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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e0202fa --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #68319 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/68319) diff --git a/old/68319-0.txt b/old/68319-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 10f2255..0000000 --- a/old/68319-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5858 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Out of the Briars, by A. H. Newton - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Out of the Briars - An Autobiography and Sketch of the Twenty-ninth Regiment - Connecticut Volunteers - -Author: A. H. Newton - -Contributor: J. P. Sampson - -Release Date: June 14, 2022 [eBook #68319] - -Language: English - -Produced by: The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at - https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUT OF THE BRIARS *** - - - -[Illustration: REV. ALEXANDER HERRITAGE NEWTON, D.D.] - - - - - OUT OF THE BRIARS - - _An Autobiography_ - - AND - - _Sketch of the Twenty-ninth Regiment_ - - _Connecticut Volunteers_ - - [Illustration] - - - _By A. H. NEWTON, D.D._ - - Member of the New Jersey Annual Conference - of the A. M. E. Church - - _With Introduction by Rev. J. P. Sampson, D.D._ - - PRICE $1.25 - - - - - Printed By - THE A. M. E. BOOK CONCERN - Printers and Publishers - 631 Pine Street - Phila., Pa. - 1910 - - - _Copyright, 1910 - By Rev. A. H. Newton_ - - - - - AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED - - TO THE MEMORY OF MY DEAR - CHILDREN AND TO MY WIFE - LULU L. NEWTON - - --_By the Author._ - - - - -Contents - - - Page - - Preface vii - - Introduction xi - - My Life--Ante Bellum 17 - - My War Record and Sketch of the Twenty-Ninth - Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers 29 - - My Ministerial Life and Labors 91 - - The Church; What It is. And what It Should Be 147 - - The Negro Problem 159 - - Sermons 175 - - Articles and Contributions 229 - - Resolutions, Etc. 255 - - - - -List of Illustrations - - - Page - - Rev. Alexander Herritage Newton Frontispiece - - Rev. J. P. Sampson, D.D. 11 - - A. H. Newton in Military Uniform 29 - - Col. W. P. Wooster 33 - - Rev. T. J. Hill 43 - - Bethel A. M. E. Church, Woodbury 71 - - Rev. Alexander H. Newton--A young Pastor 91 - - Bishop Jabez P. Campbell, D.D., L.L.D. 95 - - Rev. Theodore Gould, D.D. 97 - - Bishop William Paul Quinn, D.D. 99 - - Bishop John M. Brown, D.D., D.C.L. 115 - - Rev. J. W. Cooper 117 - - Macedonia A. M. E. Church Camden 119 - - Bishop Henry M. Turner, D.D. 127 - - Rev. Joseph H. Morgan 143 - - Rev. Samuel G. Miller, D.D. 147 - - - - -Preface - - -With no intention on my part to ever put in book form any matter -concerning myself, many years ago I began keeping a daily account of -the incidents of my life. I entered into this work conscientiously and -let no day pass over my head without its record. I did this that I -might improve myself and also provide for myself, family and friends, a -record and reference. This work has grown into three large volumes. I -have found this voluminous diary very valuable on many occasions, not -only to myself but to many others. - -My comrades of the grand old Twenty-ninth Regiment, Connecticut -Volunteers, have frequently written me regarding persons and incidents -of the Civil War, and brethren of the ministry have frequently -consulted me through this diary for valuable information. This has led -me to the conclusion that this knowledge would be more valuable and in -better shape in published form. - -So I determined that I would undertake the work of publishing my -autobiography not in any egotistical sense, but as an humble service -to my race and an inspiration to the young people of my race. - -I have named the book, “Out of the Briars,” because the figure is a -befitting one in my own life. Although free born, I was born under the -curse of slavery, surrounded by the thorns and briars of prejudice, -hatred, persecution and the suffering incident to this fearful regime. -I, indeed, came out of the briars torn and bleeding. I came out of -poverty and ignorance. I did not have any of the advantages of the -schools. I learned what little I know by listening to the educated -white people talk. I picked up a great deal in this way. - -I am sure, therefore, that this volume will be read with the kindly -spirit in which it is written. I have told my life story, and am now -seventy-two years on my journey through this world. I have but a few -milestones further to pass, or it may be, not one more; but at any -rate, the chapters of my life are about closed and I am ready at any -time to answer the call of the Captain of my salvation. - -I sincerely trust that this book will become an inspiration to the -young men and women of my race, that they may copy my good qualities -and shun my weaknesses. If, in a small way, this supreme end is -accomplished, I am amply repaid. - -I desire to acknowledge my obligations to the Rev. Samuel G. Miller, -D.D., Rev. I. W. L. Roundtree, D.D., Rev. C. A. A. Greene, B.S.T., -Rev. J. P. Sampson, D.D., Rev. George E. Bivins, D.D., Miss Alice -MacParland, and my wife Lulu L. Newton, without whose encouragement, -inspiration, advice and assistance, this book would never have been -written. - - “Take my life and let it be, - Consecrated, Lord to Thee.” - - Alexander Herritage Newton, D.D. - - - - -Rev. J. P. Sampson, D.D. - - -Rev. Dr. J. P. Sampson, a friend and contemporary, whose picture we -present, though at that time a junior among them, he stood in the front -ranks with Geo. Watkins, Douglas, Garnett, Langston and Phillips as -an advocate for freedom, not only with eloquent speech but through -his pioneer journal, _The Colored Citizen_ at Cincinnati, making it -possible for hundreds, some of whom at that time were slaves, since, -themselves leaders, now declining, but who took their lessons from -these men, he was largely depended upon by the anti-slavery leaders; -scholar, author and advocate for civic righteousness, an exemplar and -teacher, a standard for those who followed, an old guard, whose life -with others are full of achievement, yet still active, cheerful and -happy, editing “A Jolly People,” among other books, running thousands -every year, few colored men are better known. He has the largest -charity for an enemy, matures gracefully and without asperity; he has -given his life of useful service to God and the race. A graduate from -two or three of our greatest colleges, especially in theology and law, -and filling for some years various positions of honor and trust in the -civil service of the government, subsequently giving up all secular -prospects, he entered and has been for nearly forty years in the active -ministry of the A. M. E. Church. - -[Illustration: REV. J. P. SAMPSON, D. D.] - - - - -Introduction - - -To be requested to write an introduction to a book implies some -acquaintance with, confidence in, and respect for, the writer thereof, -on the part of the author of the book. Some authors solicit such a -service because of the prominent position of the writer, rather than -the thorough acquaintance which he has with the author. This may -bring an added value to the book and some of the glow of honor to the -author. But in this case, we are sure that the author of this book in -no way sought such distinction or compliment; for like himself, the -writer of this introduction, has come out of the same circumstances and -conditions, and by the grace of God and his common sense, is what he -is. Dr. Newton has selected a lifelong friend, a comrade in the toils -and trials of this world, a co-worker in the great and common cause -of humanity, and a brother-minister in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to -present him and his autobiography to the public. We were boys together, -and he was a schoolmate of my brothers, J. B. K. and Jos. Sampson, -being taught by John Steward Stanley, and from that time to this good -day, we have known each other as brothers. - -Dr. Newton’s life has been, what we call a success, neither rich nor -poor, but of easy circumstances. This is to his credit, for a man of -our race to be on the middle ground between riches and poverty, proves -that Dr. Newton has been a great economist in the things of value, such -as money, time, ability and opportunity. He has wasted but little and -husbanded what he had. We are often tempted to make wealth the basis -of our greatness, but Dr. Newton has sought a much grander foundation, -that of serving his fellowman. He is, therefore, ending his life -career, not in sullen disappointment and poverty, not in the gloated -greed of one dying rich, but with the conviction that he has done his -work well and fought a good fight and that there remains for him an -inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled and that fadeth not away. The -doctor has grown old gracefully. He is active in his labors, cheerful -in his disposition, buoyant in his hopes, and confident in his faith. -He is more than three score and ten young, not old; and he looks with -the eye of a conqueror toward the glowing sunset of his life battles. -Every day that he lives adds new joys to his hopes of a glorious -immortality beyond the vale of tears. - -This autobiography is the outgrowth of Dr. Newton’s carefully kept -diary. It is the fruit of this life tree of his doings. Therefore, -it is very valuable as the real unfoldment of a real life of -constant action, habit and conduct. It is the practical realization -of the ideals of the author--this indeed, makes it a real and true -monument of his life. Some of these ideals made real, are a true and -genuine charity; devotion to duty; a high sense of morality; a love -of humanity; a loyalty to government; a hatred of sin and evil; a -diligence in business; a faithful husband, father and friend. Like -Bishop Henry McNeal Turner, he was too great to be little, and too -humble to be great. He always seemed to be less than he was, the -fulfilment was greater than his promises, the work greater than the -plan. He was always the champion of the down trodden and the oppressed. -He was ready to enter their cause with an army and to die with others -for their welfare, or to go alone to his death. In all issues of right -against wrong, Dr. Newton has been a Daniel. - -After his war career, in 1872, Dr. Newton entered the ministry of -the African Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has labored most -faithfully to the present time. He has been a most successful preacher -of the Gospel of Christ, and great builder of churches, in their -membership and edifices. The Church never had a better Presiding Elder, -beloved by all the pastors of fine executive ability and sympathetic -and wise in his advice. He has had a remarkable success during the -forty years of his ministerial life. - -Before the war, Dr. Newton was a member of the Abolition Movement and -did some daring deeds in liberating slaves. From that time on, he has -been the faithful friend of the race, seeking in every possible way, to -uplift them. He has ever been the staunch advocate of higher education -for the masses and especially of the ministry. During the war, as his -record herein shows, he was a daring soldier, doing what he could on -the battlefield to liberate his race. - -He was the trusted adviser of all his Bishops, Past Masters of -Thirty-third Degree Masons, Supreme Prelate of the Supreme Lodge of -the Knights of Pythias of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, -Africa and Australia; Commissary Sergeant in the Civil War; in all -these functions of service, he proved himself a worthy officer and -servant. - -Like Booker T. Washington, he has come up out of great struggles -and trials and has made himself strong thereby. He educated all his -children in the schools and colleges of our country; bought his -own home and was successful in business lines, and last but by no -means least, at the age of 70 years, entered the Bible College of -Philadelphia and completed the regular course in that institution, -mastering New Testament Greek, Hebrew, Mental Philosophy, and the -regular studies of the course. In 1909 he was honored with the degree -of Doctor of Divinity from the same institution, a most befitting honor -for such a man and such a life. - -“Out of the Briars” ought to be a great inspiration to our young -people, a real monument to this great man and great life, and a legacy -of value to the race. Dr. Newton is an uncrowned Bishop, yet a real -Bishop. He has been my faithful and consistent friend through all -the ups and downs of my life. In poverty, adversity, in the times of -need, he has been the friend, indeed. Whether as chaplain of a State -Legislature or the humble pastor of a small church, he has been the -same great man of God. - -This book will be an ornament to every library as well as a most -valuable acquisition thereto. “May his tribe increase,” is my prayer, -and may our people follow this heroic and noble leader, to whom he has -given his life of faithful, constant and unstinted service. - - J.P. SAMPSON, D.D., - P. E. Boston District, Asbury Park, N. J. - -May 15, 1910. - - - - -My Life--Ante-Bellum - - -I was born in Newbern, Croven St., Craven County, N. C., November the -first, 1837. I was born under the regime of slavery, a free child, my -mother being a free woman. My childhood was the ordinary child life, -of the colored children of the South. As a mere child, I looked out -upon the world as beautiful and felt that all men and women were good -and kind. I did not know of the distinctions, classes, conditions -and grades of mankind. But as I grew older these distinctions were -forced upon my tender heart and burned into my mind. I gradually came -to realize my said condition, although free, and the sad condition -of my race. My father was a slave, so that in my family, I learned -what slavery was, I felt its curse in my bones and I longed for an -opportunity and the power to play the part of a Moses in behalf of -my people. I suppose that this was the wild dream of every child -born during slavery. The awful condition of my people, the steel -shackles of slavery, the slave block of the market place where -husbands and wives, parents and children, were ruthlessly torn apart -and scattered asunder, the whipping post, the slave quarters, the -inhuman restrictions, such as denial of our own religious privileges, -no ministers or churches of our race, no educational advantages to -speak of, no social freedom among ourselves, these were some of the -unspeakable conditions of my childhood life. But there was the bright -and happy side of my life when a boy. With the thoughtlessness, the -happy-go-lucky spirit of the boy, I entered into those plays and -pleasures which make up the pastime of youth. I recall the many boys -and girls, both white and colored, who were my mates in games and -pranks. Like all boys, I had my little adventures, which were not -always on the side of the right. One of the first practical lessons, I -believe the first, that I ever had regarding the sterling worth of my -mother I most vividly recall. Together with some other boys, we were -guilty of stealing some peaches. It was not the proverbial watermelon -this time. Fortunately we were caught by the proprietor of the orchard. -It would be fortunate if all thieves were caught. I was taken in -charge. I began to cry vigorously. I was asked what I wanted done with -me. I begged to be taken home to my mother. This request was granted. -Soon I was facing my mother. The gentleman told her of my offense. I -expected, of course, that my mother would in some way intercede and -waited with breathless expectation for some defense or some excuse or -some release from my awful predicament. But my heart sank within me -when she said to the man, “I have no thieves in my family.” So I was -led away to face some fearful ordeal, I knew not what. When a boy’s -mother turns against him for his evil-doings, there is no hope for him. -But my tears, cries and youth touched the man’s heart and after leading -me away from home towards the jail for a distance, he released me with -some good advice. I learned in that wrong-doing that I need never -expect my mother to uphold me in the slightest departure from the right -path. It was a wonderful lesson and I doubt not, had a fine effect on -my entire life. - -I recall another experience which was much more severe in a physical -way. I was bound out to a white man, Jacob G. Gooding, and placed -under his foreman, Henry E. Bryan. I was ordered to carry a bench some -distance. Then the devil said to me, “You are not a horse, why should -you be doing the work of a horse?” I said to myself, this is true. So -I decided that I would not do the work of a horse. Well, he soon came -to see what the trouble was and found me and the bench together. He -wanted to know why I had not obeyed his orders, I told him that I was -no horse, that he could get a horse and cart and have that bench taken -where he wanted it. We were soon in each other’s embrace engaged in a -street fight. We were arrested and tried and sentenced to a whipping. -Well, I was in for punishment, and being a free boy, the slave overseer -nor his master could punish me. I was reported to my employer. The -punishment decided on was forty lashes save one. So I was stripped and -my employer plied the lash thirty-nine times. My back was lacerated and -very painful and for three weeks I was unable to do any work. I suppose -that I could have gone to work sooner, but I was determined that my -punishment should cost my employer something as well as myself. It cost -me thirty-nine lashes and the suffering and it cost him the loss of -three weeks of my labor. This is but an illustration of the manner in -which the colored people, even the free-born, were generally treated -for their offenses. They were treated frequently worse than the brutes. -For they knew that the Negro had enough intelligence to understand what -his punishment meant and that the purpose of it was to reduce and keep -him in perpetual servitude. This, of course, had to be done by mere -brute force. But as the result of slavery there were many young men of -the race who learned well some trade. They were apprenticed, as in my -case, to some good workman, for at least four years or more. At the -end of that time they were efficient, practical workmen who, if free, -could command good wages. So that hundreds of fine artisans came of -slavery who were able to begin at once the laying of the foundation -of the history of a free people. They took up their several trades, -and for both races, turned their hands to every advantage. It should -always be remembered that the magnificent civilization of the South -as to its material wealth and prosperity, was built up by the slaves -of the South. The cities, the country homes, the plantations and all -their improvements, the planting, cultivating, and harvesting of the -crops, all was done by Negro labor. So that there should be set over to -the account of the Negro race, not only their own progress since the -Civil War, but also the progress of the south for at least a century -before the war. There is another incident in my life at this time -which may be interesting and also illustrate something of the workings -of that noted system of bringing slaves to the North. That system of -exporting slaves is known in history as “The Underground Railroad.” -I was, of course, deeply interested in this means of travel in those -days and tried to get all the passengers for this railroad that I could -find. My boss-foreman, H. E. Bryan, had disobeyed his master and was -threatened to be whipped. I assisted him to a place of safety. In all -the slaveholders’ dwellings, slaves were employed in the house. They -practically had full charge of affairs, and especially in the dining -room, kitchen, etc. This part of the house was very seldom inspected, -excepting to see that things were kept clean and orderly. Well, I -dressed this slave up in a woman’s garb and conducted him through the -streets to the house of one, Mr. Primrose, a man who stood high in the -community, and held the confidence of all slaveholders as one of them -and one of their defenders and supporters, a matter of course. I was -successful in getting my charge safely into the kitchen. Then with the -assistance of the slaves in charge of the kitchen, we placed him in -the attic at the rear of the house, above the kitchen. Here we safely -secreted him and here he was fed on the best of the land for a long -while. There was a most diligent search made for the slave in the town -and throughout the country. A reward was offered and he was advertised, -but all to no avail. He could not be found high or low. At last things -quieted down and we found opportunity to put him on this mystic train -and send him to a clime where he enjoyed his freedom. This was indeed a -daring attempt of mine, but it was in me to do it with a great deal of -delight. And from that day to this, I have been proud of this one feat -of my boyhood life which was on the side of right and humanity. - -In 1858 I was bound out to Mr. Jacob Gooding to learn the trade of -bricklaying and plastering, in Newbern, N. C. I worked for him four -years having thoroughly learned the trade. Having finished the course -satisfactorily to Mr. Gooding, he gave me $6, a suit of clothes, set -of tools, and a Bible, and the advice to be a good boy. Afterwards I -worked for Mr. Eusten. Then I decided that I would quit work and seek -new fields. The occasion of my coming to this decision was as follows: -Mr. Eusten gave orders that I should work on the fourth of July. I -made up my mind that I would not work on that day. Of course, this -was disobedience and would have called for punishment. So I had to do -something. I cleaned up my tools, packed them away, and on the fourth -of July, 1857 left for Beaufort, N. C. There I went on board a schooner -and became cook, receiving $7.00 for my services. This schooner was -en route for New York City. When I landed at pier 28 East River I had -only my wages. I met a friend from the South, Mr. Alexander Hicks, -and we arranged a plan by which I should escape from the schooner. He -helped me with my trunk and we carried it to a horse car and landed -at 100 Sands st., Brooklyn. I soon found my mother who had preceded -me to the North. She was engaged in collecting money for buying my -father’s freedom. She was aided in this work by the Abolitionists, -among whom were Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Rev. Henry Highland Garnett, -Rev. Mr. Bennington, Mr. Arthur Tapin, Mr. Theodore Tilton and others. -Mr. Timins, Kinsley, Thomas, and Robert Hamilton, Moses Coss, Ebenezer -Chambers and others, assisted me in getting work. I was able to attend -school some. While at school I made the acquaintance of Mr. William F. -Powell, who has made his mark in the world and was honored by President -McKinley with the position of minister to Hayti. Some of the other boys -were Ben Myrs and Wash Parker, working against great odds and prejudice -but aiming to make themselves an honor and credit to the Negro race. -Many of these boys are now filling good positions and have made -themselves honorable and law-abiding citizens. - -In New York I worked some at my trade. But I did other work as I could -find it. On the corner of Pack Slip and Water streets, I loaded trucks, -chopped tea, weighed cotton, and I also did white-washing of houses -(but thank God I have never white-washed evil doers), cleaned carpets -and houses. - -In 1859 I heard for the first time a minister of the A. M. E. Church, -the Rev. James Morris Williams and the Rev. Geo. A. Rue, having also -met Bishops Daniel A. Payne and William Paul Quinn. I was deeply -impressed with the importance of making my life a means of serving God -in the uplifting of my people. I was convinced even then that it does -not follow that because our skins are dark and that we are identified -with the Negro race that there is no chance for us to become potent -factors in the uplifting of humanity and especially my own people; that -a man should decide to do right and go ahead and God would certainly -care for him all his days and give him the reward of all his labors. -It is a great thing for a man to realize the responsibility of true -manhood and let others learn this from his example. If these were my -convictions in those dark days, what should be the feelings of young -men of the race today, when the darkness of slavery has been changed -into the light of liberty? - -Sometime in 1860 Mr. Albert Storm requested me to aid him in getting -his mother from the South. She was a slave. Millie, Sally, Ann and John -Caraway were brought from the South, by the permission of the owner, -by one Dolly Babb, to Brooklyn. Dolly said to my mother, “Now I am -delivered from the devil out of hell. I am bound to serve my Heavenly -Master and I shall serve Him well.” J. R. V. Thomas, William Isaacs, -Rev. William Dixon, Paul Drayton, James Anderson, Dr. Peter W. Ray, -Joe Bowen, Chas. H. Lansing, William Still, Rev. George W. Leveer and -others, were a few of the men who were engaged in bringing slaves from -the South and giving them their freedom. Men of grander qualities, -morally, socially and religiously, I have never met. - -In 1859 I was married, on June 16th, to Miss Olivia A. Hamilton, a -daughter of Mr. Robert Hamilton, editor of an Anglo-African paper. Ada -A. William Alexander and Mary Hamilton were born to us. - -[Illustration: ALEXANDER H. NEWTON In Military Uniform Commissary -Sergeant 29th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers] - - - - -My War Record and Sketch of the Twenty-ninth Regiment - - -In 1861 when President Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 troops I -engaged myself for the great Civil War, the War of the Rebellion. I -went into the company of the Thirteenth Regiment, of Brooklyn. I went -to the front, as the United States was not taking Negro troops. In -1862 there was a riot in New York City. The colored people were being -dreadfully treated, being stoned, killed, and shown how despised they -were even in the North. An orphan asylum (colored) was burned, having -at that time three hundred children in it. I returned to Brooklyn under -the command of General B. F. Butler, who had been ordered to put down -the riot. While engaged in this mission I got into the very midst of -the rioters. Soon they were after me. I ran through the streets of New -York like a wild steer, while the rioters cried out, “Head the Nigger -Off!” At length, I reached the New Haven boat which brought us safely -to New Haven, Conn. While there I engaged at my trade with Mr. W. -Clark. On the 18th of December, 1863, I enlisted in the Twenty-ninth -Regiment, of the Connecticut Volunteers, as a private. On March 8, -1864, the regiment broke camp and left New Haven for Annapolis, Md., -with Colonel W. B. Wooster in command. On the next Sabbath after we -reached Annapolis, I attended the Methodist Church and listened to a -powerful sermon by Rev. I. J. Hill, he being an orderly to Colonel -Wooster. - -While in the camp at New Haven, Conn., we employed our idle time in -discussing the great problems that confronted the country at that -time. Lieutenant Seymour, Uncle Fred Moore, Horace Louden, Rev. I. J. -Hill and myself were the participants in these discussions. The new -party, the Republican, was then formed, the prime purpose of which -was the freedom of the slaves. We were most frequently surmising and -prophesying as to what would be the final outcome and the ultimate -benefits to the Negro race. There were vital questions at stake then. -The spirit of patriotism and the desire to lift oppression, were afire -in every breast of every true American. It would be well for the many -young Afro-Americans of today to remember that the supreme purpose of -the Republican party when it was organized, was not only to prohibit -the further extension of slavery, but to exterminate it as a system of -barter and traffic. On the other hand, the Democratic party at that -time was in favor of the infernal system of slavery, and in our -day, it is in sympathy with any movement that looks to keeping the -Negro race in some kind of shackles. They are still in favor of keeping -the Afro-American in slavery in some form. And they are succeeding -reasonably well. For at last, we are forced to conclude that no man is -really free unless he holds in his bosom the right of franchise and has -received the liberty to exercise that right. Have the ten millions of -Afro-Americans in the United States that right to-day? The answer comes -from many States, NO! - -[Illustration: COL. W. P. WOOSTER - -Colonel of the 29th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers] - -Inspired with the thought of Shakespeare, who said, “He who would be -free, let him first strike the blow himself,” my bosom burned with the -fire of patriotism for the salvation of my country and the freedom of -my people. I was rejoiced when the Hon. Abraham Lincoln was elected -President of these United States, and when it was my fortune to see him -emancipate the millions of members of the downtrodden race. I shall -never forget when I saw him riding through the streets of New York, -with throngs of humanity on either side of him. He was on his way then -to the inauguration at Washington, D. C. to assume control of the -terror-stricken country and to take the reigns of government in his -own hands. While it became necessary that blood should flow freely, I -was reminded, that no sin is ever wiped out without the spilling of -blood. This seems to be a decree of High Heaven, even among the affairs -of men. And God has made no exception to this decree, in the salvation -of men from their personal sins. I was indeed willing to unite with -the party, the Republican party and the abolition movement for their -high and holy purposes, and to be associated with such men as Rev. -Henry Ward Beecher, Rev. Henry Highland Garnett, Theodore Tilton, Lewis -Tapen, William Still, of Philadelphia; Charles Sumner, Thaddeus Stevens -and many other such men, whose platform was justice and right and -freedom extended to all without regard to color or previous condition -of servitude, and to enforce these rights and privileges even at the -point of the bayonet. - -At New Haven we had been promised $15 bounty on our enlistment, but -this had not been allowed, no effort, it seems had been made to pay us -this money, but we did not shirk our duty because we had not received -our just dues. We had long been accustomed to such impositions; but -we said that we would honor Old Glory, obey God, and contend for our -prize, Liberty, and will contend in this conflict until the sound of -clanking slave chains shall be heard no more in the length and breadth -of this fair and goodly land, When kings, princes and nobles shall -have been swept into merited oblivion and the Civil War forgotten, -posterity will catch the glowing theme of Liberty and enroll with -rapture the names of those heroes who bought this boon with blood on -the battlefield. - -The regiment paraded the streets while multitudes looked with wonder, -some laughing, others cheering, mothers with their babies in their -arms, crying and holding on to their husbands, as they marched away -to do battle for the noblest of causes. It was a scene never to be -forgotten. We marched from Chapel street, where we embarked on a -Government transport. As I went on board the vessel, mother, father, -wife and children, ladies and gentlemen, of my friends, both white and -black, were bidding me goodbye and expressing the hope that I might -have a safe return. I cannot express the sobbing emotions of my heart, -when I ungrasped the hands of these loved ones and friends and turned -my face away from them, knowing that I might be going to my death and -never again see them in this world. - -When we reached Annapolis, Md., we were encamped three miles out of -town. Here for the first time we put up our tents. It was cold and -damp. We dug holes about two feet wide extending from within outside -the tent, and placed sheet iron over these and in these small trenches -started our fires. In this way we were able to have heat within and -force the smoke outside. - -The colored people in this place were afraid to speak to us. Their -masters looked on us with contempt. On Sunday a reverend gentleman came -into the camp to preach to us and we listened to a very interesting -sermon. After remaining here for eight or ten days, we received orders -to strike tents. We left for Hilton Head, S. C., arriving at this place -April 16, 1864. We marched through the main street and went into camp -with the Twenty-sixth, of New York. On May 25 the paymaster arrived -at Beaufort, S. C., where the Twenty-ninth Regiment was at this time -stationed, and our spirits were greatly lifted up when we saw him, for -as yet we had received no pay for our services. But when we were told -by him that we could receive only $7 per month each, for our services -our spirits fell. So I, together with the rest of my comrades, was -really disgusted with this failure on the part of the Government to -give us a decent compensation for our work as soldiers. The officers -advised us to take it and assured us that at the next payment we should -receive our full compensation. We decided to follow their advice. We -quieted our passions and went to work like good soldiers. My great -desire was to get into contact with the Southern forces that we might -be working out the decision of this great problem. I had no ill feeling -for the Southern white people, some of them had been my best friends; -but this was not a personal matter, but a question of national issue, -involving the welfare of millions, and my soul was on fire for the -question, Slavery or No Slavery, to be forever settled and that too as -soon as possible. - -While the troops were at Bermuda Hundred having disembarked from the -transport Alabama, I recalled an incident. When my father and mother -were sitting at the table of my father’s owner, Master Park Custis, -a son of Mr. and Mrs. Custis, saw a piece of pie on the table and -started to help himself, without any formalities, my mother objected -to his uncouthness, caught hold of him and would have handled him -quite roughly, but my father caught hold of her and held her until the -youngster got away with his prize. He was very insolent and insulting. -It all came over me and I thought how I would like to find him at that -time and administer the very flogging which my dear mother started -to give him. I was indeed in a proper mood to have done it, if I had -came across him. This is but a little illustration of hundreds of -incidents that came into my mind when the army was in the South, and as -I felt then, that I was duly protected. I confess that I had a burning -desire to eke out some vengeance which for years had been pent up in -my nature. But, of course, from the Christian standpoint, this was -all wrong. I was all wrong. I was then on a much higher mission than -trying to get personal vengeance on those who had mistreated me and -mine. I was fighting for the liberty of my people and the righting of -many wrongs that belonged to their social and religious welfare. While -I had not learned much of the laws of commerce and politics, I knew -only a little of the arts and sciences, which I had picked up here and -there, by an attentive mind, in mixing with the educated people of the -South; I knew nothing of military science, but I had been watching the -Southerners drill for several years seemingly getting ready for some -unexpected conflict; but I did know that the time was fast approaching -when a great problem would have to be settled by bloodshed, when I -would be called on to make my life a personal sacrifice on the altar -of my country and for the sake of my people. I knew that slavery and -its inhuman machinery must be put out of existence and that the simple -principles of liberty of thought and action in politics, society and -religion must prevail. And, at this time, I was in the full realization -of what it meant to be again in the South, not a cringing black man, -but a proud American soldier with the Union and Old Glory behind, -before, over and under me. I had heard, in the fifties, from the -Southerners, that there would be a war and that if any of the colored -people aided the North in it, they would catch them and cut out their -tongues and make them drink their mothers’ blood. Well, at this time, -I was in the South to have my tongue cut out and to drink my mother’s -blood if it had been necessary. But thank God, I helped to save my own -tongue and my mother’s blood and my race! This is enough glory for me! - -All the soldiers of the Twenty-ninth Regiment, although dark-skinned, -felt the full responsibility of their mission. They were in the South -to do, to dare, and to die. And while they had not been trained in -military tactics at West Point and were backward in their movements, -they had been to the armory of God and had received weapons of the -heart, that made them daring and dangerous foes--men to be really -reckoned with. And I am proud to say, that the history of the colored -man in warfare has been an enviable one. He has always showed his -patriotism by action, by deeds of sacrifice, by death itself. We -had the same muscle, the same strength, the same heart, the same -conscience, the same cause, the same right, the same liberty as the -white man. We were fighting under the same flag and the same God. I -remember the words of General Saxon, “Boys, if you want to make good -soldiers you must look a white man straight in the face and let him -know that you are a man.” This gave us fresh courage to press forward -as soldiers to a certain victory. - -On the 14th of August, 1864, a time long to be remembered with us, -an oppressively hot day, we marched into Virginia. We were worn out, -weary, thirsty, hungry, and completely exhausted. We were compelled to -carry our blankets, knapsack, musket, and sixty pounds of cartridges. -About 4 P. M. we reached the headquarters of General Birney, in the -woods and encamped. I was so overcome with the heat that I fell to -the ground and was soon asleep. We had no feather beds to lie upon, -only the bare ground--but this bed always supplied by Mother Earth, -was delightful this time for rest. We had for our dinner, breakfast -and supper, half-done salt pork, which was placed on a stick and held -over a blaze to warm it; hard tack, on which one could hardly make -an impression with the teeth, and sometimes coffee, if it could be -gotten. These were some of the hardships of the soldier and these were -enough; but when you add to these the mental condition of many, such -as myself, almost afraid of my own shadow, ready to shoot at anything -that made a threatening noise,--I remember that I shot at the limb of -a tree floating down the river, thinking that it was a rebel skiff -with spies--it was a sore and trying ordeal. Every soldier was in -constant expectation of surprises from the Johnnies, or rebels. Lee’s -and Johnson’s army was near Buzzard’s Roost, in face of a rocky-faced -ridge, to pass him meant suffering and death. We were surrounded by -Dutch Gap Canal, James River, over which we had to cross on a pontoon -bridge, and Fort Hell to be captured and taken. But knowing that -Generals Weitzel, Sherman, Doubleday and Butler had 35,200 men under -them, we went bravely forward, determined that Old Glory should not -trail in the dust. - -We crossed the pontoon bridge near Deep Bottom and marching about -two miles, halted in a corn field. Here we rested, but in momentary -readiness for a call to action as the rebels were very near us. We were -soon aroused and called to the fort at Malvern Hill. Here we entered -into an engagement with the rebels and many were wounded, killed and -taken prisoners. I had a very narrow escape and thought several times -that “my time” had come. I remember a twenty-pound cannon ball coming -towards me, I could see it distinctly through the smoke. It looked like -it had been sent especially for me. I said quickly, “Lord, you promised -that a thousand should fall at my side, but that it should not come -nigh me.” It was quick praying, quick thinking, quick coming; but when -the ball was within about three feet of me it struck the ground and -bounded over my head. So I was saved. God’s promise was fulfilled in my -case. - -On the 16th we joined the Third Division, Tenth Army Corps, General -Birney’s Brigade, composed of the Twenty-second, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth -and Twenty-ninth, United States Cavalry Troops, numbering 5000 men. -We took up our march for Jones’ Landing, recrossed the pontoon bridge -under very disagreeable circumstances, rain, mud and slush, but we were -thankful and cheerful; glad that we had not been killed, or wounded -or taken prisoners, in the encounter just passed through. Again we -camped in an open field and raised our tents, prepared our bacon and -coffee and hard tack. We were soon ready to take a good night’s sleep. -I remembered my loved ones and wondered how they were faring and my -privations, but I found myself willing to undergo all this for the -cause of liberty. - -On the 17th we arose early and received word to advance. In a short -time we were in a fierce battle. Our lieutenant colonel was wounded in -the engagement. Again, I thought that my time had come. By some awkward -movement, I was thrown into the line of the enemy. The Johnnies were -very much excited and did their best to capture me, but I succeeded -in getting back into the Union lines. I knew then that the prayers of -my good old mother were being heard; for surely the Lord delivered -me from the snare of the fowler and from the noisome pestilence. Our -lieutenant colonel had his horse shot from under him and Orderly I. -J. Hill was wounded. - -[Illustration: REV. I. J. HILL - -Orderly 29th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers] - -I prayed in this battle whenever I had opportunity to look towards -Heaven, for grape and canister and bullets of all shapes and sizes -were falling thick and fast about me. We were in close quarters with -the enemy and our ranks were being thinned by reason of the wounded -and dead lying on the battlefield. Although I came out of this battle -pretty well shaken up, excepting for a few scratches, my life was -on the altar for my country and my people, and I was not especially -concerned as to the outcome regarding my own life; but I was determined -to do all that I could to bring our cause to a victorious end. The -Union forces moved back and remained all day about twelve miles from -Richmond. - -On the 18th, the Twenty-ninth Regiment, of which I was commissary -sergeant, and the Third Division, moved down the valley, halting in -the open fields for two hours. We were opposite the pontoon bridge -which crossed the Chickahominy, and remained until the bridge was put -in repair. While here I gave out hard tack and pork to the soldiers as -best I could. For myself, I built a little fire and roasted a bit of -pork over the fire, which together with water from the river, formed my -meal. On the 20th we marched for the forts on the right of Point Rock -Hospital, near Petersburg. On the 21st we were almost flanked by the -rebels and retreated to Malvern Hill and repaired the breastworks. Here -we had another skirmish. Some lost their lives and others were wounded, -but we were successful in capturing seventy-five prisoners. - -On the 23d we crossed the James River on the pontoon bridge, passing -the heights where the New Jersey Battery was stationed. They greeted -us with shouts and “Hurrah boys! we are here to stay!” Such a round -of cheers you never heard. You would not have thought that they were -on their way to battle, and some to death and the Judgment Throne. -Uncle Freddie Moore and Orderly I. J. Hill were the only preachers we -had with us, excepting the chaplain. They used to say to us, “boys -get ready, for if there ever were a time when you should be ready, -it is now; for you do not know when you may be called to go, you are -continually in death’s jaws.” - -We were soon in front of Petersburg, Va., looking upon the doomed -city. We were greeted by a shell from the rebels, or Grey Backs, as we -sometimes called them. It fell near the colonel, who was sitting on his -horse at the right of the brigade. We countermarched and fell back to -the woods, where we remained until 5 o’clock, when orders were received -from the general to fall back to the fort and protect the pontoon -bridge. On our way we met a lot of troopers making their way to the -front, who wanted to know our reason for returning. We told them that -the rebels were after us. It was very amusing to see them falling into -line. Some of them could march faster than we. We reached the fort, but -when we found that the Johnnies were not coming after us, we became -anxious to see them and meet the issue. We found quite a number of our -associates from New Haven and Hartford, Conn., and Woodbury, N. J. We -were all delighted that our lives had been spared to see each other -again in the flesh and chatted freely about our friends at home, our -wives, mothers and children. I had often heard of the horrors of war, -but now I began to experience what it meant, in the joy of meeting -friends whom I never expected to see again on the earth, or at least -some of them. There was a sense in which I had a new understanding of -that marvelous passage of Scripture, regarding death, “Oh death, where -is thy sting; Oh, grave, where is thy victory.” We had not yet felt the -sting of death and we had not experienced the victory of the grave, yet -we had been in the very midst of both. - -Once again we marched in front of the horrible pit, Petersburg. Some -of the whites said, see they are taking those colored soldiers to the -slaughter pen. Truly, they had said so, for I never saw such a scene -the first night. Shot and shell were raining fast around us. Henry -Migs, a native of Africa, was killed. He died as a soldier, true to his -adopted country, but a stranger to God. I thought that every bullet was -sent for me and was doing some real praying. We do not know what prayer -is, until we are reduced to our extremity. Then we realize with a new -experience, that our extremity is God’s opportunity. I told the Lord -that He had promised to “Rescue the perishing and care for the dying,” -and that I wanted Him to keep the promise of that song, so far as I was -concerned. Well, praise His name, He did so. Thank God to-day that I am -still living and permitted to write this bit of fearful experience, so -others may know what it is to trust in God. - -On the 24th, Private Sam Bertim, of Company E, was killed, having been -shot through the head. Private George Porter was also killed. Colonel -Wooster was taken sick and was carried from the rifle pits to the -rear. The rebels captured one of our officers, while changing those -on picket duty. Two men from the Twenty-ninth were slaughtered, they -were members of Company A. The colored troops did some good fighting in -this engagement. We were told by the enemy that if we were captured our -tongues would be cut out, or we would be starved to death; that there -would be no exchange of prisoners in our case. So this was a rather -fearful inspiration, but it served its purpose, of causing us to fight -to the best of our ability; for we really feared that in case we were -captured that such barbarities might be administered to us. - -On the 1st of September we were ordered to strike tents and to move -on, we knew not whither we were going. We did not care either, for -now we were thoroughly enthused with the issues of war. We had tasted -of the dangers of battle, and this taste brought out the desire that -we should fight to the finish. Some of our dear friends had laid down -their lives already, and we reasoned that if it should be necessary for -them to give such a sacrifice, that we were no better than they. So in -our judgment, we were becoming calm, and in our determination, we were -becoming more and more fixed. - -With President Lincoln and our great generals and loyal soldiers, -we felt that the issue was assured. Of course we did not forget the -divine side of the question, that God was on His throne and that right -and justice and mercy would at last prevail. While it had always been -said that this was a white man’s country, we were determined that the -black man should share in this honor of ownership. And the best way -that this ownership could be established was through the loyalty of -the black man on the battlefield. For surely it will be conceded that -when a man has bought his adopted country by his blood, it is his own. -While, as a race, the Negro race, this is our adopted land, yet as -individuals, it is our native land, our fatherland. - -The colored troops numbered at this time about 75,000. The Twenty-ninth -Regiment, which was my own, formed the center. We were in line of march -toward the city but were turned in our course and crossed the pontoon -bridge, which landed us near the city of Petersburg. When daylight came -we were on the Old Market Road and headed for Richmond, Va. We were -very much exhausted and were hoping for a rest, when we heard the music -of the bugle, which told us that our rest had come. - -At this time it was dangerous for live things to get in our way, we -were hungry for something besides hard tack, bad coffee and salt -pork. We wanted fresh meat and plenty of it. So it was a bad time for -chickens and terrapin, for when we could find these living edibles, we -generally appropriated them without any thought of the criminality of -the act or of the danger of being detected or arrested. Our hunger gave -us license to satisfy it in the quickest and best way available. - -On the 2d of September we were once again in front of the enemy and -ready to do battle. We entered the engagement with enthusiasm and -rapidly drove the enemy before us. We were assisted by a large Mogul, -which we called the Petersburgh Express and one or two gunboats on -the James River, which fired balls half as big as a common sized -water bucket. Soon victory was perched on our banners and with flying -colors, we advanced by a right flank and entered the rebel lines after -a bad fought battle of six hours, leaving many dead and wounded on the -battlefield. My brother, William Henry Newton, was in the same regiment -with me, not as a soldier but as a valet, he attended Captain Griswold. -We charged two of the rebel forts, the left of the line was charged by -the Eighth United States Troops, supported by the Twenty-ninth; the -center was charged by the Ninth Maryland, supported by the Seventh -United States Troops. In the history of my war record, I shall never -forget this day’s experience. The rebels fought hard and nobly, but the -colored troops defeated them and gained another victory in favor of the -Union army. Our loss was very heavy and the true story of the suffering -and heartaches will never be known until the Judgment Day. - -Captain Thorpe and Lieutenant McDonald were wounded. I came on my -rounds, bringing refreshments and stopped where the surgeons were -at work. I shall never forget the fearful sight that met my eyes. It -was indeed sickening. There were arms and legs piled up like hogs’ -feet in a butcher shop. The dead and the dying were strewn over the -battlefield for five miles. Drum Major John D. Cowes, of New Haven, -with his corps, were busy carrying the wounded off the battlefield. -I said to myself, war is a terrible way to adjust differences, when -it might be done by the implements of peace. But I remembered that it -is much easier to wield the sword than to use the pen; much easier to -give a command which will send hundreds to their death, than to be a -master of assemblies and speak the word which gives peace and happiness -to millions. We lay all night in front of the rebel works and in the -morning we were warmly saluted by fierce bombarding. So we were again -in the midst of battle which waged hotly. The enemy carried their dead -and wounded out of their trenches as lively as they were able. They -did this so as to keep from tramping on them and to have room for the -soldiers who were doing the work of death. In this engagement several -were wounded but not many killed. Our colonel was not able to do duty -and our lieutenant colonel was sick at Fortress Monroe. - -On the morning of the 4th, we advanced to the left of the line, -planting our flag under the rebel fire of grape and canister, bombshell -and musketry. The dead were lying in every direction and the wounded -were falling everywhere, cared for by the rear guard. On the 5th and -6th, we had to endure the hardships and exposure of the rifle pits, -with advance pickets stationed in front of the rebel garrison. It was -the fighting of a duel, so to speak, between two armies, although -quite a distance apart. After while the Twenty-Ninth was ordered to -headquarters, but did not get far on its way, when a fire broke out -in our midst, we were shifted into a double-quick and returned to the -breastworks where we held our position until the 8th, when we moved on -the right to support the Forty-fifth, on Lookout Mountain. We were worn -out and had hoped that we would be allowed to rest; but we received -orders to take position on the front to support the Eighth United -States Cavalry Troops, who had charge of the breastworks. Six days of -hard fighting, fatigue and exposure, was our experience here. Under -orders of the general we scouted and explored the territory and drove -the enemy from the woods. We were able to take charge of the situation, -much to our pride; still holding the rebels at bay and driving them -further, to hunt new quarters. - -On the 14th we abandoned the breastworks, General Birney leading the -Third Division, Tenth Army Corps, numbering 75,000 colored troops. We -were not formed into a fighting position at this time, perhaps for the -reason that the enemy were too strong for us. So we were brought to the -rear of the breastworks. For a long while the rain had been pouring in -torrents and there was not a dry place to be found nor a dry thread -on our bodies, we were covered with dirt and mud from head to foot, -and not only felt to be in a terrible plight, but must have looked -worse. The troops were ordered to prepare two days’ rations and to get -ready for light marching. I had opportunity now to be in the company -of commissioned officers for a few hours at a time, when we halted for -rest. We would spread our meals on the wet ground, not a very inviting -table, but the best that we could find. I somehow had the feeling that -something was going on, or was going to happen, that would require one -to be wise and cunning. The officers had a queer expression on their -faces, and in fact all the field officers seemed to be uneasy. Three -o’clock one morning, my surmises were justified, for the long roll was -sounded and soon we were in line for work. We engaged in a bloody -struggle. We moved to the right and some one began to sing, - - “Sure, I must fight if I would win, - Increase my courage Lord; - I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain, - Supported by Thy Word.” - -We thus cheered ourselves by the singing of songs while we fought and -while we marched through the Virginia mud, such songs as “Tramp, Tramp, -the Boys are Marching,” “Beneath the Starry Flag.” The rebel lines -were fortified, but under our noble leaders, we marched on to certain -victory and the old Twenty-ninth was ready for any fray. The rising sun -would seem to say to us, after he had broken through the darkness and -the clouds, “Cheer up boys, don’t be despondent, but vigilant, strong, -courageous, protecting the flag, the country, women and children, -rights and liberty, and all things will come out right.” Thus it will -be seen, how often God speaks to us through nature, how often we are -cheered and helped by a bright day. How dependent we are upon our -surroundings, for support. I do not say that this should be so, for a -soldier should be strong, regardless of such things, but nevertheless -they have their effect. - -We were on the extreme right of the front and within three miles of -Richmond, where our white troops were repulsed. The colored troops -were commanded to halt and line up for action in front of the woods. -Again the thought came to me, although this is called the white man’s -country, they need us in war as in peace, to make and to keep the -country. And why is not this fact fully realized by the white people? -We are more than ten million strong and are ready at any time to -lay down our lives for the nation and to give our lives in service, -in times of peace, in all lines of activity. This we are doing. The -progress which the Negro race has made since the war is an enviable -one. No people or race would be ashamed of it. We have made this -progress as honest, industrious citizens. We have shown our manhood -in both times of war and peace, and our record has been written. Then -why are we not accorded the place that we have rightly merited? In -the sentiment of the white people there lurks a deep-rooted prejudice -against us, and in their course of action discrimination is made -against the Negro. We do not understand why this should be, unless -there is a feeling on the part of the white people, that there is -danger that we should become too prosperous and too many--the feeling -which the ancient Egyptians had against the Hebrews--hence, they took -steps to check the Hebrews. These may be the steps taken by the white -man to check our progress. But the same God who overruled the destinies -of the Hebrew slaves and brought them to their Promised Land, will take -care of us and, we too, one day, shall enter our Promised Land, of -equal rights and liberty. - -On the 29th, there as a fierce encounter. The battle was indeed a -slaughter pen. The enemy fought like tigers. The battle became general -along the entire line. Adjutant Spaulding was wounded. Corporal George -Burr, Company L; Corporal Sidney, of Company E, and many others were -killed. Private George E. Peters, Sergeant George Halstead, James Evans -and many others were wounded. I, myself, feared, shook, and thought -that my time had come. I was full of thoughts of my loved ones at home. -I knew that they were praying that I should be delivered from the jaws -of death. This thought cheered and comforted me; and yet I saw friends -falling around me, whose loved ones and friends, were also praying -for their protection. Their prayers were not being answered and why? -Why should I think that the prayers offered for me were more availing -than those offered for them? Why should I have any special reason for -encouragement? These thoughts come to one when he is in the midst of -circumstances which seems to upset many of our principles of religious -faith. They come to us not only in war but in work. They must be -reckoned with. The only answer that I could find as to why the prayers -offered for me were availing up to this time, was that my time had not -come, and that it had not come because God had not ordered it, and God -had not ordered it because He had something for me to do. Of course, He -had heard the prayers which had been offered for me and they entered -into His decree regarding my life. The only answer we can find to many -perplexing questions which come in life is, “It is God’s way, His will.” - -I was very busy in supplying the regiment with food, vinegar and water, -and such edibles as I could get together. The doctors were busy sawing -off legs and arms, and binding up wounds, and giving medicines to the -wounded and sick. The women were busy in preparing bandages, lint, and -doing what they could in the alleviation of human suffering. God bless -the dear women who had the faith and the courage to breast the trials -and hardships of soldier life. These scenes would have made your heart -sore. Dear reader, the wounded and dying scattered over the battlefield -thick, the hurrying to and fro of the physicians and the nurses; the -prayers and groans and cries of the wounded, the explosion of bombs, -the whizzing of bullets, the cracking of rifles; you would have thought -that the very forces of hell had been let loose. And, indeed, it was a -hell, the horrors of which no one could ever forget. - -We finally retreated under the cover of the cavalry. The colored -troops were the first to enter the field and the last to fall back. -We thereby demonstrated to our President, Abraham Lincoln, and our -General, U. S. Grant, that we were among their best supporters. -The white man had no record to make. He was known as a fighter for -centuries, our record was to be made and we were making it. The flag of -our regiment could be seen floating among the pines. We were glad that -Old Glory was above us with her folds pierced with many bullet holes. -We returned to camp and took our former position in front of Richmond, -where we remained for awhile. - -We were again in battle array, having been marched up to the rifle -pits. Our field officers being absent, we were under the command of -Captain Camp, of Company D, our own colonel, W. B. Wooster, was at home -on sick furlough. Lieutenant Colonel W. L. Ward, who had been promoted -to the rank of colonel, was in charge of the Forty-first United States -Cavalry Troop. The lieutenant colonel said to us, “Boys, we must fight -to-day, let me have your best. Duty demands it. I will stand by you -until the last. Watch, keep in line, and obey orders.” He brought us -up double-quick to the rifle pits and the bugle sounded charge. We -charged, firing, yelling, using our bayonets and our arms in the most -cruel manner, but still in accordance with the tactics of warfare. We -were there to kill in every manner possible. We held the pits for -twenty-four hours, brought the rebels to their knees, brought down -their flag and unfurled the Stars and Stripes to the breezes. - -This was a disastrous battle, probably the most disastrous I had -ever witnessed. I should probably make exception of the Fort Pillow -Massacre, in which my brother, Steven Newton, was killed. He was a -member of the Fourteenth, Rhode Island Battery. Charles Beeman, Rev. -Amos G. Beeman and Corporal W. W. Wilkins were with him to the end -and were able to make the report of his death to me. We lost in this -battle over one hundred, i. e., I am counting only the loss of the -Twenty-ninth Regiment. This regiment fought most bravely, gaining -great praise, and receiving many compliments from the officers high up -in rank. When the battle was over, we fell back and camped in front -of Richmond. While there we attended the funeral of Private Charles -Bently, who was killed early in the engagement. He died a champion for -liberty and an earnest Christian. Jones Spriggs and thirteen others -were buried at this time. - -Many of the veterans went out on foraging expeditions. While resting -we would engage in religious and patriotic songs. One of our favorites -was, “Tenting on the Old Camp Ground.” About this time, the Third -Division, Tenth Army Corps, Twenty-ninth Regiment, and General Birney, -were surprised with the presentation of the United States national -colors, which greatly pleased the boys. The flag was presented by the -Forty-fifth United States Cavalry Troop to our lieutenant colonel, in -a most pleasing manner. He spoke of the great bravery of the soldiers -in battle. Colonel Ward replied that he had 672 guns which would speak -whenever occasion demanded it. He also said that his boys were filled -with as noble sentiments as any that had ever filled the breasts of -boys before the guns. - -While on dress parade we received the sad announcement from our -lieutenant colonel that he would leave the regiment, as he had been -promoted to the rank of colonel. This was indeed sad news to us. He had -been with us in many hard-fought battles. We had learned to love him -and had great confidence in his ability. He knew what course to pursue -in order to avert many of the tricks of the Johnnies, not only being -well up in military science, but well acquainted with many little games -that are often played in war. - -We remained in front of Richmond five days. While there we were -quiet and enjoyed the much needed sleep that we had. We were greatly -annoyed here as well as in other places with what the soldiers called -greybacks, not the rebels, however; they were genuine creepers. They -molested us no little. Whenever I could get off I would go to the -creek and disrobe myself and pick them out of my clothes, then wash my -clothes and hang them on the bushes to dry. Then I would dress myself -and feel like a king, because once a again I was clean and free from -these unearthly vermin. - -From the first to the eighth of November, 1864, we were at Malvern -Hill. I was Commissary Sargeant and was careful to keep as near the -regiment as possible with my department. Sargeant Quartermaster D. -L. Lathrop had charge of the ammunition, knapsacks, etc., under the -command of our regimental quartermaster, there was always detailed a -guard to protect us. We always followed the army with our train. I -remember once that I got into the line of the Johnnies and I ran as if -the hounds of hell were after me. I heard the whizzing of a bullet over -my head, but it missed me. So I said, well they did not get me that -time and Libby Prison has been robbed of an expected treasure. - -While here the Twenty-ninth Regiment had charge of the fort until