives, and about 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 uncivilized natives. There are but very few whites. The Republic was started as a refuge for free Negroes by the American Colonization Society, and was settled in 1822; in 1847 it was declared a republic, and has been maintained as such ever since. Its government is modeled after the United States of America. The A. M. E. Church has several churches there. The present president is Hon. David Howard, who was elected January, 1912.
Marriage is the joining of a man and a woman together as a basis for the family. This is done by a minister or magistrate as a rule upon license from the local government. The ceremony used by our Church will be found in the discipline. In our ministry only deacons and elders are permitted to perform the same. Marriage should be encouraged, yet before marriage due caution should be used. Hasty marriage should always be discouraged, for marriage should be sacred, and a contract, not alone civil, but divine, not to be broken except for reasons specifically given in Scripture. All minister should marry wherever possible and present an example of pure family life to the community.
Masonry.--In 1836 the general conference passed a resolution "that no preacher should be permitted to graduate with ministerial functions who is and continues to be a member of any Free Masons' Lodge." In 1844 two petitions with 86 names were presented to the general conference against Masonry, but the general conference stated "that inasmuch as the petitioners did not specify the evils complained of, that, said petitions be returned to them again without action." Another petition came up in 1848, but the general conference resolved to take "no further action on the subject." Since that time there has been no great opposition to Masonry in the Church. On the contrary, many of the leading Churches' bishops and elders have been also leaders in Masonry.
Methodist, The Term, as applied to a religious body, was first applied to those who followed John Wesley. When John Wesley was a student at Oxford University, he and a few others saw the looseness with which other students and those about them lived, how careless even the clergy were with regard to things which ought to be held sacred to the Church and how rapidly formalism seemed to be supplanting the real spiritual worship, and therefore formed a sort of club and met together to read the Bible, to tell their experiences and to help one another in the effort to live in accordance with the Bible. They fasted once a week, and abstained from other things usually indulged in by students, for which they soon became objects of derision among their fellows. This began in 1729. They were called the "Holy Club," "Bible Bigots," "Sacramentarians," the "Godly Club," "The Methodists," etc. This did not deter them; but they kept steadily and systematically to their purpose. Other students came, and the group grew, and of all the names the one of "Methodist" persisted and in time was the only one aplied to them, for as one said they seem to do everything by a method.
Methodist Episcopal Church, Colored, was oranized in December, 1874, at Nashville, Tenn. For many years before the Civil War most of the colored people who were Methodists were members of the M. E. Church, later the M. E. Church, South. But after the war, the M. E. Church, South, desired to set its colored membership apart into an independent denomination. The first bishops elected were W. H. Miles and R. H. Vanderhorst.
Methodist Episcopal Church, The, is the first American Methodist Church. It was formally started Christmas, 1784. Richard Allen and Harry Hosier, colored men, were in this first American Methodist Conference, which was held in Baltimore, Md., in the Lovely Lane Chruch. John Wesley had organized the first Methodist Society in London in 1739. He had no idea of starting a separate Church, but of starting a reform movement in the Established (Episcopal) Church. But his movement grew. Ameica was being colonized by the English. Wesley had himself 1734) came here as missionary preacher before he started the Methodist societies. When Methodism started in England, it naturally came to America. Sir N. Gilbert and two Negro women first brought it to Antigua about 1759; Philip Embruy and Barbara Heck brought it to New York, where the first converts on the mainland of this country were probably Negroes. Robert Strawbridge brought it to Maryland. In 1769 Wesley sent special preachers to the country. In 1771 Francis Asbury and Richard Wright came, and from that time Methodism grew rapidly. Then came the Revolutionary War, 1775-83, when lines between England and America were closely drawn. The independent government had been set up and the people wanted an independent Church. Wesley recognized this and sent Rev. Dr. Thomas Coke to become superintendent of the American Church. He came in company with Elders Richard Whatcoat and Thomas Vasey and organized the Methodist Episcopal Church. Francis Asbury was elected bishop and ordained. From that time to this this branch of the Christian Church has not ceased to grow, and all other branches of American Methodism have grown out of it. In 1914 there were reported 4,217,771 members and 30,453 churches with 17,316 preachers in charge, 14,426 parsonages, 4,186,766 Sunday-school pupils, 825,823 Epworth League members, 653 districts; value of churches, $205,759,871; value of parsonages, $34,916,539; sarlaries of ministers, $17,504,114; average pastors' salary, $960; average district superintendents' salary, $2,081.
Methodist Episcopal Church (South), The, grew out of the difference between the Southern Methodists who upheld slavery and the parent M. E. Church who opposed it. The occasion for separation came chiefly in the condemnation
and practical suspension by the General Conference of 1844, of Bishop Andrew, of Georgia, who had married a wife who owned slaves, and who would not set them free. The Southern delegates declared that "the continued agitation on the subject of slavery and abolition * * * proceeding against Bishop Andrew * * * must produce a state of things in the South which renders the continuance of the jurisdiction of the general conference over these conferences inconsistent with the success of the ministry in the slaveholding States." May 1, 1845, a convention of Southern delegates was called and the "Methodist Episcopal Church, South" was organized, and Bishop Joshua Soule and James Osgood Andrew, who had been bishops of the M. E. Church, were made bishops and a general conference was called the next year. Soon most of the white Methodists in the South were in the M. E. Church, South. During the war the Church suffered much, but has recuperated. Its latest statistics showed 2,045,577 church members, 1,615,646 Sunday-school pupils, 17,068 churches, 330 presiding elder districts, 5,363 parsonages, 6,539 preachers, value of churches, $57,677,908; of parsonages, $11,127,545; salaries of preachers, $4,795,841. Efforts are now being made to reunite the M. E. and M. E. Church, South.
Michigan A. M. E. Conference was organized at Battle Creek, Mich, August 24, 1887, Bishop Campbell presiding, including all of the State of Michigan and Northern Indiana. W. H. Brown, of Fort Wayne, Ind., preached the annual sermon. The conference was divided into three presiding elder districts. The presiding elders also holding pastoral charges were R. Jeffries, Ypsilanti; J. H. Alexander, Grand Rapids, J. McSmith, Lansing. The dollar money reported was $337.67. The death of Bishops Cain and Shorter and Rev. R. Titus were reported at the conference. The roster of the first Michigan Conference contains the following names: traveling elders: J. H. Alexander, J. McSmith, W. H. Pope, C. H. Thomas, C. F. Hill, Benjamin Roberts, D. A. Brown, G. W. Benson, H. B. Gordon, Robinson Jeffries, G. B. Graham, James M. Henderson, W. H. Saunders, J. H. Miller, G. W. Brown; traveling deacons: Henry Parker, David Siscoe; traveling preachers: Abraham Cotman, E. E. Gregory. Of these only J. M. Henderson (the first secretary), R. Jeffries, B. Roberts, C. F. Hill and E. E. Gregory are yet in the conference. J. McSmith and J. H. Miller were elected to the general conference. The second session of the conference was held at Grand Rapids, September 5-10, 1888, Bishop John M. Brown presiding; annual sermon by J. McSmith, of Lansing; educational sermon by G. W. Brown, of Detroit. The third session of the conference was held at Kalamazoo, September 11-16, 1889. Bishop John M. Brown presiding; annual sermon by J. H. Alexander; educational sermon by R. Jeffries. Rev. C. S. Smith, who is now the presiding bishop was present at this session of the conference as the secretary of the A. M. E. Sunday-School Union. The ladies of the Mite Missionary Society held an interesting meeting, over which Mrs. Elizabeth Harper presided. The fourth session of the conference was held at East Saginaw, September 10-15, 1890, Bishop John M. Brown presiding. The new Bethel Church, at Detroit was reported erected at a cost of $18,000 by Rev. James M. Henderson, and dedicated by Bishop Brown; also a parsonage erected by Rev. William Collins at St. Joseph and the church at Benton Harbor, dedicated by Bishop Brown. Mrs. Frances E. Preston, who had been appointed by Rev. W. B. Derrick secretary of missions, as an agent of the Missionary Department, submitted an excellent report of her work at this conference. The annual sermon was delivered by J. I. Hill; the educational sermon by James M. Henderson. An episcopal residence was established at this conference and James M. Henderson, R. Jeffries and William Allen were elected trustees. Rev. James M. Henderson was appointed presiding elder. The fifth session was held at Bethel Church, Detroit, August 13-19, 1891. In the absence of Bishop Brown, on account of the death of Bishop Campbell, the senior member of the conference, Rev. J. H. Alexander, presided, assisted by Rev. C. S. Smith, secretary of the Sunday-School Union. Bishop Brown returned September 16 and completed the work of the conference. John M. Henderson and Robinson Jeffries were elected delegates to the general conference. The sixth session convened in Jackson, September 1-6, 1892, Bishop Turner presiding; annual sermon by Rev. Collins, of Lansing; educational sermon by Rev. H. E. Stewart. The seventh session was held at South Bend, Ind., September 6-10, 1893. The eighth session was held in Lansing, September 5-10, 1894, Bishop Turner presiding; James M. Henderson, secretary. Rev. John A. Collins, of Grand Rapids, preached the annual sermon. Mrs. G. T. Thurman submitted an excellent report as conference evangelist. James M. Henderson was elected fraternal delegate to the West Michigan M. E. Conference. The ninth session was held in Ebenezer Church, Detroit, September 4-9, 1895, Bishop Turner presiding; B. F. Watson and J. D. Barksdale were elected delegates to the general conference. The tenth session was held at Ann Arbor, August 26-30, 1896, Bishop B. W. Arnett presiding. The eleventh session was held at Flint, August 25-29, 1897; Bishop Arnett presiding; Mrs. Lillian F. Thurman, superintendent of missions, submitted a report. Bishop Arnett presided at the twelfth session, which was held at Fort Wayne, Ind., August 24-28, 1898. The thirteenth session was held in Bethel Church, Detroit, August 24-28, 1899, Bishop Arnett presided; Revs. R. F. Hurley and Sandy Simmons were elected delegates to the general conference. Bishop Abraham Grant presided at the fourteenth session at Grand Rapids, August 29-September 2, 1900; the conference was divided into two presiding eder districts--the Detroit and Grand Rapids Districts--with Revs. G. W. Brown and J. H. Alexander, presiding elders, respectively; the death of Rev. Robert Miller at Jackson, Mich., January 13, 1900, was reported at this conference. The fifteenth session was held at South Bend, Ind., September 11-15, 1901, Bishop Grant presiding; the church at Benton Harbor was destroyed by fire during this year; the death of Rev. G. W. Benson, December 1, 1900, at Jacksonville, Fla., was reported. The sixteenth session met at Ypsilanti, September 10-14, 1902, Bishop Grant presiding; Sister P. V. Wright, the evangelist, reported. The seventeenth session convened in Bethel Church, Detroit, September 9-13, 1903, Bishop Grant presided, assisted by Bishop Smith; Revs. G. W. Brown and J. W. Sanders, presiding elders; Revs. Sandy Simmons and R. Seymour were elected delegates to the general conference. The eighteenth session was held at Benton Harbor, September 14-19, 1904, Bishop Handy presiding; the two presiding elder districts were made one at this conference; the death of Rev. George R. Collins, December 7, 1903, was reported. The nineteenth session of the conference was held at Ypsilanti, September 21-25, 1905, Bishop Handy presiding; Rev. D. A. Graham was elected trustee to represent the conference on the State Board of the Anti-Saloon League; the Mite Missionary Society elected Sister Anna Lawson president. The twentieth session convened in Pontiac, September 26-October 1, 1906, Bishop Handy presided; two churches were dedicated during the year, two new churches were built and a home for worn-out preachers, their wives and other worthy persons was purchased. The twenty-first session of the conference met in Ebenezer Church, Detroit, September 11-16, 1907, Bishop Handy presided, assisted by Bishop Smith; the articles of incorporation of the Handy Home at Jackson, Mich., were adopted at this session; the deaths of Revs. W. H. Brown at Fort Wayne, Ind., May 12, 1907, and C. M. Crosby who died at South Bend, Ind., January 12, 1907, were reported. Bishop Shaffer held the twenty-second session at South Bend, Ind., September 2-6, 1908; Rev. C. E. Allen reported Ebenezer Church, Detroit, remodeled, Mrs. Ida M. Allen, President of the Mite Missionary Society, submitted an excellent report. The twenty-third session was held at Grand Rapids, September 1-5, 1909, Bishop Shaffer presiding; Rev. Alexander Smith of South Bend, Ind., preached the annual sermon; a temporary advisory committee was appointed to confer with the original incorporators of the Handy Home, and Revs. James M. Henderson, C. Emery Allen and C. J. Dean were appointed a committe on re-incorporation; Bishop Smith assisted the presiding bishop. The twenty-fourth session was held at Kalamazoo, August 31-September 4, 1910, Bishop Shaffer presiding; the fortieth anniversary of Bishop Shaffer's ministerial life was fittingly observed by the conference; the Mite Missionary Society reported raised during the year $228.20; the report of the committee on the re-incorporation of Handy Home was adopted. The twenty-fifth session was held at Jackson, August 30-September 3, 1911, Bishop Shaffer presiding; Revs. C. Emery Allen and W. P. Q. Wallace were elected delegates to the general conference. The twenty-sixth session was held at Flint, September 4-9, 1912. Bishop Derrick presided, Bishop Heard assisting. The annual sermon was preached by Rev. James M. Henderson. Dr. J. W. Cann, of Bermuda, visited this session of the conference and brought greetings. The Mite Missionary Society reported $202.86. The deaths of Rev. A. H. Alexander, at Jackson, Mich., May 16, 1913, and Rev. George W. Brown, at Jackson, Mich., September 28, 1911, were reported. The twenty-seventh session met at Battle Creek, September 3-7, 1913, Bishop Turner
presiding. The Mite Missionary Society raised during the year $206.25. The twenty-eighth session met at Lansing, September 2-6, 1914, Bishop Turner presiding; Bishop C. S. Smith, associate. The Women's Mite Missionary Society raised during the year $335.28. Revs. W. T. Artis and F. A. Hartford were reported dead. The twenty-ninth session was held in Ebenezer Church, Detroit, September 1-5, 1915. Bishop C. S. Smith presided, filling the unexpired term of Bishop Turner, who died in Windsor, Canada, May 8, 1915. James M. Henderson and J. W. Saunders were elected delegates to the general conference. (By J. M. Henderson, historian.)
Minister is one who serves the Church and is a member of an annual conference. According to the discipline of the A. M. E. Church in making regulations for voting for ministerial delegates, all members of the annual conference are regarded as ministers.
Missionary Department, The.--That the Missionary Propaganda of the African Methodist Church was begun with the rise and progress of the Church is quite evident when we consider that the Church in itself was born out of a missionary struggle for Christian manhood liberty. It was that, and that only, which made Richard Allen and his compeers walk out from under oppression and stand up in the light of Christian manhood for a more recognizable religious life, and thus the missionary operation of the A. M. E. Church began. In May, 1817, Daniel Coker, of Baltimore, Md., one of the prominent men who had worked with Richard Allen in the organization of the Church, sailed for Africa, as our foreign missionary to that field. He was not, however, officially sent by the Church. But, nevertheless, he carried the unanimous consent and good will of his brethren. In the adoption of the book of discipline at the first general conference, in 1816, a missionary requirement of each church was made, thereby making it the duty of all pastors of congregations to take an annual missionary collection from all of their charges, to be reported at the ensuing annual conference. In 1824 the first A. M. E. church was started in Hayti by many persons who had emigrated from this country during the first part of the nineteenth century. They had called upon Bishop Richard Allen to send them an ordained missionary or missionaries "to care for their moral and spiritual education." And, accordingly, he (the bishop) commissioned Rev. Scipio Bean as the first missionary to labor in that field. He was assisted by Brother H. Roberts, and they sailed early in that same year for the Republic of Hayti, where they labored for 10 years. The first general missionary of the A. M. E. Church was William Paul Quinn, who was appointed general missionary by the general conference of 1840. Rev. William Paul Quinn had been doing work in the West, that is, in Pittsburgh (Pa.), Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, since 1832. He was one of the founders of the Indiana Conference in 1840, and was at one time presiding elder over the States of Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. In his report to the general conference in 1844 he told of his missionary work in the West. He had assisted in carrying African Methodism into Kentucky, establishing what is now Quinn Chapel, in Louisville, also a church at St. Louis, Mo. He also made a report of the condition of the colored people of the West. His work in that section has its lasting monument in some of the most thriving churches of our connection to-day, many of which are named for him--"Quinn Chapel." So impressive was Elder Quinn's report of his missionary work that the next day he was elected a bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Home and Foreign Missionary Society was formed.
The result of the Civil War was the freedom of the 4,000,000 slaves, consisting of our fathers and mothers, who were unorganized. There was no African Methodist Episcopal church anywhere in the South, except in New Orleans, Washington and Charleston. The whole colored population of the South was thus a new field for operation for all Churches. The A. M. E. Church entered this field in a vigorous campaign of organization. In these new fields the bishops took the lead--Bishop Daniel A. Payne (who was originally of South Carolina), Bishop Wayman and others. In April, 1863, the New York Conference voted upon a motion made by A. W. Wayman to send a minister to the Southland. And, accordingly, Bishop Payne appointed Revs. James D. S. Hall, of New York, and James Lynch, of Baltimore. They sailed from New York May 20,1863, on the steamship "Argo," arriving at Hilton Head, S. C., a few weeks after. As a result of the Emancipation many of the colored people were left by their white pastors, and they received the colored preachers gladly. The first annual conference to be organized in this new field was established in Charleston, S. C., May 16, 1866, and others in a very short time followed. Our ministers went in wherever the Union Army had made an opening. Some time in 1863 we entered the State of Tennessee. Not only our preachers went, but our teachers also. So by the time the war was over our missionaries were well distributed over the Southeast section of the country. Arnett's budget says: "Revs. J. D. S. Hall and James Lynch were the pioneer missionaries to the Southland. They were soon followed by Revs. James A. Handy, J. H. A. Johnson and T. G. Steward. As the work progressed Rev. Henry M. Turner took charge of affairs in Georgia; Rev. R. H. Cain, in South Carolina; Rev. G. W. Brodie, in North Carolina; Rev. Charles H. Pearce, in Florida; and, under the leadership of Bishop J. A. Shorter, the work spread into the Mississippi Valley, and Bishop J. P. Campbell carried the seed of African Methodism and planted it at the Golden Gate, on the shores of the Pacific."
Aside from the facts of our first missionaries sent to West Africa and Hayti in 1817 and 1824, respectively, the A. M. E. Church, through God, fostered its existence as a Missionary Propaganda in Sierra Leone and its protectorate, West Africa, June 30, 1885. The advent of this movement was in answer to an appeal from the trustees, leaders, pastors and members of "Zion Chapel" of the Countess Huntingdon's connection in Freetown, Sierra Leone, to the A. M. E. Church in the United States of America, to bring about a union or an amalgamation. Arrangements having been made by Bishop J. A. Shorter, Secretary James M. Townsend, Bishop J. P. Campbell, Dr. D. P. Roberts and Prof. Outland, executive committee of the board of managers of the Parent Home and Foreign Missionary Society, to perfect or ratify the proposed union or amalgamation, Rev. John Richardson Fredericks was sent as the representative missionary of the A. M. E. Church from America to accomplish its work. He (Rev. Fredericks) left the United States of America on November 8, 1886, and, having spent some time in England, he landed in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on January 2, 1887, and formally began operation in the said "Zion Chapel," Wilberforce Street, Freetown, Sierra Leone. But it was not until June, 1887, when by a legal act of amalgamation of "Zion Chapel" and its adherents were handed over to the African Methodist Episcopal Church, that the regular and more systematic work began. In connection with our work in Freetown, Sierra Leone, which was formally appointed in June, 1888, upon the request of the Chief of Mangay Small Scarcies, Bethel Mission was started by the appointment of Mr. Moses D. Davis, an agent, and 12 acres of land were given for the said mission and school purposes; the said land thus became the property of the missionary board. Our work in this section of West Africa was visited by four of our bishops, namely, Bishops Turner, Grant, Shaffer and Smith, who, respectively, gave splendid episcopal supervision for the work until 1908, when the general conference saw fit to elect a bishop for that field. In 1898 Bishop H. M. Turner went to South Africa and organized two annual conferences--the Transvaal Annual Conference, March 9, 1898, and the South African Annual Conference, April 12, 1898. The former, organized at Pretoria, contained a membership of 7,175, and the latter, which was organized at Queenstown, had 3,625 lay members. Upon this visit Bishop Turner ordained 31 elders and 20 deacons. In 1900 the general conference sent Bishop L. J. Coppin to South Africa. He spent four years there, and established Bethel Institute. In 1904 Bishop C. S. Smith was sent to Africa, but only remained two years. In 1906 Bishop W. B. Derrick made a tour of South Africa for the adjustment of our missionary status with affairs of the British Government. In 1908 the general conference elected two bishops to be assigned to our African missionary work for 12 consecutive year, in the persons of Bishops J. Albert Johnson and William H. Heard. They were sent, respectively, to South and West Africa. From 1844 to 1864 the Parent Home and Foreign Missionary Society was under the control of the board of managers of the Baltimore Annual Conference. During this time we had no missionary department, but only had general missionaries, of whom Rev. William Paul Quinn was the first, and the second was Rev. Thos. M. D. Ward. In 1864 the Parent Home and Foreign Missionary Society became truly connectional and a permanent organization. The first corresponding secretary, now called secretary of missions, was elected by the general conference, in the person of Rev. John M. Brown. He served until 1868, when he was elected bishop. Other missionary secretaries have been elected and have served. They are
as follows: Rev. J. A. Handy, 1868-72; Rev. G. W. Brodie, 1872-6; Rev. R. H. Cain, 1876-80; Rev. J. M. Townsend, 1880-8; Rev. W. B. Derrick, 1888-96; Rev. H. B. Parks, 1896-1908; Rev. W. W. Beckett, 1908-12; Rev. J. W. Rankin, 1912 to the present. The Woman's Parent Mite Missionary Society was organized May, 1874, in the financial headquarters at Washington, D. C. The purpose then stated was "the evangelization of the world and especially of the Island of Hayti, and to secure the co-operation of the sisters in the ministry in carrying forward the work." The Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society was organized September, 1893, by order of the missionary department, at South Bend, Ind. It was approved and established as a connectional organization by the general conference, May, 1896, at Wilmington, N. C. (By Rev. J. W. Rankin.)
Missionaries (Foreign) and their fields of labor.--South Africa: Bishop W. W. Beckett, D. D., 2 Hanover Street, Capetown; Rev. F. M. Gow, 2 Hanover Street, Capetown.
West Coast of Africa.--Bishop I. N. Ross, D. D., Monrovia, Liberia. Sierra Leone Conference: Rev. Henry M. Steady, D. D., presiding elder; Rev. J. F. Gerber, assistant to Rev. J. P. Richards, B. D., New Zion Station; Rev. E. T. Martyn, Emanuel Station; Rev. G. A. John, Campbell Station; Rev. J. H. Gooding, Bethel Circuit "Mange"; Rev. J. O. A. T. Decker, Allen Circuit, Magbele; Rev. M. T. Newland, Moore Memorial Mission; Mr. M. S. Lott, Florida Grant Missions; Rev. M. W. Jones, Ebenezer Canadian Missions; Rev. J. H. Parks, Mahera Mission; Rev. J. E. S. Frazier, Big Robornp; Rev. J. P. Richards, B. D., principal A. M. E. Seminary; Rev. J. A. John, Tutor, A. M. E. Seminary; Mr. A. B. Harding, Tutor, Moore Memorial Mission; Mrs. M. C. Cole, Tutor, New Zion Station. Liberian Conference: Rev. A. L. Brisbane, presiding elder, Brewersville, Liberia, West Coast Africa; Rev. T. E. Ward, B. D., Johnsonville, Liberia, West Coast Africa; Rev. H. G. Knight, principal Shaffer High School, Arthington, Liberia, West Coast Africa; Rev. J. L. Miller, Mt. Carmel, Arthington, Liberia, West Coast Africa; Rev. W. H. Wright, Shefflin, Liberia, West Coast Africa; Rev. L. G. Davis, City Mission, Monrovia, Liberia, West Coast Africa; Rev. J. A. D. Martyn, Brewersville, Liberia, West Coast Africa; Rev. S. A. Bailey, Bensonville, Liberia, West Coast Africa; Rev. A. M. De Lima, Coffee Farm, Monrovia, Liberia, West Coast Africa; Rev. H. W. White, Barnesville, Monrovia, Liberia, West Coast Africa; Rev. W. T. White, Cape Mount, Liberia, West Coast Africa; Rev. F. E. R. Bryant, Robertsville, Liberia, West Coast Africa; Mrs. Irene Robbins, teachers, Box 14, Monrovia, Liberia, West Coast Africa; Mrs. Annie E. Bryant, evangelist teacher, Brewerville, Liberia, West Coast Africa; Rev. J. O. S. Thompson, presiding elder, Grand Bassa, Lower Buchanon, West Coast Africa; Rev. T. V. Cummings, Lower Buchanon, Liberia, West Coast Africa; Rev. J. D. Clarke, Monrovia, Liberia, West Coast Africa; Rev. J. H. Johnson, Harrisville, Liberia, West Coast Africa; Rev. A. F. Holt, Harlandsville, Liberia, West Coast Africa; Rev. R. H. Gibson, Cape Palmas, Liberia, West Coast Africa; Rev. H. A. Garcia, Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa; Mrs. E. 9. Thompson, evangelist-teacher, Grand Bassa, West Africa; Mrs. H. P. L. Knight, teacher, Shaffer High School, Arthington, West Africa; Mrs. S. J. D. Cummings, assistant teacher, Monrovia, Day School, Monrovia, Liberia; Mrs. F. S. Johnson, teacher, Day School, Harlandville Mission, Liberia, West Coast Africa; Rev. I. H. Webbo, Liberia, West Coast Africa.
South America and British West Indies.--Rev. P. E. Batson, 6 Norfolk Street, Port of Spain, Trinidad, W. I.; Rev. J. P. James, Samana, Santo Domingo; Frederick Faide, catechist outpost work, Samana, Santo Domingo; Rev. Rudolph Worst, San Pedro de Marcoris, Santo Domingo; Rev. James R. Thomas, Santo Domingo City, Santo Domingo; Mr. R. Horseford Jones, Porto Rico Estate, Santo Domingo; Rev. P. Alpheus Luckie, Georgetown, Demerara, B. M., South America; Rev. D. P. Talbot, Maria Johanna, Esquibo, B. G., South America; Rev. A. T. Collins, Second Church, Georgetown, Demerara, B. G., South America; Rev. R. A. Butler, Tuschen, West Coast, Demerara, British Guiana, South America; Rev. S. E. C. Lord, 10 Rue d'Ennery, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, W. I.; Rev. W. T. Culmer, Savannah Sound, Eleuthera, W. I.; Rev. J. Wesley Skerrett, Bahamas, W. I.; Rev. Alfonso Dumar, Kingston, Jamaica, W. I.
Missionary Society of the A. M. E. Church, The Women's Home and Foreign.--September, 1893, in South Bend, Ind., a delegation of ladies waited upon Bishop H. M. Turner, who was then holding the Michigan conference, and Dr. W. B. Derrick, then the secretary of missions, and asked permission to organize a connectional missionary society, as there were thousands of women in the south and west who desired to work for missions. The request was granted and the society organized by Bishop Turner, and named by Dr. Derrick "The Women's Foreign Missionary Society," and under this name they went to work. Mrs. G. T. Thurman was elected general superintendent. She traveled through Michigan, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and parts of Texas and Florida. The work succeeded well till May, 1896, when the general conference approved of and legalized the organization and named it "The Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society of the A. M. E. Church," and made it subordinate to the Parent Home and Foreign Missionary Department. The general conference left the task of drawing up the constitution and by-laws for the government of this young institution to the women to be approved by Bishop Turner. The bishop commented upon them as follows: "The constitution and by-laws of the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society have been forwarded to me by Mrs. G. T. Thurman and her associates for inspection. As the president of the missionary department of the A. M. E. Church I beg to say that I have given the same careful examination and most heartily approve of the entire arrangement and am satisfied that the general conference, which created the institution could not have surpassed them in methodical order." The following constituted Mrs. Thurman's committee: Mrs. G. T. Thurman, Mrs. J. H. Alexander, Mrs. H. H. King, Mrs. H. E. Carolina, Mrs. P. W. Wave, Mrs. E. W. Lampton, Mrs. S. P. Docier, Mrs. J. H. Adams, Mrs. D. T. Green, Mrs. I. N. Fitzpatrick, Mrs. T. H. Lyles, Mrs. H. R. Butler, Mrs. Dora Cotton, Miss Estella M. Alexander, Mrs. G. W. Swan, Mrs. G. G. Baker, Mrs. O. P. Ross, Mrs. J. E. Wood, Mrs. W. G. Alexander, Mrs. W. H. Council, Mrs. J. N. Abbey, Mrs. W. D. Jackson, Mrs. Wm. Flagg. Mrs. G. T. Thurman being called to other duties resigned the superintendency about 1900, and Mrs. S. J. Duncan was appointed by Bishop Turner to fill the vacancy, which she did till March, 1908, when the first connectional convention was held in Bethel, Atlanta, Ga., at which time Mrs. Laura L. Turner was elected the first president of the organization, Mrs. J. A. Hadley secretary and Mrs. S. J. Duncan treasurer. The report of the secretary of missions in 1904 shows $5,000 raised by the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society in four years. In 1908 $10,000 was reported. The second connectional convention was held in Birmingham, Ala., 1911, when the following officers were elected: Mrs. Laura Lemon Turner, Georgia, president; Mrs. S. G. Simmons, South Carolina, vice-president; Mrs. M. Jones, Texas, second vice-president; Mrs. S. A. Christian, Alabama, recording secretary; Mrs. L. M. Channell, Louisiana, assistant secretary; Mrs. G. L. Jackson, Tennessee, corresponding secretary; Mrs. H. E. Carolina, Arkansas, treasurer; Mrs. F. S. Tanner, financial secretary; Mrs. M. A. Ford, statistical secretary; executive board, Mrs. W. A. Fountain, sixth district; Mrs. H. E. Lewis, seventh district; Mrs. H. H. King, eighth district; Mrs. Francis A. Jones, ninth district; Mrs. M. E. H. Miller, tenth district; Mrs. L. L. Craig, twelfth district. The report from this convention showed 35 conference societies, 1322 local societies, 13,591 members in local societies, $30,045.32 raised for home and foreign missions in three years. The last quadrennial convention, which was held in New Orleans February, 1915, elected the following officers: Mrs. Laura Lemon Turner, Georgia, president; Mrs. S. G. Simmons, South Carolina, vice-president; Mrs. M. Jones, Texas, second vice-president; Mrs. L. M. Channell, Louisiana, recording secretary; Mrs. M. S. Pearson, North Carolina, assistant secretary; Mrs. G. L. Jackson, Tennessee, corresponding secretary; Mrs. W. D. Chappelle, South Carolina, treasurer. The report showed 43 conference societies, 2,298 local societies, 32,032 members in local societies and $40,821.59 raised for home and foreign missions during the four years preceding. Mrs. Turner died October, 1915, and Mrs. S. G. Simmons succeeded to the presidency. The constitution and by-laws of the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society is so elastic that a number of branch organizations are permitted to operate under its general law. Hence the state organization, "The Conference Society," "The Auxiliary Society," and the "Juveniles' Societies." All these are subordinate to the connectional society. These societies meet annually and quadrennially elect delegates to the quadrennial session, which meets once in four years or the year before the general conference. In this general body the work
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. S. G. SIMMONS President W. H. & F. M. Society
MRS. R. C. CHAPPELLE Treasurer W. H. & F. M. Society
MRS. L. A. DAVIS President Alabama Conference Branch, W. H. & F. M. Society.
of the four years in all of the departments of the society is reviewed and the laws for the general running of the society are made, subject to the general conference.
Alabama W. H. & F. M. Society, The, was established with Mrs. S. A. Christian, of Greensboro, Ala., state president, Mrs. S. I. Milton, Selma, Ala., state secretary; Mrs. Sarah J. Duncan, of Selma, state superintendent. Under the supervision of the state president the society grew in numerical strength and financially; reports increasing more than fifty per cent. in five years. Mrs. Christian, with her efficient officers, served until the work was placed under the immediate supervision of the annual conferences in what is known as conference branches in 1906. Mrs. J. S. Evans was made
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. L. L. CRAIG Secretary Alabama Conference Branch W. H. and F. M. Society.
conference branch president of the Alabama conference, and with an efficient corps of officers carried on the work which increased in interest and strength. In 1909, at the conference in Troy, $463.36 was reported for missions. In 1910, at the conference held in Eufala, Mrs. Evans not being present, owing to illness, Mrs. Christian, state president, being present was asked to preside. Reports for the year had increased to $778.52. Mrs. H. L. Weaver was elected conference branch president, Mrs. W. J. Webb, vice. The following delegates were also elected to the quadrennial convention at Birmingham, Ala: Mrs. H. L. Weaver, Brundidge; Mrs. R. L. Pope, Montgomery; Mrs. T. E. H. Dickerson and Mrs. S. P. Pryor, Dothan; Mrs. L. Edwards, Elba; Miss L. Saunders, Newton, and Miss Annie Nelson, White Oak. Mrs. Weaver gave good service in the Alabama conference and was succeeded by Mrs. W. J. Hightower, of Dothan, who served faithfully until 1913, when two new conferences were created; the West and South Alabama conferences. By the division of the conference districts, she fell in the South Alabama conference. At Andalusia, in 1914, the work in the Alabama conference branch was reorganized; Mrs. M. M. Hightower, of Montgomery, was elected president; Mrs. L. Wood, vice; Mrs. A. V. Moore, recording secretary; Mrs. Mattie Prince, corresponding secretary; Mrs. G. B. West, treasurer. Mrs. Hightower, of Montgomery, was elected delegate to the quadrennial meeting at New Orleans in February, 1915. A successful meeting was held in Montgomery, November, 1915, Mrs. Hightower, conference president, presiding. Bishop Jones helped the women greatly by his presence and words of encouragement. Dr. J. L. Johnson and others addressed. Mrs. McDonald, of Kansas City, Mo., gave to the women the request coming from Dr. R. R. Wright, Jr., that a history of the missionary work of the Alabama conference be gotten out for publication. $323.22 was raised for missions. The present officers are: Mrs. H. N. Newsome, of Montgomery, president; Mrs. H. M. Hollis, vice; Mrs. Mattie Prince, recording secretary; Mrs. Lyttia McKenzie, of Uriah, corresponding secretary; Mrs. M. J. Moore Chaplain, treasurer.--By Mrs. M. M. Hightower, H. N. Newsome and A. V. Moore.
South Alabama W. H. & F. M. Society, The, was organized in 1913, when the South Alabama annual conference was organized. There are more than 100 active local societies in the conference. $807.26 was raised last year. The district presidents are: Mrs. Emma Melton, Eufaula district; Mrs. J. A. Harris, Columbia district; Mrs. Nettie Steward, Ozark district; Mrs. S. E. Mitchell, Troy district; Mrs. Sarah Nelson, Florala district. The officers of the conference branch are: Mrs. L. Hightower, president; Mrs. R. B. McMillon, secretary; Mrs. C. G. Hatcher, treasurer.
Atlanta, Ga., Conference Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society was organized durong the fall of 1902 by Bishop Turner, in Shiloh (now Cosmopolitan) A. M. E. Church, Atlanta, Ga., Rev. T. J. Linton, pastor. A morning session was held in Cosmopolitan Church, and an afternoon session in Allen Temple. Those present were: Revs. T. J. Linton, J. T. Wilkinson, J. R. Flemming, Mrs. P. G. Simmons, Mrs. Nora Ellen, Miss Laura P. Lemon (afterwards Mrs. H. M. Turner), who was elected president, and Mrs. R. T. Matthews,
who was elected recording secretary. The annual sessions have been held as follows since that time at Atlanta, 1903; Griffin, 1904; Newnan, 1905; Conyers, 1906; Atlanta, 1907; Madison, 1908; Senoia, 1909; Decatur, 1910; Fairburn, 1911; Lovejoy, 1912; Social Circle, 1913; Griffin, 1914; Knockdale Park, Atlanta, 1915. The following have served as presidents: Mrs. L. L. Turner, Mrs. J. H. Adams, Mrs. J. R. Fleming, Mrs. R. T. Matthews; as treasurers: Mrs. P. G. Simmons, Mrs. H. D. Canady, Mrs. D. T. Howard (Mrs. Howard served in this office for ten years); as secretaries: Mrs. William Byrd, Mrs. Fannie Cargile, Mrs. R. T. Matthews, Mrs. Mattie A. Ford (Mrs. Ford served in this office for nine years). Members: adult, 905, juvenile, 250; total 1155. Presiding bishops: Turner, 1902-08; Smith, 1908-12; Flipper, 1912 to present. From 1911 to 1915 there was
collected for foreign work, $634.00; for home work, $634.00; traveling expenses and special effort work, $233.92. Total collected, $1501.92. Total amount expended, $1501.92. Miscellaneous: sent to Bishop W. H. Heard, $10.00 for African work; sent to Rev. Francis Gow, South Africa, $10.00; to Mrs. E. C. Kinch, $1.32 for lamp for Africa. Officers for 1916: Mrs. R. T. Matthews, president; Mrs. E. E. Scandrit, first vice-president; Mrs. Mattie Ellis, second vice-president; Mrs. Mattie A. Ford, recording secretary; Mrs. F. R. Simms, assistant recording secretary; Mrs. T. J. Linton, corresponding secretary; Mrs. H. D. Canady, treasurer; Mrs. Eliza Baldwin, chaplain; Mrs. D. T. Howard, chairman of the W. H. and F. M. Circle.--By Mrs. Mattie A. Ford.
East Arkansas Annual Conference Branch of W. H. & F. M. S., The, was organized at Marianna, Ark., in 1899. Mrs. H. E. Carolina was the first president and served for ten years. The following have succeeded her: Mrs. Rosa Lawrence, one years; Mrs. A. N. Pennington, two years; Mrs. Jennette Carlisle, one year; Miss T. S. Dowd, two years, and Mrs. M. E. Cummings, the present incumbent, now in her second year. Other faithful ones are Mesdames Rosa Johnson, E. M. Pope, Josie Fisher, Hattie Taylor, Clara Carlisle, Dilcy Mullen, Anna Ellis, Elizabeth Matlock, Lucy Sabb, May B. Payne, G. L. Benson. The society was represented at the quadrennial meeting at New Orleans by Miss T. S. Dowd, Mrs. M. L. Byrd, Mrs. M. E. Cummings and Miss Irene B. Smith. The present officers are: Mrs. M. E. Cummings, president; Sallie Payne, first vice-president; Mrs. Mary Hudson, second vice-president; Mrs. A. Hogans, third vice-president; Mrs. N. S. Van Buren, recording secretary; Mrs. Ida B. Nunn, treasurer; representatives to the Centennial General Conference were: Mrs. M. E. Cummings, Mrs. M. L. Byrd and Miss Irene Smith. The society raises between $450 and $500 annually--By Mrs. M. L. Byrd.
Hot Springs (Ark.) District Branch of the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society was organized during Bishop Tyree's administration in 1901, Mrs. D. A. Fleming being the first president. After Mrs. Fleming Mrs. Birdie L. Delyles was elected president. She served three years and made one of the best presidents the district has had. The next president was Mrs. Charles Edwards, who served one year and was succeeded by Mrs. S. E. Baylum. Mrs. K. K. Stewart, of Malvern, Ark., was the next president and is now serving.
West Arkansas Conference Branch of the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society was organized in 1901, Bishop Evans Tyree being presiding bishop. The first officers were: Mrs. D. A. Fleming, president; Mrs. E. A. Stone, first vice-president; Mrs. Phyllis Brown, second vice-president; Mrs. O. L. Moody, recording secretary; Mrs. E. A. Walls, corresponding secretary; Mrs. E. N. Washington, treasurer. Mrs. Fleming did much to create interest in the missionary
work, not only in the conference, but throughout Arkansas, and was elected state president of W. H. & F. Societies, being succeeded by Mrs. E. A. Stone, who served faithfully until succeeded by Miss S. C. Johnson. The present officers are: Miss S. C. Johnson, president; Mrs. K. K. Stewart, first vice-president; Mrs. A. G. Powell, second vice-president; Mrs. S. A. Perry, recording secretary; Mrs. Manda Hampton, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Maggie Collins, treasurer. Since its organization over $3,000 has been raised.
[ILLUSTRATION]
MRS. M. S. PEARSON President Western North Carolina Conference Branch,
MRS. SUSIE B. DUDLEY Recording Secretary North Carolina Branch, W. H. and F. M. Society.
MRS. A. D. SATTERFIELD Prominent worker, Western North Carolina Conference Branch, W. H. and F.M. Society.
North Carolina (Western) Conference W. H. & F. M.--The Western North Carolina Conference Branch was organized in 1900 by Mrs. M. F. Handy, Mrs. Ella M. Kind was its first president, and was succeeded by Mrs. Minnie S. Pearson, the present president. The present officers are: Mrs. Minnie S. Pearson, president; Mrs. Rhuhanna Watts, first vice-president; Mrs. Laura Booker, second vice-president; Mrs. K. C. Holt, third vice-president; Mrs. Daisy C: Moore, fourth vice-president; Mrs. Susie B. Dudley, recording secretary; Mrs. Onnie G. Owens, treasurer; Mrs. Ada M. Thornton, corresponding secretary; Mrs. A. D. Satterfield, juvenile superintendent. The amount raised during the past quardennium for missions, not including domestic work, was $3,000, the amount for 1915 being $500. The number of members is 1,000.
