USA > Louisiana > History of Louisiana Negro Baptists : from 1804 to 1914 > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13
L+ --
Negro Baptist Beginnings in America.
England's Emancipation Proclamation brought freedom to their bodies August 28, 1833.
Dr. R. B. Cooks says it was the correspondence of Elders George Lisle, Moses Baker and others, with Drs. Ryland and Rippon of England, that led finally to the sending out of the English Bap- tist Missionaries. That the work of these Mis- sionaries was a success is evidenced by the fact that it not only became self-sustaining, but in 1842, there were 45 missionaries to leave for Africa, to take the Gospel to their brethren at home. Some one said to this departing Van- guard of African Missionaries, "Perhaps you will be made slaves by the heathen if you go." Their prompt reply was, "We have been made slaves for men ; we can be made slaves for Christ."
A Jamaica Baptist by the name of Keith sold what he possessed, bought a few clothes only, and leaving his beloved companion for two years," worked his way to Africa and preached the Gos- pel on the very spot where he had been stolen." By 1887, the number of Jamaica churches had grown from the first church organized by Broth- er Lisle to 142 live Christian organizations with a membership of 31,000 reporting as many as 2,140 baptisms per year. Dr. Walter H. Brooks refers to Elder George Lisle as "The Black Apos- tle."
It seems that the work in Port-au-Prince, Hayti was more difficult than that in Jamaica. Elder W. C. Monroe, ordained in 1835 in New York, met with so much discouragement there that he abandoned the work, however it was afterwards resumed. In 1887 there were six churches, and five ministers in Hayti; and in all
215
Negro Baptist Beginnings in America.
T. A. WALKER, Baton Rouge, La.
the West Indies 189 churches, 109 preachers, 37,564 members.
BEGINNINGS OF AFRICAN MISSIONS.
The first missionary from America to Africa was Elder Lot Carey. Although a slave in Rich- mond, Va., he applied himself to business and soon bought the freedom of himself and his two children for $850 in 1813. As early as 1807 hę had joined the Baptist church, and in 1815, he became one of the prime movers in the formation of the African Missionary Society in Richmond, Va. Under very adverse circumstances they raised, within five years, $700 for missions. This was one of the first Missionary Societies of Amer- ica; another being formed in Georgia soon after. Elders Carey and Colin Teague, both of Rich- mond, labored first among the Bassas, Monrovia, Liberia, where there was an American Colony as early as 1822. Here the first Christian church by Negro Missionaries was established, and six were baptised in 1823; nine more happy converts the following year. Elder Carey became pastor, and Brother Teague returned to Sierra Leone where they had first landed. Elder Carey ex- tended the missionary work to Cape Grand Mount, among 'the Veys, one of the most power- ful and intelligent tribes on the coast." He main- tained missions at both places, and "manifested much energy and faithfulness in his labors, great sagacity in civil affairs, and remarkable power and earnestness as a preacher." At one time this missionary was Liberia's Vice-Governor, and became acting Governor during the absence of Governor Ashmun. One of the saddest tragedies
216 History of Louisiana Negro Baptists.
on missionary fields occurred when Elder Carey was accidently killed by the explosion of gun- powder, November, 1828.
Elders A. W. Anderson, J. Lewis, and Elder. H. Teague, son of Brother A. Teague, reinforced the white missionaries on the West Coast of Africa, there being some doubt as to whether the white missionaries could stand the climate. After the death or departure of the white brethren, the mission work was carried on by Elder J. Von- brunn, a native Bassa.
Bishops J. Day, and A. L. Jones were sent to Africa in 1846, by the Southern Baptist Society, and from 1846 to 1856 other Negro missionaries were appointed, and in 14 Liberian villages, churches and schools were established. Two churches were organized in Sierra Leone. “In 1860 there were 24 stations, and churches, 18 pastors, 1,258 members, 26 tachers and 665 pu- pils." Whn this mission was closed in 1875, Missionaries W. J. Davis and W. W. Colley re- sumed work in Yoruba, where they were heartily received as "God men." Thousands had been converted while the work went on, and "many Godly men and women of the race were de- veloped."