the -third of December. - -It was whispered about that Generals Lee, Johnson and others were in a -position to watch our movements and that we might expect an attack at -any time. But we were not worried over this report with such Generals -as U. S. Grant, Sherman, Howard, Weitzel and others. We knew that they -would be able to flank any movement that they might make. - -On Monday the fifth, we took up our line of march to a destination -unknown to us, there were all kinds of rumors as to where we would -stop, but at last we found ourselves to the left of Fort Harrison -on the left of the line. Here we camped under orders. We engaged in -the usual preparations for a stay, putting up our tents, building -huts and making things convenient for all concerned. But the next -day the Colored troops were ordered to prepare two days’ rations and -to advance. Then our countenances changed. We did not know but that -another fierce battle was in store for us; and we had had quite enough -fighting to satisfy us for a long while. On Wednesday, we were in front -of the Johnnies, with our breastworks thrown up ready for fight. - -The Colored regiments were consolidated in the Second Division, Third -Brigade, Twenty Fifth Army Corps. A number of detached men were taken -from the regiments. Orderly I. J. Hill was Brigade Postmaster. I was -with the commissary department. All things were quiet along the lines -excepting the laughing and yelling of the Johnnies. Once in a while -they would throw a shell into our camp. At this time we would hear -their cheers and laughter. - -On January the first, we were in front of Richmond, Va. Here we engaged -in battle with the Rebels, which was terrific. The anxiety, suffering, -slashing, shooting, were beyond description. Many lay dead on the -battlefield, baking in the sun. There were dead animals which had been -exposed for two weeks, the stench was unbearable. These are some of the -indescribable tortures of war. - -The rebels soon retired from their position, for they would not -have been able to withstand the Union Army. They were in constant -expectation of the coming of Sherman who at that time was in the -vicinity of Atlanta, Ga. We were under marching orders until the -thirteenth. Colonel Wooster received orders to place his headquarters -near our own regiment. I was determined that I would keep up my -enthusiasm and do all in my power to supply the boys with something to -eat. - -On the twenty-third the rebel fleet moved down the James River towards -the Dutch Gap Canal and opened fire on Fort Bradley keeping it up all -night. The following morning the whole line was drawn up for action, at -long range with reinforcements in the rear. The shelling was terrific -all day. I was in the basement of a house, when a shell came through -the window, burst and tore its way through the building. This house -was used for headquarters. Fortunately none of us were hurt. Only the -everlasting arm of God protected us, for all our friends who witnessed -the shell and its devastations, supposed that we were all killed. The -Quartermaster having received a wound in his knee, the Quartermaster -Sargeant and I had to do all the work. At this time Orderly I. J. Hill -and others were let off on parole and went home for twenty days. The -Confederates made another dash to retake their lost territory and to -make sure of the permanent establishment of the Slave Traffic which -has been the curse of every nation or people who has adopted it. Their -plan was to out-flank us and to effect a great slaughter and capture -many of our men and guns and ammunition. And it seemed to us that they -were after the Colored troops. But our leaders were too shrewd for them -and they were repulsed and their depot, magazines and machine shops at -Beaufort, N. C., were blown up and also at Newberne. A great battle was -fought about Fort Fisher and the Rebels were overcome. Hundreds were -killed and wounded in this battle. - -The Colored troops in front of Richmond were moved from the breastworks -on the left at Fort Harrison, to the hill in the center, where we built -up a fine elevation overlooking the Rebel works in Richmond. Here we -remained several days under heavy cannonading. We held the enemy so -that they were unable to make any gains on us for four weeks. They made -several attempts to storm and to cut off our supply, but they signally -failed. But our men understood how to construct railroads and we would -frequently hear the whistle of a locomotive in some direction bringing -in our supplies. Our forces were well guarded on every hand by squads -which were experts in caring for the welfare and needs of an army. We -could hear the result of our bombarding in such cities as Petersburg, -etc., and knew that our forces were gradually gaining and that the -Rebels were gradually losing in their strongest holds. - -On the twenty-seventh of March we struck our tents and moved on to -Richmond. We were soon formed in line of battle in front of this city. -The Rebels blew up three gunboats and evacuated their works immediately -in front of us. There was heavy cannonading from the gunboats in the -James River, the Monitor and other boats. - -At this time there were many refugees coming to us by the hundreds. -This was in part the result of Sherman’s march to the sea. He left -in his wake many monuments of this famous march. There were deserted -villages, chimneys standing without the houses about them, and troops -of stragglers following the army. - -Colonel Wooster ordered the 29th Regiment to advance and to do some -daring work in the digging up of buried torpedoes which had been -planted to impede the march of the Union Army. We were however equal to -the task. We captured five hundred pieces of artillery, six thousand -small arms, and the prisoners I did not count, but when we looked on -them in the prison pen, the number seemed to be enormous. - -We were present in Richmond when President Lincoln made his triumphal -entry into the city. It was a sight never to be forgotten. He passed -through the main street. There were multitudes of Colored people to -greet him on every hand. They received him with many demonstrations -that came from the heart, thanking God that they had seen the day of -their salvation, that freedom was theirs, that now they could live -in this country, like men and women, and go on their way rejoicing. -Orderly I. J. Hill said that he saw a colored woman trying to get a -look at the president, at last he came along and Orderly Hill said -to her: “Madame, there is the man that made you free.” She shouted, -“Is that President Lincoln? Glory to God, give Him praise for His -goodness.” The President, with his son, and Admiral Porter, together -with others walked over a mile to the headquarters of General Weitzel, -at the mansion of Jeff Davis. A colored man acted as the guide. There -were six Union soldiers as advance guard, then came President Lincoln, -his son, and Admiral Porter, while on his right and his left were -other officers. He was followed by six sailors with their carbines. -This march created the wildest enthusiasm of the Colored people. They -had lived to see the day of their liberty dawning. I was reminded of -what had been done for the ancient Hebrews by Moses when he led them -out of the land of their bondage, into the land of their promised -liberty. Lincoln was indeed our Moses. He led us forth. He gave us our -freedom. I noticed one white lady in a window, who turned away from the -whole scene as if in utter disgust. There were still two sides to the -question, then and there are two sides to it today. How long will these -two sides remain, is the question. As the President looked out upon -the poor Colored people and remembered how many lives had been lost in -working out their salvation, he was not able to keep the tears from his -eyes. They were tears of gladness and sorrow, of regret and delight; -but the tears of my own people were the tears of the greatest joy. - -The President went to the state capitol where he made a short address -in which he said: “Now you Colored people are free, as free as I am. -God has made you free and if those who are your superiors are not able -to recognize that you are free, we will have to take the sword and -musket and again teach them that you are free. You are as free as I am, -having the same rights of liberty, life and the pursuit of happiness.” - -While at Richmond, we engaged in many foraging expeditions. We found -such things as eggs, chickens, butter, bread, fruit, tobacco. There -were bales of tobacco in the streets free for every one who enjoyed the -weed. And I must say that many were delighted with their free smokes. -There was plenty of Confederate money too, which was often blown about -by the wind as so much worthless waste paper. Well it was waste paper. -With the passing of the Confederacy, the money value passed away on all -such currency. - -On April 16th, 1865, we were painfully shocked to hear of the death of -President Lincoln, at the hands of an assassin. No one can measure the -consternation which struck our hearts. This great and wonderful man -who had guided the Ship of State through four years of such perilous -waves and winds, that he should thus pass away and in such an infamous -manner, was more than we could stand. But it was so. Our faith was -almost staggered, that faith which had sustained us in so many battles, -was now staggering under a blow which was severer than any battles, -the death of our Immortal leader. Thus in four years from the first -shot fired on Fort Sumter, four years from the very day of the first -shot, the shot was fired from the hand of Booth, that removed one of -the greatest men the world ever knew, from the scenes of human action. -He was removed too at a time when he was most needed. Yes, he was more -needed, than when the nation was in the midst of a bloody conflict. -He was now needed to set up the battlements of peace, which is a more -difficult work than the forts of warfare. - -On the twenty-fourth, we moved from the camp near Petersburg, to Camp -Lincoln where we enjoyed our camp life for awhile. We had lost many of -our numbers through death on the battlefield and disease in the camp, -but losses were now being recruited by volunteers coming to us. I was -kept busy filling our regimental papers, ordering and issuing rations. -Some of our men had become so rum thirsty that they would offer me ten -dollars for a canteen full of whisky. But I was not allowed to sell it, -and to give it out only on the orders of the Quartermaster. - -We were not here long. We embarked on the Demolay for Norfolk, Va. -General Russel and staff came on board to tell us goodbye. I had two -barrels of supposed corn beef, the boys called it salt-horse, which -I suppose was nearer the truth. I had also a barrel of sugar. These I -could not ship, so I left them on the ground, for some poor fellows -that could use them. Colonel Wooster came also and saw us off. We left -many friends, some of them with tears in their eyes. They had become -very dear to us. We had shared together the hardships of camp-life and -of the battlefield. Human suffering makes men very near akin. As we -glided swiftly down the James River, for a while we could hear their -cheers and when sound was out of touch, we could see their salutes of -hats and handkerchiefs. We enjoyed the day as soldiers on board the -vessel. I was astonished at the behavior of the soldiers. They gave -themselves over to all kinds of sports and jestings, which disgusted me -most thoroughly. Many were unruly, even threatening the lives of those -who favored going to Texas whither we had been ordered for garrison -duty. Some of the gang were arrested for their insubordination. My -heart was made to shudder at the degrading and shameful life which -was manifested on board the ship. Their swearing, drinking, gambling, -dancing, etc., was heartsickening. It was indeed a revelation and -shows what men will do when not under the eye of authority. Human -nature is indeed most sinful, and were it not for the restrictions -which are thrown about us, none of us know what might come to pass. We -arrived at Norfolk and anchored for the night. With having witnessed -the debauchery on board the vessel and at the same time wrought with -anxiety for my wife and two babies, my father and mother at home, I -confess I was in a most depressed condition of mind and heart. “Be -strong and of good courage,” came to me like a flash and I was strong -and buoyant in a little while. How grand is the truth of God, when we -find it such a rock of refuge in times of trouble; I was thus greatly -consoled and went to bed looking up at the shining stars, as if they -were so many angels, sent by God, to guard me. - -There was quite an excitement on board when it was whispered about that -the officers had covenanted together to take the soldiers on board, to -Cuba, and sell them as slaves. There was quite an indignation against -I. J. Hill, for it was thought that he was in some manner party to -this arrangement. The men were suspicious also of Sam Brown, a clerk. -I, together with others, had the good fortune to escape any insults -or indignities. While at Norfolk, we went to church and saw quite a -number of well-to-do Colored people. Rev. J. M. Brown, of the A. M. -E. Church, I think was pastor. He treated us very cordially indeed. -We were introduced to many of the congregation. This church had a -Sunday School of six or seven hundred members. It was an inspiring -sight to see them nicely dressed and to hear them sing so sweetly, many -beautiful Sunday school songs. But the time had come when we had to -leave the many dead of our comrades. We had done all that we could for -them in the last sad rites of death and now their bodies were resting -under the cold sods of the South, awaiting the Resurrection Day, when -we will all meet again and hear our record of the deeds done in the -body and the judgment based on these deeds. The memories of war are one -of the saddest features thereof. These memories can never be blotted -out; for as we grow older they seem to become more vivid. - -[Illustration: BETHEL A. M. E. CHURCH - -Woodbury, N. J. Built by Rev. A. H. Newton, D.D.] - -We took shipping on the transport, Blackstone, for Texas. We were -about fifteen days on the waters, the ocean was calm. There were six -or seven hundred on board. It was no little job to take care of the -hungry stomachs of these men. But we had a most pleasant trip and -enjoyed the ocean waves and breezes. The officers spent most of their -time in fishing. Once in awhile a fish six or seven feet long would -be hauled in. For two days we were out of sight of land and only one -small schooner passed us. There was much complaint on board on account -of the army food which I was compelled to give them salt-pork or hard -tack and bad coffee. They thought that being on board of ship warranted -better food, but I told them that I had to give them what I had. And so -we fought the battle of the stomach. There were many however who were -afflicted with sea-sickness and had no concern for something to eat. -We had a burial at sea. The poor soldier was sewed up in a blanket and -consigned to a grave in the bottom of the deep. The funeral service was -very impressive to many of us, for it was the first burial at sea we -had witnessed. I must confess that there was a grandeur about it that -inspired one--as the boundless ocean received the body of our comrade, -eternity had received his soul. I thought of his loved ones and that in -all probability they would never hear of him. Then I wondered if that -grand song could not be an interpretation of this burial, - - “Rocked in the cradle of the deep, - I lay me down in peace to sleep, - In ocean cave still safe with Thee, - The germ of Immortality.” - -At this time I was not a member of the church. But my father had taught -me to pray. And as I have frequently related, I often prayed in battle -when I thought that my time had come. I had a sense of the guilt of sin -and of the need of confession of my sins. So I had also, the sense -of peace which comes from a man’s justification through Jesus Christ. -My case I am sure is but an illustration of the cases of many men and -women who have not connected themselves with the church. They are -real Christians as I was, having all the ordinary experience of the -Christian, but not having made any outward profession. We are therefore -unable to know who are the children of God, for certainly there are -believers outside of the church. Our judgment therefore must always be -a charitable one. Yet I do not want the impression to be made that I, -in any sense, approve of believers remaining outside of the church. -An outward profession of faith in our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ, is -an open badge of our religion which men can see. We should not hide -our light under a bushel, but put it on a candle stick that all about -us may see what we are by what we live. When we rounded the Florida -reefs, the boys’ hearts were gladdened, because they had seen the -land once again and their thought was that they were nearing the end -of the voyage. We had some sickness on board, such diseases as yellow -jaundice, malaria, chills and fever. We were huddled together like a -lot of wild ducks and the sanitary conditions were against our health. -When about seven days on our trip, our drinking water failed us. We -were on the water, yet we had no water to drink; but we did the best we -could under the circumstances. - -We were glad when we came into the harbor at Mobile, Ala. Here we found -many transports lying in the harbor. Fort Gaines was to our right and -Fort Morgan to our left. The boys were all delighted, because they -were wild to get to land again, and especially to get a drink of good -water. How dependent we are on mother earth after all for our lives. -After passing the forts a short distance the anchor was dropped. The -surroundings were grand. There were gunboats lying in the stream, -with their artillery of death-dealing cannon looking forth from the -decks and thoroughly manned with the smaller-implements of naval -warfare. But our hopes were not fulfilled, for a command came that we -were to sail immediately to New Orleans. The men were bitter in their -disappointment, but such is the experience of war. Men are not free, -they are the parts of the gigantic machine of death, so many cogs in -the wheels, or so many wheels in the machine, or so many parts of the -machine. They soon became reconciled however. We had plenty of hard -tack and salt horse left us, and with this we could not starve to the -death. Our voyage was an uneventful one, save for the good weather -and fine ocean. We were soon in the channel for New Orleans. When -we reached the forts Jackson and Phillips, a signal stopped us for -inspection. We were told that we could not go to New Orleans, that -none of the men or officers could go any further without an order from -General Grant. The officers telegraphed to Washington to General Grant. -We were in rather a dilapidated condition, about out of coal and in -need of better fuel for the stomach, with the men completely worn out -with the voyage. - -We were however permitted to go on land at Fort Jackson. This was a -magnificent fort with its seventy guns overlooking the water inlet. -There were many alligators in this place and we amused ourselves by -killing them, which of course was a greatly desired thing. I had plenty -of hard tack and this seemed to attract the reptiles. I remember one -fellow over seven feet long I killed. - -At this place the Colored troops had been shamefully and barbarously -treated. As I thought of the outrages which they had suffered only -about one month before our arrival, I felt that if I could, I would -like a little revenge on their account. But there was no opportunity -for such outlet of wicked feeling. At last we received an order from -General Grant to take the transport to New Orleans, to get a supply of -coal and oil, and to have the transport repaired. But to our dismay, -only the officers were permitted to go. We were left at Fort Phillips. - -I managed however, to get to New Orleans, in that I had charge of -the commissary department. We were already beginning to forget the -hardships of the battlefield. Our minds were turning to the ordinary -life which we live, and looking forward to the pleasures connected with -home and with business. And I assure you, my dear readers, that it was -a happy release. We had the constant joy in our hearts that our beloved -people had their freedom, bought with the blood of those who now slept -the last sleep on many battlefields; but we did not believe that the -price paid for this boon of liberty was too dear. The price of human -liberty can never be estimated. This is especially true of those who -knew what slavery meant. And the Colored Race has an endless debt to -pay their White friends who bought their liberty with their own blood. -While it is true that the White people brought our forefathers here and -sold them into slavery, which of course they had no right to do, this -does not diminish the price which this same race had to pay in order to -buy us out of the slavery into which they had sold us. And it does not -in the least diminish the debt of gratitude which we shall owe them as -long as time exists. - -I had a short but very pleasant stay in New Orleans. On Sunday we went -to the A. M. E. Church, of which the Rev. William A. Dove was pastor. -This was the St. James A. M. E. Church. We were most cordially received -by the pastor and members. They were kind enough to take care of us -while in the city. We learned from the members that while we were on -the battlefield, they were at home fasting and praying that our grand -cause might be victorious. “Fight and pray” is sure to win the day for -any just cause. The services were very pleasing and profitable. The -pastor preached in the morning and our orderly I. J. Hill, at night. I -and others, were much lifted up and realized anew what it was to draw -water from the wells of salvation. We spent much of our time in seeing -the sights of the unique city of the South. Our friends were more than -kind to us during our stay. We lacked nothing for good beds and good -food and good society; and we were in good shape to appreciate these -things, because of the privations, losses, suffering, and fears through -which we had passed. - -Our transport having been repaired and furnished with needed coal and -oil and food, we were soon on our way back to the fort. We had not gone -far on our course until there was an alarm of fire. This created quite -a panic, but the blaze was soon put out and we were enjoying our trip -down the “Father of Waters.” - -We arrived at Fort Phillips with more soldiers for the Twenty-ninth -Regiment, they having been brought in from other quarters. - -We were soon off for Texas. With the transport loaded with human -freight, we started for Brazos De Santiago, Texas. We found the gulf -quite rough on our entering it. This produced sea sickness with a great -many. I remember one fellow who was very sea sick. I was unable to -do anything with him. He was continually calling out “New York, New -York.” “There goes my liver,” he cried, having spit up some blood. -Our great trouble on this voyage was the lack of water. They had a -condenser on board which reduced the amount of salt a few degrees, but -we could easily taste the saline property of the water. We found Brazos -a most undesirable place, there were plenty of fleas and mosquitoes -and sand burrs. We had our headquarters at this place which was knee -deep in water. Our Colored troops were nearly perishing for water. The -suffering was most intense. It was heart-rending. I cried out to God to -send us some help. We had but little water and that was quite brackish. -Our means of condensing the water gave us only about five thousand -gallons when we were in need of not less than ten thousand gallons. We -paid ten cents a canteen for water and would have been willing to have -paid fifty cents, or any price. - -After a while we met some Mexicans who had brought water from the Rio -Grande and sold it for ten cents a canteen. Colonel Sadrick was very -indignant over this hardship. When he saw our scars and realized how -much these good soldiers had suffered and the privations through which -they had already passed, he saw General Wietzel and requested that the -troops should be taken from Brazos. He met with success and we took our -line of march for White Ranch on the Rio Grande River about ten miles -south of Brazos. The march was one of great trial. We were in mud knee -deep and in some places the water was waist deep. When we reached the -Ranch, the soldiers were well nigh famished. They made a mad rush for -the river and while many of them were on the bank, it gave way, and -several of them were drowned. We were all greatly saddened over this -misfortune. It seemed enough that men should have given up their lives -on the battlefield, this was matter of course; but when men who had -stemmed the tide of death which swept the battlefield were drowned, it -seemed more than we could stand to see them cut off from their loved -ones by a mere accident. But it was the Lord’s way to take some more of -them home. - -It was not a hard matter for us to sleep the first night. We spread our -rubber blankets on the bare ground and enjoyed our rest as much as if -our beds had been made of feathers. The next morning we saw the body of -a man floating down the muddy river. He too had evidently met with some -accident, or had been killed and thrown into the river. It was not our -duty to make any investigation. - -I prepared the best breakfast possible for the boys. Our fuel -was gathered from the woods and rail fences. I said woods, but -unfortunately there was not a tree in the whole country, so we had to -do the best we could. But we had coffee, rice, sweet potatoes and our -regular rations. We put up our tents here and soon had the camp under -military discipline. Then we left for Brownsville, Texas, a distance of -twenty miles. The march was a trying one on account of the bad roads. -We were not able to keep our stores with us on this account and left -a detail of soldiers to guard them. Many a solder sickened and had to -be taken to White Ranch to be cared for by Orderly Hill. Some of the -men died on the way and were buried under the Texas sod with no stone -to identify them. One boat was on its way to Brownsville with rations. -I remember my homesickness at this time. After the battles had been -fought, I was anxious to return to my loved ones. I felt that my duty -had been done towards my country and that now I must take up my duty -to my dear ones. We were soon joined by Orderly Hill. He said that -he had gotten tired waiting for the boat and had come on to be with -us. He threw a few chunks together and started a fire and lighted his -pipe. After a few moments reflection, he said: “These light afflictions -are but for a moment, for they work for us a far more and exceeding -weight of glory.” We met a drove of hungry wolves which made two or -three attempts to come to us, but about fifteen shots from our guns -were enough to satisfy them they had no more need of us than we had -of them. In time we reached Brownsville. We saw strange things there. -The houses were little huts; the people dressed in their shirts and -drawers; the women dressed in a long shirt with their breast exposed, -seemingly caring nothing for decency or modesty. It did not look to -me that the people here had ever known what it was to know or to -serve the true and living God. They were certainly far from any such -practical knowledge, judging from their daily lives. I thought “If -the righteous scarcely be saved where then shall the sinner and the -ungodly appear?” The next morning I was not feeling well. I went to -one of the streams and bathed. There were plenty of lizards, frogs and -horned toads about. The horns of the toad reminded one of the horns -of a goat. It was a place of trials. Some of the men swore and cursed, -others were kept too busy scratching, while others were praying. It -was a time of sore trials. One of our officers, Captain Clark ought to -have been with the Greys instead of the Blues, he had so little use for -the Colored troops. So he marched them almost to death on this march. -Colonel Wooster, a man of tender feeling and of a proper sense of right -and justice and without prejudice against the Colored people, saw the -outrage perpetrated against us and put Clark under arrest. He was kept -there until Colonel Wooster resigned. After he left, we were again -under the command of Captain Clark. Orderly Hill was very sick and was -ordered to the General Hospital. As I looked upon him I said to myself, -Hill you are a very sick man and your warfare is about ended. There -were about seven hundred in the hospital sick. They were treated as if -they had been brutes, doctors and nurses being without any feeling. -They were dying at the rate of ten a day. The stewards would search -the dead, take their valuables, then report them dead. What a contrast -between our camp on the banks of the James River and the camp in this -far off, God-for-saken town of Brownsville, Texas. - -And now after all our hard fought battles, our fears and foreboding, -our privations and losses, we received the news from the War Department -that the Twenty-ninth Regiment was ordered home. It is needless to -say, that the home-fever spread more rapidly than any fever that had -ever prevailed in our ranks. We looked for and patiently awaited the -day when we would be ordered out. On the fourteenth day of October, -1865, at nine o’clock a. m., the recruiting officer was on the ground, -at which time Company K. was mustered out. We were escorted through -Brownsville by the Ninth U. S. C. T., Colonel Bailey being in command. -We marched to an open field where the two regiments bid each other -goodbye. It was an impressive scene, for these regiments had shared -each others fortunes and misfortunes through the war. They had become -inseparable, but now the best of friends must part. How happy we were -that we should be permitted to breathe the fresh air again and to tramp -through the country as free men. Yet I had the feeling that the Civil -War was the mighty struggle of the White Race and that the struggle -of the Colored Race was yet in the future. There is such a thing as -a man having to work out of his own salvation, and this is also true -of a race. Our salvation had been bought for us by the nation, but -it is ours now to work out this salvation. As we marched out through -the grand country and these thoughts came to me, I cried out to -God, “Can these dry bones live? Will this country give the Colored -man an equal chance in the marts of trade, in industrial fields, and -in the professions? He is yet untried in the ranks of an aggressive -civilization, for he has been a slave. Can these dry bones live?” -These were the prayer-thoughts that were filling my mind and heart. -Our march was a trying one on account of the bad condition of the -roads, but we were going home. No one but the soldier who has been -honorably discharged after an issue has been settled, knows the joys -that well-up in the heart as he turns his face homeward. The feeling -is indescribable. There were several boys sick, but their spirits were -revived on account of home-going. We soon reached Brazos where we spent -the night. I was very glad to say goodbye to my Texas friends and -experience. They could live on the sandy plains of Brownsville, as long -as they pleased; they could eat the strips of dried goat meat until -they were satisfied; they could drink and relish the muddy water of the -Rio Grande considering it the best water in the world; but as for me, I -would choose other quarters. Now that the Confederacy had surrendered, -now that the Palmetto flag had been lowered forever and Old Glory -floated in its stead, now that millions of people were made free and -could live and think as real men and women, I was more than happy to -say goodbye to all these things and begin life anew. - -We embarked on the transport Alabama, for New Orleans. Our voyage on -the gulf was a rough one on account of a heavy storm. We were forced -to cast anchor. We passed Galveston and were much pleased with the -place. We found the citizens much more sociable than we had expected, -for we knew that they were Secessionists and Rebels and that they had -about as much use for Negro soldiers as the Devil has for Holy Water. -Nevertheless, we went through the town and made the acquaintance of -some of our brethren. We met an old lady who had been a slave. When she -saw us and realized that the victorious end had come, she cried at the -top of her voice. “The Lord, the Mighty One has conquered and we are -all free! Glory to God!” We took on wood and I regulated my rations for -we were four hundred and fifty miles from New Orleans. We were again -on board the transport for New Orleans, but we were unable to leave -the harbor on account of a fearful gale that swept the gulf. We made -an attempt, but were forced back again into the harbor. The soldiers -became quite unruly owing to their impatience and also, I suppose the -feeling that they could do as they pleased. After a hard voyage we -landed safely in New Orleans. We found an open lot in the south side of -the city and put up our tents and made ready for a good night’s sleep. -We felt that we could sleep now. That we had taken part in a mighty -conflict and had shared in the victories of the war, it was now our -right to rest. It was the sleep of the just man. - -We had a quiet Sunday in New Orleans. Our chaplain preached for us. -Great crowds came out to visit us and to give us their most hearty -congratulations. They gave us coffee, sandwiches, fruits, etc., in -token of the appreciation of our services in their behalf. We saw -strange things in New Orleans. We found the mixture of French and -Negro, called the Creole, speaking a dialect of the French. We found -the Octoroon and that some of these unions had from one to seven -children. We found that marriage among them was rather an uncommon -thing and that a man could establish almost any relationship that -pleased him and enter into the Creole life and be received and welcomed -as one of them. We found that they drank more claret, champagne, -whisky, beer, etc., than they did water. They of course had no sense of -their obligation to God and I suppose that many of them really had no -conception of the Real and True God. Their lives gave no evidence of -such a knowledge. - -The first annual conference of the A. M. E. Church was being held by -Bishop J. P. Campbell. We enjoyed the services very much being in the -spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ. We were in New Orleans two weeks. At -the end of this time one of the men was shot. This created quite an -excitement among us. We broke camp soon and marched through the streets -to the wharf where we took ship. We were enthusiastically greeted on -every hand, receiving god-speeds and congratulations and blessings. I -shall never forget the musical voices of the people as they sang. The -music sounded like a thousand silver harps, so soft and delicate and -stirring it was! We went on board the steamer Champion. We said goodbye -to the old city of New Orleans and to many of the new friends which we -had made. We had a heavy sea. The storms were terrific. Our clothes -were almost continuously wet owing to the rocking of the vessel, for -days it was impossible to find a place to sleep. The voyage was quite -rough all the way to New York. At last we arrived at New York City. It -was morning. We remained on board until about two p. m., when we left -the boat and marched through the principal streets, receiving cheers -and salutes. We had not forgotten our former experiences here however. -And we were inwardly revolving the thought that as Black men we had -done our part in bringing about a change of sentiment that would make -a new city out of New York and every other city in the Union. And we -felt that it was but just that we should receive some of the plaudits -of praise and reward. When we passed down Broadway in front of the St. -Nicholas Hotel, the flags of the Nation and of the state were suddenly -hoisted by a Colored man and we gave three lusty cheers for the flag -and country and home. At last the orders came to fall into line for -our final trip. We marched to pier twenty eight East River where the -steamer, Granite State, was waiting to carry us to Hartford, Conn. -The distance was about one hundred and fifty miles. We were cheered -by every town and village that we passed. We arrived at Hartford and -were escorted to the camp grounds and tendered a fine reception by the -citizens, a most pleasing welcome. - -At eight o’clock one morning we were paid off, all but one hundred -dollars bounty which was to be paid at some future date. Some went to -their homes, others remained in Hartford, until they had spent all -their money and were locked up in the prisons by the police officers. -After having cleared up my commissary department and turning over my -books and papers to the proper custodian, and having said farewell to -my comrades, I took a midnight train for my home in New Haven. - -The occasion of my sudden departure from Hartford is very interesting. -One of our soldiers was passing a Jew store. He was begged to go in and -buy a suit. He got the suit of clothes and walked out without paying -for it. The soldier came into camp and soon the Jew followed. I would -not allow him to enter camp and arrest the soldier. Not long afterward, -I went down town and the Jew had me arrested and locked up. I was -in jail until about midnight when some of my friends liberated me. -Immediately I made my way to the station and left Hartford. I do not -know that the Jew got his money and I was not much concerned. - -I arrived at home at seven o’clock in the morning and found my wife -and children, my father and mother, ready to give me the most hearty -welcome and greeting which I received with a glad heart. I was not seen -out of my house for about three weeks. I simply wanted to rest and to -drink in the joys that were awaiting me. Then I went to Brooklyn, my -wife’s home, and registered as a citizen of the United States. I again -thanked God that the war was over and that slavery was dead. “Now unto -Him that hath loved us and washed us from our sins in His blood, to Him -be glory and dominion and power, now and forevermore. Amen!” - -[Illustration: ALEXANDER H. NEWTON - -A Young Pastor] - - - - -My Ministerial Life and Labors - - -After I had returned from the war, I took the needed rest, enjoyed -the company of my family and got myself together for a new life. I -had the consciousness of having done my duty to my country, of having -contributed something to the liberation of my people from the galling -yoke of slavery, and now the time had come in my life for me to -determine upon what course I could enter that would contribute most -to the working out of the salvation of my people upon lines of peace -and prosperity. This was no little task. I decided that the best way -to find out what God wanted me to do, was to follow the leading of -His Providence in my life. I knew of no other way by which a man can -ascertain the will of God. God is in the life of every individual as -fully and really as He is in the life of a race or a nation. So I -surrendered myself to His leading, determined that I would follow Him -whatever might be the cost. I felt a double assurance now that He had -delivered me from death in many bloody struggles, that He had something -of importance for me to do. I was not content to take up the old life -that I had lived before the war, to remain in the fields of manual -labor, not that I considered myself above such a life, but I felt that -there was a course that would be vastly more valuable to my brethren, -to my race. And I did not consider it egotism to honestly conclude that -God had given me talents that warranted me in seeking such a course. -“To every man according to his ability,” is the law of service. A man -must find out what his ability is, God already knows what talents He -has already alloted to this or that man according to his ability. In -this way and this way only, can God and man be brought together, in the -work of life. - -[Illustration: BISHOP JABEZ P. CAMPBELL, D. D., LL. D. - -Who gave me my first appointment] - -On the evening of May sixth, I was received on probation, into the -Fleet Street A. M. E. Church, of which Elder Gould was then pastor. -I served as assistant superintendent and Secretary, Elder Cope being -superintendent of the Sunday School; Robert Turpin, one of the -preachers, was a close friend. I was engaged while in this church -together with others in a Social Betterment work. This work was -conducted in a house to house canvass, or visit. Great work was done -during this year at the Bridge Street A. M. E. Church the Rev. Wm. -Winder being pastor. There were about one hundred and fifty young -people added to the church on profession of their faith in Christ. -The Revs. Williams, Boyer, and Turpin, were the ministers who assisted -in this revival. - -I preached my trial sermon at the Fleet Street Church on the evening of -September the 18th, 1871, and received Exhorters’ license from Elder -Theodore Gould. On the following Sunday, I went with Rev. Matthews and -others to Paterson, N. J., where we organized the A. M. E. Church. The -people of Paterson seemed to have been greatly lifted up and great -good was done in their city for the A. M. E. Church. Later on Bishop -J. P. Campbell told Elder Gould that he wanted a young man to take -charge of a church where a school was located. Brother Gould was kind -enough to tell him of my desire for work and doubtless recommended -me. Bishop Campbell took hold of me and gave me my first appointment -at Pennington, N. J., where I took charge of the church and attended -the school, Pennington Seminary. The leaders of the new church, -Brothers Allen, Ely and Amanias Johnson looked at the new preacher very -inquiringly and doubtless were laughing up their sleeves for I had -not gotten the flimsy, panhandle, look off me as yet, and they were a -little slow in taking hold of me and I did not know how to take hold -of them. However, I managed to get on the good side of Bro. Allen. I -told him the troubles of my heart and got his sympathy. One of these -troubles was that I did not know much. He said that he would help me -all he could and that I must stay close to the cross of Christ. So with -the assistance of God’s grace and the help of Brother Allen, I was able -to surmount all obstacles. I organized a church in the house of Lewis -Schenks, at Lawrenceville. - -I organized the church at Birmingham, having been assisted by Brothers -Jos. Long and Maxwell Frost of Trenton. This church was afterwards -reorganized and moved to Langhorne by Dr. John W. Stevenson. I attended -the Pennington Seminary under the presidency of Dr. Hanlon. Rev. Mr. -Marshall and the sister of Dr. Hanlon were of great service to me in my -preparatory course. One day I was walking through the campass when I -met Dr. Hanlon. He stopped and fixing his eyes on me said: “Young man -you should walk upright before God and remember that all your strength -comes from Him.” I shall never forget the deep impression that his -advice made on me. It deepened my conviction of the Divine life in man -and of the necessity of living that life daily. I felt no doubt like -Naaman that I had need to go to the Jordan, the river of Israel and -be washed from my leprosy of sin. This was the first time that I had -charge of a church and I felt the keen responsibility. And I do not -doubt that those who heard me preach had the feeling that instead of -my having charge of them that they should have charge of me. But such -things are of the ordering of the Lord who chooses babes to confound -the wise and the weak things of the world to confound the mighty. There -is a time when a man feels that the best thing that he can do is to -get out of self into Christ. Self is one of the greatest blessings if -Christ is its center, but if man himself constitutes the center of life -it is the stronghold of every sin. - -[Illustration: REV. THEODORE GOULD, D.D., - -Who gave me my first license to preach.] - -While engaged in this work I frequently had to walk ten miles to Sorel -Mountain, one of my appointments, which was a part of this circuit. -My salary was indeed very small, but they fed me and cared for me the -best they could, and God did the rest. I closed my work here with -twenty-three converts added to the church. As I write these lines, I -look back to see the ravages of time and what they have wrought. Those -who were received into the church by me at that time, with very few -exceptions, have finished their battle of life and completed their -labors, long since, and have gone home to render a better service than -they could have rendered here. - -I made improvements on the Church buildings of the circuit and was able -to make a good report to the Conference which met at Philadelphia. At -this conference I was received into membership by Bishop Paul Quinn. -It was here that I made for the first time, my acquaintance with Dr. -B. T. Tanner, Rev. T. G. Stewart, Rev. Frisby Cooper and others. Rev. -Joshua Woodland was my presiding elder. I was permitted to attend the -Lincoln University, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. I was supported -by Mr. Amos Clark Junion of Elizabeth, N. J., and preached on Sundays -in the Siloam Presbyterian church. Here I made the acquaintance of a -local preacher, Rev. David Croshon, of the A. M. E. Church and Brother -Scisco from whom I learned a great deal about church work. Being wholly -inexperienced and poorly educated, I felt the curse of the regime of -slavery, although I had never been a slave. I longed for the equipment -that comes from a thorough education and realized that if in some way -I did not educate myself, I could never amount to much. So it is hard -for me at my time of life although a closer student than ever, to -understand or to be in sympathy with any preacher who in his ignorance, -is satisfied to remain so. There is something sadly lacking in such a -man and I greatly fear those qualities without which no man is either -acceptable to God or to the church, as a minister of the Gospel. - -[Illustration: BISHOP WILLIAM PAUL QUINN - -Who received me into the Conference] - -I realized also that in addition to my own weakness that this world -was no friend to grace to help me on to God. I had many foes within and -without me to overcome. - -In June, 1870, I was requested by Bishop J. P. Campbell to report at -the Philadelphia Conference, he having, in the interval, taken me up -and sent me to the Pennington circuit. I reported at the conference and -was transferred to the South under the care of Bishop John M. Brown. -I was sent to Pulaski, Tenn. This was about the time that the Ku Klux -Klan was having its sway in the south. These men were engaged in every -kind of intimidation and cruelty in order to keep the Negroes from -voting the Republican ticket. They would kill, torture, or do anything -that came into mind in order that their purpose might be realized. At -this time there were many Colored people holding office in the South. -The unrest and the mental suffering of these times were as severe -a strain almost as the period of the war itself. When I arrived at -Pulaski, Tenn. I was introduced to what I might expect in the South. -I presented my check to the baggage master for my trunk. He refused -to take the trunk off the car, but threw it upon the platform in the -roughest manner. A White man standing near, saw that I was very much -surprised at such treatment and approaching me, asked if I did not like -that kind of treatment and that if I did not he would proceed to give -me some more of it. I told him that I had made no complaints at all. -He asked me where I was going and what I was doing, and I was glad to -slip away and find the steward of the church. I related these things to -him and he told me that I had acted wisely in being calm and making no -fuss over the matter. He told me that the White folks were Ku Kluxing -the Colored people without mercy and going out of their way to find -provocations for such devilish work. The steward told me that I would -have to be very careful as a minister in and out of the pulpit, that -the Klu Klux Klan was especially after the preachers to force them to -use their influence to make the Negroes vote the Democratic ticket in -elections. - -They found me a boarding place with a Mrs. Batts. I found that the -Colored men of this community were doing good business. One was a -cotton merchant, a Mr. Harris, I remember. I was greatly assisted in -this charge by my local preachers. They were more experienced than I -in the work of the pastorate and I felt them to be my superiors in -everything. The meetings were good. Souls were converted and many were -added to the church. There was not much money in circulation and the -salary was small. They used cards to trade with, postage stamps, and -whatever of value would be accepted or exchanged for what you wanted. -I remember one night the Klu Klux Klan came to the house of one of my -members, a Mr. Pleasant Rector, called him to the door and shot him -down as if he had been a dog. His wife and children were frightened -almost to death. One of his daughters asked me what she must do. I -could tell her that nothing would help such dreadful matters, so we -all went to the church and prayed over the matter, and I consoled -them as best I could. These were dreadful times. The hatred and the -revenge of the Southern White man who had been whipped by his Northern -White Brother, were now visited upon the still helpless race. We had -to receive the very wounds which the Southerners would loved to have -visited upon his White brothers, and which they tried to visit upon -them in war, but failed. We did a good work here along temperance and -missionary lines. - -In September, 1873, the Conference convened at Memphis, Tenn. This was -the annual conference of the A. M. E. Church and it convened at the St. -Andrews Chapel of that city. Rev. B. L. Brooks, preached the opening -sermon. The Bishop, John M. Brown, was belated, so the conference -proceeded with business, having made Elder Page Tyler chairman, and -Elder Brooks, secretary. The regular routine of business was purposed. -Bishop Brown arrived on the fourth day, having gotten his dates -mixed, then he was afraid that at that time it was unwise to hold any -public meetings owing to the presence of yellow fever in the city. The -Conference remained in session until it had completed its business. -Yellow fever at this time was raging in Memphis. A friend told me that -he stood at a street corner and counted seventy-four funerals as they -passed. In the house where I was stopping, there was a yellow fever -case in the room next to mine. The meeting of the Conference in Memphis -was a very successful one considering the obstacles contended against. - -The following Conference held a year later, was in Nashville, -Tenn. This Conference was presided over by Bishop Brown. At this -conference several were ordained as deacons, among them myself. While -at Nashville, the Conference visited Fisk University and also the -Tennessee college. - -During this time I remained at Campbell Chapel, Pulaski, Tenn. We -bought ground and made brick and quarried stone, for the basement of a -church. There were about fifty members added to the church. - -I cannot refrain from speaking frequently of the great injustice -done the Colored man in the South at this time. Prejudice was rife. -It showed its hydra-head in every possible way and was a serpent -with a venomed sting. I remember an incident which illustrates how -fearful this prejudice was. I saw a White man bring his horse up to a -public watering place, and about the same time a Colored man drove his -horse up to the same trough. He said to the Colored man, “A Nigger’s -horse can’t drink with my horse,” and ordered him away. Immediately a -mob gathered and beat the man to death for this “crime.” I preached -the funeral of the poor fellow, but was not allowed to refer to the -circumstances, or I suppose there would have been another funeral in -a day or so. My report at the end of this year was a reasonably good -one, the number who had joined the church was about one hundred and ten -and for all purposes we raised about $2,518.00. I was indeed very well -satisfied with the work of the year. - -The next Conference met in Chattanooga. This conference was presided -over by Bishop Brown, assisted by Bishop Ward. The various reports -showed the church to be in a growing and prosperous condition. The -Conference report showed 9527 members of the A. M. E. Church in this -Conference, 1122 probationers, 210 local preachers, 120 exhorters, -114 churches, valued at $106,101.00. This was a good showing so -soon after the war. At this Conference I was appointed to a charge -in Chattanooga, Tenn., with Elder R. French Harley as my presiding -elder. We had a fearful flood during this year in Chattanooga. There -was great suffering and loss of property. I did not do well in this -charge, however I completed, the church and added 86 to the membership -of the Church. I found that it was necessary to turn two men out of the -church, for their misconduct. They gained the confidence and bias of -the presiding elder, and he moved me from this place. Thus it is that -a man must suffer for the right that he does, while many go unpunished -for the evil doings. But that should afford no reason for not always -doing the right. We, as ministers of the Gospel, must take our stand -for the uprightness of character and the righteousness of conduct, -without any consideration of the price which this stand will cost us. -Bishop Brown transferred me to the Arkansas Conference, which met at -Pine Bluff, Arkansas. At this conference I was ordained Elder by Bishop -Brown and sent to the Bethel A. M. E. Church at Little Rock, Arkansas. - -I found in this city the prejudice against the Colored people rife and -that they had to contend against very great odds on every hand. But -in spite of this, many of the Colored people were in a flourishing -condition. There were men prominent in the ministry who had gone out -from this place, such as Revs. H. H. Pettigrew, Reuben Johnson, A. A. -Williams, J. F. A. Sission, J. T. Jennifer, Andrew J. Chambers, and -others. The Hon. Judge Gibbs, William Rector, and Elias Rector who was -fulfilling a prominent place in the post office were leading business -men. The church here was built by Brother J. T. Jennifer, D.D. My -daughter Ada was with me at this time, my son William Alexander, having -remained in Tennessee. There were many noble workers in this church, -viz: Joseph Stone, Jerome Lewis, Nelson Warren, Sam White, Willie -Oliver, and others whose names are too numerous to mention. - -My wife, Olivia Newton having died in 1868, and being a widower, while -here I became acquainted with a young lady, Miss Lulu L. Campbell, -secretary of the Sunday School. I found her to be a noble Christian -woman and felt that the Lord had brought us into contact for a great -purpose. After having considered the matter and having consulted my -daughter and finding that she approved, we were married June 1, 1876. - -After paying off a little more of the debt on the church and adding -about ninety souls to the membership of the church, I finished my -first year’s work. The Conference met the following year at the Bethel -Church, Little Rock. At this Conference I was transferred by Bishop -Ward to the Louisiana Conference and was to have been stationed at the -St. James Church, New Orleans, but owing to some miscarriage in the -appointments, I was given the station at Algiers, La. There as in other -places, I was not long in arranging and drilling my forces for active -work. We succeeded in repairing the church, but were greatly hindered -by the ragings of smallpox and yellow fever in this section. I remember -a fearful example of the work of the K. K. K. in this section. A woman -had been taken by this devilish clan and they had cut off her breasts. -She showed her bosom to a few and they had done their work well, for -her bosom was as flat as a man’s. These were some of the outrages that -were continually committed on the Colored people. It is sometimes -wondered at, that the Colored people are so slow to place confidence in -the White Race, that they too, have a deep seated prejudice which now -and then crops out in some vile offense against the White Race, if our -White friends only understood that these fearful atrocities committed -then and even now, against my people, are not easily forgotten, they -would the better understand. Human nature is the same and it will -require a great deal of the grace of God to smother out all the -horrible memories that have passed from individual hearts into the -heart of the Race to which I belong. But the time will doubtless come -and then we will see a different state of affairs. - -I remember another incident at this place. As I have said, the smallpox -was raging. I was invited to conduct the funeral of a small boy who -had died of this disease. When I went to the house and was seen by -the mother, she rushed to me and threw her arms about me and wept. -Of course she had been nursing the child. I was greatly annoyed by -this foolish act which threatened the health of my own family, but -as the good Lord willed, nothing came of it. After doing my best -here, I decided that I would not stay longer. I consulted Bishop -Ward and others. They told me that I was making a very unwise step, -but I got a transfer and went to Bishop Brown in the North Carolina -Conference. The Conference met November 14th. at the Gaston Chapel, -Morgantown, N. C., presided over by Bishop Brown. The regular routine -of business was taken up and the reports showed a growing condition of -the church. Dr. H. M. Turner, manager of the Publication Department -and J. H. W. Burley, financial secretary, appeared and made their -reports. The number of members in the Conference as reported were, -5131; probationers 877; churches 58; support of pastors $4749.51. I was -received into this Conference and appointed to the station, Raleigh, -N. C. - -I had instructions to go to Mr. Norfleet Dunson, but he was away and I -was sent to Mr. Stewart Ellisons. - -When I went to Raleigh, I had a very discouraging experience. I drove -up to a Brother Ellisons’, rapped on the door. A lady came to the door. -I told her that I was the preacher who had been sent to the St. Paul’s -A. M. E. Church. She informed me that all her family had gone to the -funeral, so I had my trunk brought upon the porch and sat down upon -it. She had evidently expected me to come in when the trunk was safely -on the porch. But I remained in the porch, being worn out and out of -patience. - -Presently she came out and invited me in. I told her that no one was -at home but herself and that I would remain outside until the folks -came home. She said, “Now I don’t want any foolishness around here, -if you have been sent here to be pastor of our church, you come right -in.” Well, that was hearty enough a reception, a positive command, of -course I obeyed orders, I had learned this in the army. Soon the family -returned. They were delighted to see me, built a fine fire, made ready -a fine supper, and after a social time I was sent to a good bed. After -I retired I felt very much ashamed of myself for the ugly feeling I -had harbored and repented of my sins. It never pays to allow one’s bad -feelings to get the better of their good feelings, for they always pay -a big price for the victory. My official board was made up of John -O’Kelley, Stewart Ellison, Norfleet Dunson, Seth Nowell, and Henry -Hunter. They were a very fine set of men. We went to work in earnest, -bought a lot and paid off a great many debts. There were over 230 -accessions to the church, of whom I baptized about 150 by immersion. I -received a salary of $1000.00 which was very large at that time in our -Connection. They gave me $75.00 that I might bring my wife and daughter -from Algiers, La. The Colored people at this place were very successful -in business and of good reputation and character. The White people, -that is those especially interested in us, were very kind indeed. A -Mrs. Dorr, (white) was principal of the school for Colored children. -She did a great deal for the uplifting of the Race. Mr. Tupper, (white) -was the president of Shaw University, a Baptist school of the Colored -people. My daughter, Ada, taught rhetoric, in the Shaw University. - -I concluded my work at this place and was able to carry to the -Conference fine reports. This was largely due to the fact that the -church was very spiritual. It was on the Lord’s side on all those -questions which affect the religion of a community. Sometimes a -minister is looked upon as the cause of the failures of a church, in -its work, as a rule he is blamed, but this is a mistake. The general -cause is to be found in the church. A good church with a poor pastor -will succeed, but a bad church with a good pastor is liable to fail. -Christ could do no mighty works in a certain place because of their -unbelief. There are many good preachers who are unable to do good work -because of the unbelief of the people and the consequence of this -unbelief. It acts as a kind of paralysis, and indeed it is, a paralysis -of the church. - -I left this church for the station of Newberne, N. C. This was my -birthplace. I was really glad to get back to the place where I first -saw the light. I had been absent for twenty years. I saw that great -changes had taken place during this time. There were no slave gangs, no -whipping posts, no slave pen, no auction block. One of the first things -that I did was to go to see a tree opposite the house of Bob Walker, in -an old field, the spot where Tom Lewis had been whipped nearly to death -for attacking a White man. After they had nearly killed him they took -him down to the boat and put him on it and told him that he was never -to put the prints of his feet on that part of the country again. - -I was received very cordially by the church members. Many of them I -remembered as my friends twenty years ago and longer. I had charge of -Rue’s Chapel. My first year was a very successful one. I was returned -again the second year. - -Newberne has quite a history. It is situated on the banks of two -rivers, the Neuse and Trent rivers. The elm trees are magnificent. -Here lived the Stevenses, Jenkinses, Bryans, Webbs, and others, all -old slave owners. They were of course deeply interested in the traffic -and did all in their power to keep the regime from passing away. There -was a Colored man at this place that owned slaves also, a Mr. J. S. -Stanley. Newberne was a great turpentine center. There were turpentine -distilleries here and about here. But great changes had taken place. -The magnificent dwelling house of the Stevens was now occupied by -a Colored man and run as a hotel. A Mr. George H. White was the -superintendent of the public schools, (Colored) at this place and had -also a law office. He afterwards became solicitor of state and a member -of the U. S. Congress. He is now the president of a Savings Bank, on -Lombard Street, Philadelphia, Penna. Mr. Sylvester Mackey and Judge -Mumford were merchants. Presiding Elder, Edward Hill, of the Zion A. -M. E. Church, was a wealthy planter. Mrs. Edward R. Richardson was a -clerk in the Post Office. Mr. John Willis was a deputy sheriff. These -and other men and women had made good their opportunities. They had not -only welcomed the change from slavery but they had taken their places -as freedmen among the citizens of this country and had demonstrated -that they had in them that out of which the best citizens are made. I -forgot to mention that the Rev. J. C. Price, D.D., former president of -Livingston College, Salisbury, N. C., was born at this town. Dr. Price -was one of the most distinguished orators, educators and scholars of -the country regardless of color. - -After my second year at this place, I attended the General Conference -of the A. M. E. Church which met in St. Louis, Mo. I took my wife -and baby and we went up on boat. My daughter Ada returned to Shaw -University, Raleigh, N. C. where she was an instructor. At St. Louis, -I met a great many ministers whom I knew and many more with whom I -got well acquainted. I was quite indisposed while there, but was able -to attend the sessions of the Conference. It was at this Conference -that Elder R. H. Cain, D.D., made his defense against the charge of -maladministration in office. And I am sure that it was his noble -defense that brought about his election to the office of Bishopric. -While in St. Louis, I visited some of the places of interest. I -called upon Mr. J. Milton Turner, editor of the Freeman’s Journal who -afterward represented the U. S. as minister to Hayti. - -I visited a large Catholic (Roman) school. This was my first visit -to a Roman Catholic institution of any kind. I was deeply impressed -with the services, with the use of crucifixes, and the place that -images held in their service. It was very strange to me. I could not -understand how their minds and hearts could be fixed on God while at -the same time they were giving so much time to these genuflections, -rituals, and