Tennessee Conference Branch, W. H. and F. M. S., The, was first organized into the Woman's Mite Missionary Society at Payne Chapel, Nashville, Tenn., October 19, 1881, Bishop Campbell presiding. Mesdames J. W. Early was elected president; G. L. Jackson, secretary, Bedford Greene, treasurer. The collection was $11.85. The following have served as presidents: Mesdames J. W. Early, M. E. Davis, Ellen Tyree, M. Haigler, and G. L. Jackson. At Shelbyville, Tenn., October, 1908, Bishop H. B. Parks, presiding, the women by vote changed from the Mite to the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society. Mrs. G. L. Jackson was re-elected president; Mrs. C. F. Jones, secretary; Mrs. Harriet Campbell, treasurer. Mrs. G. L. Jackson, Mrs. W. S. Brooks and Mrs. Wm. Flagg were delegates to the connectional convention of the W. H. and F. M. Society at Birmingham, Ala., April, 1911, and Mrs. G. L. Jackson was elected corresponding secretary of that convention. Four years later, February, 1915, Mesdames G. L. Jackson, A. M. Russell and T. L. Sutton were delegates to the connectional convention at New Orleans, La., and rendered valuable service. Mrs. Jackson read a paper on "Why should our young people be organized?" and was unanimously re-elected corresponding secretary. To relieve suffering and want among the aged, sick and needy of the laity of our churches there was organized a department known as the A. M. E. Ladies' Union, No. 1. Mrs. Matilda Finley, president. This branch of the missionary society sees to it that no member of our churches suffers for anything that is in our power to do, and thus caring for the lay members it has made it easier to raise funds to help the ministers, both home and foreign. For a while the society had mid-summer conventions of two days sessions. But some of the preachers thought that the women could do more good by having their meetings at the same time of the district conferences, so the conventions were discontinued. The society now has a day at the five district conferences. There are five district presidents: Mrs. C. F. Jones, Mrs. S. M. King, Mrs. A. M. Russel, Mrs. E. L. Sutton and Mrs. Maggie Smith, whose duty is to organize societies throughout the districts, to awaken an interest in the cause of missions, to hold meetings at the district conferences, and to report in full at the annual conference. There are two sessions at the annual conference, a business session and one for our program, which consists of interesting papers, suitable music, inspiring missionary talks and sometimes a short missionary sermon. We make full reports of all our money and frequently pin a flower on the presiding elder and district president, whose district leads in reports. Special mention is always made when, during the year, some soul has been led to Christ by a worker. We strive to have a society in every church and a juvenile society in every Sunday school. The missionary workers are giving attention to the health question and to all questions pertaining to the uplift of our people. During the eight years that we have
been W. H. and F. M. workers we have raised $2500.00 for missions. We reached our highest mark under Bishop J. H. Jones last year, raising $415.00, reporting fifty societies and 300 members. The officers are: Mrs. G. L. Jackson, president, 707 Lea Avenue, Nashville, Tenn.; Mrs. A. M. Russel, first vice-president, Williamsport, Tenn.; Mrs. J. J. Scruggs,
second vice-president; Mrs. L. J. Johnson, third vice-president; Mrs. C. F. Jones, secretary; Mrs. M. B. Jones, assistant secretary; Mrs. A. B. Morris, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Harriet Campbell, treasurer; Mrs. M. A. Gray, chairman executive board.--By Mrs. G. L. Jackson, president.
Central Tennessee Conference Branch, W. H. & F. M. S. was organized in Salter Chapell, Waverly, Tenn., November 3, 1911, under Bishop Parks, with the following officers: president, Mrs. Percy L. Bean; vice-president, Miss Maggie Walker; secretary, Mrs. Lena M. Dunn; treasurer, Mrs. M. N. Stacker. The general conference of 1912 discontinued the Central Tennessee conference, but Bishop Jones reorganized the conference and the missionary work with the following officers: president, Mrs. J. E. Lee; vice-president, Mrs. Irene List; secretary, Mrs. Lena M. Dunn; corresponding secretary, Miss M. L. Barr; treasurer, Mrs. L. P. Porter. The following moneys have been raised: In 1911, $117.17 was raised; in 1912, $126.06; in 1913, $107.91; in 1914, $132.59; in 1915, $109.58, a total of $593.31. The officers for 1915-1916 are as follows: president, Mrs. J. E. Lee, Paris, Tenn.; first vice-president, Mrs. Carrie E. Lewis, Nashville, Tenn.; second vice-president, Mrs. Bettie Walker, Ashland City, Tenn.; secretary, Mrs. Lena M. Dunn, Dickson City, Tenn.; assistant secretary, Mrs. L. P. Porter, Dickson City, Tenn.; treasurer, Miss M. L. Barr, Waverly City, Tenn.; corresponding secretary, Miss Stella Ellis, Johnsonville, Tenn.
Tennessee (West) Conference Branch of the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society was organized by
Rt. Rev. H. B. Parks, D. D., at the thirty-sixth session of the West Tennessee Annual Conference assembled at Union City, Tenn., November 8-13, 1910. The following officers were elected: Miss Malissa L. Light, president; Mrs. Julia A. Bennett, vice president; Mrs. Mary R. Cooper, secretary; Mrs. H. E. Conely, corresponding secretary; Mrs. C. M. Greenlee, treasurer; Mesdames A. E. Greer, Prudie Eason, Rebecca Aden, E. M. Stacker, Miss Maggie Walker, board of managers. The succeeding presidents are as follows: Mrs. Josie Carr, 1914; Mrs. Julia A. Bennett, 1915-16. The present officers are as follows: Mrs. Julia A. Bennett, president; Mrs. Josie Carr, vice president; Mrs. Lena Barham, second vice president; Mrs. Mary R. Cooper, secretary; Mrs. Malinda Mitchell, coresponding secretary; Mr. C. M. Greenlee, treasurer; Mrs. Lillie H. Winston, Mrs. Josie Flowers, Mrs. Effie Clark, board of managers. Total money raised, 1914, $411.31; total money raised, 1915, $308.17; organized societies, 42; number of members, 797.
Missionary Society of A. M. E. Church, Woman's Parent Mite.--The Missionary Society was preceded by the "Dorcas Society" and the "The Daughters of Conferences." In the Christian Recorder of February 19, 1874, an open letter addressed to the bishops' wives by Editor B. T. Tanner, saying, "After much consideration and prayer I address you as representative women of the Church: Mrs. Bishop Quinn, Mrs. Bishop Payne, Mrs. Bishop Wayman, Mrs. Bishop Campbell, Mrs. Bishop Brown, Mrs. Bishop Shorter, Mrs. Bishop Ward," the question is asked, "What are the women of the Church doing? No complaint of the past; faithfully did they do the work Providence laid before them. But what of the present? Do you ask what there is for the women of Zion to do? We reply very much. It is not our purpose to tell everything they might do, but rather of one thing they ought to do. They ought to organize a Women's Missionary Society. At this moment our missionary in Hayti lies upon its oars, and why? The Church with all its acknowledged riches cannot afford to assist him. Will you not, my dear sisters, lead off in the organization of a missionary society of the A. M. E. Church, which shall supply the means by which Hayti shall live? Accepting the M. E. Church for an example, what victories they have achieved by organization." After a thoughtful and fruitful consideration of the suggestion by those to whom the letter was addressed,
a call was made and the first meeting was held in Rev. James A. Handy's residence, on Sixteenth street, near M street, Washington, D. C., May 8th, 1874, looking forward to an organization. Mrs. John M. Brown, wife of Bishop Brown, read a carefully prepared paper, showing that the design of the meeting was to organize a mite missionary society of the A. M. E. Church for the evangelization of the world, especially of the island of Hayti, and to secure the co-operation of the sisters in carrying forward the work. On
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MRS. M. S. C. BECKETT Corresponding Secretary W. P. M. M. Society.
nomination of Mrs. Wayman, Mrs. Mary A. Campbell was chosen as president, and Mrs. C. M. Burley, wife of the financial secretary, was chosen secretary, and it was decided that a convention would be called to meet August 14, 1874, in Pittsburgh, Penna., which was afterward changed to Philadelphia. Pursuant to a call by Bishops Shorter, Campbell and Brown and Mrs. Mary A. Campbell, Mrs. Maria Shorter, Mrs. M. L. Brown and Mrs. C. M. Burley, the above named, with other earnest workers, namely, Miss Elizabeth Parker, Miss Nettie Wilmer, Mrs. Caroline Gould, Mrs. C. C. Cuff, Wm. Early, Grace P. Offer, Rebecca Aldridge, Mrs. Still, Mrs. L. Nears, Mrs. Rebecca Simpson, Mrs. Hann, Mrs. E. Rawls, Miss Esther Armstrong, Miss Patience Johnson, met in Bethel church, Philadelphia, August 11, 1874. In their address to the Church in general, published in the Christian Recorder of May 21, 1874, they say, "We have been deeply moved by an open letter asking co-operation with the Board of Missions of the A. M. E. Church in its efforts to evangelize the world." Bishop Shorter opened the convention. Bishop Campbell told of the object of the work and "The Parent Mite Missionary Society" was organized that day with the following officers: Mrs. M. A. Campbell, president; Mrs. C. M. Burley, recording secretary; Mrs. J. H. Hunter, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Bishop Wayman, treasurer. It was resolved that there should be an auxiliary mite missionary society organized in each church to aid in pushing forward this good work. The first work taken up was the responsibility for a portion of the expenses of a missionary to Hayti, provided a suitable person could be found. Rev. C. W. Mossell with holy zeal for the cause, and his young, self-sacrificing wife, and beloved sister, Miss Alverta, took up the work which had been begun by our fathers over fifty years before, and in the spring of 1879 they sailed from New York for Port-au-Prince, Hayti. There amid opposition they succeeded in organizing a new mission, planting a mission Sunday school in which both the French and English languages in their elementary forms were taught. Sister Mossell was placed at the head of this school and managed it with skill. The Parent Society, with its auxiliaries, assisted greatly in defraying the expenses, both by money, boxes, etc. Rev. Mossell and family spent eight years in Port-au-Prince, Hayti, in which time they built up a work. He was succeeded by Rev. S. George Dorce, then recently graduated from Wilberforce, and a native Haytian. After several years of service Rev. Dorce was succeeded by Rev. John Hurst, also a native, and educated at Wilberforce, who did excellent work. Later, Rev. S. P. Hood succeeded to the work with larger experience. In his report to the first convention in 1895 he says: "Rev. Solomon G. Dorce and Rev. John Hurst are the fruit of Dr. C. W. and Mrs. Mossell, whose touches of her Christian hand and the whole of her lovely spirit still linger there. They were sustained by letters of sympathy, prayers and money in times of distress by the Woman's Parent Mite Missionary Society, and thus established a firm basis." Bishop Payne in his history informs us of Hon. H. C. C. Astwood, Consul to represent the United States at San Domingo. He says: "This generous man revived our mission
at his own expense. Being a member of the A. M. E. Church in the United States he did not allow the honors with which he was clad to cause him to forget his allegiance to the Lord of Lords. He went in search of his brethren, gathered them together, hired a house for two years, in the meantime repaired the old chapel. He increased the membership, organized a day and Sabbath School, furnished a hundred comfortable seats. . . . " When Rev. James M. Townsend became missionary secretary, aided by the Parent Woman's Mite Missionary Society, a beautiful church, the only Protestant church in the oldest city of the new world, was erected.
In 1887 Bishop R. H. Cain appointed Rev. J. R. Frederick to Freetown, Sierre Leone. He and his wife were given a farewell in Bethel church, Philadelphia, with $325 from the Parent Women's Mite Missionary Society. He was supported there for years by the society. In 1888 Sister Sarah Gorham, of Boston, Mass., felt called to go to Africa and join
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE W. P. M. MISSIONARY SOCIETY, DETROIT, MICH., 1915.
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GROUP OF DELEGATES TO THE W. P. M. M. SOCIETY CONVENTION, DETROIT, MICH.
hands with Rev. Frederick. With the aid of native preachers she established a church and school, which was unfortunately destroyed by fire. The W. P. M. M. sent $200 to assist in rebuilding it. In 1891 Sister Gorham returned home, thinking to get funds to do more effectual work. She identified herself with the W. P. M. M. and was helped financially. They pledged her $100 a year on her support, but before she accomplished her work here she was called from labor to reward. But the mission school was rebuilt and repaired under the presiding elder, Rev. H. M. Steady, by the W. P. M. M. at the cost of $500.
Our work in South Africa received new inspiration by a visit from Bishop Turner, and under the superintendency of Bishop L. J. Coppin and Mrs. Fanny Jackson Coppin, and later of Bishop L. J. Coppin and Mrs. Fanny Jackson Coppin, and later of Bishop J. A. Johnson, the work in South Africa has been aided by the W. P. M. M. Society In August, 1874, the Pittsburgh Woman's Parent Mite Missionary Society was organized by Bishop James A. Shorter, with Mrs. Mary E. Murray, Mrs. Eliza Page, Mrs. F. J. Coppin, Bishop D. A. Payne, Dr. John W. Gazaway, Mrs. Rebecca Aldridge, Sara Early, Mrs. Grace P. Offer and Dr. Bundy. The officers who have served the W. P. M. M. Society (as near as can be ascertained) have been as follows: Officers elected for 1874-8, president, Mrs. Mary A. Campbell; Mrs. Harriet Wayman, treasurer; Mrs. C. M. Burley, secretary. Officers elected for 1878-82, president, Mrs. Harriet Wayman; Mrs. Mary A. Campbell, treasurer; Mrs. C. M. Burley, secretary. In 1883-88, president, Mrs. Fanny J. Coppin; vice-presidents, Mrs. Sarah E. Tanner, acting; Mrs. Bishop D. A. Payne, Mrs. A. W. Wayman, Mrs. J. M. Brown, Mrs. H. M. Turner, Mrs. W. F. Dickerson, Mrs. R. H. Cain; recording secretary, Mrs. Katie S. Beckett; corresponding secretary, Miss Esther Armstrong, Wilmington, Del.; treasurer, Mrs. Mary A. Campbell. Elected Nov. 6, 1888-92, president, Mrs. F. J. Coppin; vice presidents,
Mrs. Bishop B. T. Tanner, Mrs. Bishop D. A. Payne, Mrs. Bishop A. W. Wayman, Mrs. Bishop J. M. Brown, Mrs. Bishop H. M. Turner, Mrs. Bishop W. F. Dickerson, Mrs. Bishop R. H. Cain, Mrs. Bishop W. J. Gaines, Mrs. Bishop B. W. Arnett, Mrs. Bishop A. Grant; recording secretary, Mrs. E. E. Buckner; assistant, Mrs. J. D. Heard; corresponding secretary, Mrs. A. M. Shaffer; assistant, Mrs. Ida M. Yeocum; treasurer, Mrs. M. A. Campbell. Elected November 1st, 1892-5, president, Mrs. Bertha Cook; vice-presidents, Mrs. B. T. Tanner, Mrs. A. W. Wayman, Mrs. J. M. Brown, Mrs. W. F. Dickerson, Mrs. R. H. Cain, Mrs. B. W. Arnett, Mrs. W. J. Gaines, Mrs. A. Grant, Mrs. R. R. Disney, Mrs. J. A. Handy,
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MRS. CARRIE C. CUFF Prominent in W. P. M. M. Society Circles.
Mrs. M. B. Salter; recording secretary, Mrs. Ida M. Yeocum; assistant, Mrs. Minnie Johnson; corresponding secretary, Mrs. A. M. Shaffer; assistant, Mrs. Carrie Gould Rumsey; treasurer, Mrs. Mary A. Campbell. Officers for 1895 (first convention held in Bethel church, Philadelphia, Pa., November, 1895): President, Mrs. Sarah E. Tanner; vice-presidents, Mrs. Martha Turner, Mrs. Harriet A. Wayman, Mrs. Sara J. Early, Mrs. G. T. Radcliffe, Mrs. Josephine Baltimore; secretary Mrs. S. J. Anderson; first assistant secretary, Mrs. Isabel Temple; second assistant secretary, Mrs. M. S. C. Bockett; recording secretary, Mrs. Ida M. Yeocum; assistant recording secretary, Mrs. D. S. Bentley; treasurer, Mrs. Mary A. Campbell; assistant treasurer, Mrs. Grace Offer. Officers for W. P. M. M. S., 1895-1899. Acting president, Mrs. S. E. Tanner and Mrs. F. J. Coppin; vice-presidents, Mrs. Harriet Wayman, Mrs. Mary A. Campbell, Mrs. Mary L. Brown, Mrs. M. L. Arnett, Mrs. M. E. Lee, Mrs. H. M. Turner, Mrs. J. A. Handy, Mrs. M. B. Salter, Mrs. W. J. Gaines, Mrs. A. Grant, Mrs. I. Dickerson; recording secretary, Mrs. Ida M. Yeocum; assistant recording secretary, Mrs. Minnie S. Johnson; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Mary E. Wilmer; assistant corresponding secretary, Mrs. Belle T. Temple; treasurer, Mrs. Mary A. Campbell; executive board, Mrs. S. E. Tanner, Mrs. F. J. Coppin, Mrs. I. M. Yeocum, Mrs. M. E. Wilmer, Mrs. A. M. Shaffer, Mrs. M. A. Sampson. Minute for 1899-(cannot be found). Officers 1903 of first quadrennial convention, held at Pittsburgh. Mrs Lillian Derrick, president; Mrs. Carrie C. Cuff, first vice-president; Mrs. Isabel T. Temple, second vice-president; Mrs. Ida M. Yeocum, secretary; Mrs. Mary A. Sampson, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Mary A. Campbell, treasurer; Miss Mamie S. Beckett, assistant treasurer; Benjamin W. Arnett, presiding bishop; Rev. I. S. Lee, pastor; Mrs. Ida M. Yeocum, compiler. Officers W. P. M. S., 1903-1907, president, Mrs. Malvina Mitchell; first vice-president, Mrs. Grace P. Offer; second vice-president, Miss Kate W. Telfair; third vice-president, Mrs. J. A. Davis; fourth vice-president, Mrs. Dorcas Watson; fifth vice-president, Mrs. I. D. Jones; secretary, Mrs. Ida M. Yeocum; assistant secretary, Miss Mamie S. Beckett; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Mary S. C. Beckett; assistant corresponding secretary, Mrs. M. D. Hunt; treasurer, Mrs. M. A.
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THE LATE MRS. SARAH E. TANNER For many years active in the W. P. M. M. Society
Campbell; field agent, Mrs. Rosa Johnson. Officers for convention, November, 1907, Baltimore, Md.: Mrs. Carrie Cuff, M. Yoecum, secretary; Mrs. M. S. C. Beckett, corresponding president; Mrs. Isabel Temple, first vice-president; Mrs. I. secretary; Mrs. Sarah E. Tanner, treasurer; Rev. D. G. Hill, pastor; Rt. Rev. W. J. Gaines, presiding bishop. Publication Committee: Mrs. Ida M. Yeocum, Mrs. M. S. C. Beckett, Mrs. E. J. Roberts. Officers of the W. P. M. M., 1907-1911, president, Mrs. Mary F. Handy, Baltimore, Md.; first vice-president; Mrs. Rosa Johnson, Ohio; second vice president, Mrs. Grace Offer, Pennsylvania; recording secretary, Mrs. Dovie K. Clarke, Ohio; assistant secretary, Miss Clara V. Davis, Pennsylvania; corresponding secretary, Mary S. C. Beckett, Philadelphia; assistant corresponding secretary, Mrs. Martha D. Hunt, Virginia; treasurer, Mrs. Sarah E. Tanner,
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THE LATE MRS. FANNY J. COPPIN For many years active in the W. P. M. M. Society
Pennsylvania; executive board, Mrs. Emma Ransom, New York; Mrs. E. E. Braxton, Kansas; Mrs. M. P. Hill, Baltimore; honorary members, Mrs. I. M. Yeocum, Mrs. Carrie C. Cuff. Officers of the W. P. M. M. S., 1911-1915, president, Mrs. Mary F. Handy, Baltimore; first vice-president. Mrs. Rosa Johnson, Ohio; second vice-president, Mrs. Isabel T. Temple, Pittsburgh; recording secretary, Mrs. Dovie K. Clarke, Kentucky; assistant recording secretary, Mrs. Jennie E. Day, Virginia; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Mary S. C. Beckett, Pennsylvania; assistant corresponding secretary,
Mrs. Mary Henderson, Ontario; treasurer, Mrs. Mary E. Lee, Wilberforce, Ohio; additional members of executive board are Mrs. Emma Ransom, Mrs. E. E. Braxton, Mrs. Nora Taylor; honorary members, Mrs. Ida M. Yeocum; Mrs. Carrie C. Cuff, Mrs. Grace P. Offer, Mrs. Christine H. Thomas. Officers elected, 1915-19, Detroit, Mich., president, Mrs. M. F. Handy, 1341 North Carey street, Baltimore, Md.; first vice-president, Mrs. Rosa Johnson, 10504 Arthur avenue, Cleveland, Ohio; second vice-president and second assistant corresponding secretary, Mrs. E. L. Stepteau, 1444 Q street, Washington, D. C.; recording secretary, Mrs. Dovie K. Clarke, Wilberforce, Ohio; assistant secretary, Jennie E. Day, 714 A avenue, Norfolk, Va.; corresponding secretary, Mary S. Chase Beckett, Holmesburg, Pa.; assistant corresponding secretary, Mrs. Mary Henderson, 698 Ontario street, Toronto, Canada; treasurer, Mrs. K. B. Hurst; juvenile superintendents, Mrs. Christine Smith, 31 Alexandrine avenue, East Detroit, Mich.; Mrs. Ophelia Lawrence, Glen Cove, N. Y.; executive board, additional members, Mrs. Emma Ransom, New York; Mrs. Ella Braxton, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Mrs. Nora Taylor, Chicago, Ill.; honorary members, Mrs. Carrie C. Cuff, Philadelphia, Pa.; Mrs. Ida M. Yeocum, Philadelphia, Pa.; Mrs. Grace P. Offer, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Mrs. M. E. Lee, Wilberforce, Ohio; Mrs. C. H. Thomas, Cambridge, Mass.
Baltimore Conference Branch of the W. M. M. Society, The, was organized October 14, 1896, at Annapolis, Mr., by Bishop Handy. His wife, Mrs. Mary F. Handy, became its first president and served four years, her administration being considered one of the best in the history of the branch. In 1900 she was succeeded by Mrs. Mary E. Lee, wife of Bishop Lee, the law being that the wife of the bishop should be president of the branch. Mrs. Lee being at Wilberforce,
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MRS. M. P. HILL Former President Baltimore Conference Branch W. M. M. Society.
Ohio, Mrs. Ruth M. Collett, the vice-president, acted in her stead, and her administration was attended with great success. In 1904, Mrs. Julia Gaines, wife of Bishop Gaines, became the president, and Mrs. Julia R. Coston, of Hagerstown, Md., was elected vice-president and served one year. Mrs. Margaret P. Hill, of Baltimore, became her successor and served successfully the balance of the quadrennium. When Bishop Coppin came to the second district in 1908, his wife, Mrs. Fanny J. Coppin, being in feeble health, at her request, Mrs. Hill was elected president, and was succeeded by Mrs. Annie Welch, of Washington, D. C., who held the office for four years. Mrs. L. M. Beckett, of Washington, D. C., was elected president in 1914, and is at this date serving her second year as president. During the nineteen years of the existence of the branch it has collected and expanded for the sacred cause of missions, $12,498.97.
Chicago Conference Branch of the W. M. M. S., The, was formed August 10th, 1884, Bishop J. M. Brown presiding at the session of the conference, in Keokuk, Ia. The following were present: Mrs. Dove, Cheek, Alexander; Mrs. Williams, of Galesburg; Mrs. George Shaffer, of Chicago. Mrs. Dove was elected president; Mrs. Clark, vice-president; Mrs. Shaffer, secretary; Mrs. J. W. Malone, treasurer, and Mesdames T. Trevan, Emma Alexander, Josie Myers, Margaret Laws, Rachel Jacobs, Jane Shepherd, Nellie Williams and Martha Woodward, members of the board of directors. Bishop Brown instructed the society to collect and bring monies to the conference each year; total missionary money that year, $4.05. In 1885 Sister Dove was not present, and Mrs. Jacobs was elected president. During the years 1886-87 Sister Jacobs was a great sufferer, but she collected and sent to the conference $16; the grand total for 1887, $40. Sister Jacobs died in 1887 and Sister Reynolds was elected and remained president until her husband was transferred. In 1891, total cash from all sources was $102.13. Sister M. C. Malone was elected president in 1894 and remained in office until 1907, at which time Mrs. Bell Graves was elected. Bishop Grant organized the women in conference form June 25th, 1901. In 1904 the amount reported was $800. During the administration of Mrs. Graves the amounts collected reached $1000. At Galesburg, Ia., in 1912, the conference decided that they could do better work holding their convention separate from the annual conference, hence in July, 1913, the convention met in Ottumwa, Ia. Mrs. Lida E. Stewart, B.S., was elected president. The largest amount ever reported collected was over $1500. In 1915, $725 was sent to both treasurers, a balance left in the branch treasury of $57, the total for the year being $1507. The Chicago conference branch holds the first banner from the parent Mite Society and also the banner of the fourth Episcopal district, the gift of Mrs. C. T. Shaffer. The officers are: president, Mrs. L. E. Stewart, Evanston, Ill.; secretary, Mrs. M. Bell; treasurer, Mrs. Nora F. Taylor.
New England Conference Branch, W. M. M. S.--Mrs. Sarah Gorham was the pioneer of the woman's missionary work in New England. Three different times she visited Africa and was instrumental in securing money from the women of New Bedford, Mass., which built the first boat owned by our missionaries in Sierra Leone Mission, Africa; $234.84 was sent by her request to Rev. J. R. Fredericks, at Howe Station, Freetown, West Coast, Africa, and the mission boat was built in 1893 and named the "City of New Bedford." The women of Charles Street A. M. E. Church, Boston, Mass., where she was a member, did much to help Mrs. Gorham in securing money and clothing, etc., for her work in Africa. In March, 1900, Bishop Abraham Grant organized the New England Conference Branch of the Woman's
Mite Missionary Society in Charles Street A. M. E. Church, Boston, Mass., Mrs. Christine H. Thomas being elected its first president. Mrs. Thomas, who is now the honorary president, gave twelve years of good, faithful service to the work, and it is due to her untiring efforts that
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MISS E. C. CARTER Of New Bedford, Present President of New England Conference Branch.
the conference branch has been kept active. Mrs. Venus Clark served as president in Mrs. Thomas' absence, and in 1913 Miss Elizabeth C. Carter, of New Bedford, Mass., was unanimously elected to succeed Mrs. Thomas as president. While this is one of the smallest conference branches, yet
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MRS. W. H. THOMAS First President of New England Conference Branch.
MRS. VENUS CLARK Second President, New England Conference Branch.
the women are ever ready to do their part for the cause of missions. The officials are, honorary president, Mrs. C. H. Thomas, Cambridge, Mass.; president, Miss Elizabeth C. Carter, New Bedford, Mass.; first vice-president, Miss S. Ella Wilson, Worcester, Mass.; second vice-president, Miss Phillis Howard, Boston, Mass.; secretary, Mrs. Harriette T. Jones, Boston, Mass.; assistant secretary, Miss L. B. Carter, Newport, R. I.; treasurer, Mrs. Martha Mitchell, Saunderstown, R. I.
New Jersey Conference Branch W. M. M. S.--At the request of the New Jersey conference branch of the Mite Missionary Society the following is furnished by Mrs. H. C. Ashley, the first president. "During the summer of 1896 a committee consisting of Mesdames M. A. Campbell, Fanny J. Coppin, T. W. Henderson, Sarah E. Tanner and C. T. Shaffer, from the parent M. M. Society called on me relative to organizing the conference branch in New Jersey. They authorized me to call a meeting of the ministers' wives and the women of our Connection in New Jersey and organize them into a conference branch of the M. M. Society. Therefore, on the first Monday evening in October, 1896, in Macedonia Church, Camden, N. J., I organized the New Jersey conference branch of the M. M. Society, being assisted by Mrs. Clementine Christmas and the late Mrs. Emma Robinson. At the annual meeting of the parent M. M. Society in Bethel Church, Philadelphia. November, 1896, we were set apart by Bishops Grant and Turner. The first officers were, president, Mrs. M. A. Ashley; first vice-president, Mrs. Mary E. Stevenson; second vice-president, Mrs. Emma Robinson; third vice-president, Mrs. Clementina Christmas; recording secretary, Mrs. Mary Merrill; assistant recording secretary, Mrs. Clementina Rice; corresponding secretary, Miss Ida M. Ashley; treasurer, Mrs. Sarah J. Johnson." In 1901 Rev. Ashley was transferred to the Philadelphia Conference. This caused Mrs. Ashley to sever her connection with the New Jersey branch for a time, after she had served as president for five years, each year showing some increase in membership, interest and finance. Mrs. Anna L. Anderson, wife of Rev. H. P. Anderson was appointed by Bishop Derrick to fill her place. She realizing the necessity of interesting more of the women in missionary work, instituted quarterly meetings, which have been continued till the present time. She prepared programs of interest, secured women of marked
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MRS. H. E. ASHLEY First President (1896-1901), of New Jersey Conference Branch.
ability to deliver addresses, among them being Mrs. Camphor, who was in America for a rest from her missionary labors in West Africa and Mrs. Florence Randolph, one of the foremost female evangelists. During her incumbency the New Jersey conference branch did not send its forty per cent. to the Woman's Parent M. M. Society, but instead assisted Miss Hannah Gow, a young African woman, and Patrick, an African boy, who were both being educated at Wilberforce. Mrs. Anderson was New Jersey's first delegate to a quadrennial convention. In October, 1906, the annual meeting was held in Freehold, N. J. During this convention Mrs. Anderson, having served very acceptably for five years, resigned. Mrs. Clementine Christmas was elected as president in her stead, October 25th, 1906. The conference branch, during Mrs. Christmas' time as president, decided to send their monies for the future to the Woman's Parent M. M. S. and to discontinue their assistance to Patrick. The quadrennial conference met in Baltimore, in 1907, and New Jersey sent two delegates--Mrs. Clementine Christmas and Mrs. F. C. Roundtree. October 21st and 22nd, 1908, the annual meeting was held in Morristown, N. J., at which session Mrs. Fannie Colson Roundtree was elected president. She took up the work where Mrs. Christmas left off, firm in her determination to keep the programs to their former standard of excellence; also to emphasize the spiritual side. During some of the spiritual meetings souls have been convicted and converted, and the finances have steadily increased, and the literary programs have been of the best. Among the excellent speakers during the six years and a half of the presidency of Mrs. Roundtree were Mrs. M. F. Handy, Mrs. M. S. C. Beckett, Mrs. Nora Taylor, Mrs. Emma Ransom, Miss Anna Payne, Mrs. Tyree, Bishops Tyree, Tanner, Coppin and Heard, Dr. Rankin and others. At the meeting of the annual conference in Atlantic City, 1913, the New Jersey conference branch changed the time of its annual meeting to the time of the session of the annual conference,
which has proved to be beneficial. The branch is not only aiding ministers on mission work and needy widows of deceased ministers, but is devoting much time and some means to local work, such as visiting the sick, the jails, penitentiaries
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MRS. JOSEPHINE SMITH President (since 1915) of New Jersey Conference Branch.
and hospitals, and doing much other real social work; giving food to the hungry, clothing; also assisting the local churches in many ways; one church, which is now in a thriving condition, with a growing membership, is the outcome of an auxiliary organized some years ago by Mrs. Ashley, at Riverton, N. J. Another at Seabright was materially assisted, and still others. The nineteenth annual convention held in Trenton, N. J., May 7-8, 1915, was the banner session of the branch along all lines. The officers elected are as follows: president, Mrs. R. B. Smith; first vice-president, Mrs. I. E. Showell; second vice-president, Mrs. Lillie Pierson; recording secretary, Mrs. L. E. Moore; corresponding secretary, Mrs. D. J. Brown; treasurer, Mrs. J. W. Cooper. (By Mrs. H. C. Ashley and Mrs. Fannie Colson Roundtree.)
New York Conference Branch, W. M. M. S., The, was organized May 29th, 1899, in Bethel Church, Twenty-fifth street, New York, by the representatives of the several churches of the district, who assembled at the call of Bishop Grant and Dr. Parks, missionary secretary. The needs of the home field and foreign work were told by Bishop Grant. After some preliminaries the branch was formally organized, and the following officers were elected: Mrs. B. Cook, president; Mrs. Anna M. Smith, vice-president; Mrs. Annie Eato, second vice-president; Mrs. A. F. V. Johnson, secretary; Mrs. E. Williams, assistant secretary; Mrs. S. S. Brown, corresponding secretary; Mrs. A. Q. Norton, treasurer. Active prosecution of the work, however, did not begin until November 14th, 1901, when the first quarterly convention was held at Westbury, L. I., at which time four societies reported. After some several sessions it was decided that in
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MRS. MARY S. EDWARDS President New York Conference Branch.
order to more thoroughly introduce the work to the people it was best to hold the meetings quarterly. This it is believed has contributed largely to the success of the work. In the several boroughs of New York the work is in a prosperous condition. The most urgent call of the state field comes from the outlying rural districts and the suburban sections. Here the work has not reached that stage of development necessary to meet the existing needs, but in view of the interest that is being awakened by such alert and wide-awake missionary workers as now occupy the field, among whom are Mrs. Mary S. Edwards, of Albion, and Mrs. I. S. Sands, of Chatham, it is felt that the efforts being put forth in the up state field will soon be manifest by definite and tangible results. Mrs. Bertha Cook held the presidency from the organization until 1902, when Mrs. J. M. Palmer was elected and served one year. Mrs. Hedley, elected in 1903, served one year; Mrs. S. T. Tice served from 1904 to 1906. Mrs. Farierra from 1906 to 1908; Mrs. R. C. Ransom, 1908 to 1911, and Mrs. Edwards, elected in 1911, is still serving as executive officer. In order to extend the interest, the annual sessions have been held in the various sections of the state of New York--Westbury, Glen Cove, Coxsackie, Bayshore, Amityville, Albany, Babylon, Middletown and Kingston have each been visited, and it is felt that excellent impressions of the work have been made at these annual sessions.
Among those whose faithful services and untiring efforts have contributed so much toward the success were Mrs. Bertha Cook, Mrs. Jennie M. Palmer, Mrs. S. T. Tice, Mrs. Emma Ransom, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. L. D. Laws, Miss Rossa Brown, Mrs. A. F. V. Johnson, Mrs. Statia Brown, Mrs. Susie Mason, Mrs. R. J. Tatler, Mrs. Rachel Graham, Mrs. L. P. Williams, Mrs. Hester Davis Turpin, Mrs. C. V. Moore, and many others who are deserving of highest commendation. The reports show that since our organization some several thousand dollars have been raised and distributed in the home field and foreign work. The present officers are Mrs. M. E. Edwards, president; Mrs. B. A. Cole, vice-president; Mrs. I. S. Sands, second vice-president; Mrs. Hattie Gilliam, third vice-president; Miss Rossa Brown, secretary; Miss Angelina Robinson, assistant secretary; Mrs. Ophelia Lawrence, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Susie Laws, treasurer; Mrs. Sadie Battles, superintendent; Mrs. Rossa Edwards, chaplain.--By Angelina Robinson, Brooklyn.
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MRS. OPHELIA LAWRENCE Corresponding Secretary, New Nork Conference Branch.
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MRS. BERTHA BRYANT New York Conference Branch Worker.
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MRS. C. P. COLE Vice President, New York Conference Branch.
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MRS. L. D. LAWS Treasurer, New York Conference Branch.
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MRS. C. E. WILSON Member Executive Committee, N. Y. Conference Branch.
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MRS. S. BLANCHE POOLE Recording Secretary, Philadelphia Conference Branch.
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MRS. S. E. HOXTER Treasurer, Philadelphia Conference Branch.
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MRS. M. I. HOPKINS First Vice President, Philadelphia Conference Branch.
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MRS. JENNIE M. PALMER Former President Phila. Conference Branch.
Philadelphia Conference Branch of W.M.M. Society.--In 1895 Fanny J. Coppin, at the first connectional convention of the Women's Parent Mite Missionary Society held at Bethel church, Philadelphia, made an address, the outcome of which was the formation of the conference branches. On July 7, 1896, the Philadelphia conference branch was temporarily organized by the Parent Mite Missionary Society, sometimes called the Parent, with ten members, and was permanently organized by Bishop James A. Handy in Mother Bethel church, Philadelphia, November 6, of the same year, with Mrs. A. D. Jones as first president. Miss Nettie Wilmer, Mrs. Lucy Hubert, Mrs. J. C. Brock, as vice-presidents; Miss Clara V. Davis and Mrs. H. H. Cooper, recording secretaries; Mrs. Josie D. Heard and Mrs. Anna Patterson, corresponding secretaries; Mrs. Lizzie Parker, treasurer, and Mrs. Isabel Temple, Mrs. Mary Campbell, Mrs. C. C. Cuff, Mrs. Rachel Smith, Mrs. Sarah Ford, Mrs. Sarah Riddicks, Mrs. Mary Harris, Mrs. Jennie Palmer, Miss Anna B. Payne and Mrs. Mary Wilmer as members. At the first annual meeting, held in Bethel church in 1897, there were sixty-eight members. At the second annual meeting, held in Bethel church, Bristol, October 25, 1898, a communication was read from Mrs. Myers, of Jacksonville, Florida, asking aid as the whole city was in distress. Aid was given. The first dollar was paid by Mrs. Sarah S. Ford. Mrs. Heard dedicated a poem to the Philadelphia Conference Branch entitled "Lend A. Hand." Mrs. R. J. Smith, of Allen, Philadelphia, donated a Bible for the African work. Rev. W. H. Heard also sent a request asking for a donation to get a carpet for his pulpit altar in Africa, which was granted. This convention elected Mrs. J. C. Cottman as president; Mesdames Ella Redman, Lottie Johnson, Clara Pierce, as vice-presidents; Clara V. Davis and A. B. Payne, recording secretaries; Mesdames J. D. Heard, J. M. Palmer, corresponding secretaries; Miss Lizzie Parker, treasurer. Five persons joined at this time. The third annual meeting was held at Union A. M. E. Church. Philadelphia, October 24, 1899. Eleven new auxiliaries had been added, making a total of thirty-four auxiliaries. Bishop A. Grant installed the officers: Mrs. Jennie Palmer, president; Mrs. Mary Gilmore, Lottie Johnson and Sarah Butler, vice-presidents; Ariana Gould and Mamie Beckett, recording secretaries; Mrs. J. D. Heard and S. M. Lewis, as corresponding secretaries; Miss A. B. Payne, treasurer, and Mrs. Mary Harris, field organizer. Mrs. Harris was the real cause of the increase. The first reporter for the missionary columns of the Christian Recorder was Mrs. J. D. Heard. The fourth convention was held at Allen A. M. E. Church, Philadelphia, October 23, 1900. The new features were the organization of juvenile societies and the plate system in the Churches. Mrs. Fanny Coppin, Mrs. Sarah E. Tanner and Mrs. Lillian Derrick addressed the meeting. Mrs. Palmer was re-elected by acclamation with the same officers. The fifth convention was held in Reading, October 23, 1901. Miss Hallie Q. Brown, of Wilberforce, made an address; Mrs. Statia Brown came from the New York Conference Branch as the fraternal delegate, bearing resolutions with reference to a First Episcopal District missionary paper. Mrs. Ida M. Yeocum was elected president; Mesdames Anna Gilmore, Emma J. Roberts, vice-presidents; Ariana Gould and Clara Harrison, recording secretaries; Mary E. Glover, corresponding secretary; Clara Davis, assistant; A. B. Payne, treasurer. In 1902 the sixth convention met in Campbell A. M. E. church, Frankford. Mrs. Yeocum recommended the loaves of bread for a special fund for the expenses of the branch. The first loaves were sold by the Florida Grant Society, of Allen, Mrs. Emma J. Robert, president. She also recommended the Mary A. Campbell birthday celebration. This year the First District convention was held at Newark, N. J., Dr. H. P. Anderson, pastor. Mrs. A. D. Jones, Mrs. I. M. Yeocum. Mrs. Emma J. Roberts, Mrs. B. Temple, Miss Anna B. Payne were the Philadelphia Branch delegates. At this conference branch meeting Miss A. B. Payne was elected organizer and Mrs. J. Robbins, treasurer. This year, after the quadrennial convention at Pittsburgh, quarterly meetings were inaugurated and entertained by the Florida Grant Auxiliaries of Allen church, Mrs. Emma J. Roberts, president, and Mrs. Rachel Smith, vice-president. The seventh convention was held at Darby, October 23, 1903; eighteen ministers were assisted from $5 to $20 each and many donations were given to the sick from the mite boxes through committee No. 1 with Mrs. R. J. Smith, chairman. Mrs. A. D. Jones, the first president, had started a little A. M. E. Church in her yard at Elmwood and the conference branch donated twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first chairs and the first books. It is now self-supporting. In the year of 1904 the eighth convention at Wilmington, Del., was held, at which Bishop Arnett, Mrs. Amanda Smith and Mrs. F. J. Coppin spoke. The first reporter to the daily papers at this meeting was appointed. Mrs. E. J. Roberts was elected president and Mrs. S. B. Edwards, first vice-president. In 1905 the ninth convention was held October 19-21, at Harrisburg. Attention was called that missionary moneys were being used contrary to law. Resolutions on this matter were presented by the following committee: Miss A. B. Payne, Mrs. A. D. Jones, Mary Mitchell, Blanche Poole, E. J. Roberts. The Mary J. Campbell special fund, inaugurated by Mrs. Yeocum, was now bearing the expenses of the conference branch. Mrs. Lydia Riner was made the treasurer. This convention closed with the following officers: Mrs. Emma J. Roberts, president; Mrs. M. E. Glover and Mrs. Victoria Mills, vice-presidents; Mrs. H. H. Cooper and Miss Dora Eddicks, recording secretaries; Mrs. Statia Brown, corresponding secretary; Miss A. B. Payne, field agent; Mrs. Jemima Robbins, treasurer. The tenth convention was held at Mt. Olive church, Philadelphia, October 24th and 25th, 1906. The new features of this convention was the observing of the children's hour and the first organizers. The general superintendent of the juvenile work was elected in the person of Mrs. Mary E. Glover. Mrs. A. W. Blackwell, the bishop's wife, of the A. M. E. Zion Church, was present and spoke on the care and training of children. As Mrs. Emma J. Roberts and Mrs. Statia Brown would not allow their names to be used for re-election, Mrs. V. H. Mills was elected president; Miss Clara V. Davis and Mrs. Jennie M. Palmer, vice-presidents; Mrs. H. H. Cooper and Mrs. Dora Eddicks, recording secretaries; Mrs. M. E. Glover and Miss Jennie Freeman, corresponding secretaries; Mrs. Sadie Hoxter, treasurer; Mrs. Lydia Riner, treasurer special fund. The next convention was held at West Chester October 24-25, 1907. From the president's annual address we learned that every debt had been paid from the special fund without touching one cent of the auxiliary money. Miss A. B. Payne, Mrs. Sadie Hoxter, Mrs. H. H. Cooper were elected delegates to the quadrennial convention at Chicago October 21-22, 1908. The eleventh convention met at Pisgah, Philadelphia. Mrs. Cooper, for the conference, presented Miss A. B. Payne with a gold cross. An excellent report was rendered by the juvenile superintendent, Mrs. Mary A. Glover. The following officers were elected by acclamation: Mrs. H. H. Cooper, president; Miss Clara V. Davis and Mrs. A. Gould, vice-presidents; Miss Dora Eddicks and Mrs. Jennie Freeman, secretaries; Mrs. Mary Glover, corresponding secretary; Miss Jennie Palmer and Miss Payne, organizers. In 1908 the twelfth convention met at Germantown and was interesting spiritually, financially and socially. Many prayers were offered for our corresponding secretary, Mrs. M. E. Glover, who was ill. The thirteenth convention was held at Wilmington, Del., in 1910. It was recommended to purchase from the special fund a silk banner to be given the auxiliary raising the largest amount of money quarterly. During this quarter Mrs. E. J. Roberts served as corresponding secretary. During this time death took away the following: Sisters Mary E. Glover, corresponding secretary, and superintendent of the juvenile workers, January 25; Mary A. Campbell, January 19; Arianna Gould, December 3. The 14th convention was held at Mt. Olive A. M. E. Church with the Young Women's Christian Association. Mrs. Pauline Jackson, one of the prime workers in the movement, was introduced and spoke of the young women being brought to the front, supported and led by the aid and council of the older women. Mrs. A. W. Hunton, Mrs. Anna Blackwell also brought greetings. Mrs. H. H. Cooper presented the conference branch with a song, entitled "Lead Me and Keep Me." The new officers were Mrs. Blanche Poole and Miss Ella Cummings as recording secretaries; Miss Olivia Hooper and Mrs. S. B. Edwards as corresponding secretaries; Miss Ella Whittaker, as superintendent of juveniles. The fifteenth convention was held at Phoenixville. After all the committees had been appointed the president, Mrs. Cooper, begged the committee not to use her name for any office whatever, as her health would not permit her to do any active work. Miss Clara Davis asked to be relieved from active service. Mrs. Emma J. Roberts, who had served two years as second vice-president, three years as first vice-president, and two years as president, was again elected president for the second time. Mrs. M. I. Hopkins, Mary Stansberry, vice-presidents; Blanche Poole and Mattie Reed as recording secretaries; Statia Brown Edwards and Miss Olivia Hooper, corresponding secretaries; Mrs. Sadie Hoxter, treasurer; Miss A. B. Payne and Mrs. L.