Elder J. Day was a very active missionary. He went to Liberia in 1830, "resigned a judge- ship, and was elected Lieutenant-Governor in 1847. "In 1854, the church at Monrovia called him to its pastorate. While here he founded and presided over a high school in which were the following departments: Elementary, Classical, and Theological. This pioneer accomplished much at this place. He made extended preach-
Negro Baptist Beginnings in America. 217
ing tours, and reported "a Sunday-school in every village and the word preached statedly to more than 10,000 heathens.
Elder J. T. Bowen founded the Yoruba Mission in 1850, and in 1853 other missionaries were sent out. Through the labors of Brother Bowen sta- tions were opened, residences and chapels were built, and schools and churches established.
The first Negro Missionary sent out under ap- pointment by a Colored Board was Bishop S. Cosby, in 1878. Virginia Baptists sent him forth to labor in their Fatherland. Brother Cos- by had with him in the work Elder W. W. Colley instead of Missionary David who had returned home. Thus Brother Bowen opened the way for colored missionaries.
In 1879, South Carolina Baptists sent Elder H. N. Bouey as their missionary to Africa. He took charge of a missionary church at Royeville, where he labored three years and returned home. Brother Bouey labored here with marked suc- cess, permanently organizing churches and asso- ciations. Missionary J. O. Hayes was a contem- porary of Bishop Bouey, and. did effective work in Africa. As early as 1887, Dr. Cook said, in- cluding Western, Southern and Central Africa, where the Congo Mission is, there are three As- sociations, 81 churches, 55 ministers, and 3,012 members. The slogan of Colored Baptists every- where was "Africa for Christ."
OUR EARLIEST ORGANIZATIONS IN THE NORTH.
Bishop R. L. Perry, Ph. D., says (1887) "The million colored Baptists in the United States maintain their own churches, associations and
.
219
Negro Baptist Beginnings in America.
218 History of Louisiana Negro Baptists.
missionary conventions. Their early history in the South was interwoven with the history of the white churches, but since emancipation they have made their own independent record in the South, just as they were doing in the North be- fore the war. They began in the North about 80 years ago-that is the Joy Street Church, Bos- ton, Mass, was constituted in 1805; the Abys- sinian Church, New York, in 1808, and the First African Church, Philadelphia, in 1809. From these as mother churches others were established, till, in 1840, there had been such an increase in churches in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Is- land and Massachusetts, that they then formed themselves into a Missionary Convention for work among their own race.
The work of this body was confined to the North, excepting an effort to establish a mission in Africa, till peace in 1865, enabled them to enter the South, to which their whole attention was given. At their 26th Anniversary, at Richmond, Va., August, 1886, this body united with the North Western and Southern Convention. The united bodies took the name of the Consolidated American Baptist Missionary Convention, and did a grand work in the South. Some difference of opinion arose as to jurisdiction and manage- ment at Richmond in 1877, which indicated ap- proaching disruption. This Convention still ex- ists, but the fields it once occupied are now worked by new organizations : the New England Baptist Missionary Convention in the North; the Baptist Foreign Missionary Convention of the United States and Territories in the West.
In each quarter of the United States-North, South, East and West, there are some strong
churches and able men, who take the lead in mis- sion work and denominational action in their re- spective societies. The Foreign Mission Conven- tion of the South, and the General Association of the Western States and Territories, have Foreign Mission Stations in Africa, while the Consoli- dated Convention has a Mission Station, and owns good mission property in Port-au-Prince, Hayti."
I have quoted Dr. Perry at length that the read- er might thoroughly understand these early be- ginnings. Ebenezer Baptist Church, New York, organized in 1825, and the Union Baptist Church in Cincinnati, constituted in 1827, follow in age the above mentioned churches.
FIRST GENERAL MISSIONARY SOCIETIES AMONG NEGRO BAPTISTS.