ceremonies. I remembered the second commandment. I saw -that this commandment was being broken. For there were the images and -likenesses of things in Heaven and on the earth, if not under earth. -And yet at the same time these people seemed to be in earnest, they -did what they had before them with a devotion that attracted. But it -was all wrong because the Word of God in one of the Ten Commandments -condemned it. The Roman Catholic Church with all its pomp, pride and -wealth, is wrong in its fundamental principals and is therefore guilty -of idolatry--they are not worshipping God only, they are worshipping -saints and other divinities. - -On Thursday, May 20, 1880, Revs. H. M. Turner, R. H. Cain, W. F. -Dickerson were elected bishops of the A. M. E. Church. Bishops Payne, -Wayman, Campbell, Shorter, Ward and Brown, together with the required -number of elders, officiated. I left St. Louis and on my way home, -stopped over in Little Rock, Ark., spending Sunday there. It was my -pleasure to preach in Bethel Church on Sunday afternoon, for the Rev. -Dr. J. T. Jennifer, the pastor of the church. I enjoyed meeting my -many old friends. I was soon back at my work in Newberne, N. C., and -remained there until the end of the year. Quite a number of members -united with the church and debts were paid off. My work at this place -was reasonably successful. - -I attended the Conference that met in Raleigh, N. C. On account of my -mother’s health I requested a transfer from this section to the North, -and at this Conference I was transferred to the Conference of New -Jersey. I received appointment to the station of Morristown, N. J. I -arrived at Morristown with my daughter, Ada. It was midnight and very -cold. I was somewhat discouraged. My daughter said to me, father, it is -very cold and the outlook is a gloomy one, but I am here to stay with -you and help all that I can. (Poor child, long since she passed away to -that country where the inhabitants are free from the tribulations of -this world.) I was reminded of a couplet in one of the old hymns, - - “Thy saints in all this glorious war - Shall conquer though they die.” - -[Illustration: BISHOP JOHN M. BROWN, D.D., D.C.L. - -Who ordained me as an Elder.] - -I was sent to the Morristown station to fill out the unexpired term of -the Rev. Mr. Smith deceased. We spent the night at the parsonage, then -Mr. Henry Ader, a prominent contractor and steward in the church, -came to see us and took us to his house until the parsonage was put in -shape for us. We were most pleasantly entertained by him. While in this -field of labor I sought out a secret spot where I might meet with God -and talk over with Him all the work that I was entering upon in this -field. I realized that such an arrangement with God was best and one -that every Christian who is doing business for the King, should have. -So I regularly kept my engagements with God in this place. I put before -Him all my plans and went over them, seeking His wisdom and help. It is -wonderful how He brings to our assistance His strength and grace when -we honor Him as we should in this way. The Saviour Himself taught that -we should have our closet, that is, a secret place, where we talk with -God about everything that interests us. That we should not do as the -Pharisees and Scribes, who loved to talk with God on the street corners -and public places that they might be seen of men. “When thou prayest -enter into thy closet and thy Father who seeth in secret shall reward -thee openly.” - -Mr. Henry Ader, Lansing Furman, George Yates, Nicholas Miller, Henry -Johnson, Robert Gale, Preston Garland, together with their wives, were -the active members in this church and they were indeed a noble band of -workers. There was harmony in the church between the members and a -zeal marked with wisdom in their work. I was soon able to have my wife -and children come on from Little Rock, Ark. This getting together again -was a happy reunion of my home. I found the Y. M. C. A. in this place -to be a noble band of workers and very much interested in the colored -people. Such influences as this are very inspiring to my people. I -met and had the pleasant acquaintance while here of the pastor of the -Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Dr. Erdman (white). I found him to be a -noble Christian man and very deeply interested in the uplifting of our -people. He not only used his influence but contributed of his means -for our welfare. I had the pleasure of preaching for him in his own -pulpit. I might mention also a Dr. Owen, a physician (white), who did -a great deal for our people and cause. He assisted us in paying off -the mortgage on our Church and in getting the Church out of debt. In -all these things I was able to see the gleams of the light of God’s -love shining down upon us every day. For we must remember that the love -and the friendship of our white friends are but the sunshine of God’s -love falling upon us to bless us and to teach us that God has His own -chosen ones in this world who are living on the table land of Christian -thought and activity, far above the swamps of prejudice and racial -animosity. We, too, should daily seek to live on these same highlands -of God’s love and peace. - -[Illustration: REV. J. W. COOPER, - -Treasurer of the New Jersey Conference.] - -The Conference met at Princeton, N. J. I was received into the -membership of this Conference and entered into the active duties -thereof on committees on which I was assigned. I found the brethren -very cordial in their welcome and pleasant as co-laborers in the Lord’s -work. I met here for the first time, Elders J. W. Cooper, J. H. Bean, -George A. Mills, J. H. Morgan, R. Faucett, J. T. Diggs, Winston Taylor, -J. R. V. Pierce, Wilson Patterson, S. B. Williams and others. I was -assigned to Morristown and was much pleased with the appointment. -We had a very pleasant year as well as profitable. The Conference -the following year was entertained by my Church. This meeting of the -Conference was a very pleasant and profitable one. The reports showed -that in every way the denomination in this part of the vineyard was -doing its work reasonably well. The Conference had the pleasure while -here of visiting Drew Seminary. Some of our Bishops and leaders made -addresses, which were kindly received judging from the responses on the -part of the Faculty of this noble institution. This is a theological -school of the M. E. Church. After the adjournment of the Conference I -slipped away for a much needed rest, not letting my congregation or -even my wife know where I was going. I went to New York City for a few -days. Sometimes it is necessary for a man to get away from every work -that he may recuperate himself. - -About this time I attended the funeral of my cousin, John Harris, -living on Lombard street, Philadelphia. While here I met Bishops Wayman -and Brown; Financial Secretary, B. W. Arnett, (since made Bishop, but -now deceased), and Judge Allen (colored), of South Carolina. I visited -the Philadelphia Conference which met at West Chester, Pa. This was a -very delightful meeting of Conference. - -I soon returned to my field of labor, at Morristown, very much -refreshed and entered upon my labors with new zeal and, I trust, more -wisdom. All through my ministry I have been deeply impressed with the -fact that we must do all that we can for our young people. They are, -in their own time and generation, to do all in their power to work out -the salvation of their people. They must be trained to take up the -labors of their fathers and mothers with more zeal and wisdom than -their parents, so that the cause of the race may be greatly advanced -by them in their day. When I think of the ten millions or more of my -people in this country, and their destiny will be largely fixed by -the coming generation of Afro-Americans; I almost tremble for the -outcome, because I fear that the fathers and mothers of this day and -generation have not done their work as well as they could have done it. -There are great odds against us in this country, and it will require -strong bodies, characters and minds, together with the power and wisdom -of God, to bring my people to the place where they can become potent -factors in this mighty civilization. At Morristown I furnished the -parsonage, paid off all debts and added 40 members to the Church. I -also organized the Church at Madison, N. J. - -[Illustration: MACEDONIA A. M. E. CHURCH - -Camden, N. J. - -Built by Rev. W. H. Yeocum, D.D., and Rev. A. H. Newton, D.D.] - -On April 18, 1883, the New Jersey Conference met at Bridgeton, N. J., -in the Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church. My report was as follows: Contingent, -$1; salary, $580; traveling expenses, $12; P. E. support, $49; Dollar -Money, $27; Missionary Fund, $12; Sunday School, $22; number of -members, 61; probationers, 4; Sunday School scholars, 120. I was sent -from this Conference to Trenton, N. J., where I spent two years in the -pastoral work. I increased the membership of this Church from 62 to 180 -during this time and paid off a great many debts and advanced the cause -of Christ in many ways. After this pastorate, I served the Macedonia A. -M. E. Church, Camden, N. J. - -I attended the General Conference in Baltimore, which was a wideawake -meeting. While living and working in Camden I bought my first house -and became a property owner. I did this because the parsonage could -not be vacated at the time I needed the house. I have never regretted -this step. And I hope that many who read this volume will take a -similar step. There is no comfort like living under your own “vine -and fig tree.” My work in the Camden Church was very successful. I -had associated with me Mr. C. W. Robinson, Taswell Green, W. Starr, -James Hunt, James Martin, George Rice, Mary White, Lizzie Green, Mary -Merril, Emma Pitts, Mary Stevenson and other helpers, whose loyalty and -faithfulness were most praiseworthy. - -We had the great pleasure of entertaining the Conference, which was a -most profitable meeting. The Conference was opened by a sermon from -Bishop Campbell and presided over by Bishop Wayman. I was complimented -at this meeting by the brethren along the strain that God had special -blessings prepared for me and that in a peculiar sense He had cared -for me. I told them that I praised Him for all that I was, and had -been able to do for Him; that they all knew that I had started -without any education in the schools. I had been blessed with good -health and ordinarily good sense; that my school was the school in -which Jesus Christ is the Principal and the Holy Spirit the Teacher; -that I had associated every day with my schoolmates, the sun, moon, -stars, rivers, trees, grass, flowers and birds; that the world was my -blackboard, and the mountains my college walls. Here is where I got my -start. As I now look out on the young men who are entering the ministry -and see the splendid opportunities they have of acquiring an education, -I am really appalled that they do not improve these opportunities. It -is a mystery to me. I hope that the Holy Spirit will awaken in the -minds and hearts of the young men of my race who expect to preach the -Gospel, the determination and effort to thoroughly prepare themselves -to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. - -I was left at the Macedonia Church for another year. We were able to -complete the Church during this year, and it was dedicated on the 24th -of October, 1886, by Bishop Wayman. The collection which we were able -to raise at this dedicatory service was $900. The church building is -a fine edifice, with stained glass windows and a fine pipe organ. We -were very proud of our work. At this service I performed two marriages -between Mr. Frank Miller and Miss Georgia Stratton, and Mr. Charles -J. Cloud and Miss Sarah J. Beatty. I finished my work in Camden, paid -$11,000 on indebtedness, was blessed with 200 conversions, of whom 160 -united with the church and paid for my house at No. 332 Washington -Street, Camden, N. J. I left an indebtedness of $5000 in the church. - -The Conference of 1886 met at Trenton, N. J., and was presided over -by Bishop Wayman. It was a very profitable meeting. The Conference -appointed a committee to call on the Governor of the State. They -arranged a time and had a most pleasant meeting with this official. -Rev. W. A. S. Rice, D.D., was the spokesman of the committee, which -consisted of Rev. J. P. Sampson, D.D., W. A. S. Rice, D.D., and Rev. A. -H. Newton, D.D. The Governor afterwards sent for Dr. Rice and asked him -what the Conference wanted in making a call upon him. Dr. Rice was not -able to say anything definitely. Then he told Dr. Rice of a provision -which the legislature had made for the founding and maintaining of a -Colored Industrial School. The outcome of this conference of Dr. Rice -with the Governor was that the Industrial School at Bordentown was -established and that Dr. Rice became its honored founder. - -I would like to say in this connection that the chairman of this -committee, Rev. J. P. Sampson, D.D., my life long friend, has ever been -prominent in the work of the church. He is a man of fine ability, of -sound judgment, and of noble Christian character. He has been tested by -me during a long life and I have ever found him to be tried and true. -I always know where to find Dr. Sampson on any great and important -question, he is on the right side. - -I was sent to Bridgeton, N. J., and served this charge with -cheerfulness and success. At the next Conference I was appointed by -Bishop Campbell, pastor over the Millville Circuit. I made my home at -Vineland, N. J. I looked after the church in Vineland. This being a -very poor charge, my wife raised chickens and the children gardened, -and we were able to live. I went back to my old trade at odd times, -that of bricklayer. I did not fear to take off my coat, roll up my -sleeves and go to work. I made $3.75 a day, paid off the debt on -the church, preached to them on Sundays and added quite a number to -the church. I went from here to New Brunswick, N. J., and was quite -successful. I found the people thoroughly alive to the interests of -the Kingdom of Heaven. This church had the honor of entertaining the -Eighteenth Annual Conference of the A. M. E. connection at the end of -my first year. This Conference showed a deeper interest in the cause -of education than any other. The speech that stirred the Conference -was made by editor L. J. Coppin. The reports at this Conference showed -a total membership of 4352; Probationers, 1200; Accessions, 1036; -Preachers, 71; Sunday School Scholars, 3694; Dollar Money, $1538.52; -Pastors’ Support, $18,000. I remained at this charge for another year. -I determined that I would do the best work of my life this year. In -examining myself I found that I was as full of zeal as when I first -entered the ministry and that the secret motive was to please the Lord -by serving Him to the best of my ability. I was greatly aided in my -work by the Rev. J. H. Morgan, the presiding elder. He had the tact -and good sense to bring about a most pleasant relationship between -pastor and people. The Rev. Mr. Pockman, of the Reformed Church, aided -me very much in my work. I always sought the advice and help of my -Methodist brethren, as well as the brethren of other denominations. -William Stiles, Dorie Davis, Josiah Henson, Thomas March, Alice -Thompson, Mrs. March, Samuel Dowdie, Harriet Henson, and others were my -valuable co-workers during this year. We paid off the debt, furnished -the parsonage, repaired and carpeted the church building, paid the -mortgage of 15 years’ standing and were blessed with an addition to -the membership of forty-two souls. I was therefore able to take a -good report to the next meeting of the Conference. The reports at -this Conference showed splendid progress being made by this branch -of the Methodist Church. And it requires but a brief examination -to prove that this is also true of every denomination represented -among my people. I submit a few facts and figures that may be of -great encouragement to my friends who have the patience to read this -volume. There are 55,784 church organizations; 56,228 church buildings; -2,672,977 members of all denominations; church property is valued at -$32,510,448; when I enlisted in the Civil War we had practically no -schools, because before the war it was a misdemeanor to teach Colored -children in school, now there are upwards of 2,000,000 Colored children -attending well taught schools. This is a record of which we are very -proud, but by no means satisfied with the achievement. We must press -forward along all lines of work and enterprise. There is no time for -idling, there is no place for drones, there is no reward for ignorance. - -My next assignment was Cape May, N. J. During the pastorate of Rev. J. -Height Bean, D.D., this church had bought a lot on which was a house -used as a parsonage. We were greatly favored here by a Mr. Ogden, who -aided us in procuring lumber. He was a most kind man to the poor and -needy and in his kindness he knew no color line. The church building -was not plastered or seated, so we decided to borrow money for this -purpose. We needed $500 and owed a mortgage of $1200. We had not a -cent. Therefore the Board decided on a rally. At this rally we had with -us the Rev. Israel Derricks, of the Conference of New York. On that day -we raised $168 in cash and $50 in subscriptions. On another Sabbath -later we raised $250. Rev. Levi Coppin aided us very materially that -day. So that at last we were able to pay in cash $468 of the $500 which -we had expected to borrow. The School Board at Cape May applied to me -for two teachers to fill vacancies in public school. I recommended -Miss Gertie Pierce, of Trenton, N. J., and Miss Fannie Worthington, of -Washington, D. C. They were accepted and given positions. Our church -at this place supplied two of the school teachers, this year, for the -teaching of the Colored children. The Misses Gertie Pierce and Fannie -Worthington were the young ladies. Through the spiritual activity of -the members we had a splendid revival during the year which resulted -in forty members being added to the church, and in all 62 members. We -installed a pipe organ also. I am glad to say that the members of this -church were in dead earnest. So I had no trouble with mud-slingers -and evil doers. How much time of a pastor is frequently taken up in -fighting against the Devil who is incarnated in some of the members of -the church! - -[Illustration: BISHOP HENRY M. TURNER - -Who appointed me Presiding Elder] - -The next Conference met at Morristown, N. J. It was a great delight to -return and meet my old friends and co-laborers. The reports of this -Conference showed a steady growth and advancement along all lines. - -I am often reminded of the courage of Bishop Allen, who, when he and -his friends were declared a nuisance in the White church and while on -their knees in prayers were taken hold of, and ordered to the back part -of the church, went out and organized the A. M. E. Denomination. God -went out with him as results have shown. And on account of this most -un-Christian treatment which the founder of our church received, I have -given my life with redoubled zeal to its establishment in this land. -Our church has stood for an independence which has been an uplifting -power in the Race. While in some cases this may have been carried too -far by unwise persons, yet on the whole no one can gainsay that the -A. M. E. Church has been a Divinely appointed agency in the life and -labors of the Negro Race of the United States of America. - -At this Conference I was made a Presiding Elder of the Trenton District -by Bishop H. M. Turner, D.D. I moved my family to Philadelphia, Pa. -With the aid of my friends, my family was pleasantly domiciled in -Philadelphia and I started on my first rounds as a P. E. This was the -most difficult part of my ministerial life. I found that there was no -church in the N. J. Conference that wanted to see the presiding elder. -They looked upon him as an unnecessary part of church machinery. They -considered him as a dependent on their gifts and that every time that -he came it meant “more money, more money.” My first quarterly meeting -was to have been held at the church at Mt. Holly but I found that -the pastor was not ready to hold the meeting, so it was postponed. I -went to another place and the pastor told me that “things were very -unfavorable there.” The result of my first round was that when I came -back to Camden, I had to borrow ten dollars. I attended during this -year the General Conference which met in the Mother Bethel Church, -Philadelphia. I witnessed the ordination of Revs. B. F. Lee, M. B. -Salter and James A. Handy to the Bishopric. The Conference created a -great deal of enthusiasm for the connection. I returned to my work with -the determination that I would do more for the Lord than I had ever -done before. I closed my Conference year with reasonable success. I -received as a salary $680 and $57 for traveling expenses. But I believe -that I succeeded in convincing the people that the presiding elder may -be of great assistance to the local church in doing its work in that -the minister is often not able to cope with things as they exist. - -My report at the Conference which met at Princeton, N. J., was about -as follows: Trenton pastorate, new church built and 59 converts; new -church built at Trenton Mission; new church at Jordantown; mortgage -burned at Bordentown; church finished at Jamesburgh; the other work -was the routine work of the presiding elder. I was again appointed -presiding elder of the same district. During this year I had my -daughter, Ada, with me, having come North and brought her husband, -Albert A. B. Cooper. Bishop Turner gave my son-in-law an appointment -at Bethel, South Camden, which pleased us all very much. My wife and -children not being well pleased with their residence in Philadelphia, -I moved them to our own house in Camden. During this year as presiding -elder I took up a campaign against worldliness in the church. I found -that our young people were drifting off to places of amusement, such -as theatres, parks, etc. This work was carried on by the pastors in my -district and I am glad to say that there was a great change for the -better. I do not think that our young people are malicious or wilful -in such matters, but that it is largely on account of the indifference -on the part of their pastors. It is not enough to go into the pulpit -and enter into a tirade of denunciation and scolding; this will do more -harm than good; but reason must be employed. The world and the church -are at enmity, they never have been and never can be friends until the -world, as an individual, has been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. -As long as this relation of hostility exists between the world and the -church, members of the church cannot be friendly to both. They cannot -be followers of the world and its ways and at the same time consistent -members of the church. - -At the Newark Conference, I was quite sick, but able to get through -the work. My reports as presiding elder during this year were very -satisfactory. I was given an appointment as a pastor at this Conference -by Bishop B. T. Tanner, my station was South Woodbury. - -Sick as I was, I was determined to attend the General Conference which -met at Wilmington, N. C. The trip was not a very pleasant one for me -although everything had been done to make it pleasant. We arrived at -Richmond, Va., and stopped twenty minutes for a meal. I was carried -into the dining room and seated with the brethren. I was impressed -there with the fact that the White people are not going to allow -anything that has the semblance of social equality. As soon as we -were seated a folding screen was placed about our little company so -as to cut us off from the White people in the dining room. This was -segregation in earnest. - -I enjoyed the meeting of the General Conference very much. I was under -the care of a physician and able to attend each day’s session of the -long meeting. I was delighted to be with Mr. Joseph Sampson, my boyhood -friend and associate. He was Registrar of Deeds. I was rejoiced when I -learned from him of the mental improvement he had made. There were over -six hundred ministers and lay-delegates in attendance. They represented -the strong element of the church. There were theologians and scholars, -men skilled in the tactics of Christian warfare. I rejoiced that God -has such gatherings as this to work and plan for the general uplifting -of my people. As long as there are men who have determined that right -shall prevail and that the Gospel shall leaven the entire human race, -there is no doubt of the final issue. For we know what God’s will is -and that this will must be carried out by His loyal children. - -After my return home I was sick for about two weeks but was able to -take up the work at South Woodbury. The first thing we did as pastor -and people was to plan for a new church building, the old one being in -a dilapidated condition. It took quite a while to get the people in -the notion of building, but we adopted our plans and began to work. -I found a great many splendid workers in this church, without whom I -would have labored in vain. I was at this place for three years and -when I left, the members were worshipping in a fine brick church. I had -succeeded in paying off a part of the debt, and had received into the -membership of the church about thirty-five members. - -At the next meeting of the Conference I was sent to the station of -Burlington, N. J. I spent a most pleasant and profitable year with -these dear people. They did all in their power to make my life a -pleasure to myself and family. I left this work with the best wishes -of the members of the church. I left with the conviction too that they -were a noble band of the Lord’s workers and that the work would be in -the hands of men and women who would not let it lag for the want of -untiring, energetic workers. - -In 1899 I was assigned by Bishop A. Grant to Hossanah A. M. E. Church, -East Camden, N. J. I labored here until 1901, having reorganized the -Sunday School and paid something on the church debt and added many -members to the membership of the church. - -Beverly was my next charge. Here I built a new church. I found that -many of the White people of this community were in sympathy with -our work. They contributed of their money and did what they could -spiritually for the upbuilding of our work. A lady from Edgewater -Park gave me six hundred dollars for the building of the church and a -nice little sum for the pastor. She was Mrs. Taylor. The Presbyterian -minister at this place helped me a great deal in my work. I can surely -say that the presence of the Lord was with us and like David, exclaim, -“Whom have I in Heaven but Thee and there is none in all the earth, my -soul would desire, beside Thee.” - -Sad, sad, are the recollections of the years from 1899 to 1904. I was -taxed to my utmost for the enlargement of the Kingdom of Grace in my -attempts to keep the young men and women from the sharks or pirates, -who would have dragged them down to hell. Their great sin was that of -Sabbath breaking. This led them to licentious living and almost every -other crime of immorality. At the same time the hand of affliction was -laid heavily upon me. And had it not been for the grace of God I should -have sunken beneath the waves of affliction. - -My daughter, Ada Augusta Newton Cooper, the wife of Rev. A. B. Cooper, -died September 18th, 1899. She was thirty-eight years old. She was a -devoted, loving daughter and faithful wife. She passed away at Orange, -N. J., where she was engaged in her Christian activities. She was -a consecrated worker, a proficient teacher, authoress, and a most -valuable assistant to me for many years. She knew as well as I that -my education was sadly deficient, that I had come out of the briars -of slavery and all its curses, and in a very practical manner, she -was my education. For I had spared no means to have her thoroughly -educated. And always afterward she was conscious of the advantages that -I had given her and was constantly trying to pay off this great debt -of gratitude. But the time came when the Lord called her to a higher -service. He had need of her in another part of His Kingdom and called -her away. It is indeed one of the heavy crosses that we are called -upon to bear, when the Lord calls away from us the children whom He -has given us. Only those parents who have passed through these said -afflictions know anything of the pains and suffering. I cried out, “Oh, -Lord. I sink into the deep mire where no solid foundation is found. I -have come into the deep waters where the floods overflow me. Save me, -O, God, for the waters are overflowing my soul.” - -On December 3, 1902, my devoted and loving son passed away. He had -lived a consecrated Christian life. He died at the age of twenty-one -years. He had taken a thorough course of training at Lincoln -University, Pa., and had entered the ministry of the A. M. E. -Denomination. He united with the Conference at Atlantic City and had -been assigned to the charge at Sea Bright, N. J., by Bishop A. Grant. -He was a loving son, fine scholar, strong preacher, and was beginning -life with all the prospects of a great usefulness. But the frost of -death rested on him and he went to sleep from the labors of the earth. -But we are sure that he awakened in that bright and happy land where -there is no death and that now he is engaged in a much larger and -better service than any that he could have rendered here below. I shall -see him again. We will soon meet to part no more. We will soon talk -together again and thank God, with the assurance, that father and son -will never be parted. - -On February 8, 1904, my dear mother was called to the other home. -This was the woman who had done more for me than all on the earth -besides. She died at the age of ninety-two years. This, added to my -other afflictions and to the weight of my labors, seemed more than I -could stand. I had never realized what it was to be without a mother. -Although at the age of sixty I was still a son. I had never forgotten -that the law of my life was that of obedience. That it was my duty to -honor my father and my mother. So that my years had nothing to do with -the intensity of my filial love and devotion. I shall never forget her -looks when dying, with her eyes fixed on me, she said, “Do the work -of the ministry as becomes a minister of the Lord Jesus. See to it, -that no disgrace is brought on the cause which you represent by your -unworthiness.” To my brother Henry she said, “My work is done. Neither -of you can do me any good. Be earnest and true to your trust, and meet -me in the morning where parting is no more.” Then she sang with us: - - “Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah, - Pilgrim through this barren land; - I am weak but Thou art mighty, - Hold me with Thy powerful hand. - Bread of Heaven! - Feed me till I want no more.” - - “When I tread the verge of Jordan, - Bid my anxious fears subside. - Death of death and Hell’s destruction,-- - Land me safe on Canaan’s side. - Songs of Praises, - I will give Thee evermore.” - -Then she left us. And from that day until the day when I promised to -meet her, I will be lonely without her. - -On September 29, 1905, my youngest and last daughter fell asleep in -the arms of Jesus. On the morning she left us I came to her bedside. -Mrs. Jennie Wise Johnston, wife of the editor, Dr. H. T. Johnson, was -sitting by her bedside holding her hand. She was rubbing her hands -as if she could rub the warmth of life into them. The poor child -cried out, “Papa, Oh, papa!” These were her last words, she could say -no more. Oh those words, how they have rung in my ears and how the -echoes have come to me out of eternity, “Papa, Oh, papa!” Her mother -had stepped into another room to weep. I could not stand to see her -die. The cares and toils and sacrifices which I had made for her, the -love that had bound her to me, the joys which she had brought into my -life,--and now that Grim Death should be choking her--was more than -I could bear. I bowed my head and prayed and took the train for my -appointment in Jersey City. When I arrived I was handed a telegram -announcing that she had left us. I took the next train and came home. -This daughter at the early age of twelve years, like my other children, -had become a devoted Christian. Her early piety was marked and deep. -She lived until she was twenty-seven years of age. She had been a -teacher in the public school, Mt. Vernon St., Camden, for seven years, -a skilled musician and a competent Sunday School worker. - -In passing through all these afflictions, I learned that it was a great -deal easier for one to say what he would do under such circumstances -than it was to do what one ought to do. I had often said to many under -the hand of affliction: - -“Cast thy burden on the Lord, for He careth for you.” - -I had never learned what that little word, “cast” meant. I found that -it was no easy thing to cast my burden on the Lord. It was no easy -thing to really say, “Thy will be done, not mine.” I would take these -burdens to the Lord, but when I came away I would bring them with me. -Ah! There is the point, I would bring them away with me! This I should -not have done, but thank God, I am becoming able to leave my burdens -with Him. I am too old to carry them now. And my dear reader, if you in -early life can learn to leave your burdens with the Lord, you will have -won the victory of victories. I know that these dear ones cannot come -to me but I can go to them and it will not be long until I go. - -At Jersey City I entered upon my work with a fine body of workers -associated with me. Bros. A. S. Taper, W. H. Dougherty, J. Stokes, -Edward Holmes; sisters, Hannah Stokes, Mamie Taper, Hattie Dougherty, -Louisa Holmes, Anna Burk, Annie Dowers, and a host of other workers -were standing around me in this great field. They did all that they -could to make African Methodism a strong fort of the Lord Jesus Christ -and were bent on having a building that would be an honor to the -denomination. - -A Mr. Beach became very much interested in the work, he was our trusted -treasurer and gave of his own money and influenced others to help us. -I made my home with Mr. John Smith and his wife. They did a great deal -to help the work along. While here we paid $500 on the church debt, and -left the lumber and brick for a new church on the lot which belonged to -the church and added over one hundred members to the church. - -On April 12, 1905, I met the thirty-third session of the New Jersey -Conference at the St. James A. M. E. Church, Atlantic City, N. J. Rev. -B. W. Arnett, D.D., LL.D., was the presiding bishop. - -The report of the presiding elders was indeed very encouraging, -showing that great revivals had been in the districts of the several -presiding elders, and that the church in all its departments of labor -and enterprise had made encouraging advancement. This Conference as -a great spiritual revival. There was great rejoicing on every hand. -The secretaries brought in fine reports of their departments of work. -We were made to feel that the church was getting back on the solid -ground of Methodism, the Old Time Religion which our fathers enjoyed. I -sometimes think that in our church work we have so much machinery and -so many schemes and plans, and are so bent on the money or material -side of the church and its life, that we have lost our spiritual power. -We need a great change in this respect. We must get back to the thought -that God is our all in all and that they labor in vain who would build -the house unless the Lord Himself build it. - -During this meeting of the Conference some valuable statistics were -submitted on the Race which I submit for careful study. Of course -these will soon be supplanted by the U. S. Census Report, but many -will not have access to this report, so I give them here: The Negro -population of the U. S. in 1900 was 9,204,531; seventy per cent. work -on 746,000 farms; 21,000 carpenters; 20,000 barbers, and one-fourth -as many doctors; 10,000 ordained preachers; 15,000 masons; 12,000 -dress makers; 10,000 engineers; 5,000 shoemakers; 1,000 lawyers; 4,000 -musicians; 2,000 actors; since 1890 the illiteracy of the race has been -reduced from 57 per cent. to 44.5 per cent. These reports mentioned Mr. -Roosevelt as standing shoulder to shoulder with the immortal Lincoln as -the friend of the Race. - -These facts and figures are a great inspiration to my people and I -hope that they will be inspired to take fresh courage and go ahead in -the great work and battle of life. My only purpose in putting into -print the record of my own life is to encourage the young men and women -to do something more to help themselves. - -The doors of great schools are now open to the young men of the Race -and if they do not improve their opportunities, it is their own fault -and their own loss. The time has come when the people should not -tolerate ignorance and its shames in any of the professions. From -a personal acquaintance, I can most heartily recommend three great -men who will do all in their power for the young Colored men of this -country--Rev. Isaac N. Rendall, D.D., of Lincoln University, Rev. Dr. -Scarbourough, of Wilberforce University, Ohio, and Rev. Samuel G. -Miller. D.D., of the Bible College, of Philadelphia, Pa. These men have -made their reputation and are among the great instructors of the Race -and they stand in readiness to do what they can for the young people -of my Race. The three men mentioned stand for the higher education of -the people. They believe that what is good for the White man is equally -good for the Black man. On the other hand, if young men and women are -seeking to be educated along practical lines, I recommend them to -the great institution at Tuskegee, Ala., Dr. Booker T. Washington’s -school. With these great men and the advantages which have been -supplied by them, no young person can have an excuse for not rising to -a high degree of scholarship and efficiency in any line of work. - -At the Conference at Long Branch I was appointed at Bordentown, N. J. -I had a pleasant reception here. Rev. J. H. Morgan was the retiring -pastor. He called on me and gave me some valuable advice as to the -work. I found that the church was divided by factions, but under God’s -blessing these were united and all worked together in perfect harmony. -We painted and paid for the parsonage and considerable was paid on the -church debt. Dr. Roundtree, the Presiding Elder of this district, was -of great assistance to me in my work. - -Prof. James Gregory, principal of the Industrial School at this place, -an institution supported by the State of New Jersey, was also a very -valuable aid in the work of the church. He and his students were always -present at the Sunday services and helped very materially in all the -work of the church. - -[Illustration: REV. J. H. MORGAN - -Former Secretary of the New Jersey Annual Conference] - -When I went from Jersey City to this place. I was in poor health and -this made the work much more difficult. At last I was taken to the -hospital and was there three months. It was a fight between the -forces of life and the forces of death, but it was God’s will that I -should stay a while longer on the earth to do His work, so I won out in -the fight with death. But I am glad to recount this experience; after -a close examination of myself, I found that I was ready to die, that I -was really relying on the Lord Jesus Christ for my salvation and that -His will was indeed my will. This was a great consolation. In health -we are sometimes not able to diagnose our spiritual condition, but in -extreme sickness, when we are brought near to the valley of the shadow -of death, we are able to make note of our real spiritual state or -condition and we are able to do so, with the knowledge that we may soon -feel the pangs of death. - -During my stay in the hospital my friends were exceedingly good to me -and my church at Bordentown continued my salary. Surely God has blessed -me with tried and true friends. - -The best friend I had in all this affliction was my dear wife, Lulu. -She was with me constantly. She seemed to suffer with me all my -suffering. How often I have seen in her face the sympathy and love that -would have robbed me of every pain, but she could not. I cried out -within myself, “Glory and honor to such a wife!” The operation was a -successful one in the sense that in this case the patient did not die. -In three months to the day from the time that I left my pulpit I was -again in the pulpit ready to do valiant service for God and my people. - -The next Conference met at Orange, N. J., April 25th, 1907. Bishop -Wesley J. Gaines, presided. I was sent to the charge at Haddonfield, -N. J. I was at this church two years. A good work was done. From this -church I was stationed at the church at Mt. Holly, N. J. (The Mt. -Moriah A. M. E. Church). We met a most pleasant and active band of -workers at this place and did a good work for the Lord. - -At the Conference which met at Orange I had the pleasure of hearing -the Rev. Samuel G. Miller, D.D., President of the Bible Educational -Association, speak on the necessity of an educated ministry. I was -deeply impressed with his remarks and when he made it known that he -was at the head of an institution in Philadelphia where ministers -regardless of their intellectual condition would be received and aided -along educational lines, I determined that I would visit the school and -see what they were doing. - -[Illustration: SAMUEL G. MILLER, D.D. - -My Instructor in Hebrew, New Testament Greek, Theology, etc., Bible -College, Philadelphia, Pa.] - -Not long afterward I went to the school and found Dr. Miller at his -post. I told him that I was about seventy years old, that I did not -feel that it was worth while for me to undertake any course of study -and that if I did I feared that I could not keep pace with the class. -He replied to me that age had nothing to do with a man’s ability to -study if he would apply himself--that the mind never grew old, that it -was immortal, and that the only thing for me to do was to enter the -school and get down to hard work. I was both amused and astonished -at his advice. But I entered the school and took up those difficult -studies. New Testament Greek, Hebrew, Psychology, and put in several -hours a day on them. I was astonished at my success. I found that my -memory came back to me and that I was really able to perform feats of -memory. I found that it became easier for me to acquire knowledge as I -went along. I remained in the college three years, and am now able to -read the Bible in its original tongues and have taken the Theological -course. And now in my seventy-third year, I have done what I would -loved to have done fifty years ago. I have educated myself. How strange -the Providence of God! The Southern people enslaved my people and -caused me a great deal of my suffering, but at the end or almost at the -end of my earthly journey, I met this godly Southern man, Dr. Miller, -who has made a new man out of me along educational lines. Thank God, He -has His own children among the Southern people as well as in the North. -And I believe that when the Southern people realize what the Negro is -to them as well as what he has been, that they will do wonders for -the Race. At this very writing, the white people of the State of South -Carolina are vying with the White people of North Carolina, as to which -state has the best and most progressive class of Colored people. I -thank God that I have gotten out of the briars. - -I am greatly surprised that I have been able to fill the posts of duty -and honor which have been assigned me in my life. I have done what I -could and the best I could. On the battle field, as chaplain in the -state legislature, as pastor, as presiding elder, as a high official -in Fraternal Orders, as an officer in the Civil War, as son, husband, -father and friend. I have tried to be faithful, and I can truly repeat -the words of dying King Edward, “I tried to do my duty.” - -[Illustration] - - - - -The Church; What It Is and What It Should Be. - - -I am aware of the fact that in writing my views of the Church as it -is and as it should be, that I may and doubtlessly will, run counter -to the views of some of my brethren, but I do not find that this is -a valid reason for my not expressing my views on such an important -subject. I have served the Church quite a number of years, over forty -years, having given her the best part of my life, and now that I am -about to conclude my labors for her, I feel that it is my duty to say -those things which in my judgment will be for her highest welfare and -the glory of her Head, Jesus Christ. - -I. The Church as it is. The study of present church life is a most -intricate one. We find that the Church is hopelessly divided, that is, -it seems hopelessly divided. “A house divided against itself cannot -stand.” Let it be understood that I am not talking or writing about -any of these divisions, or denominations. I am speaking of that body -of believers of every denomination or sect, who belong to our Christ. -They may be Protestants or Roman Catholics; they may be Methodists, -Presbyterians, Baptists, Episcopalians or Quakers. No one denomination -can lay any claim to a monopoly of religion or of Christianity, and -therefore cannot be considered alone. - -1. The Church today is shorn of much of its power by so many divisions. -There would be no objection to these myriad divisions if it were not -for the fact that these divisions are more or less arrayed against one -another. If these divisions were articulated and harmonious like the -divisions of a great army, it would be a good thing, but this is not -so; we are the Church Militant in a bad sense as well as in a good -sense, and alas the bad too often predominates. - -We have frequently found one denomination fighting another denomination -on doctrinal grounds; we have found them proselyting; we have found -them trying to occupy the same territory, and thereby wasting their -strength; we have seen them grow into bigotry and sectarianism and live -the life of strife. The evils which have followed such a condition have -been an impoverished and struggling, yes, dying church; a poorly paid -and inefficient ministry; a life largely robbed of its spirituality; an -organization which has become the laughing stock of the world. - -We have found individual congregations following the example of their -denominations. All this is to be greatly deplored, for it is contrary -to the teachings and spirit of Jesus Christ. - -2. The Church today has become poisoned with politics. Political tricks -and schemes, political life and its power, have gotten into the church -and have wrought havoc. We cannot reconcile this manner of directing -the life and work of the Church with the over ruling of the Holy -Spirit. Some of the great meetings of our churches, in their annual -business sessions, have become real worldly political gatherings having -met in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. They have turned the House -of God into a den of politicians. Men high up in the authority and -influence of the Church, have subverted this rank and power to their -own selfish purposes. They have sought to make the Church a stepping -stone to something better for themselves instead of making themselves -a stepping stone for the betterment of the Zion of God. They have -forgotten that they came not to be ministered unto, but to minister; -not to be served with easy and lucrative positions, but to serve in -any sphere however humble. Money has been spent in vast sums for the -procuring of high positions; life has been wasted in a selfish attempt -to save it; the Church has become corrupted and made sinful, thereby -driving the Holy Spirit away from its work and presence. The Church -today is more or less disgraced by such political methods. It stands -depleted of much of its power. It is following men instead of God, -instead of the Holy Spirit. The Church cannot serve two masters. - -3. The Church today is largely under the power of the god of Mammon. -It has forgotten the poor which it always has with it. It has gone off -after the well-to-do and rich classes. It has greater respect for the -man that comes into its doors dressed in goodly apparel than for the -poor man in his rags. - -In our cities the Church is following the rich uptown. Great and grand -buildings are standing idle, and posted on their front is the sign, -“For Sale.” Whereas the multitudes are living and surging all about -these empty houses of God. - -The great burden of the Church today is not getting in souls, but -getting in dollars. Magnificent buildings are erected costing hundreds, -yes millions of dollars. The members are compelled to pay for the -costly structures. We forget that the groves were God’s first temples. -We forget that He was pleased to live in a tent with His people. The -Church has gone money-mad. The struggle of the pastor is to get his -salary after the great and increasing expenses of the Church have been -met. If he fails to accomplish this herculean task, he must go. By this -course the masses of the people are driven away from the Church. Only -fifty per cent of the people of the United States attend the Church, -and only thirty per cent are members of the Church, and one of the -reasons, if not the greatest, is that they cannot afford to be members -of the Church. The call on the Sabbath Day is money, money, money. -People sicken at the cry, and turn away in utter disgust. - -4. There is a growing formality in the Church. This formality is seen -in the lives as well as the worship of the members of the Church. Alas, -too many love the form of religion, but they deny the power of it. -Revivals are gotten up, whereas they always come down. We have never -been able to get up a rain, because it is nature that brings it down. -We can never get up a revival because the Holy Spirit brings it down, -so that there has crept into the Church, times, and seasons and plans -of man’s making for revival purposes, simply because the time has come -for a revival and for no other purpose, the revival is had. What good -can come out of such attempts? Revivals come through the operation of -great spiritual laws, and these laws must be obeyed by God’s people, or -there can be no revival. - -The modern evangelist has done much to bring about a stereotyped -condition of the Church. He has his set methods of rousing the people; -he arranges for a revival in a certain church because it suits his -convenience, not looking to the special need of the church for such a -service. He is often inclined to depreciate the work of the pastor by -his own methods and mannerism; he sets in to do a certain amount of -work; so many souls must be converted; so much money must be raised, -and he is on hand to have this work done, and in this manner, the whole -work of revivals has been almost entirely discounted. The work of the -modern evangelist is unscriptural in that he is not doing it in the -right place. The pastorate is not the place for the evangelist. He -should go to those waste places where there is no pastor. He belongs on -the frontier, and the pastor who is wise will not permit an evangelist -to come into his church, and do the work which he himself ought to do, -or some other pastor. - -The Church must get away from these man-made methods and plans; these -man-set times and occasions, and must look to the Holy Spirit for -direction in all these matters. - -I wish it understood that I am pointing out some of the great -weaknesses of the Church to-day. I have not forgotten that the Church -in every age has had its struggles; I have not forgotten that the -Church is founded on the Rock, Jesus Christ, and the walls of hell -cannot prevail against her. I have not forgotten that it is through -the Church that this lost world will be redeemed. I have not forgotten -that the Church is the salt of the earth, the light of the world, the -bride of Christ. - -In considering what the Church should be we have but to go back to the -Bible in order to determine this question. - -1. The Church should be a body of believers in Christ. I mean by -believers, men and women who are practicing the teachings of Christ. If -the life is not the result of the teachings of Christ there is no faith -behind it. If a man says that he believes in Christ, and is not living -the teachings of the Master, he is not a believer. That there are many -in the Church who are not believers is therefore true, because there -are many who are not practicing the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. - -2. The Church should return to its great mission of preaching the -Gospel. Almost everything else but the Gospel is preached. Science, -literature, biography, philosophy, mortality, etc., are the burden of -the pulpit today. As a consequence of this men and women are starving -to death for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. - -The doctrines of great fundamental principles of Christianity should be -preached. If a man is not rooted and grounded in the principles of his -faith, how can he be strong, how can he be useful? - -A cry has gone out for a new religion. We have too much now of the -new religion. It is a failure; we must get more of the old religion, -or give up the Gospelship to those who will be faithful to their -trust. God will make the change Himself if we do not make it. He took -the light away from the Jews because they were not faithful to their -charge, and He will take it away from us for the same reason. What the -world today needs is the Bible, and in order that it may receive the -Bible it must be preached in the pulpit and in the pew. The pulpit is -very weak today in this respect, and hence the pew is weak. We have a -weak religion, and unless we return to God’s way, it will grow weaker -still. This requires a thorough Bible training on the part of the -preacher. The minister should know his Bible, and then he should preach -it. It demands great faith in the Word of God, and great courage to -proclaim its saving truth. A preacher is sent out into the world to -tell it of sin, Satan, self and hell. He is commissioned to proclaim -salvation from these things, and to set before the people an upright, -godly life. He is authorized to command that men everywhere shall -repent of their sins and turn to God. He must know the truth that he -may preach it. He must know the plan of salvation. He must be one with -God in knowledge and work. The pulpit must control the pew, and not -the pew the pulpit. - -3. The Church must look after the poor. This is not being done today. -In the Church during the days of the Hebrew nation there were no poor. -During the Church in the early days of Christianity, the poor were -well cared for. There were not any that lacked. The Church should be -going out after the poor instead of running away from them. Christ was -constantly serving the poor. He was with them all the time. He shared -their sufferings and bore their burdens. The Church to be true to Him -and true to itself must do the same thing. Our very judgment test -will be found in the manner in which we treat the poor, which are the -representatives of Christ on the earth. “I was hungry and ye gave me no -meat.” Read the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew and see what this test -is. Suppose that the Church today would be judged by this test, where -would it stand? - -These are some of my views which I gladly put into this book hoping and -praying that they will become an inspiration to many to get back to the -Bible; back to the old time religion of our fathers; back to the cross -of Jesus Christ. They are written in the greatest kindness but with the -greatest earnestness. They are written in no fault finding spirit, but -with the spirit of love and sympathy, for I love the Church more than -my own life. - - - - -The Negro Problem - - -It might be profitable to my readers, after having sketched my life in -the army, to give some of my views pertaining to my race, relative to -the Civil War and the time since then. - -Much is being said and written on the so-called Negro Problem. Why -it has taken this name, I have never been able to decide. For when -we examine into its intricacies, we find that it is the White Man’s -problem also. And certainly it is true, that if this problem is ever -settled in this country on a proper basis, it will be settled when the -White and the Colored people come together on some practical basis of -agreement. There are more than ten millions of Colored people in this -country and they are here to stay. They have paid at least a part of -the debt which they owe to the nation, on the battlefield. They have -never shirked their duty in this respect and they never will. Soldiers -during both the Civil and the Spanish-American wars, demonstrated the -fact that they are patriotic to the core and that on the battlefield -they are not afraid of the belching cannon. They have done their duty -in this regard. And when we look into the history of the Colored -people since the Civil War we are satisfied that the progress which -has been made, is a most satisfactory one. It is acknowledged by some -of the leading White men of the nation, that the progress of the Negro -Race since the Rebellion has been unparalleled in history. - -But that there is much to be done by my own people yet, is evident. We -have just begun the work of our race. A race that is not over fifty -years old in the arts of civilization, is but an infant in swaddling -clothes. We are to wait until he is able to walk and especially -to work. The Negro Race in this country has a most trying ordeal -before it. It is one of the most difficult of undertakings, to work -out our destiny in a land of such high civilization as that of this -country. While on the one hand it would seem an easier task in such -a civilization, because of the advantages which we have thrown about -us; on the other hand, there are probably more disadvantages. And -why? For the simple reason that the Colored man comes out of the past -without the centuries of training which the White man has. He comes -out of the past without any history. He comes out of the past in a -crude condition, untrained and with the curse of slavery still resting -on him. It will take time for him to prepare himself to compete with -the White man and compete he must! The Colored people must wake up to -the fact that they have to pay for everything that they get in this -country. The mystic “mule and forty acres,” promised by Uncle Sam, has -never been forthcoming. And this is but an indication of any other -mystic gifts that we might dream of in days to come. It will be by the -dint of hard labor, that the Colored man will rise and make his mark. -There are many features of this situation which we will be compelled to -look into and many conditions which we must face, as men. - -I have often asked myself the question, why is it that on our railroads -and street car tracks, there is such a lack of our working men? We -see thousands upon thousands of white men, chiefly foreigners. There -was a time when the larger portion of railroad laborers was Colored -men. There are two or three reasons for this which are obvious. One -is that the foreigner will work for a cheaper wage and will live on -less than the Colored man. He is willing to undergo certain hardships -and privations that the Colored man does not undergo. I am not willing -to concede that he is a better workman than the Colored man, for the -Colored man has proven his ability as a laborer along every line of -work. Another reason is that the White man may be more reliable. He -can be depended on with more certainty. And at this point let me say -that if the Colored race is ever to take its place in the mart of -trade, it must become more reliable. - -Promises must be kept. When a man agrees to work for six days in the -week, for a certain number of weeks, he must stay his time out and -do his work. It is not a question of his disliking the work or the -employer, but the question of his fidelity to his trust. For this -reason, that the Colored man is not faithful to his promises, he has -been discounted in the field of manual labor. The more important the -job of the employer, the more important the fidelity of the employee. -No employer wishes to undertake an extensive and costly piece of work -and be dependent on a class of labor that may fail him at the place -where he needs steady, persistent work. So he will, in making his -choice select that class of labor that will stick to him through thick -and thin. Fidelity to a trust is one of the essentials of man and -womanhood that must be cultivated among my people. If I am correctly -informed, I understand that in our large cities, our girls are not -holding their own as house servants. They are being set aside for the -White girls and these for the most part are foreigners also. Here -is a large and remunerative field that will be ultimately closed -to our girls if they do not take hold of the situation and meet all -competition. Surely it is due us, if we make good, to receive the -labor that is being given out on every hand. We were here before the -foreigner and are the native laborers of the country. And the country -owes it to us to give our race the labor of the field, of the trades -and of the homes, if we merit it. I greatly fear, however, that we do -not merit it. We need more sterling worth among us. - -The cities are becoming the great centers of my people and in these -cities there is plenty to do. The work is there. It must be done. My -people must live. They must have money to live. They should get this -money honestly, and this means by work. But suppose that the Colored -people of the cities, both North and South, fail in getting their -portion of the work that is to be done, how are they going to live? -That is the question. And we are sure of this conclusion, that if a -man does not earn his bread by the sweat of his brow, which is the -Divinely appointed way to earn it, that he will be forced to earn it -in some dishonorable manner. He will be forced to become more or less -a criminal. He will become a menace rather than a benefit, to the -community in which he lives. So that unless my people look to their -own welfare in our cities there is an ever growing future of darkness -for them. I need not stop to tell of the unsanitary conditions in -which they live. These conditions are enough to deplete their living -greatly every year. I need not talk of the crowded tenement houses of -the city where many persons of both sexes are frequently huddled into -one room and many families into one house. I need not tell of the bawdy -houses, the gambling dens and the saloons, thickly scattered through -the sections of the city where the Colored people live. It is enough to -damn them all. I need not tell of the growing criminal class among the -Negroes in the cities and of the recruits that flow in from the South -every year. I need not speak of the White and the Black Slave traffic -among the young girls of both races. The cities are the death centers -of the Negro race, unless there is something radically done to overtake -these conditions. This, of course, is the dark side of the picture, -but I have not painted it as dark as it is. It would be impossible -to do this. It might be profitable for my readers, when they are in -Philadelphia, to visit South street and its adjoining streets, that -they may see with their own eyes, the signs of infamy, idleness and -debauch among my people. You will find scores of young men there well -dressed, simply straggling about. How do they live? Why are they not -at work? The dens of infamy hidden in houses answer to their vocations. - -It would be well in our cities to have such municipal regulations that -such loafers, male or female, could be arrested, unless they could -show that they were actually engaged in some legitimate work. Unless -something of the kind is done in the cities, they will become more and -more the cess pools of sin and death, and into these pools thousands -upon thousands of my people will be thrown annually to sink to hell! - -There is not only the obstacle of instability which my people must -overcome in order that they may get and hold the place that they -should have in the field of labor, but the Trades Unions are rapidly -closing up these fields against the Colored laborers. The basis of the -opposition to the Colored people is primarily the desire to eliminate -him from the ordinary industrial lines of work that he will not be -able to compete with the White man. Of course, if he is not permitted -to work there is no danger of competition. This is the real cause of -the opposition of Labor Unions to the Colored laborer, but this cause -is hidden, and the outward cause is, because his skin is black. They -do not want to work by the side of the black man. This, however is -but a good excuse in the mouth of the white man for it is accepted -as satisfactory by the white employer. An examination into labor -conditions in our Northern cities reveals a deplorable condition so far -as the Colored man is concerned. He cannot get a job calling for the -skilled artisan however skilled he may be. The Union will not permit -him to win his bread by the sweat of his brow. He cannot work because -he is not allowed to work. What is to be done for hundreds of laborers -who are thus excluded from the fields of honest livelihood? There is -no likelihood that these avenues will ever be opened and unless he can -find employment among his own people of what value is his skill as an -artisan to him and of what use is the acquiring of such a training? -The only answer to this question is that the Colored laborer must -thoroughly prepare himself and be on the ground ready for action. -He must be patient. He must be prepared to meet every objectional -condition with manliness and kindness, for the odds are against him. -There are many lessons that we have learned and there are many lessons -yet to be learned. New conditions in this most complex civilization -must be met with the application of the principles of fidelity, -honesty, industry, and the like, or we will never win for the race in -this country. - -Another great need of my people is the ownership of their homes. This -makes the people, citizens in the most realistic sense, they pay -taxes and have the right of representation on such basis. They become -independent. They are then able to lay up some money. They are prepared -to enjoy life in its real and true sense. They will command the respect -of the White race and share with them the burdens of government in -times of peace. They become producers to some degree. There cannot -be said too much in favor of the gospel of ownership in this form of -government. It is our sheet-anchor of hope. The money that is paid out -annually for rent if invested through the right channels will in a few -years pay for the rented house. The time seems to be drawing closer -when it will be more difficult for a Colored man to buy good property. -There are many sections now in our cities from which the Colored man -is eliminated as a purchaser. The rule is to confine him to certain -undesirable sections of the city. This can be overcome to some degree -by the practice of economy and the purchase in the next few years of -homes. - -I wish it to be known that I am by no means a pessimist, regarding -my people. The same God made my race that made the White race and He -has a destiny for us and He is with us that we may reach that destiny. -But I realize that we have our own part to perform and that it must be -done on the foundation of certain great principles which God Himself -has taught us in His Book. It is in recognition of these eternal laws -that I speak, these principles will stand forever and the people that -puts them into daily practice, will abide with the principles, but the -people who violate them must go down. - -I am deeply interested in the education of the ministry of the race. -There are thousands of Colored preachers whose education is sadly -deficient. They are really not capable of doing the work of ministry -either in or out of the pulpit, and yet they are leading millions of -the people. In a most peculiar sense the Colored pastor is the leader -of his flock. The members of the church follow him and that too almost -blindly. They will condone his faults, overlook his ignorance, and -receive what he says as “The law and the Gospel.” That the people are -disposed to this most kindly attitude toward their ministers is most -praiseworthy, but that in many cases the ministers are unworthy of -such confidence is most lamentable. It has been carefully estimated -that only about ten per cent of the pastors who have been ordained are -college men and that the average education of the Colored minister -is not above the seventh or eighth grade of the common school, with -practically no Bible or Theological training. This is a sad state of -affairs when we consider that the minister is the leader of the people. -And I am sorry to say that the disposition to improve themselves is -not apparent on the part of many of these ministers. They rather make -pretensions and hide behind these pretensions, they mask themselves -behind the smattering of an education, and think that they are passing -for educated men; but how sadly they are deceived. How this condition -is to be remedied is yet to be seen. It is evident that the present -system of ministerial education in vogue is not sufficient for the -need. Out of over fifteen hundred young men who enter the ministry -yearly, only ten per cent are graduated in the Theological course of -all our schools. The schools of the United States doing Theological -Training for the ministry of the Negro race are therefore not beginning -to do the work. - -I might mention in this connection that there is an organization which -is beginning this work in the right manner, The Bible Educational -Association, with headquarters in Philadelphia, Pa. This is an -association of Bible colleges or schools. These schools are located -where they are needed and maintained by the Association. By the plan -of this Association schools can be established where the ministers -are located as pastors and the advantages of this training is thereby -brought to their very doors. The Bible College of Philadelphia and the -Bible College of Washington, D. C., both schools of this Association -are doing a great work. The ministers are being greatly benefited by -taking the practical and helpful courses. These schools train also -young men for the ministry. - -There is much more that I might say on this great subject of the -Negro Problem, but time and space will not allow. Whatever course -may be pursued and plans adopted, it must always be remembered that -“They labor in vain, except the Lord build the house.” Our plans are -like the nests of mice, the straw before the wind, the dust in the -gale, they amount to nothing without God’s co-operation. And His -co-operation cannot be had without our obedience to His laws and -commands. The people of this country of both races have much to learn -of vital Godliness. The prejudice which exists in both races, the -hatred and antagonism engendered thereby, the separation of the races -in educational and religious matters, are all parts of the condition -which we are forced to face and in some manner to meet. Both races must -know each other better. They must recognize the rights and privileges -of manhood and womanhood. They must build promotion, on merit and -service, on ability, regardless of the color of the skin or previous -condition of servitude. All must become the followers of the Meek and -Lowly Christ, and they will be brothers and our brothers’ keepers. -There is no Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Man, excepting on this -foundation. Whether I live to see it or not, the Negro problem will -never be settled, unless on this basis. - - - - -Sermons - - -Acquaintance With God. - - Thus said the Lord, In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: Behold - I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters in the - river and they shall be turned into blood.