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MRS. R. J. SMITH Phila. Conference Branch.
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MRS. I. D. JONES First President of Philadelphia Conference Branch.
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MRS. A. M. BUCKLEY Phila. Conference Branch.
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MRS. ELIZABETH BYRD Phila. Conference Branch.
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MRS. STATIA B. EDWARDS Cor. Secretary, Philadelphia Conference Branch.
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MRS. E. RAWLES Phila. Conference Branch.
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MRS. PAULINE HAYDEN Member Executive Committee, Phila. Conference Branch.
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MRS. MARY STANSBERRY Second Vice President, Philadelphia Conference Branch.
C. Waters, organizer; Miss Carrie Sumby as juvenile superintendent. The sixteenth convention was held at Mt. Pisgah church, Philadelphia, October, 1912, and was visited by Mrs. Amanda Smith. Under the presidency of Mrs. Roberts the organization increased in membership and in activities; a quilt made of silk squares by a committee was exhibited at the Emancipation Celebration Exposition in Philadelphia September, 1913, after which it was presented to Mrs. Roberts by the conference branch. Among the new things inaugurated by our president were the ushers' association. the annual sermon, the annual outings, reception and reunion, committee on ways and means, sewing circle, emergency committee, flower committee and African committee, and the monthly vesper service at the Y. W. C. A. Mrs. F. J. Coppin, Fannie A. Davis and Caroline Gould and Rev. M. C. Brooks died during the year. At the eighteenth session, held at Ward church, 46th and Fairmount avenue, Mrs. M. E. Parker, of the Asbury, Chester, auxiliary, presented the branch with a silk banner for the auxiliary raising the largest amount of money. Delegates were elected to the Northeastern Federation of Women's Clubs to meet in Philadelphia July, 1915; also to attend the quadrennial convention at Detroit,
Michigan, October, 1915. The latter were Mrs. E. J. Roberts, Clara V. Davis, Jennie M. Palmer, Mary M. Cooper, S. Blanche Poole, Statia Brown Edwards; Miss A. B. Payne, Mrs. Louisa Robinson, Mrs. Eliza Lane, Amanda Dorsey, Mary Anderson, Elizabeth Byrd, Sidney Smith, Mrs. A. B. Clark, Mrs. Mary Anderson, Mrs. L. C. Waters, Mrs. Nellie Shorts, Mrs. Sadie Hoxter, Mrs. Mattie Reed, Mistress Bishop Handy, president of the Parent Mite Missionary Society, was present during the session and assisted in presiding. Historical committee: Mrs. H. H. Cooper, chairman; Mrs. Jennie M. Palmer, Miss Anna B. Payne, Miss Clara V. Davis, Mrs. Statia B. Edwards, Mrs. I. M. Yeocum, Mrs. S. Blanche Poole.
Virginia Conference Branch, The, W. M. M. S., was organized at Wytheville, Va., April 12, 1897, by the secretary of missions, Rev. H. B. Parks, at the session of the Virginia annual conference. The first officers were: district president by virtue of position, Mrs. Mary F. Handy; state president, Mrs. Carrie J. Bolden; secretary, Mrs. Minnie L. Gaines; treasurer, Mrs. M. Williams. This organization met annually with the Virginia conference until Bishop Lee called a meeting at Richmond, November 9, 1900. At this meeting a resolution passed divorcing the time of meeting of the missionary society from the annual conference session to be held at Roanoke, Va., April, 1901. The date of meeting was fixed for the latter part of September or first of October in each year. In 1901 under the new organization as a conference branch the following officers were elected: state president, Mrs. Minnie L. Gaines; state secretary, Mrs. Mary A. Cooke; state treasurer, Mrs. Carrie Williams. From this organization missionary societies have sprung up in the A.
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MRS. JENNIE E. DAY President Virginia Conference Branch.
M. E. Churches of almost every town and city, and even in many rural districts of the Old Dominion. At the organization of this body of women, each pastor's wife was made by virtue of her position, the standing president of her local society. Mass meetings have been organized in the various districts of the state to disseminate information and to create greater enthusiasm for the mission work. In the tidewater section of Virginia mass meetings were first organized September 24, 1905, in Emanuel church, Portsmouth, with Mrs. Fannie Reynolds, president; Mrs. Nannie Morris, secretary. The first mass meeting on Eastern Shore, Va., was organized December 8, 1906, in Bethel church, Eastville, by the state president, Mrs. M. D. Hunt, assisted by Miss Mary E. Nottingham, Mrs. M. J. Ewer, together with the presidents of Bridgetown, Capeville and Trehernesville churches. Later mass meetings were organized in the Roanoke and Richmond districts. Not only adults are organized, but children are engaged in this work and juvenile societies exist in the state, under the supervision of a senior superintendent. Total number of members in local societies is 1339. The money raised for home and foreign work has been as follows: 1902, $500.87; 1903, $409.43; 1904, $459.14; 1905, $755.00 1906, $790.83; 1907, $809.18; 1908, $415.34; 1909, $687.15; 1910, $558.20; 1911, $603.18; 1912, $834,31; 1913, $785.84; 1914, $787.44; 1915 to September 1, $682.55. Grand total for home and foreign fields, $9,078.84. Besides the above amount, which was raised for mission pastors in the home fields and missionaries in the foreign fields, hundreds of dollars have been raised for special and contingent purposes, such as doing regular missionary work in immediate localities in visiting and caring for the sick and needy, giving them financial aid, imparting words of comfort and cheer, and persuading the lost to seek Christ. Money raised for all purposes as reported to the parent body while in quadrennial session in Pittsburgh, 1903, $642.38; in Baltimore, 1908, $2,896.79; in Chicago, 1911, $3,314.80; in Detroit, 1915, $6,145.20; grand total, $13,999.17. Since organization the following persons have faithfully served as officers: presidents Mesdames Minnie L. Gaines, Sarah Augustus, Fannie Reynolds, Martha D. Hunt, Hattie Johnson, M. J. C. Nottingham, Jennie Jackson Day; recording secretaries, Mesdames Mary Cooke, M. P. Mackey, Mary Haywood, Anna H. Davis, A. E. Bowden; corresponding secretaries, Flora A. Barber, Grace Julkins-Fisher, Martha D. Hunt, Jennie Jackson Day, Josephine M. Norcom; treasurers, Mesdames Carrie G. Williams and Fannie Reynolds. The present officers (1915) are: president, Mrs. Jennie Jackson Day, Norfolk, Va.; first vice-president, Kate T. Boland, Roanoke, Va.; second vice-president, M. E. Ross, Staunton, Va.; recording secretary, Almira E. Bowden, Norfolk,
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MRS. FANNIE REYNOLDS Treasurer Virginia Conference Branch.
Va.; assistant recording secretary, Miss Hallie Trayhan, Roanoke, Va.; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Josephine M. Norcom, Portsmouth, Va.; treasurer, Mrs. Fannie Reynolds, Portsmouth, Pa.; juvenile superintendent, Anna Harper Davis, Norfolk, Va.; executive board, Mrs. C. L. Davis, Portsmouth, Va.; Mrs. M. J. Ewer, Roanoke, Va.; Mrs. Millie Baker, Eastville, Va.; Mrs. Beula Berry, Berkley, Va.; Mrs. Lillie Cotton, Oceana, Va.
West Virginia Conference Branch, The, of the Woman's Mite Missionary Society, which was formerly a part of the Pittsburgh Conference Branch, became a separate body by re-organization at Clarksburg, West Virginia, in 1909, after the West Virginia annual conference had been set apart from the Pittsburgh conference. The meeting was called by the district missionary superintendent, Mrs. Grace Bigelow. With the assistance of a Mrs. Gracie P. Offer and Mrs. Emma Morris, of the Pittsburgh branch, and delegates from seven points in West Virginia, the organization was effected. Mrs. Belle Ellis, of Morgantown, W. Va., was elected president. Illness prevented her from carrying on the work and the vice-president, Miss Willa Lee, assumed the duties, and met with such success that she was elected president the next year, and has been re-elected each succeeding year to the present time. In 1910 the convention met in Wellsburg, W. Va. Mrs. Gay McGhee and Mrs. Emma Morris, of the Pittsburgh branch, and Mrs. Alston, of the North Ohio conference branch, gave able
assistance at this meeting. There were five societies represented by delegates. Although few in number they showed much enthusiasm and earnestness. In 1911 the convention met at Huntington, W. Va. Mrs. Matney, president of the Kentucky branch, and several other visitors came from the neighboring state. In 1912 the convention met at Morgan-town, W. Va. In 1913 the convention met at Wheeling, W. Va. The convention decided to try meeting with the conference in hope of interesting more people and so build up the society. This year fraternal delegates in Mrs. Rebecca Aldridge and Mrs. Gay McGhee, of the Pittsburgh branch, were present and assisted greatly. The society decided that separate meetings were as successful as meeting with the regular conference, so in 1914 met in Clarksburg, W. Va. Mrs. Pearl S. Smith, Huntington, W. Va., was elected superintendent of the juvenile branch, being later succeeded by Miss Gertrude Donaway. Red Star, W. Va., was the meeting place for 1915. The work showed improvement, the society being able to have minutes printed, and turned over to the conference treasurer $100, and reported $110 to be sent to the foreign treasurer, leaving a balance of $64.27 in the home treasury. Our maximum representation at annual meetings has been seven and the minimum two.--By Hannah L. Meade.
Mississippi (East) Annual Conference, The, was organized in the Pearl Street A. M. E. Church, in Jackson, Miss., November 26, 1909, Bishop Lampton presiding, with the following districts: Jackson, Dr. W. F. Dangerfield, presiding elder; Yazoo City, Dr. H. H. King, presiding elder; Durant, Dr. J. W. Williams, presiding elder; and Columbus, Rev. E. B. Dukes, presiding elder. Bishop Lampton did not live to hold its first session, but Bishop Turner held the first session at Canton in 1910. The number of presiding elders appointed at this conference were three: Jackson District, Dr. W. F. Dangerfield; Yazoo City District, Dr. H. H. King; Durant District, Rev. J. S. Butler. The second session was held at Durant, Miss., November 1-5, 1911, Bishop Turner presiding. Delegates to the general conference were elected as follows: Revs. J. W. Hair (who received every vote in the conference), H. Dean, W. F. Dangerfield and J. S. Butler; alternates, A. W. Timmons, H. H. King, C. H. Hayden and J. A. Brookins; laymen, A. J. Wade and P. H. Brookins. The three presiding elders were appointed at this conference. The total finances raised at this conference was $1,523.65. The third session was held at Lintonia, Yazoo City, Miss., November 2-6, 1912, Bishop Conner presiding; J. S. Butler, secretary. The following were appointed presiding elders: Rev. J. A. Henderson, Jackson District; Rev. H. H. King, Yazoo District; and J. S. Butler, Durant District. Finances raised at this conference was: dollar money, $1,251.75; other moneys, $141.81; total, $1,393.56. Trustees elected for Campbell College were Drs. J. W. Hair, W. F. Dangerfield and H. H. King; laymen, A. J. Wade and W. H. Hayden. J. W. Hair was elected trustee of Wilberforce University. The fourth session was at Columbus, Miss., November 19-23, 1913, Bishop Conner presiding; Rev. H. Dean, secretary. The presiding elders appointed at this conference were: Jackson District, Rev. J. W. Hair; Yazoo City District, Dr. N. B. Stewart; Durant District, Rev. J. S. Butler. Money raised at this conference by districts was $1,835.15 for all purposes. The fifth session was at Greenwood, Miss., November 18-22, 1914, with Bishop Conner presiding, and J. H. Weir secretary. The presiding elders appointed were: Jackson District, Dr. J. W. Hair; Yazoo City District, Rev. N. B. Stewart; Greenwood District, Rev. H. Dean. At this conference the Jackson District more than doubled the other two districts in its finances. Total amount of money raised, $1,235. The sixth session was held at Yazoo City, Miss., November 13-21, 1915, Bishop Conner presiding; J. H. Weir, secretary. The presiding elders appointed at this conference were: Jackson District, Revs. J. W. Hair; Yazoo District, W. T. Johnson; Greenwood District, H. Dean. The total amount raised was $1,301.51. Delegates to the Centennial General Conference were elected as follows: Revs. J. W. Hair, W. T. Johnson, H. Dean, J. A. Brookins and J. B. Curtis; laymen, S. W. Miller and D. Cox; alternates, J. S. Butler, W. M. Spencer, O. W. Galloway, C. McCrew and J. H. Kolheib, laymen, W. Chew and Foreman. J. W. Hair was elected by uannimous vote by acclamation. Prominent pastors of this conference and charges: Jackson--Dr. Hair was its pastor for five years and raised $1,110 of dollar money; Yazoo City--Dr. A. H. Mevs, for three years; Greenwood--Rev. J. S. Butler and C. M. Hayden; Columbus--Rev. L. W. Williams built a church and served two years; Rev. Lewis served two years and added 125 members to the church; Revs. J. A. Brookins, O. W. Galloway, W. H. Spencer, C. McGrew, J. W. Golden, D. D.; J. H. Kolheim, L. M. Staues; M. B. Bailey, R. D. Gearlds, J. B. Curtis, Acona Circuit. Prominent laymen are: S. W. Miller, J. S. Harney, D. Cox, W. H. Hayman, W. Chew, B. Foreman, J. M. Samples, P. J. Johnson, Shed Brookins, H. P. Phillips, L. Phillips, Hayes Phillips, S. T. Bennett.
Mississippi (North) Annual Conference, The, was organized November 15, 1877, by Bishop J. P. Campbell, Revs. A. R. Green, L. M. Mitchell and W. Robinson being secretaries. The territory included all of the territory in the State north of the Alabama and Vicksburg Railroad, which railroad was between Vicksburg, Jackson and Meridian, Miss., and Selma, Ala. There were 20 elders, among them being Thomas W. Stringer and J. C. Embry; 17 traveling deacons, 6 traveling licentiates, 8 local deacons, 5,253 full members, 709 probationers, 165 local preachers, 156 exhorters, 62 churches, 4 parsonages, 7 school houses, 90 Sunday schools, 269 Sunday-school teachers, 3,988 Sunday-school pupils. The amount of dollar money reported was $487.05; pastors' salaries, $4,854.45; presiding elders' salaries; $945.85; total for all purposes, $10,645.75. Out of the original territory of this conference have been formed most of the Central Mississippi, all of the Northeast, East and Northwest Mississippi Annual Conferences. Rev. E. W. Lampton was elected financial secretary in 1902 and 1904, and elected bishop in 1908 from this conference, and died while its presiding officer, and is buried at Greenville, within its bounds. Among other honored dead are: Revs. P. H. Ferguson, A. J. Boone, A. M. Snowden, J. L. Branford, and J. Allen Bynoes. In 1915 the number of churches in the conference was 121, ministers, 240; membership of churches, 5,675.
Missouri Annual Conference, The, formerly a part of the Indiana Annual Conference, was organized Thursday, September 13, 1855, in Quinn Chapel, Louisville, Ky., at 9
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ALLEN A. M. E. CHAPEL, KANSAS CITY, MO. Rev. W. H. Thomas, Pastor.
a. m., by Bishops Payne and Quinn. After a hymn, Bishop Payne read the tenth chapter of West's Analysis of the Holy Bible, Sections 118-120. After remarks by the bishops, on motion of Rev. W. R. Revels, Rev. John M. Brown (later bishop) was elected secretary and called the conference roll as follows: Bishops Daniel A. Payne and William P,
Quinn; Traveling Elders Willis R. Revels, Aaron M. Parker, Willis Miles, John M. Brown, Emanuel Wilkerson (absent), C. C. Daughty (absent); Traveling Deacons Bazel L. Brooks, Salem Campbell and John M. Garrow; Licentiates Levi Finley and W. H. Prince. The Missouri Conference comprised, in 1856, the States of Kentucky, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri. In this territory there are to-day (1916) 19 annual conferences--2 in Kentucky, 6 in Alabama, 2 in Louisiana, 6 in Mississippi and 3 in Missouri. The membership at the time of the organization was: traveling elder, 7; traveling deacons, 4; licentiates, 3; total, 14. The finances were: Contingent money, $67.43, which was expended at follows: Bishop Payne, on traveling expenses, $6; Bishop Quinn, $7; record book, $3; printing 100 preachers' certificates, $2.50; stationery, $1.10; the remainder of which was equally divided among the ministers to apply on traveling expenses. The total lay membership was 1698. The appointments were as follows: Stations--Quinn Chapel, Louisville, Ky., E. Wilkerson; Asbury Chapel, John Garrow; St. Paul, St. Louis, Aaron M. Parker; St. James, New Orleans, W. R. Revels. Circuits--Alton, Ill., Page Tyler; Chester, Ill., Salem Campbell; Shanneton, B. L. Brooks; Cave in the Rock, M. Patterson. Missions--New Orleans Mission, John M. Brown; Covington Mission, Willis Miles. There were in all five stations and 21 circuits and numerous missions, many of them left to be supplied. There were five ministers who were formerly members of the Missouri Conference who reached the bishopric, namely, J. M. Brown, H. M. Turner, J. C. Embry and H. B. Parks; also four who
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GIRLS' DORMITORY, MORRIS BROWN COLLEGE
were elected general officers, namely, B. F. Watson, T. W. Henderson, P. A. Hubbard and J. Frank McDonald. The present membership of the conference is: Traveling elders, 25; traveling deacons, 8; licentiates, 4; local elders, 3; local deacons, 10; evangelists, 4; lay members, 4,439. The bishops who have presided over the conference have been: Bishops Payne, 1855-60; Quinn, 1861-4, and 1868-71; Campbell, 1865-7; Wayman, 1872-5; Shorter, 1876-9; Ward, 1880-3, and 1888-91; J. M. Brown, 1884-7; Handy, 1892-5; Tanner, 1896-9; Shaffer, 1900-3; Grant, 1904-10; Parks, 1911 to date. (The secretaries have been J. M. Brown, 1855-7; John Turner, 1858-64; W. B. White, 1866-7, and 1888; T. W. Henderson, 1869-71, and 1874-89; G. W. Gaines, 1873; J. F. McDonald, 1884-5; W. B. Brooks, 1886, '90, '96 and 1910; E. T. Cottman, 1887; E. W. Lewis, 1889 and 1891-3 and 1895; C. N. Douglass, 1894; E. R. Vaughn, 1897-1904; C. A. Williams, 1905-8; J. T. Smith, 1909; W. H. Burnett, 1911-14; J. D. Barksdale, 1913 to date.
Morris Brown University, Atlanta, Ga., was opened as Morris Brown College, October 15, 1885, with 107 pupils. The beginning of the institution was, however, on January 5, 1881, when a resolution presented by Rev. W. J. Gaines was passed by the North Georgia Conference to establish a school in Atlanta, January 19, 1881 a similar resolution passed the Georgia Conference. Trustees were elected by the two conferences which then embraced the whole State, February 1, 1881, and the present property of 4½ acres in Atlanta was purchased for $3,500. May 23, 1885, the institution was chartered, the petitioners being W. J. Gaines, Scipio H. Robinson, Elias P. Holmes, Andrew W. Lowe, and Richard Green. The first hall, dedicated November 24, 1885, was Gaines's Hall. Among those who have been principals or presidents have been Mrs. Mollie McCree, Mrs. Alice D. Carey, Prof. A. St. George Richardson (the first president), Revs. E. W. Lee (1886-7), J. M. Henderson, J. S. Flipper (1904-8), E. W. Lee (1908-11), and W. A. Fountain (1911 to date). In 1894 the theological department was established, which, since 1900, has been known as "Turner Theological Seminary." Other departments are collegiate, normal, preparatory, commercial, music, grammar school, nurse training, domestic science, military and industrial. There were last year 752 students, 25 teachers and 56 graduates. The teachers are graduates from Chicago, Yale, Clark, Wilberforce, Morris Brown, Allen and Perdue Universities, Oberlin College, Gammon Seminary and other reputable institutions. Since the beginning there have been 409 graduates, among the most distinguished of whom are President W. A. Fountain, Prof. J. H. Lewis, Prof. E. C. Mitchell, Revs. W. B. Lawrence, C. A. Wingfield and D. R. Forbes. Bishop J. S. Flipper is chancellor, and under his administration Flipper Hall has been built, and the Morris
Brown University System established, including Payne College and Central Park Institute. The school term is eight months, and the property is valued at $250,000. There are three buildings.
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CITY COUNCIL, MOUND BAYOU, MISS.
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LEADING CITIZENS OF MOUND BAYOU, MISS. Hon. Isaiah T. Montgomery and Hon Charles Banks
Nashville, Tenn.--St. Paul A. M. E. Church, located on corner of Fourth Avenue, South, and Franklin Street, Rev. H. L. P. Jones, D. D., pastor, Rev. G. L. Jackson, D. D., presiding elder, is one of the leading churches in the Connection spiritually, intellectually and financially. It has stood as a light-house upon this corner since 1873. The church has had 20 pastors, who have given faithful service. These pastors represent some of the strongest and ablest ministers of our great Connection. The structure was remodoled in 1914 and is valued at $60,000. The congregation represents some of the most devout Christians, including many of the city school teachers and some of the wealthiest and best citizens. A large army of young people, a lively Sunday school and everything that goes to make a grand old church is to be found here. The stewards are: J. H. Adams, Dr. J. H. Hale, J. B. Smith, James Chadwell, J. T. Rhodes, Henry Jones, T. A. Ewing, John Galloway. The Stewardess Board No. 1 is composed of Mesdames G. L. Jackson (chairman), Ellen Tyree (treasurer), Laura Harlin (secretary), Alice Blake, Florence Fossie, Malissa Caruthers, Darthula Stevens, Sophia Foster, Mary Grant. Stewardess Board No. 2: Mesdames Anna Crump (chairman), Harriet Thompson (treasurer), Cornelia F. Jones (secretary), Ellen
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ST. PAUL, NASHVILLE, TENN. Rev. H. L. P. Jones, Pastor.
Swanson, Anna Nichols, Susan Perkins, Emma Copeland, Lula Ransom, Lizzie Allen, Rosena Sharpe. Stewardess Board No. 3: Mesdames Matilda Findley (chairman), Mary Davidson (treasurer), Amanda Drake (secretary), Laura Jones, Mary Rowland, Priscilla Gleaves, Kittie Davis, Lucy Jarrett, Mary Patton. The trustees are: J. H. Adams, A. G. Price, Dr. J. L. Leach, West Thompson, Willis Copeland, S. H. Killebrew, O. W. Gleaves, J. H. Early, John Findley. The Sunday-school superintendent is J. H. Adams. Leader of Allen Christian Endeavor League, E. L. Kinzer.
Negroes in Methodism.--Negroes had a very important place in early Methodism, although the historian has not always given their names. John Wesley, on November 27, 1758, baptised two West Indian Negroes, the servants of Sir Nathaniel Gilbert, of Antigua. The first Methodist class in the new world was a class of Negroes started by the same Nathaniel Gilbert and these two Negro servants after their return to Antigua. The first woman class leader in the new world, if not in the entire world of Methodism, was the Negro woman who held this class together from the time of Gilbert's death (1774) to the arrival of John Baxter at Antigua in 1778. The first class meeting held in the United States was held in New York in 1766, and Aunt Betty, a Negro servant, was one of the first members. About the same time a class was started in Maryland, at Sam's Creek, by Robert Strawbridge, the first Methodist preacher in the South, and in it was "Aunt Annie," a colored woman.
Harry Hozier and Richard Allen were at the first conference held in America, at Baltimore, Md., December 24, 1784, to January 2, 1785, when the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized. Allen and Hosier became two popular Methodist preachers. The first church property purchased by colored people was purchased by Richard Allen in 1791, and in 1794 sold to Bethel A. M. E. Church, which still owns it. The first class in the United States organized by a Negro was organized by Richard Allen in 1786, at Philadelphia. The first group of Negroes to withdraw from the M. E. Church was in 1787, when some withdrew from St. George's Church, Philadelphia, and finally organized Bethel, Philadelphia.
There are many Negro Methodist bodies to-day. The United States Census of 1906 gave the following statistics of Negro Methodists:
| Denomination. | Value of Property. |
| Methodist Episcopal Church | $6,104.379 |
| Union American Methodist Episcopal Church | 170.150 |
| African Methodist Episcopal Church | 11,303,489 |
| African Union Methodist Protestant Church | 183,697 |
| African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church | 4,833,207 |
| Methodist Protestant Church | 62,651 |
| Wesleyan Methodist Connection of America | 21,000 |
| Colored Methodist Episcopal Church | 3,017,849 |
| Reformed Zion Union Apostolic Church | 37,875 |
| Reformed Methodist Union Episcopal Church | 36,965 |
| Total | 25,771,262 |
New England Annual Conference, The, was organized June 10, 1852, at New Bedford, Mass. The original borders were Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Bishop Payne presided at the organization; Rev. T. M. D. Ward was secretary; the number of ministers was 12, and the laymembership was reported at 602. The bishops to preside over the conference have been: Bishops Payne, 1852-4 and 1876-9; Nazrey, 1855-6 and 1861-4; Quinn, 1857-60 and 1865-7; Campbell, 1868-71; Shorter, 1872-5; J. M. Brown, 1880-3; Cain, 1884-6; Ward, 1887; Turner, 1888-91 and 1906-7; Tanner, 1892-5; Grant, 1896-9; Derrick, 1900-3; Arnett, 1904 5; Gaines, 1908-11; Tyree, 1912 to date. Those serving as secretaries have been Revs. T. M. D. Ward, 1852-3; W. J. Fuller, 1854; William M. Watson, 1855; George A. Rice, 1856, '58, '62; J. P. Campbell, 1857; A. L. Stanford, 1857-61; J. W. Burley, 1863-70; W. F. Dickerson, 1871-6; William H. Hunter, 1877-83; H. T. Johnson, 1884; R. J. M. Long, 1885-7; B. F. Combash, 1888-92; W. W. Dyett, 1893; I. D. Jacobs, 1894, '96-1902; J. H. Morgan, 1895; C. P. Cole, 1903-5; C. H. Yearwood, 1906-11; H. M. Shields, 1912-15. The sessions have been held in the following places: New Bedford, Mass., 1852, '53, '57, '62, '66, '72, '79, '85, '92, '99, 1908, '14; Providence, R. I., 1854, '55, '61, '65, '69, '77, '82, '86, '94, 1901, '06, '12; Boston, Mass., 1856, '59, '64, '71, '78, '88, '95, 1902, '07, '15; Newport, R. I., 1858, '63, '68, '76, '84, '91, '98, 1903, '11; New Haven, Conn., 1860, '67, '75, '80, '87, '97, 1910, '16; Portland, Me., 1869; Lynn, 1873, '83, '13; Worcester, 1874, '90; Cambridge, 1881; Springfield, 1889, '93, 1909; Norwalk, Conn., 1896, 1905; Bridgeport, 1900; Greenwich, 1904. Among the members of this conference who have received connectional honors have been: Rev. T. M. D. Ward, elected bishop in 1868; J. P. Campbell, elected bishop in 1864; W. F.
Dickerson, elected bishop in 1880; Joshua H. Jones, elected bishop in 1912; John H. W. Burley, elected financial secretary in 1872; H. T. Johnson, elected editor of the Christian Record in 1892; J. T. Jenifer elected historian in 1912. A partial list of the honored dead is as follows: David Roberts (1879), William Johnson (1880), J. N. Geda (1892), C. C. Felts (1896), W. H. Shields (1898), J. T. Hayslett (1901), Henry J. Johnson (1903), T. H. Jackson (1903), J. G. Frye (1905), Isaac Emery (1912), C. H. Yearwood (1913), T. W. Henderson (1915). The latest statistics are as follows: Number of churches in the conference, 24; ministers, 38; lay members, 2,398; amount raised for pastors' salaries, $12,565.48; for other purposes, $21,515.87; number of Sunday schools, 17; number of scholars in the Sunday school, 1,278. The preaching points in the conference are: Boston, Mass.; Providence, R. I.; Second Church, Providence, R. I.; New Bedford, Mass; Cambridge, Mass.; Lynn, Mass.; Chelsea, Mass.; Plymouth, Mass.; Fall River, Mass.; Worcester, Mass.; Oak Bluff, Mass.; Second Church, Boston, Mass.; Newport, R. I.; New Haven, Conn.; Greenwich, Conn.; Springfield, Mass.; Bridgeport, Conn.; Norwalk, Conn.; Stamford, Conn.; Pittsfield, Mass.; Narragansett Pier, R. I.; North Adams, Mass.; Jamestown, R. I.; Greenfield, Mass.; Lee, Mass.; Sheffield, Mass. (By Rev. I. D. Jacobs, Bridgeport, Conn.)
New York City, the metropolis of the United States and the birthplace of Methodism in the United States, founded by the Dutch in 16-- and named New Amsterdam; taken by the English in 1664 and named New York. Population in 1910 was 4,766,883, of which 91,709 were Negroes. In 1766 the first Methodist meeting was held in Philip Embury's house, there being present Philip Embury and Barbara Heck. The first Methodist church was built in 1768 and a parsonage in 1770. Negroes were always members of the Methodist Church here. In 1796 the first colored congregation withdrew and afterward became the mother of the A. M. E. Zion Churches. In 1818 the Bridge Street Church in Brooklyn withdrew and joined the A. M. E. Connection. In 1820 the Bethel A. M. E. Church was started on Sullivan Street, New York.
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BETHEL A. M. E. CHURCH, NEW YORK CITY Rev. B. W. Arnett, Pastor.
Norfolk, Va.--St. John's A. M. E. Church, the mother of African Methodism in Virginia, had its beginning in a mission organized for Negro slaves, in connection with the Cumberland Street Methodist Episcopal Church, which claims to be the mother of Methodism in Norfolk, if not the entire State. Francis Asbury is said to have pastored this
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INTERIOR OF ST. JOHN A. M. E. CHURCH, NORFOLK, VA. Rev. S. S. Morris, Pastor.
church. The Negro mission was probably started about 1840 and was set apart as a separate organization in 1848, when the site on which the church now stands was purchased, and held for the Negroes by white trustees. White pastors of the M .E. Church, South, were also assigned to the work, but the stewards and leaders were Negroes. Under this arrangement a large and flourishing society grew, numbering more than 800 members in 1863, when they withdrew from the M. E. Church, South, and allied themselves with the A. M. E. Church. The immediate cause of the change in denominational allegiance was the disloyalty of their pastor to the United States Government. The church under the guidance of its wise and courageous Negro leaders rejected their pastor, nullified the discipline of the M. E. Church, South, secured approval of their action from
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EXTERIOR OF ST. JOHN A. M. E. CHURCH, NORFOLK, VA.
the military authority then in charge of the jurisdiction, with possession of their property and guarantee of protection in its control. After deliberating several months as to their future status, they decided, October 13, 1863, to join the Baltimore Annual Conference of the A. M. E. Church. All formalities were executed prior to January 1, 1864, by Elder A. W. Wayman and Bishop Daniel A. Payne Elder John M. Brown was appointed as the first pastor under the A. M. E. discipline. Acting as presiding elder, he held his first quarterly conference January 5, 1864. No other A. M. E. Society had official existence in Virginia prior to this time. St. John's added to its property holding the site where the parsonage now stands in 1865. Three church buildings and two parsonages have occupied the present sites. The second church building was not entirely new, but a rebuilding and enlargement of the first building in 1868. The present structure, one of the best in the Connection, was erected in 1888, during the pastorate of Rev. W. D. Cook. The present parsonage was built in 1907, when some remodeling was done on the church also, Rev. C. W. Mossell being pastor at that time. The various building operations and other obligations of this church kept it under the burden of continuous debt, more or less heavy, for more than 45 years, the records showing that it was not free of mortgage indebtedness after 1869 until August 6, 1915, when the last mortgage was released and the church left debt free, under the pastorate of Rev. E. H. Hunter, D. D. The plant is valued now at $80,000. Since St. John's has been an A. M. E. Church, the following pastors have served: Revs. John M. Brown, George T. Watkins, J. D. S. Hall, J. B. Hamilton, W. D. W. Schureman, John E. Cook, B. F. Floyd, A. A. Burleigh, W. D. Cook, John G. Mitchell, A. L. Gaines, D. P. Seaton, L. H. Reynolds, C. W. Mossell, S. M. Johnson, E. H. Hunter and S. S. Morris. Elder A. W. Wayman, the first A. M. E. preacher to come to them, afterwards became bishop, as did also their first regular pastor, Elder John M. Brown. Bishop W. D. Derrick was once a member of St. John's, which church granted him first license to exhort. This church has furnished many representatives for the law-making and advisory councils of the A. M. E. Church. Practically all of its pastors have served as members of the general conferences held during their incumbency, and the following laymen have also been delegates: George W. Dawley, three times; Jesse Waits, once; Wilson F. Foreman, three times; and W. H. Thorogood, once. The general
conference of 1908 was entertained by St. John's Church, and Bishops Edward W. Lampton, Henry B. Parks, Joseph S. Flipper, John Albert Johnson and William H. Heard were elected and consecrated to the bishopric within its sacred walls. Two other self-sustaining and flourishing churches in the city of Norfolk--St. Mark's and John M. Brown--are the legitimate children of St. John's, and St. James owes its redemption and salvation to her, if not its birth.
The original Negro trustees were Jacob Riddick, Jacob Tynes, Peter Shepherd and John H. Jordan. The present trustees are W. H. Thorogood, D. D. Brown, John H. Portlock, S. L. Tucker, D. W. Byrd, P. L. Barber, C. A. Palmer, W. H. Tyler, and J. T. P. Cross. The stewards are W. F. Foreman, R. Bowden, H. G. McLeod, William Morris, J. L. Felton, Joseph Hopkins, Charles S. Ferrebee, James M. Collins and Humphrey McCoy. Present membership, 1,447. Sunday school numbers 1,324; Allen Christian Endeavor League, 268; raised in general funds last year (1915) $1,637.97, of which $850 was dollar money; raised for all purposes, over $10,000.
North Carolina Annual Conference, The, was organized in Wilmington, N. C., in 1868 by Bishops Payne and Shorter. The organization was constituted by ministers from North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina and Georgia. Among the ministers composing the organization were Revs. Cornelius Sampson, W. H. Bishop, Scipio Sauls, Richard Waters, Henry Epps, Robert Lucas, Jacob Hornes, George Hunter, Harry Pope, Mingo Crooms, Bryant Rudd and Henry Tucker. The bishops who have served the North Carolina Annual Conference since its organization are: Payne, Wayman, J. M. Brown, Campbell, Turner, Dickerson, Gaines (two terms), Handy, Lee, Coppin (two terms), and J. A. Johnson. The growth of the North Carolina Annual Conference was so marvelous until in November 19, 1892, it became necessary to organize the Western North Carolina Annual Conference. There is not one minister living who was in the organization of the North Carolina Annual Conference. Rev. J. W. Telfair, D. D., deceased, was among the leaders of the North Carolina Conference soon after its organization. Revs. Edward Robinson, G. G. McGhee, J. E. C. Bookam, D. D. and Tobias Miller are the four oldest members of the conference, having joined in the 70's. The presiding elders of the North Carolina Conference at present are Revs. W. Henry Capehart, presiding elder of the Fayetteville District; G. D. Carnes, presiding elder of the Wilmington District; A. L. Price, presiding elder of the New Berne District; D. L. Grady, presiding elder of the Weldon District. The leading pastors are Revs. A. J. Wilson, St. Stephens, Wilmington; R. T. Timberlake, Mt. Zion, Wilmington, J. A. Smith, Mt. Olive Church, Wilmington; T. J. De Berry, pastor Rue Chapel Church, New Berne; E. Hurst, pastor Rockypoint Circuit; J. L. Hall, D. D., pastor, Kenly Circuit; W. B. Williams, pastor, Tomahawk Circuit; F. W. Lowell, D. D., pastor, Wilson Mills' Circuit; W. T. Monroe, pastor, Nashville Circuit; A. L. Sanders, pastor, Brinkleyville Circuit; C. V. Richardson, pastor, Long Creek Circuit; Luke Grady, pastor, Marietta Circuit; J. J. McIntire, pastor, South Wilmington Circuit; E. R. Williams, pastor, St. James, Kinston; A. A. Thompson, pastor St. James Circuit; I. W. Beatly, pastor, Selma Circuit; J. W. Brown, pastor, Spring Branch Circuit; C. Miller, pastor, Seatts Hill Circuit; George Washington, pastor, Mt. Calvary Station; T. S. March, pastor, Burgow Circuit; J. E. Mallett, pastor, Atkinson Circuit; D. Smith, pastor, Richlands Circuit; J. H. Reid, pastor, St. John, Wilmington, N. C.; U. S. Comer, pastor, St. John's Goldsboro; Adam Smith, pastor, St. Luke's, Fayetteville; J. Nixon, pastor, Fairmount Circuit; C. H. Hayes, pastor, Murfreesboro Circuit; W. T. Carnish, pastor, Rock Fish Circuit; A. Stroud, D. D. pastor, Hamlet Circuit; G. A. Shore, pastor, Warrenton Circuit; J. G. Lewis, pastor, Rich Square Circuit; L. R. Pearce, pastor, Kenansville Circuit; W. H. Mack, pastor, Wilson Circuit; W. D. W. Graham, pastor, St. Elizabeth Circuit. Among the leading churches of the North Carolina Conference are St. Stephen, Mt. Zion, Mt. Olive, of Wilmington, N. C.; Rue Chapel, New Berne, N. C.; St. James, Kinston, N. C.; St. Luke, Fayetteville, N. C.; St. Mark, Smithfield, N. C.; St. John, Goldsboro, N. C.; St. John, Selma, N. C.; Mt. Calvary, Navosa, N. C.; Willow Oak, Rich Square, N. C.; Oak Chapel, Warrenton, N. C.; Allen Chapel, Conway; Wayman Chapel, Brinkleyville, N. C.; Spring Branch Circuit; Rockypoint Circuit; Marietta Circuit; Scott's Hill Circuit; South Wilmington Circuit; Fairmount Circuit; Smithfield Circuit; Wilson's Mills Circuit; Rocky Fish Circuit; Burgow Circuit; St. Mark, Rocky Mount, N. C.; Nashville Circuit. Another important feature of the North Carolina Conference is the founding of Kittrell College, at Kittrell, N. C., in 1886, by Rev. Dr. R. H. W. Leak, hero of both conferences of the State and the builder of St. Paul A. M. E. Church at Raleigh, N. C. (By J. A. Smith, historian.)
Ohio Annual Conference, The.--"Among the parochial reports of this conference (the Philadelphia Conference of 1830) there were no returns from Ohio, because it was formed into a conference district." Thus does the church historian, Bishop Payne, make first mention of the organization of the Ohio Conference by Bishop Morris Brown. This, the fourth conference to be organized, began its separate existence in 1830. The first documentary reports available are the printed minutes of the nine-days' session of 1833, held in the city of Pittsburgh, Pa. Bishop Morris Brown presided and Rev. Lewis Woodson acted as secretary. There were 15 members present--7 itinerant ministers and 8 locals, as follows: Revs. John Boggs, Wiley Reynolds, Austin Jones, Jeremiah Thomas, W. P. Quinn, Thomas Lawrence, and James Bird, itinerants; and Revs. Lewis Woodson, Samuel Johnson, Abram D. Lewis, Samuel Collins, Samuel Enty, Pleasant Underwood, George Coleman and Samuel Clingman, local ministers. Twenty-four points were reported for the five circuits into which the Ohio Conference District was divided, while several points were not given. The five circuits with their divisions were as follows: The Pittsburgh Circuit, including Pittsburgh, Washington and Uniontown, with an aggregate membership of 306; the Zanesville Circuit, including Zanesville, Captina Mount Pleasant, Smithfield, Steubenville and Wheeling, with 205 members; the Columbus Circuit, which had Columbus, Urbana, New Lancaster, Circleville and Springfield, with 166 members; the Chillicothe Circuit which had Chillicothe, Big Bottom, Jackson and Gallipolis, with 193 members; while Hillsborough embraced Hillsborough, Wilmington, Zand, Dayton, Hardin's Creek and White Oak, with 126 members. The total for the conference was 1,194. This conference, 17 years after the organization of the A. M. E. Church, was the first to take a definite stand for education and temperance. For it was at the session of 1833 that Rev. Lewis Woodson introduced the following resolutions: "Resolved, As the sense of this conference, that common schools, Sunday school, and temperance societies are of the highest importance to all people; but more specially to us as a people, that it shall be the duty of every member of this conference to do all in his power to promote and establish these useful institutions among our people." This seems to have been the awakening of a sentiment that has crystallized into the present educational system of our Church. Eleven years after when the conference met in Columbus, Ohio, Rev. Matthew T. Newsom "proposed the idea of selecting a suitable location for a seminary to educate young men for the ministry." In pursuance of this object a committee was appointed to secure a site somewhere in the State of Michigan. At the next session of the conference, which also met in Columbus, this committee reported as follows: "We, your committee appointed by the Ohio Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, met in the city of Columbus, September 17, 1844, to select a tract of land for the purpose of erecting a seminary of learning, on the manual labor plan, for the instruction of the youths among us in the various branches of literature, science, agriculture and mechanic arts, and also for those who may desire to prepare for the ministry. Being destitute of means to pay our traveling expense to the State of Michigan to seek its location, we have selected one in Franklin County. State of Ohio, 12 miles west of Columbus and 2 miles north of the National Road, containing 172 acres of land, which can be purchased for $1,720, to be paid in installments. Signed, M. T. Newsom, Lewis Adams and Thomas Lawrence, committee." Since industrial education has become so popular, it is interesting to note this early mention by the A. M. E. Church. A committee was appointed to draft a constitution for the government of the embryonic school. By this constitution it was called "The Union Seminary of the A. M. E. Church--subject to the Ohio Annual Conference." The second article of the constitution preserved the industrial idea in these words: "By instructing them in literature, science, agriculture and the mechanical arts." The school was started and had a precarious existence until "Wilberforce became the property of the A. M. E. Church, March 10, 1863, when by a vote of the Ohio Annual Conference it was abolished and the
property ordered sold for the benefit of Wilberforce University." Hence the very honorable distinction of laying the foundation of the educational work of the A. M. E. Church in particular, and that of the race in America generally, properly belongs to the Ohio Conference.