In 1873, the Baptist General Association of the Western States and Territories came into exis- tence and was made larger in 1880. Bishop R. De Baptist, speaking of further Baptist growth says that: "In 1853 a movement was begun in the Wood River Association, Illinois, to reach wider and more needy parts of the West, which resulted in the formation of the Western Colored Baptist Convention, which in 1864, was still further widen- ed into the North Western and Southern Baptist Convention. The latter consolidated in 1867 with the American Baptist Missionary Convention, operating in the Eastern and North Eastern States, the new body taking the name of the Con- solidated American Baptist Convention, which continued its work at home and abroad till 1879, as a united body, when the Western Churches withdrew and formed their own association.
PRESIDENT JOHN MARKS AND OTHER CONVENTION LEADERS, 1879.
221
Negro Baptist Beginnings in America.
The officers for 1887 were: Rev. W. H. Howard, M. D., Moderator; Rev. J. W. Cruchon and Rev. J. H. Oden, assistant moderators; Rev. J. L. Corron, Recording Secretary; Rev. T. L. Johnson, Corre- sponding Secretary; Rev. R. De Baptist, Treas- urer. The income for the year was $5,136. Rev. T. L. Johnson, London, England, and Rev. J. W. Polk at home, are agents for collecting funds for the African Mission. Great interest has been awakened in the Congo Mission, Africa, and the Association appointed in 1886, Rev. J. W. Rickets and T. E. S. Scholes, M. D., as missionaries to the Congo Valley. Miss L. C. Fleming goes also as a missionary to the Congo country, whence her father was brought as a slave to this land. She is a graduate of Shaw University, and will be ac- companied by Miss Faulkner and Miss Hamilton. They go under the Women's Societies of the East and West, which have already been doing a work among the women of the South through female teachers and missionaries.
The New England Baptist Missionary Conven- tion was formed in 1875. Its field of operation is in the Northern and Eastern States. The min- utes of 1886 show a list of 43 churches-open in Delaware, six in Pennsylvania, nine in New York, nine in New Jersey, four in Connecticut, two in Rhode Island, eleven in Massachusetts and one in Virginia. The main object of the Convention is to send out missionaries into destitute regions and to plant and build up churches within its reach. Its officers for 1887 are: President, Rev. R. D. Wynn; Vice-President, Rev. B. T. Moore; Record- ing Secretary, Rev. T. D. Miller, D. D .; Corre- sponding Secretary, Rev. W. T. Dixon; Treasurer,
222 History of Louisiana Negro Baptists.
Rev. R. A. Motley; General Agent, Rev. R. L. Perry, Ph. D."
In 1880 the Baptist Foreign Missionary Con- vention was formed with the following officers : Bishop A. S. Jackson, President; Hon. J. J. Spel- man, Secretary; Professor J. E. Jones, Corre- sponding Secretary; Elder R. Wells, Treasurer. The Executive Board was located at Richmond, Va. The Convention divided the country into the following districts for Foreign Mission work: 1st Virginia; 2nd-the Territory covered by the New. England Convention ; 3rd-South Carolina, Geor- gia, and Alabama. The receipts for 1886 were $4,473.
Elder J. H. Presley and wife, Elder W. W. Colley and wife, Bishop J. J. Coles and Bishop H. Mckinney, were sent as missionaries to Afri- ca in 1883. "Africa In Brief" is the name of a little book of Elder J. J. Coles in which he tells of the labors and trials of these missionaries in building up the Baptist Vey Mission. In 1886 the Convention sent to this mission Bishop J. J. Coles, who returned to America, Mrs. Cole, Elder and Mrs. E. B. Topp and Elder J. J. Diggs, Mrs. Diggs was soon to follow. The Foreign Mission- ary Force now (1887) consists of four ordained ministers, four native helpers and two women. There are two churches and 150 members. They had 100 baptisms within two and a half years.
ORGANIZATION OF NATIONAL BAPTIST CONVENTION.