--Exodus 7:17. - -There are many perplexities which are not explained by philosophers. -Men of scholarly renown have by no means been able to comprehend the -mysteries of God. In His Omnipotence, Omniscience and Omnipresence, -He enveloped Moses, the great law-giver, but with His God. The power -that was to uphold Moses was not inborn nor was it acquired, but it -was God. The omnipresence, the hand that was to guide him in all his -earthly wanderings was not his own hand, but the hand of his God. So -that whatever of success came to Moses, God would have Moses as well as -us, to know, that it came from the blessings of God and not through the -wisdom or the efforts of man. Therefore, let us render obedience to our -God, who has promised us, that although the heavens and the earth pass -away, not one jot or tittle of His Word or of His law, shall in any -wise pass, until all be fulfilled. We discover in the text the first -great truth, that God wishes us to know Him. - -The providences of God were manifested to Moses through His dealings -with him. This is one of God’s ways of making himself known to us. But -our eyes must be open to the fact that it is God who deals with us in -our conditions and circumstances of life--yes, it is God. We may say -that it is Nature, that it is Law, that it is Force, but herein are we -blind, for God says that “In this thou shalt know.” The doings of God -are frequently through nature, sometimes above nature, as in the case -of turning the water of the river into blood, but we are to be able to -see that it is God’s hand that moves and God’s voice that speaks. If -a man knows not God he will always attribute the doings of God in his -life to some other cause or causes; but if he know God, he thus becomes -better acquainted with God. So in the case of Moses, God’s promise was -sufficient to allow him and the Jewish people to accomplish results -which were replete with honor and glory. These pilgrims on their way to -the Promised Land of Canaan were full of faith and confidence in God, -they believed Him, they knew Him. He had promised them that He would -bring them to this land that “Flowed with milk and honey” and nothing -could turn Him from the fulfilment of this promise; no, not even the -sins of His people. For did they not rebel against Him and sin most -grievously against Him in the wilderness, and yet did He not bring them -into Canaan? - -“Behold I will smite the water of the river with the rod that is in -mine hand and it shall be turned into blood.” - -The church is the receptacle of truth. God has always committed His -truth to His chosen people, to the believers, the church. The church is -devoted and consecrated in word and action to the glory and the service -of God. Through it He has caused the light to shine in darkness, His -love to fall into our hearts, the light of His knowledge and glory has -appeared in the face of Jesus Christ, His Son, who is the great Head -of the Church. God appeared to Moses through Jehovah, the Head of the -Church, and it was upon the strong arm of Jehovah that Moses leaned and -it is upon the same strong arm that we, the church in this day, also -lean. Moses saw the fire in the Burning Bush and he heard the voice out -of the Bush. He turned and saw that the Bush was burning, but that it -was not consumed. My brethren, do you know that this Burning Bush of -the desert is a type of the church? It is the church passing through -the fiery trials of this world, the church burning on every hand with -temptations, troubles, doubts, distresses, tribulations, sufferings, -and yet she is not consumed. So Moses was taught at the very beginning -of his ministry that God was in the church through the mediation of -Jesus Christ and that things were made to work together for good to -her. Thou, the Church, shall know that I am the Lord. Lofty cedars, -towering oaks, bramble bushes, the national capital, the House of the -Lord, all these may attract the multitudes of sight-seers, but God’s -own people shall know that He is God and that there is no other God. - -The text also teaches us that. - -II. God is prompt in the keeping of His promises. - -Wherever two or three of God’s servants are gathered together in His -name, God is in the midst of them to do all that He has promised. He -is prompt to keep His word. He rides upon the wings of the wind and -upon the wings of angels and upon the lightning, that He may meet all -His engagements. We see Him in the return of His prodigals. We see Him -every where, keeping faith, doing His will, fulfilling His promises. He -is the omnipresent God! Because of His promptness His people are always -able to confide in Him. - -God is prompt in sustaining the physical needs of the universe. It is -worth our while to look into God’s storehouse to see how He has filled -it with food for the flying fowl, the fish of the sea, the beast of the -field, and man, the Lord of the earth. Food and fuel, light and heat, -air and water, soil and seed, wind and rain, snow and frost, these are -the agents of His prompt action as the Father of the Universe. Prove me -now herewith, saith the Lord, and see if I will not open the windows -of heaven and pour you out such a blessing that there will not be room -enough to receive it. (Mal. 11:1-11.) - -God is as prompt in sustaining the needs of man’s soul. He was with our -forefathers, He was with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, He was with Noah, He -was with Enoch, He was with Abel, He was with our first parents, Adam -and Eve, all these in their experiences and lives attested the fact -that God saved them and saved them at the right time. He gave them His -own salvation and not the salvation of another. All the Saints of the -ages have depended on God’s promptness to do what he promised He would -do. There is not an instance in the history of His people or in our -own experience, if we interpret His dealing aright, where He has not -promptly kept His word of promise. Every child of God has his spiritual -battles to fight. But depending on God with the musket of His grace -he will rout the enemy. Satan in all his hellish rage is not able to -overthrow the bulwarks of the church behind which the believer stands -to destroy the forces of evil. God was prompt in striking the sea and -His people were prompt in crossing. He was prompt in leading His armies -and they were prompt in winning the victories. Jehovah is prompt in -aiding His own and His own are quick in winning the land of spiritual -freedom. - -The river was turned into blood and all the waters of Egypt were -instantly changed into blood. But God’s river is a river of the water -of life. Consider, my brethren, these great types of the Bible--these -rivers of blood, these rivers of water, these rivers of life! God -stands with His rod stretched over every river; your sins, your -wickedness, may turn the waters of life into the blood of death; which, -what, shall it be? God says to you and hear ye His voice, “Come now let -us reason together, your sins though they be as scarlet, I will make -them like snow, though they be red like crimson, I will make them like -wool.” None, my friends, but God can work these changes. The church is -moving on with the march of the centuries. She is grandly marching on! -Moses has gone, Joshua has gone, the prophets have gone, the apostles -have gone, the saints of the Christian era have gone, and we are -passing on, but God is with us and He is prompt in keeping His word. - - “On the other side of Jordan, in the sweet fields of Eden, - Where the Tree of Life is blooming, there is rest for you.” - -III. The text teaches us that the river, turned into blood, is the Type -of Christ. - -Jehovah, or Jesus, in Egypt, turned the water into blood; Jehovah, or -Jesus, in Canaan, in the country of Galilee, turned the water into -wine. “The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin.” The wine of the -Communion Table is the symbol of His blood. In these last days God has -spoken to us in the person of His Son. In Him was life, and the life -was the light of men. He came into our own flesh and blood and dwelt -among us and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten -of the Father. “Our life is hid with Christ, in God.” These are most -wonderful words! - -But let us remember that the rivers of blood in Egypt did not change -the heart of Pharaoh, neither did they change the hearts of the -Egyptians. The blood of Christ has been shed but it is of no avail to -them that will not accept its saving power. Christ died for all but -are all saved? How many are saved? Are you saved? If so, why? Oh, my -friends, it is the blood of Christ that availeth all things with God. - - “What can save my soul from sin? - Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” - -“Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. He is the wonderful -Counselor, the mighty God, the Prince of Peace, the Everlasting -Father.” Just as Pharaoh and his hosts were strewn in death upon the -sands of the sea, so Satan and his hosts will be strewn upon the land -of time. Christ is our mighty Captain. He has led His battle strong, -through the ages of the past and on through the ages of time to come. -He will lead to victory. His blood is all-availing with God and God is -the ruler of the universe. It is for Christ’s sake that God hears and -answers our prayers. It is for Christ’s sake that He saves our souls. -It is for Christ’s sake that He will make us kings and priests to -rule and reign with Him forever. It is for Christ’s sake that He has -prepared for us the Canaan that lies beyond the Jordan of Death and it -is for Christ’s sake that He is with us today. And after while we will -sing, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, -I will fear no evil, for Thou (Christ) art with me, thy rod and thy -staff, they comfort me.” - -“Thus said the Lord, in this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: Behold -I will smite with the rod in mine hand upon the waters of the river and -they shall be turned into blood.” God grant to bless every soul here -to-day with the blessed words of this text. - - -The Intercession of Christ. - - “He ever liveth to make intercession for them.”--Hebrews 8:25. - -Christ had completed His work on the earth. He had kept the faith, -fulfilled the law, and suffered its penalty in His death. His work, -therefore, so far as the earthly conditions and needs were concerned, -was completed. He did this work, it must be remembered, not on his own -account or for himself, but on your account and for you. He was acting -in the capacity of a representative while on the earth, so that when -his life in the flesh had been finished, it might become your life and -my life, through faith. We are told by the apostle that after this, -i. e., “He had finished His work here, He was believed on in the world, -justified in the spirit, seen of angels, received into glory where He -ever liveth to make intercession for us.” We notice that this passage -teaches us, that - -I. Christ was absolutely free from selfishness. - -“Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his -friends.” Yes, there is a greater love, for Christ laid down his life -for His enemies. Study the life of Christ as He lived here below, -see how free He was from the selfish taint of sin which lurks in our -natures, and alas, too frequently is the ruling passions of our lives. -With Christ, others were first in consideration and in service; but -with us, we are the first to be considered and served and others must -wait; then if there is opportunity or time they will be considered and -served. Christ opened the gate of righteousness and the way that leads -to life. This cost Him his own life, the price of it was not only the -suffering and labors of life, but the pangs of the physical, and the -eternal pains of the spiritual, death; for you must know that Christ -tasted the death for every man. We can have no conception of what death -meant to Him and yet He went down to death willingly for you and for -me. What are we doing that we may become human saviours of men, that we -too may suffer and labor for others, that we may die that through our -death others may live? These are vital questions if you and I are to be -known as His humble followers; if you and I are to share His glory with -Him, we must also be with Him in His sufferings and death. “Enter in at -the strait gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads -to death, but strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth to -life; many there be that go in at the former gate of death, but few -find the strait gate of life.” - -II. The purpose of Christ’s life and death, was that He might be able -to give life unto others. “Father, the hour is come. Glorify thy son -that thy son also may glorify thee. As thou hast given him power over -all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast -given him.” John 18:1, 2. - -We read that “To as many as received him, to them gave He power to -become the sons or the children of God.” It is interesting to notice -that the word translated “power” here, means a great deal more than -power or authority. It has a germinal meaning and has reference to -life. The idea is that Christ plants in us the seed of eternal life and -it grows and takes root in the heart and life of every believer and -they thereby become the children of God. There is therefore the germ of -eternal life just as there is the germ of physical or mortal life. The -only purpose which Christ had in coming into human flesh was that He -might be able thereby to plant in human nature the seed of everlasting -life, which sin had prevented from bearing fruit. So He became one of -us, bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, our very brother. The -very life which He lived in the flesh is the pattern for our lives. He -is our example in thought, word, and action. We are to live His life by -letting Christ live in us. As Paul said regarding sin, “It is not I but -sin that dwelleth in me,” so he also said that Christ dwelt in him and -we know that Christ dwelleth in us and that through Him we can do all -things. - -We are very prone to think always of Christ’s Divinity and to seek to -explain His life on this basis, this is a great mistake. We are to look -on Christ as also human, a real man: His trials and temptations real; -His limitations as a man, real; His knowledge and experience as a man, -real. Such reflections as these bring Him very near to us and become a -great inspiration to us in that they make His ideal life, a real life; -hence His ideal human life becomes to us a real human life. “He came -that we might have life and that we might have it more abundant.” Our -life, that is our Christ-life, may become abundant in its power, in -its light, in its fruits, if we will walk and talk with Jesus daily. -He is the vine and we are the branches. But in order that the branches -may live and bear fruit, they must abide in the vine. Jesus taught us -that if we obeyed Him, we were abiding in Him. Obedience therefore is -the vital union between us and Christ, the Vine. Disobedience is the -cutting of the branch off from the vine and the branch dies. - -This leads us to another great fact in the text, namely that - -III. Christ is now engaged in making intercession for us at God’s -throne. - -His work on earth is finished, but in Heaven, He is still engaged in -our behalf. The priest of the Mosaic Dispensation, made intercession -for the people. He offered sacrifice for them and then he entered into -the temple, the Holy of Holies, once a year, in the person of the -High Priest and prayed for the people. But this priest was a sinner -like the people. He had to first offer sacrifice for himself then for -the people. He has passed away. The earthly priesthood, in the Mosaic -sense, is no more. This priest was but a type of Christ. Christ is the -great anti-type. Christ offered His sacrifice also, which was His own -life. He made no sacrifice for himself, for He was without sin, but He -made sacrifice for the people. Now He has entered into the temple on -High, into the Holy of Holies, where He stands to plead for you and for -me. Intercession here, means that Christ is our Advocate at the throne -of God. He is our lawyer in the supreme court of God. He represents us. -He pleads our case, He defends our cause. There is nothing that takes -place in our lives that He does not take note of, there is no sin -that passes without His taking account of it, there is no thought, or -word, or deed, that is not entered in the book of His Remembrance. He -must keep an accurate account of our lives, for He represents us at the -Great White Throne. How wonderful is this thought and how inspiring! -Let us therefore make our intercessions to Him that He may take up our -prayers and in His own Heavenly language, present them to our Heavenly -Father. - - -Christ Glorified in His Word. - - “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.”--Col. 3:16. - -It is well nigh impossible for us to understand the power of a word. -We read that in the beginning God said, “Let there be light,” these -were the words or the Word. Who can tell the wisdom and the power that -dwelt in that word or command? We are not able even now to measure the -magnificent result, but we read, “And there was light.” Christ stood at -the sealed tomb and said. “Lazarus, come forth.” This was the word or -the command. It is not in the power of the human mind to comprehend the -meaning, the power and the wisdom of this word, but we see the effect, -“And Lazarus, came forth.” We take the Bible in its entirety and call -it the Word of God, the Word of Christ. So that in the unfolding of the -text, we wish you to note that: - -I. The entire Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, is the Word of -Christ. - -We must not look on the Bible as composed of parts when we make it, -“The man of our counsel,” the guide of our life. The entire book is the -guide, the man, the law, the Gospel. There is a disposition of many -Christians to attach more importance to one part of the Bible than -another part. This is wrong and it leads to evil in our lives. Every -part of the Bible belongs to the entire book, it cannot be detached, -it must not be rendered less important than some other part, for it -was all written for our instruction and edification. So I would have -you understand that the Bible itself in its entirety, is the Word of -Christ, in the text, Christ is the light and the glory of every page -of its history, prophecy, precept, promise, poetry, philosophy and -practice. Human reason, effort and energy are too weak to have reached -Heaven and brought down to us the riches of the Word of God. No man -hath come down from Heaven to tell us of the wonders of the spiritual -life, but the man, Christ Jesus. He is the pearl of priceless value, -which we are to find hidden in this Word. Let the Word of Christ reign -in you when your greatest interests are at stake, when your strongest -passions are raging, and He will guide you into all truth and grace, -and you will sing, “Glory to God in the highest, Peace on earth, Good -will to men.” - -The Bible is the Word of Christ, because He is the Author. He is the -Jehovah of the Old Testament, and the Jesus of the New Testament. -He spake to the Prophets as well as to the Apostles. He was in that -beginning which was before time, when He is called the Word of God, -when He was associated with God, and when He was God, and He was also -in that beginning which marks the first moment, the first hour, the -first day of time, when all things were made by Him and without Him -was nothing made which was made. He is known as the Lamb which was -slain from the foundation of the world, the everlasting Prince, the -Holy One. As the Word of God, Christ is the great and only revealer of -God and His revelation or revelations are the Bible, the Scriptures, -the Word of God. We are exhorted therefore to see that great company -which doth encompass us about and which looks down upon us, filled -with God’s wisdom and power, because the word of Christ dwells richly -in us. We are to look to Jesus as not only the author of His own -Word, but also through this word, as the author and finisher of our -faith, or religion. This word must dwell richly in the heart that the -believer may be able to glorify God and to strive for that faith which -is steadfast and immovable, for let us remember that faith cometh -by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Just as Christ appeared -to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses, to whom He said, “I will be thy -mouth,” so He appears today to every believer, in His Word. All these -holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The Holy -Spirit takes the things of God and of Christ, and tells them to us in -words. He gives us God’s and Christ’s words. When Joshua prayed that -the sun might stand still, the sun in his fiery course stood still. -Why? Because it was the word of God in Joshua which commanded the sun -to stand still. I pray God, my brethren, that you may be filled richly -with the word of God in all wisdom, that your own hearts may be filled -with all spiritual blessing; that the wickedness which is flooding the -country in hellish rage, may be stopped; that sinners may be brought -to repentance; that the church may triumph most gloriously, and that -the whole earth may be filled with righteousness as the waters cover -the deep. We need today another Pentecost, when thousands shall be -converted to God, and that time will come just as soon as God’s -disciples are filled with the word of God. - -II. The Word of Christ Dwelling in Us is Our Strength. - -The Word reveals to us the saving power of God. Paul said, “I am not -ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto -salvation.” Yes, it is the power of God unto salvation, that is the -thought that you should take hold of. We need power, strength, in -this world of weakness and sin, and we can get this power only by -letting the Word of Christ, dwell in us richly. The Word of Christ -dwelling in us will take us out of ourselves, teach us that labor, -learning, house-hold duties, supporting our families, being punctual -to our duties in the church, avoiding quick tempers and unkind words, -constitute the religion of Jesus Christ which we are to live. We must -therefore be, “Doers of the Word and not hearers only.” We must hear -the Word on the Sabbath and do it every day of the week. We are to look -into the perfect law of liberty that we may know what manner of persons -we are, and to continue to look into this law, lest when we know, we -should forget what manner of persons we are. “Pure and undefiled -religion before God the Father is this, that we should visit the widow -and the fatherless in their affliction and keep ourselves unspotted -from the world.” To do all these things, my brethren, the Word of -God must dwell richly in you, in wisdom, or there will not be enough -strength in you to live this Christ-like life. His word is strength, -because Christ dwells in His word, and if His word dwells in you, you -will have the strength of Christ in you. See what Christ is, He is life -and immortality, He gives repentance and remission of sins, He is the -bread that cometh down from Heaven, His blood cleanseth from all sin, -He saves, and He does all these things in and through His word. Is -that word in you? Lean on Him in His word, and He will give you daily -strength, and guide you into all blessing, He will give you eternal -life here and hereafter. - -III. His Word Reveals to us the Plan of Salvation. - -We would know nothing of the Saviour, nor of the sinner except through -His word. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. Yes, it -was lost, the soul of man. What we know of sin, of Satan, of hell, of -heaven, of repentance, of faith, of justification, of sanctification, -of glorification, we know through His word, and whatever we shall -experience of these blessings, we shall experience through His word. - -“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the -last, which is and was and is to come.” We must be saved through His -word. Job said, “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that I shall -stand upon the earth at the latter days and though after my skin worms -destroy this body, yet in my flesh will I see God whom mine eyes shall -see for myself and not another.” How did Job get this knowledge? It was -through the Word of God, doubtless spoken to him. And whatever we know -of salvation, of sin, or of the resurrection of the dead, of Heaven -and hell, of eternity, of immortality, we must get it out of the Word -of Christ. I exhort you, therefore, my dear brethren, to have the Word -of Christ dwelling in you richly in wisdom; study it daily, commit it -to memory, put it into practice every hour, turn its precepts into -practice, and you will rejoice in its power to redeem you from your -sins, and to fill your hearts with power, joy and peace. Amen. - - -Where Is Your Tent? - - “And Isaac departed and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar and - dwelt there.”--Gen. 26:17. - -Our text is found in connection with a paragraph of peculiar weight and -sublimity. The Israelites in all their wanderings had a high regard -for the Levites. They formed the tribe of Levi, which filled a most -important place in the life of the Israelites. The entire nation and -government was permeated with their influence. They were the officers -and teachers in the synagogue, or Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was the -center of Hebrew life. All the encampments of the Israelites was made -around the Tabernacle. This tent was God’s dwelling place, and whither -the Israelites moved, they followed the Tabernacle, it was not only -their guide but their guard. When on the march they carried it with -them, and when they were at rest they set it up. - -It is worthy of note that the Israelites always had a high regard for -their women. These women were thoroughly identified with the history -of this people, and often filled prominent positions. The influence -and power of the Israelitish women is well worth careful study that -we may learn some valuable lessons therefrom. Miriam was very closely -associated with Moses and Aaron. Deborah was a mighty leader of her -people. There were many prophetesses such as Anna at the temple. The -wives of such men as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob exerted a great influence -over these men, for they were women of fine judgment, and highly -developed religious characters. The wife of Abraham was always with him -for “better or worse,” through good and evil report. She was faithful -and efficient as his life-companion. She did not live with him for -ornament or social distinction, but for what she could contribute to -his happiness and success. She made her life, his life; her destiny, -his destiny. - -On this occasion of your anniversary, I take this opportunity to call -your attention to the direction in which you are pitching your tent. -We cannot stand still. We choose the place of our tent today, and we -will have to choose the place where we will pitch it tomorrow. Whither -are you going and where are you to pitch your tent? How important these -questions. You are here tonight, with your tears and affection, your -sympathy and smiles, not for show, but that you might hear the Gospel, -and let the world know that you are moving in the right direction, -and that your tent will be pitched nearer Heaven. You are here, as -wives and mothers and sisters, to do your part by the men whom God has -placed you with, and to do your part by the children whom He has given -you. This is what the Gospel teaches and your works and teachings, -your by-laws and Christian characters, as a noble band of workers, all -prove that you are pitched tonight about the Tabernacle of God, and -that when His tent moves you will follow it. Moses tells us that at the -commandment of the Lord the Israelites marched, and at the commandment -of the Lord, they pitched their tents. The cloud of His presence was a -shadow by the day and a light by night. They were safe with this Divine -Leadership. - -In the same way He deals with us. He is still present, although not in -the visible cloud, to shade us and give us light, but He is present -in and through Jesus Christ who dwells in our midst. He will look -after you, mothers and sisters, who with tenderness and care will lead -our girls and young women away from the dens of vice and sin, from -brothels of debauchery and licentiousness, into the paths of virtue and -holiness. You will teach them those lessons of dignity and character, -and teach them the spirit and works of our blessed religion, which will -bring them unto God and make them wise unto salvation. - -“Isaac pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar and dwelt there.” -He had a reason for so doing. We find that a jealousy had sprung up -between Abimelek, the Philistines, and Isaac and his followers. They -could no longer remain near neighbors. The Philistines had filled the -wells which Abraham had dug in his day, and in many other ways they -were annoying the righteous heart of Isaac. - -So there are jealousies today that spring up among God’s people, and -they cause a great deal of trouble. These troubles must be settled in -some way, and the example of Isaac is now and always before us. You -will not wait to carry out the purposes of such evil passions, but will -cause your heart-tent to be pitched in another direction. - -You have adopted the Lily for your name. It grows in the valley. It -is the symbol of Christ. It represents beauty and purity. Christ -taught us, consider the lilies, how they grow; they grew in their -loveliness under the sunshine and showers which God sent them. They -fulfilled their mission. The Master told us that Solomon, in all his -glory was not arrayed like one of these simple little flowers, and so -it was, the heart may be so arrayed, but not the body. The lily is an -emblem of the purity of God Himself. You have chosen this name. “The -lilies of the valley,” as your name and title, and it should make -you as the hand-maidens of the Lord, tender, pure, strong, noble, -Christ-like; no anger, jealousy, hatred, and like passions should be -permitted to dwell in your hearts for one moment, and my advice to all -the members present, is that you should go into this or some other -similar society, for these dear sisters have pitched their tents in -the valley of Christianity, and not only that, but thank God, they -are dwelling there. Yes, they have pitched their tent in the valley -among the lilies. They are humble and meek. They are willing to do the -little things for God and humanity. They are willing to be his humblest -servants. They have planted the lilies in their hearts. They are living -like the lilies, I trust. - -I compliment and congratulate you for the splendid work which you have -done during the year just closed. Your faith is proven by your works, -and your works are the fruit of the Tree of Life. We shall know the -tree by its fruits. You are devoting your time and energies to God -along new lines of thought and service, and new fields of usefulness -are opening up before you. It is always the case when God’s children -are earnestly seeking to do his will, He will lead them into greater -fields of usefulness. I bid you Godspeed. The army of God is hard -on the march. There are many trials and tribulations, but God is our -Captain, and He will lead us to grand victories. - -Abimelek and the Philistines have gone to their place. Moses, the -servant of God, was succeeded by Joshua, and Joshua, by another as -leader, and so God has been marching with His people through all the -ages, leading them from one victory to another, into the very land -of Promise, on the other side of Jordan. Study the history of God’s -people, follow the example of these illustrious leaders, do not fear, -do not fret, but ever march along the Highway of the King. Ever take -the name of Jesus with you. Pitch your tent always in the valley of -Christianity and toward Heaven. Always dwell in the right place, and -move in the right direction, and at last you will wear the white robe -of the righteousness of Jesus Christ your Lord. Let this passage of -Scripture be closely inscribed on your hearts, and Grace be unto you -from Him who was and is and is to come. - -“Unto Him who hath loved us and washed us in His blood, and made us -kings and priests, unto God the Father, to Him be glory and dominion -now and forevermore. Amen.” - - -Christ’s Ascension. - - “And it came to pass while he blessed them he was parted from them and - carried into heaven.”--Luke 15:51. - -The coming of the Lord to the nations of the earth was not that He -might advertise Himself as a candidate for some high office among the -nations, or in the nation to which he belonged. He came not as the Jews -expected Him, for they were looking for some temporal ruler who would -re-establish their temporal kingdom on the earth. Their idea was that -some man would come and sit on the throne of David. Their dream was -that the Hebrew people would be formed into the most powerful nation -on the earth, and that in some mysterious, some mystic way, this great -feat would be accomplished. God’s own chosen people at that time had -practically no spiritual conception of what the Kingdom of God meant. -The disciples of Christ most frequently misconstrued His teachings on -this subject. The case of Nicodemus is an illustrious example of the -spiritual misconception of the Jews. - -Christ came on a special mission, the saving of the lost, the saving -of man. He is therefore represented as the Lamb that taketh away the -sin of the world. When John, the Baptist, saw Him coming towards him, -walking on the shore of the river Jordan, he exclaimed, “Behold, the -Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.” This spiritual work -of Christ is unchanged. He will rule until the kingdoms of this world, -become the kingdom of God. - -“He came unto His own and His own received him not,” we read, because -He did not come doing the temporal work which they expected Him to do, -but He came unto His own, and in a grand sense it was through this -coming, that the world has received a true conception of this Kingdom, -and millions of hearts have experienced this Kingdom set up in these -hearts. The Kingdom of God is within you, and as heaven, it will work -in and through you, until you are entirely made spiritual. Christ has -ever been the Light of the Word. He inspired our Pilgrim Fathers; He -was the friend of the poor Samaritans; He sought and saved the needy, -poor and sinning of His day. Indeed, the human founders of His Kingdom -on the earth were the ignorant fishermen of Galilee. The law came -through Moses, but grace and truth by Jesus Christ. His presence, His -revelation, His manifestation, His power, His goodness, thrilled the -angels when they sang, “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, -good-will to men.” We are here to laud and to praise Him, and to say -as the Scriptures say, “Blessed is the womb that bare thee and the paps -that gave thee suck.” - -Sir Knights, we congratulate you on this noble spirit of acknowledging -the ascension of Jesus Christ. We are here not to talk about the mystic -ties which bind you together as a noble band of brothers, but to honor -and glorify Him who rose from the dead that our life and immortality -might be brought to light. You have come from your asylum to this -tabernacle that you may pay tribute to this ascension, the ascension -day of the King of Kings. As Christ climbed the rugged hill of Calvary -that He might set the captives free so we have climbed, as weary -pilgrims, the holy mount of privilege that we might view the landscape -o’er of our liberty on this and that side of Jordan. Let us raise our -banners and wield our swords for the defense of our country, and our -helpless women and children. Let us be valiant soldiers not only of our -own teaching as knights, but also of the Cross of Jesus Christ. We can -know but one real captain; we can follow but one real leader; we can -march in but one army; we can have but one victory; these are all in -the Kingdom of God. - -When Jesus arose from the dead, He met His disciples and blessed them, -and having completed His mission on earth, He went on High, but He -has drilled us as He drilled those disciples; He has left us human -leaders in His name and with His authority, and to us He said, “If ye -would be my disciples, deny yourselves, take up your cross and follow -me.” His work on earth is done, excepting through you and me, the human -agency which He employs. He is doing His work at the right hand of -His Father’s throne that we may be able here, to come off more than -conquerors through Him. - -He passed through the scenes of Gethsemane, He died on the cross of -Calvary; He descended into hell or Hades that He might taste death for -every man, and forty days after the resurrection, He ascended on High. -He went up on the pinions of the clouds until they received Him out of -their sight. Then two men stood by the disciples who were gazing into -heaven and said to them, “Why stand ye gazing into heaven, as ye see -Him go up ye shall see Him likewise come down again. You have heard -of Zerubabel, you have met Darius and Cyrus, the Great, you have seen -Jesus Christ ascending; those great men will not return, but Jesus will -come again to take you with Him in the next ascension. He will not come -again as the victim of pagan hostilities or Jewish persecution, but He -is coming without sin unto salvation as the spoiler of the grave, the -conqueror of the world, the hero who conquered hell, and will lead us -to victory over Satan and his forces.” - -The Gospel and the Word are preached to you because you dwell in His -secret place; thus you are abiding under the shadow of the Almighty, -stay with Him, fight on through the conflict, the battle may be -fierce, but you shall win. You see the triumph from afar, your faith -is your power. God the All-Glorious One is with you, for remember that -when star will shine no more unto star, and planet cease to revolve -around planet, when flowers fade to bloom no more, the Word of our God -endureth forever. Heaven is His throne and earth His footstool, and we -are His children. - -I exhort you therefore to take Him more than ever before, as the Man of -your counsel, the friend that sticketh closer than a brother. - -He has gone to prepare a place for you that where He is there ye may be -also. - -“Unto Him who hath loved us and washed us from our sins in His own -blood, be glory and dominion now and evermore.” - - There is death in the pot.--II Kings 4:40. - -In the year 895 B. C., in Syria, a certain woman resided. She was the -wife of Obadiah, a devoted companion, a good, genial spirit; she was -a model wife, but misfortune overtook her, and the bright days of -prosperity and enjoyment passed under the dark clouds of adversity. -The pleasant fragrance from the flowers faded and her husband too had -passed to the bourne from whence none returns. - -She is now a widow left to contend against the hard and unsympathizing -world. - - “Trouble like a gloomy cloud - Gathered fast and thundered loud.” - -Her husband and father was God above. Her old-time friends who knew -and recognized her in her prosperity, now passed her by unnoticed. -Adversity makes a great change in friendship. It renders friends, -strangers, and breaks asunder the dearest ties. These friends were -willing to see her suffer and her children torn from her side and sold -into slavery that her debts might be paid. There was no helping hand, -no money to loan, no salvation from this awful condition, no one to -become her surety, but above all this darkness of night and of cloud, -God was dwelling, and watching. He never forsakes His own, He may seem -to do so, but never, never. - -God sent His servant Elisha to her and through him relieved her of -all her troubles. Elisha was a mighty man of God. He had received the -mantle of Elijah and was a student under him. He was full of wisdom -and understanding, going about in the spirit of Jehovah serving the -people, instructing them, leading them to higher life, and making them -acquainted with God and His ways. - -Elisha during a famine had the people to gather herbs that their hunger -might be relieved. Among those herbs which were thrown into the pot, -there was some poisonous herb which some one had gathered by mistake, -it too was thrown in. In the boiling of these together, the poison was -spread through the pot. When they began eating the vegetable soup, the -poison was discovered. Elijah was informed and destroyed its bad effect. - -It is well for us to note that. - -I. The world is the pot. - -The world has been cursed by sin. There is in it both the good and -the bad, both food and poison. God has placed us in the world that we -may as Christians, do the work which Elisha did in his day. When we -look about us, how many people we see who have been poisoned. There -are murderers, suicides, thieves, robbers, liars, all these are acting -in the way they act and live, because they have in them poison. It is -well for us to understand that we need not expect in this world to -find the good unmixed from the evil. Christ prayed that God would not -take His own out of the world, but that He would keep them from the -evil in the world, and we are taught in the prayer called the Lord’s -Prayer, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” As -God’s children, we cannot mix with the children of this world. We -cannot allow the amusements of this world and its allurements to lead -us away from God and His Kingdom. We are in the world, but not of it. -We are but pilgrims, passing through, on the way to the country of God, -but all that we are and have are in this world; just as all the herbs -were thrown into the pot, but there is also poison there. Is there any -pleasure, without its tinge of pain? Is there any hope without the -presence of a cloud? Is there any expectation without some kind of a -disappointment? But Christ is our Elisha. The poison in the pot can be -removed and He will remove it for us. The pleasures of the world may be -rendered sweet and pure. The work of this world can be raised to the -highest dignity. The power of this world may be turned to the highest -good of all. We are not left helpless and hopeless. - -II. The temptations of the world are the fire under the pot. - -The question of temptations is a very interesting one, for the -Christian. There are many who find their greatest trouble in -temptations. They are not able to distinguish a temptation from a sin, -and confusing them, they look upon themselves as very great sinners, -because they have very great temptations. This is a false idea. A -temptation is a trial. All temptations are not evil. There are also -temptations that lead us to noble action. God is not tempted of evil, -neither does He tempt to evil, but He does tempt us to the good, -and indeed, He permits Satan to ply us with temptations, and we by -overcoming these temptations may grow strong and pure. - -Christ, the sinless man, was in the world, full of temptations, but He -overcame them. His temptations were genuine, they were sinful, they -would have proven destructive, but He overcame them and He overcame -them without sin. - -It matters not what the temptation may be, however dark and sinful, it -is with you as to the result of that temptation in your life. - - “Yield not to temptation, - For yielding is sin.” - -It is the yielding that is sin. Resist the devil, and he will flee from -you. Make friends of him and he will live with you. He will become a -part of you, he will drag you down, he will work your destruction. - -How often we realize that dark, sinful thoughts, pass through our -minds. They are sins like a black cloud, sweeping over the beautiful -landscape of the soul. Well, does this constitute sin? By no means. It -is only when these thoughts remain in the mind, when we harbor them, -when we become fond of them; this is what forms sin in the soul. It is -your work to expel them, to drive them out, to hate them. - -Paul said, When I would do good evil is present with me. How true -this is with us today. Even in our holiest exercises, such as prayer, -praise, worship, sin is found lurking in our aspirations after God. -Selfishness enters our prayers, selfishness frequently inspires our -holiest hopes, selfishness poisons our love, doubt weakens our faith, -and so we find in our religion and its life, the element of sin. This -is the death in the pot. - -So the whole Bible deals with the problem of sin. The plan of salvation -is simply the plan for removing sin from within and from without us. -The mission of Christ is to save the sinner from his sins. Frequently -Christians get the idea that salvation is to bring us at last to -Heaven; well, that is in a manner true, but remember that is the -last work of salvation, bringing us to Heaven. Salvation deals with -thousands of things in our lives here, before we are ready for Heaven. -And indeed we can never enter Heaven with sin in our natures. Sin must -be rooted out here in some manner. So we have our Elisha, he can and -does remove the death from the pot. He is the bread of life, the water -of life, in which there is no poison. - -I beg you, therefore, to take this text with you. Ponder over its deep -meaning. Apply its truths to your own life, come to our Elisha that He -may remove the death from your pot. Try and understand the deep meaning -of your religion and that it is a rule of life for every-day living. -That it furnishes you with the wisdom and the power to overcome all the -sin within you and all the temptations without you. Therefore watch and -pray. Be diligent in season and out of season and put your trust in -your Elisha, and He will make all things work together for your good. -This is His promise. - - -The Reward of the Righteous. - - “For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which - the Lord your God giveth you.”--Deut. 12:9. - -A description of Paradise is always acceptable to the humble believer. -He is seeking the rest, the inheritance, which God has so abundantly -promised in His word. So our God has not omitted to give us glimpses of -this Heavenly rest. We have gathered together our own sweet bundle of -sentiments regarding it. They are ever a blooming garden of flowers by -our pathway. We are to so live that we may daily prepare for this Home -of the Soul. Hezekiah was ordered to set his house in order. He was -reminded that he would soon be called to enter into this rest prepared -for the people of God. He had something to do first, however--to set -his house in order. - -We sadly realize that in the study of this deep question our knowledge -of that country which is our eternal home, can be but faint. Paul saw -something of its glory but would not undertake to describe it. And -the glowing descriptions which John gives us in his Revelation, are -most difficult to understand. They are figures, they are poorly drawn -pictures, outlines, photographs, of that Celestial Clime and its Holy -Inhabitants. But it confirms our hopes, invigorates our strength, -ennobles our efforts. Then let us study today something and somewhat of -this Happy Land. - -I. The Character of the Reward, the Inheritance. - -The Israelites were worn and weary, with the desert journey. For forty -years they had been wanderers, pilgrims, in a land of sand, rocks, -barren waste and mountains. God so blessed them that their garments -did not wear out, and He gave them water from the rocks and food from -Heaven and flesh from the far countries. But this was not enough. -They had been promised a land that flowed with milk and honey, a land -of rest, an inheritance. God had promised to Abraham that He would -give them the land of Canaan for a possession, and that it should be -inherited by all his children forever. While this promise had been -made centuries before their trials in the Wilderness, yet God had not -forgotten His pledge and His people had not forgotten His promises. -The great encouragement which Moses always brought forward that their -strength might be renewed, was that God had made them a promise of a -land of their own. With all their trials and disappointments, their -mistakes and their failures, their doubts and perplexities, God was -with them and the Land of Canaan was just beyond the Jordan. - -It is well for us to keep in mind the journey of the Israelites, -between the Red Sea and the Jordan; between the land of slavery and the -land of liberty. For indeed we are making just such a journey now. We -are on the march to our Heavenly Canaan. It is called a rest. It is -called an inheritance. What blessed descriptions these are! We could -want no better. - -This wilderness of sin is a land of weariness. The way is hard, the -mountains to climb are high. The rocks which cut our feet are many. The -loads which we carry cause so often fainting, almost death. There is -no rest here. We have temporary resting places where we may sleep and -refresh ourselves. But the day comes, and its work, its weariness. Even -in our religious lives and work, we experience the same fatigue, we are -exhorted not to grow weary in well doing, not to faint by the way, why? -Because we are in a land of weariness, of toil, of exhaustion! - -“To him that overcometh, I will give a crown of life. To him that -overcometh, I will make a pillar in the temple of my God and they shall -go out no more.” Our abiding place there will be as permanent as the -pillars of the temple. We cannot be removed. Surely we will not want -to go out any more. We will be satisfied to dwell in the temple of God -forever. Then it is called an inheritance. Our children inherit our -possessions. There is no law to prevent them from coming into what has -belonged to us. It is their own when we leave it by every right of -human and Divine law. - -II. Our Saviour is the faithful witness of this promised land. - -Moses, you remember, sent spies into Canaan that they might bring -back a report of the land which God had promised to Abraham and his -descendants. These spies returned. Only two, Caleb and Joshua, brought -back a good report. The majority report was very discouraging indeed, -so much so, that the Israelites turned back again. - -There are many in this world who have a bad report of the Promised -Land which the text tells us, is to be our rest and our inheritance. -Will you listen to them? If so, you will also turn back and continue -wandering in the wilderness of sin. Do not forget that Satan is one of -these spies. He will tell you false things regarding your religion, -your brethren, your Saviour, your God and Heaven. This is his business. -He is always at it. You find many Christians who do not think much -about Heaven, they consider it a dream, they contend that this is their -Heaven, hence they place little value on all the reports in the Bible -concerning this land. But we have a true witness, our Joshua, our -Jesus. He came from that country. He knows its hills and dells, its -clime, its fruits, its joys, its eternal delights. He has left us His -report. It is absolutely true. He has seen and heard and tasted and He -speaks as a true witness. He said to His disciples on the eve of His -departure, “I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am, there ye -may be also. In my Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so -I would have told you.” “If ye believe in God, believe also in me.” - -God liberated His people from Egypt. He raised the iron heel of -oppression from the necks of His people. He led them forth. He brought -them into Canaan. His omniscience guided them. His omnipresence was -ever with them. He brought them to an end of the toil, labor, dust, -pains, weariness of the wilderness journey. The same God is leading -us to a much better country. In this country there are no enemies, as -there were in Canaan. No battles will be fought, no sickness will be -endured, no trials to pass through, no fading sunsets and following -dark nights, no losses, no crosses, for “All the former things are -passed away, behold, I make all things new.” - -Jesus says, “I am the living bread of which if any man eat, he shall -nevermore hunger.” He has broken down the middle wall or partition, so -that we can enter into the very presence of God. Paul speaks of His -work when he says, “By whom also we have access by faith into this -grace wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” -Yes, the glory of God, that glory which shall be reflected from our -hearts and faces when we stand complete before God. John says, “It doth -not appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear, -we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And every one -that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself even as He is pure.” We -shall be like Him! These are not misty descriptions of our rest and -inheritance! They are real photographs. We need not doubt, we need -not fear. It doth not appear what we shall be, but in that beautiful -habitation of the soul, we will be more beautiful than the beautiful -home which God has prepared. - -III. But this rest and inheritance will be the reward of the faithful. - -We should not deceive ourselves for not every one will enter. There -are many in this world who confidently expect to enter this Heavenly -Canaan, but they have no passport. If you were to take a trip through -Europe and Asia, it would be necessary for you to procure from the -proper officials of this country a passport, for without this you would -not be permitted to go through these countries. You would be looked -upon as some kind of an enemy. The passports to Heaven are goodness and -faithfulness. Not the goodness, however, which this world creates and -loves and prizes. Christ said to the young nobleman who came to Him -and wanted to know what good thing he could do to enter the kingdom of -Heaven, “Why callest thou me good, there is none good but God.” This -young man said that he had kept all the commandments from his youth up, -now if he had done that and we have no reason to doubt it, for Christ -looked on him and loved him, then this young man was really good as -this world calls goodness; but mark you he did not enter the “Kingdom -of God,” for he went away very sorrowful, for he was very rich. Oh! he -was very rich! - -He had his own little heaven, he had his own little bundle of goodness, -he had his own passport, but these did not suffice, for the Kingdom of -God. These were of no value in this Kingdom. - -I was born in a slave state. When I was a little boy, my mother being -very poor, sent me out on a very cold day to the river bank to gather -up a bundle of wood. I gathered up the wood and tied it into a bundle -and placed it on my head. I started home. It was a large bundle and -grew very heavy as I walked along. It was painful to my head and I -became tired. I staggered under the burden, I thought that I could not -reach the house, but I kept on. At last I got home and almost fainted. -But what a relief it was to me and what a comfort it became to my -mother. As we sat that night by the crackling fire, I thought, well it -was worth all it cost me. The pleasure it gave my mother, the family, -and satisfaction it gave me to know that I had done this and all were -now enjoying it, was my reward, my rest. But mark you, it was the -reward of goodness and faithfulness. If I had been a disobedient boy, -would I have had that reward? Would I have had that enjoyment? Would I -have had the approval and the love of my mother? Never, never! So it is -with us today. We must carry our burdens, and the burdens of others. We -have always a double load on our shoulders, this makes it doubly heavy. -Sometimes we nearly faint under it, the road seems to have no end, we -are almost tempted to throw down the load, but can we? If we really -desire to enter that beautiful city beyond the river of death, the load -which God has given us, must be carried to the very end. We can drop -that load when we come to the river, when the death angel tells us that -it is enough and that our Father wants us to come home. - -You are to serve your brother-man, you are to love him, to pray for -him, and to love and pray for your enemies. This is the load, this -is the work that is to be done! Without the cross there is no crown, -without the weights there are no wings, without the prayers there will -be no praises! “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been -faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things. -Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” This is the welcome plaudit. Do -you long to hear that plaudit? Then be faithful today and tomorrow and -throughout life. - -IV. This place is called rest. - -After the victory there is peace. After the labor there is rest. -After the pain there is pleasure. This world is not our abiding -place, our peace-place. As long as man lives on the earth he has -various inducements to sin. Enemies within and without are continually -organizing against him. Satan is seeking to devour him with lust and -sin. He too often, alas! renounces his allegiance to his God, he -forgets his Saviour, he turns away from the practice of his religion. -Worldly pleasures allure him, they deceive him, they intoxicate. Ten -thousand are the ways of this world to lead the humble pilgrim astray. -The Israelites wandered in the Wilderness forty days, but it was only -a seven days march from Egypt to Canaan; Why did they wander? Because -they sinned. The flesh is lusting against the spirit and the spirit -against the flesh. When we would do good evil is present with us. What -a mighty conflict this life of wandering is! - -But blessed be God there are no haunts of innocent (?) amusement to -entice you from pure holiness, in Heaven! No dens to rob men and women -of their virtue, no pit-falls of saloons and gambling hells to lead -astray the holy inhabitants of that land of rest, none of these things -are to be found there! The ungodly rich man, the oppressor of the poor, -the robber, the thief, these are all cast into the lake where the worm -dieth not and the fire is not quenched. There is the place of our -Eternal Rest. It is a mountain where heavenly pastures grow and the -rivers of life gently flow. It is here that we shall know as we are -known. Here ignorance is forever banished and we see face to face. God -help as to enter this rest and to obtain this inheritance. - - -Our Legacy. - - Peace I leave with you.