The division of the Ohio Conference: The Ohio Conference in its original boundary with additions made as the Church expanded included Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and a part of Kentucky, and Wheeling, Va. The same cause that extended the limits of the Ohio Conference, the expansion of the Church, resulted in its disintegration until it was confined to Ohio alone. In 1878, at the Forty-eighth Session of the Ohio Conference in Bethel Church, Circleville, Ohio, the following resolutions were offered: "Whereas we, the members of the Ohio Annual Conference, perceive that the conference has made such rapid growth in the last two years as to become a burden; Whereas it would greatly reduce the expenses of the members of said conference by dividing said conference into two parts; and Whereas it would diffuse new life into the work, by causing the members of said conference to look after the mission work and create a rivalry that will result in good to the Church: Therefore be it Resolved, That the bishop appoint a committee to take the statistics of said conference, and report such division as may seem just and equal with reference to appointments and territory." The bishop appointed the following committee: R. G. Whitman, J. P. Underwood, R. A. Johnson, P. Tolliver, J. B. Stansbury. The committee made no report nor was the matter mentioned until at the fifty-first session of the conference, at Middleport, Ohio, in 1881, Rev. J. P. Underwood brought it up again by a resolution asking for a committee on revision of the conference. The following committee of five was appointed: J. P. Underwood, R. A. Johnson, T. H. Jackson, J. W. Steward, B. W. Arnett. When this committee reported for division there was a minority report opposing the plan of the majority for substantially these reasons: (a) There is no demand for it; (b) Detrimental to the work; (c) Dividing line not properly drawn; (d) Pressure of business too great to consider the matter properly. The minority report was lost and the report of the majority was adopted. From that time Ohio has been divided into two conferences. The majority report recommended that the conference be divided by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, beginning at Bellaire and running through Columbus to Cincinnati." The following statistics are for the last year of the undivided conference and for the last two sessions of Ohio Conference (it might be well to note that the other conference is known as the North Ohio Conference):
| 1881. | 1914. | 1915. | |
| Members of Conf. | 84 | 56 | 63 |
| Full mem. of churches. | 5,530 | 4,580 | 4,906 |
| Probationers | 230 | 371 | 365 |
| Contingent money | $86.26 | $506.35 | $341.56 |
| Pastors' support | 20,910.28 | 16,406.50 | 17,245.05 |
| Traveling expense | 848.27 | 71.24 | 98.10 |
| Dollar Money | 1,256.42 | 2,049.20 | 2,081.45 |
| Missionary money | 172.47 | 1,254.05 | 891.67 |
| Value of churches | 287,289.00 | 191,740.00 | 314,400.00 |
| Value of parsonages | 12,600.00 | (Included in ch. prop.) |
The Presiding Eldership.--At the forty-seventh session of the Ohio Conference held in Urbana, Ohio, in 1877, Rev. G. H. Graham gave notice that he would discuss the propriety of establishing presiding eldership in the conference. If this discussion occurred, no mention is made of it in the minutes. In 1883, when the conference met at Hillsboro, Rev. W. J. Johnson introduced the following resolutions: "Resolved, That the Ohio Conference be divided into two presiding elder districts and that the bishop be requested to appoint presiding elders to said districts as per discippline." After a lengthy and animated discussion it was voted down by a large majority. The next year, at Wilmington, the matter came up again and was disposed of after Bishop Campbell gave the conference an elaborate explanation of the law on the subject by dividing the conference into the following presiding elder districts, to which is added the name of the presiding elder: Cincinnati District--Allen Temple, Walnut Hills, Hillsboro, Wilmington, Sabina, Felicity, New Richmond--Rev. T. A. Thompson, D. D., presiding elder; Zanesville District--Zanesville, Lancaster, Cambridge, Barnesville, Rendville, Captina--Rev. R. A. Johnson, presiding elder; Chillicothe District--Chillicothe, Washington, Court House, Greenfield, Frankfort, Marietta, Jackson, presiding elder; Chillicothe District--Chillicothe, Washtrict--Xenia, Wilberforce, Selma, Cedarville, Jamestown--Rev. T. H. Jackson, D. D., presiding elder. Thus the presiding elder system began in the Ohio Conference. Since then the conference has been divided into two presiding elder districts, known as the Cincinnati District and the Columbus District.
Sunday Schools.--The Ohio Conference manifested an interest in this branch of Church work as early as 1833, as the resolutions presented at that conference included the Sunday school as one branch of Christian activity of the highest importance, "more especially to us as a people." The work of the Sunday school kept pace with the development of the Church. In 1854 the Sunday schools reported 1,680 members and the church 2,155. We have no means of determining how many members of the Sunday schools were members of the Church, and vice versa, but the ratio indicates a good interest in the Sunday schools. On July 2, 1875, the first session of the Sounthwestern Sunday-School Institute of the A. M. E. Church met in Felicity, Ohio, at the call of Rev. William H. Coleman. Brother "Billy" Coleman, as he is familiarly called by his friends, has the distinction of originating the Sunday-school institute work in the A. M. E. Church in Ohio. Bishop B. W. Arnett, then Rev. Arnett, delivered the first lecture before that organization. The constitution adopted in 1877 gives the purpose of the institute in these words: "The object of this institute shall be, first, the encouragement of a higher culture on the part of Sunday-school officers and teachers; second, the provision of a system of training by which this end can be accomplished." The institute work was divided along conference lines at the session held in Xenia in 1882. Bishop Wayman visited this session, and on leaving said, among other things, that this was the first assembly of the kind among his people it had ever been his pleasure to attend.
Wilberforce.--A final word concerning Wilberforce may not be out of place: Wilberforce has developed until it has taken a first place among the smaller colleges of the country. To the college work there have been added the normal, industrial and theological (represented by Payne Theological Seminary) departments. The faculty is represented by 38 professors and instructors. The student body includes 550 select young men and women from all parts of the country, the islands of the seas, and Africa. Many of the teachers and professors hold college degrees from the best institutions of the country.
General Information.--There are 52 churches in the bounds of the Ohio Conference; 63 members of this conference; 5,271 lay members; $17,245.05 was raised for pastoral support; $2,127 to pay two presiding elders; and the amount raised for all other purposes was $28,200. The following bishops have presided over this conference: Bishops Morris Brown, William Paul Quinn, Daniel Alexander Panye, Willis Nazrey, Alexander W. Wayman, James A. Shorter, Jabez P. Campbell, Benjamin W. Arnett, Benjamin F. Lee, William B. Derrick, and Cornelius T. Shaffer (the present episcopal incumbent). These ministers (and in one instance a layman) have served as secretaries of the Ohio Conference. They are in successive order, although there may be omissions due to lack of accessible records. Also there has been no repetition of the same name that has been re-elected at other than a succeeding conference session: Revs. Lewis Woodson, Owen T. B. Nickens, Mr. John V. Vashon, Revs. Thomas Woodson, A. R. Green, J. P. Underwood, R. M. Johnson, Samuel Watts, T. H. Jackson, R. G. Mortimore, T. A. Thompson, W. J. Johnson, Smith Carter, W. P. Myers, T. D. Scott present retary). Mention is here made of some of the men who have stood out prominently in the Church. This list does not pretend to be complete or the best that might have been selected, as the prominent names in the Ohio Conference are many; nor is it too strong an assumption to say there is no other conference in the Connection so strong in distinguished names. William Paul Quinn, subsequently Bishop Quinn, was one of the organizers of the Ohio Conference. Rev. Lewis Woodson was the first secretary. Rev. David Smith commenced to proclaim the Gospel first of our preachers. Bishop James A. Shorter, as an itinerant minister, in the year 1857 was transferred to the Ohio Annual Conference Bishop B. W. Arnett was received on probation April 16, 1867, by the Ohio Annual Conference at Lexington, Ky. Bishop B. F. Lee was ordained elder in 1872, in the Ohio Annual Conference. Revs. George Henry Shaffer and Bishop Cornelius Shaffer, brothers, enlisted in the United States Army, September 16, 1864, and were assigned
to the One Hundredth United States Infantry, Grafton H. Graham and Phillip Tolliver were known as the silvertongued orators. Rev. Edward A. Davis was the first principal of Union Seminary. Rev. R. A. Johnson was endorsed by the conference of 1879 for financial secretary. Rev. W. J. Johnson introduced the resolution. Rev. T. H. Jackson, one of the first graduates of Wilberforce University, is distinguished as a pastor and successful teacher. Rev. John G. Mitchell, late dean of Payne Theological Seminary, and Rev. S. T. Mitchell, late presilent of Wilberforce University, were brothers and were both noted for ripe scholarship. Bishop I. N. Ross was admitted to the Ohio Conference in 1880 at Columbus, Ohio. Rev. R. C. Ransom was admitted to the Ohio Conference at Cincinnati, in 1886, and transferred to the Pittsburgh Conference. Rev. Joshua H. Jones was elected president of Wilberforce to succeed the late S. T. Mitchell, and in 1912 was elected one of the Bishops of the A. M. E. Church. (By T. D. Scott, A. M., historian.)
Paul Quinn College, Waco, Tex., was established in 1881 by Bishop Cain, Revs. William Leak, W. R. Carson, J. V. Goins and others. Bishop Cain served as its first president. Succeeding presidents have been Revs. I. M. Burgan (who served three times), N. A. Banks, H. T. Kealing, W. J. Laws, D. H. Butler and Prof. J. K. Williams (the present incumbent). The courses given are primary, English, preparatory, college, theological and industrial. There are 12 buildings, 20 acres of land with a value of $131,000, being adjacent to the growing city of Waco: 275 students; 13 teachers. Faculty is: J. K. Williams (president), B. A. Jackson, J. W. Rice, J. H. Talton, Misses M. C. Roberts, C. G. Kelly and M. E. Jones, Mesdames T. H. Smith, M. Jones, W. R. Chapel and L. C. Flewellen, and C. F. Holland and W. L. Simmons. There have been 118 graduates, among the most distinguished being Profs. A. S. Jackson (secretary of education of the A. M. E. Church), J. I. Jones, W. E. Day, Rev. W. D. Miller, H. A. Carr, C. L. Morgan, Miss M. C. Roberts. The school has no bonded debt, the same having been cleared in 1913, when the educational rally brought $13,236.98. The average income is about $5,000 per year, the length of the school term nine months. Twenty-four students are enrolled in the theological department.
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PAUL QUINN COLLEGE, WACO, TEX.
Payne College, Cuthbert, Ga., is a part of the Morris Brown University System; was established about 1879 by Messrs. Needham Davenport, S. D. Ethridge and Willis Stephens, Sr., and located on Andrew Street, Cuthbert, Ga. Its presidents have been: S. D. Ethridge, F. P. Pepper, S. S. Ingram, W. H. Berry, J. A. Kirk, A. D. Delaney, A. Rice, H. G. Pughsley, J. H. Lewis, J. M. Rich, J. M. Simms, P. C. Williams and the present incumbent, A. B. Cooper. The courses are grammar school, normal, college, preparatory, sewing and music; has 300 students. The most distinguished of the graduates are Prof. D. J. Jordan, Rev. W. B. L. Clarke, Dr. Joseph Griffin, and W. B. Goff. Its present faculty is Prof. A. B. Cooper, Miss R. F. Smith, Mrs. L. M. Nixon, Mrs. M. L. Maughon and Mrs. A. B. Cooper. There are 12 acres, 3 buildings, all valued at $7,000.
Payne Theological Seminary was organized through the efforts of Bishop Arnett, who interested Rev. John G. Mitchell and his wife, Fannie A., in the effort, secured the option of their place, and presented the plan to Rev. James A. Handy, Prof. J. P. Shorter, Bishops Gaines, Lee, and Grant, who approved and gave their hearty co-operation. Authority was secured from the Board of Trustees of Wilberforce University, June, 1890, to consider the establishing of a theological seminary at Wilberforce, to be a part of it, but to be controlled by a separate board of managers. A committee consisting of Bishops Arnett, Gaines, Lee and Grant, Revs. J. A. Handy and T. H. Jackson, Prof. J. P. Shorter, worked out a plan which was presented to the trustee board, June 18, 1891, and after some modifications was adopted. The name chosen was "Payne Theological Seminary of Wilberforce," in honor of Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne, then senior bishop of the A. M. E. Church. The institution opened October, 1891. Bishop Payne was the first dean and Dr. John G. Mitchell one of the first teachers. In 1893 Dr. Mitchell became dean. Bishop Tanner served from 1900 to 1902, when he was succeeded by Rev. George F. Woodson, the present dean. The seminary has reached an enrollment of as many as 45 students, many coming as scholarship students from several annual conference. Over 100 young men have been graduated from the seminary and joined the rank of the active ministry. The present faculty is: Rev. George F. Wodson, D. D. (dean), Rev. T. H. Jackson, D. D., Rev. A. W. Thomas, S. T. B., and Rev. P. S. Hill. Among those who have taught in this institution are Revs. O. E. Jones and R., R. Wright, Jr.
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GAINES HALL, PAYNE SEMINARY; SELMA, ALA.
Payne University, Selma, Ala., was established in 1889 by the Alabama Conferences, Revs. J. S. Shaw, W. H. Mixon, D. C. Cothram, M. E. Bryant and others being most active. There are 11 teachers and 452 students. H. E. Archer is president.
Perfection.--The term Christian Perfection applies to the state of heart of an individual in which it is free from all sin or desire to sin, all malice, envy, jealousy or other evil tendencies and filled with the love of God and good will to all mankind. Christian perfection does not mean perfection of knowledge, hence an error of judgment is not at all contrary to the possession of Christian perfection. Nor is it physical perfection, but may exist in one having an imperfect body; nor does it imply perfection of environment or the freedom from temptation, for one, even as Christ, may be tempted, but without sin. Perfection is synonymous with holiness; but not with regeneration or sanctification. Regeneration is the beginning of holiness; sanctification is the progression of holiness, and perfection is the completion of holiness.
Philadelphia Annual Conference.--In his "Outlines of History" Bishop B. T. Tanner informs us that the First Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church was held in Philadelphia in the year of 1817. Since Bishop Tanner's historical statement remains undisputed and unchallenged, the fact must remain that in Philadelphia and in the year indicated was the birth of the Philadelphia conference. Unfortunately for the Church and Connection, the records of their first conference were lost. All that is preserved to us are the names of those who composed that very important body. Bishop Daniel A. Payne, in his semi-centenary, says: "Tradition says that besides Bishop Allen, Rev. William Paul Quinn, Rev. Jacob Tapsico, Rev. Clayton Durham were the only itinerants in the Philadelphia District." Furthermore, he claims that the people of Baltimore united with them, which persons held a conference in the year of 1818. But back of the founding of the Philadelphia Conference stood to the credit of our little quartet of ministerial leaders a period (from 1787 to 1816) of 29 years of convert making, which neither strife nor controversy could arrest. While Bishop Payne informs us that during the first year of our Church's existence there were but seven ministers--three in Baltimore and four in Philadelphia, he, at the same time, informs us that Philadelphia alone had 4,000 members. A list of the members of Bethel (the mother church), in Philadelphia, in November, 1794, a period of 22 years before organic formation, showed 108 members enrolled. The total membership at that time was 1,071. Attleborough (now Langhorne, Bucks
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"MOTHER" BETHEL A. M. E. CHURCH 6th St. below Pine, Philadelphia, Pa.
County, Pa.), the oldest preaching place outside of the mother church itself, had three delegates in the convention of 1816. According to documents, in 1822 Rev. James Johnson was preacher, Scipio Brown treasurer and John Miller
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TRUSTEE BOARD OF "MOTHER" BETHEL A. M. E. CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA, PA.
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SUNDAY-SCHOOL BOARD OF "MOTHER" BETHEL A. M. E. CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA, PA.
First Row, left to right--David S. Mason, Edward Bishop, Miss Julia E. Stanford, Mrs. Constance Coppin, D. James Mason, Gertrude B. Lee, Alice Jacobs, Charles Robbins, John Beach. Second Row, left to right--Sydney E. Purnell, George T. Corson, Alvin F. Polk, Spencer Farrell, Emma Smith, Mary E. Whittington, Rena Potts, Mary E. Mason, Annie Gilbert, James W. Burton, Moses G. Johnson. Third Row, left to right--John E. Marshall, Josephine Saunders, Louisa M. Banks, Rosie Johnson, Charlotte Reynolds, Arrnetta Johnson, Ada Owens, Lottie Adams, Sadie Moore. Barbara Lee Saunders.
and Samuel Anderson were stewards. The class book for the year of 1827 gives the names of 32 persons, and as to moneys they show the stewards of the church at Attleborough to have paid, July 8, 1822, $7.31; July 21, $1.62; July 29, $2.80. Says Bishop Tanner in the "Outlines" as deduced from foregoing items concerning Attleborough: "While it had but few members at that time, they were very energetic." The "Outlines" which is dated 1884 as the time of its publication, further says of Attleborough: "It now (1884) forms one of the preaching points of the Langhorne Circuit." But at the present writing (1916) it is Langhorne Station. Rev. R. F. Wright is pastor and reported, May, 1915, as follows: Conversions, 6; accessions, 15; members, 193; probationers, 7; local preachers, 3; missionary society, 1; church, 1; parsonage, 1; seating capacity, 250; baptisms 8; marriages, 2; deaths, 4; dollar money, $82; Easter Day money, $6; woman's missionary collection, $11.50; for education, $25; Children's Day, $4; Allen League, $1; general conference delegate, $2.50; minutes, $2; pastors' support, $826.10; presiding elders' support, $40; presiding elders' traveling expenses, $1; Sunday school--officers, 18; teachers, 8; pupils, 81; books in library, 200; hymn books, 150; lesson helps, 75; collected for Sunday-school purposes, $140. Attleborough (Langhorne) is mentioned in this connection because of its ranking with the mother church in seniority and the comparison between the figures of the church for July, 1822, and those of 1915, a period of 93 years, will give one a fair idea of the development and work of the Philadelphia Conference. After the founding of the conference by Bishop Allen and his assistants comes the formative period of the conference. Perhaps the first 25 or 30 years were taken up in forming the Church. (a) On its administrative side; (b) As to its territorial expansion. In the first place are the contentions of Richard Allen for separate and distinct control of the so-called African societies, the ownership of their properties without hinderance secured through the high courts of Pennsylvania; the adoption of a discipline of rules and regulations of their own. The bishops succeeding Richard Allen re-affirmed his policy of government and his interpretation of the doctrines of the Church of Christ so much so that for a century they have remained intact and have preserved against all schism and heresy; so much so that that the first century of African Methodism closes with the episcopal head of the mother conference and his associates adhering as steadfastly to the administrative policies of the fathers as they themselves. In the matter of territorial expansion credit must be given to the fathers of the first half of our present century for being surprisingly aggressive. The Philadelphia Conference at one time embraced not only the territory which is now known so well, but included a fair portion of what, in 1793, was known upon the Gospel map as "the Island of New Jersey." The founders of the conference traveled extensively. They and their successors have covered all of Eastern Pennsylvania, running as far west as Harrisburg, and including the entire Cumberland Valley, the entire Schuylkill region and all the State of Delaware, and at the close of the century invade to the extent of at least one new point and a new church even in the great State of Maryland. And so the century closes with 107 charges in the conference; 107 active and
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STEWARDS OF BETHEL A. M. E. CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA, PA.
Charles H. Potts (treasurer), appointed July, 1892, by Rev. W. H. Heard; D. James Mason (church clerk), appointed October 27, 1907, by Rev. M. W. Thornton; John E. Marshall, appointed October 27, 1908, by Rev. M. W. Thornton; George W. Harmon, appointed June 6, 1912, by Rev. M. W. Thornton; Charles W. Bell, appointed July 9, 1913, by Rev. C. C. Dunlap; Albert H. Marshall, appointed July 9, 1913, by Rev. C. C. Dunlap; Moses G. Johnson, appointed July 9, 1913, by Rev. C. C. Dunlap; David S. Wooding, appointed October 22, 1913, by Rev. C. C. Dunlap; Elijah A. Hamilton, appointed October 21, 1914, by Rev. C. C. Dunlap.
regularly appointed ministers; 4 presiding elders; 1,899 conversions; 10,495 members; 950 probationers; 121 church buildings; 51 parsonages; pastors' support raised for one year (1915) $43,256.18; presiding elders' support, $4,172.20; pastors' rent and fuel for one year (1915), $6,511.46; the same for presiding elders, $274.10; traveling expenses for presiding elders, one year (1915), $320.89; grand total paid to and for ministers, pastors and presiding elders, $54,214.01; total value of church and Sunday-school property, $518,186.25; dollar money, $7,931.55. No attempt in these comparisons is made to bring before you all the items of receipt and expenditure for the single year, 1915, such as missions in which the Mite Missionary women alone under Mrs. Emma J. Roberts raised over $2,000 that year; nor Easter Day moneys, nor educational money, etc., etc. Yet we have submitted enough to convince the most sceptical that it has paid well to organize the mother conference and A. M. E. Connection, which started with four ministers and destitute of revenue. (By Rev. John M. Palmer, historian.)
Philadelphia, Pa.--Allen A. M. E. Church, located at the corner of Seventeenth and Bainbridge Streets, was established in 1873, the colored people having increased in numbers in Philadelphia, necessitating more churches. Conditions changing, the congregation, members and friends of "Mother" Bethel, migrated to the western part of the city, and during the administration of Rev. Theodore Gould at Bethel a church was purchased and a society formed on Lombard Street, west of Nineteenth, and named Allen A. M. E. Chapel, for the accommodation of such as desired to worship nearer home. There was a difference in opinion among the officers and members of "Mother" Bethel as to the
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TRUSTEES OF ALLEN A. M. E. CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA, PA.
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STEWARDS OF ALLEN A. M. E. CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA, PA.
status of the daughter Allen, some claiming she should be deeded to Bethel, others that she should be deeded direct to the Connection. The latter opinion prevailed. Success attended the church from the beginning. Three thousand dollars was raised the first year of her existence, and she was turned over to the Philadelphia Conference in 1874. The first pastor stationed at Allen received for salary and house rent the sum of $804, and five years later Allen commenced paying her pastors $1,000 per year. The following pastors have served Allen since her organization: Revs. George M. Witten, Theodore Gould (the founder), Joseph S. Thompson, Cornelius T. Shaffer (now bishop), Levi Coppin (now bishop), William H. Heard (now bishop), W. H. Yoecum, John C. Brock, William H. H. Butler, J. J. Evans, John M. Palmer, H. C. C. Astwood, John M. Henderson, John L. H. Watkins, Morris C. Brooks and the present pastor, W. Spencer Carpenter. Rev. C. T. Shaffer, during his term of four years, paid off the debt on the church. After a short respite Rev. Levi J. Coppin had a new front put in and did other remodeling, to the extent of several
thousand dollars. Of the 16 pastors Allen has had, two still have local membership with her, viz.: Rev. Theodore Gould, the founder, and Bishop L. J. Coppin. The church grew gradually until the building on Lombard Street near Nineteenth was too small. In March, 1908 (Palm Sunday), under Rev. Morris C. Brooks, services were held in more commodious quarters, which had been contracted for at Seventeenth and Bainbridge Streets, the present site, and the name was changed and incorporated as Allen Church instead of Allen Chapel. This was the beginning of new life for the church. Rev. Brooks, who pastored six years, was
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THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL BOARD, ALLEN A. M. E. CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA, PA.
followed by the present pastor, Rev. W. Spencer Carpenter, the youngest pastor Allen has ever had. During his five years' administration the congregation has been built up and the sum of $50,000 has been raised with a working membership of less than 500 people. In compiling history for Allen, we must not forget the women who have prayed and labored for her success. Among these must be mentioned Mrs. Caroline Gould, wife of the founder, who with him stood personally responsible for the purchase of old Allen, Mrs. Mary A. Campbell, Mrs. Mary Gordon, Mrs. James
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TRUSTEES OF MT. PISGAH A. M. E. CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA, PA.
Frisby, and many others too numerous to mention, yet who made up in a great part the successful and loyal members, and Mrs. Emma J. Roberts, whose name must forever be recorded in the history of new Allen. A few months following the organization of Allen Church, its Sunday school was set apart with its quota of officers and a small membership, Mr. William C. Banton, superintendent. To-day Allen Sunday School is splendidly organized under the plans of the Pennsylvania Sunday-School Association. It has the cradle roll, beginners', primary, junior and intermediate departments, also a large main school department, each meeting in a separate room; also teacher training classes, organized adult Bible class, a home department and mothers' department. The Sunday-School State Association classifies the schools in three grades, the leading grade designated as the "Front Line." Allen Sunday School is a "Front Line" school There are 58 officers and teachers in Allen School, who, with few exceptions, are young people. Harry H. Lowber, the present superintendent has held the position for 17 years. (By Howard D. Gould, historian of Allen A. M. E. Church.)
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STEWARDS, MT. PISGAH A. M. E. CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA, PA.
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SUNDAY-SCHOOL BOARD, MT. PISGAH, PHILADELPHIA, PA.
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MT. PISGAH CHOIR ASSOCIATION, PHILADELPHIA, PA.
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EVANGELIST, MT. PISGAH, PHILADELPHIA, PA.
Philadelphia, Pa., situated in the southeastern part of Pennsylvania on the Delaware River, only a few miles from the Atlantic Coast, was founded by William Penn in 1682. The name means "brotherly love." The first Methodist service was held in 1767 by Captain Webb, who organized in 1768 the first class meeting. In 1769 the missionaries--Richard Boardman and Joseph Pilmoor--whom Wesley sent, came to Philadelphia and St. George's Church, on Fourth Street, was bought. In 1787 the colored people left St. George's under the leadership of Richard Allen and Absalom Jones. Out of this grew Bethel A. M. E. Church and St. Thomas Protestant Episcopal Church.
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INTERIOR OF UNION A. M. E. CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA, PA.
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UNION A. M. E. CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA, PA. Rev. H. H. Cooper, Pastor.
Portsmouth, Va.--Immanuel A. M. E. Church was originally the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The house of worship was on Washington Street, east side, between High and King Streets. It has been torn down to make room for a public high-school building. The only colored Methodists in Portsmouth then was that congregation, and by authority of a statement of the late Vernon Eskridge, who was their pastor, they worshipped in that building previous to 1831, and how long before he does not say in his statement, but they worshipped until that year. The insurrection, known as Nat Turner's War, as our fathers and mothers called it, broke out in Southampton County. After that they were prohibited from worshipping separately. They worshipped with the white Methodists at the old church on Glasgow Street, between Court and Dinwiddie--the former building having been sold, the colored people occupying the galleries. They continued to do so until 1834, and Dinwiddie Street Church, now Monumental, being completed, the white people moved into it and gave the old building on Glasgow Street over entirely to the colored people, with Rev. George M. Bain, pastor, in 1839, where they continued to worship as a separate congregation, with a white pastor, until September 26, 1856. It was then set on fire and entirely consumed, "the work, no doubt, of some wicked hand," said Rev. Bain, in his historical sketch. The congregation with undaunted courage went to work, though largely of slaves, and bought the lot on which the present
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EMANUEL A. M. E. CHURCH, PORTSMOUTH, VA. Rev. E. H. HUNTER, Pastor.
church now stands, erected the present building on it, which was dedicated to the service of the Almighty God the first Sunday in November, 1857. It was then in the Virginia Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and remained in said conference until possibly 1871, when it joined the African Methodist Episcopal Church and its pulpit was supplied by that organization and received the
name Immanuel or Emanuel, from said A. M. E. Church. This church is the oldest colored church of any denomination in Portsmouth and the second oldest church building in this city of any kind. Its membership is composed of the representatives of the oldest native-born colored citizens of Portsmouth and new and progressive citizens who have settled here since the Civil War. The church is practically out of debt and owns valuable property adjoining. The parsonage was built at a cost of $3,500 in 1886. Improvements to a large extent were made preparatory to the meeting of the General Conference in 1908 at Norfolk. Membership, 1,258; probationers, 210; Sunday-school scholars, 650; value of church property, $40,000. The church has been pastored these last five years and a half by Rev. M. E. Davis, who at the last conference was succeeded by Rev. E. H. Hunter. (By J. T. Wilson.)
Presiding Elders are ministers who have been ordained elders, who are appointed by the bishop to supervise the work of a given number of churches and ministers within an annual conference. The churches under his supervision are called his presiding elder's district. Each annual conference has one or more presiding elders' districts, consisting of from 30 charges but averaging 12 to 15, so as to enable the presiding elder to give a Sunday service to each during every quarter. The presiding elder's duties are to take charge of all the preachers and exhorters in his district, to travel throughout the district, preside at quarterly and district conferences, Sunday-school conventions, to see that the business of the conference is conducted according to the discipline, to change pastors in interval of the conference where investigation shows such changes necessary; to keep the bishop informed of the true status of the work of the district, and to recommend to the bishop at annual conference the appointments for the charges he has supervised. The presiding elder is a sort of sub-bishop. He represents the bishop as the manager of a department of a business represents the proprietor. He is a part of the cabinet of the bishop and should always be in harmony with the policy of the bishop. The office of presiding elder originated in American Methodism through the necessity of having an elder to consecrate the Lord's Supper. At the beginning of the Church in 1784 there were only 12 elders among the people. These were distributed so as to aid the preachers at different points. In 1801 the churches under these elders were called districts and the elders presiding elders. In 1802 the annual conferences were divided into presiding elders' districts. In the A. M. E. Church there were no presiding elders at first, and for a long time no need of any; but as the Church grew the need increased. The question of presiding elders was brought to the general conference of 1848 by a committee, of which Rev. D. A. Payne was chairman, but was defeated by vote of 48 to 33; again the consideration of the subject was defeated in 1852 by a vote of 64 to 18; in 1856 it was indefinitely postponed, but in 1868 it was permitted for such annual conferences as cared to adopt the presiding eldership. But not for many years was it adopted in all the conferences. To-day it is universally used throughout the Church, yet in some sections, particularly in cities, it is not as effective as formerly, or as desirable. The presiding elder's salary is fixed by the discipline at $1,250 per year and house rent and fuel, to be
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BETHEL OFFICERS, QUINCY, ILL. Rev. G. T. Shaw, Pastor.
paid by the churches of his district according to an apportionment made by the annual conference. This salary, however, is not paid in full as a rule, and the presiding elder, like the pastor, gets pay according to his acceptability with the people and the strength of his district.
Probationers are members on trial. In our Church persons who profess saving faith in Jesus Christ, or express a desire to be saved from sin may be received as members on trial or probation, probation being a term during which they are tried and instructed. They are assigned to a class and instructed in the doctrine and discipline of the Church and led into deeper experiences of a Christian life. At the expiration of three (formerly six) months the period of probation expires. If then their knowledge and conduct warrant, they are made full members. If not they are dropped. This is the law, but the period of probation is not as highly regarded as formerly. In our annual conferences there is a period of two years' probation for young ministers, who are at first admitted on trial. After passing the studies for the first and second years and showing aptitude for the ministry they are admitted to full connection. During the period of probation they may be dropped without explanation.
Quarterly Conferences are meetings which are held in every charge once every three months, or four times every year, at a time appointed by the presiding officer. The members of this meeting are the traveling preachers (including general officers) on the circuit or station, local preachers, exhorters, stewards, stewardesses, class leaders, deaconesses, evangelists, superintendent of Sunday school and president of Allen Christian Endeavor League and missionary societies. At the quarterly conference the presiding elder is chairman, appeals are heard, licenses to preach and exhort given and renewed, written reports are made of accessions, expulsions, withdrawals, baptisms, marriages, deaths, etc., showing the status of the membership for three months; also reports showing the financial condition of the Church in all its activities, including the trustees' department, also reports of collections for general purposes and subscriptions for Church periodicals, and such other business may be transacted which in the opinion of the presiding elder and conference may be deemed necessary. Quarterly conferences are held as a rule at night during the week.
Quarterly Conference Journal is a record book furnished by the Book Concern, Philadelphia, in which are kept each quarter the proceedings of the quarterly conferences. One of these lasts five years, and should be kept by every church as a matter of history.
Quarterly Meetings have no definition in the discipline of the A. M. E. Church. The term is applied, as a rule, to the religious service conducted by the presiding elder the Sunday before or after the business session of the quarterly conference. The presiding elder preaches, or some one designated by him; the Lord's Supper is served, members from all the points on the circuit and from nearby charges are usually present, and the time is usually one of deep, spiritual fervor.
Quincy, Ill.--Bethel A. M. E. Church.--In 1859, among the very few colored people in Quincy, Ill., a "Union Church" was organized under the name of "Little Zion African Methodist Church." The first trustees were: William Carr, James Toles and Isaac Jenkins. Out of Little Zion Church grew Bethel A. M. E. Church. Some of the pastors who have served since August, 1863, are: Revs. Black, Henry Brown, George C. Boothe, E. C. Joiner, T. W. Henderson, B. F. Watson, P. C. Cooper, Henry Simons and the present pastor, Rev. George T. Shaw. The church has a membership now of 364, a good Sabbath school of 84 scholars. Sunday-school teachers and officers are as follows: Mr. Cecil Peach, superintendent; Edgar Harris, assistant superintendent; Frank Johnson, secretary; Mrs. Cora Marshall, treasurer; Gladys Watts, organist; teachers: Rev. George T. Shaw, Frances Monroe, Mrs. George Marshall, Miss Estelle Zimmerman, Miss B. L. Dyson, Mrs. Susie B. Shaw, Mrs. Mattie Lillye, Miss Martha Edwards. Miss Grace Ball and Mrs. Lona Watts are the presidents of the Senior and Junior Allen Christian Endeavor Leagues, respectively. (By Edward Johnson, secretary of the trustee board.)
Review, The A. M. E. Church, a quarterly literary magazine, of about 100 pages; first authorized by the general conference of 1884, Dr. B. T. Tanner, the moving spirit in bringing it forward, was its first editor and set the high standard which succeeding editors have endeavored to maintain. In 1888 Dr. Tanner, who was elected to the bishopric, was succeeded by Dr., now Bishop, Levi J. Coppin, who served until May, 1896, when Professor H. T. Kealing, then of Texas, was chosen. Prof. Kealing served until May, 1912, when Dr. Reverdy C. Ransom, the present editor, was elected. The A. M. E. Church Review has a unique distinction. While founded by a religious denomination it has never sought to be denominational. It has always been, and is now, a vehicle of expression for the best thought of the highest scholarship of the race in every department of human knowledge.
Salaries.--The early ministers in the A. M. E. Church had stated salaries. They gave service and people gave as they were able. At the general conference in 1832 we find that the allowance made for unmarried preachers was $80 per year and traveling expenses; for married preachers, $120 and traveling expenses; for the bishop $25 for every conference held, and traveling expenses. The junior bishop got nothing but traveling expenses. Bishops also served as pastors, and received regular pastors' salaries. In 1836 the salaries were raised to $100 and traveling expenses for unmarried preachers and to $140 and fuel and board for family and traveling expenses for the married preacher; $300 per year and traveling expenses and $25 for every conference held for the bishop. The junior bishop got only traveling expenses when the attend conferences at the request of the senior bishop. In 1840 the allowance for unmarried preachers was raised to $125 and of married to $200 and the bishop to $500 with traveling expenses, board and fuel as before. In 1840 we have the pay for the book steward set by the general conference as $150 per year and six per cent. of the sales. In 1844 the bishop was allowed the same $25 for each conference, and if he did not have an appointment of a church, $200 per year if married, with board, fuel and house rent for family, and $125 and board if single. All bishops were put on the same salary basis. In 1856 bishops and married preachers were allowed $200 with board for wife and children (12 years of age), house rent, fuel and traveling expenses, while the unmarried were allowed $125. In 1880 the bishops got $1,800 and traveling expenses. In 1884 the salary of active bishops was made $2,000 per annum the salary of active bishops was made $2,000 per annum and superannuated bishops $1,000. General officers were paid $1,350 per annum since 1888, except that in 1896 the financial secretary was give $1,500. In 1904 the bishops were give $500 extra for traveling expenses and episcopal residences, and the salary of superannuated bishops was put at $1,200. In 1912 the effective bishop was given $2,500 and traveling expenses and the ineffective bishops $1,250. In 1916 the same salary was allowed and an allowance of $100 for each conference held, to be paid by the conference.
Scranton, Pa.--Bethel A. M. E. Church was organized in 1876, but the records of the Church that far back are not extant. The oldest record is that the A. M. E. Sunday school was organized March 23, 1884, with the following persons: Rev. C. H. Brown, chairman; W. H. Johnson, superintendent; Cephas E. Scott, assistant; B. F. Burgett, secretary; Miss L. Bradley, librarian; Wiley Cole, treasurer; John A. Walker, teacher of Bible class; and Mrs. Mary E. Burgett. From this beginning can be traced for several years the A. M. E. Church of Scranton, which was conducted as a mission and largely financed by the charitably inclined white people of Scranton, many of whom acted as teachers and officers in the Sunday school, there being very few colored people in the city at that time. During 1884 a permanent organization was formed by Rev. C. H. Brown, and it erected what was known as The Howard Place A. M. E. Church and Parsonage. The building committee was composed of Messrs J. J. Albright, Alexander and James P. Dickson (white), John W. Dorsey, George W. Brown, John A. Walker and Cephas E. Scott. Brothers Dorsey and Brown have been on the official board of this church ever since. Brothers Albright, Dickson, Scott and Walker have passed away. This church was formally dedicated by Bishop Campbell, February 14, 1886, and since that time has been pastored by the following ministers: Revs. C. H. Brown, W. H. Pride, A. R. Palmer, Richard Tanner, H. A. Grant, A. Smothers, C. A. McGee, J. M. Gilmere, D. S. Bentley, N. D. Temple, S. P. West, H. C. C. Astwood, George T. Smith and Rev. G. W. Williams. The most definite steps of progress have been made since 1909, when Rev. George T. Smith, D. D., was appointed pastor by Bishop Derrick with instructions to build a new place of worship to adequately meet the needs of the people. Rev. Smith, in the winter of 1910, with the officers and congregation, purchased a lot on Washington Avenue for $4,500. In 1911 the church was incorporated under the name of "Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, of Scranton, Pa.." In 1912 a beautiful brick church building with lecture room and kitchen, pastor's study, modern in every detail, was erected, costing about $23,000, with a membership of less than 150, and a congregation of less than 500 persons to draw from. But the charitably inclined white people aided as in the past and made possible this splendid edifice by their liberal contrbutions. Bethel Church was dedicated on April 6, 1913, by Bishop C. T. Shaffer, assisted by Rev. T. J. Askew, D. D., presiding elder; Presiding Elder Murdock, of the M. E. Church; Dr. Griffith Bull, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Scranton; Rev. Thomas Payne, pastor of the Universalist Church, Scranton; Rev. P. J. Blackburn, of Wilkes-Barre; Rev. A. Q. Norton and Rev. J. M. Henderson, of Pittston, Pa. The church was dedicated with an indebtedness of about $14,850, which was in the shape of three-months' notes. In October, 1914, Rev. G. W. Williams, D. D., was appointed to this charge, and at once took up the work necessary to make possible a successful administration. From October to January 1 was largely spent in acquainting himself with the conditions in connection with the church debt and learning the details of this charge. In January, 1915, a three-weeks' revival service, Rev. J. L. Jackson assisting the pastor, resulted in about 40 converts. Rev. Williams then started out to raise $6,000 in a May rally, promising if the Church would raise $2,000 that he would raise $4,000. May 16 the amount turned in from this rally was $5,811.28, the pastor raising $4,091 of this amount. In the first year of Rev. Williams's administration the debt was reduced to $10,409.75. This has been arranged and secured by mortgage for five years with the Anthracite Trust Company, of Scranton. In 1916 Rev. Williams is serving his second year at this church, and by reason of his executive ability and earnest devotion he has gained the good will of the people of Scranton. Mrs. Williams, the pastor's wife, takes an active part in every movement for the uplift and betterment of church conditions and, like her husband, is held in the highest esteem.
The trustees' board is composed of the following: George W. Brown (treasurer), John W. Dorsey, Festus A. Crump, James A. Carter, Elisha R. Johnson, John T. King, William H. Crampton, H. A. Patterson and Lewis E. Morton (secretary). The stewardesses are Mrs. Charlotte Scott, Mrs. Amy Brown, Mrs. Pattie Patterson, Mrs. Elnora Lane, Mrs. Carrie E. Jackson, Mrs. Jeneva S. Plater, Mrs. Hattie Howard (secretary), Mrs. Louisa Dorsey, and Mrs. Fannie Foster. The stewards are: G. W. Brown, G. D. Dickerson, L. E. Morton, J. L. Conners, H. R. Smith, J. W. Jackson, J. C. Foster, M. B. Howard and Thomas E. Howes (secretary).
[ILLUSTRATION]
ST. PHILLIPS A. M. E. CHURCH, SAVANNAH, GA. Rev. R. H. Singleton, Pastor.
Senior Bishop, The, is the active bishop who has given longest service as bishop and who serves as president of the Bishops' Council. There have been seven senior bishops: Richard Allen from the time of his election, 1816, to his death, 1831; Morris Brown, 1831-49; William Paul Quinn, 1849-73; Daniel A. Payne, 1873-93; A. W. Wayman, 1893-5; H. M. Turner, 1895-1915; B. F. Lee, 1915 to date.
Shorter College, Argenta, Ark., is the outgrowth of "Bethel Institute," started in the basement of Bethel A. M. E. Church, Little Rock, Ark., by Rev. J. P. Howard and Mrs. Elizabeth A. Lankford, the first instructor. It was opened May, 1886. In 1891 it was removed to Arkadelphia. In December, 1892, the name was changed to Shorter College. In 1898 the school was transferred to Argenta. Many have been the changes in its faculties owing to its struggles. Among those who have served as president are Profs. J. T. Bailey, A. D. Delaney, J. K. Rector, S. T. Boyd, B. W. Arnett, Jr., T. H. Jackson, F. T. Vinegar, J. A. M. Johns, P. W. Walls, A. H. Hill, O. L. Moody and William Byrd, the present president. The departments are theological, collegiate, normal, English, musical, sewing and printing. Last year there were 267 students and 12 teachers. There have been 62 graduates, the most distinguished of whom is Bishop J. M. Conner. There are three buildings, three acres of ground and property valued at $20,000. The term is eight months. There were 10 theological students last year. Bishop J. M. Conner is at present chancellor of the institution and president of the board.
South Carolina Conference.--Shortly after the war Bishop Payne and a few others went to South Carolina for the purpose of beginning the work of the African M. E. Church. The South Carolina Conference was duly organized May 15, 1865, in Charleston, S. C., and missionaries went from the seaboard to the mountains, preaching in the open, under bush arbors and anywhere else they could get a hearing, and organizing churches. The work prospered from the very beginning; and February, 1878, the conference meeting in Georgetown, S. C., Bishop John M. Brown, presiding, had grown so large and unweildy that the bishop recommended a division. The upper part of the State took the name of the Columbia Annual Conference. This conference was set apart with 89 appointments, leaving the South Carolina Conference with 72 appointments. The first session (after division) of the Columbia (South Carolina) Conference was held in Miller's Chapel A. M. E. Church, Newberry, S. C., January 17, 1879, Bishop J. M. Brown presiding, Rev. S. C. Goosely, secretary, with M. M. Mance and H. D. Edwards, assistants. T. C. Devlin, F. J. Goings, I. W. Johnson, K. H. Harris, J. G. W. Edmunds and J. D. Boston were admitted, and T. W. Haigler and J. D. Boston were ordained deacons, and Simeon Beard, elder. The following were appointed to preach at the next conference: Annual sermon, D. S. Rice; missionary sermon, J. E. McKnight; baptismal sermon, Rev. C. P. Nelson; on educated ministry, Felix Torrence; on Holy Trinity, S. C. Goosley. The appointments at this first conference were as follows: Columbia District, Rev. H. Young, presiding elder--Columbia Station, Rev. George Dardis; Winnsboro Station, Rev. Felix Torrence; Newberry Station, Rev. M. M. Mance; Waterloo Circuit, Rev. E. J. Perrin; Columbia Mission, Rev. J. H. Williams; Saluda Circuit, Rev. E. P. Andrews; Laurens Circuit, Rev. K. H. Harris; Long Town, Rev. A. A. Moore; Lexington, Rev. Isaac Cook; Mt. Pleasant, Rev. Prince Dickerson; Scuffletown, Rev. James Jackson; Gadsden, George P. Randolph; Spartanburg, Rev. Manson Williams; Mt. Zion, Rev. J. G. Toomer; Union and
[ILLUSTRATION]
SHORTER COLLEGE, ARGENTA, ARK.