By Bishop W. J. Simmons, D. D.
When a call was made by Elder W. J. Simmons,; D. D., the First National Baptist Convention of Colored Baptists came together August 25, 1886,
223
Negro Baptist Beginnings in America.
at the First Baptist Church, St. Louis, Mo., Bishop J. R. Young, pastor. After Brother Simmons had called the brethren to order, a temporary or- ganization was effected by calling Elder W. J. Shelton to the chair, and selecting W. H. Stewart, Secretary. The permanent election resulted in the election of the following officers : Bishop W. J. Simmons, D. D., President; Elder J. R. Young, 1st Vice-President ; Elder T. L. Johnson, 2nd Vice President; Elder W. H. Steward, and Bishop S. T. Clanton, Recording Secretaries; Bishop R. De Baptist, Corresponding Secretary; Miss L. W. Smith, Historian; and Elder D. A. Gaddie, Treas- urer. After the adoption of the Constitution, the body was made permanent, and "got down to work." The main object of the Convention given out by these pioneer fathers was "to unify the de- nomination in MISSION WORK."
Seventeen states were represented by 600 mes- sengers and visitors at this initial meeting. Among them were graduates in Law, Medicine, Theology; Professors of Philosophy, German, French, Latin, Greek, Hebrew; Ex-State Repre- sentatives; Ex-Senators; Two Ex-Lieutenant Governors; Editors and Teachers not a few; and a Baptist Missionary from England. In line with the "Spirit of Missions" on which the fathers founded the Convention, Bishop T. L. Johnson said to this crowd of enthusiastic Baptists "Knox lifted up Germany, and it is for us to lift the heathen of the land of our fathers."
The second session of the Convention was held with the Third Baptist Church, Mobile, Ala., Dr. A. F. Owens, pastor-1887.
224 History of Louisiana Negro Baptists.
FIRST ASSOCIATION.
Professor Monroe N. Work, in his 1913 "Negro Year Book" says that the first Negro Baptist As- sociation organized in the United States, was the Providence Baptist Association of Ohio, in 1836. Two years later the Wood River Baptist Asso- ciation was organized in Illinois.
BAPTIST CHURCH BEGINNINGS IN THE SOUTHI.
The earliest church beginnings were in the South. Just which is the first Negro Baptist church in America is a disputed question. The First African Baptist Church, Savan- nah, Ga., is claimed by some historians to be the oldest, while on the other hand Dr. Walter H. Brooks says: "The First Church of Negro Bap- tists, the very first and oldest, so far as authentic and trustworthy writings of the eighteenth cen- tury establish, was constituted at Silver Bluff, on Mr. Galphin's estate, a year or two before the Revolutionary War. "This church continued to worship here at Silver Bluff situated on the South Carolina side of Savannah River, in Aiken Coun- ty just 12 miles from Augusta, Ga., until the lat- ter part of 1778 when the vicissitudes of war drove the little flock into exile. Its exile simply meant to multiply it in other places. Elder Da- vid George was pastor of the Silver Bluff Church. This pastor and people finally moved to Savannah seeking safety and freedom under the British flag at the fall of Savannah. It seems that unavoid- able changes brought on by the war forced the members of The Silver Bluff Church to disband; but in due time God raised up another man-
Elder H. B. N. . Brown, B. D.
225
Negro Baptist Beginnings in America.
Elder Jesse Peter through ,whom he revived His work again and set it to going.
As the First African Baptist Church at Augus- ta, Ga., the Springfield Baptist Church-comes into existence we lose sight of the Silver Bluff Church, with Rev. Jesse Peter as pastor when the church is reported in a flourishing condition. The curtain rises and again we see a flock of de- voted Christians, with Jesse Peters as pastor, but they are 12 miles away from Silver Bluff, S. Carolina, receiving the regulated touches of the Rev. Abram Marshall and another white minis- ter, which gave the body standing and influence, as the First African Church of Augusta, Ga.
