USA > Alabama > The cyclopedia of the colored Baptists of Alabama, their leaders and their work > Part 14
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EASON, REV. JAMES HENRY .- Among the younger and scholarly men of Alabama is Rev. James Henry Eason. This energetic Christian worker and model of moral courage was born October 24, 1866, in the " piney " woods, eight miles from Sumterville, Sumter county, Ala .- fifteen miles from the railroad.
His father, Jesse Eason, has served as deacon in the Sum- terville Baptist Church for a number of years, and is highly respected by both races in his community.
His mother, Chaney Eason, is a faithful Christian worker in the church, as well as a devoted wife and mother. Mr. Eason's strength of character, talent and success are, to a large degree, heritages from this good woman. His mother taught him his alphabet one Sabbath when he was only five years of age. The early part of his life was spent with his parents on the farm, and he attended public school near his home. His first teacher was a Mr. Poe, a white man, who said to him, as they were coming from school one day : " You will be a smart man one of these days."
James did not advance very far in his books under this teacher, who taught the old method of going through the spelling book first, next the reader and then review. Besides, the schools only lasted three months in each year. His marked improvement was not made until his parents moved to Sum- terville, and he began studying under Rev. C. R. Rodgers and H. D. Perry from Selma University. It was in the Wednesday evening prayer meetings, held in the school by Rev. C. R. Rodgers, he received a deep and effectual religious impression.
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Rev. T. W. Walker, Pastor Shiloh Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala. Moderator Mt. Pilgrim Association.
A year afterward-October, 1881-he was baptized into the Sumterville Baptist Church by Rev. G. Lowe. In November of the same year he entered the Alabama Baptist Normal and Theological School at Selma, Ala., now Selma University. In 1885 he graduated from this institution with the highest honors of his class-his class being the second class to gradu- ate from this institution. Along with the normal course he took the college preparatory course. and began his college course in the fall of 1885. After spending about two years in this course he abandoned it on account of financial embarrass- ment and other unfavorable circumstances. To this point he had kept himself in school by working on the farm during the summer months.
In 1883 he took a little school at Ohio, Ala., and in 1886 he canvassed and sold the Colored Chieftain. In 1887 he was elected principal of Garfield Academy, Auburn, Ala. It was in this position his noble qualities claimed the attention of the public as a teacher and preacher- yes, as a leader. Here the desire of higher education burnt again upon his heart and, "against the protest of patrons, he resigned this position and entered Richmond Theological Seminary, Richmond, Va., in 1887. After three years of hard study he graduated ahead of his class in 1890 with the degree of B. D., and returned to Alabama and began work as professor of mathematics in Selma University-a position he still holds. He was ordained in Tabernacle Baptist Church, Sehua, Ala., in 1891, and took charge of Union Baptist Church, near Marion, Ala. He has baptized one hundred persons. He is moderator of New Ca- baba Association, and managing editor of the Baptist Leader. As a teacher he is admired by the pupils and respected by the faculty. Ile is a hard student and takes high rank as a preacher, and excels in persuasive oratory. He is original,
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broad minded and good natured, and is much respected among the brethren of the State.
MASON, DR. ULYSSES GRANT .- We feel justified in saying, that among the rising and foremost young men of Alabama is the one whose name heads this article. He is the youngest son of Mary and Isaac Mason; was born November 20, 1872, in Birmingham, Ala., which city is still his home.
Until the age of 16 his school advantages were limited to the rural districts, where educational facilities were few. But his desire to learn soon exhausted the shallow draughts of the primary school, and therefore he entered the State Normal School at Huntsville, Ala., now located at Normal, Ala., where he drank more freely from the deeper springs of science and art. Aside from his regular course, he pursued the carpen- ter's trade, at which his success was soon apparent; for, two months after entering, he was advanced to the position of foreman over some of his older colleagues. He graduated from the above named school June 1, 1891. As a student and teacher the thought uppermost in his mind was that of serving his race by helping to lift it to a higher plane of intellectual culture, for he was not slow to see the moral and physical disadvantages under which it was laboring. To effect this result, he dedicated all his energies to the social and educational betterment of his race. After finishing the course at this school, he taught, as a stepping stone to further use- fulness, having held with honor and respect the principalship of the Calera public school. He resigned this position, much to the regret of the school board and patrons, to enter the Meharry Medical College, Nashville. His success as a stu- dent of medicine surpassed even his previous career, causing the surprise and even the envy of many who claimed to have towered far above him in the literary world. He was ap-
pointed prescriptionist for the clinic, and assistant professor of clinical medicine in the absence of Prof. R. F. Boyd, B. S., M. D., D. D. S., in which capacity he proved very efficient. He refused the honor of valedictorian of his class, and was unan- imously elected treasurer.