Ebenezer Circuit, Rev. Mato Latta; Leesville, Rev. John S. Martin; Monticello, Rev. D. Glenn; Fingerville, Rev. McLain. Abbeville District, Rev. J. T. Baker, presiding elder--Abbeville Station, Rev. S. H. Jefferson; Cokesbury Circuit, Rev. C. P. Nelson; Abbeville Circuit, Rev. W. T. Burgess; Due West, Rev. William Cothran; Prosperity, Rev. J. W. Lykes; Greenwood, Rev. D. H. Allen; Harrisburg, Rev. G. W. Marshall; Mt. Carmel, Rev. J. H. Keitt; Ninety-Six, Rev. E. D. Perrin; St. John, Rev. H. B. Pressley; Warrenton Circuit, Rev. S. R. Wilson; Western Circuit, Rev. R. C. Irvin; Eastern Circuit, Rev. Joseph Bedenbaugh; Pendleton, Rev. P. Hammitt; Newberry Circuit, Rev. N. Chiles; Eastern Mission, Rev. Louis Clay; Seneca City, Rev. G. J. Fair; Greenville Mission, Rev. G. T. Strickland; Lowndesville, Rev. Joseph Richardson; Western Circuit, Rev. I. M. Gillens. Sumter District, Rev. David Pickett, presiding elder--Sumter Station, Rev. E. D. Spearman; Bishopville Circuit, Rev. P. M. Hartwell; Centerboro, Rev. Z. T. Blake; Rocky Bluff, Rev. T. F. Harper; Player's Cross Roads, Rev. F. Goings; Manning Station, Rev. A. Weston; Plowden and Salem, Rev. A. Coasey; St. James Circuit, Rev. Samuel Cantey; Mt. Pleasant, Rev. W. H. Smth; Friendship and Bethel, Rev. R. Harvin; Society Hill Circuit, Rev. Israel McGowan; Reeseville, Rev. F. S. Bradford; Mt. Holly, Rev. J. G. W. Edmunds, Mayesville, Rev. A. E. Gregory. Aiken District, Rev. W. M. Thomas, presiding elder; Aiken Station, Rev. S. Beard; Hamburg, Rev. J. E. McKnight; Fort Motte, Rev. I. S. Grant; Louisville, Rev. S. W. Hazel; Mt. Moriah, Rev. J. H. Wallace; Edgefield, Rev. R. M. Andrews; Bull Swamp, Rev. London Lawrence; St. Matthews, Rev. L. S. Prioleau; Branchville, Rev. T. W. Haigler; Poplar, Rev. S. Johnson; Felderville, Rev. J. S. Parker; Mt. Zion, Rev. William Dozier; Upper Edgefield, Rev. D. Harris. Statesburg District, Rev. S. C. Gooseley, presiding elder--Statesburg and Camden, Rev. H. D. Edwards; St. Philip and St. Paul, Rev. James White; Antioch and Fair Grove, Rev. E. E. Harrell; Bell Mission, Rev. R. Jones; Providence, Rev. A. Montgomery; High Hill, Rev. S. Williams; Orange Hill, Rev. Thomas Brown; New Hope, Rev. Charles Bracy; Fulton and Zion Circuit, Rev. A. W. Pinckney; Summerton Circuit, Rev. S. Johnson; Martin's Cross Roads, Rev. W. Rankin; Rattlesnake Mission, Rev. M. Abraham.
At this conference there were reported 21,331 members; 7,381 probationers; 298 local preachers; 181 exhorters; 181 churches, valued at $62,300; parsonages, 29, valued at $9,405; contingent money, $139.60; dollar money, $757.50; presiding elders' support, $3,051.60; pastors' support, $16,645.84. The second session was held in Bethel Church, Columbia, S. C., December 10, 1879, Bishop John M. Brown presiding. S. C. Goosely was elected secretary, with I. B. Smith and S. H. Jefferson assistants. Rev. G. W. Bryant was transferred to this conference from the Louisiana Conference. Admissions: R. E. Wall, I. B. Smith, H. Long, G. W. Prioleau and I. S. Lee. Ordinations: Deacons--W. H. Smith, J. S. Parker, P. Hammitt, G. I. Fair, B. F. Martin, T. F. Harper, H. Boston, I. B. Smith, T. C. Develin, A. W. Pinckney and John F. Jackson; Elders--D. H. Allen, G. H. Brown, J. Montgomery, J. W. Lykes, N. Smothers and John Jackson. Deaths: J. S. Martin. Delegates to the general conference of 1880: Revs. S. H. Jefferson, M. M. Mance, W. M. Thomas, George Dardis, D. Pickett, H. Young, H. D. Edwards and S. C. Goosley. To preach at next conference: Annual sermon, E. D. Spearman; missionary sermon, S. H. Jefferson; educational sermon, R. E. Wall. Presiding elders: David Pickett, W. M. Thomas, J. T. Baker, F. Torrence, H. Young, S. C. Gooseley. Rev. E. H. Gourdine transferred to the South Carolina Conference and Rev. B. F. Martin to the Baltimore Conference. Members, 27,510; probationers, 7,562; local preachers, 292; exhorters, 205; churches, 197; value of churches, $85,400; parsonages, 31; value of parsonages, $10,937; dollar money, $1,081.36; contingent money, $155.48; home and foreign missions, $66. The third session convened in Mt. Pisgah Church, Sumter, S. C., December 8, 1880. Bishop Dickerson presided; I. B. Smith, S. H. Jefferson and C. P. Nelson were elected as secretaries. Rev. B. F. Porter was transferred to the conference from the South Carolina Conference. Admissions: J. D. Warley, E. Williams, I. R. Irvin, G. M. Holland, J. R. Martin, D. R. Edwards, G. J. Hamilton, A. E. Trapp and B. W. Boone. Ordinations: deacons--J. F. Goings, K. H. Harris, J. G. W. Edmunds and Alex. Christie; elders-- T. W. Haigler, A. E. Gregory and W. T. Burgess. Transfers: Rev. G. W. Prioleau to Wilberforce University and Rev. I. S. Lee to Howard University. Presiding elders: D. Pickett, S. H. Jefferson, F. Torrence, H. Young, W. M. Thomas, A. Weston. Finances: Contingent money, $88.93; dollar money, $1,194.65; pastors' support, $23,485; presiding elders' support, $4,118.71. The fourth session met in Wayman Chapel, Winnsboro, S. C., December 7, 1881, Bishop Dickerson presiding; I. B. Smith, C. P. Nelson and R. E. Wall, secretaries. Annual sermon preached by the Rev. J.
W. Lykes. Transferred to the conference: E. H. Wilson, H. T. Johnson and E. P. Greenage. General officers present: Drs. B. W. Arnett, financial secretary; B. F. Watson, secretary of education; J. M. Townsend, missionary secretary; Theodore Gould, business manager. Deaths: Revs. S. J. Perrin, Samuel Wideman and M. M. Mance. Ordinations: deacons--R. F. Wall, G. W. Prioleau and H. Long; elders--Revs. J. S. Parker, P. Hammitt, G. I. Fair, I. W. Johnson, George Ferguson, T. F. Harper, I. B. Smith, W. H. Smith, E. H. Wilson, Z. T. Blake, L. D. Clay, A. A. Moore, John F. Jackson and H. McCutcheon. Admissions: R. S. Campbell, W. D. Chappelle, William Gary, J. B. Payton, H. E. Lewis, N. W. Edwards, C. L. Archey, W. C. Johnson, J. J. Johnson. Rev. J. S. Parker was transferred to the North Carolina Conference, and Dr. H. T. Johnson to the Philadelphia Conference. Finances: dollar money, $1772.40; home and foreign missions, $61.55; membership, 23,915; local preachers, 246; exhorters, 198; probationers, 4,858; number of churches, 204; value, $91,631; parsonages, 41; value, $15.574. The fifth session met in Trinity Church, Spartanburg, S. C., December 6, 1882, Bishop Dickerson presiding; secretaries, Revs. I. B. Smith, R. E. Wall and J. G. Sampson. Admissions on trial: D. M. McGill, B. J. Ramsey, James Williams, J. S. Perrin, D. C. Calhoun, C. W. Foster, G. K. Lyles and A. Isaacs. Ordinations: deacons--J. H. Jones, J. G. Sampson, I. R. Miller, B. W. Boone, G. J. Hamilton, A. E. Trapp, Jesse Taylor, Samuel Bonds, E. Williams, D. R. Edwards, C. L. Archey, R. Gamon, W. H. Smith, R. S. Campbell, L. Lyles, C. S. Bradley, J. T. Stewart; elders--K. H. Harris, I. S. Lee, R. E. Wall. Deaths: Revs. Felix Torrence, J. Bedenbaugh, J. G. W. Edmunds, J. D. Warley and J. Richardson. Rev. C. P. Nelson was made presiding elder. Transfers: Rev. J. Montgomery to the South Carolina Conference; Rev. W. H. Smith to the Macon (Ga.) Conference; Rev. T. W. Haigler to the North Georgia Conference. The sixth session met in Weston Chapel, Greenwood, S. C., December 5, 1883, Bishop Dickerson presiding; secretaries, Revs. R. E. Wall, J. G. Sampson, J. D. Barksdale. Delegates elected to the General Conference of 1884: Revs. S. H. Jefferson, W. M. Thomas, J. C. Waters, H. Young, C. P. Nelson, A. Weston, I. S. Lee and J. W. Lykes. Admissions on trial: C. J. Nichols, A. W. Whaley, I. C. Robinson, J. H. Byrd, B. H. Williams, E. B. Burroughs, P. E. Pompey, D. T. McDaniel, A. J. Hampton and G. W. Martin. Ordinations: deacons--C. W. Foster, B. J. Ramsey, C. J. Nichols, J. R. Martin, W. P. Gary, J. B. Payton, W. C. Johnson, L. Pyles, D. H. Johnson, R. H. Perrin; local--Nero Toney; elders--J. G. Sampson and T. C. Devlin. Death, A. C. Johnson. The sessions of the Columbia Conference have been held in the following places since 1884: Columbia, six times; Greenville, three times; Sumter, three times; Abbeville, three times; Manning, Laurens, twice; Winnsboro, three times; Greenwood, twice; Clinton, Union, twice; Spartanburg, twice; Anderon and Rimini. The presiding bishops have been: Bishops Brown, 1879 (two conferences); Dickerson, 1880-3; Shorter, 1884-6; Campbell, 1887; Arnett, 1888-91, '97; Salter, 1892-5; Embry, 1896; Grant, 1898-9; Gaines, 1900-3; Coppin, 1904-7; 1913-5; Lee, 1908-11; Turner, 1912; Chappelle, 1916. The chief secretaries have been Revs. S. C. Gooseley, 1879; J. B. Smith, 1880-2; R. E. Walls, 1883-87; C. M. Crosby, 1888; D. H. Johnson, 1889-99; C. L. Henderson, 1900-9; George C. Johnson, 1910; W. W. Harris, 1911-2; Lee A. Logan, 1913 to date. Bishop W. D. Chappelle, the present bishop, was admitted to this conference on trial in 1881; he received his first appointment in this conference. (By J. W. Lykes, historian.)
South Carolina (North East) Conference, The, was organized in St. John's A. M. E. Church, Marion, S. C., Rev. E. J. Gregg, pastor, December 7, 1892, under Bishop Salter, Bishop W. J. Gaines assisting. The territory embraced the counties of Marion, Florence, Darlington, Sumter, Orangeburg and Clavenden, in which were the Marion, Florence, Sumter, Manning and Orangeburg presiding elder districts of the Columbia Annual Conference. To the districts above named were subsequently added the Wateree and the Lancaster Districts, thus providing for the formation of the Piedmont Conference. Later the Dillon District was organized. The first officers chosen were Rev. A. J. Hunter (secretary) Rev. C. J. Nichols (recording secretary), Rev. J. P. Allston (statistical secretary), Revs. J. J. Moore and P. R. McGhee (marshals), all of whom have died except Rev. Hunter. The presiding elders and leaders were Revs. W. M. Thomas, dean and senior of all; S. F. Flegler, then recently home from Africa; W. D. Chappelle, A. M., now bishop; and Rev. A. W. Heyward, at present presiding elder of the Dillon District. Other promising leaders were Drs. Crosley and Sampson, Revs. G. H. Brown, Gregg, Bowen, Hayne, Pompey, Nichols, Weston, I. R. Miller, John McRea, I. W. Johnson and Thomas Brown. Of this number Dr. Brown only is living. Most of those who assisted in forming this conference are now dead: McCasland, Edwards, Hamonet, Harvin, Long, Thomas, Jackson, Pantey, Jenkins, Byrd, Crawford, J. J. Brown, Harris, Montgomery, Wells, Anderson, Cooper, Randolph, W. E. Johnson, W. T. and J. C. Williams and a host of them have all joined the "great majority." The membership of that first conference consisted of 76 elders, 7 licentiates, 23 local deacons and 7 superannuates with 11,576 lay members. In November, 1915 there were 102 traveling elders, deacons and licentiates, 3 female evangelists, 56 local elders and deacons, and 5 superannuates, with 18,430 members under their charge. The Committee on the State of the Church said in that first report, that 2,411 souls had been brought during the preceeding year, Rev. A. J. Hunter, D. J. Brown and D. A. Perrin are in Alabama, New Jersey and Florida, respectively. Only 7 of the original members are alive and on the active roll, 3 on the superannuated list; 17 have been transferred to the Columbia and 3 to the South Carolina Conferences; thus, including one deserter, the company which started 23 years ago are all accounted for. The most notable event, possibly, in the conference's history was its participation in the wiping out of the bonded debt of Allen University, in 1911; under Bishop Lee, when $28,000 was raised in a single year. To this the Northeast Conference contributed in cash $2,678.25, besides $3,461.49 dollar money and something over $1,000 for missionary, general conference and other connectional claims. The dollar money reported at the first session was $1,808 22; at the twenty-fourth (1915) session, $3,816, and in addition to that about $2,000 for education, missionary and other connectional claims. Not only has progress been made financially but spiritually, numerically and along material lines. St. John's Church, in which the conference was born, was then, perhaps, the most beautiful building of which we could boast; since then Mt. Pisgah, at Sumter, has been rebuilt and beautified. Now modern buildings have been erected at Manning, Liberty Hill, Coutoboro, Page's Mill and at other points. In 1909 we ceded back to the "mother" conference Orangeburg and Wateree Districts, making possible the Peidmont Conference. The bishops who have presided have been Bishops Salter, 1892-5; Embry, 1896; Arnett, 1897; Grant, 1898, '99; Gaines, 1900-3; Coppin, 1904-7, also 1913-5; Lee, 1908-11; Turner, 1912. The chief secretaries have been Revs. A. J. Hunter, 1892-1904; C. P. Nelson, 1905, '06; G. C. Johnson, 1907-9; D. C. Deas, 1910 to date. The sessions have been entertained at Marion three times; Sumter, four times; Manning, four times; Orangeburg, three times; Florence, three times; Lancaster, twice; Darlington, twice; Conway, St. Paul and Bishopville. (By Rev. I. H. White, historian.)
South Carolina: The Palmetto Annual Conference is a portion of the first conference of African Methodists ever held in the South. The original conference was held in Charleston, May 15, 1865, and included the States of South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The membership of the churches and of the conference grew so rapidly that it was only a question of a few years before the aforementioned States had each its own conference. In South Carolina the one conference was known as the South Carolina Conference. In time this one conference grew too large for one gathering and the Columbia Conference was set apart; a few years later the third conference, the Northeast South Carolina Conference, was formed. Bishop B. F. Lee, after a vote in 1910, of the three conferences of the State, held, in 1911, for the first time five conferences, the new ones being the Piedmont and Palmetto Annual Conferences. The Palmetto Conference includes the counties of Georgetown, Williamsburg and Berkley and half the county of Charleston, including half of the African Methodists in the City by the Sea. The first session of the conference was held in Morris Brown, Charleston, December 13-18, 1911, Rev. L. R. Nichols, D. D., pastor; second session in St. Stephens, Georgetown, December 18-23, 1912, Rev. M. A. Hollins, pastor; third session in Friendship, Mt. Pleasant, December 17-21, 1913, Rev. F. Woodbury, pastor; fourth session in Ebenezer, Charleston, December 16-20, 1914, Rev. T. J. Miles, pastor; fifth session in Bethel, Georgetown, October 27-31, 1915, J. E. Beard, pastor. Rev. C. W. McQueen has been the secretary of all the conferences assisted by Rev. A. F. B. Horry and Rev. W. G.
Mance in the first three conferences, and by Rev. A. F. B. Horry and Rev. M. J. James in the last two. Bishop B. F. Lee presided over the first session of this conference, Bishop Turner over the second session and Bishop L. J. Coppin over the three following session. There have been no bishops or general officers elected from this conference since formed, but Bishop M. B. Salter when elevated was presiding elder of the Georgetown District, which is now a portion of this annual conference. A partial list of the honored dead who have been pastors in the territory which now forms this conference (most of them died before this conference was formed) follows: F. H. Gourdine, Paul Winds, Phillip Heartley, Thomas Blake, Andrew Evans, J. B. Butler, A. J. Taylor, Abram Gordon, P. C. Lawrence, C. F. North, John S. Singleton, March Singleton, J. W. White, J. B. Green, H. McD. Hale, D. M. Izard, S. B. Garett, J. W. Whittaker, D. J. Lites, J. B. Ford, E. D. Bryant, A. J. Williams, W. F. Dennison and F. E. Rivers. Rev. A. T. Carr was the leading spirit in the organization of the historic Bethel in Georgetown. There are few of our churches so loyal as this one, and Rev. Carr still lives in the memory of the older members of the said church. Rev. R. H. Cain (later bishop) was the organizer of Morris Brown Church in Charleston, now one of the leading churches in our Connection. There were 99 churches in this conference, 54 pastors, 80 local elders and deacons and 6 lay delegates. There was $20,973 raised for pastor's support last year (1915) and $3,884 raised for presiding elders' support. The total raised for other purposes was $41,200.91. In the five years' existence of the conference it has collected $23,471.55 dollar money, about $20,000 for education, and over $4,000 for missions. We have in this conference 14,858 members and 5,360 probationers. The ministers in the conference who count their age by their service are Rev. L. R. Nichols, D. D., Rev. S. K. Howard and Rev. M. R. Thomas. First delegates elected to the general conference from this conference, 1912, were Revs. Sandy Simmons, L. R. Nichols, P. J. Chavis, B. H. Williams, M. A. Hollins, J. S. Morant. Delegates to the general conference of 1916 were Revs. A. E. Peets, M. A. Hollins, L. R. Nichols, B. H. Williams, J. E. Beard, Sandy Simmons. (By Rev. J. E. Beard, conference historian.)
South Carolina, The Piedmont Annual Conference.--At the call of Bishop Lee, 13 presiding elders and 13 pastors from the Columbia and Northeast Annual Conferences met, November 17, 1909, in Bethel A. M. E. Church, Columbia, S. C., to consider the formation of the fourth annual conference of the A. M. E. Church in South Carolina. Rev. W. M. Thomas was elected chairman and Rev. D. Timothy McDaniel secretary. This commission agreed to recommend the formation of an annual conference to be named the "Piedmont," which conference was to include the Abbeville, Greenville, Greenwood and Newberry presiding elder districts in the Columbia Annual Conference. This recommendation was accepted by the Columbia Annual Conference in session at Clinton, December 6, 1909, and the new conference was formed. The Rev. C. L. Henderson was elected secretary. Weston Chapel A. M. E. Church, Greenwood, S. C., was chosen the seat for the first session of the Piedmont Annual Conference. The territory included the following counties: Abbeville, Anderson, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, and parts of Edgefield, Saluda and Spartansburg Counties. The first session of the Piedmont Annual Conference was at Greenwood, S. C., in Weston Chapel A. M. E. Church, Rev. J. C. Watkins, pastor. Bishop B. F. Lee presided; Rev. C. L. Henderson, recording secretary; Rev. L. W. Jennings, engrossing secretary; Rev. J. B. Smith, statistical secretary. There were 150 ministerial members of the conference and of the local churches: 11,999 full members, 3,296 probationers, 16 exhorters, 126 local preachers and 32 ocal deacons; 123 meeting houses, 16 parsonages and 57 school houses. The finances were reported as follows: Dollar money, $3,808.70; Easter Day, $450.02; Children's Day, $276.39; Education Day, $614.54; May Day, $757.60; for bonded debt, Allen University, $4,998; making a total of $6,370.14 for education this, year; contingent fund, $72.70; minute fund, $98.20; for support of district conferences and Sunday-school conventions, $228.55; Bible cause, $1.30; pastors' gift for missions, $77; for education, $77; other conference collections, $38.73; pastors' support, $20,245.64; presiding elders' support, $3,276.05; benevolence, $994.80; mortgage debts, $3,615.30; incidentals, $3,456.70; traveling expenses, $1,907.35; total for all purposes, $44,594.57. The presiding elders for the first year were: Abbeville District, D. H. Johnson; Greenville District, T. F. Harper; Greenwood District, B. J. Ramsey; Newberry District, R. E. Wall. Transferred into the conference were Revs. J. C. Watkins, J. E. Thomas, A. E. Trapp, A. C. East, S. J. Washington, U. S. Rice, I. S. W. Ball. Transferred out: G. L. Sims to Alabama; I. S. W. Ball to Columbia Conference. With the adjournment of this session Revs. R. E. Wall and T. F. Harper retired from the Newberry and Greenville Districts as presiding elders, and the Revs. F. Y. Dendy and G. F. Lyles took the districts named. The excellent work of the boards of missions and education as seen in the minute of this session in the announcements of assessments will not be seen in other minutes, for the boards seem to have been discontinued; they should be reappointed for the great work to be done by them. Elder T. J. Miles preached the annual sermon from Revelations xiv, 16, subject, "The everlasting Gospel." Deaths reported at this session: Licentiate P. H. Mundy, August 28, 1910; Elder Levi Watson, September 27, 1910; Elder M. R. Mitchell, October 6, 1910. The second session of the conference was held at Anderson, S. C., November 29 to December 4, 1911, in Bethel A. M. E. Church, Rev. A. J. C. Johnson, pastor. Bishop B. F. Lee presided; C. L. Henderson, recording secretary; W. F. Rice, engrossing secretary; J. B. Smith, statistical secretary. Transferred from the Columbia Conference: Revs. W. C. Crawford, T. B. Nelson, E. P. Marshall. Transferred to the Columbia Conference: Revs. J. E. Hagins, M. G. Mundy. Transferred to the Palmetto Conference: Rev. T. J. Miles. Delegates to the general conference: Revs. D. H. Johnson, G. K. Lyles, R. E. Wall, B. J. Ramsey, S. H. Alexander; lay: C. G. Garrett, A. J. Martin; alternates: Revs. F. Y. Dendy, W. F. Rice, J. W. Douglass, E. R. Anderson, J. B. Smith. Rev. S. H. Alexander preached the annual sermon from Luke xiv, 22, subject, "A task completed." Other sermons were preached before the conference: Wednesday night, Rev. J. C. Watkins--text, Romans i, 16, subject, "The secret of Paul's zeal." Thursday at noon a thanksgiving sermon by Rev. D. E. Rice--text, I. Samuel ii, 1; Sunday, 11 a. m., Rev. W. W. Beckett--text, Mark xvi, 7, subject, "A divine message to an individual"; Sunday, 3 p. m., Bishop Lee read Matthew v and spoke from Titus ii; Sunday, 6.30 p m., Dr. J. C. Caldwell spoke to the audience from the topic, "Lessons from great lives"; at 7.30 p. m.,, Dr. Frank McDonald preached from Malachi ii, 1, 2 and 7, subject, "The efficiency and office of the Gospel minister." Died this year: Elder B. W. Boone, April 4, 1911; Elder P. M. Hartwell, July 10, 1911; Elder A. A. Moore, July, 1911. Dollar money, $3,820.10. Other financial reports were not printed fully, as the following note shows: "I regret committee's failure to report to the secretary in any given case or cases.--B. F. Lee." It is known, however, that the Abbeville District raised this year and reported at this conference for missions $520, but no mention is made of it in this minute. The bishop offered $5 to the presiding elder whose district raised $500 for missions in the State, and Abbeville was one of the two districts which raised the amount in the State. Dr. B. J. Ramsey by limit retired from the Greenwood District as presiding elder; Dr. G. T. Coleman succeeded him. The conference held its third session in Allen Temple A. M. E. Church, Greeneville, S. C., December 4 to 9, 1912, Rev. J. E. Thomas, pastor. Bishop Turner presided; Revs. C. L. Henderson and J. B. Smith secretaries. About 30 visitors were introduced. Five young men were admitted on trial. Revs. R. E. Wall, D. D., and William Cothran were superannuated. A new district, the Laurens, was formed during the last hours of this session of the conference, and Rev. L. F. Vance was appointed presiding elder over it. This session was made memorable by the number of sermons preached on Sunday; beginning at 9 o'clock Bishop Turner preached from Hosea xii, 9. Rev. S. R. Ray followed, preaching from John xiv, 6. At 11 a. m. Rev. F. A. White preached from John vii, 46; then Rev. D. E. Rice, from Luke ix, 29; at 2.15, Rev. C. H. Rembert, from Matthew xvii, 2-4; then Rev. E. R. Anderson, from John xvii,3. At night Rev. L. L. Jackson preached from I. Corinthians iii, 10. Dr. Ramsey preached the annual sermon Wednesday night, text, Luke x, 17-20, subject: "The mission of the seventy." The reports were not all handed in and the statistics were not summarized. The dollar money was $3,502.05. Bishop H. M. Turner tendered his resignation as bishop of the Seventh Episcopal District to the bishops sitting in council in Charleston, S. C., February, 1913. Bishop L. J. Coppin was given charge of the district until the meeting of the general conference. The fourth session was in Miller Church, Newberry, Rev. J. B. Smith, pastor, December 3 and 4, 1913.
Bishop Coppin presided. The secretaries were C. L. Henderson, D. E. Rice and W. F. Rice. The following committee was appointed and given plenary power to purchase the Sterling College property in the city of Greenville, S. C.: J. E. Thomas, E. N. Metts, D. H. Johnson, G. K. Lyles, F. Y. Dendy, L. F. Vance, G. T. Coleman. Eight persons were admitted on trial. The following members of the conference died during the year: Elders, J. T. Steward, G. W. Martin, S. J. Washington, W. W. Long, and Local Deacon B. F. Strother. The general summary shows the following: Dollar money, $3,555.20; Easter Day, $517.48; Children's Day, $378.99; P. H. and F. M., $11.15; W. H. and F. M., $368.45; education, $1,740.70. At the close of the conference D. H. Johnson was appointed over the Greenwood District and G. T. Coleman over the Abbeville District. The fifth session was held December 2 to 6, 1914, at Laurens, S. C., in Bethel Church, Rev. W. R. Alston pastor. Bishop Coppin presided and the same secretaries were re-elected. Revs. D. T. McDaniel, W. D. King and J. Z. Martin were transferred into the conference. The following were elected trustees of Sterling College: G. K. Lyles, F. Y. Dendy, J. E. Thomas, D. H. Johnson, L. F. Vance, J. W. Doyley, B. B. Martin, C. B. White, E. N. Metts, G. T. Coleman, R. H. Bradley. The following members died this year: R. E. Hall, January 14, 1914; R. H. Galman, February 22, 1914; J. M. Tillman, April 15, 1914; and Local Elder Samuel Oakfield, 1914. The dollar money fell off about $383.60 and other funds in about the same proportion, the cause being laid to the great European War. At the adjournment of the conference the District appointments were as follows: Abbeville District, R. H. Bradley, presiding elder; Greenville District, C. L. Henderson, presiding elder; Greenwood District, S. H. Alexander, presiding elder; Laurens District, L. F. Vance, presiding elder; Newberry District, J. E. Thomas, presiding elder. The sixth session of the Piedmont Conference was held in Abbeville, S. C., December 1 to 5, 1915, with Bishop Coppin presiding. The secretaries of the last session were re-elected. There was a large number of visitors at this session of the conference, the main attraction, possibly, being the quadrennial election of delegates to the Centennial General Conference and to hear the reports, as the fall-off of the last conference in its dollar money and other funds had been the talk very largely during the year. Here are some of the finances and other statistics, others not being accessible at this writing: Dollar money, $3,617.90, an increase over last year of $410.25; Easter Day, 478.50; Children's Day, 359.30; P. H. and F. missions, $47.50; W. H. and F. missions, $270.37; education, $1,736.11; general fund, $165.88; centennial fund, $29.50; minutes, $237.20; contingent, $85.25; Bible cause, $3; conversions, 1,740; accessions, 1,829; full members, 13,346; probationers, 3,783; total membership, 17,129. The Sunday-school statistics have not been gathered as carefully and as accurately as this important subject demands, the largest number of officers, teachers and pupils published is 8,432 for 1913; this is too pitiably small and discreditable to the pastors and superintendents of the conference to be allowed to appear in print. Deaths: Presiding Elder Shephen Hendrix Alexander, October, 1915; Elder William Cothran, December 27, 1915. Delegates elected to the Centennial General Conference: Revs. C. L. Henderson, R. H. Bradley, J. E. Thomas, D. H. Johnson, J. W. Douglass, W. F. Rice; lay, C. G. Garrett, L. T. Lomax. Elder C. B. Gillard was appointed presiding elder of the Greenwood District. (By Rev. D. H. Johnson, historian.)
Southern Christian Recorder, The, second oldest connectional weekly, published at Nashville, Tenn., Rev. G. W. Allen, editor, a four-page paper, seven columns to a page, $1.00 per year, Ira T. Bryant, business manager. The Southern Recorder was approved by the General Conference of 1880 and 1884, but not established until 1886, when Bishop Turner established and operated it as his private property. He sold it for $750 to the Book Concern of the A. M. E. connection, 1888, when Dr. M. Edward Bryant, of Alabama, was elected the first editor and manager for the church. Dr. Bryant died during the quadrennium and Dr. C. L. Bradwell, of Georgia, was elected to fill the unexpired term. In 1892, when Dr. A. M. Green, of Louisiana, was elected and served four years, from 1892 to 1896; when Dr. R. M. Cheeks, of Georgia, was elected and served four years, from 1896 to 1900. Dr. Cheeks was re-elected in 1900, but died before the adjournment of that general conference, and Dr. G. E. Taylor, of Texas, was elected and served four years, from 1900 to 1904. Dr. G. W. Allen, of Alabama, was then elected and was re-elected to succeed himself, at the general conferences held in 1908, 1912 and 1916.
St. Joseph, Missouri.--Ebenezer A. M. E. Church, of St. Joseph, Mo., of which Rev. N. C. Buren, B. D., is pastor, was organized in 1866 by Rev. John Turner. The first building was erected by Rev. John M. Wilkerson in 1868. It was remodeled in 1894 by Rev. F. Jesse Peck. The building is now a modern structure, having a seating capacity of 400. It is well lighted and heated and has a modern pipe organ
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EBENEZER A. M. E. CHURCH, ST. JOSEPH, MO. Rev. N. C. Buren, Pastor.
installed by Rev. Julian C. Caldwell. The membership is 270 and is well organized, having its stewards' and trustees' boards, the Sunday school, the A. C. E. League, W. M. M. Society, two stewardess boards, a deaconess board, a What-So-Ever Society, a welfare board and the Mary and Martha Society. All of these are busily engaged in the Master's vineyard. (By J. H. Simms, A. M.)
St. Louis, Mo., is the largest city west of the Mississippi, having a population in 1910 of 687, 029, of which 43,960 were Negroes. It was settled first about 1664 by the French who traded with the Indians. About 1818 the first Methodist mission was started there by Jesse Walker. The A. M. E. Church was organized there by William Paul Quinn.
St. Louis, Mo.--St. Paul A. M. E. Church, the first African Methodist Episcopal Church in St. Louis, was organized by Rev. William Paul Quinn, a general missionary, June 1841, on Water Street, in a store building owned by Edward Walsh. The first member was Louisa Carter, who afterward became the wife of Rev. J. W. Early. Others joining then were Francis Embry, Charlotte Wyatt, Elmira Parker, Louisa Boyd and Sallie Broadwater. The first entertainment was held in what was known as Lyceum Hall, to purchase ground on which to build a church. The first official board was held in the home of Priscilla Baltimore. A lot was purchased during the pastorate of Rev. William Douglass, in 1842, at Eleventh and Green Streets. The work of erecting the church began in 1848, during the administration of Rev. George W. Johnson, and was completed in 1852, during Rev. Byrd Parker's second administration, dedicated and named St. Paul's Chapel. In 1865 an adjoining lot was bought for $4,750 and the corner-stone of the new church, which enclosed the smaller old frame structure, was laid with appropriate Masonic rites in 1869. The church was completed during the pastorate of Rev. John Turner (second term) and dedicated by Bishop A. W. Wayman, Sunday, August 4, 1872; at this time there were 200 conversions and 300 added to the church. The present church property was purchased in 1869 at a cost of $90,000, and the congregation moved to the only metropolitan structure
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ST. PAUL A. M. E. CHURCH, ST. LO UIS, MO.
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TRUSTEES AND PASTOR (REV. W. S. BROOKS) OF ST. PAUL A. M. E. CHURCH, ST. LOUIS, MO.
erected primarily for the use of a Negro congregation, during the pastorate of Dr. E. T. Cottman, of blessed memory. The real value of the old church at the time of building present structure, deducting a mortgage debt of $4,000, was $24,000 and the indebtedness at the close of Dr. Cottman's pastorate, 1893, was $26,990.92. From this date, throughout the administration of succeeding pastors down to Dr. W. Sampson Brooks, the principal debt had been reduced to $14,000, although a larger amount than the principal had been paid in interest and fines. During the administration of the present pastor in 22 months, the remaining indebtedness was wiped out and the church stands clear for the first time in over a quarter of a century. The burning of the mortgage marks an epoch in the history of the church. The following pastors have served St. Paul at the time indicated: Revs. William Douglass, 1842-4; Henry Cole, 1844-5; Byrd Parker, 1845-7; George W. Johnson, 1847-50; Israel Cole, 1850-1; Byrd Parker, 1851-2; W. R. Revels, 1852-4; H. R. Revels, 1854-5; Aaron M. Parker, 1855-7; John Turner, 1857-59; R. H. Cain, 1859-60; John Turner, 1860-3; M. M. Clark, 1863-6; W. R. Revels, 1866-9; William A. Dove, 1869-71; John Turner, 1871-4; John M. Wilkinson, 1874-7; John Turner, 1877-8; Thomas W. Henderson, 1878-82; M. W. Beckley, 1882-4; George H. Shaffer, 1884-8; E. T. Cottman, 1888-92; C. W. Preston, 1892-6; S. J. Brown, 1896; C. W. Preston, 1896-1900; D. P. Roberts, 1900-4; W. D. Cook, 1904-9; John W. Sexton, 1909-11; W. Sampson Brooks, 1911-6. Board of stewards: Henry Snowden, J. A. Howell (treasurer), Dr. W.
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ST. PAUL'S A. M. E. OFFICIAL BOARD
Sampson Brooks, E. Hawkins (secretary), W. D. Elgin, James L. Haley, T. C. Crenshaw, Dr. D. W. Scott. Class leaders: F. W. Lewis, P. W. Wilson, S. A. Williams, R. Eaton, E. H. Thomas, A. B. Rice, Edward Smith, S. R. Stanley, G. W. Draper, C. Joshua, Grant Coleman, Squire Fox, Jack Hale, J. M. Braden, Samuel Moore, J. R. Jones, G. T. Laster, W. D. Woods.
Sunday School Union of A. M. E. Church was organized August 11, 1882, at Cape May, N. J., by Bishops Daniel A. Payne, Alexander W. Wayman, Jabez P. Campbell, John M. Brown, Thomas M. D. Ward, William F. Dickerson, Richard H. Cain and Rev. Chas. S. Smith. Bishop Payne was the first president and Rev. C. S. Smith was its first corresponding secretary and prepared its constitution. Its purpose was the organization and development of Sunday Schools. It was first located at Bloomington, Ill., and here the first publication--"Our Sunday School Review"--was published in January, 1883. In January, 1886, it was moved to Nashville, Tenn., and in April the Teachers' and Scholars' Quarterlies were published. The publication of these was followed by the Juvenile and Gem Lesson Papers in July of the same year. February 28, 1886, Rev. C. S. Smith purchased at 206 Public Square, Nashville, for $9,000, a brick and stone building, five stories high, including the basement. The Sunday School Union was then incorporated, the incorporators being Chas. S. Smith, Henry M. Turner, Evans Tyree, Green L. Jackson and Louis Winter. An outlay of printing material was bought in February, 1889, over $5,000 being expended for this purpose. In order that the work might be fostered, there was set aside a special day, known as "Children's Day," first observed in October, 1882, and thereafter the second Sunday in every June, when the whole connection rallied to the support of the Sunday School Union. From 1884 to 1900 Rev. C. S. Smith served as secretary-treasurer, pushing the work forward for the good of the Sunday Schools throughout the Church. In 1900 he was elected to the bishopric and Rev. Wm. D. Chappelle, of South Carolina, was elected to succeed him and served from 1900 to 1908. In the meantime, the Children's Day collections were increased and the work kept alive by the rallies, every June, of the army of loyal Allenites throughout the Connection. The Sunday-School Union had now been running as an organization (1882-1908) for twenty-six years, and as an incorported institution nearly twenty years. The subsidy known as Children's
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PRESS ROOM AT SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, NASHVILLE, TENN.
Day money had been sent to the Union for all these years and the time was ripe when there was to be demonstrated the truth that an institution running for a quarter of a century should now be self-supporting. With a reasonable and business-like proposition, Mr. Ira T. Bryant, a young layman, a son of Rev. Mansfield Edward Bryant, came before the Church to demonstrate that he could, without Children's Day funds, operate the Sunday School Union upon the proceeds of the institution, and in time so develop the work
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SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION BUILDING, NASHVILLE,
that the Church would receive a dividend from the Sunday School Department, instead of paying into it annually large collections to subsidize it. The Children's Day funds, he argued, could best be used as a means of helping the wornout preachers of the Church, and the A. M. E. Sunday School Union could be made an institution independent of direct taxation. In 1908 the general conference elected Mr. Bryant as secretary-treasurer, without Children's Day funds or financial assistance. His first task was to organize a competent working force, which he did. Then came the task of building the foundation of a publishing plant which would be able to print anything needed by the Church or race. And so, as the proceeds increased, the result of Mr. Bryant's tact and economy, modern machinery was installed. A complete typesetting and typemaking department was put in at a cost of thousands of dollars. Presses, folders, binders, feeders, stitchers and trimmers were purchased and the building at 206 Public Square became too small to meet the needs of the department. Over $50,000 worth of machinery has been purchased. and paid for from the proceeds from the work done by the plant. The literature issued compares favorably with this class of matter published by any other publishing house in the country. The Richard Allen Monthly, a magazine for teachers, is the latest addition. At the Young People's Congress, at Atlanta, Ga., in July, 1914, hundreds of preachers and laymen saw the Sunday School Department in another light. The literary feature was predominant, and the strides made by way of methods and systems for advancing and promoting the work, were clearly exhibited. All of the helps and printed matter, vari-colored and illustrated, from cradle roll to home department, such as any Sunday School might need, were on exhibition, and represented the advancement along this line made by the Sunday School Union. The biggest achievement of Mr. Bryant has been the purchase and building in 1914 of the most commodious and well-designed publishing plant owned by colored people. This building is valued at more than $50,000 and contains an automatic fire sprinkler system, valued at $5.000. The entrance to the building brings to view the main office where the clerical force receive orders upon top of orders daily, and after recording them pass them on to the well-arranged mailing room just to the rear. Here tons of mail of all description are sent down the chute to the auto trucks waiting in the subway to transfer it to the main post office. In this part of the building are located: on the second floor the editorial rooms, offices of the Allen C. E. League, evangelical bureau and Secretary Bryant. The reception room, the display room and the beautiful "Bishops' Room"--an assembly room where services or meetings may be held--are also located on this floor. The rest room is adjacent, and is fitted up with swings, improvised tables and kitchen, all used for entertainment and refreshment. The third floor is a large hall in which, if need be, large gatherings may be had. But the department which most interests the visitors, is the mechanical division, all situated in well-lighted and freely ventilated apartments. From the street one views the mammoth cylinder presses, turning out the large contracts, the job presses, trimmers and folders, all working with clocklike regularity. To the rear is the wonderful monotype plant where the young ladies may be seen operating the typesetting keyboards, with skill and dexterity, while the casting machines are noisily transforming molten lead into type, ready for the printer's use. The bindery is another beehive. Here a big force of girls is continually folding, stitching, binding, pasting and trimming books and periodicals of all sizes and folios.