"If we presume, the Silver Bluff church is still with us, in another meeting place, and under a new name, the oldest Negro Baptist Church in this country to-day is that at Augusta, Ga., hav- ing existed at Silver Bluff, South Carolina from the period 1774-1775 to the year 1793, before be- coming a Georgia Institution."
THE FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH, SAVANNAH, GA.
It seems that this church grew out of one of the scattered parts of the Silver Bluff Church. ) There is some difference of opinion as to the founder and first pastor-some claiming that it was set up by Elder Andrew Bryan in 1788, others hold that this could not be. Dr. Walter H. Brooks says: "The Negro Baptist Church at Savannah, Ga., existed before Andrew Bryan became a Christian," and that Elder Lislie was the first pastor. Mr. Joseph Cook, of Euhaw, South Carolina, in a letter to Dr. John Rippon of
226 History of Louisiana Negro Baptists.
London, England says: "A poor Negro common- ly called Brother George, has been so highly fa- vored of God as to plant the First Baptist church in Savannah, and another in Jamaica." From the time of Brother Lislie's departure for Jamaica in 1782 to the time of Bryan's ordination, 1788 the little flock at Savannah, Ga., was bitterly persecuted, but it stood the storm and fire of op- position, and outstripped in point of growth and numbers the other branches of Silver Bluff Bap- tist Church, and is today the acknowledged moth- er of American Negro Baptists.
In 1785 there was a Negro Baptist Church or- ganized at Williamsburg, Va., but did not flourish to any large extent. There were other early church beginnings at Atlanta, Ga., New Or- leans, La., and Galveston, Texas.
FIRST NEGRO BAPTIST SCHOOLS.
In 1887 there were, in the South at least 26 institutions of Higher Education for Negroes. The following schools had Negro Presidents, and for the most part were under the control of Ne- gro Baptists :
State University of Louisville, Ky., founded by the late Dr. Wm. J. Simmons and others in 1873. Dr. Simmons had two assistants of whom only two were white. The University had three departments : College, Normal and Model school with 171 students. Property value of this school m 1887 was $18,000. First class of B. A.'s graduated in 1886.
Natchez College, Natchez, Miss., was organ- ized in 1877. President P. A. Wardlaw had three instructors and 165 students.
227
Negro Baptist Beginnings in America.
Selma University, Selma, Ala., 1878. Dr. H. Woodsmall, President, in 1887 had seven instruc- tors and 353 students-male and female with a property valuation of $15,000.
Brazoria Institute, Brazoria, Texas 1867. Professor H. S. Smothers was President. As early as 1887 he had trained 60 teachers for work among colored people.
Seguin Academy, Seguin, Tex., as early as
1887 had property valued at $1,400.
Hearne Academy, Hearne, Tex., was organ- ized in 1881; by 1887 Professor W. F. Smith, principal had three teachers and 32 students with a property value of $4,000.
Western Union Institute, Asheville, N. C., was founded in 1884. Elder E. H. Lipscombe was President in 1887 with four teachers and 200 students. Property valued at $5,000.
In 1887 there were several other Academies North Carolina; Winston Academy, Bishop C. S. Brown, A. B., Principal, costing $2,000; Garysburge High School, R. J. Walden, A. M., Principal, worth $1,500; High School at War- for years pastor of the first white Baptist church renton, Bishop J. A. Whitted, B. A., Principal, valued at $5,000; Cedar Grove Academy, Elder R. H. Harris, Principal and at Goldsboro a lot had ~been purchased for a school site on which build- dings were soon to be erected.
At Coalsmouth, W. Va., a school property formerly Shelton College had been purchased worth $25,000 and a school of high grade was to be soon opened with Elder C. H. Payne as President.
The Colored Baptists of Lynchburg, W. Va., perhaps, earlier than 1887 had bought a lot on
228 History of Louisiana Negro Baptists.
which to erect a building and operate a school preparatory to Richmond Seminary.
At Little Rock, Ark, the Arkansas Baptist Col- lege was begun in 1886 under "a scholarly and competent President Professor J. H. Garnett.