Dr. Mason is now located at his home, Birmingham, Ala., and is one of our best physicians. His kindly and affable manner has won to him the love and confidence of all. There can be no question as to his future success, as this is assured in his good qualities, skill, and the confidence of the people.
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SISSON, REV. SAMUEL S .- The subject of this sketch was . born in the little town of White Plains, Calhoun county. Ala., June 11, 1863. He lived with his parents on a plantation, helping them in every possible way. He was converted and baptized in 1871. He attended the public schools as opportu- nity allowed him. In 1882, being convinced that he was called to preach, he entered the Alabama Baptist Normal and Theo- logical School (now Selma University), under the presidency of Dr. W. H. McAlpine. Here he studied hard, paying his own way.
In 1884 he was called as pastor of the Baptist Church at Stock Mill, Ala., Cherokee county. He served this church four years, during which time he baptized and added to the church 250 persons. Not being satisfied with his education. he returned to Selma University in 1888. He was in school only two months when he was asked to supply the pulpit of the St. Philip Street Baptist Church, Selma, Ala., as pastor pro tem.
He served them in this capacity three months, when he was elected pastor, in which capacity he served the church about five years. A great many doubted the ability of the young Timothy to stand in the shoes of such noted theologians
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as Rev. Wm. A. Burch and Dr. C. O. Boothe. He himself felt that his task was very difficult. He could only trust in Him whose power is inexhaustille.
It was not long until his congregation outnumbered any other in the city. He states that during his five years as pastor he added 1,142 members to the church. Six hundred and forty-two by baptism.
He also laid plans to build a new church. Three thousand three hundred and ninety-seven dollars, so he informs the writer, was raised under his administration for the new church building. Feeling that his work was about accomplished in this field, he resigned as pastor in the fall of 1893. He was then called to Milton, Fla., to pastor the Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church. He served the church only five months. His own State, Alabama, not being willing to give him up, he accepted a call by the Jerusalem Baptist Church, Bessemer, Ala. He is now serving this church and is building up a strong con- gregation for the Master. He is active in church work and much loved by his brethren throughout the State.
In 1888 he married Mrs. Roxie Drake, of Auburn, Ala., and to this fortunate union is due much of his success. She is to-day the organist of his church. Rev. Sisson has high hopes for the future of his people and does everything possible to advance them. Ile is friendly and, therefore, has friends everywhere he works. He is a hard student of God's word. As a preacher he is sound in practice and doctrine.
JORDAN, MRS. DINAH SMITH, was born in Walker county, Ala., March 26, 1869. Her early days were spent in Arka- delphia. Blount county, and in 1883 she came with her mother to live in Birmingham, Ala. Mrs. Jordan, from a child, loved to read that Book of all books the best, the Holy Bible, and in April, 1885, gave her heart to God. The new-found love in
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her heart now brought new motives and new aspirations into her life. She was in a new kingdom, and wanted to work for her King. A sermon preached by her pastor, Rev. W. R. Pettiford, on " Christian Growth and Usefulness," very deeply impressed this young Christian, and to this day is an inspira- tion to ber. Another one whom she dearly loved was Mrs. M. A. Ehlers, a missionary under the Women's Baptist Home Mission Society, who was at that time in Birmingham, and who she says will never know the help she has been to her in her Christian life, until the lights of Eternity dawn upon her. She began by doing the little things that came to her hands to do-faithfully attending the services of her church, bringing children to the Sunday school, and seeking in her home to honor her Savior. As grand a motive may be had in doing those things which in the eyes of the world seem small as in doing that which the world calls great and admires ; and Mrs. Jordan, we believe, had this true motive, the love of Christ constraining her.