--John 14:27. - -Dear Brethren, in entering upon the work of this district two years ago -I found that the ship had sprung a leak, the sails were furled, many -of the crew had deserted the ship and left her to the mercy of the -waves. There seemed to be a heavy cloud over the church, her banners -had been trailing in the dust. I look back and almost shudder and -wonder what would have been the fate of the church had things drifted -on as I found them. I wonder if there were any here who at that time -would have believed our report and to whom the arm of the Lord would -have been revealed. I ask the question now, shall the church in Trenton -sink, shall her doors be closed, shall her banner be dust covered? No, -never, so long as God says “Thou shalt live.” So like Paul at Athens -I take courage and preach the Gospel to you that your strength may -increase and your faith grow stronger. - -Bro. Joseph Long was the first man I saw, to whom I delivered my -message. He said go ahead, my son, sound the trumpet and we will rally -to the standard though the host of hell surround us. I accepted the -situation, seeing that there was a great field of usefulness before -me. I saw and felt my inability to do any good or to be of any service -to the church unless God was with me. So I consecrated myself anew to -God and made a complete surrender. My own capabilities united with -yours, we brought our forces into line and began the battle which you -have fought so nobly and bravely against every obstacle. You have been -faithful soldiers, and may be called veterans in the cause of Christ. -The enemy has been many times defeated and main victories have been won -and the cause has been greatly advanced, but the time of our separation -is drawing nigh, our communions will soon cease, they have been very -sweet and precious to me, very helpful, your kindness has been like -the bud on the tree continually swelling, and blossoming for my own -pleasure and profit. Like David, we have cried from the bottom of our -hearts, How long, O Lord, How long shall the wicked reign? Save thy -people, bless thine inheritance, feed and lift them up for ever. You -have proven your loyalty to the church at large, your efficiency in the -church here, I commend your integrity, your faithfulness. Your warm -hearts have beat continually for the success of the church during this -pastorate. - -The old heroes have gone home to their reward. Their seats are vacant, -their work is complete but we have entered into their labors and their -memory is still precious among us. They are still with us in spirit, -they are looking down from the battlements of glory and are witnessing -our race here below. They have been described as a cloud of witnesses. -Therefore we are to lay aside every weight and the sin that doth so -easily beset us and run with patience the race that is set before us. -Their skill and bravery we should imitate, their example we should -copy, their life of service we should relieve. Oh! Could many of those -old warriors awake from their graves and revisit old Mt. Zion and stand -on her battleground, to tell us of the contests through which they had -passed and to show us the scars which they had received while fighting -the battle of the Lord, how often they have witnessed the going and -coming of ministers, having listened to their sad farewells, I am sure -that we would take courage today and rejoice that we are a part of that -grand procession, some of which are now in glory, some of which are -crossing and some of which are still on this side. These old veterans -of glory are not here to shake our hands; they have risen from the -bloody battlefield of earth to the sun lit hills of eternity and have -washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Some -that I met two years ago are not here tonight to shake our hands, to -be with us in this farewell exercise, where are they? Where is father -Crusen and Sister Layten, Tolson, Phinley, Reley and Rachel Conover. -Young men, I ask you tonight where is Enoch Limehouse, Jimmie Vroom -and others of your companions? Parents and Sabbath School teachers, -I ask you where are the Scotts, the Sees and Lily Wright and others -whom I met here two years ago? They have gone down to the grave, they -are mouldering in their graves. But this shattered Mt. Zion church is -the same now as then, a few pillars are left. Brothers Long, Johnson, -Fisher, Jones, Ward, Ayers, Charna, Sisters Long, Ward, Perine, Hall, -Scroden, Hutchens, Lewis, Harriet, Charmer, and a host of others, we -have stood together through these years and are one tonight in spirit -and in truth. Our spirits have shared each other’s burdens, each -other’s sorrows, we have mingled our tears. - -Your Christian advice, tender care, loyal friendship, all these have -helped me on my way to the better land. You have performed your part -well, a uniform desire to contribute to the harmony of all. Your -zeal for the growth of the church when it seemed to be dying, your -constant watching for its highest welfare, have often caused me to -say, “I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the -Lord.” Although we separate here in sorrow we will meet in a place -where sorrow is unknown. Do you promise to meet me there? March on, ye -Soldiers of the Cross, be not afraid, God is your helper, He will not -desert you! Keep your eyes on the city whose builder and maker is God. -Do not grow weary in well-doing nor faint by the way. - -Christ said, My peace I leave with you. I can say my blessings I leave -with you. Let us pray for each other and look forward to the time when -we shall meet to part no more. Farewell! - -[Illustration] - - - - -Articles and Contributions - - -An Echo to the Manager’s Call. - -Mr. Editor: In your issue of June 21, 1877, an article appears, -emanating from the business manager, indicating trouble ahead. He -says that from the very fact of the editor receiving two letters to -his one, and the supporters of our publishing department placing -the major portions of their communications on the wrong current, -the most pernicious effect is designed to flow through the stream -of intellectual knowledge gleaned from the columns of the Christian -Recorder. - -I have only to ask my brethren, Can we, as pillars of the porch that -leads to the great temple of African Methodism, sit still on our easy -chair and hear such powerful peals of thunder ringing through our -ears, constantly coming from the subverting clouds now overhanging our -manager’s head? - -Let us burst loose the bands of oppression, open the prison door and -set the captive free. Give the manager a fair start in the race, and -then if he die (as he says the death warrant has been served on others -who had charge of the concern), let us bury him in a recreant’s grave. -As to the department being whittled away by the ministry, I would -like to ask, Mr. Editor, who is responsible for that? Is there not a -prescribed mode of bringing these would-be men to justice? These vipers -that creep through the money till of all our departments and from -their atrocious dereliction or their villainous designs to defraud the -connection out of what is rightfully due it? These things are actually -undermining the foundation of our Church. Put them between the upper -and lower millstones and grind them as fine as powder. Do not let us -all suffer from the effect of the same blow. The blow the Doctor struck -has shocked the connection like a mighty earthquake. Now the question -goes from every loyal fort along the line, “Who are these whittlers?” -Again, the manager says there is a wolf howling about the door of -his sanctum, and that unless there be sufficient food to satisfy his -demands, at no distant date there will be a burst up. I again ask, -Cannot this eternal howling be stopped? - -Now, the manager says that our articles of commendation and sweet -pats on the shoulder, telling him to go ahead with the engine without -anything to propel it, does not amount to much. He wants action--noble, -sublime, Godlike action--such as will place him on the road to success. -Then, brethren, let us act. According to the report made at the -General Conference of 1872, we have three hundred thousand members, -seven thousand preachers in our connection. Let a Sabbath be set apart -and let it be universally known throughout the Church, and one-fourth -of a dollar be collected from each member. This would give us the nice -little sum of $75,000. Say that the preachers give one dollar each, -including bishops, managers, editors and all others, which would make -a total of $82,000. Would not this stop the howling wolf and save the -department? The echo is, Yes! Then, brethren, let us awake from our -sleep. Call the forces to the front, wheel into line, fire on the -enemy, and the victory is ours. I will guarantee one-fourth of a dollar -from each one of my members, and not only one dollar from myself, but -five, at whatever time may be mentioned as a day for this purpose in -the interests of the Book Concern. - - A. H. NEWTON. - Algiers, La., July, 1877. - - -The Race Problem Solved at Asbury Park. - - For the Christian Recorder. - - New Brunswick, N. J., August 2, 1890. - - Mr. Editor. - -Sir: As a native of the “Old North State” myself, it is but natural -that I should feel some pride in every honor or mark of respect paid -to her honored sons; and yet, sir, when I see metropolitan papers, -whose politics are not very favorable to our race, teeming with -praise of the speeches made, with some very remarkable quotations of -opposition to the “Force Bill,” or apologizing for certain reasons -why it should not become a law; when I see certain gentlemen denied -by those in authority not especially committed to our side of public -questions regarding our interest, it is but natural that some of us -should become alarmed lest these honors are received and bestowed at -the terrible expense of compromising the rights of our race. - -We are forced to believe that President Grandison must have committed -himself with all the force of his eloquence on the beach at the park -to thirty thousand people in favor of the Force Bill. We are also led -to believe that our popular friend Dr. Sampson was very conservative -in his Fourth of July speech. But now comes out one of the leading -illustrated journals with all the pictures of these orators of the -Fourth at the park, and the Doctor is made to say if a colored man is -discriminated against or in any way persecuted in regard to his rights, -that it ought to stimulate him to greater effort to make himself more -worthy, and to not only make himself the equal, but the superior of the -other men. With other compromising remarks, and after several highly -pleasing speeches on the beach to the multitudes from the hotels, it is -said that the Doctor and founder, Bradley, repaired to the dining rooms -of the different hotels and told the colored help when and where they -might be allowed to bathe. - -Was this arrangement made by the Doctor with Mr. Bradley for the -colored people? Will these two North Carolinians answer this question? -Were they paid one hundred dollars for these speeches, and were they -properly quoted in the New York World? I mean President Grandison, of -Bennett College, as to his views on the Force Bill delivered at the -park or elsewhere, and also Dr. Sampson on the Race Problem, delivered -on the grand stand on the Fourth of July at the park. I understand that -my old friend did say that a Negro’s occupation should not be above -that of a servant, for he must know well how to discharge the duties -belonging to this sphere before he is able to meet the more responsible -duties of life. I ask the Doctor if this is all true. - - Yours respectfully, - A. H. NEWTON. - -31 French Street, New Brunswick, N. J. - - -Intemperance. - -By Miss Ada A. Newton. - -Intemperance is a fatal evil. What are felons, murderers and thieves -but men who began drinking but moderately, just for fashion or to see -how it tasted? From drinking moderately they go on taking a little more -each time, until finally they become confirmed drunkards. How common -it is to hear a wife say, Ah! He was a good husband before he began -drinking. There was nothing he thought too good for me. How we pity -the drunkard’s wife and children! The little ones are made to suffer -for the doings of their father, for God says that “the iniquities of -the fathers are visited upon the children unto the third and fourth -generation, while His mercy is shown unto thousands that love Him and -keep His commandments.” How careful, then, should all be to guard -against this evil. The cup that has the glow of ruby at last biteth -like a serpent and stingeth like an adder. - -Let us give an illustration that all may see the course of this sin. -Here is a rich man who has a son; he indulges him beyond measure; he -teaches him in youth to drink wine. At first he makes a wry face and -tells his father that he does not like it and cannot drink it. His -father scorns and ridicules the idea, and tells him that unless he -drinks some he will never become a man. So the little fellow drinks -because it is his father’s desire and not his own. He soon acquires a -thirst for the poisonous cup, and when he comes to manhood’s estate -he drinks often and freely. At last he drinks too much and becomes -intoxicated--yes, intoxicated! This is his first step to ruin; the -habit has been formed. His father is now much mortified. He threatens -to disinherit him if he does not stop drinking, but it is too late. -The father has laid the foundation and the son has built on it, and -neither of them is now able to undo what has been done and fixed into -a habit. His mother begs him to never again touch the deadly drug. For -her sake he promises and takes the pledge. There is great rejoicing -now. His father, mother, friends, all rejoice at the reclamation; the -son has reformed! Yes, he has reformed. His eyes lose their redness -and become bright and lustrous. He attends diligently to his business. -After a while he marries. Then the rejoicing is universal. All delight -at the great reformation. But alas! how frail is human nature. Soon -after his marriage he meets at the tavern his old chums. He has perfect -confidence in himself. He knows he will not drink again. His pride -asserts itself. His old companions are gleeful and congenial; they ask -him to drink. He pays no attention to them. Then they sneer, they -ridicule, they appeal to his manhood, they accuse him of being tied to -his wife’s apron strings. To prove to them that he is not all that they -declare, he takes one drink, then another and another, and soon he is -beastly drunk. Then they kick him out. His wife watches for him, then -she watches over him, and he does not return, so it seems. He is now -detained on business; he has an engagement at the club, at the lodge. -How little does she know how soon she is to be bowed down and broken -under grief! She watches. It is midnight; she meets him at the door -with a glad heart; the sight is heart-sickening. She reels and faints. -He is fearfully intoxicated! When he is able to reason, she reasons -with him, but in vain. Down, down he goes from one step to another, -until from a large mansion he brings her to live in a cellar. Who is -that grinning monster the boys are pelting in the street? And who is -that emaciated creature entreating the boys to let the miserable wretch -whom she calls her husband go home? The once noble husband and the -once beautiful wife! What has brought them so low? What has caused her -misery, her anguish? Rum, rum, rum; nothing but the demon RUM! - -Oh, young man, if you only knew the harm that the social glass does -you, the misery that it brings, the death that follows, you would cast -away the poison and turn from it now, before it is eternally to late. -“Touch not, taste not the unclean thing, for wine is a mocker and -strong drink is raging.” - -Algiers, La. - - -From Arkansas. - - For the Christian Recorder. - -Mr. Editor: You have not heard from us for several months, not because -we have lost interest, for we have always stood among the active -workers of the Church, but we have been very busy. The last time we -wrote you from the South we were in the State of Tennessee. - -In the month of October last year Bishop Brown ordered us to strike our -tent and move to Arkansas. With the knapsack of faith and the musket of -truth we came and engaged in the contest, taking charge of Little Rock. - -The Little Rock Conference is composed of some of the noblest and -most energetic men in the Church. They work, sing and fight against -Satan like men of war, determined to conquer although they die in the -battle. Elder J. T. Jenifer, so well known throughout our widespread -connection as a pioneer of African Methodism, erected a new church -edifice at Little Rock, a monument that can never be forgotten, and to -be admired by unborn generations. Bishop Brown and J. F. A. Sisson, P. -E., contributed their share towards the construction of this model of -beauty. H. H. Petigrew, P. E., John A. Jones, S. A. Patten and R. A. -Sinquefield are the pioneers of African Methodism in this State, and -their labors have been given entirely to the Christian Church. Their -affectionate and kind-hearted spirits draw every one near to them in -the fullest confidence, and none can but love and cherish them. - -The Conference is divided into eleven districts and is cared for by -good and faithful presiding elders who are not afraid of the truth, -though dark and gloomy clouds oppose them on every hand. We have -several churches in course of construction in this State which will be -ornaments when completed. - -In Little Rock the work is in a prosperous condition. We are preparing -to hold the Conference on the 9th of November, 1876. Bishop T. M. Ward -is now with us on his way to the South Arkansas Conference. Our church -is not yet completed, and we are about four thousand dollars in debt; -but, thank the Lord, we were successful in paying off $1200 this year. -We have 483 members, who say that they are determined to succeed. We -have 229 scholars in the Sunday School and 25 officers and teachers. -We have not done much for the Recorder, but we intend to fall into -line. “Hold the fort, for we are coming!” (“Yes, but hurry up!”) - -King Cotton has a powerful influence in this State, and the same is -true of another king--Alcohol. There are 113 rum shops in Pine Bluff -and 108 in Little Rock. Thousands of people are inquiring for the -byways to hell, and, comparatively speaking, very few are inquiring the -way to heaven. Over $1,000,000 are spent in this State annually for rum -and tobacco. - -On September 25th we visited the Conference of Tennessee, held in -Pulaski, where we met many smiling faces and hearts and enjoyed a -hearty shake of many hands. - - A. H. NEWTON. - -Little Rock, Ark., October 18, 1876. - - -Algiers, La. - -Algiers is situated on the north bank of the Mississippi River, about -one hundred miles distant from the Gulf. It is connected with New -Orleans by ferry boats, which run every five or ten minutes. There is -not much enterprise here, as all the business is done in the city. -It is not a separate parish from the city, as one mayor controls the -affairs of both places. Beelzebub has his headquarters here, and his -court and his orders take the premium. The Sabbath is not respected. -Mechanics labor and stevedores flock and flutter about the ships. You -will find human beings as thick on the ballroom floor on Sunday as -fleas on a dog’s head. And this is only a substitute for the wickedness -indulged in here on the Sabbath. But our Church is progressing. We -have just had a glorious revival. Our forces were drawn up in line in -pitched battle with the devil and artillery of hell. After a heavy -conflict for several weeks the battle subsided. When the smoke was -over we picked up thirty souls happily converted to God. Bishop Ward -was with us about eight weeks ago. He organized a new mission work -in this city. He threw two or three bombshells against the forces of -Catholicism, crippled, wounded and captured several of their troops, -and moved on down the line, leaving the boys to push the battle to the -gate. - - A. H. NEWTON. - -June 21, 1877. - - -Word from Algiers, La. - - For the Christian Recorder. - -Mr. Editor: Elder A. H. Newton has charge of the branch of African -Methodism of Algiers, La. When Elder Newton arrived in Algiers he -found the church in an almost hopeless condition, there being but -ten members belonging to the fold, and as far as Sabbath School was -concerned, they hardly knew what it meant. The majority of the people -of color are Catholics. There are three Catholic churches to one -Methodist church, therefore he had to labor under great disadvantages, -but with King Jesus as his Captain, the Bible as his shield, he fought -the battle bravely and gained the victory. Our church now is in a -prosperous condition. We are doing a good work. Instead of ten members -we have ten times ten, and they are coming to the fold every day. -We have the finest Sabbath School in the State of Louisiana. There -are one hundred and seventy-five members, and still they come. Our -superintendent, Prof. J. H. Corbin, is alive to our Sabbath School. -He is pious, kind and educated. The children all love him, and in -no Sunday School throughout our entire connection could you find a -better superintendent than he. He is also the principal of the colored -school of Algiers. Our musical director, Prof. S. W. Otts, is also one -of our bright stars. He makes the walls of Zion ring with melodies -from the “Gospel Songs.” Miss O. B. Flowers, the assistant principal -of the colored school of this city is also a noble worker in our -Sabbath School. As a teacher she is interesting, and she is also the -embodiment of Christian forbearance. We have a very intelligent corps -of teachers, and, altogether, our school is progressing quite rapidly. -When Elder Newton came to Algiers there was not a book in the Sabbath -School library, not even a Testament; but with the help of God we have -been enabled to get Testaments, Bibles and Catechisms, and we also have -an organ. All this has been done in three months. In another three -months we have hopes of as much more being accomplished. Our agent for -the Christian Recorder is Mrs. Lula L. Newton. She sells as many papers -as are sent her, and could sell as many more if she had them. The -people take quite an interest in the paper, simply because it is edited -and published by our own color. - -For the last week we have had a practical effort, six souls have been -added to our number and we have prospects of as many more. Algiers bids -fair of becoming one of the strongholds of the connection. In the city -of New Orleans, Bishop Ward (blessings on his venerable head!) has -organized a new mission, which the elder in charge--Elder Cargile--with -the help of the Lord and good management, is making a good charge. -The people in this city are very wicked, some of them, although in a -Christian land and among Christian people, are worse than heathen. They -have never read the Bible. The Bishop, knowing this, organized the -mission in the most wicked portion of the city, and it is progressing -finely. - - ADA A. NEWTON. - -April 4, 1877. - - -Word from Algiers, La. - - For the Christian Recorder. - -Mr. Editor: I am glad to say that our church is gaining ground. -Christians are a unit in this place in laboring for the building of -Christ’s kingdom. Meetings are being held everywhere, with very marked -results. Elder James Madison is carrying on a great work in St. James. -He seems to be determined that every valley shall be filled and every -hill made low. I think that he is the right man in the right place. -The Elder visited my Sabbath School and addressed the children. He -expressed himself as highly pleased with the progress of the church and -school. - -Elder Lazarus Gardiner, of St. Peter’s Chapel, is scattering Gospel -seed and contending against the assaults of sin, at the head of -noble-hearted workers for the success of African Methodism in this -State. They have paid five hundred dollars on their new church and have -arranged for the payment of another five hundred when due. The Elder -is up and a-doing. God speed him on his journey! - -Dr. George W. Bryant is sounding the Gospel trumpet from the -battlements of Zion at the Union Bethel. He is master of the situation. -If our Gospel be hid, it is hid unto them that are lost. The Baptist -church is also doing a great work in this place. I was at a union -meeting at the Rev. James Chaig’s church, a Baptist brother, and the -Spirit of the Lord God filled the house. It was densely packed. The -conference of glad voices giving praise to God was a heaven below. -Brother Benjamin Buchannon also held a union meeting last Sabbath, -which was a complete success. Fully three thousand people were present. -The church and the yard were literally packed. God bless these -brethren! May they live long and continue as instruments in the hands -of God, enemies to ignorance and friends to holiness! J. H. Scie, P. -E., is on the scout, I presume, although I have not heard from Elder -Thomas. And Elder Burch I can give no account of, as I have no news -from their district since Conference. - - A. H. NEWTON. - -June 5, 1877. - - -Dedication of Macedonia Church. - -The Rev. A. H. Newton was ably assisted in the service of dedicating -the beautiful new Macedonia Church in Camden, N. J., last Sunday. The -dedicatory service was conducted and sermon preached by Bishop A. W. -Wayman, D.D., at 11 A. M. In the afternoon the editor of the Christian -Recorder and at night Macedonia’s ex-pastor, Rev. W. H. Yocum, B.D., -preached. There were present the Rev. G. A. Mills, Rev. J. W. Cooper, -T. N. Allen, S. B. Williams, G. S. Smith, T. Gould, L. J. Coppin, B. -T. Tanner, D.D., J. H. Bean, J. W. Becket, D.D., W. Rice and G. M. -Witten, of our church, and S. P. Smith, of the Congregational Church of -Knoxville, Tenn. There may have been other ministers present. In the -afternoon the audience of the main audience room overflowed, filling -the basement, where they were addressed in a good sermon delivered by -Rev. G. M. Witten. The collection of the day amounted to over $900. -Macedonia has been partly described while in course of erection. It -is of brick, the windows are of beautiful stained glass, the floor -is entirely carpeted, the pulpit is furnished, the gas jets, the -excellent finish of the entire building within and without command our -congratulation to our Brother Newton and constituents, who with him, -as well as with his predecessor, Elder Yocum, under whose pastorate the -building was started, erected and enclosed, have been faithful. - -October 24, 1886. - - -Another Account of the Dedication of the Macedonia Church. - - For the Christian Recorder. - -Mr. Editor: In the midst of the ranges of thought and sentiment, and -while the busy world was moving on in the grand march of improvement, -the Church of the Living God is unfolding and developing everywhere. -The Kingdom of Christ is gaining territory in the marts of men. - -Sunday, October 24th, the Macedonia A. M. E. Church of Camden, N. J., -was dedicated with imposing services. Indeed, I venture the assertion -that it was the grandest occasion in the history of the congregation. -More than forty years ago a few fathers and mothers, African -Methodists, concluded to build the house to God in that city, all of -whom have finished their well-begun work, and have fallen asleep; -but Brother Wilson, Father Sample, Mother Quinn and Sister Hill. The -younger men and women, inspired by the fathers, took hold where they -left off and have carried forward the work until the third building is -successfully reared on the same lot; but the glory of the latter house -is greater than the former. The members and congregation needed this -new church seventeen years before it was built. They were losing their -congregation of young people, their societies were taking their start -from Old Macedonia until eight other churches were built in Camden. -With the exception of one or two, Macedonia was the poorest. Standing -two and one-half feet below the grade of the street might be seen a -small flat-roof house covered with felt, pitch and gravel; this was the -A. M. E. church with a gallery all around it, yet some of our ablest -ministers had pastored there. - -After I had labored three years in the city of Providence, R. I., in -August, Bishop John M. Brown said to me, “Brother Yeocum, we have -needed a new church in Camden for years, can you not go there and -build that church. You will find a good lot of people. We must have a -church there that will compare with the churches in Philadelphia or we -shall lose all that we have.” On the 22nd of August I found myself in -Camden, N. J., and it was not long before we commenced talking about -the new church. About the last of October our first grand rally netted -us $575.00; at the last service in the old building we raised about -$300.00 and soon $1,000.00 were in hand. The old church was taken down -and many were fearful that the church would never go up again. We took -the congregation some distance from its stamping ground to what is -known as “Kaighnsville” and worshipped in our mission school-house just -in the rear of the A. M. E. Z. Church. Here we remained eighteen months -while the carpenters and masons were working on the present noble -structure. There were many discouragements and trying circumstances -confronting us, but we toiled on trusting in the Lord whose work it -was. The tribes led on by the presidents, Mrs. Anna White, the late -Lyda McCoy and Mrs. Maggie J. Moseley and Mrs. Lizzie Green, collected -money perhaps as they never expected. It was simply marvelous. The -former, if my memory is correct, raised over $500.00 during my three -years pastorate while the building was being erected. - -On the first Sunday in December, 1885, we went into the basement of the -new church complete. That was an occasion of surprise as well as of -joy to the members of the congregation. For many a Job’s comforter had -prophesied that it would not go up again, while others laughed saying, -“Aha! Aha!” “Where is their church now?” Perhaps some said, “What -they do build, if a fox go up thereon, it will break down.” In April, -1885, I was succeeded by the Rev. A. H. Newton, who is a successful, -energetic pastor, who does not sit down or stand still waiting for -something to turn up in his favor, like some pastors. But he goes to -work with such vim and is here and there so much among his members -that one following him learns that Rev. Newton has been there. With -this spirit he carried to completion this fine and beautiful church. -He and his members deserve much credit. The church has all the modern -improvements and many say that it is the finest A. M. E. church in New -Jersey. I do not remember the dimensions but it is a large two-story -brick building with a cellar below where all the heating is done. On -entering the front door there is a stair-way leading to the audience -room on the right and on the left. Before entering the lecture room -there is a fine study and lecture and class room with frosted windows. -The ceiling of the basement is high, it is easily ventilated, the -windows of the best enameled glass. There is no paint on the wood -work, simply finished in oil, thus retaining the natural color of the -yellow pine. The audience room is large with three isles, one in the -center and one on each side, with a door at each isle, making the -exit very easy. There is a large gallery across the front, making the -seating capacity about 550. The windows are the best variegated stained -glass. In each there is a memorial to Bishop R. H. Cain, the Rev. A. -H. Newton, W. H. Yeocum and Mr. Perry Wilson, the oldest member. The -ceiling is very high, carved and angled, with two large reflectors -which give a mellow, beautiful light. Unlike many of our churches all -the floor is carpeted and the fine furniture on the pulpit, together -with the splendid pipe organ, make an elegant finish. - -At 10:30 a. m., after the usual form, Bishop A. W. Wayman, D.D., -preached one of his noted sermons which was well received by the -people, the text being, “Who is she that looketh fair as the morning?” -And Rev. B. F. Lee, D.D., preached a most elegant, instructive, sermon -at 3 p. m. The congregation was so large that the Rev. G. M. Witten -preached to a crowded basement also at the same hour. At 7 p. m. your -humble servant tried to preach from Rev. 1:11, “I am Alpha and Omega,” -the theme being, “Christ, the First and the Last.” The collection was -$900.00, which was very good considering the circumstances of our -people. The visiting members present were Dr. B. T. Tanner, Rev. J. W. -Cooper, Rev. G. A. Mills, Rev. S. B. Williams, Rev. W. A. Rice, Rev. J. -H. Bean, Rev. J. H. Morgan and Rev. L. J. Coppin. - - Rev. William H. Yeocum, B.D. - Trenton, New Jersey. - - - - -Resolutions, Etc. - - -Little Rock, Ark. - -Whereas, The Rev. A. H. Newton, since his advent in our midst as pastor -of Bethel A. M. E. Church and subsequently, became superintendent of -our Sabbath School, demonstrating a great love for the Sabbath School -and zealously desirous of promoting its complete success as a place -of reform and education for the young, has ardently labored to extend -its usefulness and sound religious and moral teachings in the minds -of our youthful members, has striven to lead the young to religious -devotion, has spared no pains to cause the officers and teachers to -imbibe the same zeal, and, being a devotee to music, has caused its -uplifting influence to flow among us, leading our voices to leap forth -in joyous strains in adoration to our King of kings, and to promote -a higher intellectual and spiritual standard among officers, members -and scholars, and has sown the seed that will bring forth an abundant -harvest when his hoary head is laid to rest in its last resting place; -therefore be it - -Resolved, 1. That the officers and teachers of the Bethel A. M. E. S. -S. give to Rev. A. H. Newton a vote of thanks for the expending of his -time and labors in promoting our welfare. - -2. That we commend him to his many Christian friends for his many deeds -of kindness and labors of love, for both our temporal and spiritual -good. - -3. That the above preamble and resolutions be recorded by our -secretary, and a copy be given to him. - - H. J. BROWN, - W. H. SMITH, - G. W. OLIVER, - Committee. - -November 19, 1876. - - -Respecting Rev. A. H. Newton. - -At a meeting of the officers and members of the Bethel A. M. E. Church, -held in this city in 1876, the following preamble and resolutions were -adopted: - -Whereas, He has served us faithfully for one year as pastor of Bethel -Station, in this city, and labored faithfully and honestly to build up -our Sabbath School and other organizations placed under his charge by -the General Conference; and - -Whereas, He has taken special pains to instill into the minds of the -young of the church the grand and beneficent principles of temperance -and morality; and - -Whereas, His Christian conduct, scholarly attainments and liberal views -have endeared him unto us; therefore be it - -Resolved, That we, officers and members of the Bethel Church, do hereby -tender to him our heartfelt thanks for the noble work he has done among -us, and we will ever pray that the blessings of Almighty God may rest -upon him and his family, and aid him in his new work to accomplish good -work for the cause of Christ. - -Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be presented to Brother -Newton, and that they be published in the Little Rock daily papers. - - G. W. OLIVER, Secretary. - -November 18, 1876. - - -Macedonia Church Endeavors to Retain Their Pastor. - -Camden, N. J. - - To the Presiding Elder and Members of the - Quarterly Conference of Macedonia A. M. - E. Church: - -Whereas, The New Jersey Annual Conference of the A. M. E. Church will -hold its annual session at Trenton April 20; and - -Whereas, Another year’s faithful service of our pastor, Rev. A. H. -Newton, will expire; and - -Whereas, His Christian deportment and liberal views, his gentlemanly -and agreeable qualities have endeared him to us; therefore be it - -Resolved, That we, the members of the Macedonia Quarterly Conference, -do, for his two years of earnest labor in the upbuilding and finishing -of our church and increasing our membership, tender him our heartiest -thanks; and - -Resolved, That in this he has our heartiest regard and the good wishes -of the members of the Quarterly Conference, and we sincerely hope that -his future may be as bright and prosperous as he may hope or desire, -and we also pray that the Bishop may return him to us for another year. - -Resolved, That a copy of these minutes be presented to Rev. A. H. -Newton and be printed in the Sentinel and the Tribune. - -Signed in behalf of the Quarterly Conference of the Macedonia A. M. E. -Church. - - WILLIAM STEVENSON, - JAMES HURT, - CHARLES COX, - EZEKIEL WALLACE, - GEORGE ROBERTS, - JAMES BRISCOE. - -March 24, 1887. - - -Notice. - -Rev. A. H. Newton, pastor of the Bethel A. M. E. Church, has been -transferred to the Louisiana Conference. We regret to lose Mr. Newton -from this city, as gentlemen of his attainments are none too plenty -in the ranks of the A. M. E. ministry. Aside from being liberally -educated, he has shown a practical Christian spirit and work since his -residence in this city. He is to be succeeded by the Rev. J. R. Jenifer. - - -East Camden, N. J. - -At the last Quarterly Conference of the Hosanna A. M. E. Church the -following resolutions were offered by the Rev. W. W. Chase: - -Whereas, The church has prospered under the presiding eldership of Rev. -A. H. Newton for the past four years; and - -Whereas, This is his last year and Quarterly Conference; be it therefore - -Resolved, That we return to him our grateful thanks for the manner in -which he has conducted the business of the church, and pray that the -blessings of God may rest on his labors; and - -Whereas, In the appointment of the Rev. F. A. Sherman to fill the -unexpired term of Rev. G. B. Smith has proven a blessing to the church -and the community; we pray that he may be successful in preaching the -Word of God; and - -Whereas, He has been zealous and faithful in the discharge of his -duties, both temporal and spiritual; therefore be it - -Resolved, That he has our prayers and best wishes for his future -success. - - HARRY INGRAM, - WILLIAM INGRAM, - DAVID CORSE, - JOHN TOULKS, - BENJAMIN INGRAM, - NATHANIEL INGRAM, - GARDNER INGRAM, - HEZEKIAH COMMARGER, - Church Officers. - -March 14, 1896. - - -Resolutions of Respect. - -The Fourth Quarterly Conference of the Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church, at its -regular session, adopted the following resolutions: - -Whereas, The Rev. A. H. Newton, having served us as pastor, and as he -is near the termination of his administration, it is the honor that -should be given to whom it is due and credit to those who justly merit -it; therefore be it - -Resolved, By the members of this Quarterly Conference that in the Rev. -A. H. Newton we recognize a faithful Gospel minister and energetic -worker in his Master’s vineyard; and furthermore we recognize him as -a gentleman whose character is irreproachable and whose ministerial -bearing and executive ability commend themselves to the judgment of the -intelligent; and furthermore be it - -Resolved, That we highly appreciate his efficient management of the -temporal, financial and spiritual interests of the church, and whose -administration of two years has been one of perfect tranquillity and -fraternal feeling, one of its prominent characteristics; and be it - -Resolved, That in giving him our testimony of appreciation we would -not forget his companion and coadjutor in his ministerial work, and do -highly esteem her as a Christian lady for her untiring perseverance and -devotion that has characterized her during her husband’s administration. - - -Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church. - -The quarterly meeting of Mt. Zion Church last Sunday was a grand -success. The Rev. A. H. Newton, the pastor, is very energetic and a -grand church worker. Rev. Gilbert T. Waters preached a noble sermon in -the afternoon. The Rev. Thomas held the audience spellbound at night. -Elder J. H. Morgan consecrated the elements and administered the Lord’s -Supper, with the assistance of Elder Thomas. The church was crowded -afternoon and evening. There were many strangers present, who expressed -themselves benefited during the day. Mrs. Lulu L. Newton left last -Monday morning to spend a few days in Camden and Philadelphia with old -friends. Mrs. Ada A. Harris, daughter of Rev. A. H. Newton, will spend -some time in Atlantic City before returning to Raleigh, N. C. Elder A. -H. Newton has raised $900 since Conference for church purposes. The -congregation of Mt. Zion are well pleased with the appointment of the -Bishop. The Sabbath School of Mt. Zion will give a grand concert in -the near future, conducted by Mrs. Ada A. Harris, for the purpose of -getting new singing books. The collection at Mt. Zion last Sunday was -$45.83. - -The members of Mt. Zion Church tendered their pastor, Rev. A. H. -Newton, a nice little surprise in honor of the reverend gentleman’s -fiftieth birthday. They had a good time and left many substantial -tokens of their regard. - - -The Obituary of the Rev. William Watson. - -The Rev. William Watson, a member of the New Jersey A. M. E. -Conference, died at his residence in Woodbury, N. J., Tuesday, August -7, 1888. He was one of the oldest preachers of the Conference, and was -therefore regarded as the “Father of the Conference.” - -The funeral services were held August 9 at the A. M. E. church, -Woodbury, N. J. The Rev. J. T. Rex preached the sermon, which was very -impressive, and Rev. A. H. Newton and Rev. Johns made very appropriate -remarks concerning the character and usefulness of the deceased. -Friday, August 10th, the body was carried to Frankford, Pa., where -services were held in the church, when eulogies were delivered by Elder -G. A. Mills, Bishop Turner, Elder J. W. Cooper and others. Rev. A. H. -Newton read the following resolution: - -Whereas, we realize the fact that we sustain a great loss by the -decease of our dear brother and colaborer in the work of the Master; be -it therefore - -Resolved, That it is but a just tribute to the memory of our brother -who has been taken from us to say that in his removal from our midst we -mourn for one who was in every way worthy of our respect and our regard; - -Resolved, That while we bow in humble submission to the hand of Divine -Providence, and while sorrow for the loss of a good man, a kind -shepherd, a faithful and beloved minister, we find consolation in the -belief that “it is well with him.” He fell at his post, and we believe -that he has triumphantly entered the Haven of Eternal Rest. - -Resolved, That we also remember the family in the hour of affliction -and trial, we tenderly condole with and devoutly commend them to the -keeping of Him who looks with pity on the widow and fatherless, and -that we share with them the hope of a reunion in that better land where -death and separation are forever unknown. - -Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be presented to the family -and printed in the Christian Recorder and other papers. - - REV. J. T. REX, - REV. A. H. NEWTON, - REV. G. M. WITTEN, - REV. WALTER THOMPSON, - Committee. - - -LODGE NOTICES. - -Past Grand Master P. T. Colding, G. Bailey, W. O. Castor, A. H. Newton, -Rev. Bean and twenty others of the State of New Jersey paid Prince Hall -Lodge, No. 10, a fraternal visit on last Wednesday. Short addresses -were delivered by those present. - -Last week we left out the names of the officers elect of the Grand -Chapter: S. N. Robinson, M. E. G. P., P. L. Colding, R. D. G. H. P., -Camden; W. H. Jackson, R. E. G. K., Bordentown; A. H. Newton, R. E. G. -S., Trenton; J. L. Derrick, R. W. G. Treasurer, Camden; W. F. Powell, -R. W. Grand Secretary, Burlington; W. H. Douglas, R. W. Dist. Dept., -Plainfield. - - * * * * * - -Madams Pitts, Daniels, Webb, Hack and Newton have been assiduous in -their efforts in making the fair a success. - - * * * * * - -At a meeting of the Damascus Commandery, K. T., No. 4, Trenton, the -following officers were elected: Sir A. H. Newton, Em. Com.; Sir J. -Thornton, Gen.; John Seruby, Capt. General. - - -Rev. A. H. Newton, Chaplain of the Senate, Trenton, N. J. - -Rev. A. H. Newton has been appointed Chaplain of the State Senate, -Trenton, N. J. Thus we creep up. This is a great honor to Rev. Newton, -as well as the race. We congratulate him. - -March 29th-April 3d. - - Camden, N. J., August 20, 1894. - - The Adjutant-General W. S. Arcory, W. S. U. - S. A., Washington, D. C. - -Dear Sir: Will you please inform me of the probable number of troops -enlisted during the Civil War, those having died from wounds, being -sick in hospitals, and the number of those killed on the battlefield? - -Also please advise me of the cost of the war, how many colored soldiers -enlisted, the years they enlisted, and the first battle they engaged in. - - Very respectfully yours, - A. H. NEWTON. - -The following was the reply to the above: - - Address: “Chief of the Record and Pension Office, - War Department, Washington, D. C.” - - RECORD AND PENSION OFFICE, - War Department, - Washington, August 24, 1894. - - Respectfully returned to - Mr. A. H. Newton, 332 Washington St., Camden, - N. J. - - Inviting attention to the accompanying printed statement showing the - number of troops furnished by the several States and Territories under - the different calls by the President, including the number of colored - troops. - - According to the latest official compilation, 67,058 officers and men - were killed in action, and 292,470 died of wounds or disease during - the war. - - According to a statement made by the Secretary of the Treasury on June - 10, 1880, “the expenditures of the government on account of the war of - the rebellion from July 1, 1861 to June 30, 1879,” including interest - on the public debt, “aggregated $6,189,929,908.58.” The amount - expended since the latter date is not shown by any statistics filed in - this Department. - - The first authorized enlistment of U. S. colored troops during the - war of the rebellion was made in the State of Louisiana in 1862. No - detailed information as to the organization and service of colored - troops can readily be furnished from data now accessible. - - (one enclosure) - By authority of the Secretary of War: - F. C. AINSWORTH, - Colonel, U. S. Army, Chief of Office. - Per - - - - -The Legal Form of Apprenticeship Used in the Case of A. H. Newton. - - State of North Carolina, - County of Craven, - ss: - -This Indenture, made the eighteenth day of December, in the year of our -Lord 1852, between the Worshipful William S. Blackledge, Esq., Chairman -and Presiding Justice of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of -the county aforesaid, of the one part, and Jacob Gooding, of the same -county, of the other part, - -Witnesseth, That the said Presiding Justice, in pursuance of an order -of said Court, doth put, place and bind, unto said Jacob Gooding, a -free boy of color, an orphan, named Alexander H. Newton, aged 17 years -16th July, 1852, with the said Jacob Gooding, to live after the manner -of an apprentice and servant until he shall attain the age of 21 years. -During which time the said apprentice his said Master shall faithfully -serve, and his lawful commands gladly obey, and not absent himself from -his Master’s service without leave, but in all things as a good and -faithful servant shall behave. - -And the said Jacob Gooding doth covenant, promise and agree, with the -said Presiding Justice, that he will teach and instruct, or cause to -be taught and instructed, the said apprentice the art and mystery -of a bricklayer and mason, and constantly find and provide for the -said apprentice, during the term aforesaid, sufficient diet, washing, -lodging and apparel fitting an apprentice, and also all other things -necessary both in sickness and in health, and at the expiration of said -apprenticeship will pay to said apprentice six dollars and furnish him -with a new suit of clothes and a new Bible. - -In witness whereof, the parties have hereunto set their hands and seals -the day and year aforesaid. - - J. GOODING. (Seal) - WILLIAM BLACKLEDGE. (Seal) - Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of - J. G. Stanly. - State of North Carolina, - County of Craven, - ss: - -I hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the original filed in -this office. - -Witness my hand and official seal this 22d day of August, 1878. - - S. W. CARPENTER, C. S. C., - Per J. B. Willis, Deputy. - (Seal Superior Court.) - -[Illustration] - - - - -Transcriber’s Notes - -Minor errors and omissions in punctuation have been fixed. - -Page 20: “the thoughlessness” changed to “the thoughtlessness” - -Page 78: “loaded with human frieght” changed to “loaded with human -freight” - -Page 79: “the Rio Grand” changed to “the Rio Grande” - -Page 99: “Klu Klux Klan” changed to “Ku Klux Klan” - -Page 100: “were Klu Kluxing” changed to “were Ku Kluxing” - -Page 104: “in Chatanooga” changed to “in Chattanooga” - -Page 111: “now occupied ed by” changed to “now occupied by” - -Page 113: “one of the the Ten Commandments” changed to “one of the Ten -Commandments” - -Page 122: “this conncetion” changed to “this connection” - -Page 123: A repeated line of text was removed. - -Page 124: “Harriet Henson, son and others” changed to “Harriet Henson, -and others” - -Page 128: “$57 for for traveling expenses” changed to “$57 for -traveling expenses” - -Page 133: “was begining” changed to “was beginning” - -Page 177: “Omnipotence, Omnicience” changed to “Omnipotence, -Omniscience” - -Page 179: “most greviously” changed to “most grievously” - -Page 186: “others may life?” changed to “others may live?” - -Page 199: “Dibine Leadership” changed to “Divine Leadership” - -Page 243: “assistant princial” changed to “assistant principal” - -Page 247: “sermon deliverd” changed to “sermon delivered” - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUT OF THE BRIARS *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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H. Newton—A Project Gutenberg eBook - </title> - <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover" /> - <style> /* <![CDATA[ */ - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -text-indent: 1em; -} - -.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} - -abbr[title] { - text-decoration: none; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } - -hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 47.5%; margin-right: 47.5%;} - -div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} -h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} -table.autotable { border-collapse: collapse; width: 60%;} -table.autotable td, -table.autotable th { padding: 4px; } -.x-ebookmaker table {width: 95%;} - -.tdl {text-align: left;} -.tdr {text-align: right;} -.page {width: 3em;} - -.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; - font-style: normal; - font-weight: normal; - font-variant: normal; -} /* page numbers */ - -.blockquot { - margin-left: 5%; - margin-right: 5%; -} - -.bb {border-bottom: 4px double; width: 50%; margin-left: 25%;} - -.bs {border-top: 2px solid; width: 50%; margin-left: 25%;} - -.bt {border-top: 4px double; width: 50%; margin-left: 25%;} - -.center {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em;} - -.right {text-align: right; text-indent: 0em;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.u {text-decoration: underline;} - -.caption {font-weight: bold;} - -/* Images */ - -img { - max-width: 100%; - height: auto; -} -.w50 {width: 50%;} -.x-ebookmaker .w50 {width: 75%;} -.w10 {width: 10%;} -.x-ebookmaker .w10 {width: 13%;} -.w5 {width: 3%;} -.x-ebookmaker .w5 {width: 5%;} - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; - page-break-inside: avoid; - max-width: 100%; -} -/* Poetry */ -.poetry {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; text-indent: 0em;} -/* uncomment the next line for centered poetry in browsers */ -/* .poetry {display: inline-block;} */ -/* large inline blocks don't split well on paged devices */ -@media print { .poetry {display: block;} } -.x-ebookmaker .poetry {display: block;} - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:smaller; - padding:0.5em; - margin-bottom:5em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; } - -.big {font-size: 1.2em;} -.xbig {font-size: 1.8em;} - -.ml {margin-left: 10%;} -.mr {margin-right: 10%;} - /* ]]> */ </style> -</head> -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Out of the Briars, by A. H. Newton</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Out of the Briars</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em;'>An Autobiography and Sketch of the Twenty-ninth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: A. H. Newton</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Contributor: J. P. Sampson</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: June 14, 2022 [eBook #68319]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUT OF THE BRIARS ***</div> - -<p class="center p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img001"> - <img src="images/001.jpg" class="w50" alt="REV. ALEXANDER HERRITAGE NEWTON, D.D." /> -</span></p> -<p class="center caption"><abbr title="Reverend">REV.</abbr> ALEXANDER HERRITAGE NEWTON, D.D.<br /></p> - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="bt bb"> -<h1> OUT OF THE BRIARS</h1> -</div> -<p class="center"> <span class="figcenter" id="img003a"> - <img src="images/003.jpg" class="w5" alt="Decorative image" /></span><span class="xbig"><i>An Autobiography</i></span><span class="figcenter" id="img003b"> - <img src="images/003.jpg" class="w5" alt="Decorative image" /></span></p> - -<p class="center"> AND</p> - -<p class="center big"><span class="u">Sketch of the Twenty-ninth Regiment</span></p> - -<p class="center big"><span class="u">Connecticut Volunteers</span></p> - - -<p class="center p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img002"> - <img src="images/002.jpg" class="w10" alt="Decorative image" /> -</span></p> - - -<p class="center bt big p2"> <i>By A. H. NEWTON, D.D.</i></p> - -<p class="center"> Member of the New Jersey Annual Conference - of the A. M. E. Church</p> - -<p class="center bs bb"> <i>With Introduction by <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J. P. Sampson, D.D.</i></p> - -<p class="center big"> PRICE $1.25 -</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - - -<p class="center"> Printed By<br /> - THE A. M. E. BOOK CONCERN<br /> - Printers and Publishers<br /> - 631 Pine Street<br /> - <abbr title="Philadelphia">Phila.</abbr>, <abbr title="Pennsylvania">Pa.</abbr><br /> - 1910</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center"> <i>Copyright, 1910<br /> - By <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. H. Newton</i> -</p> - -</div> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - - -<p class="center"> AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED</p> - -<p class="center"> TO THE MEMORY OF MY DEAR<br /> - CHILDREN AND TO MY WIFE<br /> - LULU L. NEWTON -</p> - -<p class="ml center">—<i>By the Author.</i><br /> -</p></div> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Contents">Contents</h2> -</div> - -<hr class="r5" /> -<table class="autotable"> -<tr> -<th></th> -<th class="tdr page"> -Page -</th> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#Preface">Preface</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Preface">vii</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#Introduction">Introduction</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Introduction">xi</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#My_LifeAnte-Bellum">My Life—Ante Bellum</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#My_LifeAnte-Bellum">17</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#My_War_Record_and_Sketch_of_the_Twenty-ninth_Regiment">My War Record and Sketch of the Twenty-Ninth Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#My_War_Record_and_Sketch_of_the_Twenty-ninth_Regiment">29</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#My_Ministerial_Life_and_Labors">My Ministerial Life and Labors</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#My_Ministerial_Life_and_Labors">91</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#The_Church_What_It_Is_and_What_It_Should_Be">The Church; What It is. And what It Should Be</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#The_Church_What_It_Is_and_What_It_Should_Be">147</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#The_Negro_Problem">The Negro Problem</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#The_Negro_Problem">159</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#Sermons">Sermons</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Sermons">175</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#Articles_and_Contributions">Articles and Contributions</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Articles_and_Contributions">229</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#Resolutions_Etc">Resolutions, Etc.</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Resolutions_Etc">255</a> -</td> -</tr> -</table> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</span></p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="List_of_Illustrations">List of Illustrations</h2> -</div> -<hr class="r5" /> - -<table class="autotable"> -<tr> -<th></th> -<th class="tdr page"> -Page -</th> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#img001"><abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Alexander Herritage Newton</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#img001">Frontispiece</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#img004"><abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J. P. Sampson, D.D.</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#img004">11</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#img005">A. H. Newton in Military Uniform</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#img005">29</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#img006">Col. W. P. Wooster</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#img006">33</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#img007"><abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> T. J. Hill</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#img007">43</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#img008">Bethel A. M. E. Church, Woodbury</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#img008">71</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#img009"><abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Alexander H. Newton—A young Pastor</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#img009">91</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#img010">Bishop Jabez P. Campbell, D.D., L.L.D.</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#img010">95</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#img011"><abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Theodore Gould, D.D.</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#img011">97</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#img012">Bishop William Paul Quinn, D.D.</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#img012">99</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#img013">Bishop John M. Brown, D.D., D.C.L.</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#img013">115</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#img014"><abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J. W. Cooper</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#img014">117</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#img015">Macedonia A. M. E. Church Camden</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#img015">119</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#img016">Bishop Henry M. Turner, D.D.</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#img016">127</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#img017"><abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Joseph H. Morgan</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#img017">143</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -<a href="#img018"><abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Samuel G. Miller, D.D.</a> -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#img018">147</a> -</td> -</tr> -</table><p> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</span></p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Preface">Preface</h2> -</div> -<hr class="r5" /> - -<p>With no intention on my part to ever put in book form any matter -concerning myself, many years ago I began keeping a daily account of -the incidents of my life. I entered into this work conscientiously and -let no day pass over my head without its record. I did this that I -might improve myself and also provide for myself, family and friends, a -record and reference. This work has grown into three large volumes. I -have found this voluminous diary very valuable on many occasions, not -only to myself but to many others.</p> - -<p>My comrades of the grand old Twenty-ninth Regiment, Connecticut -Volunteers, have frequently written me regarding persons and incidents -of the Civil War, and brethren of the ministry have frequently -consulted me through this diary for valuable information. This has led -me to the conclusion that this knowledge would be more valuable and in -better shape in published form.</p> - -<p>So I determined that I would undertake the work of publishing my -autobiography not in any<span class="pagenum" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</span> egotistical sense, but as an humble service -to my race and an inspiration to the young people of my race.</p> - -<p>I have named the book, “Out of the Briars,” because the figure is a -befitting one in my own life. Although free born, I was born under the -curse of slavery, surrounded by the thorns and briars of prejudice, -hatred, persecution and the suffering incident to this fearful regime. -I, indeed, came out of the briars torn and bleeding. I came out of -poverty and ignorance. I did not have any of the advantages of the -schools. I learned what little I know by listening to the educated -white people talk. I picked up a great deal in this way.</p> - -<p>I am sure, therefore, that this volume will be read with the kindly -spirit in which it is written. I have told my life story, and am now -seventy-two years on my journey through this world. I have but a few -milestones further to pass, or it may be, not one more; but at any -rate, the chapters of my life are about closed and I am ready at any -time to answer the call of the Captain of my salvation.</p> - -<p>I sincerely trust that this book will become an inspiration to the -young men and women of my race, that they may copy my good qualities -and shun my weaknesses. If, in a small way, this supreme end is -accomplished, I am amply repaid.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</span></p> - -<p>I desire to acknowledge my obligations to the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Samuel G. Miller, -D.D., <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> I. W. L. Roundtree, D.D., <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> C. A. A. Greene, B.S.T., -<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J. P. Sampson, D.D., <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> George E. Bivins, D.D., Miss Alice -MacParland, and my wife Lulu L. Newton, without whose encouragement, -inspiration, advice and assistance, this book would never have been -written.</p> - -<p class="poetry"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">“Take my life and let it be,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Consecrated, Lord to Thee.”</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="right"> -Alexander Herritage Newton, D.D.<br /> -</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Rev_J_P_Sampson_DD"><abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J. P. Sampson, D.D.</h2> -</div> -<hr class="r5" /> - -<p><abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> J. P. Sampson, a friend and contemporary, whose picture we -present, though at that time a junior among them, he stood in the front -ranks with <abbr title="George">Geo.</abbr> Watkins, Douglas, Garnett, Langston and Phillips as an -advocate for freedom, not only with eloquent speech but through his -pioneer journal, <i>The Colored Citizen</i> at Cincinnati, making it -possible for hundreds, some of whom at that time were slaves, since, -themselves leaders, now declining, but who took their lessons from -these men, he was largely depended upon by the anti-slavery leaders; -scholar, author and advocate for civic righteousness, an exemplar and -teacher, a standard for those who followed, an old guard, whose life -with others are full of achievement, yet still active, cheerful and -happy, editing “A Jolly People,” among other books, running thousands -every year, few colored men are better known. He has the largest -charity for an enemy, matures gracefully and without asperity; he has -given his life of useful service to God and the race. A graduate from -two or three of our greatest colleges, especially in theology and law, -and filling for some years various positions of honor and trust in the -civil service of the government, subsequently giving up all secular -prospects, he entered and has been for nearly forty years in the active -ministry of the A. M. E. Church.