Texas (Central) Annual Conference, The, was organized upon a motion by Rev. A. Grant, December 17, 1883, in San Antonio, Tex. The next day the boundary lines were fixed by the members of the West Texas Annual Conference, as follows: Beginning at Corpus Christi and tracing the line to Laredo, Eagle Pass and all the territory in that region not yet embraced in our mission work, thence along the Sunset Railroad to San Antonio, Tex., and all the territory and towns west of the Great Northern and Missouri Pacific Railroad; embracing Braunsfels, San Marcus Circuit, Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, Lampasas, Taylor, Waco and all that circuit; Riflepoint, Cleburne, Hillsboro, Fort Worth and all the towns on the line of the Texas Pacific Railroad to the border of New Mexico, embracing Abiline and all territory within that boundary, and also embracing the border of the Republic of Mexico, where there is an opportunity to preach or establish schools among the Mexicans. There were in the new conference 28 appointments and 20 ministers. Revs. B. W. Roberts and A. Grant were elected delegates to the general conference. The first annual session was held in Rockdale, Tex., 1884, Rev. J. H. Connor, pastor, Rev. G. E. Taylor, secretary, Bishop Wayman, presiding. In 1885 and 1886 sessions were held in St. Paul Church, Waco. From 1888 to 1892 Bishop Grant presided, and from 1892 to 1896 Bishop Lee, and from 1896 to 1897 Bishop Armstrong; Bishop Salter presided from 1897 to 1904; Bishop Tyree from 1904 to 1912; Bishop Smith from 1912 to 1916, and the present Bishop J. H. Jones. When the delegates returned from the general conference, in June, 1900, at the closing of Paul Quinn College, the presiding elders of the State and trustees of Paul Quinn College arranged an educational rally. The presiding elders were asked to raise $50 each from their districts in the Sunday-school conventions. This was the beginning of the great educational rallies in the State of Texas, and we might say of the Connection in the annual conferences. The three districts presided over by Rev. T. C. Denham, J. H. Lynn and W. S. Johnson reported through their pastors $2,160.20 dollar money, $151.25 educational money, 16 new organized points, 8 new churches, 350 converts, and 400 accessions. In 1901 the conference met in Belton, Tex., Rev. J. A. Jones, pastor; Rev. W. S. Johnson, presiding elder; Rev. J. W. Watson, secretary. The following was the report. Dollar money, $2,260 80; educational money, $227.25; converts, 680; accessions, 926; new churches, 11; new places organized, 14. In 1902 the annual conference met in Grant's Chapel, Austin, Tex., November 12. Rev. T. M. Chappelle, pastor; Rev. T. C. Denham, presiding elder; Rev. F. L. George, secretary. Summary of the conference: Dollar Money, $2,361.75; educational money, $467.35; converts, 742; additions, 845; new churches, 5; new points organized, 6. The report of the presiding elder of the Waco District, Rev. J. H. Lynn, showed that 11 new points had been organized, and upon his recommendation the annual conference created another district known as the El Paso District. Rev. J. W. Watson was appointed presiding elder of the new district, and reported great success in the annual conference a year hence in Waco, Tex. The conference of 1903 closed the quadrennium and the following delegates were elected to the general conference which met in Chicago, Ill., May, 1904: Ministerial--Rev. T. C. Denham, J. W. Watson, W. S. Johnson, G. B. Young, I. M. Burgan and J. H. Lynn; lay--Prof. A. S. Jackson and W. D. Cain. From 1904 to 1912 Bishop Tyree presided. His first Central Texas Annual Conference was held in Georgetown, Tex., November 3, 1904, Rev. J. A. Jones pastor; Rev. H. A. Carr, secretary; Rev. J. W. Watson, presiding elder; reported as follows;
Dollar money, $2,469.40; educational money, $764.35; converts, 860; accessions, 942; new churches, 10; new points, 12. The conference in 1905 was held in Hillsboro, Tex., November 5, Rev. W. D. F. Pyle, pastor; Rev. T. C. Denham, presiding elder; Rev. J. A. Jones, secretary; dollar money, $2,526.55; educational money, $1,566.76; conversions, 985; accessions, 1,120; churches built, 15; new points, 9. This is one of the record breakers of the State for raising educational money. Bishop A. Grant visited this conference and preached two excellent sermons at 11 a. m. to the conference and by special request, to the white people of the city, at 3 p. m., in the court house. The white people were so affected by his sermon that they offered him $50 to stay over and preach for them that night, but he was compelled to leave for Kansas City, Mo. Bishop Grant loved Texas and Paul Quinn College. He left in his will to Paul Quinn College $2,151.51 and his library. In 1906 the conference met in Wayman Chapel A. M. E. Church, Temple, Tex., Rev. L. J. Sanders pastor; Rev. J. H. Lynn, presiding elder; Rev. H. A. Carr, secretary; Bishop Tyree, presiding; dollar money, $2,378.10; educational money, $1,469.40, conversions, 691; accessions, 860; new churches built, 4; points organized, 7. November 14, 1907, the annual session was held in St. Paul A. M. E. Church, Waco, Tex., Rev. G. B. Young, B. D., pastor. Rev. T. C. Denham (who departed this life just two weeks before the conference) was the presiding elder; Rev. H. A. Carr, secretary; Bishop Evans Tyree, presiding. Dollar money, $2,652.75; educational money, $1,476.90; conversions, 827; accessions, 980; new points organized, 9; churches built, 6; parsonages, 4. The following delegates were elected to the general conference, which convened in Norfolk, Va., May, 1908: Revs. J. W. Watson, G. B. Young, J. H. Lynn, H. A. Carr, J. A. Jones and J. W. McDade. Lay delegates: Prof. A. S. Jackson and Prof. L. B. Kincheon. The entire membership of the State and ministers passed resolutions instructing the delegates to ask the general conference to return to the State Bishop Tyree. This was done, the bishop returned and all Texas rejoiced. His first annual Central Texas Conference for the quadrennium was held in Cameron, Tex., November 3, 1908, Rev. H. E. McCoy, pastor; Rev. J. H. Lynn, presiding elder; Rev. H. A. Carr, secretary;
Bishop E. Tyree presiding; dollar money, $2,43.50; educational money, $1,250.60; conversions, 439; accessions, 563; new churches built, 5; new points organized, 3. November 3, 1909, the annual conference met in San Marcos, Tex., Rev. J. W. McDade, pastor; Rev. J. W. Watson, presiding elder; H. A. Carr, secretary; Bishop E. Tyree, presiding bishop; dollar money, $2,476.20; educational money, $975.60; converts, 397; accessions, 536; new churches built, 5; parsonages, 3; points organized, 4. In this conference we planned for our $10,000 educational rally for Paul Quinn College. In 1910 the presiding elders of the four annual conferences laid on the alter for education $10,990.72. This was a record breaker along this line of church work. On the first day of November, 1910, the annual conference met in Brownwood, Tex., Rev. L. J. Sanders, pastor; Rev. J. H. Lynn, presiding elder; Rev. H. A. Young, secretary; Bishop E. Tyree, presiding; Rev. H. A. Young, book steward; dollar money, $2566.75; educational money, $2,683.27; converts, 722; accessions, 893; new churches, 7; new points, 9. November 7, 1911, the annual conference met in Temple, Tex., in Wayman Chapel, J. A. Jones, pastor; J. W. Watson, presiding elder; Rev. R. C. Walker, secretary; T. H. Smith, book steward; Bishop Tyree, presiding; dollar money, $2,725.45; educational money, $1,539.35; accessions, 400; conversions, 385; churches built, 4; new points, 3. This being the close of the quadrennium, the following delegates to the general conference were elected: Revs. E. J. Howard, J. T. S. White J. W. Watson, J. A. Jones, W. S. Johnson, S. H. Simms, J. H. Lynn, S. D. Butler; lay delegates, Prof. A. S. Jackson and L. B. Kincheon. This closed eight years of successful labor under the leadership of Bishop Tyree, who is greatly loved in Texas. The General Conference in May, 1912, assigned Bishop C. S. Smith to the Tenth Episcopal District. His first Central Texas Annual Conference in Bethel A. M. E. Church, Cameron, Tex., Rev. L. J. Sanders, pastor; J. W. Watson, presiding elder; Rev. R. C. Walker, secretary; T. H. Smith, book steward; conversions, 594; accessions, 943; members, 4,117; dollar money, $2,798.55; dollar money increase, $335.35; Easter Day, $102.92; Children's Day, $56.15; educational money, $2,126.65; benevolent, $1,105.35; general conference expense money, $60.69; presiding elders' support, $3,581.78; pastors' support, $12,918.09; Bible cause, $1.80; total for all purposes, $33,126.50. October 29, 1913, conference met in Metropolitan A. M. E. Church, Austin, Tex., Rev. S. J. Johnson, pastor; B. W. Simms, presiding elder; T. H. Smith, book steward; R. C. Walker, secretary. Reports are as follows: Conversions, 752; accessions, 859; members, 4,556; dollar money, $2,820.70; dollar money increase, $67.90; educational money, $2,217.25; benevolent, $2,110.40; general conference purposes, $81.45; presiding elders' support, $3,690.50; pastors' support, $13,820.75; Bible cause, $1.20; Easter Day, $210.65; Children's Day, $62.80; contingent money, $202.10; Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society, $80.50; minutes, $45.80; total for all purposes, $44,275.80. October 28, 1914, the Central Texas Annual Conference met in Salter's Chapel, Cleburne, Tex., J. W. McDade, pastor; Rev. L. M. Sanders, presiding elder; R. C. Walker, secretary; T. H. Smith, book steward; Bishop C. S. Smith, presiding. 943; full members, 5,170; new churches, 6; new points organized, 12; dollar money, $2,679.80; educational money, $2,306.25; benevolent, $1,870.20; general conference delegate expense money, $91.86; minute money, $46.75; Easter Day, $170.80; Children's Day, $70.35; Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society, $86.80; Bible cause, $1 85; presiding elders' support, $3,390.75; pastors' support, $18,576.80; local trustee purposes, $16,229.95; local Sunday-school purposes, $3,720.09; all purposes, $50,665.95. The annual conference, 1915, met October 27 in the New Street A. M. E. Church, Waco, Tex., which had just been completed under the pastorate of Rev. William David Miller, B. D., costing, when finished, $35,000. G. W. Anderson, presiding elder; R. C. Walker, secretary; T. H. Smith, book steward; Bishop C. S. Smith, presiding.
Reports were as follows: Conversions, 683; accessions, 1,164; full members, 4,992; new churches, 3; new points organized, 10; dollar money, $2,620.46; educational money, $1,825.25; benevolent purposes, $1,780.15; general conference delegates' money, $97.80; Bible cause, $1.75; minute money, $45.80; Easter Day Money, $108.45; Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society, $90.60; Children's Day money, $57.90; presiding elders' support, $3,492.87; pastors' support, $18,496.74; local trustee purposes, $17,290.60; local Sunday-school purposes, $2,475.95; total for all purposes, $50,426.18. This being the close of the quadrenium, the following delegates were elected to attend the general conference which convened in Philadelphia in May, 1916: Revs. S. J. Johnson, T. H. Smith, W. D. Miller, A. W. Williams, J. W. McBay, R. C. Walker and H. A. Young; lay delegates--Profs. L. B. Kincheon and W. H. Passon. The general officers elected from this conference: The general conference of 1896 elected Prof. H. T. Kealing editor of the A. M. E. Review; the general conference of 1912 elected Prof. A. S. Jackson commissioner of education. Important events of the quadrennium: (1) On October 15, 1914, the mortgage on Paul Quinn College was burned in the chapel. The match was touched to it by Rev. William Leak, who had prayed just to live long enough to see the mortgage burned. Thousands of laymen and ministers were present. (2) The old St. Paul A. M. E. Church was sold for $10,000 and the money was paid on the erection of a $35,000 new St. Paul A. M. E. Church, Waco, which was started by Rev. E. J. Howard and completed by Rev. W. D. Miller, October, 1913. The opening sermon was preached by Rev. G. W. Anderson, presiding elder of the Waco District, Sunday morning, October 17, 1915. (3) The sale of the Metropolitan A. M. E. Church, Austin, Tex., built by Bishop Grant, at a cost of $17,000, at a great sacrifice to the church and congregation, by Rev. J. T. S. White, pastor, for $5,000. (4) The educational rally of $14,000 for Paul Quinn College for 1914 by the order of Bishop C. S. Smith. (Committee: Rev. John H. Lynn, D. D., historian, Waco, Tex.; Rev. Samuel S. Johnson, Austin, Tex.; Rev. Richmond Walker, Hillsboro, Tex.; Rev. J. M. Anderson, Waco, Tex.; Rev. G. W. Anderson, Waco, Tex., treasurer; T. H. Smith, chairman, Waco, Tex.; W. D. Miller, secretary, Waco, Tex., Box 153.)
Texas (West) Annual Conference, The, was organized December, 1875, at Corsicana, Bishop J. M. Brown presiding. The Brazos River was made the boundary line. The new conference met December 9, 1876 in St. Peter's Chapel, Columbus, Tex. The members were: Elders Johnson Reed, R. Haywood, E. Hammitt, William Leak, J. H. Johnson, Peter Townsend, Frank Green, John Hubert, John Felder, W. F. Love, C. H. Conner, Campbell Silar and W. R. Carson; deacons: Rufus McGhee, Joseph Morgan, George Conner, C. Nitus, George Watts, Randall Green; B. McQuirter; T. Madison, W. Buchanan, M. Wilson, A. Scott, A. W. Jones, S. Lovett, John Peterson, P. Oliver, W. F. Love, J. C. Aker,
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GIRLS' BUILDING--TURNER COLLEGE, SHELBYVILLE, TENN.
E. Johnson and Coleman Matthews; traveling preachers--J. W. Gilmore, J. Smith, Filey Johnson, S. C. Fantroy, D. J. S. Miller, Van Carmichael and J. H. Conner; local deacons--Henry Felder and Charles Long. Rev. Johnson Reed was the secretary of this conference. Where the conference met in 1877 and 1879 is not mentioned in Kealing's "History of African Methodism in Texas." In 1878 the West Texas Conference convened in San Antonio, Rev. J. Reed, pastor, Bishop Ward, presiding. There were 33 churches; 2,275 members, exclusive of probationers; 53 Sabbath schools; 2,649 scholars and $512 dollar money. The conference convened in Austin, Tex., December, 1881, Bishop Cain presiding; Rev. Johnson Reed, secretary. The conference met December 13, 1883, Bishop Cain presiding, in San Antonio, Rev. J. C. Embry, pastor. There were 80 full members and 17 licentiates belonging to this conference. Since then the West Texas Conference has given birth to three new conferences: The Northeast, the Central and Southwest Texas Conferences. She has given to the Connection Abraham Grant as bishop and H. T. Kealing and G. E. Taylor as general officers. The present membership is 126; lay members are 3,250; churches, 56; parsonages, 12. Since this conference was organzed many of the prominent members who labored hard for its advancement have passed into the beyond. Among them are Revs. Haywood, Hammit, Jones, Love, Goins, Green, Roberts, Grout, Leak, Grimes, Buggs, Payne, Taylor and Starks. We will only mention a few among the leaders of this conference at present are H. K. McCoy, J. V. B. Goins, Jr., A. B. Pipkins, M. L. Pendergraff, W. A. Lee, J. H. Hughes, M. C. Lewis, G. W. Sample, J. B. Butler, W. S. Mitchell, I. S. Pendergraff, R. A. Moore, C. C. Hammonds, A. Deaver, F. F. Ferguson, S. M. B. Harris, E. M. Bracy, R. L. Smith and P. D. Saddler. The following persons have served this conference as secretaries: Reed, Roberts, Williams, Hull, Johnson, Miller, Mitchell, Mosly and A. B. Pipkin.
Turner College, Shelbyville, Tenn., was established in 1886 and chartered in 1887. The Tennessee Conference in 1885, Bishop Turner presiding, passed a resolution to establish the school. Revs. E. Tyree (now bishop), T. B. Caldwell and G. W. Bryant were the committee to locate the school, which was first called Shelbyville High School. The first principal was Rev. C. S. Bowman, who also pastored the Shelbyville A. M. E. Church. Succeeding presidents have been Revs B. A. J. Nixon, W. H. Shelby, C. H. Boone, J. H. Boone, and the present incumbent, Rev. J. A. Jones. In 1896 the institution was chartered as "Turner Normal and Industrial Institute," which has later been changed to "Turner College." The departments are theological, English, normal, college, preparatory, commercial, music, sewing and millinery. There were last year 137 students and 9 teachers. There have been 33 graduates from the normal course. Among the distinguished graduates is Rev. H. L. P. Jones, pastor of St. Paul Church, Nashvilyle, Tenn. The property consists of 2 acres and 3 buildings, valued at $30,000. The institution is supported by the Tennessee conferences. Its income is about $5,000 per year.
"Two-Cent Money" was a fund provided for by the general conference, first in 1844 for the purposes, of assisting the general expenses of the Church and aiding the Book Concern. Each member was taxed two cents for those purposes. In 1868 "Two-Cent Money" was succeeded by "Dollar Money." Two-cent money reported from 1845 to 1852, inclusive, was as follows: 1845, $870.46; 1846, $347.58; 1847, $424.91; 1848, $475; 1849, $722.52; 1850, $123.23; 1851, $825.62; 1852, $925.52.
Virginia Annual Conference.--From 1864 to 1867 all of the ministers who labored in Virginia were members of the Baltimore Annual Conference, and reported their work to that conference. On May 10, 1867, in Richmond, Va., Bishop Wayman organized the Virginia Annual Conference. The ministers present at the organization were Bishop Wayman, Revs. J. D. S. Hall, George T. Watkins, R. H. Parker J. R. V. Thomas, Isaac J. Hill, J. H. Offer, Peter Sheppard, Matthew Marshall, Aaron Pindle, Jacklin Strange, George Williams, Lewis F. Wayne, William F. Williams, William H. Smith, Joseph H. Plato, John W. Diggs and J. H. Hughes, who were enrolled as the first members. Revs. J. M. Brown, William H. Brown, R. A. Hill and William H. Hunter were present and took part in the proceedings, but were not members of the conference. The first appointments were: Richmond District, J. D. S. Hall, presiding elder and pastor of Richmond Station; Richmond Mission, William Williams; Fredericksburg, J. K. Plato; Port Royal, to be supplied; Farmville, M. Marshall; Portsmouth District, J. R. V. Thomas, presiding elder and pastor Portsmouth Station; Portsmouth Mission, A. Pindle; Smithfield Circuit, I. J. Hill and George Williams; Norfolk District, George T. Watkins, presiding elder and pastor, St. John, Norfolk. The conference collections were as follows: Contingent, $82.33; Baltimore Association, $12; missionary from Richmond Church, $7.98; total, $102.31. The sessions from 1867 to 1916 have been held eight times in Richmond, seven times in Norfolk, seven times in Portsmouth, five times in Danville, three times in Salem, Staunton and Roanoke, four times in Wytheville, twice in Eastville, Hampton, Suffolk, once in Farmville, Winchester, Smithfield and Berkley. The bishops who have presided have been: Wayman, 1867-72, and '91; Campbell, 1873-76, and '89; J. M. Brown, 1877-80; Payne, 1881-4; Turner, 1885-8; Ward, 1890; Grant 1892; Gaines, 1893-6, and 1905-8; Handy, 1897-1900; Lee, 1901-4; Coppin, 1909-16; Johnson since May, 1916. Among those who were members of this conference who were honored by the general Church were: W. B. Derrick, joined 1869, elected bishop in 1896; and R. M. Cheeks, admitted 1877, elected editor Southern Recorder 1896-1900. Those who have served as conference secretaries have been Revs. J. N. V. Thomas, 1867-8; W. D. W. Schureman, 1869, '71, '73; J. H. A. Johnson, 1870; W. B. Derrick, 1872, '74-8; J. E. W. Moore, 1879-80; E. H. Bolden, 1881-3; R. M. Cheeks, 1884-5; E. H. Bolden, 1886, '90, '92, '94-6; Edward Scarboro, 1887; G. W. Nicholson, 1889; W. H. Brown, 1891; I. L. Butt, 1893; C. A. Holmes, 1897-1901; A. J. Nottingham, 1902-5; W. R. Howerton, 1906 to date. The following is a list of the honored dead: Revs. Lewis H. Wayne, January, 1868; George Thornton, January 8, 1868; Cato L. Dalay, 1872; Benjamin L. Hollaway, 1878; Matthew Marshall, 1878; Abram J. Williams, 1878; David L. Owens, 1878; Richard H. Parker, 1878; Lemuel W. Lee, 1889; John W. Montgomery, 1878; Robert T. Lewis, 1882; S. A. Hicks, 1887; James A. Haynes, September 14, 1889; James W. Throckmorton, 1891; Richard J. Gassaway, 1892; Felix Wood, 1892; John B. Lewis, July 23, 1894; J. H. Briggs, September 14, 1894; Richard H. Govans, December, 1895; Philip M. Onley, 1896; George W. Harris, 1897; Frank W. Overton, 1900; P. S. Jefferson, 1901; James M. Ruffin, April 14, 1902; L. T. Barker, 1902; C. A. Holmes, May 24, 1902; John H. Offer, June 10, 1902; E. H. Bolden, June 10, 1902; Moses H. Matthews, December 5, 1902; George W. Pinkard, 1903; William H. Lee, A. B., June 19, 1904; John T. Schofield, 1904; Robert Armstead, January 14, 1904; George Williams, 1905; J. H. Garner, August 23, 1905; William J. Harris, September 3, 1905; Peter Sheppard, May 30, 1907; Charles H. Hunter, 1910; Jeremiah Cuffey, 1910; Louis H. Reynold, 1910; Robert Davis, 1910; J. E. Wyatt, 1910; John H. Robins, June 18, 1911; J. S. Mason, May, 1911; J. B. Tynes, 1913; J. H. A. McClammy, 1913; James Edward Trotman, 1914; Andrew Robinson, 1914; I. L. Britt, 1915. Statistics: Number of churches, 125; ministers, 87; elders, 77; deacons, 6; licentiates, 4; lay members, 11,529; amount raised (1914) for pastors' salaries, $27,590.03; for presiding elders, $3,614.88; for other purposes, $58,715.33; grand total, $89,920.24. (Compiled from data furnished by Rev. I. L. Butt, conference historian.)
Ward Academy is a small school at Natchez, Miss., named for Bishop Ward. It is supported chiefly by the Natchez District of the Mississippi Annual Conference. Rev. T. M. S. Pendleton is principal.
Washington, D. C.--Bethel Literary.--Bishop Henry McNeal Turner deserves to be remembered as the father of the Bethel Literary ideas as an A. M. E. Church auxiliary, for it was he who not only conceived the idea, but formulated and offered the plan which was adopted by the bishops at Newport, R. I., August, 1880, of having literary societies for all the churches and congregations through the entire Connection, the pastors and presiding elders being required to organize and keep in operation a literary society for each church, setting apart one night in each week for literary exercises. In November, 1881, Bishop Daniel A. Payne organized the Bethel Literary and Historical Association. He was also the founder and organizer of the most famous
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MISS MARIE A. D. MADRE President Bethel Literary Society.
branch of the Literary, that of the Metropolitan A. M. E. Church, of Washington, D. C. There was a growing demand for some institution at the National Capital in which the varied talents of young men and women could get opportunity for growth and development. At the same time need existed for men and women of light and leading to give popular instruction and shape the current of thought
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MISS MATTIE R. BOWEN
on live and important issues. Private literary gatherings had failed to satisfy, and when Bishop Payne opened the Literary he was greeted with enthusiasm by many, though with indifference and incredulity by others.
The first executive officer, Robert J. Smith, a native of Bermuda, had the leisure to work up meetings, to secure the readers of papers and arrange for the speakers to lead in the discussions. In his efforts he was assisted by a committee of men and women whom he denominated his Advisory Board. Among the first members were Lewis H.
Douglass, Rev. Arthur W. Upshaw, Annie Geary (Waddleton), John W. Cromwell, Chanie A. Patterson, Sadie F. Tyree and Mattie R. Bowen. The Literary soon became popular. Every Tuesday night the society was invariably well attended. The Washington correspondents of the colored papers spread the news, and in other centers of population the topics discussed at the Literary were reviewed, until this organization may be said to have shaped the thought of the country. Other presidents were, Rev. James Dean, Lewis H. Douglass, John W. Cromwell, James Storum, Reuben E. Smith, George M. Arnold, John H. Rector, Edward A. Clarke, Kelly Miller, Lafayette M. Hershaw, William H. Richards, F. L. Cardoza, Jr., Shelby J. Davidson, George W. Jackson, L. G. Gregory, A. D. Washington, S. M. Dudley and Garnet C. Wilkinson. Two women have served as presidents: Mrs. Mary Church Terrell, who was vice president to John H. Rector and completed his unexpired term; and Miss Marie A. D. Madre, the present incumbent, who enjoys the unique distinction of being the only woman elected to the office, as well as being the only individual who has held the position by repeated elections covering five years of service.
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TRUSTEES, METROPOLITAN A. M. E. CHURCH, WASHINGTON, D. C.
Frederick Douglass, Edward W. Blyden, Joseph C. Price, Alexander Crummell, Bishops B. F. Lee and Benjamin T. Tanner, John M. Langston, Blanche K. Bruce, Dr. Alex. T. Augustus, Richard T. Greener, Archibald H. Grimke, Rev. F. J. Grimke, Rev. Morgan Beckett, Paul Laurence Dunbar, John R. Hawkins, Alain L. Locke, William E. B. Dubois, Bishop Evans Tyree, Booker T. Washington, Registrar J. C. Napier, Hon. John C. Dancy, Registrar W. T. Vernon, W. A. Joiner, Revs. M. W. D. Norman, J. M. Waldron, A. L. Gaines, Rt Revs. B. F. Lee, W. J. Gaines and L. J. Coppin, George W. Cook and Charles Cook, Daniel Murray, assistant Librarian of Congress, R. W. Bagnall and Prof. L. B. Moore are among the distinguished personages to appear from among our own people; while John A. Logan, George C. Gorham, Charles A. Gardiner, Cleveland Abbe, Bishop Thirkield, Joseph Benson Foraker and Samuel Newman are types of the white men who have appeared. Womankind was represented by Fanny Jackson Coppin, Frances W. Harper, Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey, Josephine Silone Yates, Amanda Smith, Madame E. Azalia Hackley, Mrs. I. N. Ross, Elizabeth Carter, Isabelle Worrell Ball, Miss Lucy Laney, Mrs. Julia West Hamilton, Mrs. Mary F. Handy, Mrs. Coralie Franklin Cook, Ida Gibbs Hunt, Dr. Lucy E. Moten, Mrs. Senator La Follette, Mrs. D. G. Hill, Mrs. Ruth Collett, Mrs. M. W. Clair, Mrs. Minnie L. Gaines, Miss Hallie Q. Brown, Mrs. Ida Wells-Barnett, Mrs. C. H. Stepteau, Mrs. Ruth G. D. Havens, Miss Nannie Burroughs, Miss Maria L. Jordan, Julia M. Layton, Mrs. Alice Strange Davis, Mattie Bowen, Mary Vanness Fauth, Mamie Beckett Lane, Laura Joiner and Marie A. D. Madre.
The men who first "famed themselves" or were discovered by their appearance at the Literary include Calvin D. Johnson (graduate of the first class from Hampton), Everett J. Waring, F. H. M. Murray, Lafayette M. Hershaw and Kelly Miller. Miss Amanda R. Bowen (or as she was popularly known, Mattie Bowen), was a very great factor in the evolution of this society. The name of no other woman stands out more conspicuous than that of Mattie Bowen, who for 31 years was treasurer and safe counsellor.
In the past more than now the programs were planned in the Advisory Board Meetings. It required at first much time and more diplomacy to regulate these matters and avoid the public personalities and other snarls which often would have been inevitable. After the first two or three months, programs almost shaped themselves. Large meetings and absorbingly interesting discussions ensued. For 20 years this was a prevailing characteristic, in which Bishops H. M. Turner, James A. Handy, Wesley J. Gaines, B. F. Lee and L. J. Coppin gave invariably their active support, while the entire Bench of Bishops gave their moral support, thereby contributing to the success of the Literary as a distinctive Church auxiliary. The pastors who have contributed their influence and support are G. T. Watkins, Theophilus G. Steward, John G. Mitchell, John W. Beckett, John T. Jenifer, J. Albert Johnson, Daniel G. Hill, O. J. W. Scott, John H. Welch, I. N. Ross and C. H. Stepteau.
About 18 years ago, after the passing of Frederick Douglass, Langston and Price, whose names were almost sufficient to draw a house, the Literary ceased to attract as of yore. Then Prof. William H. Richards, who has been the most potent influence in the Literary for the past 25 years, and who has contributed to its success more than any other individual, so much so that he is designated "father of Bethel Literary," became president. He made a new departure by symposiums and introducing special features that appealed, first to one and then to another interest. In this way new life was injected into the body. Since giving up the presidency, his influence has still been potent, he having been lecturer during the intervening period up to that of the present incumbent, who is his follower and disciple. During the entire 25 years, which have covered a career as professor in the Howard University Law School, and during which time he has done much to make possible the success of about two-thirds of the Negro members of the Bar, he has never tired of contributing intellectually and materially to the success of the Literary.
A word to the secretaries: Mrs. Annie Geary Waddleton was the first; Miss Laura Joiner served faithfully for five years; Miss Mary Beckett Lane, Miss Maria L. Jordan, Miss Ella M. Boston, Mr. Harrison Pinkett, Miss Anna D. Bell and Mr. James F. Alston, the present incumbent, who has served four years faithfully and well.
A word as to the career of Miss Marie A. D. Madre, who is now rounding out her fifth term as the presiding officer of Bethel Literary and Historical Association, will be interesting. To describe her as a "remarkable woman" is to tell the truth in language almost too conservative to do the service justice. Since her graduation some years
ago from the high and normal schools of the District, carrying off the richest honors that were offered, she has been a most conspicuous representative of her sex in the uplifting movements among our people.
After Miss Madre's graduation from the public schools, she took special courses at Howard University. She subsequently entered the law department of that institution and graduated therefrom as valedictorian, with the degree of LL. B. in 1898 and LL. M. in the class of 1899. In addition to her duties as president of the Bethel Literary Society, she is a highly efficient teacher in the public schools and for several years was principal of one of the grammar schools in the District of Columbia. She is also president of the District Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, lecturer
[ILLUSTRATION]
STEWARDESSES, METROPOLITAN A. M. E. CHURCH, WASHINGTON, D. C.
and organizer of the Mite Missionary Society for the Baltimore Conference of the A. M. E. Connection, and is an active worker in the Department of the Potomac, Woman's Relief Corps, serving efficiently as press correspondent of the auxiliary to the Charles Sumner Post No. 3, Grand Army of the Republic. As a mark of personal esteem and as a recognition of her helpful labors in behalf of the W. R. C.,
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CLASS LEADERS, METROPOLITAN CHURCH, WASHINGTON, D. C.
Bethel Literary was recently presented with a beautiful flag the token being tendered in an eloquent and laudatory address by Mrs. Mary Vanness Fauth, patriotic instructor of the Department of the Potomac. This is the first instance that such an honor has been bestowed upon a Negro organization outside of the Grand Army of the Republic. The Literary is also the proud possessor of a fine piano, one of the many achievements of Miss Madre's energetic and constructive administration. The brilliant success of the First Negro Folk-Song Festival, with the famous Mme. E. Azalia Hackley as director, was planned and executed under Miss Madre's supervision. Madame Hackley gave her services free for two weeks to get this piano. Miss Madre has given the Nation's Capital its best opportunity to hear and enjoy the productions of the foremost genuises of both races and stands in the front rank of the promoters of the larger affairs of the community that make for civic pride and intellectual elevation. Among those she has been instrumental in bringing to the platform of Bethel Literary are former President William Howard Taft, the late President McKinley J. Max Barber, Dr. Booker T. Washington, Dr. M. C. B. Mason, William Lloyd Garrison, Jr., Charles W. Chestnutt, W. E. B. Dubois, Hon. Archibald H. Grimke, Senators M. E. Clapp and Wesley J. Jones, Congressman M. B. Madden, T. C. Thatcher and L. C. Dyer, Dr. J. E. Shepard, Bishop Alexander Walters, Oswald Garrison Villard, Rev. John H. Holmes, Joel E. Spingarn, R. R. Wright, Sr., Dr. William Sinclair, Rev. W. H. Brooks, Dr. C. Albert Tindley, H. Martin Williams, Attorney James H. Hayes, Bishop Joshua Jones, Bishop Evans Tyree, Dr. Pazavia O'Connell, Dr. O. E. Jones, General Andrew S. Burt, Prof. W. V. Tunnell, R. R. Wright, Jr., Justice W. P. Stafford, J. E. Milholland, Mrs. Paul Laurence Dunbar, Rev. R. W. Bagnall, William Pickens, Rev. Henry L. Phillips, Dr. Yerby, J. Edmonston Barnes (of Liberia), J. Rosamond Johnson, Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey, Mrs. Coralie Franklin Cook, Dr. Lucy E. Moten, Mrs. Anna J. Murray, Rt. Revs. H. M. Turner, W. J. Gaines and L. J. Coppin, Mrs. Mary Giles Beckett, Miss Emma Hall, Miss Laura A. Joiner, Mrs. I. N. Ross, Mrs. Amanda Smith, Mrs. Minnie L. Gaines, Mrs. F. W. Clair, Mrs. Alice Strange-Davis, Miss Nannie L. Burroughs, Mr. Charles C. Cook and many others of like prominence and commanding ability. Musicians, poets and literateurs, at home and abroad, have been brought to her forum and the people have heard all of them gladly.
Officers of the Literary for 1915 and 1916: Miss Marie A. D. Madre, LL. B., LL. M., president; Mr. A. S. Pinkett,
LL. B., LL. M., first vice president; Mr. Sylvester McLaurin, LL. B., LL. M., second vice president; Mr. James F. Alston, LL. B., LL. M., recording secretary; Miss Parthenia Woodson, corresponding secretary; Miss J. R. Bush, treasurer; Prof. William H. Richards, LL. B., lecturer and counsellor;
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PROF. RICHARDS Of Bethel Literary Society.
Mr. S. M. Dudley, LL. B., librarian; Mr. Clarence Allen, marshal; Dr. C. H. Stepteau, chaplain and pastor. Advisory Board: Hon. Archibald H. Grimke, Dr. William A. Sinclair, Dr. Lucy E. Moten, Prof. G. C. Wilkinson, Dr. J. H. N. Waring, Mrs. Coralie Franklin Cook, Mr. John A. Simms, Sr., Mr. James H. Marshall, Mr. James H. Hayes, Mrs. Julia West Hamilton, Mr. W. L. Houston, Mrs. Rosetta E. Lawson, Dr. Elias G. Evans, Dr. George W. Murray, Mrs. Jaretta
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WARD HALL--WESTERN UNIVERSITY, QUINDARO, KANS.
White, Mrs. A. E. Waddleton, Mr. R. W. Thompson, Dr. George W. Cabaniss, Mrs. M. W. Clair, Prof. George W. Cook, Mr. J. M. H. Young, Mr. N. W. McGowan, Mr. R. A. Tucker, Mrs. C. I. West, Mr. Thomas Walker, Mr. John W. Lewis, Mr. F. D. Lee, Major James E. Walker, Miss Mayme Jones, Dr. E. D. Williston, Mrs. Georgia L. Miller, Mrs. Capitola Smith, Miss Florence Burgess, Prof. Charles H. Thomas, Mr. William H. J. Beckett, Mr. Frank B. Williams, Mr. James Jackson, Mr. W. A. Bowie, Mr. Charles F. Sprague, Mr. James Langhorn, Mrs. F. W. Taylor, Miss A. D. Bell, Mrs. J. M. Layton, Mrs. James F. Bundy, Mrs. Essie Fortune, Mr. E. W. Harrison, Mr. Charles Hale, Mrs. Irene Jurix. Reverends: Rt. Rev. L. J. Coppin, bishop of the Diocese; Rev. Walter H. Brooks, Rev. A. C. Garner, Rev. J. H. Randolph, Rev. M. W. Clair, Rev. W. C. Brown, Rev. J. Milton Waldron, Rev. L. M. Beckett, Rev. D. P. Seaton, Rev. M. W. D. Norman. Music Committee: Dr. John T. Layton, Prof. J. Henry Lewis, Miss Mary L. Europe, Miss Lola Johnson, Prof. William Braxton, Mrs. Gabrielle Pelham, Mrs. M. W. D. Norman, Mr. W. Calvin Chase, Jr., Mr. G. W. Walton, Miss Medora Boxley, Mr. Frank Williams, Mr. R. W. Johnson, Miss Charlotte Wallace, Prof. Charles Wesley, Mr. James H. Marshall, Mrs. Annie Gilhem Green, Miss Marie James, Mrs. Arabella Chase, Prof. Roy W. Tibbs, Mrs. Marietta Clinkscales, Mrs. Lucy Blagburn, Miss Beatrice Chase, Miss Alberta Williams, Mrs. Capitola Smith, Mr. A. F. Hilyer, Miss Eva Virginia Johnson, Miss Lucy J. Moten, Mrs. E. D. Williston, Prof. W. A. Adams, Miss Georgia Frazier, Mrs. Essie Jarvis, Miss Martha Liggons.
Wayman Institute, Harrodsburg, Ky., was founded by the Kentucky Conference in 1890, at Harrodsburg, Ky. It is a small institution for local needs chiefly. Its principals have been Revs. I. H. Welch, Augustus Reid, W. H. Lacey, Prof. George W. Saffell, W. E. Newsome, Prof. C. H. Brown and C. H. Boone, the present president. The courses are English, normal, academic, theological and industrial. There were 3 teachers and 53 students in 1915-6; 29 persons have graduated since 1890. There are 4 buildings, 18½ acres of land and the whole is valued at $5,000. There were two theological students in 1915-6.
Western University, Quindaro, Kans., near Kansas City, grew out of a school named Freedmen University, founded by Rev. Eben Blatchley, a Presbyterian minister, about the time of the Emancipation. Mr. Blatchley having died October 18, 1877, the Kansas Conference, in October, 18, 1880, appointed Revs. B. F. Watson, J. C. Embry and John Turner a committee "to confer with the trustees of the Freedmen National School at Quindaro and [be] empowered to make any arrangements deemed wise and proper to receive a transfer of the property to the control of the conference for school purposes." The property was secured and a school organized. In 1898 the governor of Kansas recommended State aid and "The State Industrial Department"
was established there. From that time to the present the State has aided, having, however, a separate board of trustees to administer its funds. The presiding bishop is chairman and a certain number of the trustees are members of the Kansas Conference. In 1896 Rev. W. T. Vernon took charge with six students. He served as president for more than 12 years. His successor is President H. T. Kealing. The departments are normal, commercial, musical and industrial. There were 276 students (14 theological) and 22 teachers in 1915-6; 7 buildings; 137 acres of land, the whole valued at $190,000. There have been 320 graduates, the most distinguished of whom are Prof. R. H. Brown, Lawyer W. B. Douglass and Mr. W. V. Smith, a successful farmer.
West Virginia Annual Conference.--The first ventures of work in West Virginia were made by the ministers of the Virginia and Pittsburgh Conferences, both claiming that State as a good field for mission effort. Because of the constant and rapid moving of the people from one mining community to some other, much of the work first organized was lacking in growth and permanency. At the Brownsville session of the Pittsburgh Conference, in 1889, Rev. C. A. McGee was appointed presiding elder, the major portion of his district being in West Virginia. The appointment was a good one; no better selection could have been made. This brother was both morally and physically adapted for such pioneer work. He began his work by taking boat for Morgantown for his first quarterly conference. The house for worship had been abandoned and used as a "sheephouse." The elder soon got together a few friends, cleaned out the place, held services and appointed a local preacher, Brother W. H. Walker, as pastor. It is now a good charge. Rev. Sandy Christian, a pious, faithful man did much to improve the buildings. During the same year the work at Charleston, the capital of the State, was organized by Brother Rabon and his wife as members. Rev. F. D. Taylor erected, with no little sacrifice and in spite of much opposition, the present beautiful brick chapel. Rev. Francis Herman Gow, an earnest, industrious, intelligent young minister, a native of South Africa, is its present pastor. The Huntington church was organized in 1901, Rev. C. H. Young doing the initiative work, though he stayed but a few months. Rev. Prosser succeeded in gathering a good congregation, purchased a building from another congregation for $1,150 and moved from their humble, temporary quarters from Sixteenth Street to Eighteenth Street. Rev. Lafayette Barber, the undaunted walking preacher, went from place to place, organized work at Stout's Mills, Wyoming, Raleigh and other points, most of which have been abandoned because of the migration of membership. The work at Eckman was organized by men of the Virginia Conference. The church building had been swept away by a flood, but another was soon built by Rev. B. F. Newsome and finished by Rev. L. E. Johnson, a Payne Seminary graduate. Brother Page Shannon, under Elder McGee, was quite instrumental, as a local preacher, in doing good work. The work at Williamson was organized by him. It has now a very pretty little brick chapel, the work of Rev. James Gibson, its present pastor. Rev. E. R. Bazier organized and secured a house at Buchannon and organized our people at Elkins. The little frame building was erected by Rev. L. Griffin and remodeled later by Rev. Green Horace Jenkins, a Howard University graduate. The church at Clarksburg was built by Rev. Pride, mainly, and completed by Rev. J. C. Young. The Parkersburg church, now beginning to be quite a desirable charge, "came through hard trials and great tribulations." The brick building erected by others has lately been remodeled by Rev. James Wheeler, and is much improved. The parsonage, with the tireless labor of his own hands, sacrifice and suffering of himself, young girl-wife and babies, was built by Rev. B. W. Ford, thus making it possible for a pastor to find a good home and greatly helping that charge. Because of meagre information I am unable to make mention of others who nobly and valiantly labored to make it possible for this state to have a conference of its own. At the general conference at Norfolk, May, 1908, a resolution was passed, having been introduced by Rev. S. P. West, to make an annual conference of the State of West Virginia, which had been a part of the Pittsburgh Conference. October, 1908, at Wheeling, W. Va., the conference was organized by Bishop Derrick. Rev. S. P. West was chosen secretary; Rev. J. T. Gibbons, assistant; Rev. R. R. Downs, book steward; Revs. J. Harrison Accooe and F. H. Taylor, presiding elders. The territory embraced the whole State of 4,000 square miles. But two presiding elders were found to be too many on account of the sparce settlements and poor pay. There were barely five appointments paying pastors $400 to $500 per year, and not quite 500 members in the State. In 1909 the whole State was made one presiding elder district and Rev. W. H. Thomas appointed presiding elder. Rev. R. R. Downs for the past five years has been presiding elder. The work is steadily growing. The total monies collected at the first conference was about $600, while at Parkersburg at the 1915 conference over $2,200 was collected, including $500 from the missionary department. (By R. R. Downs, historian.)
Whittaker, John Henry, was the son of Charles and Eliza Whittaker, both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was born April 10, 1840, in Kent County, Del. His parents had 16 other children. He attended school in Philadelphia only six weeks and is self-made; was converted February 18, 1867, and joined Union A. M. E. Church in the same month. He has held in the church the offices of trustee, class leader, exhorter and local preacher; was licensed to preach in Philadelphia, Pa., April 28, 1874, by Rev. Samuel Watts; was ordained deacon April, 1880, at Princeton, N. J., by Bishop John M. Brown; ordained elder in 1884 at Newark, N. J., by Bishop J. M. Brown, and joined the annual conference in 1876 at Newark, N. J., under Bishop Shorter. He has held the following appointments all in New Jersey: Allentown, 1876; Bridgeton, 1879; Pennington, 1882, East Camden, 1885; Bordentown, 1888; Mount Holly, 1891; Salem, 1893; Fair Haven, 1895; Mt. Laurel, 1897; Mt. Holly second time), 1889; East Camden (second time), 1902; Pensauken, 1905; Yorktown, 1907; Othello, 1909; Allentown (second time), 1910; South Bound Brook, 1913; Chesilhurst, 1914; Crosswicks, 1916. He has built Union A. M. E. Church, Allentown, N. J., at a cost of $900, in 1878, and Hosanna A. M. E. Church, East Camden, N. J., at a cost of $800 in 1900. His wife is Mrs. Hannah J. Whittaker, to whom he was married in 1875 in Salem, N. J. He has contributed to the Christian Recorder, and owns a home.
Wilberforce University.--September 21, 1844, a committee was appointed in the Ohio Conference of the A. M. E. Church to select a site for a seminary of learning on the "manual labor plan." One hundred and seventy-two acres,
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EMERY HALL, USED AS GIRLS' DORMITORY, WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY
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GROUP OF BUILDINGS OF WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY, OHIO.
Top Row--O'Neil Hall, used as Boys' Dormitory; Teachers' Homes. Center--Galloway Hall, used as Recitation and Administration Building for Normal and Industrial Department. Bottom--Arnett Hall, used as Girls' Dormitory; Power House; teachers' cottages.