Her marriage, which took place on June 7, 1887, to Mr. Andrew Jordan, had been made a subject of special prayer. The husband thinks he has one of the best of Christians in his wife, and through her consistent life he was led, in the fall of 1892, to say, as did Ruth of old: "Thy God shall be my God." The Women's Missionary Society opened up new avenues of usefulness to her, and as they came she gladly went forward-visiting the sick, doing religious visiting in the homes of non-church-goers, and holding fireside schools for the children in her neighborhood. She rejoices that in these she has had the blessed privilege of directing the minds of the little ones to Jesus. Her work as teacher in one of the indus- trial schools conducted by the missionaries has been faithful, earnest, and a means of great strength to them, and her gentle ways have won the love of the pupils. 16-
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She loves the work of the young people, and is a member of the board of the associational B. Y. P. U. Her consistent Christian life in her home and in the circles in which she moves has made her life a blessing to all.
DUNCAN, MRS. M. D .- This lady who began and is now operating a female academy, was born in the year 1864, March 8, in Jefferson county, Ala. She, for one, has made her mark in life. She professed a hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, in the year 1876-was baptized by Rev. E. T. Wink- ler (white), and joined the Baptist church of Marion, Ala. She worked her way in school. After she finished the primary department (taught by Mrs. Frances Nickerson,) she entered the Lincoln Normal University, where she was grad- uated in 1882. Then she was thrown out on the great voyage of life, to meet the many hindrances and obstacles that fall in the pathway of life. But being a brave and persevering wo- nian, she triumphed over them all. She commenced teaching school in 1879, in Marion, Perry county. In 1882, she taught a three months' term in Bibb county. She was then highly recommended by the President of L. N. University to Tuska- loosa, where she taught in the city school for two terms; then removed to York Station, Sumter eounty, and there taught two terms, and in 1889, taught onc term in Forkland, Grcene county. She was then called to Demopolis, to take charge of the Female Institute, where, for five years, and up to the pres- ent time, she has given mutual satisfaction to the entire city and community.
The above is given to show the spirit of enterprise among us and to excite others to work on the same linc.
Closing the chapter which brings into prominence notable individuals of the denomination, the author feels that it is only just to remark that many of the most cultured and deserving of our number are not mentioned. This comes of the facts that limited means made the production of a large book impossible, while, on the other hand, as the author was hard pressed with other business, his survey of the field was necessarily imperfect. 'Such persons as the learned and indus- trious Prof. J. W. Beverly, of the State School at Montgom- ery ; Prof. A. H. Parker, principal of one of the city schools of Birmingham ; Prof. R. B. Hudson, principal of the City School of Selma; Prof. E. W. Knight, of the faculty of Selma University ; Prof. Phillips, principal of one of the city schools of Montgomery ; Mr. Edgar A. Long, the busi- ness manager of the "Alabama Publishing Company," Bir- mingham; Mrs. A. A. Bowe, teacher of the sewing depart- ment of Selma University ; Mrs. M. A. Boothe, the first pres- ident of the Colored W. C. T. U. of Alabama, and Mrs. S. L. Ross, the first secretary ; Mrs. S. A. Hardy (once Miss Stone) who led the women in their successful money effort in inter- est of our brick school building at Selma; Mrs. C. Copeland and Miss Octavia B. Boothe, who have been in the employ of the Baptist Women's Home Mission Societies as missionaries ; Mrs. Amanda Tyler, of Lowndesboro ; Mrs. R. T. Pollard and Mrs. S. H. Wright, of Montgomery ; Mrs. Rebecca E. Pitts, of Uniontown ; Mrs. Alice Gray, of Talladega ; Mrs. Lula Pat- terson (once Miss Lula Watkins), the very capable teacher of music in Selma University ; Doctors Robert and Felix Tyler, of Lowndesboro; Prof Samuel Roebuck, of Elyton ; Rev. T. W. Robinson, of Gurleys ; Rev. H. Zimmerman, the efficient leader of Bibb County Association; Mrs. Nancy Nickerson, the first teacher of colored children in Perry county ; Rev. F. L. Jordan, pastor of the Sixteenth Street Church, Birmingham
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-of all these, with many other worthy persons, our book fails to give any notice. Their absence from the biographic sketches is to be accounted for solely in the reasons mentioned, namely, that means were limited and the author's time and energy were divided between #so many different lines of work as necessitated an imperfect survey of the field.