The first, third and last of the above schools, and those that follow in this list, in 1887, were under the fostering care of the American Bap- tist Home Mission Society. Dr. Morehouse said, "The Colored Baptists have raised apart from the Society's efforts, about $50,000 for property and teachers, chiefly for the schools at Selma, Live Oak, and Marshall, Texas.
By 1887 eight thousand students had enrolled in Home Mission schools.
Roger Williams University, Nashville, Tenn., the first school of the kind in order of time, be- gan work in 1864. In 1887, President W. H. Stifler, D. D., had eight assistants and 126 young men and 87 young women. The property value was $85,000.
Wayland Seminary, Washington, D. C., opened its doors for the education of freed men in 1865. In 1887 President C. M. P. King, D. D., was as- sisted by six teachers with an enrollment of 126 students. Value of property at that time $10,000. Our race owes Dr. King a debt of gratitude, be- cause as early as 1887 he had spent 18 years training Negro preachers and teachers.
In 1865, Shaw University began operations in Raleigh, North Carolina. By 1887, President H. M. Tupper, D. D., had a faculty of 20, and 402 students. Within 22 years after beginning this work, Dr. Tupper had built up a great Univer- sity consisting of Esty Hall, Leonard Medical building, Chapel and Dining Hall Medical Dormi- tory and residences costing in all about $125,000.
229
Negro Baptist Beginnings in America.
The Medical faculty was composed of the best white talent in Raleigh, while the Theological Department was in charge of Dr. T. E. Skinner, for years pastor of the First White Baptist in Raleigh, who said: "The work is itself an in- spiration. The deportment is good, and far be- yond any I have seen. The desire to learn is a most encouraging feature to the teacher, the ability to learn is fully equal to that of the white people,, where the advantages have been the same."
Dr. C. H. Cory and other white friends of ours founded Richmond Theological Seminary, Rich- mond, Va., in 1867. Two of its faculty of four were Negroes. The student body numbered 64 as early as 1887.
Atlanta Seminary, (now Morehouse College) At- lanta, Ga., came into existence in 1867, and by 1887 President S. Graves, D. D., had five teachers and one hundred and fifty-three students.
Leland University, New Orleans, La., was or- ganized in the basement of the Tulane Baptist Church for the education of freed men by Dea- con Holbrook Chamberlain, in 1870, and by 1887 Acting President, Bishop M. C. Cole, was assisted by eight instructors with an enroll- ment of 221 students. Deacon Chamberlain en- dowed it with $95,000. Valuation of its prop- erty in 1887 was $85,000.
Columbia, South Carolina, is the seat of Bene- dict Isstitute (now Benedict College), which be- gan work in 1870. President C. E. Becker as early as 1887 had four assistants and 218 stu- dents. His work was divided into four depart- ments-Theological, Academic, Musical and In- dustrial.
231
Negro Baptist Beginnings in America.
-
ELDER L. FORD, Benton, La.
In 1887 Bishop J. L. A. Fish was President of Florida Institute organized in 1880, at Live Oak, Fla. Teachers at that time numbered 6; stu- dents 96; and valuation was $7,000.
Jackson College, Jackson, Miss., was founded in 1877 not in Jackson, but in Natchez, Miss., and was afterwards moved to Jackson. President C. Ayer heroically began the work and by 1887 he had four assistants and 251 students. Prop- erty value at that time $30,000.
1887 was the year in which Bishop College was established at Marshall, Texas. President S. W. Culver with five assistants and 156 students was doing a splendid work in 1887. One of his teach- ers, Professor David Abner was a College graduate of the school. This school was named after the late Dr. Nathan Bishop whose widow liberally endowed it.
Spelman Seminary, Atlanta, Ga., was organ- ized in 1887 for females only. Before the year 1887 Miss H. Giles, and Miss S. B. Packard had built up a splendid school for Negro girls, hav- ing a faculty of 20 with an enrollment of 555 scholars.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.