</p> - -<p class="center p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img004"> - <img src="images/004.jpg" class="w50" alt="REV. J. P. SAMPSON, D. D." /> -</span></p> -<p class="center caption"><abbr title="Reverend">REV.</abbr> J. P. SAMPSON, D. D.<br /></p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xi">[Pg xi]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Introduction">Introduction</h2> -</div> - -<hr class="r5" /> -<p>To be requested to write an introduction to a book implies some -acquaintance with, confidence in, and respect for, the writer thereof, -on the part of the author of the book. Some authors solicit such a -service because of the prominent position of the writer, rather than -the thorough acquaintance which he has with the author. This may -bring an added value to the book and some of the glow of honor to the -author. But in this case, we are sure that the author of this book in -no way sought such distinction or compliment; for like himself, the -writer of this introduction, has come out of the same circumstances and -conditions, and by the grace of God and his common sense, is what he -is. <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Newton has selected a lifelong friend, a comrade in the toils -and trials of this world, a co-worker in the great and common cause -of humanity, and a brother-minister in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to -present him and his autobiography to the public. We were boys together, -and he was a schoolmate of my brothers, J. B. K. and <abbr title="Joseph">Jos.</abbr> Sampson, -being taught by John Steward Stanley, and from that time to this good -day, we have known each other as brothers.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xii">[Pg xii]</span></p> - -<p><abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Newton’s life has been, what we call a success, neither rich nor -poor, but of easy circumstances. This is to his credit, for a man of -our race to be on the middle ground between riches and poverty, proves -that <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Newton has been a great economist in the things of value, such -as money, time, ability and opportunity. He has wasted but little and -husbanded what he had. We are often tempted to make wealth the basis -of our greatness, but <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Newton has sought a much grander foundation, -that of serving his fellowman. He is, therefore, ending his life -career, not in sullen disappointment and poverty, not in the gloated -greed of one dying rich, but with the conviction that he has done his -work well and fought a good fight and that there remains for him an -inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled and that fadeth not away. The -doctor has grown old gracefully. He is active in his labors, cheerful -in his disposition, buoyant in his hopes, and confident in his faith. -He is more than three score and ten young, not old; and he looks with -the eye of a conqueror toward the glowing sunset of his life battles. -Every day that he lives adds new joys to his hopes of a glorious -immortality beyond the vale of tears.</p> - -<p>This autobiography is the outgrowth of <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Newton’s carefully kept -diary. It is the fruit of this life tree of his doings. Therefore, -it is very<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xiii">[Pg xiii]</span> valuable as the real unfoldment of a real life of -constant action, habit and conduct. It is the practical realization -of the ideals of the author—this indeed, makes it a real and true -monument of his life. Some of these ideals made real, are a true and -genuine charity; devotion to duty; a high sense of morality; a love -of humanity; a loyalty to government; a hatred of sin and evil; a -diligence in business; a faithful husband, father and friend. Like -Bishop Henry McNeal Turner, he was too great to be little, and too -humble to be great. He always seemed to be less than he was, the -fulfilment was greater than his promises, the work greater than the -plan. He was always the champion of the down trodden and the oppressed. -He was ready to enter their cause with an army and to die with others -for their welfare, or to go alone to his death. In all issues of right -against wrong, <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Newton has been a Daniel.</p> - -<p>After his war career, in 1872, <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Newton entered the ministry of -the African Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has labored most -faithfully to the present time. He has been a most successful preacher -of the Gospel of Christ, and great builder of churches, in their -membership and edifices. The Church never had a better Presiding Elder, -beloved by all the pastors of fine executive ability and sympathetic -and wise in his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xiv">[Pg xiv]</span> advice. He has had a remarkable success during the -forty years of his ministerial life.</p> - -<p>Before the war, <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Newton was a member of the Abolition Movement and -did some daring deeds in liberating slaves. From that time on, he has -been the faithful friend of the race, seeking in every possible way, to -uplift them. He has ever been the staunch advocate of higher education -for the masses and especially of the ministry. During the war, as his -record herein shows, he was a daring soldier, doing what he could on -the battlefield to liberate his race.</p> - -<p>He was the trusted adviser of all his Bishops, Past Masters of -Thirty-third Degree Masons, Supreme Prelate of the Supreme Lodge of -the Knights of Pythias of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, -Africa and Australia; Commissary Sergeant in the Civil War; in all -these functions of service, he proved himself a worthy officer and -servant.</p> - -<p>Like Booker T. Washington, he has come up out of great struggles -and trials and has made himself strong thereby. He educated all his -children in the schools and colleges of our country; bought his -own home and was successful in business lines, and last but by no -means least, at the age of 70 years, entered the Bible College of -Philadelphia and completed the regular course in that institution, -mastering New Testament Greek,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xv">[Pg xv]</span> Hebrew, Mental Philosophy, and the -regular studies of the course. In 1909 he was honored with the degree -of Doctor of Divinity from the same institution, a most befitting honor -for such a man and such a life.</p> - -<p>“Out of the Briars” ought to be a great inspiration to our young -people, a real monument to this great man and great life, and a legacy -of value to the race. <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Newton is an uncrowned Bishop, yet a real -Bishop. He has been my faithful and consistent friend through all -the ups and downs of my life. In poverty, adversity, in the times of -need, he has been the friend, indeed. Whether as chaplain of a State -Legislature or the humble pastor of a small church, he has been the -same great man of God.</p> - -<p>This book will be an ornament to every library as well as a most -valuable acquisition thereto. “May his tribe increase,” is my prayer, -and may our people follow this heroic and noble leader, to whom he has -given his life of faithful, constant and unstinted service.</p> - -<p class="center"> -J.P. SAMPSON, D.D.,<br /> -<abbr title="Presiding Elder">P. E.</abbr> Boston District, Asbury Park, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr><br /> -</p> - -<p>May 15, 1910.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="My_LifeAnte-Bellum">My Life—Ante-Bellum</h2> -</div> - - -<p>I was born in Newbern, Croven <abbr title="street">St.</abbr>, Craven County, <abbr title="North Carolina">N. C.</abbr>, November the -first, 1837. I was born under the regime of slavery, a free child, my -mother being a free woman. My childhood was the ordinary child life, -of the colored children of the South. As a mere child, I looked out -upon the world as beautiful and felt that all men and women were good -and kind. I did not know of the distinctions, classes, conditions -and grades of mankind. But as I grew older these distinctions were -forced upon my tender heart and burned into my mind. I gradually came -to realize my said condition, although free, and the sad condition -of my race. My father was a slave, so that in my family, I learned -what slavery was, I felt its curse in my bones and I longed for an -opportunity and the power to play the part of a Moses in behalf of -my people. I suppose that this was the wild dream of every child -born during slavery. The awful condition of my people, the steel -shackles of slavery, the slave block of the market place where -husbands and wives, parents and children, were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span> ruthlessly torn apart -and scattered asunder, the whipping post, the slave quarters, the -inhuman restrictions, such as denial of our own religious privileges, -no ministers or churches of our race, no educational advantages to -speak of, no social freedom among ourselves, these were some of the -unspeakable conditions of my childhood life. But there was the bright -and happy side of my life when a boy. With the thoughtlessness, the -happy-go-lucky spirit of the boy, I entered into those plays and -pleasures which make up the pastime of youth. I recall the many boys -and girls, both white and colored, who were my mates in games and -pranks. Like all boys, I had my little adventures, which were not -always on the side of the right. One of the first practical lessons, I -believe the first, that I ever had regarding the sterling worth of my -mother I most vividly recall. Together with some other boys, we were -guilty of stealing some peaches. It was not the proverbial watermelon -this time. Fortunately we were caught by the proprietor of the orchard. -It would be fortunate if all thieves were caught. I was taken in -charge. I began to cry vigorously. I was asked what I wanted done with -me. I begged to be taken home to my mother. This request was granted. -Soon I was facing my mother. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span> gentleman told her of my offense. I -expected, of course, that my mother would in some way intercede and -waited with breathless expectation for some defense or some excuse or -some release from my awful predicament. But my heart sank within me -when she said to the man, “I have no thieves in my family.” So I was -led away to face some fearful ordeal, I knew not what. When a boy’s -mother turns against him for his evil-doings, there is no hope for him. -But my tears, cries and youth touched the man’s heart and after leading -me away from home towards the jail for a distance, he released me with -some good advice. I learned in that wrong-doing that I need never -expect my mother to uphold me in the slightest departure from the right -path. It was a wonderful lesson and I doubt not, had a fine effect on -my entire life.</p> - -<p>I recall another experience which was much more severe in a physical -way. I was bound out to a white man, Jacob G. Gooding, and placed -under his foreman, Henry E. Bryan. I was ordered to carry a bench some -distance. Then the devil said to me, “You are not a horse, why should -you be doing the work of a horse?” I said to myself, this is true. So -I decided that I would not do the work of a horse. Well, he soon came -to see what the trouble was and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span> found me and the bench together. He -wanted to know why I had not obeyed his orders, I told him that I was -no horse, that he could get a horse and cart and have that bench taken -where he wanted it. We were soon in each other’s embrace engaged in a -street fight. We were arrested and tried and sentenced to a whipping. -Well, I was in for punishment, and being a free boy, the slave overseer -nor his master could punish me. I was reported to my employer. The -punishment decided on was forty lashes save one. So I was stripped and -my employer plied the lash thirty-nine times. My back was lacerated and -very painful and for three weeks I was unable to do any work. I suppose -that I could have gone to work sooner, but I was determined that my -punishment should cost my employer something as well as myself. It cost -me thirty-nine lashes and the suffering and it cost him the loss of -three weeks of my labor. This is but an illustration of the manner in -which the colored people, even the free-born, were generally treated -for their offenses. They were treated frequently worse than the brutes. -For they knew that the Negro had enough intelligence to understand what -his punishment meant and that the purpose of it was to reduce and keep -him in perpetual servitude. This, of course, had to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span> be done by mere -brute force. But as the result of slavery there were many young men of -the race who learned well some trade. They were apprenticed, as in my -case, to some good workman, for at least four years or more. At the -end of that time they were efficient, practical workmen who, if free, -could command good wages. So that hundreds of fine artisans came of -slavery who were able to begin at once the laying of the foundation -of the history of a free people. They took up their several trades, -and for both races, turned their hands to every advantage. It should -always be remembered that the magnificent civilization of the South -as to its material wealth and prosperity, was built up by the slaves -of the South. The cities, the country homes, the plantations and all -their improvements, the planting, cultivating, and harvesting of the -crops, all was done by Negro labor. So that there should be set over to -the account of the Negro race, not only their own progress since the -Civil War, but also the progress of the south for at least a century -before the war. There is another incident in my life at this time -which may be interesting and also illustrate something of the workings -of that noted system of bringing slaves to the North. That system of -exporting slaves is known in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span> history as “The Underground Railroad.” -I was, of course, deeply interested in this means of travel in those -days and tried to get all the passengers for this railroad that I could -find. My boss-foreman, H. E. Bryan, had disobeyed his master and was -threatened to be whipped. I assisted him to a place of safety. In all -the slaveholders’ dwellings, slaves were employed in the house. They -practically had full charge of affairs, and especially in the dining -room, kitchen, etc. This part of the house was very seldom inspected, -excepting to see that things were kept clean and orderly. Well, I -dressed this slave up in a woman’s garb and conducted him through the -streets to the house of one, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Primrose, a man who stood high in the -community, and held the confidence of all slaveholders as one of them -and one of their defenders and supporters, a matter of course. I was -successful in getting my charge safely into the kitchen. Then with the -assistance of the slaves in charge of the kitchen, we placed him in -the attic at the rear of the house, above the kitchen. Here we safely -secreted him and here he was fed on the best of the land for a long -while. There was a most diligent search made for the slave in the town -and throughout the country. A reward was offered and he was advertised, -but all to no avail.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span> He could not be found high or low. At last things -quieted down and we found opportunity to put him on this mystic train -and send him to a clime where he enjoyed his freedom. This was indeed a -daring attempt of mine, but it was in me to do it with a great deal of -delight. And from that day to this, I have been proud of this one feat -of my boyhood life which was on the side of right and humanity.</p> - -<p>In 1858 I was bound out to <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Jacob Gooding to learn the trade of -bricklaying and plastering, in Newbern, <abbr title="North Carolina">N. C.</abbr> I worked for him four -years having thoroughly learned the trade. Having finished the course -satisfactorily to <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Gooding, he gave me $6, a suit of clothes, set -of tools, and a Bible, and the advice to be a good boy. Afterwards I -worked for <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Eusten. Then I decided that I would quit work and seek -new fields. The occasion of my coming to this decision was as follows: -<abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Eusten gave orders that I should work on the fourth of July. I -made up my mind that I would not work on that day. Of course, this -was disobedience and would have called for punishment. So I had to do -something. I cleaned up my tools, packed them away, and on the fourth -of July, 1857 left for Beaufort, <abbr title="North Carolina">N. C.</abbr> There I went on board a schooner -and became cook, receiving $7.00 for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span> my services. This schooner was -en route for New York City. When I landed at pier 28 East River I had -only my wages. I met a friend from the South, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Alexander Hicks, -and we arranged a plan by which I should escape from the schooner. He -helped me with my trunk and we carried it to a horse car and landed -at 100 Sands st., Brooklyn. I soon found my mother who had preceded -me to the North. She was engaged in collecting money for buying my -father’s freedom. She was aided in this work by the Abolitionists, -among whom were <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Henry Ward Beecher, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Henry Highland Garnett, -<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Bennington, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Arthur Tapin, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Theodore Tilton and others. -<abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Timins, Kinsley, Thomas, and Robert Hamilton, Moses Coss, Ebenezer -Chambers and others, assisted me in getting work. I was able to attend -school some. While at school I made the acquaintance of <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> William F. -Powell, who has made his mark in the world and was honored by President -McKinley with the position of minister to Hayti. Some of the other boys -were Ben Myrs and Wash Parker, working against great odds and prejudice -but aiming to make themselves an honor and credit to the Negro race. -Many of these boys are now filling good positions and have made -themselves honorable and law-abiding citizens.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span></p> - -<p>In New York I worked some at my trade. But I did other work as I could -find it. On the corner of Pack Slip and Water streets, I loaded trucks, -chopped tea, weighed cotton, and I also did white-washing of houses -(but thank God I have never white-washed evil doers), cleaned carpets -and houses.</p> - -<p>In 1859 I heard for the first time a minister of the A. M. E. Church, -the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> James Morris Williams and the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> <abbr title="George">Geo.</abbr> A. Rue, having also -met Bishops Daniel A. Payne and William Paul Quinn. I was deeply -impressed with the importance of making my life a means of serving God -in the uplifting of my people. I was convinced even then that it does -not follow that because our skins are dark and that we are identified -with the Negro race that there is no chance for us to become potent -factors in the uplifting of humanity and especially my own people; that -a man should decide to do right and go ahead and God would certainly -care for him all his days and give him the reward of all his labors. -It is a great thing for a man to realize the responsibility of true -manhood and let others learn this from his example. If these were my -convictions in those dark days, what should be the feelings of young -men of the race today, when the darkness of slavery has been changed -into the light of liberty?</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span></p> - -<p>Sometime in 1860 <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Albert Storm requested me to aid him in getting -his mother from the South. She was a slave. Millie, Sally, Ann and John -Caraway were brought from the South, by the permission of the owner, -by one Dolly Babb, to Brooklyn. Dolly said to my mother, “Now I am -delivered from the devil out of hell. I am bound to serve my Heavenly -Master and I shall serve Him well.” J. R. V. Thomas, William Isaacs, -<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> William Dixon, Paul Drayton, James Anderson, <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Peter W. Ray, -Joe Bowen, Chas. H. Lansing, William Still, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> George W. Leveer and -others, were a few of the men who were engaged in bringing slaves from -the South and giving them their freedom. Men of grander qualities, -morally, socially and religiously, I have never met.</p> - -<p>In 1859 I was married, on June 16th, to Miss Olivia A. Hamilton, a -daughter of <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Robert Hamilton, editor of an Anglo-African paper. Ada -A. William Alexander and Mary Hamilton were born to us.</p> - - -<p class="center p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img005"> - <img src="images/005.jpg" class="w50" alt="ALEXANDER H. NEWTON In Military Uniform Commissary -Sergeant 29th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers" /> -</span></p> -<p class="center caption">ALEXANDER H. NEWTON In Military Uniform<br /> Commissary -Sergeant 29th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers<br /></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="My_War_Record_and_Sketch_of_the_Twenty-ninth_Regiment">My War Record and Sketch of the Twenty-ninth Regiment</h2> -</div> - - -<p>In 1861 when President Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 troops I -engaged myself for the great Civil War, the War of the Rebellion. I -went into the company of the Thirteenth Regiment, of Brooklyn. I went -to the front, as the United States was not taking Negro troops. In -1862 there was a riot in New York City. The colored people were being -dreadfully treated, being stoned, killed, and shown how despised they -were even in the North. An orphan asylum (colored) was burned, having -at that time three hundred children in it. I returned to Brooklyn under -the command of General B. F. Butler, who had been ordered to put down -the riot. While engaged in this mission I got into the very midst of -the rioters. Soon they were after me. I ran through the streets of New -York like a wild steer, while the rioters cried out, “Head the Nigger -Off!” At length, I reached the New Haven boat which brought us safely -to New Haven, <abbr title="Connecticut">Conn.</abbr> While there I engaged at my trade with <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> W. -Clark. On the 18th of December, 1863, I enlisted in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span> Twenty-ninth -Regiment, of the Connecticut Volunteers, as a private. On March 8, -1864, the regiment broke camp and left New Haven for Annapolis, <abbr title="Maryland">Md.</abbr>, -with Colonel W. B. Wooster in command. On the next Sabbath after we -reached Annapolis, I attended the Methodist Church and listened to a -powerful sermon by <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> I. J. Hill, he being an orderly to Colonel -Wooster.</p> - -<p>While in the camp at New Haven, <abbr title="Connecticut">Conn.</abbr>, we employed our idle time in -discussing the great problems that confronted the country at that -time. Lieutenant Seymour, Uncle Fred Moore, Horace Louden, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> I. J. -Hill and myself were the participants in these discussions. The new -party, the Republican, was then formed, the prime purpose of which -was the freedom of the slaves. We were most frequently surmising and -prophesying as to what would be the final outcome and the ultimate -benefits to the Negro race. There were vital questions at stake then. -The spirit of patriotism and the desire to lift oppression, were afire -in every breast of every true American. It would be well for the many -young Afro-Americans of today to remember that the supreme purpose of -the Republican party when it was organized, was not only to prohibit -the further extension of slavery, but to exterminate it as a system of -barter and traffic. On the other hand, the Democratic party at that -time was in favor of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span> infernal system of slavery, and in our -day, it is in sympathy with any movement that looks to keeping the -Negro race in some kind of shackles. They are still in favor of keeping -the Afro-American in slavery in some form. And they are succeeding -reasonably well. For at last, we are forced to conclude that no man is -really free unless he holds in his bosom the right of franchise and has -received the liberty to exercise that right. Have the ten millions of -Afro-Americans in the United States that right to-day? The answer comes -from many States, NO!</p> - - -<p class="center p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img006"> - <img src="images/006.jpg" class="w50" alt="COL. W. P. WOOSTER Colonel of the 29th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers" /> -</span></p> -<p class="center caption"><abbr title="Colonel">COL.</abbr> W. P. WOOSTER<br /> Colonel of the 29th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers<br /></p> - -<p>Inspired with the thought of Shakespeare, who said, “He who would be -free, let him first strike the blow himself,” my bosom burned with the -fire of patriotism for the salvation of my country and the freedom of -my people. I was rejoiced when the Hon. Abraham Lincoln was elected -President of these United States, and when it was my fortune to see him -emancipate the millions of members of the downtrodden race. I shall -never forget when I saw him riding through the streets of New York, -with throngs of humanity on either side of him. He was on his way then -to the inauguration at Washington, D. C. to assume control of the -terror-stricken country and to take the reigns of government in his -own hands. While it became necessary that blood should flow freely, I -was reminded, that no sin is ever wiped out<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span> without the spilling of -blood. This seems to be a decree of High Heaven, even among the affairs -of men. And God has made no exception to this decree, in the salvation -of men from their personal sins. I was indeed willing to unite with -the party, the Republican party and the abolition movement for their -high and holy purposes, and to be associated with such men as <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> -Henry Ward Beecher, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Henry Highland Garnett, Theodore Tilton, Lewis -Tapen, William Still, of Philadelphia; Charles Sumner, Thaddeus Stevens -and many other such men, whose platform was justice and right and -freedom extended to all without regard to color or previous condition -of servitude, and to enforce these rights and privileges even at the -point of the bayonet.</p> - -<p>At New Haven we had been promised $15 bounty on our enlistment, but -this had not been allowed, no effort, it seems had been made to pay us -this money, but we did not shirk our duty because we had not received -our just dues. We had long been accustomed to such impositions; but -we said that we would honor Old Glory, obey God, and contend for our -prize, Liberty, and will contend in this conflict until the sound of -clanking slave chains shall be heard no more in the length and breadth -of this fair and goodly land, When kings, princes and nobles shall -have been swept into merited oblivion and the Civil War<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span> forgotten, -posterity will catch the glowing theme of Liberty and enroll with -rapture the names of those heroes who bought this boon with blood on -the battlefield.</p> - -<p>The regiment paraded the streets while multitudes looked with wonder, -some laughing, others cheering, mothers with their babies in their -arms, crying and holding on to their husbands, as they marched away -to do battle for the noblest of causes. It was a scene never to be -forgotten. We marched from Chapel street, where we embarked on a -Government transport. As I went on board the vessel, mother, father, -wife and children, ladies and gentlemen, of my friends, both white and -black, were bidding me goodbye and expressing the hope that I might -have a safe return. I cannot express the sobbing emotions of my heart, -when I ungrasped the hands of these loved ones and friends and turned -my face away from them, knowing that I might be going to my death and -never again see them in this world.</p> - -<p>When we reached Annapolis, <abbr title="Maryland">Md.</abbr>, we were encamped three miles out of -town. Here for the first time we put up our tents. It was cold and -damp. We dug holes about two feet wide extending from within outside -the tent, and placed sheet iron over these and in these small trenches -started our fires. In this way we were able to have heat within and -force the smoke outside.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span></p> - -<p>The colored people in this place were afraid to speak to us. Their -masters looked on us with contempt. On Sunday a reverend gentleman came -into the camp to preach to us and we listened to a very interesting -sermon. After remaining here for eight or ten days, we received orders -to strike tents. We left for Hilton Head, <abbr title="South Carolina">S. C.</abbr>, arriving at this place -April 16, 1864. We marched through the main street and went into camp -with the Twenty-sixth, of New York. On May 25 the paymaster arrived -at Beaufort, <abbr title="South Carolina">S. C.</abbr>, where the Twenty-ninth Regiment was at this time -stationed, and our spirits were greatly lifted up when we saw him, for -as yet we had received no pay for our services. But when we were told -by him that we could receive only $7 per month each, for our services -our spirits fell. So I, together with the rest of my comrades, was -really disgusted with this failure on the part of the Government to -give us a decent compensation for our work as soldiers. The officers -advised us to take it and assured us that at the next payment we should -receive our full compensation. We decided to follow their advice. We -quieted our passions and went to work like good soldiers. My great -desire was to get into contact with the Southern forces that we might -be working out the decision of this great problem. I had no ill feeling -for the Southern white people, some of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span> them had been my best friends; -but this was not a personal matter, but a question of national issue, -involving the welfare of millions, and my soul was on fire for the -question, Slavery or No Slavery, to be forever settled and that too as -soon as possible.</p> - -<p>While the troops were at Bermuda Hundred having disembarked from the -transport Alabama, I recalled an incident. When my father and mother -were sitting at the table of my father’s owner, Master Park Custis, -a son of <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> and Mrs. Custis, saw a piece of pie on the table and -started to help himself, without any formalities, my mother objected -to his uncouthness, caught hold of him and would have handled him -quite roughly, but my father caught hold of her and held her until the -youngster got away with his prize. He was very insolent and insulting. -It all came over me and I thought how I would like to find him at that -time and administer the very flogging which my dear mother started -to give him. I was indeed in a proper mood to have done it, if I had -came across him. This is but a little illustration of hundreds of -incidents that came into my mind when the army was in the South, and as -I felt then, that I was duly protected. I confess that I had a burning -desire to eke out some vengeance which for years had been pent up in -my nature. But, of course, from the Christian<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span> standpoint, this was -all wrong. I was all wrong. I was then on a much higher mission than -trying to get personal vengeance on those who had mistreated me and -mine. I was fighting for the liberty of my people and the righting of -many wrongs that belonged to their social and religious welfare. While -I had not learned much of the laws of commerce and politics, I knew -only a little of the arts and sciences, which I had picked up here and -there, by an attentive mind, in mixing with the educated people of the -South; I knew nothing of military science, but I had been watching the -Southerners drill for several years seemingly getting ready for some -unexpected conflict; but I did know that the time was fast approaching -when a great problem would have to be settled by bloodshed, when I -would be called on to make my life a personal sacrifice on the altar -of my country and for the sake of my people. I knew that slavery and -its inhuman machinery must be put out of existence and that the simple -principles of liberty of thought and action in politics, society and -religion must prevail. And, at this time, I was in the full realization -of what it meant to be again in the South, not a cringing black man, -but a proud American soldier with the Union and Old Glory behind, -before, over and under me. I had heard, in the fifties, from the -Southerners, that there would be a war and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span> that if any of the colored -people aided the North in it, they would catch them and cut out their -tongues and make them drink their mothers’ blood. Well, at this time, -I was in the South to have my tongue cut out and to drink my mother’s -blood if it had been necessary. But thank God, I helped to save my own -tongue and my mother’s blood and my race! This is enough glory for me!</p> - -<p>All the soldiers of the Twenty-ninth Regiment, although dark-skinned, -felt the full responsibility of their mission. They were in the South -to do, to dare, and to die. And while they had not been trained in -military tactics at West Point and were backward in their movements, -they had been to the armory of God and had received weapons of the -heart, that made them daring and dangerous foes—men to be really -reckoned with. And I am proud to say, that the history of the colored -man in warfare has been an enviable one. He has always showed his -patriotism by action, by deeds of sacrifice, by death itself. We -had the same muscle, the same strength, the same heart, the same -conscience, the same cause, the same right, the same liberty as the -white man. We were fighting under the same flag and the same God. I -remember the words of General Saxon, “Boys, if you want to make good -soldiers you must look a white man straight in the face and let him -know that you are a man.” This gave us fresh courage to press forward -as soldiers to a certain victory.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span></p> - -<p>On the 14th of August, 1864, a time long to be remembered with us, -an oppressively hot day, we marched into Virginia. We were worn out, -weary, thirsty, hungry, and completely exhausted. We were compelled to -carry our blankets, knapsack, musket, and sixty pounds of cartridges. -About 4 P. M. we reached the headquarters of General Birney, in the -woods and encamped. I was so overcome with the heat that I fell to -the ground and was soon asleep. We had no feather beds to lie upon, -only the bare ground—but this bed always supplied by Mother Earth, -was delightful this time for rest. We had for our dinner, breakfast -and supper, half-done salt pork, which was placed on a stick and held -over a blaze to warm it; hard tack, on which one could hardly make -an impression with the teeth, and sometimes coffee, if it could be -gotten. These were some of the hardships of the soldier and these were -enough; but when you add to these the mental condition of many, such -as myself, almost afraid of my own shadow, ready to shoot at anything -that made a threatening noise,—I remember that I shot at the limb of -a tree floating down the river, thinking that it was a rebel skiff -with spies—it was a sore and trying ordeal. Every soldier was in -constant expectation of surprises from the Johnnies, or rebels. Lee’s -and Johnson’s army was near Buzzard’s Roost, in face of a rocky-faced<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span> -ridge, to pass him meant suffering and death. We were surrounded by -Dutch Gap Canal, James River, over which we had to cross on a pontoon -bridge, and Fort Hell to be captured and taken. But knowing that -Generals Weitzel, Sherman, Doubleday and Butler had 35,200 men under -them, we went bravely forward, determined that Old Glory should not -trail in the dust.</p> - -<p>We crossed the pontoon bridge near Deep Bottom and marching about -two miles, halted in a corn field. Here we rested, but in momentary -readiness for a call to action as the rebels were very near us. We were -soon aroused and called to the fort at Malvern Hill. Here we entered -into an engagement with the rebels and many were wounded, killed and -taken prisoners. I had a very narrow escape and thought several times -that “my time” had come. I remember a twenty-pound cannon ball coming -towards me, I could see it distinctly through the smoke. It looked like -it had been sent especially for me. I said quickly, “Lord, you promised -that a thousand should fall at my side, but that it should not come -nigh me.” It was quick praying, quick thinking, quick coming; but when -the ball was within about three feet of me it struck the ground and -bounded over my head. So I was saved. God’s promise was fulfilled in my -case.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span></p> - -<p>On the 16th we joined the Third Division, Tenth Army Corps, General -Birney’s Brigade, composed of the Twenty-second, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth -and Twenty-ninth, United States Cavalry Troops, numbering 5000 men. -We took up our march for Jones’ Landing, recrossed the pontoon bridge -under very disagreeable circumstances, rain, mud and slush, but we were -thankful and cheerful; glad that we had not been killed, or wounded -or taken prisoners, in the encounter just passed through. Again we -camped in an open field and raised our tents, prepared our bacon and -coffee and hard tack. We were soon ready to take a good night’s sleep. -I remembered my loved ones and wondered how they were faring and my -privations, but I found myself willing to undergo all this for the -cause of liberty.</p> - -<p>On the 17th we arose early and received word to advance. In a short -time we were in a fierce battle. Our lieutenant colonel was wounded in -the engagement. Again, I thought that my time had come. By some awkward -movement, I was thrown into the line of the enemy. The Johnnies were -very much excited and did their best to capture me, but I succeeded -in getting back into the Union lines. I knew then that the prayers of -my good old mother were being heard; for surely the Lord delivered -me from the snare of the fowler and from the noisome pestilence. Our -lieutenant<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span> colonel had his horse shot from under him and Orderly I. -J. Hill was wounded.</p> - - -<p class="center p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img007"> - <img src="images/007.jpg" class="w50" alt="REV. I. J. HILL Orderly 29th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers" /> -</span></p> -<p class="center caption"><abbr title="Reverend">REV.</abbr> I. J. HILL<br /> Orderly 29th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers<br /></p> - - - -<p>I prayed in this battle whenever I had opportunity to look towards -Heaven, for grape and canister and bullets of all shapes and sizes -were falling thick and fast about me. We were in close quarters with -the enemy and our ranks were being thinned by reason of the wounded -and dead lying on the battlefield. Although I came out of this battle -pretty well shaken up, excepting for a few scratches, my life was -on the altar for my country and my people, and I was not especially -concerned as to the outcome regarding my own life; but I was determined -to do all that I could to bring our cause to a victorious end. The -Union forces moved back and remained all day about twelve miles from -Richmond.</p> - -<p>On the 18th, the Twenty-ninth Regiment, of which I was commissary -sergeant, and the Third Division, moved down the valley, halting in -the open fields for two hours. We were opposite the pontoon bridge -which crossed the Chickahominy, and remained until the bridge was put -in repair. While here I gave out hard tack and pork to the soldiers as -best I could. For myself, I built a little fire and roasted a bit of -pork over the fire, which together with water from the river, formed my -meal. On the 20th we marched for the forts on the right of Point Rock -Hospital,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span> near Petersburg. On the 21st we were almost flanked by the -rebels and retreated to Malvern Hill and repaired the breastworks. Here -we had another skirmish. Some lost their lives and others were wounded, -but we were successful in capturing seventy-five prisoners.</p> - -<p>On the 23d we crossed the James River on the pontoon bridge, passing -the heights where the New Jersey Battery was stationed. They greeted -us with shouts and “Hurrah boys! we are here to stay!” Such a round -of cheers you never heard. You would not have thought that they were -on their way to battle, and some to death and the Judgment Throne. -Uncle Freddie Moore and Orderly I. J. Hill were the only preachers we -had with us, excepting the chaplain. They used to say to us, “boys -get ready, for if there ever were a time when you should be ready, -it is now; for you do not know when you may be called to go, you are -continually in death’s jaws.”</p> - -<p>We were soon in front of Petersburg, <abbr title="Virginia">Va.</abbr>, looking upon the doomed -city. We were greeted by a shell from the rebels, or Grey Backs, as we -sometimes called them. It fell near the colonel, who was sitting on his -horse at the right of the brigade. We countermarched and fell back to -the woods, where we remained until 5 o’clock, when orders were received -from the general to fall back to the fort and protect the pontoon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span> -bridge. On our way we met a lot of troopers making their way to the -front, who wanted to know our reason for returning. We told them that -the rebels were after us. It was very amusing to see them falling into -line. Some of them could march faster than we. We reached the fort, but -when we found that the Johnnies were not coming after us, we became -anxious to see them and meet the issue. We found quite a number of our -associates from New Haven and Hartford, <abbr title="Connecticut">Conn.</abbr>, and Woodbury, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr> We -were all delighted that our lives had been spared to see each other -again in the flesh and chatted freely about our friends at home, our -wives, mothers and children. I had often heard of the horrors of war, -but now I began to experience what it meant, in the joy of meeting -friends whom I never expected to see again on the earth, or at least -some of them. There was a sense in which I had a new understanding of -that marvelous passage of Scripture, regarding death, “Oh death, where -is thy sting; Oh, grave, where is thy victory.” We had not yet felt the -sting of death and we had not experienced the victory of the grave, yet -we had been in the very midst of both.</p> - -<p>Once again we marched in front of the horrible pit, Petersburg. Some -of the whites said, see they are taking those colored soldiers to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span> -slaughter pen. Truly, they had said so, for I never saw such a scene -the first night. Shot and shell were raining fast around us. Henry -Migs, a native of Africa, was killed. He died as a soldier, true to his -adopted country, but a stranger to God. I thought that every bullet was -sent for me and was doing some real praying. We do not know what prayer -is, until we are reduced to our extremity. Then we realize with a new -experience, that our extremity is God’s opportunity. I told the Lord -that He had promised to “Rescue the perishing and care for the dying,” -and that I wanted Him to keep the promise of that song, so far as I was -concerned. Well, praise His name, He did so. Thank God to-day that I am -still living and permitted to write this bit of fearful experience, so -others may know what it is to trust in God.</p> - -<p>On the 24th, Private Sam Bertim, of Company E, was killed, having been -shot through the head. Private George Porter was also killed. Colonel -Wooster was taken sick and was carried from the rifle pits to the -rear. The rebels captured one of our officers, while changing those -on picket duty. Two men from the Twenty-ninth were slaughtered, they -were members of Company A. The colored troops did some good fighting in -this engagement. We were told by the enemy that if we were captured our -tongues would be cut out,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span> or we would be starved to death; that there -would be no exchange of prisoners in our case. So this was a rather -fearful inspiration, but it served its purpose, of causing us to fight -to the best of our ability; for we really feared that in case we were -captured that such barbarities might be administered to us.</p> - -<p>On the 1st of September we were ordered to strike tents and to move -on, we knew not whither we were going. We did not care either, for -now we were thoroughly enthused with the issues of war. We had tasted -of the dangers of battle, and this taste brought out the desire that -we should fight to the finish. Some of our dear friends had laid down -their lives already, and we reasoned that if it should be necessary for -them to give such a sacrifice, that we were no better than they. So in -our judgment, we were becoming calm, and in our determination, we were -becoming more and more fixed.</p> - -<p>With President Lincoln and our great generals and loyal soldiers, -we felt that the issue was assured. Of course we did not forget the -divine side of the question, that God was on His throne and that right -and justice and mercy would at last prevail. While it had always been -said that this was a white man’s country, we were determined that the -black man should share in this honor of ownership. And the best way -that this<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span> ownership could be established was through the loyalty of -the black man on the battlefield. For surely it will be conceded that -when a man has bought his adopted country by his blood, it is his own. -While, as a race, the Negro race, this is our adopted land, yet as -individuals, it is our native land, our fatherland.</p> - -<p>The colored troops numbered at this time about 75,000. The Twenty-ninth -Regiment, which was my own, formed the center. We were in line of march -toward the city but were turned in our course and crossed the pontoon -bridge, which landed us near the city of Petersburg. When daylight came -we were on the Old Market Road and headed for Richmond, <abbr title="Virginia">Va.</abbr> We were -very much exhausted and were hoping for a rest, when we heard the music -of the bugle, which told us that our rest had come.</p> - -<p>At this time it was dangerous for live things to get in our way, we -were hungry for something besides hard tack, bad coffee and salt -pork. We wanted fresh meat and plenty of it. So it was a bad time for -chickens and terrapin, for when we could find these living edibles, we -generally appropriated them without any thought of the criminality of -the act or of the danger of being detected or arrested. Our hunger gave -us license to satisfy it in the quickest and best way available.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span></p> - -<p>On the 2d of September we were once again in front of the enemy and -ready to do battle. We entered the engagement with enthusiasm and -rapidly drove the enemy before us. We were assisted by a large Mogul, -which we called the Petersburgh Express and one or two gunboats on -the James River, which fired balls half as big as a common sized -water bucket. Soon victory was perched on our banners and with flying -colors, we advanced by a right flank and entered the rebel lines after -a bad fought battle of six hours, leaving many dead and wounded on the -battlefield. My brother, William Henry Newton, was in the same regiment -with me, not as a soldier but as a valet, he attended Captain Griswold. -We charged two of the rebel forts, the left of the line was charged by -the Eighth United States Troops, supported by the Twenty-ninth; the -center was charged by the Ninth Maryland, supported by the Seventh -United States Troops. In the history of my war record, I shall never -forget this day’s experience. The rebels fought hard and nobly, but the -colored troops defeated them and gained another victory in favor of the -Union army. Our loss was very heavy and the true story of the suffering -and heartaches will never be known until the Judgment Day.</p> - -<p>Captain Thorpe and Lieutenant McDonald were wounded. I came on my -rounds, bringing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span> refreshments and stopped where the surgeons were -at work. I shall never forget the fearful sight that met my eyes. It -was indeed sickening. There were arms and legs piled up like hogs’ -feet in a butcher shop. The dead and the dying were strewn over the -battlefield for five miles. Drum Major John D. Cowes, of New Haven, -with his corps, were busy carrying the wounded off the battlefield. -I said to myself, war is a terrible way to adjust differences, when -it might be done by the implements of peace. But I remembered that it -is much easier to wield the sword than to use the pen; much easier to -give a command which will send hundreds to their death, than to be a -master of assemblies and speak the word which gives peace and happiness -to millions. We lay all night in front of the rebel works and in the -morning we were warmly saluted by fierce bombarding. So we were again -in the midst of battle which waged hotly. The enemy carried their dead -and wounded out of their trenches as lively as they were able. They -did this so as to keep from tramping on them and to have room for the -soldiers who were doing the work of death. In this engagement several -were wounded but not many killed. Our colonel was not able to do duty -and our lieutenant colonel was sick at Fortress Monroe.</p> - -<p>On the morning of the 4th, we advanced to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span> left of the line, -planting our flag under the rebel fire of grape and canister, bombshell -and musketry. The dead were lying in every direction and the wounded -were falling everywhere, cared for by the rear guard. On the 5th and -6th, we had to endure the hardships and exposure of the rifle pits, -with advance pickets stationed in front of the rebel garrison. It was -the fighting of a duel, so to speak, between two armies, although -quite a distance apart. After while the Twenty-Ninth was ordered to -headquarters, but did not get far on its way, when a fire broke out -in our midst, we were shifted into a double-quick and returned to the -breastworks where we held our position until the 8th, when we moved on -the right to support the Forty-fifth, on Lookout Mountain. We were worn -out and had hoped that we would be allowed to rest; but we received -orders to take position on the front to support the Eighth United -States Cavalry Troops, who had charge of the breastworks. Six days of -hard fighting, fatigue and exposure, was our experience here. Under -orders of the general we scouted and explored the territory and drove -the enemy from the woods. We were able to take charge of the situation, -much to our pride; still holding the rebels at bay and driving them -further, to hunt new quarters.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span></p> - -<p>On the 14th we abandoned the breastworks, General Birney leading the -Third Division, Tenth Army Corps, numbering 75,000 colored troops. We -were not formed into a fighting position at this time, perhaps for the -reason that the enemy were too strong for us. So we were brought to the -rear of the breastworks. For a long while the rain had been pouring in -torrents and there was not a dry place to be found nor a dry thread -on our bodies, we were covered with dirt and mud from head to foot, -and not only felt to be in a terrible plight, but must have looked -worse. The troops were ordered to prepare two days’ rations and to get -ready for light marching. I had opportunity now to be in the company -of commissioned officers for a few hours at a time, when we halted for -rest. We would spread our meals on the wet ground, not a very inviting -table, but the best that we could find. I somehow had the feeling that -something was going on, or was going to happen, that would require one -to be wise and cunning. The officers had a queer expression on their -faces, and in fact all the field officers seemed to be uneasy. Three -o’clock one morning, my surmises were justified, for the long roll was -sounded and soon we were in line for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span> work. We engaged in a bloody -struggle. We moved to the right and some one began to sing,</p> - -<p class="poetry"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">“Sure, I must fight if I would win,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Increase my courage Lord;</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Supported by Thy Word.”</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>We thus cheered ourselves by the singing of songs while we fought and -while we marched through the Virginia mud, such songs as “Tramp, Tramp, -the Boys are Marching,” “Beneath the Starry Flag.” The rebel lines -were fortified, but under our noble leaders, we marched on to certain -victory and the old Twenty-ninth was ready for any fray. The rising sun -would seem to say to us, after he had broken through the darkness and -the clouds, “Cheer up boys, don’t be despondent, but vigilant, strong, -courageous, protecting the flag, the country, women and children, -rights and liberty, and all things will come out right.” Thus it will -be seen, how often God speaks to us through nature, how often we are -cheered and helped by a bright day. How dependent we are upon our -surroundings, for support. I do not say that this should be so, for a -soldier should be strong, regardless of such things, but nevertheless -they have their effect.</p> - -<p>We were on the extreme right of the front and within three miles of -Richmond, where our white troops were repulsed. The colored troops -were commanded to halt and line up for action in front of the woods. -Again the thought came to me, although<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span> this is called the white man’s -country, they need us in war as in peace, to make and to keep the -country. And why is not this fact fully realized by the white people? -We are more than ten million strong and are ready at any time to -lay down our lives for the nation and to give our lives in service, -in times of peace, in all lines of activity. This we are doing. The -progress which the Negro race has made since the war is an enviable -one. No people or race would be ashamed of it. We have made this -progress as honest, industrious citizens. We have shown our manhood -in both times of war and peace, and our record has been written. Then -why are we not accorded the place that we have rightly merited? In -the sentiment of the white people there lurks a deep-rooted prejudice -against us, and in their course of action discrimination is made -against the Negro. We do not understand why this should be, unless -there is a feeling on the part of the white people, that there is -danger that we should become too prosperous and too many—the feeling -which the ancient Egyptians had against the Hebrews—hence, they took -steps to check the Hebrews. These may be the steps taken by the white -man to check our progress. But the same God who overruled the destinies -of the Hebrew slaves and brought them to their Promised Land, will take -care of us and, we too, one day, shall<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span> enter our Promised Land, of -equal rights and liberty.</p> - -<p>On the 29th, there as a fierce encounter. The battle was indeed a -slaughter pen. The enemy fought like tigers. The battle became general -along the entire line. Adjutant Spaulding was wounded. Corporal George -Burr, Company L; Corporal Sidney, of Company E, and many others were -killed. Private George E. Peters, Sergeant George Halstead, James Evans -and many others were wounded. I, myself, feared, shook, and thought -that my time had come. I was full of thoughts of my loved ones at home. -I knew that they were praying that I should be delivered from the jaws -of death. This thought cheered and comforted me; and yet I saw friends -falling around me, whose loved ones and friends, were also praying -for their protection. Their prayers were not being answered and why? -Why should I think that the prayers offered for me were more availing -than those offered for them? Why should I have any special reason for -encouragement? These thoughts come to one when he is in the midst of -circumstances which seems to upset many of our principles of religious -faith. They come to us not only in war but in work. They must be -reckoned with. The only answer that I could find as to why the prayers -offered for me were availing up to this time, was that my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span> time had not -come, and that it had not come because God had not ordered it, and God -had not ordered it because He had something for me to do. Of course, He -had heard the prayers which had been offered for me and they entered -into His decree regarding my life. The only answer we can find to many -perplexing questions which come in life is, “It is God’s way, His will.”</p> - -<p>I was very busy in supplying the regiment with food, vinegar and water, -and such edibles as I could get together. The doctors were busy sawing -off legs and arms, and binding up wounds, and giving medicines to the -wounded and sick. The women were busy in preparing bandages, lint, and -doing what they could in the alleviation of human suffering. God bless -the dear women who had the faith and the courage to breast the trials -and hardships of soldier life. These scenes would have made your heart -sore. Dear reader, the wounded and dying scattered over the battlefield -thick, the hurrying to and fro of the physicians and the nurses; the -prayers and groans and cries of the wounded, the explosion of bombs, -the whizzing of bullets, the cracking of rifles; you would have thought -that the very forces of hell had been let loose. And, indeed, it was a -hell, the horrors of which no one could ever forget.</p> - -<p>We finally retreated under the cover of the cavalry. The colored -troops were the first to enter<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span> the field and the last to fall back. -We thereby demonstrated to our President, Abraham Lincoln, and our -General, U. S. Grant, that we were among their best supporters. -The white man had no record to make. He was known as a fighter for -centuries, our record was to be made and we were making it. The flag of -our regiment could be seen floating among the pines. We were glad that -Old Glory was above us with her folds pierced with many bullet holes. -We returned to camp and took our former position in front of Richmond, -where we remained for awhile.</p> - -<p>We were again in battle array, having been marched up to the rifle -pits. Our field officers being absent, we were under the command of -Captain Camp, of Company D, our own colonel, W. B. Wooster, was at home -on sick furlough. Lieutenant Colonel W. L. Ward, who had been promoted -to the rank of colonel, was in charge of the Forty-first United States -Cavalry Troop. The lieutenant colonel said to us, “Boys, we must fight -to-day, let me have your best. Duty demands it. I will stand by you -until the last. Watch, keep in line, and obey orders.” He brought us -up double-quick to the rifle pits and the bugle sounded charge. We -charged, firing, yelling, using our bayonets and our arms in the most -cruel manner, but still in accordance with the tactics of warfare. We -were there to kill in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span> every manner possible. We held the pits for -twenty-four hours, brought the rebels to their knees, brought down -their flag and unfurled the Stars and Stripes to the breezes.</p> - -<p>This was a disastrous battle, probably the most disastrous I had -ever witnessed. I should probably make exception of the Fort Pillow -Massacre, in which my brother, Steven Newton, was killed. He was a -member of the Fourteenth, Rhode Island Battery. Charles Beeman, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> -Amos G. Beeman and Corporal W. W. Wilkins were with him to the end -and were able to make the report of his death to me. We lost in this -battle over one hundred, i. e., I am counting only the loss of the -Twenty-ninth Regiment. This regiment fought most bravely, gaining -great praise, and receiving many compliments from the officers high up -in rank. When the battle was over, we fell back and camped in front -of Richmond. While there we attended the funeral of Private Charles -Bently, who was killed early in the engagement. He died a champion for -liberty and an earnest Christian. Jones Spriggs and thirteen others -were buried at this time.</p> - -<p>Many of the veterans went out on foraging expeditions. While resting -we would engage in religious and patriotic songs. One of our favorites -was, “Tenting on the Old Camp Ground.” About this time, the Third -Division, Tenth Army<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span> Corps, Twenty-ninth Regiment, and General Birney, -were surprised with the presentation of the United States national -colors, which greatly pleased the boys. The flag was presented by the -Forty-fifth United States Cavalry Troop to our lieutenant colonel, in -a most pleasing manner. He spoke of the great bravery of the soldiers -in battle. Colonel Ward replied that he had 672 guns which would speak -whenever occasion demanded it. He also said that his boys were filled -with as noble sentiments as any that had ever filled the breasts of -boys before the guns.</p> - -<p>While on dress parade we received the sad announcement from our -lieutenant colonel that he would leave the regiment, as he had been -promoted to the rank of colonel. This was indeed sad news to us. He had -been with us in many hard-fought battles. We had learned to love him -and had great confidence in his ability. He knew what course to pursue -in order to avert many of the tricks of the Johnnies, not only being -well up in military science, but well acquainted with many little games -that are often played in war.</p> - -<p>We remained in front of Richmond five days. While there we were -quiet and enjoyed the much needed sleep that we had. We were greatly -annoyed here as well as in other places with what the soldiers called -greybacks, not the rebels, however; they were genuine creepers. They -molested<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span> us no little. Whenever I could get off I would go to the -creek and disrobe myself and pick them out of my clothes, then wash my -clothes and hang them on the bushes to dry. Then I would dress myself -and feel like a king, because once a again I was clean and free from -these unearthly vermin.</p> - -<p>From the first to the eighth of November, 1864, we were at Malvern -Hill. I was Commissary Sargeant and was careful to keep as near the -regiment as possible with my department. Sargeant Quartermaster D. -L. Lathrop had charge of the ammunition, knapsacks, etc., under the -command of our regimental quartermaster, there was always detailed a -guard to protect us. We always followed the army with our train. I -remember once that I got into the line of the Johnnies and I ran as if -the hounds of hell were after me. I heard the whizzing of a bullet over -my head, but it missed me. So I said, well they did not get me that -time and Libby Prison has been robbed of an expected treasure.