V. SUMMARY.
W E now turn our pen toward the conclusion, on our way to which we will briefly consider: (1) From whence we have come; (2) How we have come; (3) The point we now occupy.
I. FROM WHENCE WE HAVE COME.
We have seen the tree-dwarfed and yellow-leafed -- in the sterile rock-bound soil of the mountain peak, and we have felt that its life was a mere existence, a mere hair's-breadth re- move from death. The fearful regime of slavery had reduced the mental life of the Negro to the point where its activity was a simple, natural struggle for existence. By the terms mental life arc designated especially the knowing faculties and voluntary powers, as well as that part of the emotional nature that has to do with character-making. I mean to say that in his intellect, will, and moral sense, the Negro was, by slavery, reduced to the minimum. It could not be otherwise for these reasons: (a) It was unlawful for him to know books; he must know nothing save what his master told him, and must never ask for a reason. (6) He was not allowed to have any will of his own except in minor points, with refer- ence to a brute or a fellow slave. His master's will was sub- stituted for his, and out of his master's choice his words and deeds must proceed, even as concerned the most sacred rela- tions of life. At his master's choice he took the wife, and at his choice he gave up the wife. (c) He was not allowed to
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SUMMARY.
Rev. J. W. Jackson, Pastor Eufaula Baptist Church.
have any conscience, except where his master had no choice. Whatever the master said the slave must do, that he must do, conscience or no conscience. Now this state of things had gone on for over 200 years. From this condition we came forth into liberty, and with this eking existence of wilted life we must make a beginning as freemen. With nothing of that sort of manhood which comes only of the well ordered domestic circle, we had to put our shoulders beneath burdens which come of the family institution. The duties of citizenship were imposed upon us, notwithstanding we had never felt or studied anything of the privileges and obligations which center in individual sovereignty. Though we were ignorant of the gospel for the most part and knew nothing of the order of business in church meetings, we found ourselves suddenly forced into the management of church affairs. We had now to look to our own heads for light, to our own hearts for cour- age, and to our own consciences for moral dictation. So much for the hinderances from within ourselves.
CHANGE IN THE SOCIAL STATUS OF THE SOUTH.
The master and the slave were each pulled from his place as by a mighty force-a force which did no little tearing on . both sides, especially on the side of master. For this reason the master was sore. The South had grown rich in slaves. This property the war pulled from its fists, and left in its midst. The Southern people who were rich one day were poor the next day. That the presence of the former slave, clothed in the sovereignty of citizenship, amidst his ex-master's poverty, should chafe and madden the master, there can be no wonder. Well, it did madden him, and because of this fact the pioneer Negro leader often found himself " headed off " or hindered with reference to some church or school project in his mind. Often did he hide or turn from his course to escape
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punishment or death by the hands of persons who suspicioncd him as a bad man to be among " the Negroes of the neighbor- hood." The writer has had many narrow escapes and painful experiences.
We needed help, but Avhither should we go to obtain it? Thank God for the few white people who had grace in such a time to extend a helping hand to us in our and in their time of weakness.
II. HOW WE HAVE COME.
(a) Not long since a white merchant of this state re- marked to me: "No people have ever improved so much in so short a time as your people have." I replied: "I think no people ever had a more faithful, self-sacrificing leadership." I think it may be said of us that we have done what we could. The work began when we owned neither land for home nor land for church house-when there was no church, no associ- ation, no mission board to offer any pay for labor. I speak of course of the rule. True, there were a few colored churches in "slavery time," three missionary and one primitive; but what were three churches in the midst of such a vast popula- tion, scattered over so much territory? What could they do in their poverty and want of training to support 400 or 500 pioneer organizers? We went to the battle at our own charges. With homeless mothers and fathers, with homeless wives and children, and with oppression on every side-with all these burdens and much more which cannot be told, upon us-we bravely undertook the work of building the walls of Zion. The writer knows a minister who, (between 1866 and 1875, especially between '66-'77, during the reign of the "K. K. Klan," when the people could not in many places be induced to open their doors after dark for fear of being shot), has en-
dured some of the severest privations and performed some of the hardest toils known to the ministry, at his own charges. This case is only one in hundreds. Our ministry, whatever the faults and imperfections which have attended them, have wrought nobly and wrought to good results.