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GROUP OF BUILDINGS OF WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY, OHIO.
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GROUP OF BUILDINGS OF WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY, OHIO.
Top Row--Machine Shop and two teachers' cottages. Middle Row--Hospital, Gymnasium and teacher's cottage. Bottom Row--S. T. Mitchell Hall, used as Senior Girls' Dormitory; two teachers' cottages; Recitation Building.
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A GRADUATION-DAY SCENE IN THE CHAPEL IN GALLOWAY HALL, WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY
12 miles west of Columbus, were purchased, and Union Seminary was projected. On September 28, 1853, the Cincinnati Conference of the M. E. Church selected a committee, which recommended "the establishment of a literary institution of high order for the education of colored people generally"; and in May, 1856, "Tawawa Springs," a summer resort in Greene County, Ohio, was purchased and Wilberforce College located. By concurrent action, the M. E. and A. M. E. Conferences of Ohio entered into co-operation for the success of the university. It was incorporated August 30, 1856, and a board of 24 trustees selected, including Governor Salmon P. Chase, President R. S. Rust, Ashland Keith, of the colored Baptist denomination, and Bishop D. A. Payne; and the principle was adopted that there shall never be any distinction among the trustees, faculty, or students, on account of race or color. The university began its work in October, 1856, under Rev. M. P. Gaddis, as principal. He was succeeded by Prof. James K. Parker, and he by Dr. Richard S. Rust, the first president. During the first epoch, which terminated with the Civil War, the number of students, largely the children of Southern planters, varied from 70 to 100. Revivals were experienced, and commendable progress made in literary culture. The war closed the school, and the M. E. Church withdrew from the field. On March 10, 1863, Bishop D. A. Payne purchased the property for $10,000, and associated with himself Rev. James A. Shorter (afterwards bishop) and Prof. John G. Mitchell, in the re-organization of the university, Bishop Payne becoming president. The Union Seminary property was sold, and proceeds, faculty and pupils merged into a larger enterprise. On the day that President Lincoln was assassinated, the main building was burned and the growing work checked. But the heroic founder and his associates redoubled their efforts. Congress, in 1870, appropriated $25,000; Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase bequeathed $10,000; the Charles Avery estate added $10,000, and the American Unitarian Association gave for lectures $6,000. During this administration $92,875 was raised, and the registration of students averaged 113. During the 13 years Bishop Payne presided over the affairs of the university, there went out 26 graduates, including Dr. J. P. Shorter, Bishop B. F. Lee, Dr. J. W. Beckett, President S. T. Mitchell, Miss Hallie Q. Brown, Hon. C. L. Maxwell, the Misses Copeland, and others of large acquirements and wide influence. Among the undergraduates were Bishops Cain and Salter, Drs. William H. Hunter and A. A. Whitman, and others. President Payne left his impression on every line of development. He organized the Church of the Holy Trinity, the Society of Inquiry on Missions, and the Women's College Aid Society, and secured the Ward Museum worth $2,000. Rev. B. F. Lee, now bishop, became the president in 1876. In all elements of moral, mental and physical ability he was a worthy successor to a great founder. In 1877, Prof. W. S. Scarborough, a graduate of Oberlin College, was appointed to the Chair of Latin and Greek; and Mrs. S. C. Bierce (now Scarborough) of the Oswego Normal School was appointed principal of the normal department and instructor in natural sciences, and instituted the movement which resulted in obtaining the present museum, for which Bishop Payne secured the funds. Through the Missionary Department of the Church native Haytians were brought to the institution. President Lee continued at the head of affairs eight years, registering 1,179 students, an average of 147, and graduating 41. There was raised during the period $79,202.80. In 1884, he was elected editor of the Christian Recorder. His successor was Prof. S. T. Mitchell, of the class of 1873. During his administration the university continued its steady growth; 2,924 students registered, an average of 209. The year 1896 showed the highest enrollment, 334. On April 5, 1898, the Legislature of Ohio, by a unanimous vote in both Houses, placed to the credit of the Endowment Fund of the University, the Randolph Fund of $6,643. On March 19, 1887, the legislature passed a law establishing the "Normal and Industrial Department." It is supported entirely by the State, and over it the State exercises controlling power. It is placed on the same financial basis as the other State educational institutions. Prof. W. A. Joiner is the superintendent of this department. On January 9, 1894, President Cleveland detailed Lieutenant John H. Alexander, U. S. A., a graduate of West Point, to organize a military department at Wilberforce, which is the only Negro school in the country having such a department under patronage of the United States Government. Graduates of this department have been commissioned to assist in training the National Guard of Liberia. Prof. S. T. Mitchell was succeeded, in 1898, by Rev. (now bishop) J. H. Jones, under whom the institution reached an enrollment of 595 pupils and 33 officers and teachers, and substantial growth was made. In 1908 Prof. W. S. Scarborough was elected president.
Wilberforcians, The, a society of graduates and undergraduates of Wilberforce University permanently or otherwise residing in Washington, D. C., was organized in 1898 at the home of Prof. William A. Joiner, who was its first president. The purpose of the organization is to cultivate close fellowship among its members, to extend proper welcome to all the alumni of the university who might visit the city of Washington, and to co-operate as far as possible with the A. M. E. Church in making Wilberforce the foremost
[ILLUSTRATION]
THE WILBERFORCIAN SOCIETY
institution in the United States for the training of Negro youth, and to perpetuate the Wilberforce spirit so benignly conceived by its founders. Prominent among the members are Bishop and Mrs. John Hurst; Prof. William A. Joner, superintendent, combined Normal and Industrial Department, Wilberforce University; Rev. John S. Johnson, the originator of The Wilberforcians; Prof. James C. Wright, president of the organization, and Mrs. Wright; Mr. Charles E. Hall, of the United States Census Bureau, and Mrs. Hall; Mr. Jefferson S. Coage, manager of The Coage Scales Co.; Dr. William L. Board, proprietor of Board's Pharmacy; Attorney Charles S. Cuney; General Henry Forrest; J. Frank Blagburn, cashier's office of Recorder of Deeds, and Mrs. Blagburn; Mrs. Mary Houston; Mrs. Luella Crouse, teacher; Mrs. Mattie Cheeks, former matron, Wilberforce University; Mrs. Carol Carson; Dr. Laura E. Joiner; Mr. Charles R. Thompson, Post Office Department; Dr. William L. Tignor and Mrs. Tignor; Dr. Augustus A. Williams; Mr. John H. Myers, Treasury Department; Mr. Oscar Preston, merchant; Mr. William P. Bayless, newspaper correspondent; Mrs. Lucy Nooks; Hon. William T. Vernon and Mrs. Vernon; Messrs. E. Lawrence Burns; J. Sherman Hunnicutt; Dr. C. H. Stepteau, pastor of Metropolitan A. M. E. Church; and Rev. M. F. Sydes. The society has directed students to the university, and assisted in defraying the expenses of some of them; awarded prizes to students for special scientific research; contributed books to the library; secured over $1,700 for the girls' dormitory; inspired the organizing of Wilberforcian clubs in several cities; and has been addressed in large public meetings at the Metropolitan A. M. E. Church by President William Howard Taft, the late Hon. John M. Harlan (member of the United States Supreme Court), and Hon. Charles Dick, of Ohio (formerly a member of the United States Senate), and attracted to the university the helpful attention and generous sympathy of many interested friends.
Young People's Congress, as inaugurated by the Sunday-School Union and the Allen Christian Endeavor League, was first held July, 1914, at Bethel A. M. E. Church, Atlanta, Ga., for the purpose of bringing together Sunday-School and Christian Endeavor workers for instruction in methods and inspiration for better work. Experts in methods were brought from all parts of the Church and some of the best inspirational preachers and lecturers were present. Delegates were sent from all sections of the Church. The second Young People's Congress was held August 2-6, 1916, in Nashville, Tenn, under the same auspices, Ira T. Bryant being chairman, Rev. J. C. Caldwell secretary and W. H. Shackleford treasurer. During this session the Sunday-School Union building was dedicated.
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STEWARDS' BOARD, 1915, CHARLES STREET A. M. E. CHURCH, BOSTON, MASS.
C. B. Moore, T. P. Taylor, Rev. M. W. Thornton, S. Griffin, W. S. Jones, W. H. Bright, H. Foster, D. Smith, William C. Lovett, J. A. Fitchett O. H. Fitzallen, J. R. Bonner.
(See sketch, Page 294.)
[ILLUSTRATION]
SENIOR CHOIR, "MOTHER" BETHEL A. M. E. CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA, PA.
Seated--Henry Walker, leading bass; Mrs. Rosa Owens Pinckney, secretary and leading contralto; David Mason, organist; Prof. George T. Corson, chorister; Mrs. Flora Lewis Makel, president and leading soprano; William H. Owens, leading tenor; William Burdett, treasurer and tenor.
Second Row--Miss Alice Jacobs, contralto; Mrs. Katie Walker, contralto; Mrs. Clara Russell, contralto; Mrs. Charlotte Reynolds, soprano; Miss Hattie Marshall, soprano; Miss Sarah E. Owens, soprano; Miss Julia Brown, soprano; Mrs. Florence Marshall, soprano; Mrs. Edith Eason, soprano.
Back Row--Mrs. Anna Johnson, contralto; Ogden Rymer, bass; Andrew Mason, bass; James Harley, bass; William Carter, tenor; Arnold Thompson, tenor; Miss Rebecca Robinson, soprano.
[ILLUSTRATION]
THE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF "MOTHER" BETHEL A. M. E. CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA, PA.
Front Row--Mrs. Carrie Fisher, great grand-daughter of Rt. Rev. Richard Allen; Olivia Hemsley, assistant secretary; Mrs. Isabella Jackson, president; Mrs. Rosa Johnson, vice president.
Second Row--Mrs. Elizabeth Stanford, Miss Rebecca Robinson, Miss Lydia Brittingham, Mrs. Ruth Mackie, Miss Catherine Simmons, Miss Alice Jacobs.
Back Row--William H. Owens, Alvin F. Polk, Sydney E. Purnell, Linton C. Fisher, Moses G. Johnson, Nathan P. Stanford.
Where the molten lead is cast into type. This machine can do the work of five men setting type by hand. It is kept busy night and day. On this machine the Recorder, Review, Minutes and other books are set up.
[ILLUSTRATION]
THE BOOK STORE AND CASHIER'S DEPARTMENT
In the front to the right is the store where there are kept a good supply of hymn books, Bibles and other religious literature for the public. In the rear is the cashier's office, while to the left is a slight view of the Bindery.
[ILLUSTRATION]
CLERICAL DEPARTMENT
In the rear room is the Bookkeeping Department. In the front room the Recorder mailing rooms. The clerk is addressing Recorders by machine for mailing. The papers are stamped at the rate of 1,000 per hour.
[ILLUSTRATION]
THE COMPOSING ROOM
View of portion of the Composing Room of the Book Concern, showing where the type is set by hand and the books are made up for the printing presses. In the middle foreground is a "form" of the A. M. E. Review, 16 pages, printed at the same time. These have just been taken off the press. To the right is the foreman arranging the pages of the new Discipline for 1916.
A view of the Press Room of the Book Concern of the A. M. E. Church showing the presses on which the Encyclopaedia of African Methodism was printed, and where the Discipline, Hymn Books, Minutes, Review, Recorder, etc., are printed.
Bishops.
(According to seniority of election.)
Benjamin Tucker Tanner.....2908 Diamond St., Phila., Pa.
Benjamin Franklin Lee.....Wilberforce, Ohio
Evans Tyree.....15 N. Hill St., Nashville, Tenn.
Charles Spencer Smith, 35 E. Alexandrian Ave., Detroit, Mich.
Cornelius Thaddeus Shaffer.....3742 Forest Ave., Chicago, Ill.
Levi Jenkins Coppin.....1913 Bainbridge St., Phila., Pa.
Henry Blanton Parks.....3312 Calumet St., Chicago, Ill.
Joseph Simeon Flipper.....401 Houston St., Atlanta, Ga.
J. Albert Johnson.....1412 N. 18th St., Phila., Pa.
William Henry Heard.....1426 Rockland St., Phila., Pa.
John Hurst.....1808 McCulloh St., Baltimore, Md.
William D. Chappelle.....1208 Harden St., Columbia, S. C.
Joshua H. Jones.....Wilberforce, Ohio
James M. Connor.....1519 Pulaski St., Little Rock, Ark.
General Officers.
J. I. Lowe, General Business Manager 631 Pine St., Phila., Pa.
R. R. Wright, Jr., Editor Christian Recorder--631 Pine St., Phila., Pa.
J. R. Hawkins, Secretary of Finance--1541 14th St., N. W., Washington, D. C.
J. W. Rankin, Secretary Board of Missions 61 Bible House, New York City, N. Y.
R. C. Ransom, Editor A. M. E. Church Review--631 Pine St., Phila., Pa.
A. S. Jackson, Secretary of Education.....Waco, Tex.
B. F. Watson, Secretary Society of Church Extension--1535 14th St., N. W., Washington, D. C.
Ira T. Bryant, Secretary Sunday-School Union--8th St. and Lea Ave., Nashville, Tenn.
G. W. Allen, Editor Southern Christian Recorder--Columbus, Ga.
J. Frank McDonald, Editor Western Christian Recorder--2517 Grove St., Kansas City, Mo.
J. C. Caldwell, Secretary Allen C. E. League--8th St. and Lea Ave., Nashville, Tenn.
John T. Jenifer, Historian.....3430 Vernon Ave., Chicago, Ill.
[ Half of this page was torn from the original, and it has not been transcribed. ]
[ Half of this page was torn from the original, and it has not been transcribed. ]
Lay Delegates
Thomas H. Hooper.....Wilmington, N. C.
W. S. King.....Selma, N. C.
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| K. C. Holt | Greensboro, N. C. | |
| R. H. W. Leak | Raleigh, N. C. | |
| J. E. Jackson | Greensboro, N. C. | |
| A. D. Avery | Charlotte, N. C. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| J. M. Avery | Durham, N. C. | |
| Dr. E. W. Smith | Winston-Salem, N. C. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| Charles Sumner Williams | Cincinnati, Ohio | |
| Timothy Dwight Scott | Cincinnati, Ohio | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| Henry P. Talbert | Wilberforce, Ohio | |
| C. C. Chrystal | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| Charles Bundy | Toledo, Ohio | |
| Thomas H. Jackson | Wilberforce, Ohio | |
| W. T. Anderson | Cleveland, Ohio | |
| John A. Collins | Piqua, Ohio | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| A. M. Richardson | R. F. D., Anna, Ohio | |
| Andrew W. Guy | Steubenville, Ohio |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| W. H. H. Butler | Washington, Pa. | |
| T. J. Askew | Pittsburgh, Pa. | |
| P. A. Scott | Washington, Pa. | |
| R. H. Bumry | Pittsburgh, Pa. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| D. M. Blair | Pittsburgh, Pa. | |
| J. W. Sallee | Pittsburgh, Pa. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| R. R. Downs | Columbus, Ohio | |
| J. T. Gibbons | Huntingdon, W. Va. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| R. L. Geter, D. Phar | Huntingdon, W. Va. | |
| P. A. Goines | Bluefield, W. Va. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| Archibald J. Carey | Chicago, Ill. | |
| T. A. Smythe (deceased) | ||
| Isaac N. Daniels | Evanston, Ill. | |
| Henry E. Stewart | Evanston, Ill. | |
| W. D. Cook | Chicago, Ill. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| Richard E. Moore | Chicago, Ill. | |
| Eugene Green | Davenport, Iowa |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| D. P. Roberts | Indianapolis, Ind. | |
| J. P. Q. Wallace | Richmond, Ind. | |
| J. L. Craven | Indianapolis, Ind. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| William A. Stewart | Indianapolis, Ind. | |
| George Stone | Kokomo, Ind. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| J. H. Sydes | Springfield, Ill. | |
| George W. Jones | Springfield, Ill. | |
| Frederick Douglas | Marion, Ill. |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| A. Y. King | Collinsville, Ill. | |
| L. N. Bundy | East St. Louis Ill. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| J. W. Frazier | Harrodsburg, Ky. | |
| O. E. Jones | Lexington, Ky | |
| D. C. Carter | Lexington, Ky. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| S. W. H. Hamilton. | ||
| W. H. Fouse | Lexington, Ky. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| J. W. Hall | Paducah, Ky. | |
| P. A. Nichols | Louisville, Ky. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| A. G. Queen | Maxfield, Ky. | |
| J. F. Moxley | Bowling Green, Ky. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| J. L. Craw | Los Angeles, Cal. | |
| C. N. Douglas | North Yakima, Wash. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| J. H. Wilson | Los Angeles, Cal. | |
| F. Jesse Peck | Topeka, Kans. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| R. L. Pope | Denver, Colo. | |
| A. M. Ward | Denver, Colo. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| C. D. A. Bush | Pueblo, Colo. | |
| A. J. Steele | Walensburg, Colo. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| J. R. Ransom | Kansas City, Kans. | |
| H. C. King | Topeka, Kans. | |
| J. T. Smith | Topeka, Kans. | |
| C. A. Williams | Wichita, Kans. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| Dr. Thompson | Kansas City, Kans. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| P. C. Crews | Columbia, Mo. | |
| N. C. Buren | St. Joseph, Mo. | |
| M. S. Bryant | Liberty, Mo. | |
| G. W. Cross | Macon, Mo. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| W. E. Boone | Moberly, Mo. | |
| T. E. Martin | Columbia, Mo. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| W. H. Peck | St. Louis, Mo. | |
| W. H. Thomas | Kansas City, Mo. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| W. C. Williams | Kansas City, Mo. | |
| George Teeters | Kansas City, Mo. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| W. Sampson Brooks | St. Louis, Mo. | |
| J. D. Barksdale | Kansas City, Kans. | |
| J. F. Sage | Kansas City, Mo. | |
| A. A. Gilbert | Kansas City, Mo. | |
| Lay Delegatets | ||
| D. W. Scott | St. Louis, Mo. | |
| R. A. King | De Soto, Mo. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| C. L. Williams | Marietta, Ga. | |
| U. P. Talbert | Rockmart, Ga. | |
| J. H. Myers | Athens, Ga. | |
| W. Boyd Lawrence | Athens, Ga. | |
| J. L. Butler | Rome, Ga. | |
| C. M. Manning | Athens, Ga. | |
| S. F. James | Rockmart, Ga. | |
| J. R. Fleming | Atlanta, Ga. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| W. H. Harris | Athens, Ga. | |
| William Kiser | Marietta, Ga. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| F. L. Fleming | Atlanta, Ga. | |
| W. A. McClendon | Atlanta, Ga. | |
| R. V. Branch | Atlanta, Ga. | |
| F. R. Sims | Atlanta, Ga. | |
| J. A. Hadley | Atlanta, Ga. | |
| C. M. Tanner | Atlanta, Ga. | |
| D. H. Porter | Marietta, Ga. | |
| H. D. Canady | South Atlanta, Ga. | |
| B. G. Dawson | Atlanta, Ga. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| John S. Allen | Newnan, Ga. | |
| E. C. Mitchell | Atlanta, Ga. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| William D. Johnson | Plains, Ga. | |
| John Cooper | Columbus, Ga. | |
| S. D. Roseboro | Cuthbert, Ga. | |
| L. H. Smith, Jr. | Cuthbert, Ga. | |
| R. H. Ward | Columbus, Ga. | |
| J. I. Stringer | Diffee, Ga. | |
| F. M. Johnson | Albany, Ga. | |
| W. B. L. Clarke | Dawson, Ga. | |
| E. C. Foley | Blakely, Ga. | |
| J. T. Barr | Cuthbert, Ga. | |
| D. W. Moman | Shellman, Ga. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| A. J. Johnson | St. Augustine, Fla. | |
| J. H. Watson | Albany, Ga. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| L. H. Smith, Sr. | Macon, Ga. | |
| J. T. Hall | Macon, Ga. | |
| E. Griggs | Macon, Ga. | |
| C. A. Wingfield | Atlanta, Ga. | |
| F. C. Crayton | Cuthbert, Ga. | |
| A. S. Bailey | Macon, Ga. | |
| W. E. Bailey | Cordele, Ga. | |
| F. J. Reeves | Mason, Ga. | |
| S. F. Andrews | Sparta, Ga. | |
| L. A. Townsley | Macon, Ga. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| G. Monghan | Macon, Ga. | |
| C. H. Harrold | Americus, Ga. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| R. H. Singleton | Savannah, Ga. | |
| W. O. P. Sherman | Fitzgerald, Ga. | |
| A. L. Sampson | Savannah, Ga. | |
| J. E. Brown | South Atlanta, Ga. | |
| N. Bembry | West Savannah, Ga. | |
| A. Parker | Fitzgerald, Ga. | |
| J. O. Iverson | Waycross, Ga. | |
| M. T. Robinson | Jessup, Ga. | |
| R. L. Heard | Savannah, Ga. | |
| M. J. James | Lumber City, Ga. | |
| W. A. Pierce | Guyton, Ga. |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| W. A. Richie | Hawkinsville, Ga. | |
| J. C. McGraw | Waycross, Ga. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| A. Cooper | Americus, Ga. | |
| I. G. Glass | Thomasville, Ga. | |
| G. W. Williams | Cuthbert, Ga. | |
| W. G. Alexander | Valdosta, Ga. | |
| G. W. Smith | Moultrie, Ga. | |
| B. J. Powell | Cuthbert, Ga. | |
| B. J. Jackson | Bainbridge, Ga. | |
| A. K. Woods | Thomasville, Ga. | |
| B. J. Ross | Savannah, Ga. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| William Lissimore | Valdosta, Ga. | |
| P. A. Duhart | Thomasville, Ga. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| A. M. Jordan | Macon, Ga. | |
| C. J. Jones | Milledgeville, Ga. | |
| E. Reese | Wrightsville, Ga. | |
| H. H. Johnson | Warrenton, Ga. | |
| John Harmon | Atlanta, Ga. | |
| C. H. Williams | Sandersville, Ga. | |
| A. B. B. Gibson | Macon, Ga. | |
| H. H. Long | Augusta, Ga. | |
| B. S. Hannah | Valdosta, Ga. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| M. C. Rutherford | Tennille, Ga. | |
| U. S. Johnson | Dublin, Ga. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| D. C. Deas | Marion, S. C. | |
| D. J. Turpin | Latta, S. C. | |
| H. C. De Laine | St. Paul, S. C. | |
| D. P. Pendergrass | Sumter, S. C. | |
| J. T. Lomax | Sumter, S. C. | |
| J. M. Jackson | Florence, S. C. | |
| J. M. Harrison | Sumter, S. C. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| I. M. A. Myers | Manning, S. C. | |
| E. C. Grice | Darlington, S. C. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| Lee A. Logan | Columbia, S. C. | |
| T. J. Pruitt | Columbia, S. C. | |
| J. W. Lykes | Greenville, S. C. | |
| E. H. McGill | Orangeburg, S. C. | |
| C. W. Dunlap | Vance, S. C. | |
| D. A. Christie | Columbia, S. C. | |
| George C. Johnson | Cameron, S. C. | |
| J. S. Perrin | Columbia, S. C. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| Joseph E. Christie | Fort Motte, S. C. | |
| A. P. Harper | Jenkinsville, S. C. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| C. L. Henderson | Greenwood, S. C. | |
| R. H. Bradley | Bradley, S. C. | |
| J. E. Thomas | Newberry, S. C. | |
| D. H. Johnson | Greenville, S. C. | |
| J. W. Douglass | Carlisle, S. C. | |
| W. F. Rice | Abbeville, S. C. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| C. G. Garrett | Columbia, S. C. | |
| J. T. Lomax | Greenwood, S. C. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| P. J. Chavis | Charleston, S. C. | |
| R. W. Mance | Charleston, S. C. | |
| W. R. A. Felder | Aiken, S. C. | |
| E. H. Coit | Beaufort, S. C. | |
| M. B. McPherson | Charleston, S. C. | |
| N. B. Sterrett | Charleston, S. C. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| D. A. Jones | Aiken, S. C. | |
| L. M. Alston | Charleston, S. C. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| A. E. Peets | Charleston, S. C. | |
| M. A. Hollins | Oakes, S. C. | |
| L. R. Nichols | Charleston, S. C. | |
| B. H. Williams | Charleston, S. C. | |
| J. E. Beard | Georgetown, S. C. | |
| Sandy Simmons | Charleston, S. C. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| George W. Howard | Georgetown, S. C. | |
| Julius H. Brown | Charleston, S. C. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| W. H. Edward | Jackson, Miss. | |
| G. T. Stinson | West Point, Miss. | |
| William Barnes | Grenada, Miss. | |
| J. W. Jackson | Jackson, Miss. | |
| A. S. Blake | Grenada, Miss. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| U. S. G. Stinson | Aavlon, Miss. | |
| B. W. Foree | West Point, Miss. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| J. W. Hair | Jackson, Miss. | |
| J. A. Brookens | Benton, Miss. | |
| W. T. Johnson | Shaw, Miss. | |
| H. Dean | Colby, Miss. | |
| J. B. Curtis | Ancona, Miss. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| Diamond Cox | Jackson, Miss. | |
| S. W. Miller | Jackson, Miss. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| D. H. Butler | Jackson, Miss. | |
| M. C. Wright | Natchez, Miss. | |
| J. W. Watson | Meridian, Miss. | |
| S. P. Washington | Meridian, Miss. | |
| T. A. Collins | Meridian, Miss. | |
| O. M. C. Tolson | Brookhaven, Miss. | |
| B. S. Williams | Gulfport, Miss. | |
| S. S. Stephens | Brookhaven, Miss. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| L. L. Lacy | Meridian, Miss. | |
| J. B. Green | Port Gibson, Miss. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| J. J. Morant | Vicksburg, Miss. | |
| William Singleton | Jackson, Miss. | |
| D. R. Morant | Glen Allen, Miss. | |
| C. B. Lawyer | Leland, Miss. | |
| E. Wittenberg | Vicksburg, Miss. | |
| L. A. Haymore. | ||
| B. C. Crow. | ||
| F. Rogers | Itta Bena, Miss. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| A. B. Morant | Signal, Miss. | |
| E. P. Simmons | Hollandale, Miss. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| S. P. Felder | Mound Bayou, Miss. | |
| H. M. Pillow | Rosedale, Miss. | |
| S. L. Green | Greenville, Miss. | |
| P. C. Cummings | Greenville, Miss. | |
| S. W. White | Friars' Point, Miss. | |
| J. C. Jackson | Gunnison, Miss. |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| R. J. Gardiner | Mound Bayou, Miss. | |
| J. C. Collins | Rosedale, Miss. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| F. R. C. Durden | Mound Bayou, Miss | |
| J. E. Brown | Friar's Point, Miss. | |
| P. H. Polk | Clarksdale, Miss. | |
| John Jones | Mound Bayou, Miss. | |
| J. B. Battle | Jonestown, Miss. | |
| S. D. Hughes | Jonestown, Miss. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| Charles Banks | Mound Bayou, Miss. | |
| G. W. Malone | Blackdom, New Mexico |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| A. Thomas | Shreveport, La. | |
| D. B. Reynolds | Vidalia, La. | |
| N. Willis | Minden, La. | |
| C. H. Powell | Alexandria, La. | |
| I. B. Granderson | Alexandria, La. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| W. D. Wilson | Shreveport, La. | |
| W. M. Watts | Bonita, La. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| C. E. Brooks | Covington, La. | |
| G. B. Billops | New Orleans, La. | |
| J. B. Bell | New Orleans, La. | |
| G. B. Brown | New Orleans, La. | |
| J. W. Washington | Baton Rouge, La. | |
| W. A. Easton | New Orleans, La. | |
| A. T. Tunson | Lake Charles, La. | |
| M. R. Dixon | New Orleans, La. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| H. R. Baranco | Baton Rouge, La. | |
| Charles I. Dowden | New Orleans, La. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| T. Y. Moore | Fayetteville, Tenn. | |
| J. H. Smith | Chattanooga, Tenn. | |
| E. P. Ellis | Fayetteville, Tenn. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| D. H. Hall | Chattanooga, Tenn. | |
| Burton Buchanan | Fayetteville, Tenn. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| I. J. Edwards | Nashville, Tenn. | |
| L. J. Johnson | Nashville, Tenn. | |
| G. W. Porter | Nashville, Tenn. | |
| N. W. Williams | Clarksville, Tenn. | |
| A. P. Gray | Nashville, Tenn. | |
| H. L. P. Jones | Nashville, Tenn. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| C. V. Roman | Nashville, Tenn. | |
| W. H. Campbell | Shelbyville, Tenn. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| J. S. Kelly | Clarksville, Tenn. | |
| F. W. Gardner | Nashville, Tenn. | |
| A. C. Smith | Ashland City, Tenn. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| J. F. Williams | Paris, Tenn. | |
| C. H. Kelly | Clarksville, Tenn. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| C. H. Shelto | Memphis, Tenn. | |
| J. A. Lindsay | Birmingham, Ala. | |
| M. T. Cooper | Memphis, Tenn. | |
| J. W. Pickett | Memphis, Tenn. | |
| E. M. Moore | Memphis, Tenn. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| A. D. Byas | Memphis, Tenn. | |
| T. M. Mitchell | Brunswick, Tenn. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| W. H. Mixon | Selma, Ala. | |
| W. B. Johnson | Birmingham, Ala. | |
| G. W. Mitchell | Birmingham, Ala. | |
| E. W. Williams | Birmingham, Ala. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| P. S. Moten | Birmingham, Ala. | |
| James Alexander | Arcadia, Ala. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| J. B. Carter | Ensley, Ala. | |
| D. C. Edmondson | Birmingham, Ala. | |
| D. P. Moore | Birmingham, Ala. | |
| R. Gray | Bessemer, Ala. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| H. D. Davidson | Centreville, Ala. | |
| J. A. Murphy. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| H. N. Newsome | Montgomery, Ala. | |
| G. B. West | Montgomery, Ala. | |
| L. V. Starkey | Selma, Ala. | |
| G. W. Harris | Selma, Ala. | |
| A. D. W. Mitchell | Troy, Ala. | |
| M. W. Davis | Brewton, Ala. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| I. C. Tharp | Mt. Meigs, Ala. | |
| W. D. Dickerson | McWilliams, Ala. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| J. W. Walker | Selma, Ala. | |
| L. G. Duncan | Dothan, Ala. | |
| J. F. Griffin | Mobile, Ala. | |
| R. D. Brooks | Selma, Ala. | |
| E. Jones | Summerfield, Ala. | |
| William Grace | Uniontown, Ala. | |
| G. H. Upshaw | Grove Hill, Ala. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| A. C. Craig | Magnolia, Ala. | |
| J. H. Forniss | Uniontown, Ala. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| W. M. Pyles | Florala, Ala. | |
| W. A. Lewis | Eufaula, Ala. | |
| R. C. Dickerson | Eufaula, Ala. | |
| Sylvester Griffin | Troy, Ala. | |
| W. J. Hightower | Dothan, Ala. | |
| J. T. Harris | Louisville, Ala. | |
| S. P. Pryor | Montgomery, Ala. | |
| W. J. Webb | Headland, Ala. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| S. U. Clark | Enterprise, Ala. | |
| S. L. Bennett | Troy, Ala. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| Daniel Brown | Montgomery, Ala. | |
| B. Crawford | Anniston, Ala. | |
| Moses Moreland | Anniston, Ala. | |
| S. L. Bates | Augtaugaville, Ala. | |
| E. L. Martin | Calora, Ala. | |
| J. S. Evans | Opelika, Ala. | |
| L. M. Bullard | Helena, Ark. | |
| W. H. Bower | Selma, Ala. | |
| T. H. Williams | Seale, Ala. |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| W. W. Allen | Boston, Mass. | |
| A. M. Pope | Calora, Ala. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| S. J. Johnson | Austin, Tex. | |
| T. H. Smith | Waco, Tex. | |
| W. D. Miller | Waco, Tex. | |
| A. W. Williams | Palestine, Tex. | |
| S. R. Newsom | Chatfield, Tex. | |
| R. C. Walker | Hillsboro, Tex. | |
| H. A. Young | San Marcos, Tex. | |
| J. W. McDade | Cleburne, Tex. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| L. B. Kincheon | Belton, Tex. | |
| W. H. Passon | Austin, Tex. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| P. C. Hunt | Houston, Tex. | |
| J. R. M. Lee | Sherman, Tex. | |
| E. J. Howard | Houston, Tex. | |
| F. F. Washington | Houston, Tex. | |
| F. W. Warren | Conroe, Tex. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| W. R. Roberts | Palestine, Tex. | |
| A. Miles | Palestine, Tex. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| A. G. Winn | Terrell, Tex. | |
| C. W. Abington | Corsicana, Tex. | |
| H. A. Carr | Dallas, Tex. | |
| G. B. Young | Waco, Tex. | |
| R. S. Jenkins | Fort Worth, Tex. | |
| J. A. Jones | Waxahachie, Tex. | |
| F. W. Wright | Pittsburg, Tex. | |
| W. O. Boyd | Waxahachie, Tex. | |
| J. D. Herron | Marshall, Tex. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| S. M. Kirk | Pittsburg, Tex. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| M. L. Pendergraff | Brenham, Tex. | |
| J. H. Hughes | Brenham, Tex. | |
| J. B. Butler | Austin, Tex. | |
| A. Deaver | La Grange, Tex. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| J. L. Storm | Lexington, Tex. | |
| E. L. Jackson | Belleville, Tex. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| C. L. Morgan | San Antonio, Tex. | |
| C. W. McCowan | Lockhart, Tex. | |
| H. S. Sims | San Antonio, Tex. | |
| S. McElroy | Columbia, Tex. | |
| William J. Laws | San Antonio, Tex. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| J. R. Thomas | San Antonio, Tex. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| H. E. Daniels | Quincy, Fla. | |
| J. E. Starke | Tallahassee, Fla. | |
| A. J. Kershaw | Tallahassee, Fla. | |
| J. A. Brown | Tallahassee, Fla. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| E. H. Flipper | Monticello, Fla. | |
| A. G. Davis | Tallahassee, Fla. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| J. M. Wise | Tallahassee, Fla. | |
| R. W. Whitehurst | Marianna, Fla. | |
| N. Z. Graham | Marianna, Fla. | |
| S. H. Betts | Marianna, Fla. | |
| P. T. Crenshaw | Chattahoochee, Fla. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| I. A. White | Jacksonville, Fla. | |
| W. J. Jordan | Cottondale, Fla. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| G. W. Hawkins | Gainesville, Fla. | |
| S. M. Gibbs | Ocala, Fla. | |
| R. D. McLin | Hague, Fla. | |
| J. H. Dickerson | Jacksonville, Fla. | |
| P. R. Roberts | Gainesville, Fla. | |
| J. W. Dukes | Ocala, Fla. | |
| D. D. Dickerson | Windsor, Fla. | |
| J. W. Fleming | Live Oak, Fla. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| R. Reche Williams | Ocala, Fla. | |
| G. M. Mills | High Springs, Fla. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| S. A. Harris | Cocoa, Fla. | |
| S. J. Patterson | East Palatka, Fla. | |
| D. A. Perrin | Orlando, Fla. | |
| S. A. Williams | Tampa, Fla. | |
| C. S. Long | Daytona, Fla. | |
| M. T. Carey | Tampa, Fla. | |
| T. J. Williams | Sandford, Fla. | |
| J. S. Braswell | Orlando, Fla. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| K. S. Johnson | Sanford, Fla. | |
| _____ Thompson | Leland, Fla. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| Thomas W. Kidd | Muskogee, Okla. | |
| James A. Johnson | Tulsa, Okla. | |
| L. E. Nelson | Fort Gibson, Okla. | |
| R. M. Perrin | Muskogee, Okla. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| S. T. Wiggins | Wagoner, Okla. | |
| W. E. Day | Sapulpa, Okla. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| I. H. Hawkins | Chickasha, Okla. | |