</p> - -<p>While here the Twenty-ninth Regiment had charge of the fort until the -third of December.</p> - -<p>It was whispered about that Generals Lee, Johnson and others were in a -position to watch our movements and that we might expect an attack at -any time. But we were not worried over this report with such Generals -as U. S. Grant,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span> Sherman, Howard, Weitzel and others. We knew that they -would be able to flank any movement that they might make.</p> - -<p>On Monday the fifth, we took up our line of march to a destination -unknown to us, there were all kinds of rumors as to where we would -stop, but at last we found ourselves to the left of Fort Harrison -on the left of the line. Here we camped under orders. We engaged in -the usual preparations for a stay, putting up our tents, building -huts and making things convenient for all concerned. But the next -day the Colored troops were ordered to prepare two days’ rations and -to advance. Then our countenances changed. We did not know but that -another fierce battle was in store for us; and we had had quite enough -fighting to satisfy us for a long while. On Wednesday, we were in front -of the Johnnies, with our breastworks thrown up ready for fight.</p> - -<p>The Colored regiments were consolidated in the Second Division, Third -Brigade, Twenty Fifth Army Corps. A number of detached men were taken -from the regiments. Orderly I. J. Hill was Brigade Postmaster. I was -with the commissary department. All things were quiet along the lines -excepting the laughing and yelling of the Johnnies. Once in a while -they would throw a shell into our camp. At this time we would hear -their cheers and laughter.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span></p> - -<p>On January the first, we were in front of Richmond, <abbr title="Virginia">Va.</abbr> Here we engaged -in battle with the Rebels, which was terrific. The anxiety, suffering, -slashing, shooting, were beyond description. Many lay dead on the -battlefield, baking in the sun. There were dead animals which had been -exposed for two weeks, the stench was unbearable. These are some of the -indescribable tortures of war.</p> - -<p>The rebels soon retired from their position, for they would not -have been able to withstand the Union Army. They were in constant -expectation of the coming of Sherman who at that time was in the -vicinity of Atlanta, Ga. We were under marching orders until the -thirteenth. Colonel Wooster received orders to place his headquarters -near our own regiment. I was determined that I would keep up my -enthusiasm and do all in my power to supply the boys with something to -eat.</p> - -<p>On the twenty-third the rebel fleet moved down the James River towards -the Dutch Gap Canal and opened fire on Fort Bradley keeping it up all -night. The following morning the whole line was drawn up for action, at -long range with reinforcements in the rear. The shelling was terrific -all day. I was in the basement of a house, when a shell came through -the window, burst and tore its way through the building. This<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span> house -was used for headquarters. Fortunately none of us were hurt. Only the -everlasting arm of God protected us, for all our friends who witnessed -the shell and its devastations, supposed that we were all killed. The -Quartermaster having received a wound in his knee, the Quartermaster -Sargeant and I had to do all the work. At this time Orderly I. J. Hill -and others were let off on parole and went home for twenty days. The -Confederates made another dash to retake their lost territory and to -make sure of the permanent establishment of the Slave Traffic which -has been the curse of every nation or people who has adopted it. Their -plan was to out-flank us and to effect a great slaughter and capture -many of our men and guns and ammunition. And it seemed to us that they -were after the Colored troops. But our leaders were too shrewd for them -and they were repulsed and their depot, magazines and machine shops at -Beaufort, <abbr title="North Carolina">N. C.</abbr>, were blown up and also at Newberne. A great battle was -fought about Fort Fisher and the Rebels were overcome. Hundreds were -killed and wounded in this battle.</p> - -<p>The Colored troops in front of Richmond were moved from the breastworks -on the left at Fort Harrison, to the hill in the center, where we built -up a fine elevation overlooking the Rebel works in Richmond. Here we -remained several<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span> days under heavy cannonading. We held the enemy so -that they were unable to make any gains on us for four weeks. They made -several attempts to storm and to cut off our supply, but they signally -failed. But our men understood how to construct railroads and we would -frequently hear the whistle of a locomotive in some direction bringing -in our supplies. Our forces were well guarded on every hand by squads -which were experts in caring for the welfare and needs of an army. We -could hear the result of our bombarding in such cities as Petersburg, -etc., and knew that our forces were gradually gaining and that the -Rebels were gradually losing in their strongest holds.</p> - -<p>On the twenty-seventh of March we struck our tents and moved on to -Richmond. We were soon formed in line of battle in front of this city. -The Rebels blew up three gunboats and evacuated their works immediately -in front of us. There was heavy cannonading from the gunboats in the -James River, the Monitor and other boats.</p> - -<p>At this time there were many refugees coming to us by the hundreds. -This was in part the result of Sherman’s march to the sea. He left -in his wake many monuments of this famous march. There were deserted -villages, chimneys standing without the houses about them, and troops -of stragglers following the army.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span></p> - -<p>Colonel Wooster ordered the 29th Regiment to advance and to do some -daring work in the digging up of buried torpedoes which had been -planted to impede the march of the Union Army. We were however equal to -the task. We captured five hundred pieces of artillery, six thousand -small arms, and the prisoners I did not count, but when we looked on -them in the prison pen, the number seemed to be enormous.</p> - -<p>We were present in Richmond when President Lincoln made his triumphal -entry into the city. It was a sight never to be forgotten. He passed -through the main street. There were multitudes of Colored people to -greet him on every hand. They received him with many demonstrations -that came from the heart, thanking God that they had seen the day of -their salvation, that freedom was theirs, that now they could live -in this country, like men and women, and go on their way rejoicing. -Orderly I. J. Hill said that he saw a colored woman trying to get a -look at the president, at last he came along and Orderly Hill said -to her: “Madame, there is the man that made you free.” She shouted, -“Is that President Lincoln? Glory to God, give Him praise for His -goodness.” The President, with his son, and Admiral Porter, together -with others walked over a mile to the headquarters of General Weitzel, -at the mansion of Jeff Davis. A colored man acted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span> as the guide. There -were six Union soldiers as advance guard, then came President Lincoln, -his son, and Admiral Porter, while on his right and his left were -other officers. He was followed by six sailors with their carbines. -This march created the wildest enthusiasm of the Colored people. They -had lived to see the day of their liberty dawning. I was reminded of -what had been done for the ancient Hebrews by Moses when he led them -out of the land of their bondage, into the land of their promised -liberty. Lincoln was indeed our Moses. He led us forth. He gave us our -freedom. I noticed one white lady in a window, who turned away from the -whole scene as if in utter disgust. There were still two sides to the -question, then and there are two sides to it today. How long will these -two sides remain, is the question. As the President looked out upon -the poor Colored people and remembered how many lives had been lost in -working out their salvation, he was not able to keep the tears from his -eyes. They were tears of gladness and sorrow, of regret and delight; -but the tears of my own people were the tears of the greatest joy.</p> - -<p>The President went to the state capitol where he made a short address -in which he said: “Now you Colored people are free, as free as I am. -God has made you free and if those who are your<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span> superiors are not able -to recognize that you are free, we will have to take the sword and -musket and again teach them that you are free. You are as free as I am, -having the same rights of liberty, life and the pursuit of happiness.”</p> - -<p>While at Richmond, we engaged in many foraging expeditions. We found -such things as eggs, chickens, butter, bread, fruit, tobacco. There -were bales of tobacco in the streets free for every one who enjoyed the -weed. And I must say that many were delighted with their free smokes. -There was plenty of Confederate money too, which was often blown about -by the wind as so much worthless waste paper. Well it was waste paper. -With the passing of the Confederacy, the money value passed away on all -such currency.</p> - -<p>On April 16th, 1865, we were painfully shocked to hear of the death of -President Lincoln, at the hands of an assassin. No one can measure the -consternation which struck our hearts. This great and wonderful man -who had guided the Ship of State through four years of such perilous -waves and winds, that he should thus pass away and in such an infamous -manner, was more than we could stand. But it was so. Our faith was -almost staggered, that faith which had sustained us in so many battles, -was now staggering under a blow which was severer than any<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span> battles, -the death of our Immortal leader. Thus in four years from the first -shot fired on Fort Sumter, four years from the very day of the first -shot, the shot was fired from the hand of Booth, that removed one of -the greatest men the world ever knew, from the scenes of human action. -He was removed too at a time when he was most needed. Yes, he was more -needed, than when the nation was in the midst of a bloody conflict. -He was now needed to set up the battlements of peace, which is a more -difficult work than the forts of warfare.</p> - -<p>On the twenty-fourth, we moved from the camp near Petersburg, to Camp -Lincoln where we enjoyed our camp life for awhile. We had lost many of -our numbers through death on the battlefield and disease in the camp, -but losses were now being recruited by volunteers coming to us. I was -kept busy filling our regimental papers, ordering and issuing rations. -Some of our men had become so rum thirsty that they would offer me ten -dollars for a canteen full of whisky. But I was not allowed to sell it, -and to give it out only on the orders of the Quartermaster.</p> - -<p>We were not here long. We embarked on the Demolay for Norfolk, <abbr title="Virginia">Va.</abbr> -General Russel and staff came on board to tell us goodbye. I had two -barrels of supposed corn beef, the boys<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span> called it salt-horse, which -I suppose was nearer the truth. I had also a barrel of sugar. These I -could not ship, so I left them on the ground, for some poor fellows -that could use them. Colonel Wooster came also and saw us off. We left -many friends, some of them with tears in their eyes. They had become -very dear to us. We had shared together the hardships of camp-life and -of the battlefield. Human suffering makes men very near akin. As we -glided swiftly down the James River, for a while we could hear their -cheers and when sound was out of touch, we could see their salutes of -hats and handkerchiefs. We enjoyed the day as soldiers on board the -vessel. I was astonished at the behavior of the soldiers. They gave -themselves over to all kinds of sports and jestings, which disgusted me -most thoroughly. Many were unruly, even threatening the lives of those -who favored going to Texas whither we had been ordered for garrison -duty. Some of the gang were arrested for their insubordination. My -heart was made to shudder at the degrading and shameful life which -was manifested on board the ship. Their swearing, drinking, gambling, -dancing, etc., was heartsickening. It was indeed a revelation and -shows what men will do when not under the eye of authority. Human -nature is indeed most sinful, and were it not for the restrictions<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span> -which are thrown about us, none of us know what might come to pass. We -arrived at Norfolk and anchored for the night. With having witnessed -the debauchery on board the vessel and at the same time wrought with -anxiety for my wife and two babies, my father and mother at home, I -confess I was in a most depressed condition of mind and heart. “Be -strong and of good courage,” came to me like a flash and I was strong -and buoyant in a little while. How grand is the truth of God, when we -find it such a rock of refuge in times of trouble; I was thus greatly -consoled and went to bed looking up at the shining stars, as if they -were so many angels, sent by God, to guard me.</p> - -<p>There was quite an excitement on board when it was whispered about that -the officers had covenanted together to take the soldiers on board, to -Cuba, and sell them as slaves. There was quite an indignation against -I. J. Hill, for it was thought that he was in some manner party to -this arrangement. The men were suspicious also of Sam Brown, a clerk. -I, together with others, had the good fortune to escape any insults -or indignities. While at Norfolk, we went to church and saw quite a -number of well-to-do Colored people. <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J. M. Brown, of the A. M. -E. Church, I think was pastor. He treated us very cordially indeed. -We were introduced to many<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span> of the congregation. This church had a -Sunday School of six or seven hundred members. It was an inspiring -sight to see them nicely dressed and to hear them sing so sweetly, many -beautiful Sunday school songs. But the time had come when we had to -leave the many dead of our comrades. We had done all that we could for -them in the last sad rites of death and now their bodies were resting -under the cold sods of the South, awaiting the Resurrection Day, when -we will all meet again and hear our record of the deeds done in the -body and the judgment based on these deeds. The memories of war are one -of the saddest features thereof. These memories can never be blotted -out; for as we grow older they seem to become more vivid.</p> - - - -<p class="center p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img008"> - <img src="images/008.jpg" class="w50" alt="BETHEL A. M. E. CHURCH Woodbury, N. J. Built by Rev. A. H. Newton, D.D." /> -</span></p> -<p class="center caption">BETHEL A. M. E. CHURCH<br /> Woodbury, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr><br /> Built by <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. H. Newton, D.D.<br /></p> - -<p>We took shipping on the transport, Blackstone, for Texas. We were -about fifteen days on the waters, the ocean was calm. There were six -or seven hundred on board. It was no little job to take care of the -hungry stomachs of these men. But we had a most pleasant trip and -enjoyed the ocean waves and breezes. The officers spent most of their -time in fishing. Once in awhile a fish six or seven feet long would -be hauled in. For two days we were out of sight of land and only one -small schooner passed us. There was much complaint on board on account -of the army food which I was compelled to give them salt-pork<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span> or hard -tack and bad coffee. They thought that being on board of ship warranted -better food, but I told them that I had to give them what I had. And so -we fought the battle of the stomach. There were many however who were -afflicted with sea-sickness and had no concern for something to eat. -We had a burial at sea. The poor soldier was sewed up in a blanket and -consigned to a grave in the bottom of the deep. The funeral service was -very impressive to many of us, for it was the first burial at sea we -had witnessed. I must confess that there was a grandeur about it that -inspired one—as the boundless ocean received the body of our comrade, -eternity had received his soul. I thought of his loved ones and that in -all probability they would never hear of him. Then I wondered if that -grand song could not be an interpretation of this burial,</p> - -<p class="poetry"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">“Rocked in the cradle of the deep,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I lay me down in peace to sleep,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In ocean cave still safe with Thee,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The germ of Immortality.”</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>At this time I was not a member of the church. But my father had taught -me to pray. And as I have frequently related, I often prayed in battle -when I thought that my time had come. I had a sense of the guilt of sin -and of the need of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span> confession of my sins. So I had also, the sense -of peace which comes from a man’s justification through Jesus Christ. -My case I am sure is but an illustration of the cases of many men and -women who have not connected themselves with the church. They are -real Christians as I was, having all the ordinary experience of the -Christian, but not having made any outward profession. We are therefore -unable to know who are the children of God, for certainly there are -believers outside of the church. Our judgment therefore must always be -a charitable one. Yet I do not want the impression to be made that I, -in any sense, approve of believers remaining outside of the church. -An outward profession of faith in our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ, is -an open badge of our religion which men can see. We should not hide -our light under a bushel, but put it on a candle stick that all about -us may see what we are by what we live. When we rounded the Florida -reefs, the boys’ hearts were gladdened, because they had seen the -land once again and their thought was that they were nearing the end -of the voyage. We had some sickness on board, such diseases as yellow -jaundice, malaria, chills and fever. We were huddled together like a -lot of wild ducks and the sanitary conditions were against our health. -When about seven days on our trip, our drinking water failed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span> us. We -were on the water, yet we had no water to drink; but we did the best we -could under the circumstances.</p> - -<p>We were glad when we came into the harbor at Mobile, <abbr title="Alabama">Ala.</abbr> Here we found -many transports lying in the harbor. Fort Gaines was to our right and -Fort Morgan to our left. The boys were all delighted, because they -were wild to get to land again, and especially to get a drink of good -water. How dependent we are on mother earth after all for our lives. -After passing the forts a short distance the anchor was dropped. The -surroundings were grand. There were gunboats lying in the stream, -with their artillery of death-dealing cannon looking forth from the -decks and thoroughly manned with the smaller-implements of naval -warfare. But our hopes were not fulfilled, for a command came that we -were to sail immediately to New Orleans. The men were bitter in their -disappointment, but such is the experience of war. Men are not free, -they are the parts of the gigantic machine of death, so many cogs in -the wheels, or so many wheels in the machine, or so many parts of the -machine. They soon became reconciled however. We had plenty of hard -tack and salt horse left us, and with this we could not starve to the -death. Our voyage was an uneventful one, save for the good weather -and fine ocean. We were soon in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span> channel for New Orleans. When -we reached the forts Jackson and Phillips, a signal stopped us for -inspection. We were told that we could not go to New Orleans, that -none of the men or officers could go any further without an order from -General Grant. The officers telegraphed to Washington to General Grant. -We were in rather a dilapidated condition, about out of coal and in -need of better fuel for the stomach, with the men completely worn out -with the voyage.</p> - -<p>We were however permitted to go on land at Fort Jackson. This was a -magnificent fort with its seventy guns overlooking the water inlet. -There were many alligators in this place and we amused ourselves by -killing them, which of course was a greatly desired thing. I had plenty -of hard tack and this seemed to attract the reptiles. I remember one -fellow over seven feet long I killed.</p> - -<p>At this place the Colored troops had been shamefully and barbarously -treated. As I thought of the outrages which they had suffered only -about one month before our arrival, I felt that if I could, I would -like a little revenge on their account. But there was no opportunity -for such outlet of wicked feeling. At last we received an order from -General Grant to take the transport to New Orleans, to get a supply of -coal and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span> oil, and to have the transport repaired. But to our dismay, -only the officers were permitted to go. We were left at Fort Phillips.</p> - -<p>I managed however, to get to New Orleans, in that I had charge of -the commissary department. We were already beginning to forget the -hardships of the battlefield. Our minds were turning to the ordinary -life which we live, and looking forward to the pleasures connected with -home and with business. And I assure you, my dear readers, that it was -a happy release. We had the constant joy in our hearts that our beloved -people had their freedom, bought with the blood of those who now slept -the last sleep on many battlefields; but we did not believe that the -price paid for this boon of liberty was too dear. The price of human -liberty can never be estimated. This is especially true of those who -knew what slavery meant. And the Colored Race has an endless debt to -pay their White friends who bought their liberty with their own blood. -While it is true that the White people brought our forefathers here and -sold them into slavery, which of course they had no right to do, this -does not diminish the price which this same race had to pay in order to -buy us out of the slavery into which they had sold us. And it does not -in the least diminish the debt of gratitude which we shall owe them as -long as time exists.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span></p> - -<p>I had a short but very pleasant stay in New Orleans. On Sunday we went -to the A. M. E. Church, of which the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> William A. Dove was pastor. -This was the <abbr title="saint">St.</abbr> James A. M. E. Church. We were most cordially received -by the pastor and members. They were kind enough to take care of us -while in the city. We learned from the members that while we were on -the battlefield, they were at home fasting and praying that our grand -cause might be victorious. “Fight and pray” is sure to win the day for -any just cause. The services were very pleasing and profitable. The -pastor preached in the morning and our orderly I. J. Hill, at night. I -and others, were much lifted up and realized anew what it was to draw -water from the wells of salvation. We spent much of our time in seeing -the sights of the unique city of the South. Our friends were more than -kind to us during our stay. We lacked nothing for good beds and good -food and good society; and we were in good shape to appreciate these -things, because of the privations, losses, suffering, and fears through -which we had passed.</p> - -<p>Our transport having been repaired and furnished with needed coal and -oil and food, we were soon on our way back to the fort. We had not gone -far on our course until there was an alarm of fire. This created quite -a panic, but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span> the blaze was soon put out and we were enjoying our trip -down the “Father of Waters.”</p> - -<p>We arrived at Fort Phillips with more soldiers for the Twenty-ninth -Regiment, they having been brought in from other quarters.</p> - -<p>We were soon off for Texas. With the transport loaded with human -freight, we started for Brazos De Santiago, Texas. We found the gulf -quite rough on our entering it. This produced sea sickness with a great -many. I remember one fellow who was very sea sick. I was unable to -do anything with him. He was continually calling out “New York, New -York.” “There goes my liver,” he cried, having spit up some blood. -Our great trouble on this voyage was the lack of water. They had a -condenser on board which reduced the amount of salt a few degrees, but -we could easily taste the saline property of the water. We found Brazos -a most undesirable place, there were plenty of fleas and mosquitoes -and sand burrs. We had our headquarters at this place which was knee -deep in water. Our Colored troops were nearly perishing for water. The -suffering was most intense. It was heart-rending. I cried out to God to -send us some help. We had but little water and that was quite brackish. -Our means of condensing the water gave us only about five thousand -gallons when we were in need of not less than ten thousand<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span> gallons. We -paid ten cents a canteen for water and would have been willing to have -paid fifty cents, or any price.</p> - -<p>After a while we met some Mexicans who had brought water from the Rio -Grande and sold it for ten cents a canteen. Colonel Sadrick was very -indignant over this hardship. When he saw our scars and realized how -much these good soldiers had suffered and the privations through which -they had already passed, he saw General Wietzel and requested that the -troops should be taken from Brazos. He met with success and we took our -line of march for White Ranch on the Rio Grande River about ten miles -south of Brazos. The march was one of great trial. We were in mud knee -deep and in some places the water was waist deep. When we reached the -Ranch, the soldiers were well nigh famished. They made a mad rush for -the river and while many of them were on the bank, it gave way, and -several of them were drowned. We were all greatly saddened over this -misfortune. It seemed enough that men should have given up their lives -on the battlefield, this was matter of course; but when men who had -stemmed the tide of death which swept the battlefield were drowned, it -seemed more than we could stand to see them cut off from their loved -ones by a mere accident. But it was the Lord’s way to take some more of -them home.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span></p> - -<p>It was not a hard matter for us to sleep the first night. We spread our -rubber blankets on the bare ground and enjoyed our rest as much as if -our beds had been made of feathers. The next morning we saw the body of -a man floating down the muddy river. He too had evidently met with some -accident, or had been killed and thrown into the river. It was not our -duty to make any investigation.</p> - -<p>I prepared the best breakfast possible for the boys. Our fuel -was gathered from the woods and rail fences. I said woods, but -unfortunately there was not a tree in the whole country, so we had to -do the best we could. But we had coffee, rice, sweet potatoes and our -regular rations. We put up our tents here and soon had the camp under -military discipline. Then we left for Brownsville, Texas, a distance of -twenty miles. The march was a trying one on account of the bad roads. -We were not able to keep our stores with us on this account and left -a detail of soldiers to guard them. Many a solder sickened and had to -be taken to White Ranch to be cared for by Orderly Hill. Some of the -men died on the way and were buried under the Texas sod with no stone -to identify them. One boat was on its way to Brownsville with rations. -I remember my homesickness at this time. After the battles had been -fought, I was anxious to return to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span> my loved ones. I felt that my duty -had been done towards my country and that now I must take up my duty -to my dear ones. We were soon joined by Orderly Hill. He said that -he had gotten tired waiting for the boat and had come on to be with -us. He threw a few chunks together and started a fire and lighted his -pipe. After a few moments reflection, he said: “These light afflictions -are but for a moment, for they work for us a far more and exceeding -weight of glory.” We met a drove of hungry wolves which made two or -three attempts to come to us, but about fifteen shots from our guns -were enough to satisfy them they had no more need of us than we had -of them. In time we reached Brownsville. We saw strange things there. -The houses were little huts; the people dressed in their shirts and -drawers; the women dressed in a long shirt with their breast exposed, -seemingly caring nothing for decency or modesty. It did not look to -me that the people here had ever known what it was to know or to -serve the true and living God. They were certainly far from any such -practical knowledge, judging from their daily lives. I thought “If -the righteous scarcely be saved where then shall the sinner and the -ungodly appear?” The next morning I was not feeling well. I went to -one of the streams and bathed. There were plenty of lizards, frogs and -horned toads about.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span> The horns of the toad reminded one of the horns -of a goat. It was a place of trials. Some of the men swore and cursed, -others were kept too busy scratching, while others were praying. It -was a time of sore trials. One of our officers, Captain Clark ought to -have been with the Greys instead of the Blues, he had so little use for -the Colored troops. So he marched them almost to death on this march. -Colonel Wooster, a man of tender feeling and of a proper sense of right -and justice and without prejudice against the Colored people, saw the -outrage perpetrated against us and put Clark under arrest. He was kept -there until Colonel Wooster resigned. After he left, we were again -under the command of Captain Clark. Orderly Hill was very sick and was -ordered to the General Hospital. As I looked upon him I said to myself, -Hill you are a very sick man and your warfare is about ended. There -were about seven hundred in the hospital sick. They were treated as if -they had been brutes, doctors and nurses being without any feeling. -They were dying at the rate of ten a day. The stewards would search -the dead, take their valuables, then report them dead. What a contrast -between our camp on the banks of the James River and the camp in this -far off, God-for-saken town of Brownsville, Texas.</p> - -<p>And now after all our hard fought battles, our<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span> fears and foreboding, -our privations and losses, we received the news from the War Department -that the Twenty-ninth Regiment was ordered home. It is needless to -say, that the home-fever spread more rapidly than any fever that had -ever prevailed in our ranks. We looked for and patiently awaited the -day when we would be ordered out. On the fourteenth day of October, -1865, at nine o’clock a. m., the recruiting officer was on the ground, -at which time Company K. was mustered out. We were escorted through -Brownsville by the Ninth U. S. C. T., Colonel Bailey being in command. -We marched to an open field where the two regiments bid each other -goodbye. It was an impressive scene, for these regiments had shared -each others fortunes and misfortunes through the war. They had become -inseparable, but now the best of friends must part. How happy we were -that we should be permitted to breathe the fresh air again and to tramp -through the country as free men. Yet I had the feeling that the Civil -War was the mighty struggle of the White Race and that the struggle -of the Colored Race was yet in the future. There is such a thing as -a man having to work out of his own salvation, and this is also true -of a race. Our salvation had been bought for us by the nation, but -it is ours now to work out this salvation. As we marched out through -the grand<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span> country and these thoughts came to me, I cried out to -God, “Can these dry bones live? Will this country give the Colored -man an equal chance in the marts of trade, in industrial fields, and -in the professions? He is yet untried in the ranks of an aggressive -civilization, for he has been a slave. Can these dry bones live?” -These were the prayer-thoughts that were filling my mind and heart. -Our march was a trying one on account of the bad condition of the -roads, but we were going home. No one but the soldier who has been -honorably discharged after an issue has been settled, knows the joys -that well-up in the heart as he turns his face homeward. The feeling -is indescribable. There were several boys sick, but their spirits were -revived on account of home-going. We soon reached Brazos where we spent -the night. I was very glad to say goodbye to my Texas friends and -experience. They could live on the sandy plains of Brownsville, as long -as they pleased; they could eat the strips of dried goat meat until -they were satisfied; they could drink and relish the muddy water of the -Rio Grande considering it the best water in the world; but as for me, I -would choose other quarters. Now that the Confederacy had surrendered, -now that the Palmetto flag had been lowered forever and Old Glory -floated in its stead, now that millions of people were made free and -could live and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span> think as real men and women, I was more than happy to -say goodbye to all these things and begin life anew.</p> - -<p>We embarked on the transport Alabama, for New Orleans. Our voyage on -the gulf was a rough one on account of a heavy storm. We were forced -to cast anchor. We passed Galveston and were much pleased with the -place. We found the citizens much more sociable than we had expected, -for we knew that they were Secessionists and Rebels and that they had -about as much use for Negro soldiers as the Devil has for Holy Water. -Nevertheless, we went through the town and made the acquaintance of -some of our brethren. We met an old lady who had been a slave. When she -saw us and realized that the victorious end had come, she cried at the -top of her voice. “The Lord, the Mighty One has conquered and we are -all free! Glory to God!” We took on wood and I regulated my rations for -we were four hundred and fifty miles from New Orleans. We were again -on board the transport for New Orleans, but we were unable to leave -the harbor on account of a fearful gale that swept the gulf. We made -an attempt, but were forced back again into the harbor. The soldiers -became quite unruly owing to their impatience and also, I suppose the -feeling that they could do as they pleased. After a hard voyage we<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span> -landed safely in New Orleans. We found an open lot in the south side of -the city and put up our tents and made ready for a good night’s sleep. -We felt that we could sleep now. That we had taken part in a mighty -conflict and had shared in the victories of the war, it was now our -right to rest. It was the sleep of the just man.</p> - -<p>We had a quiet Sunday in New Orleans. Our chaplain preached for us. -Great crowds came out to visit us and to give us their most hearty -congratulations. They gave us coffee, sandwiches, fruits, etc., in -token of the appreciation of our services in their behalf. We saw -strange things in New Orleans. We found the mixture of French and -Negro, called the Creole, speaking a dialect of the French. We found -the Octoroon and that some of these unions had from one to seven -children. We found that marriage among them was rather an uncommon -thing and that a man could establish almost any relationship that -pleased him and enter into the Creole life and be received and welcomed -as one of them. We found that they drank more claret, champagne, -whisky, beer, etc., than they did water. They of course had no sense of -their obligation to God and I suppose that many of them really had no -conception of the Real and True God. Their lives gave no evidence of -such a knowledge.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span></p> - -<p>The first annual conference of the A. M. E. Church was being held by -Bishop J. P. Campbell. We enjoyed the services very much being in the -spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ. We were in New Orleans two weeks. At -the end of this time one of the men was shot. This created quite an -excitement among us. We broke camp soon and marched through the streets -to the wharf where we took ship. We were enthusiastically greeted on -every hand, receiving god-speeds and congratulations and blessings. I -shall never forget the musical voices of the people as they sang. The -music sounded like a thousand silver harps, so soft and delicate and -stirring it was! We went on board the steamer Champion. We said goodbye -to the old city of New Orleans and to many of the new friends which we -had made. We had a heavy sea. The storms were terrific. Our clothes -were almost continuously wet owing to the rocking of the vessel, for -days it was impossible to find a place to sleep. The voyage was quite -rough all the way to New York. At last we arrived at New York City. It -was morning. We remained on board until about two p. m., when we left -the boat and marched through the principal streets, receiving cheers -and salutes. We had not forgotten our former experiences here however. -And we were inwardly revolving the thought that as Black men we had -done our part<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span> in bringing about a change of sentiment that would make -a new city out of New York and every other city in the Union. And we -felt that it was but just that we should receive some of the plaudits -of praise and reward. When we passed down Broadway in front of the <abbr title="saint">St.</abbr> -Nicholas Hotel, the flags of the Nation and of the state were suddenly -hoisted by a Colored man and we gave three lusty cheers for the flag -and country and home. At last the orders came to fall into line for -our final trip. We marched to pier twenty eight East River where the -steamer, Granite State, was waiting to carry us to Hartford, <abbr title="Connecticut">Conn.</abbr> -The distance was about one hundred and fifty miles. We were cheered -by every town and village that we passed. We arrived at Hartford and -were escorted to the camp grounds and tendered a fine reception by the -citizens, a most pleasing welcome.</p> - -<p>At eight o’clock one morning we were paid off, all but one hundred -dollars bounty which was to be paid at some future date. Some went to -their homes, others remained in Hartford, until they had spent all -their money and were locked up in the prisons by the police officers. -After having cleared up my commissary department and turning over my -books and papers to the proper custodian, and having said farewell to -my comrades, I took a midnight train for my home in New Haven.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span></p> - -<p>The occasion of my sudden departure from Hartford is very interesting. -One of our soldiers was passing a Jew store. He was begged to go in and -buy a suit. He got the suit of clothes and walked out without paying -for it. The soldier came into camp and soon the Jew followed. I would -not allow him to enter camp and arrest the soldier. Not long afterward, -I went down town and the Jew had me arrested and locked up. I was -in jail until about midnight when some of my friends liberated me. -Immediately I made my way to the station and left Hartford. I do not -know that the Jew got his money and I was not much concerned.</p> - -<p>I arrived at home at seven o’clock in the morning and found my wife -and children, my father and mother, ready to give me the most hearty -welcome and greeting which I received with a glad heart. I was not seen -out of my house for about three weeks. I simply wanted to rest and to -drink in the joys that were awaiting me. Then I went to Brooklyn, my -wife’s home, and registered as a citizen of the United States. I again -thanked God that the war was over and that slavery was dead. “Now unto -Him that hath loved us and washed us from our sins in His blood, to Him -be glory and dominion and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span>power, now and forevermore. Amen!”</p> - - -<p class="center p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img009"> - <img src="images/009.jpg" class="w50" alt="ALEXANDER H. NEWTON A Young Pastor" /> -</span></p> -<p class="center caption"> ALEXANDER H. NEWTON<br /> A Young Pastor<br /></p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="My_Ministerial_Life_and_Labors">My Ministerial Life and Labors</h2> -</div> - - -<p>After I had returned from the war, I took the needed rest, enjoyed -the company of my family and got myself together for a new life. I -had the consciousness of having done my duty to my country, of having -contributed something to the liberation of my people from the galling -yoke of slavery, and now the time had come in my life for me to -determine upon what course I could enter that would contribute most -to the working out of the salvation of my people upon lines of peace -and prosperity. This was no little task. I decided that the best way -to find out what God wanted me to do, was to follow the leading of -His Providence in my life. I knew of no other way by which a man can -ascertain the will of God. God is in the life of every individual as -fully and really as He is in the life of a race or a nation. So I -surrendered myself to His leading, determined that I would follow Him -whatever might be the cost. I felt a double assurance now that He had -delivered me from death in many bloody struggles, that He had something -of importance for me to do. I was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span> not content to take up the old life -that I had lived before the war, to remain in the fields of manual -labor, not that I considered myself above such a life, but I felt that -there was a course that would be vastly more valuable to my brethren, -to my race. And I did not consider it egotism to honestly conclude that -God had given me talents that warranted me in seeking such a course. -“To every man according to his ability,” is the law of service. A man -must find out what his ability is, God already knows what talents He -has already alloted to this or that man according to his ability. In -this way and this way only, can God and man be brought together, in the -work of life.</p> - - -<p class="center p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img010"> - <img src="images/010.jpg" class="w50" alt="BISHOP JABEZ P. CAMPBELL, D. D., LL. D. Who gave me my first appointment" /> -</span></p> -<p class="center caption"> BISHOP JABEZ P. CAMPBELL, D. D., LL. D.<br /> Who gave me my first appointment<br /></p> - - -<p>On the evening of May sixth, I was received on probation, into the -Fleet Street A. M. E. Church, of which Elder Gould was then pastor. -I served as assistant superintendent and Secretary, Elder Cope being -superintendent of the Sunday School; Robert Turpin, one of the -preachers, was a close friend. I was engaged while in this church -together with others in a Social Betterment work. This work was -conducted in a house to house canvass, or visit. Great work was done -during this year at the Bridge Street A. M. E. Church the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Wm. -Winder being pastor. There were about one hundred and fifty young -people added to the church on profession of their<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span> faith in Christ. -The <abbr title="Reverends">Revs.</abbr> Williams, Boyer, and Turpin, were the ministers who assisted -in this revival.</p> - -<p>I preached my trial sermon at the Fleet Street Church on the evening of -September the 18th, 1871, and received Exhorters’ license from Elder -Theodore Gould. On the following Sunday, I went with <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Matthews and -others to Paterson, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr>, where we organized the A. M. E. Church. The -people of Paterson seemed to have been greatly lifted up and great -good was done in their city for the A. M. E. Church. Later on Bishop -J. P. Campbell told Elder Gould that he wanted a young man to take -charge of a church where a school was located. Brother Gould was kind -enough to tell him of my desire for work and doubtless recommended -me. Bishop Campbell took hold of me and gave me my first appointment -at Pennington, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr>, where I took charge of the church and attended -the school, Pennington Seminary. The leaders of the new church, -Brothers Allen, Ely and Amanias Johnson looked at the new preacher very -inquiringly and doubtless were laughing up their sleeves for I had -not gotten the flimsy, panhandle, look off me as yet, and they were a -little slow in taking hold of me and I did not know how to take hold -of them. However, I managed to get on the good side of Bro. Allen. I -told him the troubles<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span> of my heart and got his sympathy. One of these -troubles was that I did not know much. He said that he would help me -all he could and that I must stay close to the cross of Christ. So with -the assistance of God’s grace and the help of Brother Allen, I was able -to surmount all obstacles. I organized a church in the house of Lewis -Schenks, at Lawrenceville.</p> - -<p>I organized the church at Birmingham, having been assisted by Brothers -<abbr title="Joseph">Jos.</abbr> Long and Maxwell Frost of Trenton. This church was afterwards -reorganized and moved to Langhorne by <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> John W. Stevenson. I attended -the Pennington Seminary under the presidency of <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Hanlon. <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> -Marshall and the sister of <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Hanlon were of great service to me in my -preparatory course. One day I was walking through the campass when I -met <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Hanlon. He stopped and fixing his eyes on me said: “Young man -you should walk upright before God and remember that all your strength -comes from Him.” I shall never forget the deep impression that his -advice made on me. It deepened my conviction of the Divine life in man -and of the necessity of living that life daily. I felt no doubt like -Naaman that I had need to go to the Jordan, the river of Israel and -be washed from my leprosy of sin. This was the first time that I had -charge of a church and I felt the keen responsibility.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span> And I do not -doubt that those who heard me preach had the feeling that instead of -my having charge of them that they should have charge of me. But such -things are of the ordering of the Lord who chooses babes to confound -the wise and the weak things of the world to confound the mighty. There -is a time when a man feels that the best thing that he can do is to -get out of self into Christ. Self is one of the greatest blessings if -Christ is its center, but if man himself constitutes the center of life -it is the stronghold of every sin.</p> - - - -<p class="center p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img011"> - <img src="images/011.jpg" class="w50" alt="REV. THEODORE GOULD, D.D., Who gave me my first license to preach" /> -</span></p> -<p class="center caption"><abbr title="Reverend">REV.</abbr> THEODORE GOULD, D.D.,<br /> Who gave me my first license to preach.<br /></p> - - -<p>While engaged in this work I frequently had to walk ten miles to Sorel -Mountain, one of my appointments, which was a part of this circuit. -My salary was indeed very small, but they fed me and cared for me the -best they could, and God did the rest. I closed my work here with -twenty-three converts added to the church. As I write these lines, I -look back to see the ravages of time and what they have wrought. Those -who were received into the church by me at that time, with very few -exceptions, have finished their battle of life and completed their -labors, long since, and have gone home to render a better service than -they could have rendered here.</p> - -<p>I made improvements on the Church buildings of the circuit and was able -to make a good report to the Conference which met at Philadelphia.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span> At -this conference I was received into membership by Bishop Paul Quinn. -It was here that I made for the first time, my acquaintance with <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> -B. T. Tanner, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> T. G. Stewart, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Frisby Cooper and others. <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> -Joshua Woodland was my presiding elder. I was permitted to attend the -Lincoln University, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. I was supported -by <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Amos Clark Junion of Elizabeth, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr>, and preached on Sundays -in the Siloam Presbyterian church. Here I made the acquaintance of a -local preacher, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> David Croshon, of the A. M. E. Church and Brother -Scisco from whom I learned a great deal about church work. Being wholly -inexperienced and poorly educated, I felt the curse of the regime of -slavery, although I had never been a slave. I longed for the equipment -that comes from a thorough education and realized that if in some way -I did not educate myself, I could never amount to much. So it is hard -for me at my time of life although a closer student than ever, to -understand or to be in sympathy with any preacher who in his ignorance, -is satisfied to remain so. There is something sadly lacking in such a -man and I greatly fear those qualities without which no man is either -acceptable to God or to the church, as a minister of the Gospel.</p> - -<p class="center p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img012"> - <img src="images/012.jpg" class="w50" alt="BISHOP WILLIAM PAUL QUINN Who received me into the Conference" /> -</span></p> -<p class="center caption">BISHOP WILLIAM PAUL QUINN<br /> Who received me into the Conference<br /></p> - - -<p>I realized also that in addition to my own<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span> weakness that this world -was no friend to grace to help me on to God. I had many foes within and -without me to overcome.</p> - -<p>In June, 1870, I was requested by Bishop J. P. Campbell to report at -the Philadelphia Conference, he having, in the interval, taken me up -and sent me to the Pennington circuit. I reported at the conference and -was transferred to the South under the care of Bishop John M. Brown. -I was sent to Pulaski, <abbr title="Tennessee">Tenn.</abbr> This was about the time that the Ku Klux -Klan was having its sway in the south. These men were engaged in every -kind of intimidation and cruelty in order to keep the Negroes from -voting the Republican ticket. They would kill, torture, or do anything -that came into mind in order that their purpose might be realized. At -this time there were many Colored people holding office in the South. -The unrest and the mental suffering of these times were as severe -a strain almost as the period of the war itself. When I arrived at -Pulaski, <abbr title="Tennessee">Tenn.</abbr> I was introduced to what I might expect in the South. -I presented my check to the baggage master for my trunk. He refused -to take the trunk off the car, but threw it upon the platform in the -roughest manner. A White man standing near, saw that I was very much -surprised at such treatment and approaching me, asked if I did not like -that kind of treatment and that if I did not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span> he would proceed to give -me some more of it. I told him that I had made no complaints at all. -He asked me where I was going and what I was doing, and I was glad to -slip away and find the steward of the church. I related these things to -him and he told me that I had acted wisely in being calm and making no -fuss over the matter. He told me that the White folks were Ku Kluxing -the Colored people without mercy and going out of their way to find -provocations for such devilish work. The steward told me that I would -have to be very careful as a minister in and out of the pulpit, that -the Klu Klux Klan was especially after the preachers to force them to -use their influence to make the Negroes vote the Democratic ticket in -elections.</p> - -<p>They found me a boarding place with a Mrs. Batts. I found that the -Colored men of this community were doing good business. One was a -cotton merchant, a <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Harris, I remember. I was greatly assisted in -this charge by my local preachers. They were more experienced than I -in the work of the pastorate and I felt them to be my superiors in -everything. The meetings were good. Souls were converted and many were -added to the church. There was not much money in circulation and the -salary was small. They used cards to trade with, postage stamps, and -whatever of value would be accepted or exchanged<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span> for what you wanted. -I remember one night the Klu Klux Klan came to the house of one of my -members, a <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Pleasant Rector, called him to the door and shot him -down as if he had been a dog. His wife and children were frightened -almost to death. One of his daughters asked me what she must do. I -could tell her that nothing would help such dreadful matters, so we -all went to the church and prayed over the matter, and I consoled -them as best I could. These were dreadful times. The hatred and the -revenge of the Southern White man who had been whipped by his Northern -White Brother, were now visited upon the still helpless race. We had -to receive the very wounds which the Southerners would loved to have -visited upon his White brothers, and which they tried to visit upon -them in war, but failed. We did a good work here along temperance and -missionary lines.</p> - -<p>In September, 1873, the Conference convened at Memphis, <abbr title="Tennessee">Tenn.</abbr> This was -the annual conference of the A. M. E. Church and it convened at the <abbr title="saint">St.</abbr> -Andrews Chapel of that city. <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> B. L. Brooks, preached the opening -sermon. The Bishop, John M. Brown, was belated, so the conference -proceeded with business, having made Elder Page Tyler chairman, and -Elder Brooks, secretary. The regular routine of business was purposed. -Bishop Brown arrived on the fourth<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span> day, having gotten his dates -mixed, then he was afraid that at that time it was unwise to hold any -public meetings owing to the presence of yellow fever in the city. The -Conference remained in session until it had completed its business. -Yellow fever at this time was raging in Memphis. A friend told me that -he stood at a street corner and counted seventy-four funerals as they -passed. In the house where I was stopping, there was a yellow fever -case in the room next to mine. The meeting of the Conference in Memphis -was a very successful one considering the obstacles contended against.</p> - -<p>The following Conference held a year later, was in Nashville, -<abbr title="Tennessee">Tenn.</abbr> This Conference was presided over by Bishop Brown. At this -conference several were ordained as deacons, among them myself. While -at Nashville, the Conference visited Fisk University and also the -Tennessee college.</p> - -<p>During this time I remained at Campbell Chapel, Pulaski, <abbr title="Tennessee">Tenn.</abbr> We -bought ground and made brick and quarried stone, for the basement of a -church. There were about fifty members added to the church.</p> - -<p>I cannot refrain from speaking frequently of the great injustice -done the Colored man in the South at this time. Prejudice was rife. -It showed its hydra-head in every possible way and was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span> a serpent -with a venomed sting. I remember an incident which illustrates how -fearful this prejudice was. I saw a White man bring his horse up to a -public watering place, and about the same time a Colored man drove his -horse up to the same trough. He said to the Colored man, “A Nigger’s -horse can’t drink with my horse,” and ordered him away. Immediately a -mob gathered and beat the man to death for this “crime.” I preached -the funeral of the poor fellow, but was not allowed to refer to the -circumstances, or I suppose there would have been another funeral in -a day or so. My report at the end of this year was a reasonably good -one, the number who had joined the church was about one hundred and ten -and for all purposes we raised about $2,518.00. I was indeed very well -satisfied with the work of the year.</p> - -<p>The next Conference met in Chattanooga. This conference was presided -over by Bishop Brown, assisted by Bishop Ward. The various reports -showed the church to be in a growing and prosperous condition. The -Conference report showed 9527 members of the A. M. E. Church in this -Conference, 1122 probationers, 210 local preachers, 120 exhorters, -114 churches, valued at $106,101.00. This was a good showing so -soon after the war. At this Conference I was appointed to a charge -in Chattanooga, <abbr title="Tennessee">Tenn.</abbr>, with Elder<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span> R. French Harley as my presiding -elder. We had a fearful flood during this year in Chattanooga. There -was great suffering and loss of property. I did not do well in this -charge, however I completed, the church and added 86 to the membership -of the Church. I found that it was necessary to turn two men out of the -church, for their misconduct. They gained the confidence and bias of -the presiding elder, and he moved me from this place. Thus it is that -a man must suffer for the right that he does, while many go unpunished -for the evil doings. But that should afford no reason for not always -doing the right. We, as ministers of the Gospel, must take our stand -for the uprightness of character and the righteousness of conduct, -without any consideration of the price which this stand will cost us. -Bishop Brown transferred me to the Arkansas Conference, which met at -Pine Bluff, Arkansas. At this conference I was ordained Elder by Bishop -Brown and sent to the Bethel A. M. E. Church at Little Rock, Arkansas.</p> - -<p>I found in this city the prejudice against the Colored people rife and -that they had to contend against very great odds on every hand. But -in spite of this, many of the Colored people were in a flourishing -condition. There were men prominent in the ministry who had gone out -from this place, such as <abbr title="Reverends">Revs.</abbr> H. H. Pettigrew, Reuben<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span> Johnson, A. A. -Williams, J. F. A. Sission, J. T. Jennifer, Andrew J. Chambers, and -others. The Hon. Judge Gibbs, William Rector, and Elias Rector who was -fulfilling a prominent place in the post office were leading business -men. The church here was built by Brother J. T. Jennifer, D.D. My -daughter Ada was with me at this time, my son William Alexander, having -remained in Tennessee. There were many noble workers in this church, -viz: Joseph Stone, Jerome Lewis, Nelson Warren, Sam White, Willie -Oliver, and others whose names are too numerous to mention.</p> - -<p>My wife, Olivia Newton having died in 1868, and being a widower, while -here I became acquainted with a young lady, Miss Lulu L. Campbell, -secretary of the Sunday School. I found her to be a noble Christian -woman and felt that the Lord had brought us into contact for a great -purpose. After having considered the matter and having consulted my -daughter and finding that she approved, we were married June 1, 1876.</p> - -<p>After paying off a little more of the debt on the church and adding -about ninety souls to the membership of the church, I finished my -first year’s work. The Conference met the following year at the Bethel -Church, Little Rock. At this Conference I was transferred by Bishop -Ward to the Louisiana Conference and was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span> to have been stationed at the -<abbr title="saint">St.</abbr> James Church, New Orleans, but owing to some miscarriage in the -appointments, I was given the station at Algiers, <abbr title="Louisiana">La.</abbr> There as in other -places, I was not long in arranging and drilling my forces for active -work. We succeeded in repairing the church, but were greatly hindered -by the ragings of smallpox and yellow fever in this section. I remember -a fearful example of the work of the K. K. K. in this section. A woman -had been taken by this devilish clan and they had cut off her breasts. -She showed her bosom to a few and they had done their work well, for -her bosom was as flat as a man’s. These were some of the outrages that -were continually committed on the Colored people. It is sometimes -wondered at, that the Colored people are so slow to place confidence in -the White Race, that they too, have a deep seated prejudice which now -and then crops out in some vile offense against the White Race, if our -White friends only understood that these fearful atrocities committed -then and even now, against my people, are not easily forgotten, they -would the better understand. Human nature is the same and it will -require a great deal of the grace of God to smother out all the -horrible memories that have passed from individual hearts into the -heart of the Race to which I belong. But the time will doubtless come -and then we will see a different state of affairs.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span></p> - -<p>I remember another incident at this place. As I have said, the smallpox -was raging. I was invited to conduct the funeral of a small boy who -had died of this disease. When I went to the house and was seen by -the mother, she rushed to me and threw her arms about me and wept. -Of course she had been nursing the child. I was greatly annoyed by -this foolish act which threatened the health of my own family, but -as the good Lord willed, nothing came of it. After doing my best -here, I decided that I would not stay longer. I consulted Bishop -Ward and others. They told me that I was making a very unwise step, -but I got a transfer and went to Bishop Brown in the North Carolina -Conference. The Conference met November 14th. at the Gaston Chapel, -Morgantown, <abbr title="North Carolina">N. C.</abbr>, presided over by Bishop Brown. The regular routine -of business was taken up and the reports showed a growing condition of -the church. <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> H. M. Turner, manager of the Publication Department -and J. H. W. Burley, financial secretary, appeared and made their -reports. The number of members in the Conference as reported were, -5131; probationers 877; churches 58; support of pastors $4749.51. I was -received into this Conference and appointed to the station, Raleigh, <abbr title="North Carolina">N. -C.</abbr></p> - -<p>I had instructions to go to <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Norfleet Dunson, but he was away and I -was sent to <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Stewart Ellisons.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span></p> - -<p>When I went to Raleigh, I had a very discouraging experience. I drove -up to a Brother Ellisons’, rapped on the door. A lady came to the door. -I told her that I was the preacher who had been sent to the <abbr title="saint">St.