The following will serve to show why the writer is in- clined to believe these early pioneers were often especially favored of God in controlling the people for good: On one occasion two preachers met for the first time. The younger man spoke, and the elder was one of the hearers. The sermon was ended. The two preachers, approaching each other and grasping hands, spoke to each other thus: The younger man: "I feel the Lord wants me to preach, but I am not able to preach." The elder man: "God has called you to preach the gospel, but you are not now in the spirit of the ministry. You are proud and 'pend too much upon yourself. You get self out so God can fill you up with his spirit. Go and pray to God for the spirit of the gospel ministry." This advice was heeded and the end revealed the correctness of the elder man's views. Another case:
A young man of some attainment in letters, who taught school under the "Freedmen's Bureau," being anxious to rid himseif of a sense of duty to preach the gospel, decided to go off to another state where his church connections were un- known. He did so. After he had quit the train and put down his baggage at the home of a family who had consented to en- tertain him, and as evening drew on, he was requested by his hostess to attend the preaching which was to come off at a neighbor's house that evening (there was no church house). The young man went. A pen picture of the preacher is given after this fashion: Lean, brown skin man, whose shirt showed much of his breast; whose feet were sockless and in shoes which left the tocs uncovered; whose stiff locks held a comb.
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He told us of a wicked city that was laying beneath the pend- ing judgments of God.
It needed a message of warning-only this, and it would face about and clothe itself in humble penitence. God had the message, and He imparted it to the messenger and ordered him to go. Herc the preacher drew a picture of Jonah: He is shrinking from his glorious charge-has his back toward . Nineveh, and is fleeing in an opposite direction; is boarding a ship that he may go to regions over the sea; is going down into the hold of the ship; is fast asleep. Here the storm and the raging deep receive notice: A cloud rises and quickly covers the skies; winds attend it with a fury hitherto un- known to the shipmen, who seem at once to discern in the storm the tokens of judgment; the sea is wild ; the sailors, as a last resort, awake Jonah and cast lots; the lot falls upon Jonah, and he is cast into the maddened sea, where a sea monster swallows him. At this point, changing his voice more into the imperative tone, the preacher said: " I 'spect there is a Jonah here to-night, and I warn him to take the message of his God and carry it to poor, lost sinners who do not know their right hands from their left; I warn him to go before he shall be in the belly of hell." The reader is left to imagine how this affected the young school teacher who was fleeing from his duty. In some parts of Limestone county the people usc an improvised lamp, the oil vessel of which is a snuff bottle. This is a rough vessel, but it holds the oil which feeds the flame. This reminds us of Mr. Spurgeon's beer- bottle candlestick. Well, I want to say that God used these men, whatever were their imperfections-they had power. But we have had help from without.
(a) Our white neighbors-some of them, at least-have aided us. They have helped us build our church houses and, in some cases, contributed to our schools. They have taught
in our Sunday schools, preached in our pulpits, helped us in the work of organizing associations, etc. They have taught ministers' classes and held ministers' institutes among us. The writer once held the position of teacher of institutes under the appointment and support of the white Baptist Con- vention of Alabama, and Dr. McAlpine now serves under the appointment of the Southern Board. Several of our best men were enabled to attend the Home Mission schools on money given by their white brethren.
(6) We have been improved by our public schools. It is a strange providence which, in our public school system, now returns upon the black man something of the interest due him in consideration of unrewarded labors. These schools have given us some choice men and women, who are strong in the work of the church. However, it is in place to say that we have not derived from our public school system all the good which it is capable of bestowing, first, because poor teachers have far too often been put upon the people. But, on the other hand, there has been loss because we have not properly appreciated our needs and opportunities, as consid- ered from an educational point of view. The sessions of the public schools could be supplemented and extended in most cases so as to cover six or eight months of each year.
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