| M. W. Austin | Hugo, Okla. | |
| J. S. Smith | Hugo, Okla. | |
| G. B. Richardson | Kiamichi, Okla. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| Robert L. Fortune | Wilburton, Okla. | |
| Herbert L. Leslie | McAlester, Okla. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| C. R. Tucker | Tulsa, Okla. | |
| A. R. Dobbins | Guthrie, Okla. | |
| J. S. Dawson | El Reno, Okla. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| S. J. Caesar | Shawnee, Okla. | |
| M. J. Johnson | Kingfisher, Okla. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| A. H. Hill | Little Rock, Ark. | |
| J. D. Dennis | Newport, Ark. | |
| C. B. Ashford | Hot Springs, Ark. | |
| E. C. Foreman | Fort Smith, Ark. | |
| J. M. B. Mitchell | Jonesboro, Ark. | |
| H. C. Beasley | Little Rock, Ark. | |
| D. T. Scoggins | England, Ark. |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| Hal. M. Taylor | Argenta, Ark. | |
| G. S. Evans | Scotts, Ark. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| W. L. Taylor | Gurdon, Ark. | |
| William Lampkin | Gurdon, Ark. | |
| H. G. Montgomery | Hot Springs, Ark. | |
| P. S. Hill | Wilberforce, Ohio | |
| William Crain | McNeil, Ark. | |
| E. F. Davis | Hope, Ark. | |
| W. H. J. Powell | Camden, Ark | |
| W. J. Baylum | Carthage, Ark. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| S. A. Hughes | Stephens, Ark. | |
| W. J. C. Hunter | Argenta, Ark. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| H. Scott | Pine Bluff, Ark. | |
| J. W. Whitesides | Pine Bluff, Ark. | |
| James Jones | Pine Bluff, Ark. | |
| P. W. De Lyles | Pine Bluff, Ark. | |
| O. L. Mody | Pine Bluff, Ark. | |
| J. H. Clayborne | Arkadelphia, Ark. | |
| H. D. Brown | Dumas, Ark. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| Fred F. Lytes | Pine Bluff, Ark. | |
| John H. Harrison | Wlimar, Ark. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| L. S. Overall | Helena, Ark. | |
| W. T. Pope | Argenta, Ark. | |
| R. C. Holbrook | Helena, Ark. | |
| E. J. Lunnon | Marianna, Ark. | |
| Ned. W. Coleman | Cotton Plant, Ark. | |
| B. J. Finnie | Holly Grove, Ark. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| E. W. West | Hensley, Ark. | |
| A. L. Fleming | Edmondson, Ark. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| H. M. Steady | Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa | |
| J. P. Richards | Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| I. E. Steady | Wilberforce, Ohio | |
| George Herring | Freetown, West Africa |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| H. G. Knight | Monrovia, Liberia, W. A. | |
| A. L. Brisbane | Monrovia, Liberia, W. A. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| M. W. Davis | Monrovia, Liberia | |
| Allen Tansy | Cape Palmas, Liberia | |
| Lay Alternates | ||
| George W. Ellis | Chicago, Ill. | |
| Johnson Mason | Monrovia, Liberia |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| Samuel James Mabote | South Africa | |
| John Matero Pangani Lebala | South Africa | |
| Alternates | ||
| Azael Abiel Mareka | South Africa | |
| Lazarus Ralesibane Muthlo | South Africa |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| Peter Sampson Kuze | South Africa | |
| Alternate | ||
| Chalmers Nyombolo | South Africa |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| James Yapi Tantsi | South Africa | |
| Alternate | ||
| Abel Senamela Gabashane | South Africa |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| Richard Hackett | Hamilton, Can. | |
| James Edward Lyons | Cassopolis, Mich. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| George M. Stockton | Windsor, Can. | |
| Robert Day | Chatham, Can. |
| Ministerial Delegates | ||
| James Monroe Henderson | Detroit, Mich. | |
| John William Saunders | Fort Wayne, Ind. | |
| Lay Delegates | ||
| James William Butler | Kalamazoo, Mich. | |
| George Milton Carter | Detroit, Mich. |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| ABINGTON, Rev. C. W. | 18 | 18 |
| Adams, Rev. Alcorn | 19 | 19 |
| Allen, Bishop Richard | 17 | 17 |
| Allen, Sarah | 265 | 265 |
| Alexander, Connie C. | 19 | 19 |
| Alexander, Rev. W. G. | 20 | 20 |
| Alabama Conference, W. H. & F. M. S. | 321 | |
| Alabama (South) Conference, W. H. & F. M. S. | 321 | |
| Adams, Miss J. W. | 265 | 265 |
| Allen, Rev. C. E. | 266 | 266 |
| Allen, Mrs. C. E. | 266 | |
| Allen, Rev. Geo. W. | 21 | 21 |
| Allen, Mrs. Geo. W. | 22 | 21 |
| Allen C. E. League | 289 | |
| Allen, Miss Mattie | 22 | 22 |
| Allen University | 289 | 289 |
| Abstinence | 283 | |
| Admission of Preachers | 283 | |
| On Trial | 283 | |
| To full Connection | 283 | |
| Admission of Members | 284 | |
| Addresses of Bishops | 284 | |
| Addresses of General Officers | 280 | |
| Alston, Mr. L. W. | 22 | 22 |
| Alston, Mrs. M. J. | 22 | 22 |
| Alston, Rev. W. R. | 23 | 23 |
| Amos, Rev. A. A. | 24 | 262 |
| A. M. E. Church, Origin of | 284 | |
| A. M. E. Zion Church | 284 | |
| Anderson, Rev. B. C. | 24 | |
| Anderson, Rev. H. P. | 24 | 24 |
| Anderson, Mrs. H. P. | 330 | |
| Anderson, Rev. J. C. | 25 | 24 |
| Annual Conference | 289 | |
| Annual Conferences, number | 290 | |
| Annual Conferences, boundaries | 290 | |
| Armstrong, Bishop J. H. | 25 | 164 |
| Antigua | 290 | |
| Antinomianism | 290 | |
| Apostle Creed | 290 | |
| Apostolic Succession | 290 | |
| Arnett, Bishop B. W. | 25 | 164 |
| Arnett, Rev. B. W. | 27 | 27 |
| Arnett, Rev. H. Y. | 27 | 27 |
| Arnett, Mrs. H. Y. | 266 | |
| Apostolic Succession | 290 | |
| Appeals | 290 | 266 |
| Artis, Mrs. M. L. | 27 | 28 |
| Asbury Church, Chester | 299 | 300 |
| Ashley, Rev. H. C. | 28 | 28 |
| Ashley, Mrs. H. C. | 266 | 266 |
| Ashley, Mrs. H. C. | 328 | |
| Ashton, Mrs. E. G. | 28 | 28 |
| Assignment of Bishops | 291 | |
| Askew, Rev. T. J. | 28 | 29 |
| Atlanta, (Ga.) W. H. & F. M. S. | 321 | |
| Atkinson, Rev. R. L. | 29 | 29 |
| Atkinson, Mr. W. C. | 30 | 30 |
| Atlantic City, St. James | 291 | |
| Avery Fund | 291 | |
| Avery, Mr. J. M. | 30 | 30 |
| Ayler, Rev. J. C. | 30 | 30 |
| Africa | 284 | |
| Africa, (South) | 284 | |
| Arkansas Conference | 290 | |
| Arkansas, East | 290 | |
| Arminianism | 290 | |
| Articles of Religion | 290 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| BALTIMORE, Conference | 292 | |
| Bands | 292 | |
| Barksdale, Rev. J. D. | 31 | 31 |
| Barksdale, Mrs. J. D. | 31 | |
| Baptism | 292 | |
| Banks, Charles | 338 | |
| Barnes, Mrs. M. G. | 32 | 32 |
| Battle, Rev. J. D. | 32 | 32 |
| Battles, Mrs. Sadie | 331 | |
| Baxter, Rev. D. M. | 33 | 33 |
| Beckett, Mrs. J. W. | 37 | 37, 325 |
| Beamon, Rev. G. W. | 33 | 34 |
| Beard, Rev. J. E. | 34 | 34 |
| Beck, Prof. J. B. | 35 | 35 |
| Beckett, Rev. J. C. | 36 | 36 |
| Beckett, Rev. J. W. | 36 | 36 |
| Beckett, Rev. L. M. | 37 | 37 |
| Beckett, Mrs. L. M. | 328 | |
| Beckett, Bishop W. W. | 38 | 38 |
| Beckett, Bishop W. W. | 287 | |
| Belliney, Prof. D. S. D. | 267 | 267 |
| Bennett, Rev. H. W. B. | 38 | |
| Benediction | 292 | |
| Bethel | 292 | |
| Bennett, Mrs. J. A. | 324 | |
| Bentley, Rev. D. S. | 38 | 38 |
| Berry, Rev. Rubard | 266 | 267 |
| Bethel, Clearwater, Fla. | 308 | |
| Bethel Institute | 285 | |
| Bethel Literary Society | 367 | 367 |
| Bethel, Georgetown, S. C. | 313 | |
| Bethel, Lamott, Pa. | 316 | |
| Bethel, Philadelphia | 335 | 346 |
| Bethel, Quincy, Ill. | 354 | 354 |
| Bethune, Mrs. M. L. | 39 | 163 |
| Betts, Rev. S. H. | 39 | 39 |
| Bianchi, Rev. B. A. | 39 | 40 |
| Bowen, Miss M. | 367 | |
| Billings, Rev. C. F. | 40 | 40 |
| Bishops | 292 | |
| Bishops' Council | 292 | |
| Boddie, Rev. F. F. | 40 | 41 |
| Bishops' Widows | 292 | |
| Boards, General | 292 | |
| Book Concern | 293 | 293, 378-80 |
| Boston, Mass., A. M. E. Church | 294 | 294 |
| Both Kinds | 295 | |
| Bowling, Rev. A. J. | 41 | |
| Branch, Rev. R. V. | 267 | 267 |
| Braxton, Rev. W. H. | 41 | 41 |
| Braswell, Rev. J. S. | 41 | 42 |
| Braswell, Mrs. J. S. | 42 | 42 |
| Bray, Rev. H. F. | 268 | 268 |
| Brent, Rev. G. W. | 42 | 43 |
| Brinson, Mr. Jesse | 43 | 43 |
| Brisbane, Rev. A. L. | 43 | 164 |
| British M. E. Church | 295 | |
| Brookens, Rev. J. A. | 43 | |
| Brookins, Mrs. M. L. H. | 44 | 44 |
| Brooklyn, Bridge St. Church | 295 | |
| Brooks, Rev. C. E. | 44 | 44 |
| Brooks, Rev. R. B. | 45 | 45 |
| Brooks, Rev. R. D. | 45 | 45 |
| Brown, Rev. D. J. | 46 | 46 |
| Brown, Rev. H. D. | 47 | 47 |
| Brown, Bishop J. M. | 47 | 47 |
| Brown, Bishop Morris | 47 | 48 |
| Brown, Rev. N. W. | 48 | 48 |
| Brown, Mrs. R. | 331 | |
| Browne, Rev. J. A. | 49 | 49 |
| Bruce, Rev. E. T. | 49 | 49 |
| Bruce, Mrs. E. T. | 49 | |
| Bryant, Mrs. B. | 331 | |
| Bryant, Ira T. | 50 | 50 |
| Bryant, Rev. M. E. | 50 | 50 |
| Bryant, Mrs. M. E. | 50 | |
| Buckley, Mrs. M. A. | 334 | |
| Budgets | 295 | |
| Bumry, Rev. R. H. | 51 | 51 |
| Buren, Rev. N. C. | 51 | 51 |
| Buren, Mrs. N. C. | 52 | 52 |
| Burgan, Rev. I. M. | 52 | 52 |
| Burgan, Mrs. I. M. | 53 | |
| Burley, Rev. J. H. W. | 53 | 53 |
| Butler, Rev. D. H. | 269 | 269 |
| Butler, Mrs. D. H. | 53 | 54 |
| Butler, Mr. J. W. | 55 | 55 |
| Butler, Rev. W. H. H. | 54 | 54 |
| Butler, Mrs. W. H. H. | 54 | |
| Byas, Dr. A. D. | 55 | 164 |
| Byrd, Rev. Elijah | 55 | 55 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| Byrd, Mrs. Elijah | 334 | |
| Byrd, Mrs. M. L. | 269 | 269 |
| Byrd, Wm. | 56 | 56 |
| Byrd, W. P Q. | 56 | 56 |
| Borrowing | 294 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| CAIN, Bishop R. H. | 269 | 269 |
| C. M. E. Church | 317 | |
| Caldwell, Mr. Jas. W. | 57 | 57 |
| Caldwell, Rev. J. C. | 57 | 57 |
| Calvinism | 295 | |
| Campbell, Bishop J. P. | 58 | 58 |
| Campbell, Mrs. J. P. | 58 | 59 |
| Campbell College | 295 | 296 |
| Canada, A. M. E. Church | 296 | |
| Canady, Rev. H. D. | 59 | 59 |
| Canonical Scriptures | 297 | |
| Capehart, Rev. W. H. | 59 | 261 |
| Carey, Rev. A. J. | 60 | 60 |
| Carolina, Rev. W. P. | 60 | 60 |
| Carpenter, Rev. W. S. | 269 | 269 |
| Carter, Miss E. C. | 329 | |
| Carter, Rev. J. B. | 61 | 61 |
| Catechism | 297 | |
| Catto, Rev. W. T. | 62 | |
| Central Park Normal School | 297 | |
| Certain, Rev. W. D. | 62 | 62 |
| Certain, Mrs. W. D. | 63 | 62 |
| Channell, Rev. S. J. | 63 | 63 |
| Channell, Mrs. S. J. | 64 | 63 |
| Charleston, S. C., A. M. E. Church | 297 | 298 |
| Chappelle, Bishop W. D. | 64 | 64 |
| Chappelle, Mrs. W. D. | 64 | 64, 321 |
| Charles Street Church, Boston | 294 | 339, 375 |
| Christmas, Mrs. C. | 330 | |
| Chronology | 13 | |
| Chrystal, Mr. C. C. | 65 | 65 |
| Choirs | 302 | |
| Cheeks, Rev. R. M. | 65 | 65 |
| Chester, Pa., Asbury | 299 | 299 |
| Chester, Pa., Murphy | 300 | 300 |
| Chestnut, Rev. J. H. | 66 | 66 |
| Chicago, Quinn Chapel | 301 | |
| City Council, Mound Bayou, Miss. | 338 | |
| Clark, Rev. M. M. | 66 | |
| Clark, Rev. T. G. | 66 | 66 |
| Class Leaders | 303 | |
| Clayborn, Rev. J. H. | 270 | 270 |
| Clemens, Mr. W. E. | 67 | 67 |
| Class Meetings | 303 | |
| Coffee, Rev. T. W. | 67 | 264 |
| Coker, Rev. D. | 68 | 68 |
| Cole, Rev. C. P. | 68 | 68 |
| Cole, Mrs. C. P. | 68 | 331 |
| Composition of General Conference | 312 | |
| Coleman, Rev. W. H. | 270 | 270 |
| Collier, Rev. J. W. P. | 69 | 69 |
| Commentaries | 304 | |
| Conner, Bishop J. M. | 69 | 70 |
| Conner, Mrs. J. M. | 70 | |
| Cook, Rev. W. D. | 70 | 70 |
| Cooper, Rev. A. R. | 71 | 71 |
| Cooper, Rev. H. H. | 72 | 72 |
| Cooper, Mrs. H. H. | 72 | 72 |
| Cooper, Rev. J. W. | 73 | 73 |
| Connectional Schools | 304 | |
| Conferences | 304 | |
| Coppin, Bishop L. J. | 74 | 74 |
| Coppin, Mrs. L. J. | 74 | |
| Coppin, Mrs. Fanny J. | 327 | |
| Corde, Rev. A. J. | 73 | 73 |
| Corporation | 304 | |
| Corr, Mr. J. M. | 75 | |
| Cotton, Rev. T. W. | 270 | 271 |
| Course of Study | 304 | |
| Covenant of Grace | 304 | |
| Cox, Mr. W. H. | 75 | 75 |
| Craig, Mrs. L. L. | 321 | |
| Craw, Rev. J. L. | 75 | 76 |
| Craw, Mrs. J. L. | 76 | |
| Crayton, Rev. F .C. | 76 | 76 |
| Crews, Rev. P. C. | 76 | 77 |
| Cuff, Mrs. C. C. | 327 | |
| Cummings, Rev. P. C. | 271 | 271 |
| Curry, Rev. J. W. | 77 | 77 |
| Curtis, Rev. J. B. | 77 | |
| Choir, Murphy | 301 | |
| Clarke, Mrs. Venus | 329 | |
| Clarke, Mrs. D. K. | 325 | |
| Clearwater, Fla. | 308 | |
| Circuits | 303 | |
| Children's Day | 302 | |
| Christian Recorder | 302 | |
| Christmas Conference | 303 | |
| Church Extension Society | 303 | |
| Church Property | 303 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| DAKER, Rev. P. | 78 | 78 |
| Daniels, Rev. I. N. | 78 | 78 |
| David, Rev. G. F. | 78 | 78 |
| Day, Mrs. J. E. | 325 | |
| Days, Connectional | 304 | |
| Davidson, Prof. H. D. | 79 | 79 |
| Davis, Miss Clara | 332 | |
| Davis, Mrs. L. A. | 79 | 80, 321 |
| Davis, Mrs. M. E. | 80 | |
| Davis, Rev. M. E. | 80 | 80 |
| Davis, Rev. W. O. | 81 | |
| Davis, Rev. W. H. | 81 | 163 |
| Deacon | 304 | |
| Deaconesses | 304 | |
| Dean, Rev. C. J. | 81 | |
| Dean, Rev. H. | 81 | 82 |
| Deas, Rev. D. C. | 82 | 163 |
| Deeds | 304 | |
| Degrees | 304 | |
| De Laine, Rev. H. C. | 82 | 82 |
| Delegates | 304 | |
| Delegates to Centennial General Conference | 381 | |
| Denver, Col. | 305 | 305 |
| Derrick, Bishop W. B. | 83 | 83 |
| Devlin, Rev. T. C. | 271 | 272 |
| Dickerson, Rev. J. H. | 83 | 262 |
| Dickerson, Bishop W. F. | 83 | 84 |
| Disney, Bishop R. R. | 272 | 272 |
| Dixon, Rev. M. R. | 84 | 84 |
| Downs, Rev. R. R. | 272 | 272 |
| Downs, Mrs. R. R. | 272 | |
| Drummond, Rev. W. S. | 84 | 85 |
| Drummond, Mrs. W. S. | 85 | |
| Dollar Money | 305 | |
| Doxology | 305 | |
| Dukes, Rev. J. W. | 85 | 261 |
| Dress | 306 | |
| Drew Seminary | 306 | |
| Dunlap, Rev. C. C. | 273 | 273 |
| Dunlap, Mrs. C. C. | 273 | 273 |
| Dudley, Mrs. S. B. | 323 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| ECUMENICAL Conference | 306 | |
| Editors | 306 | |
| Educational Department | 306 | |
| Edward Waters College | 306 | 307 |
| Edwards, Mr. P. H. | 86 | 164 |
| Edwards, Wm. | 86 | 86 |
| Edwards, Mrs. Wm. | 330 | |
| Edwards, W. H. | 86 | 163 |
| Electoral College | 306 | |
| Ellis, Mr. G. W. | 87 | 87 |
| Edwards, Mrs. S. B. | 334 | |
| Emanuel Church, Charleston | 297 | 299 |
| Emanuel Church, Officers | 298 | |
| Embry, Bishop J. C. | 87 | 87 |
| Episcopal Address | 306 | |
| Evans, Dr. E. G. | 88 | 88 |
| Evans, Rev. J. J. | 88 | 262 |
| Evans, Miss M. G. | 88 | 88 |
| Epworth League | 306 | |
| Episcopacy | 306 | |
| Episcopal Committee | 306 | |
| Evangelists | 306 | |
| Evangelical Bureau | 306 | |
| Exhorters | 306 | |
| Experience | 306 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| FELDER, Rev. S. P. | 89 | 163 |
| Finance Committee | 308 | 308 |
| Financial Department | 307 | 308 |
| Flagg, Rev. L. S. | 89 | 89 |
| Fleming, Rev. J. R. | 89 | |
| Fleming, Rev. J. W. | 90 | 264 |
| Flegler High School | 308 | 264 |
| Flipper, Bishop J. S. | 90 | 90 |
| Florida Conference | 308 | |
| Florida, Central | 308 | |
| Florida, East | 309 | |
| Florida, South | 311 | |
| Florida, West | 311 | |
| Ford, Rev. R. E. | 91 | 91 |
| Ford, Mrs. M. A. | 322 | |
| Foree, Prof. W. B. | 91 | 91 |
| Foundery Chapel | 312 | |
| Forniss, Mr. J. H. | 92 | 92 |
| Founders | 312 | |
| Fountain, Rev. W. A. | 92 | 92 |
| Fraternal Delegates | 312 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| GAINES, Rev. A. L. | 93 | 93 |
| Gaines, Rev. P. P. | 93 | 93 |
| Gaines, Bishop W. J. | 274 | 274 |
| Gantt, Mrs. S. | 331 | |
| Gardner, Prof. R. J. | 94 | 94 |
| Garrett, Prof C. G. | 94 | 94 |
| General Conferences | 312 | |
| General Boards | 292 | |
| General Rules | 312 | |
| Georgia, Augusta, Conference | 312 | |
| Georgia, Macon | 313 | |
| Georgia, North | 312 | |
| Georgia, South | 314 | |
| Georgia, Southwest | 314 | |
| Georgetown, S. C. | 313 | |
| Gibbons, Rev. J. T. | 95 | 95 |
| Gibbs, Rev. S. M. | 274 | 274 |
| Gould, Rev. Theo. | 95 | 96 |
| Graham, Rev. D. A. | 96 | 96 |
| Graham, Mrs. D. A. | 96 | |
| Graham, Rev. N. Z. | 97 | 97 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| Grant, Bishop A. | 272 | 272 |
| Grant, Rev. J. H. | 97 | 97 |
| Grantt, Miss C. A. R. | 98 | 98 |
| Gray, Rev. A. P. | 98 | 98 |
| Green, Rev. C. H. | 100 | 100 |
| Greene, Rev. S. L. | 99 | 99 |
| Greene, Rev. C. A. A. | 274 | 274 |
| Gregg, Rev. J. A. | 99 | 99 |
| Gulfport, Miss. | 314 | 314 |
| Gullins, Rev. W. R. | 100 | 100 |
| Gumby, Mr. Noah | 101 | 101 |
| Gloria Patri | 314 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| HADDEN, Rev. T. G. | 275 | 275 |
| Hadley, Rev. J. A. | 101 | 101 |
| Hadley, Mrs. J. A. | 102 | 101 |
| Hair, Rev. J. W. | 102 | 102 |
| Hale, Mr. J. W. | 103 | 103 |
| Hall, Rev. A. T. | 103 | 103 |
| Hall, Rev. J. T. | 103 | 104 |
| Hall, Mr. D. H. | 104 | 104 |
| Hall, Rev. J. W. | 104 | 104 |
| Hall, Mr. W. P. | 276 | 276 |
| Handy, Bishop J. A. | 105 | 105 |
| Handy, Mrs. J. A. | 105 | 105 |
| Handy, Mrs. M. F. | 325 | |
| Hardy, Rev. H. D. | 105 | 106 |
| Hardy, Mr. B. | 106 | 106 |
| Harewood, Rev. J. B. | 106 | 107 |
| Harmon, Rev. Jno. | 107 | 107 |
| Harris, Rev. F. L. | 108 | 108 |
| Harris, Rev. V. H. | 108 | 108 |
| Harris, Rev. William | 108 | 109 |
| Harrison, Rev. J. McK. | 109 | 109 |
| Hawkins, Rev. G. W. | 109 | 109 |
| Hawkins, Prof. J. R. | 110 | 110 |
| Hawkins, Mrs. J. R. | 110 | 110 |
| Hawkins, Mrs. L. E. S. | 111 | 111 |
| Hayden, Mrs. P. | 334 | |
| Heard, Bishop W. H. | 111 | 163 |
| Heard, Mrs. W. H. | 163 | |
| Heath, Rev. W. H. B. | 276 | 276 |
| Henderson, Rev. C. L. | 112 | 112 |
| Henderson, Mrs. C. L. | 112 | |
| Henderson, Rev. J. M. | 111 | 263 |
| Henderson, Rev. T. W. | 112 | |
| Hill, Rev. A. H. | 112 | 113 |
| Hill, Rev. D. C. | 113 | 113 |
| Hill, Mrs. D. G. | 328 | |
| Hill, Rev. J. B. | 113 | 114 |
| Historical Association | 376 | 376 |
| History, Bureau of | 315 | |
| Hogarth, Rev. Geo. | 114 | |
| Holiness | 315 | |
| Hollings, Rev. M. A. | 114 | 114 |
| Holt, Rev. K. C. | 115 | 164 |
| Hood, Rev. S. P. | 115 | 115 |
| Hooper, Mr. T. H. | 115 | 164 |
| Hopkins, Mrs. M. E. | 332 | |
| Horry, Rev. A. F. B. | 115 | |
| Horry, Mrs. A. F. B. | 116 | |
| Houston, Mr. J. S. | 116 | |
| Howard, Prof. C. F. | 116 | 117 |
| Howard, Prof. G. W. | 117 | 117 |
| Howard, Mrs. D. T. | 324 | |
| Hoxter, Prof. W. F. | 117 | 118 |
| Hoxter, Rev. W. H. | 118 | 118 |
| Hoxter, Mrs. W. H. | 332 | |
| Hubbard, Rev. P. A. | 118 | 119 |
| Hubbard, Mrs. P. A. | 119 | 119 |
| Huddson, Mrs. D. D. | 120 | 120 |
| Hunt, Rev. P. C. | 120 | 120 |
| Hunter, Rev. E. H. | 120 | 121 |
| Hunter, Mrs. E. H. | 121 | 121 |
| Hunter, Rev. W. H. | 122 | |
| Hurley, Rev. R. F. | 122 | 122 |
| Hurst, Bishop Jno. | 122 | 123 |
| Hurst, Mrs. Jno. | 123 | |
| Hurst, Mrs. K. Bertha | 325 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| INFANT Baptism | 315 | |
| Introduction | 4 | |
| Itinerancy | 315 | |
| Iverson, Rev. J. O. | 123 | 164 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| JACKSON, Prof. A. S. | 124 | 124 |
| Jackson, Mrs. A. S. | 124 | |
| Jackson, Mrs. D. K. | 331 | |
| Jackson, Rev. E. G. | 124 | 124 |
| Jackson, Rev. G. L. | 125 | 125 |
| Jackson, Mrs. G. L. | 125 | 125, 324 |
| Jackson, Rev. J. D. | 125 | 126 |
| Jackson, Rev. J. E. | 126 | 126 |
| Jackson, Rev. T. H. | 126 | 127 |
| Jacobs, Rev. I. D. | 128 | 128 |
| Jacobs, Rev. I. S. | 128 | 128 |
| Jameson, Rev. H. W. | 276 | 276 |
| Jarvis, Rev. J. W. | 128 | 129 |
| Jenifer, Rev. B. J. | 129 | 129 |
| Jenifer, Rev. J. T. | 129 | 130 |
| Jennifer, Prof. William | 130 | 262 |
| John St. Church | 315 | |
| Johnson, Prof. A. J. | 131 | |
| Johnson, Prof. C. H. | 131 | 264 |
| Johnson, Rev. D. T. | 131 | 131 |
| Johnson, Rev. D. H. | 131 | 132 |
| Johnson, Mrs. D. H. | 132 | |
| Johnson, Rev. G. C. | 132 | 132 |
| Johnson, Rev. G. F. | 133 | 133 |
| Johnson, Bishop J. A. | 286, 334 | |
| Johnson, Bishop J. A. | 134 | 133 |
| Johnson, Mrs. J. A. | 133 | |
| Johnson, Rev. J. Q. | 134 | 134 |
| Johnson, Mr. K. S. | 134 | 261 |
| Johnson, Rev. L. J. | 134 | 135 |
| Johnson, Mr. M. G. | 135 | 135 |
| Johnson, Mrs. Rosa | 135 | 135 |
| Johnson, Rev. S. J. | 136 | 136 |
| Johnson, Rev. S. M. | 136 | 136 |
| Johnson, Rev. W. B. | 137 | 137 |
| Johnson, Rev. W. D. | 137 | 137 |
| Johnson, Rev. W. D., Jr. | 137 | 137 |
| Johnson, Rev. W. T. | 138 | 264 |
| Joiner, Rev. E. C. | 138 | 138 |
| Joiner, Prof. W. A. | 138 | 139 |
| Jones, Rev. G. W. | 140 | 140 |
| Jones, Rev. H. L. P. | 140 | 140 |
| Jones, Rev. J. A. | 140 | 141 |
| Jones, Bishop J. H. | 141 | 141 |
| Jones, Rev. J. J. | 141 | 142 |
| Jones, Rev. O. E. | 142 | |
| Jones, Rev. S. B. | 142 | 262 |
| Jones, Mrs. I. D. | 334 | |
| Jordan, Rev. A. M. | 142 | 163 |
| Jordan, Prof. D. I. | 143 | 163 |
| Jordan, Rev. P. J. | 164 | |
| Justification | 315 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| KANSAS City, Allen Church | 336 | |
| Kealing, Prof. H. T. | 146 | 144 |
| Kinch, Mrs. E. C. | 144 | 144 |
| Kincheon, Prof. L. B. | 144 | 263 |
| King, Rev. C. H. | 145 | 145 |
| Kitchen, Mrs. C. B. | 277 | 277 |
| Kittrell College | 315 | 316 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| LACEY, Rev. W. H. | 146 | 146 |
| Lampton College | 316 | |
| Lampton, Bishop E. W. | 146 | 146 |
| Lankford, Prof. J. A. | 277 | |
| Lane, Mrs. E. | 332 | |
| Lawrence, Rev. T. H. | 146 | 147 |
| Lawrence, Mrs. T. H. | 331 | |
| Laws, Mrs. L. D. | 331 | |
| Lawyer, Rev. C. B. | 148 | 148 |
| Layman | 316 | |
| Leak, Rev. R. H. W. | 148 | |
| Leaker, Rev. R. H. W. | 277 | |
| Lebala, Rev. J. M. P. | 148 | 377 |
| Lee, Bishop B. F. | 148 | 149 |
| Lee, Mrs. B. F. | 149 | |
| Lee, Rev. I. S. | 149 | |
| Lee, Mrs. I. S. | 149 | 149 |
| Lewis, Rev. Jeremiah | 150 | 150 |
| Lewis, Rev. W. C. | 150 | 150 |
| Lewis, Rev. T. W. | 150 | 151 |
| Lewis, Rev. W. A. | 277 | 377 |
| Liberia, | 317 | |
| Lindsay, Rev. J. A. | 151 | 151 |
| Lindsay, Mrs. J. A. | 153 | |
| Lingo, Mrs. M. | 334 | |
| Link, Rev. J. L. | 152 | 152 |
| Local Deacon | 316 | |
| Local Elder | 316 | |
| Logan, Rev. L. A. | 152 | 152 |
| Lomax, Rev. J. T. | 152 | 152 |
| Louisiana, North | 316 | |
| Love Feast | 317 | |
| Lowber, Mr. H. H. | 377 | |
| Lowe, Rev. J. I. | 153 | 153 |
| Luckie, Rev. P. A. | 155 | |
| Lynch, Rev. James A. | 153 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| MACKALL, Rev. J. O. | 154 | 154 |
| Mackall, Mrs. J. O. | 332 | |
| Madre, Miss M. A. D. | 367 | |
| Makel, Mrs. Flora L. | 154 | 154 |
| Malone, Hon. G. W. | 154 | 155 |
| Mance, Rev. R. W. | 155 | 155 |
| Mance, Mrs. R. W. | 163 | |
| Manning, Rev. C. M. | 155 | 156 |
| Marriage | 317 | |
| Marshall, Mrs. Cornelia | 156 | 156 |
| Martin, Mrs. A. | 324 | |
| Martin, Rev. J. G. | 156 | 156 |
| Martin, Rev. J. H. | 157 | 157 |
| Martin, Rev. M. M. | 278 | 278 |
| Mason, Mr. D. James | 157 | 157 |
| Masonry | 317 | |
| Mathews, Mrs. R. T. | 324 | |
| Means, Rev. S. G. | 158 | 158 |
| Metropolitan Church | 368, 369 | |
| Merrick, Mr. John | 158 | 158 |
| Methodist | 317 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| Methodist Episcopal Church | 317 | |
| M. E. Church, South | 317 | |
| Michell, Rev. J. M. B. | 159 | 159 |
| Michigan Conference | 318 | |
| Mickens, Rev. M. H. | 159 | 159 |
| Mills, Rev. P. E. | 159 | 160 |
| Mills, Mrs. P. E. | 160 | 160 |
| Minister | 319 | |
| Missionaries | 320 | |
| Missionary Department | 319 | |
| Missionary Societies, W. H. & F.: | ||
| Alabama | 321 | 321 |
| South Alabama | 321 | |
| Atlanta, Ga. | 321 | 322 |
| East Arkansas | 322 | |
| North Carolina | 322 | 323 |
| Tennessee | 323 | 324 |
| Central Tennessee | 324 | |
| West Tennessee | 324 | 324 |
| Missionary Societies, Women's Mite: | ||
| Baltimore | 328 | 328 |
| Chicago | 328 | |
| New England | 328 | 329 |
| New Jersey | 329 | 390 |
| New York | 330 | 331 |
| Philadelphia | 333 | 332 |
| Virginia | 335 | 335 |
| West Virginia | 355 | |
| Mississippi Conference (East) | 336 | |
| Mississippi Conference (North) | 336 | |
| Missouri Conferences | 336 | |
| Mixon, Rev. W. H. | 160 | 263 |
| Moore, Bishop M. M. | 161 | 161 |
| Moore, Rev. T. Y. | 161 | 261 |
| Montgomery, I. T. | 261 | |
| Morant, Mr. A. B. | 161 | |
| Morant, Rev. D. R. | 161 | 161 |
| Morant, Rev. J. J. | 162 | 162 |
| Morris, Rev. J. E. | 279 | |
| Morris, Rev. S. S. | 162 | 162 |
| Morris Brown University | 337 | 337 |
| Mosely, Mrs. N. W. E. | 165 | 165 |
| Mount Zion, Ocala | 308 | |
| Mound Bayou, Miss. | 338 | |
| Murcherson, Rev. A. R. | 165 | 165 |
| Murphy Church, Chester | 300 | 300 |
| Murray, Rev. A. L. | 279 | 279 |
| Murray, Rev. C. H. | 166 | 166 |
| Myers, Prof. I. M. A. | 166 | 166 |
| Myers, Rev. J. H. | 167 | |
| McCLENDON, Rev. W. A. | 167 | 167 |
| McDonald, Rev. J. F. | 167 | 167 |
| McEaddy, Rev. J. C. | 168 | 168 |
| McGee, Rev. C. A. | 168 | 168 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| NASHVILLE, Tenn., St. Paul | 338 | 338 |
| Nazrey, Bishop W. | 280 | 280 |
| Nelson, Rev. L. E. | 169 | 169 |
| Nelson, Mrs. M. V. | 169 | 169 |
| Negroes | 339 | |
| New England Conference | 339 | |
| New York | 340 | 340 |
| Newton, Rev. A. H. | 170 | 170 |
| Nichols, Rev. J. H. | 170 | 170 |
| Nichols, Rev. L. R. | 170 | 171 |
| Nichols, Rev. P. A. | 170 | 170 |
| Norfolk, Va., St. John | 339 | 340 |
| Norris, Rev. J. W. | 280 | 280 |
| Nottingham, Rev. A. J. | 172 | 172 |
| North Carolina | 342 | |
| Nutter, Mr. I. H. | 172 | 261 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| OCALA, Fla. | 308 | |
| Ohio Conference | 342 | |
| Osborne, Rev. W. T. | 173 | 173 |
| Overall, Rev. L. S. | 173 | 173 |
| Owens, Mrs. O. G. | 324 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| PALMER, Rev. J. M. | 174 | |
| Palmer, Mrs. J. M. | 332 | |
| Parker, Mrs. M. F. | 332 | |
| Parker, Mr. H. H. | 174 | 174 |
| Parks, Bishop H. B. | 280 | 280 |
| Paul Quinn College | 344 | 344 |
| Patterson, Rev. S. J. | 174 | 174 |
| Payne, Miss A. B. | 332 | |
| Payne, Bishop D. A. | 174 | 175 |
| Pearson, Mrs. M. S. | 324 | |
| Pendergrass, Rev. D. P. | 175 | 175 |
| Payne University | 345 | 345 |
| Perfection | 345 | |
| Perrin, Rev. D. A. | 175 | 175 |
| Perrin, Mrs. D. A. | 176 | 175 |
| Payne College | 344 | |
| Payne Seminary | 344 | |
| Phillips, Rev. W. A. J. | 176 | |
| Philadelphia Conference | 345 | |
| Pierce, Rev. A. W. | 176 | 177 |
| Pinckney, Rev. H. H. | 177 | 177 |
| Philadelphia | 352 | |
| Polk, Rev. P. H. | 178 | 178 |
| Poole, Mrs. S. B. | 332 | |
| Pope, Rev. R. L. | 178 | 178 |
| Pope, Rev. W. T. | 178 | 179 |
| Porter, Rev. G. W. | 179 | 179 |
| Portsmouth, Va. | 353 | 353 |
| Powell, Rev. B. J. | 179 | |
| Preface | 3 | |
| Presiding Elders | 354 | |
| Prince, Rev. W. H. | 180 | 180 |
| Prince, Mrs. W. H. | 181 | 180 |
| Prioleau, Rev. G. W. | 181 | 181 |
| Probationers | 354 | |
| Pryor, ev. S. P. | 181 | 182 |
| Pryor, Mrs. S. P. | 182 | |
| Purnell, Mr. S. E. | 182 | 182 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| QUARTERLY Conference | 354 | |
| Quarterly Conference Journal | 354 | |
| Quinn, Bishop W. P. | 280 | 280 |
| Quincy, Ill. | 255 | 354 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| RANDOLPH, Rev. J. W. | 182 | 183 |
| Rankin, Rev. J. W. | 183 | 183 |
| Ransom, Rev. J. R. | 183 | |
| Ransom, Rev. R. C. | 184 | 184 |
| Ransom, Mrs. R. C. | 184 | |
| Rawls, Mrs. E. | 334 | |
| Reed, Rev. J. R. | 377 | |
| Reese, Rev. B. T. | 185 | 185 |
| Reynolds, Mrs. F. | 335 | |
| Review, A. M. E. | 355 | |
| Rice, Rev. D. E. | 185 | 186 |
| Rice, Mrs. D. E. | 186 | |
| Rice, Rev. U. S. | 281 | 281 |
| Rice, Rev. W. F. | 186 | 186 |
| Richard, Mrs. Eliza | 187 | 187 |
| Richards, Prof. W. H. | 377 | |
| Richardson, Mr. A. M. | 187 | 187 |
| Richardson, Mr. P. A. | 187 | 187 |
| Ringgold, Rev. I. H. | 187 | 188 |
| Roberts, Rev. D. P. | 188 | 188 |
| Roberts, Rev. P. R. | 189 | 189 |
| Roberts, Mrs. E. J. | 332 | |
| Robinson, Miss A. | 331 | |
| Robinson, Rev. J. H. | 188 | 189 |
| Robinson, Mrs. Emma | 330 | |
| Rodgers, Mr. F. H. | 190 | 190 |
| Rogers, Rev. F. S. | 190 | 190 |
| Roman, Dr. C. V. | 190 | 191 |
| Roseborough, Rev. S. D. | 191 | 191 |
| Ross, Bishop I. N. | 191 | 192 |
| Ross, Mrs. I. N. | 192 | 192 |
| Roundtree, Mrs. I. W. L. | 330 | |
| Roundtree, Rev. I. W. L. | 193 | 264 |
| Russell, Mrs. A. M. | 324 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| SALARIES | 355 | |
| Salter, Bishop M .B. | 281 | 281 |
| Sampson, Rev. T. P. | 143 | 143 |
| Sampson, Mrs. J. P. | 143 | |
| St. Joseph, Mo. | 360 | 360 |
| St. Phillips, Savannah | 356 | |
| St. Paul, St. Louis | 360 | 361 |
| Sanders, Rev. A. C. | 194 | 194 |
| Sanders, Mrs. A. C. | 194 | |
| Sanders, Rev. J. W. | 194 | 195 |
| Scranton, R. A. | 355 | |
| Sands, Rev. I. S. | 195 | |
| Satterfield, Mrs. A. D. | 323 | |
| Schools, Connectional | 304 | |
| Scarborough, Prof. W. S. | 195 | 195 |
| Schemmerhorn, Rev. T. A. | 281 | 281 |
| Scott, Rev. O. J. W. | 196 | 196 |
| Scott, Rev. P. A. | 196 | 197 |
| Scott, Rev. T. D. | 197 | 197 |
| Seabrook, Captain E. | 198 | 198 |
| Senior Bishop | 356 | |
| Shackleford, Mr. W. H. | 198 | 198 |
| Shaffer, Bishop C. T. | 199 | 199 |
| Shelton, Rev. R. E. | 200 | |
| Shelton, Rev. W. C. | 200 | 200 |
| Shelton, Mrs. W. C. | 200 | |
| Sherman, Rev. W. O. P. | 201 | 201 |
| Shorter College | 356 | 357 |
| Shorter, Bishop J. A. | 201 | 201 |
| Shorter, Prof. J. P. | 201 | 202 |
| Shorter Chapel, Denver | 305 | 305 |
| Simmons, Rev. S. | 202 | 203 |
| Simmons, Mrs. S. | 203 | 203 |
| Sims, Rev. H. S. | 203 | 203 |
| Singleton, Rev. R. H. | 204 | 204 |
| Singleton, Mrs. R. H. | 204 | |
| Smith, Mrs. R. J. | 334 | |
| Smith, Bishop C. S. | 205 | 205 |
| Smith, Mrs. C. S. | 205 | |
| Smith, Rev. G. T. | 207 | 207 |
| Smith, Mrs. I. B. | 207 | 207 |
| Smith, Rev. J. H. | 208 | 208 |
| Smith, Rev. L. H., Sr. | 208 | 208 |
| Smith, Mrs. Josephine | 330 | |
| Smith, Mrs. Ida | 332 | |
| Smythe, Rev. T. A. | 209 | 209 |
| Snelson, Rev. F. G. | 209 | 210 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| Snelson, Mrs. F. G. | 210 | 210 |
| Snowden, Mrs. L. C. | 211 | 211 |
| South Carolina Conference | 356 | |
| South Africa | 284 | |
| South African Students | 289 | |
| Spearman, Rev. H. K. | 212 | 212 |
| Spearman, Mrs. H. K. | 212 | |
| Stansbury, Mrs. M. | 334 | |
| Stark, Rev. W. H. | 212 | 212 |
| Stepteau, Rev. C. H. | 212 | 213 |
| Stepteau, Mrs. C. H. | 313 | |
| Steady, Rev. H. M. | 213 | 213 |
| Sterrett, Rev. N. B. | 214 | 214 |
| Sterrett, Mrs. N. B. | 214 | |
| Steward, Mrs. Dr. S. M. | 215 | 215 |
| South Carolina: | ||
| Northeast Conference | 358 | |
| Piedmont Conference | 359 | |
| Palmetto Conference | 358 | |
| Southern Recorder | 360 | |
| Statistics | 5 | |
| Stewart, Rev. H. E. | 215 | 215 |
| Stewart, Mrs. H. E. | 216 | 215 |
| Stewart, Rev. N. B. | 216 | |
| Stewart, Mr. W. A. | 216 | 216 |
| Stinson, Rev. G. T. | 217 | 217 |
| Stovall, Rev. T. B. | 217 | 217 |
| Storm, Mr. J. L. | 218 | 218 |
| Sturges, Rev. L. | 218 | 218 |
| Sturges, Rev. S. L. | 218 | 219 |
| Sutton, Rev. J. M. | 219 | 219 |
| Sunday-School Union | 362 | 363 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| TALBERT, Rev. H. | 220 | 220 |
| Talbert, Mr. H. P. | 220 | 220 |
| Tanner, Bishop B. T. | 220 | 220 |
| Tanner, Mrs. B. T. | 327 | |
| Taylor, Rev. G. C. | 221 | 221 |
| Taylor, Mrs. G. C. | 221 | |
| Taylor, Rev. F. D. | 222 | 222 |
| Taylor, Mrs. F. D. | 222 | |
| Taylor, Mrs. N. F. | 222 | 223 |
| Taylor, Mrs. Leah | 331 | |
| Texas (Central) | 364 | |
| Texas (West) | 365 | |
| Thomas, Rev. C. H. | 223 | 223 |
| Thomas, Rev. J. E. | 223 | 224 |
| Thomas, Rev. L. | 224 | 224 |
| Thomas, Rev. W. H. | 2225 | 225 |
| Thomas, Mrs. W. H. (Sr.) | 329 | |
| Thompson, Miss B. V. | 225 | 225 |
| Thompson, Rev. C. W. | 225 | |
| Thompson, Rev. J. O. S. | 226 | |
| Thompson, Rev. William | 226 | |
| Thornton, Rev. M. W. | 226 | 226 |
| Thornton, Mrs. A. M. | 323 | |
| Tillman, Rev. G. M. | 227 | 227 |
| Tillman, Mrs. G. M. | 228 | 227 |
| Tisdale, Mr. James | 228 | 228 |
| Townsend, Rev. J. M. | 228 | |
| Townsend, Rev. V. M. | 228 | 229 |
| Townsley, Rev. L. A. | 229 | 229 |
| Traverse, Rev. W. M. | 230 | 230 |
| Tucks, Mrs. L. H. M. | 232 | 232 |
| Turner, Bishop H. M. | 284 | |
| Turner, Bishop H. M. | 230 | 231 |
| Turner, Rev. J. H. | 231 | 231 |
| Turner College | 366 | 366 |
| Tyndale, Miss E. M. | 332 | |
| Tyree, Bishop E. | 231 | 232 |
| Tyree, Mrs. E. | 231 | 232 |
| Two-cent Money | 366 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| VANDERHORST, Rev. J. F. | 233 | 233 |
| Vanderhorst, Mrs. J. F. | 233 | |
| Vanderhorst, Mrs. M. C. | 233 | 233 |
| Vann, Rev. R. H. | 233 | 234 |
| Virginia Conference | 367 | |
| Vernon, Rev. W. T. | 282 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| WADDLETON, Mrs. A. A. E. | 282 | 282 |
| Walker, Rev. J. W. | 234 | 234 |
| Walker, Rev. W. E. | 235 | 235 |
| Walters, Rev. J. J. | 235 | 236 |
| Ward, Rev. A. M. | 236 | 236 |
| Ward, Mrs. A. M. | 237 | 237 |
| Ward, Bishop T. M. D. | 237 | 237 |
| Ward Academy | 367 | |
| Warren, Rev. F. W. | 237 | 238 |
| Warren, Mrs. F. W. | 238 | 238 |
| Washington, D. C., Bethel Literary | 367 | 367 |
| Washington, Rev. S. P. | 238 | 238 |
| Waters, Bishop E. | 239 | 239 |
| Waters, Rev. H. | 239 | 262 |
| Waters, Mrs. L. C. | 332 | |
| Watkins, Rev. J. C. | 239 | 240 |
| Watson, Rev. A. W. | 240 | |
| Watson, Mr. J. H. | 240 | 240 |
| Watts, Mr. W. M. | 283 | 283 |
| Wayman, Bshop A. W. | 240 | 240 |
| Webb, Rev. W. J. | 241 | |
| Webster, Rev. F. T. M. | 241 | 241 |
| West, Rev. G. H. | 241 | 242 |
| West, Rev. S. P. | 242 | 242 |
| Whales, Mrs. A. L. | 243 | 243 |
| White, Mrs. L. E. | 243 | 244 |
| Whitesides, Rev. J. W. | 283 | |
| Whitfield, Rev. C. A. | 244 | 244 |
| Whithurst, Rev. R. W. | 245 | 245 |
| Wiggins, Hon. S. T. | 245 | 245 |
| Winters, Mrs. J. | 283 | 283 |
| Williams, Rev. C. L. | 246 | 246 |
| Williams, Rev. C. S. | 246 | 246 |
| Williams, Mr. E. | 247 | 247 |
| Williams, Mrs. G. W. | 263 | |
| Williams, Rev. George W. | 248 | 248 |
| Williams, Rev. I. F. | 248 | 248 |
| Williams, Rev. N. W. | 248 | 249 |
| Williams, Prof. J. K. | 249 | 249 |
| Williams, R. J. | 249 | 250 |
| Williams, Mrs. R. J. | 250 | |
| Williams, Dr. R. R. | 250 | 250 |
| Williams, Rev. T. J. | 251 | 251 |
| Wilson, Rev. C. E. | 251 | 252 |
| Wilson, Mrs. C. E. | 331 | |
| Wilson, Rev. R. E. | 252 | 252 |
| Wilson, Miss S. E. | 252 | 253 |
| Wingfield, Rev. C. A. | 253 | 253 |
| Winn, Rev. A. G. | 253 | 254 |
| Wise, Rev. J. M. | 254 | 254 |
| Wittenberg, Rev. E. | 254 | 255 |
| Women's H. & F. Missionary Society | 320 | 321 |
| Woman's Mite Missionary Society | 324 | 325 |
| Woods, Rev. A. K. | 255 | 255 |
| Woods, Rev. T. J. | 255 | |
| Woodson, Rev. T. W. | 255 | 256 |
| Work, Prof. M. N. | 256 | 256 |
| Wortham, Rev. P. W. | 257 | 257 |
| Wright, Rev. M. C. | 257 | 258 |
| Wright, Mrs. M. C. | 258 | |
| Wright, Mr. Perry | 258 | 258 |
| Wright, Rev. R. R., Jr., | 258 | 259 |
| Wright, Mrs. R. R., Jr., | 259 | |
| Watkins, Rev. J. C. | 239 | 377 |
| Wayman Institute | 370 | |
| Western University | 370 | 370 |
| West Virginia Conference | 371 | |
| Wilberforcians | 374 | 374 |
| Wilberforce University | 371 | 371-373 |
| Sketch. | Illustration. | |
| YOUNG, Rev. G. B. | 260 | 261 |
| Young, Rev. J. H. | 259 | 260 |
| Young Peoples' Congress | 375 |
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