</abbr> Paul’s -A. M. E. Church. She informed me that all her family had gone to the -funeral, so I had my trunk brought upon the porch and sat down upon -it. She had evidently expected me to come in when the trunk was safely -on the porch. But I remained in the porch, being worn out and out of -patience.</p> - -<p>Presently she came out and invited me in. I told her that no one was -at home but herself and that I would remain outside until the folks -came home. She said, “Now I don’t want any foolishness around here, -if you have been sent here to be pastor of our church, you come right -in.” Well, that was hearty enough a reception, a positive command, of -course I obeyed orders, I had learned this in the army. Soon the family -returned. They were delighted to see me, built a fine fire, made ready -a fine supper, and after a social time I was sent to a good bed. After -I retired I felt very much ashamed of myself for the ugly feeling I -had harbored and repented of my sins. It never pays to allow one’s bad -feelings to get the better of their good feelings, for they always pay -a big price for the victory. My official board was made up of John -O’Kelley,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span> Stewart Ellison, Norfleet Dunson, Seth Nowell, and Henry -Hunter. They were a very fine set of men. We went to work in earnest, -bought a lot and paid off a great many debts. There were over 230 -accessions to the church, of whom I baptized about 150 by immersion. I -received a salary of $1000.00 which was very large at that time in our -Connection. They gave me $75.00 that I might bring my wife and daughter -from Algiers, <abbr title="Louisiana">La.</abbr> The Colored people at this place were very successful -in business and of good reputation and character. The White people, -that is those especially interested in us, were very kind indeed. A -Mrs. Dorr, (white) was principal of the school for Colored children. -She did a great deal for the uplifting of the Race. <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Tupper, (white) -was the president of Shaw University, a Baptist school of the Colored -people. My daughter, Ada, taught rhetoric, in the Shaw University.</p> - -<p>I concluded my work at this place and was able to carry to the -Conference fine reports. This was largely due to the fact that the -church was very spiritual. It was on the Lord’s side on all those -questions which affect the religion of a community. Sometimes a -minister is looked upon as the cause of the failures of a church, in -its work, as a rule he is blamed, but this is a mistake. The general -cause is to be found in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span> church. A good church with a poor pastor -will succeed, but a bad church with a good pastor is liable to fail. -Christ could do no mighty works in a certain place because of their -unbelief. There are many good preachers who are unable to do good work -because of the unbelief of the people and the consequence of this -unbelief. It acts as a kind of paralysis, and indeed it is, a paralysis -of the church.</p> - -<p>I left this church for the station of Newberne, <abbr title="North Carolina">N. C.</abbr> This was my -birthplace. I was really glad to get back to the place where I first -saw the light. I had been absent for twenty years. I saw that great -changes had taken place during this time. There were no slave gangs, no -whipping posts, no slave pen, no auction block. One of the first things -that I did was to go to see a tree opposite the house of Bob Walker, in -an old field, the spot where Tom Lewis had been whipped nearly to death -for attacking a White man. After they had nearly killed him they took -him down to the boat and put him on it and told him that he was never -to put the prints of his feet on that part of the country again.</p> - -<p>I was received very cordially by the church members. Many of them I -remembered as my friends twenty years ago and longer. I had charge of -Rue’s Chapel. My first year was a very successful one. I was returned -again the second year.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span></p> - -<p>Newberne has quite a history. It is situated on the banks of two -rivers, the Neuse and Trent rivers. The elm trees are magnificent. -Here lived the Stevenses, Jenkinses, Bryans, Webbs, and others, all -old slave owners. They were of course deeply interested in the traffic -and did all in their power to keep the regime from passing away. There -was a Colored man at this place that owned slaves also, a <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> J. S. -Stanley. Newberne was a great turpentine center. There were turpentine -distilleries here and about here. But great changes had taken place. -The magnificent dwelling house of the Stevens was now occupied by -a Colored man and run as a hotel. A <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> George H. White was the -superintendent of the public schools, (Colored) at this place and had -also a law office. He afterwards became solicitor of state and a member -of the U. S. Congress. He is now the president of a Savings Bank, on -Lombard Street, Philadelphia, Penna. <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Sylvester Mackey and Judge -Mumford were merchants. Presiding Elder, Edward Hill, of the Zion A. -M. E. Church, was a wealthy planter. Mrs. Edward R. Richardson was a -clerk in the Post Office. <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> John Willis was a deputy sheriff. These -and other men and women had made good their opportunities. They had not -only welcomed the change from slavery but they had taken their places -as freedmen among the citizens<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span> of this country and had demonstrated -that they had in them that out of which the best citizens are made. I -forgot to mention that the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J. C. Price, D.D., former president of -Livingston College, Salisbury, <abbr title="North Carolina">N. C.</abbr>, was born at this town. <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Price -was one of the most distinguished orators, educators and scholars of -the country regardless of color.</p> - -<p>After my second year at this place, I attended the General Conference -of the A. M. E. Church which met in <abbr title="saint">St.</abbr> Louis, <abbr title="Missouri">Mo.</abbr> I took my wife -and baby and we went up on boat. My daughter Ada returned to Shaw -University, Raleigh, <abbr title="North Carolina">N. C.</abbr> where she was an instructor. At <abbr title="saint">St.</abbr> Louis, -I met a great many ministers whom I knew and many more with whom I -got well acquainted. I was quite indisposed while there, but was able -to attend the sessions of the Conference. It was at this Conference -that Elder R. H. Cain, D.D., made his defense against the charge of -maladministration in office. And I am sure that it was his noble -defense that brought about his election to the office of Bishopric. -While in <abbr title="saint">St.</abbr> Louis, I visited some of the places of interest. I -called upon <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> J. Milton Turner, editor of the Freeman’s Journal who -afterward represented the U. S. as minister to Hayti.</p> - -<p>I visited a large Catholic (Roman) school. This was my first visit -to a Roman Catholic<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span> institution of any kind. I was deeply impressed -with the services, with the use of crucifixes, and the place that -images held in their service. It was very strange to me. I could not -understand how their minds and hearts could be fixed on God while at -the same time they were giving so much time to these genuflections, -rituals, and ceremonies. I remembered the second commandment. I saw -that this commandment was being broken. For there were the images and -likenesses of things in Heaven and on the earth, if not under earth. -And yet at the same time these people seemed to be in earnest, they did -what they had before them with a devotion that attracted. But it was -all wrong because the Word of God in one of the Ten Commandments -condemned it. The Roman Catholic Church with all its pomp, pride and -wealth, is wrong in its fundamental principals and is therefore guilty -of idolatry—they are not worshipping God only, they are worshipping -saints and other divinities.</p> - -<p>On Thursday, May 20, 1880, <abbr title="Reverends">Revs.</abbr> H. M. Turner, R. H. Cain, W. F. -Dickerson were elected bishops of the A. M. E. Church. Bishops Payne, -Wayman, Campbell, Shorter, Ward and Brown, together with the required -number of elders, officiated. I left <abbr title="saint">St.</abbr> Louis and on my way home, -stopped over in Little Rock, <abbr title="Arkansas">Ark.</abbr>, spending Sunday there. It was my -pleasure to preach in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span> Bethel Church on Sunday afternoon, for the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> -<abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> J. T. Jennifer, the pastor of the church. I enjoyed meeting my -many old friends. I was soon back at my work in Newberne, <abbr title="North Carolina">N. C.</abbr>, and -remained there until the end of the year. Quite a number of members -united with the church and debts were paid off. My work at this place -was reasonably successful.</p> - -<p>I attended the Conference that met in Raleigh, <abbr title="North Carolina">N. C.</abbr> On account of my -mother’s health I requested a transfer from this section to the North, -and at this Conference I was transferred to the Conference of New -Jersey. I received appointment to the station of Morristown, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr> I -arrived at Morristown with my daughter, Ada. It was midnight and very -cold. I was somewhat discouraged. My daughter said to me, father, it is -very cold and the outlook is a gloomy one, but I am here to stay with -you and help all that I can. (Poor child, long since she passed away to -that country where the inhabitants are free from the tribulations of -this world.) I was reminded of a couplet in one of the old hymns,</p> - -<p class="poetry"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">“Thy saints in all this glorious war</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Shall conquer though they die.”</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="center p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img013"> - <img src="images/013.jpg" class="w50" alt="BISHOP JOHN M. BROWN, D.D., D.C.L. Who ordained me as an Elder" /> -</span></p> -<p class="center caption">BISHOP JOHN M. BROWN, D.D., D.C.L.<br /> Who ordained me as an Elder.<br /></p> - - - -<p>I was sent to the Morristown station to fill out the unexpired term of -the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Smith deceased. We spent the night at the parsonage, then -<abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Henry Ader, a prominent contractor and steward in the church, -came to see us and took us to his house until the parsonage was put in -shape for us. We were most pleasantly entertained by him. While in this -field of labor I sought out a secret spot where I might meet with God -and talk over with Him all the work that I was entering upon in this -field. I realized that such an arrangement with God was best and one -that every Christian who is doing business for the King, should have. -So I regularly kept my engagements with God in this place. I put before -Him all my plans and went over them, seeking His wisdom and help. It is -wonderful how He brings to our assistance His strength and grace when -we honor Him as we should in this way. The Saviour Himself taught that -we should have our closet, that is, a secret place, where we talk with -God about everything that interests us. That we should not do as the -Pharisees and Scribes, who loved to talk with God on the street corners -and public places that they might be seen of men. “When thou prayest -enter into thy closet and thy Father who seeth in secret shall reward -thee openly.”</p> - -<p><abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Henry Ader, Lansing Furman, George Yates, Nicholas Miller, Henry -Johnson, Robert Gale, Preston Garland, together with their wives, were -the active members in this church and they were indeed a noble band of -workers. There<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span> was harmony in the church between the members and a -zeal marked with wisdom in their work. I was soon able to have my wife -and children come on from Little Rock, <abbr title="Arkansas">Ark.</abbr> This getting together again -was a happy reunion of my home. I found the Y. M. C. A. in this place -to be a noble band of workers and very much interested in the colored -people. Such influences as this are very inspiring to my people. I -met and had the pleasant acquaintance while here of the pastor of the -Presbyterian Church, the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Erdman (white). I found him to be a -noble Christian man and very deeply interested in the uplifting of our -people. He not only used his influence but contributed of his means -for our welfare. I had the pleasure of preaching for him in his own -pulpit. I might mention also a <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Owen, a physician (white), who did -a great deal for our people and cause. He assisted us in paying off -the mortgage on our Church and in getting the Church out of debt. In -all these things I was able to see the gleams of the light of God’s -love shining down upon us every day. For we must remember that the love -and the friendship of our white friends are but the sunshine of God’s -love falling upon us to bless us and to teach us that God has His own -chosen ones in this world who are living on the table land of Christian -thought and activity, far above the swamps of prejudice<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span> and racial -animosity. We, too, should daily seek to live on these same highlands -of God’s love and peace.</p> - - - -<p class="center p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img014"> - <img src="images/014.jpg" class="w50" alt="REV. J. W. COOPER, Treasurer of the New Jersey Conference" /> -</span></p> -<p class="center caption"><abbr title="Reverend">REV.</abbr> J. W. COOPER,<br />Treasurer of the New Jersey Conference.<br /></p> - - -<p>The Conference met at Princeton, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr> I was received into the -membership of this Conference and entered into the active duties -thereof on committees on which I was assigned. I found the brethren -very cordial in their welcome and pleasant as co-laborers in the Lord’s -work. I met here for the first time, Elders J. W. Cooper, J. H. Bean, -George A. Mills, J. H. Morgan, R. Faucett, J. T. Diggs, Winston Taylor, -J. R. V. Pierce, Wilson Patterson, S. B. Williams and others. I was -assigned to Morristown and was much pleased with the appointment. -We had a very pleasant year as well as profitable. The Conference -the following year was entertained by my Church. This meeting of the -Conference was a very pleasant and profitable one. The reports showed -that in every way the denomination in this part of the vineyard was -doing its work reasonably well. The Conference had the pleasure while -here of visiting Drew Seminary. Some of our Bishops and leaders made -addresses, which were kindly received judging from the responses on the -part of the Faculty of this noble institution. This is a theological -school of the M. E. Church. After the adjournment of the Conference I -slipped away for a much needed rest, not letting my congregation<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span> or -even my wife know where I was going. I went to New York City for a few -days. Sometimes it is necessary for a man to get away from every work -that he may recuperate himself.</p> - -<p>About this time I attended the funeral of my cousin, John Harris, -living on Lombard street, Philadelphia. While here I met Bishops Wayman -and Brown; Financial Secretary, B. W. Arnett, (since made Bishop, but -now deceased), and Judge Allen (colored), of South Carolina. I visited -the Philadelphia Conference which met at West Chester, <abbr title="Pennsylvania">Pa.</abbr> This was a -very delightful meeting of Conference.</p> - -<p>I soon returned to my field of labor, at Morristown, very much -refreshed and entered upon my labors with new zeal and, I trust, more -wisdom. All through my ministry I have been deeply impressed with the -fact that we must do all that we can for our young people. They are, -in their own time and generation, to do all in their power to work out -the salvation of their people. They must be trained to take up the -labors of their fathers and mothers with more zeal and wisdom than -their parents, so that the cause of the race may be greatly advanced -by them in their day. When I think of the ten millions or more of my -people in this country, and their destiny will be largely fixed by -the coming generation of Afro-Americans; I almost tremble for the -outcome, because<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span> I fear that the fathers and mothers of this day and -generation have not done their work as well as they could have done it. -There are great odds against us in this country, and it will require -strong bodies, characters and minds, together with the power and wisdom -of God, to bring my people to the place where they can become potent -factors in this mighty civilization. At Morristown I furnished the -parsonage, paid off all debts and added 40 members to the Church. I -also organized the Church at Madison, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr></p> - - - -<p class="center p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img015"> - <img src="images/015.jpg" class="w50" alt="MACEDONIA A. M. E. CHURCH" /> -</span></p> -<p class="center caption">MACEDONIA A. M. E. CHURCH<br />Camden, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr><br />Built by <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> W. H. Yeocum, D.D., and <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. H. Newton, D.D.</p> - - - -<p>On April 18, 1883, the New Jersey Conference met at Bridgeton, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr>, -in the Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church. My report was as follows: Contingent, -$1; salary, $580; traveling expenses, $12; <abbr title="Presiding Elder">P. E.</abbr> support, $49; Dollar -Money, $27; Missionary Fund, $12; Sunday School, $22; number of -members, 61; probationers, 4; Sunday School scholars, 120. I was sent -from this Conference to Trenton, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr>, where I spent two years in the -pastoral work. I increased the membership of this Church from 62 to 180 -during this time and paid off a great many debts and advanced the cause -of Christ in many ways. After this pastorate, I served the Macedonia A. -M. E. Church, Camden, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr></p> - -<p>I attended the General Conference in Baltimore, which was a wideawake -meeting. While living and working in Camden I bought my first<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span> house -and became a property owner. I did this because the parsonage could -not be vacated at the time I needed the house. I have never regretted -this step. And I hope that many who read this volume will take a -similar step. There is no comfort like living under your own “vine -and fig tree.” My work in the Camden Church was very successful. I -had associated with me <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> C. W. Robinson, Taswell Green, W. Starr, -James Hunt, James Martin, George Rice, Mary White, Lizzie Green, Mary -Merril, Emma Pitts, Mary Stevenson and other helpers, whose loyalty and -faithfulness were most praiseworthy.</p> - -<p>We had the great pleasure of entertaining the Conference, which was a -most profitable meeting. The Conference was opened by a sermon from -Bishop Campbell and presided over by Bishop Wayman. I was complimented -at this meeting by the brethren along the strain that God had special -blessings prepared for me and that in a peculiar sense He had cared -for me. I told them that I praised Him for all that I was, and had -been able to do for Him; that they all knew that I had started -without any education in the schools. I had been blessed with good -health and ordinarily good sense; that my school was the school in -which Jesus Christ is the Principal and the Holy Spirit the Teacher; -that I had associated every day with my schoolmates, the sun,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span> moon, -stars, rivers, trees, grass, flowers and birds; that the world was my -blackboard, and the mountains my college walls. Here is where I got my -start. As I now look out on the young men who are entering the ministry -and see the splendid opportunities they have of acquiring an education, -I am really appalled that they do not improve these opportunities. It -is a mystery to me. I hope that the Holy Spirit will awaken in the -minds and hearts of the young men of my race who expect to preach the -Gospel, the determination and effort to thoroughly prepare themselves -to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.</p> - -<p>I was left at the Macedonia Church for another year. We were able to -complete the Church during this year, and it was dedicated on the 24th -of October, 1886, by Bishop Wayman. The collection which we were able -to raise at this dedicatory service was $900. The church building is -a fine edifice, with stained glass windows and a fine pipe organ. We -were very proud of our work. At this service I performed two marriages -between <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Frank Miller and Miss Georgia Stratton, and <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Charles -J. Cloud and Miss Sarah J. Beatty. I finished my work in Camden, paid -$11,000 on indebtedness, was blessed with 200 conversions, of whom 160 -united with the church and paid for my house at No. 332 Washington<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span> -Street, Camden, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr> I left an indebtedness of $5000 in the church.</p> - -<p>The Conference of 1886 met at Trenton, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr>, and was presided over -by Bishop Wayman. It was a very profitable meeting. The Conference -appointed a committee to call on the Governor of the State. They -arranged a time and had a most pleasant meeting with this official. -<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> W. A. S. Rice, D.D., was the spokesman of the committee, which -consisted of <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J. P. Sampson, D.D., W. A. S. Rice, D.D., and <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. -H. Newton, D.D. The Governor afterwards sent for <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Rice and asked him -what the Conference wanted in making a call upon him. <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Rice was not -able to say anything definitely. Then he told <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Rice of a provision -which the legislature had made for the founding and maintaining of a -Colored Industrial School. The outcome of this conference of <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Rice -with the Governor was that the Industrial School at Bordentown was -established and that <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Rice became its honored founder.</p> - -<p>I would like to say in this connection that the chairman of this -committee, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J. P. Sampson, D.D., my life long friend, has ever been -prominent in the work of the church. He is a man of fine ability, of -sound judgment, and of noble Christian character. He has been tested by -me during a long life and I have ever found him<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span> to be tried and true. -I always know where to find <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Sampson on any great and important -question, he is on the right side.</p> - -<p>I was sent to Bridgeton, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr>, and served this charge with -cheerfulness and success. At the next Conference I was appointed by -Bishop Campbell, pastor over the Millville Circuit. I made my home at -Vineland, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr> I looked after the church in Vineland. This being a -very poor charge, my wife raised chickens and the children gardened, -and we were able to live. I went back to my old trade at odd times, -that of bricklayer. I did not fear to take off my coat, roll up my -sleeves and go to work. I made $3.75 a day, paid off the debt on -the church, preached to them on Sundays and added quite a number to -the church. I went from here to New Brunswick, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr>, and was quite -successful. I found the people thoroughly alive to the interests of -the Kingdom of Heaven. This church had the honor of entertaining the -Eighteenth Annual Conference of the A. M. E. connection at the end of -my first year. This Conference showed a deeper interest in the cause -of education than any other. The speech that stirred the Conference -was made by editor L. J. Coppin. The reports at this Conference showed -a total membership of 4352; Probationers, 1200; Accessions, 1036; -Preachers,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span> 71; Sunday School Scholars, 3694; Dollar Money, $1538.52; -Pastors’ Support, $18,000. I remained at this charge for another year. -I determined that I would do the best work of my life this year. In -examining myself I found that I was as full of zeal as when I first -entered the ministry and that the secret motive was to please the Lord -by serving Him to the best of my ability. I was greatly aided in my -work by the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J. H. Morgan, the presiding elder. He had the tact -and good sense to bring about a most pleasant relationship between -pastor and people. The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Pockman, of the Reformed Church, aided -me very much in my work. I always sought the advice and help of my -Methodist brethren, as well as the brethren of other denominations. -William Stiles, Dorie Davis, Josiah Henson, Thomas March, Alice -Thompson, Mrs. March, Samuel Dowdie, Harriet Henson, and others were my -valuable co-workers during this year. We paid off the debt, furnished -the parsonage, repaired and carpeted the church building, paid the -mortgage of 15 years’ standing and were blessed with an addition to -the membership of forty-two souls. I was therefore able to take a -good report to the next meeting of the Conference. The reports at -this Conference showed splendid progress being made by this branch -of the Methodist Church. And it requires<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span> but a brief examination -to prove that this is also true of every denomination represented -among my people. I submit a few facts and figures that may be of -great encouragement to my friends who have the patience to read this -volume. There are 55,784 church organizations; 56,228 church buildings; -2,672,977 members of all denominations; church property is valued at -$32,510,448; when I enlisted in the Civil War we had practically no -schools, because before the war it was a misdemeanor to teach Colored -children in school, now there are upwards of 2,000,000 Colored children -attending well taught schools. This is a record of which we are very -proud, but by no means satisfied with the achievement. We must press -forward along all lines of work and enterprise. There is no time for -idling, there is no place for drones, there is no reward for ignorance.</p> - -<p>My next assignment was Cape May, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr> During the pastorate of <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J. -Height Bean, D.D., this church had bought a lot on which was a house -used as a parsonage. We were greatly favored here by a <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Ogden, who -aided us in procuring lumber. He was a most kind man to the poor and -needy and in his kindness he knew no color line. The church building -was not plastered or seated, so we decided to borrow money for this -purpose. We needed $500<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span> and owed a mortgage of $1200. We had not a -cent. Therefore the Board decided on a rally. At this rally we had with -us the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Israel Derricks, of the Conference of New York. On that day -we raised $168 in cash and $50 in subscriptions. On another Sabbath -later we raised $250. <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Levi Coppin aided us very materially that -day. So that at last we were able to pay in cash $468 of the $500 which -we had expected to borrow. The School Board at Cape May applied to me -for two teachers to fill vacancies in public school. I recommended -Miss Gertie Pierce, of Trenton, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr>, and Miss Fannie Worthington, of -Washington, D. C. They were accepted and given positions. Our church -at this place supplied two of the school teachers, this year, for the -teaching of the Colored children. The Misses Gertie Pierce and Fannie -Worthington were the young ladies. Through the spiritual activity of -the members we had a splendid revival during the year which resulted -in forty members being added to the church, and in all 62 members. We -installed a pipe organ also. I am glad to say that the members of this -church were in dead earnest. So I had no trouble with mud-slingers -and evil doers. How much time of a pastor is frequently taken up in -fighting against the Devil who is incarnated in some of the members of -the church!</p> - - - -<p class="center p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img016"> - <img src="images/016.jpg" class="w50" alt="BISHOP HENRY M. TURNER Who appointed me Presiding Elder" /> -</span></p> -<p class="center caption">BISHOP HENRY M. TURNER<br />Who appointed me Presiding Elder</p> - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span></p> - -<p>The next Conference met at Morristown, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr> It was a great delight to -return and meet my old friends and co-laborers. The reports of this -Conference showed a steady growth and advancement along all lines.</p> - -<p>I am often reminded of the courage of Bishop Allen, who, when he and -his friends were declared a nuisance in the White church and while on -their knees in prayers were taken hold of, and ordered to the back part -of the church, went out and organized the A. M. E. Denomination. God -went out with him as results have shown. And on account of this most -un-Christian treatment which the founder of our church received, I have -given my life with redoubled zeal to its establishment in this land. -Our church has stood for an independence which has been an uplifting -power in the Race. While in some cases this may have been carried too -far by unwise persons, yet on the whole no one can gainsay that the -A. M. E. Church has been a Divinely appointed agency in the life and -labors of the Negro Race of the United States of America.</p> - -<p>At this Conference I was made a Presiding Elder of the Trenton District -by Bishop H. M. Turner, D.D. I moved my family to Philadelphia, <abbr title="Pennsylvania">Pa.</abbr> -With the aid of my friends, my family was pleasantly domiciled in -Philadelphia and I started on my first rounds as a <abbr title="Presiding Elder">P. E.</abbr> This was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span> the -most difficult part of my ministerial life. I found that there was no -church in the <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr> Conference that wanted to see the presiding elder. -They looked upon him as an unnecessary part of church machinery. They -considered him as a dependent on their gifts and that every time that -he came it meant “more money, more money.” My first quarterly meeting -was to have been held at the church at Mt. Holly but I found that -the pastor was not ready to hold the meeting, so it was postponed. I -went to another place and the pastor told me that “things were very -unfavorable there.” The result of my first round was that when I came -back to Camden, I had to borrow ten dollars. I attended during this -year the General Conference which met in the Mother Bethel Church, -Philadelphia. I witnessed the ordination of <abbr title="Reverends">Revs.</abbr> B. F. Lee, M. B. -Salter and James A. Handy to the Bishopric. The Conference created a -great deal of enthusiasm for the connection. I returned to my work -with the determination that I would do more for the Lord than I had -ever done before. I closed my Conference year with reasonable success. -I received as a salary $680 and $57 for traveling expenses. But I -believe that I succeeded in convincing the people that the presiding -elder may be of great assistance to the local church in doing its work -in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span> that the minister is often not able to cope with things as they -exist.</p> - -<p>My report at the Conference which met at Princeton, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr>, was about -as follows: Trenton pastorate, new church built and 59 converts; new -church built at Trenton Mission; new church at Jordantown; mortgage -burned at Bordentown; church finished at Jamesburgh; the other work -was the routine work of the presiding elder. I was again appointed -presiding elder of the same district. During this year I had my -daughter, Ada, with me, having come North and brought her husband, -Albert A. B. Cooper. Bishop Turner gave my son-in-law an appointment -at Bethel, South Camden, which pleased us all very much. My wife and -children not being well pleased with their residence in Philadelphia, -I moved them to our own house in Camden. During this year as presiding -elder I took up a campaign against worldliness in the church. I found -that our young people were drifting off to places of amusement, such -as theatres, parks, etc. This work was carried on by the pastors in my -district and I am glad to say that there was a great change for the -better. I do not think that our young people are malicious or wilful -in such matters, but that it is largely on account of the indifference -on the part of their pastors. It is not enough to go into the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span> pulpit -and enter into a tirade of denunciation and scolding; this will do more -harm than good; but reason must be employed. The world and the church -are at enmity, they never have been and never can be friends until the -world, as an individual, has been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. -As long as this relation of hostility exists between the world and the -church, members of the church cannot be friendly to both. They cannot -be followers of the world and its ways and at the same time consistent -members of the church.</p> - -<p>At the Newark Conference, I was quite sick, but able to get through -the work. My reports as presiding elder during this year were very -satisfactory. I was given an appointment as a pastor at this Conference -by Bishop B. T. Tanner, my station was South Woodbury.</p> - -<p>Sick as I was, I was determined to attend the General Conference which -met at Wilmington, <abbr title="North Carolina">N. C.</abbr> The trip was not a very pleasant one for me -although everything had been done to make it pleasant. We arrived at -Richmond, <abbr title="Virginia">Va.</abbr>, and stopped twenty minutes for a meal. I was carried -into the dining room and seated with the brethren. I was impressed -there with the fact that the White people are not going to allow -anything that has the semblance of social equality. As soon as we -were seated a folding<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span> screen was placed about our little company so -as to cut us off from the White people in the dining room. This was -segregation in earnest.</p> - -<p>I enjoyed the meeting of the General Conference very much. I was under -the care of a physician and able to attend each day’s session of the -long meeting. I was delighted to be with <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Joseph Sampson, my boyhood -friend and associate. He was Registrar of Deeds. I was rejoiced when I -learned from him of the mental improvement he had made. There were over -six hundred ministers and lay-delegates in attendance. They represented -the strong element of the church. There were theologians and scholars, -men skilled in the tactics of Christian warfare. I rejoiced that God -has such gatherings as this to work and plan for the general uplifting -of my people. As long as there are men who have determined that right -shall prevail and that the Gospel shall leaven the entire human race, -there is no doubt of the final issue. For we know what God’s will is -and that this will must be carried out by His loyal children.</p> - -<p>After my return home I was sick for about two weeks but was able to -take up the work at South Woodbury. The first thing we did as pastor -and people was to plan for a new church building, the old one being in -a dilapidated condition.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span> It took quite a while to get the people in -the notion of building, but we adopted our plans and began to work. -I found a great many splendid workers in this church, without whom I -would have labored in vain. I was at this place for three years and -when I left, the members were worshipping in a fine brick church. I had -succeeded in paying off a part of the debt, and had received into the -membership of the church about thirty-five members.</p> - -<p>At the next meeting of the Conference I was sent to the station of -Burlington, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr> I spent a most pleasant and profitable year with -these dear people. They did all in their power to make my life a -pleasure to myself and family. I left this work with the best wishes -of the members of the church. I left with the conviction too that they -were a noble band of the Lord’s workers and that the work would be in -the hands of men and women who would not let it lag for the want of -untiring, energetic workers.</p> - -<p>In 1899 I was assigned by Bishop A. Grant to Hossanah A. M. E. Church, -East Camden, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr> I labored here until 1901, having reorganized the -Sunday School and paid something on the church debt and added many -members to the membership of the church.</p> - -<p>Beverly was my next charge. Here I built a new church. I found that -many of the White<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span> people of this community were in sympathy with -our work. They contributed of their money and did what they could -spiritually for the upbuilding of our work. A lady from Edgewater -Park gave me six hundred dollars for the building of the church and a -nice little sum for the pastor. She was Mrs. Taylor. The Presbyterian -minister at this place helped me a great deal in my work. I can surely -say that the presence of the Lord was with us and like David, exclaim, -“Whom have I in Heaven but Thee and there is none in all the earth, my -soul would desire, beside Thee.”</p> - -<p>Sad, sad, are the recollections of the years from 1899 to 1904. I was -taxed to my utmost for the enlargement of the Kingdom of Grace in my -attempts to keep the young men and women from the sharks or pirates, -who would have dragged them down to hell. Their great sin was that of -Sabbath breaking. This led them to licentious living and almost every -other crime of immorality. At the same time the hand of affliction was -laid heavily upon me. And had it not been for the grace of God I should -have sunken beneath the waves of affliction.</p> - -<p>My daughter, Ada Augusta Newton Cooper, the wife of <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. B. Cooper, -died September 18th, 1899. She was thirty-eight years old. She was a -devoted, loving daughter and faithful wife. She passed away at Orange, -<abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr>, where<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span> she was engaged in her Christian activities. She was -a consecrated worker, a proficient teacher, authoress, and a most -valuable assistant to me for many years. She knew as well as I that -my education was sadly deficient, that I had come out of the briars -of slavery and all its curses, and in a very practical manner, she -was my education. For I had spared no means to have her thoroughly -educated. And always afterward she was conscious of the advantages that -I had given her and was constantly trying to pay off this great debt -of gratitude. But the time came when the Lord called her to a higher -service. He had need of her in another part of His Kingdom and called -her away. It is indeed one of the heavy crosses that we are called -upon to bear, when the Lord calls away from us the children whom He -has given us. Only those parents who have passed through these said -afflictions know anything of the pains and suffering. I cried out, “Oh, -Lord. I sink into the deep mire where no solid foundation is found. I -have come into the deep waters where the floods overflow me. Save me, -O, God, for the waters are overflowing my soul.”</p> - -<p>On December 3, 1902, my devoted and loving son passed away. He had -lived a consecrated Christian life. He died at the age of twenty-one -years. He had taken a thorough course of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span> training at Lincoln -University, <abbr title="Pennsylvania">Pa.</abbr>, and had entered the ministry of the A. M. E. -Denomination. He united with the Conference at Atlantic City and had -been assigned to the charge at Sea Bright, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr>, by Bishop A. Grant. -He was a loving son, fine scholar, strong preacher, and was beginning -life with all the prospects of a great usefulness. But the frost of -death rested on him and he went to sleep from the labors of the earth. -But we are sure that he awakened in that bright and happy land where -there is no death and that now he is engaged in a much larger and -better service than any that he could have rendered here below. I shall -see him again. We will soon meet to part no more. We will soon talk -together again and thank God, with the assurance, that father and son -will never be parted.</p> - -<p>On February 8, 1904, my dear mother was called to the other home. -This was the woman who had done more for me than all on the earth -besides. She died at the age of ninety-two years. This, added to my -other afflictions and to the weight of my labors, seemed more than I -could stand. I had never realized what it was to be without a mother. -Although at the age of sixty I was still a son. I had never forgotten -that the law of my life was that of obedience. That it was my duty to -honor my father<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span> and my mother. So that my years had nothing to do with -the intensity of my filial love and devotion. I shall never forget her -looks when dying, with her eyes fixed on me, she said, “Do the work -of the ministry as becomes a minister of the Lord Jesus. See to it, -that no disgrace is brought on the cause which you represent by your -unworthiness.” To my brother Henry she said, “My work is done. Neither -of you can do me any good. Be earnest and true to your trust, and meet -me in the morning where parting is no more.” Then she sang with us:</p> - -<p class="poetry"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">“Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Pilgrim through this barren land;</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I am weak but Thou art mighty,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hold me with Thy powerful hand.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Bread of Heaven!</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Feed me till I want no more.”</span><br /> -<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">“When I tread the verge of Jordan,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Bid my anxious fears subside.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Death of death and Hell’s destruction,—</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Land me safe on Canaan’s side.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Songs of Praises,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">I will give Thee evermore.”</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Then she left us. And from that day until the day when I promised to -meet her, I will be lonely without her.</p> - -<p>On September 29, 1905, my youngest and last daughter fell asleep in -the arms of Jesus. On the morning she left us I came to her bedside.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span> -Mrs. Jennie Wise Johnston, wife of the editor, <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> H. T. Johnson, was -sitting by her bedside holding her hand. She was rubbing her hands -as if she could rub the warmth of life into them. The poor child -cried out, “Papa, Oh, papa!” These were her last words, she could say -no more. Oh those words, how they have rung in my ears and how the -echoes have come to me out of eternity, “Papa, Oh, papa!” Her mother -had stepped into another room to weep. I could not stand to see her -die. The cares and toils and sacrifices which I had made for her, the -love that had bound her to me, the joys which she had brought into my -life,—and now that Grim Death should be choking her—was more than -I could bear. I bowed my head and prayed and took the train for my -appointment in Jersey City. When I arrived I was handed a telegram -announcing that she had left us. I took the next train and came home. -This daughter at the early age of twelve years, like my other children, -had become a devoted Christian. Her early piety was marked and deep. -She lived until she was twenty-seven years of age. She had been a -teacher in the public school, Mt. Vernon <abbr title="Street">St.</abbr>, Camden, for seven years, -a skilled musician and a competent Sunday School worker.</p> - -<p>In passing through all these afflictions, I learned that it was a great -deal easier for one<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span> to say what he would do under such circumstances -than it was to do what one ought to do. I had often said to many under -the hand of affliction:</p> - -<p class="poetry">“Cast thy burden on the Lord, for He careth for you.”</p> - -<p>I had never learned what that little word, “cast” meant. I found that -it was no easy thing to cast my burden on the Lord. It was no easy -thing to really say, “Thy will be done, not mine.” I would take these -burdens to the Lord, but when I came away I would bring them with me. -Ah! There is the point, I would bring them away with me! This I should -not have done, but thank God, I am becoming able to leave my burdens -with Him. I am too old to carry them now. And my dear reader, if you in -early life can learn to leave your burdens with the Lord, you will have -won the victory of victories. I know that these dear ones cannot come -to me but I can go to them and it will not be long until I go.</p> - -<p>At Jersey City I entered upon my work with a fine body of workers -associated with me. Bros. A. S. Taper, W. H. Dougherty, J. Stokes, -Edward Holmes; sisters, Hannah Stokes, Mamie Taper, Hattie Dougherty, -Louisa Holmes, Anna Burk, Annie Dowers, and a host of other workers -were standing around me in this great field.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span> They did all that they -could to make African Methodism a strong fort of the Lord Jesus Christ -and were bent on having a building that would be an honor to the -denomination.</p> - -<p>A <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Beach became very much interested in the work, he was our trusted -treasurer and gave of his own money and influenced others to help us. -I made my home with <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> John Smith and his wife. They did a great deal -to help the work along. While here we paid $500 on the church debt, and -left the lumber and brick for a new church on the lot which belonged to -the church and added over one hundred members to the church.</p> - -<p>On April 12, 1905, I met the thirty-third session of the New Jersey -Conference at the <abbr title="saint">St.</abbr> James A. M. E. Church, Atlantic City, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr> <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> -B. W. Arnett, D.D., LL.D., was the presiding bishop.</p> - -<p>The report of the presiding elders was indeed very encouraging, -showing that great revivals had been in the districts of the several -presiding elders, and that the church in all its departments of labor -and enterprise had made encouraging advancement. This Conference as -a great spiritual revival. There was great rejoicing on every hand. -The secretaries brought in fine reports of their departments of work. -We were made to feel that the church was getting back on the solid<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span> -ground of Methodism, the Old Time Religion which our fathers enjoyed. I -sometimes think that in our church work we have so much machinery and -so many schemes and plans, and are so bent on the money or material -side of the church and its life, that we have lost our spiritual power. -We need a great change in this respect. We must get back to the thought -that God is our all in all and that they labor in vain who would build -the house unless the Lord Himself build it.</p> - -<p>During this meeting of the Conference some valuable statistics were -submitted on the Race which I submit for careful study. Of course -these will soon be supplanted by the U. S. Census Report, but many -will not have access to this report, so I give them here: The Negro -population of the U. S. in 1900 was 9,204,531; seventy per cent. work -on 746,000 farms; 21,000 carpenters; 20,000 barbers, and one-fourth -as many doctors; 10,000 ordained preachers; 15,000 masons; 12,000 -dress makers; 10,000 engineers; 5,000 shoemakers; 1,000 lawyers; 4,000 -musicians; 2,000 actors; since 1890 the illiteracy of the race has been -reduced from 57 per cent. to 44.5 per cent. These reports mentioned <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> -Roosevelt as standing shoulder to shoulder with the immortal Lincoln as -the friend of the Race.</p> - -<p>These facts and figures are a great inspiration<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span> to my people and I -hope that they will be inspired to take fresh courage and go ahead in -the great work and battle of life. My only purpose in putting into -print the record of my own life is to encourage the young men and women -to do something more to help themselves.</p> - -<p>The doors of great schools are now open to the young men of the Race -and if they do not improve their opportunities, it is their own fault -and their own loss. The time has come when the people should not -tolerate ignorance and its shames in any of the professions. From -a personal acquaintance, I can most heartily recommend three great -men who will do all in their power for the young Colored men of this -country—<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Isaac N. Rendall, D.D., of Lincoln University, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> -Scarbourough, of Wilberforce University, Ohio, and <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Samuel G. -Miller. D.D., of the Bible College, of Philadelphia, <abbr title="Pennsylvania">Pa.</abbr> These men have -made their reputation and are among the great instructors of the Race -and they stand in readiness to do what they can for the young people -of my Race. The three men mentioned stand for the higher education of -the people. They believe that what is good for the White man is equally -good for the Black man. On the other hand, if young men and women are -seeking to be educated along practical lines, I recommend them to -the great<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span> institution at Tuskegee, <abbr title="Alabama">Ala.</abbr>, <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Booker T. Washington’s -school. With these great men and the advantages which have been -supplied by them, no young person can have an excuse for not rising to -a high degree of scholarship and efficiency in any line of work.</p> - -<p>At the Conference at Long Branch I was appointed at Bordentown, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr> -I had a pleasant reception here. <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J. H. Morgan was the retiring -pastor. He called on me and gave me some valuable advice as to the -work. I found that the church was divided by factions, but under God’s -blessing these were united and all worked together in perfect harmony. -We painted and paid for the parsonage and considerable was paid on the -church debt. <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Roundtree, the Presiding Elder of this district, was -of great assistance to me in my work.</p> - -<p>Prof. James Gregory, principal of the Industrial School at this place, -an institution supported by the State of New Jersey, was also a very -valuable aid in the work of the church. He and his students were always -present at the Sunday services and helped very materially in all the -work of the church.</p> - - -<p class="center p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img017"> - <img src="images/017.jpg" class="w50" alt="Former Secretary of the New Jersey Annual Conference" /> -</span></p> -<p class="center caption"><abbr title="Reverend">REV.</abbr> J. H. MORGAN<br />Former Secretary of the New Jersey Annual Conference</p> - - -<p>When I went from Jersey City to this place. I was in poor health and -this made the work much more difficult. At last I was taken to the -hospital and was there three months. It was a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span> fight between the -forces of life and the forces of death, but it was God’s will that I -should stay a while longer on the earth to do His work, so I won out in -the fight with death. But I am glad to recount this experience; after -a close examination of myself, I found that I was ready to die, that I -was really relying on the Lord Jesus Christ for my salvation and that -His will was indeed my will. This was a great consolation. In health -we are sometimes not able to diagnose our spiritual condition, but in -extreme sickness, when we are brought near to the valley of the shadow -of death, we are able to make note of our real spiritual state or -condition and we are able to do so, with the knowledge that we may soon -feel the pangs of death.</p> - -<p>During my stay in the hospital my friends were exceedingly good to me -and my church at Bordentown continued my salary. Surely God has blessed -me with tried and true friends.</p> - -<p>The best friend I had in all this affliction was my dear wife, Lulu. -She was with me constantly. She seemed to suffer with me all my -suffering. How often I have seen in her face the sympathy and love that -would have robbed me of every pain, but she could not. I cried out -within myself, “Glory and honor to such a wife!” The operation was a -successful one in the sense that in this case the patient did not die. -In three<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span> months to the day from the time that I left my pulpit I was -again in the pulpit ready to do valiant service for God and my people.</p> - -<p>The next Conference met at Orange, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr>, April 25th, 1907. Bishop -Wesley J. Gaines, presided. I was sent to the charge at Haddonfield, -<abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr> I was at this church two years. A good work was done. From this -church I was stationed at the church at Mt. Holly, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr> (The Mt. -Moriah A. M. E. Church). We met a most pleasant and active band of -workers at this place and did a good work for the Lord.</p> - -<p>At the Conference which met at Orange I had the pleasure of hearing -the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Samuel G. Miller, D.D., President of the Bible Educational -Association, speak on the necessity of an educated ministry. I was -deeply impressed with his remarks and when he made it known that he -was at the head of an institution in Philadelphia where ministers -regardless of their intellectual condition would be received and aided -along educational lines, I determined that I would visit the school and -see what they were doing.</p> - - - -<p class="center p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img018"> - <img src="images/018.jpg" class="w50" alt="SAMUEL G. MILLER, D.D." /> -</span></p> -<p class="center caption">SAMUEL G. MILLER, D.D.<br />My Instructor in Hebrew, New Testament Greek, Theology, etc., Bible -College, Philadelphia, <abbr title="Pennsylvania">Pa.</abbr></p> - -<p>Not long afterward I went to the school and found <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Miller at his -post. I told him that I was about seventy years old, that I did not -feel that it was worth while for me to undertake any course of study -and that if I did I feared that I could not keep pace with the class. -He<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span> replied to me that age had nothing to do with a man’s ability to -study if he would apply himself—that the mind never grew old, that it -was immortal, and that the only thing for me to do was to enter the -school and get down to hard work. I was both amused and astonished -at his advice. But I entered the school and took up those difficult -studies. New Testament Greek, Hebrew, Psychology, and put in several -hours a day on them. I was astonished at my success. I found that my -memory came back to me and that I was really able to perform feats of -memory. I found that it became easier for me to acquire knowledge as I -went along. I remained in the college three years, and am now able to -read the Bible in its original tongues and have taken the Theological -course. And now in my seventy-third year, I have done what I would -loved to have done fifty years ago. I have educated myself. How strange -the Providence of God! The Southern people enslaved my people and -caused me a great deal of my suffering, but at the end or almost at the -end of my earthly journey, I met this godly Southern man, <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Miller, -who has made a new man out of me along educational lines. Thank God, He -has His own children among the Southern people as well as in the North. -And I believe that when the Southern people realize what the Negro is -to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span> them as well as what he has been, that they will do wonders for -the Race. At this very writing, the white people of the State of South -Carolina are vying with the White people of North Carolina, as to which -state has the best and most progressive class of Colored people. I -thank God that I have gotten out of the briars.</p> - -<p>I am greatly surprised that I have been able to fill the posts of duty -and honor which have been assigned me in my life. I have done what I -could and the best I could. On the battle field, as chaplain in the -state legislature, as pastor, as presiding elder, as a high official -in Fraternal Orders, as an officer in the Civil War, as son, husband, -father and friend. I have tried to be faithful, and I can truly repeat -the words of dying King Edward, “I tried to do my duty.”</p> - -<p class="center p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img003c"> - <img src="images/003.jpg" class="w5" alt="Decorative image" /> -</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="The_Church_What_It_Is_and_What_It_Should_Be">The Church; What It Is and What It Should Be.</h2> -</div> - - -<p>I am aware of the fact that in writing my views of the Church as it -is and as it should be, that I may and doubtlessly will, run counter -to the views of some of my brethren, but I do not find that this is -a valid reason for my not expressing my views on such an important -subject. I have served the Church quite a number of years, over forty -years, having given her the best part of my life, and now that I am -about to conclude my labors for her, I feel that it is my duty to say -those things which in my judgment will be for her highest welfare and -the glory of her Head, Jesus Christ.</p> - -<p>I. The Church as it is. The study of present church life is a most -intricate one. We find that the Church is hopelessly divided, that is, -it seems hopelessly divided. “A house divided against itself cannot -stand.” Let it be understood that I am not talking or writing about -any of these divisions, or denominations. I am speaking of that body -of believers of every denomination or sect, who belong to our Christ. -They may be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span> Protestants or Roman Catholics; they may be Methodists, -Presbyterians, Baptists, Episcopalians or Quakers. No one denomination -can lay any claim to a monopoly of religion or of Christianity, and -therefore cannot be considered alone.</p> - -<p>1. The Church today is shorn of much of its power by so many divisions. -There would be no objection to these myriad divisions if it were not -for the fact that these divisions are more or less arrayed against one -another. If these divisions were articulated and harmonious like the -divisions of a great army, it would be a good thing, but this is not -so; we are the Church Militant in a bad sense as well as in a good -sense, and alas the bad too often predominates.</p> - -<p>We have frequently found one denomination fighting another denomination -on doctrinal grounds; we have found them proselyting; we have found -them trying to occupy the same territory, and thereby wasting their -strength; we have seen them grow into bigotry and sectarianism and live -the life of strife. The evils which have followed such a condition have -been an impoverished and struggling, yes, dying church; a poorly paid -and inefficient ministry; a life largely robbed of its spirituality; an -organization which has become the laughing stock of the world.</p> - -<p>We have found individual congregations following the example of their -denominations. All<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span> this is to be greatly deplored, for it is contrary -to the teachings and spirit of Jesus Christ.</p> - -<p>2. The Church today has become poisoned with politics. Political tricks -and schemes, political life and its power, have gotten into the church -and have wrought havoc. We cannot reconcile this manner of directing -the life and work of the Church with the over ruling of the Holy -Spirit. Some of the great meetings of our churches, in their annual -business sessions, have become real worldly political gatherings having -met in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. They have turned the House -of God into a den of politicians. Men high up in the authority and -influence of the Church, have subverted this rank and power to their -own selfish purposes. They have sought to make the Church a stepping -stone to something better for themselves instead of making themselves -a stepping stone for the betterment of the Zion of God. They have -forgotten that they came not to be ministered unto, but to minister; -not to be served with easy and lucrative positions, but to serve in -any sphere however humble. Money has been spent in vast sums for the -procuring of high positions; life has been wasted in a selfish attempt -to save it; the Church has become corrupted and made sinful, thereby -driving the Holy Spirit away from its work and presence. The Church -today is more or less disgraced<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span> by such political methods. It stands -depleted of much of its power. It is following men instead of God, -instead of the Holy Spirit. The Church cannot serve two masters.</p> - -<p>3. The Church today is largely under the power of the god of Mammon. -It has forgotten the poor which it always has with it. It has gone off -after the well-to-do and rich classes. It has greater respect for the -man that comes into its doors dressed in goodly apparel than for the -poor man in his rags.</p> - -<p>In our cities the Church is following the rich uptown. Great and grand -buildings are standing idle, and posted on their front is the sign, -“For Sale.” Whereas the multitudes are living and surging all about -these empty houses of God.</p> - -<p>The great burden of the Church today is not getting in souls, but -getting in dollars. Magnificent buildings are erected costing hundreds, -yes millions of dollars. The members are compelled to pay for the -costly structures. We forget that the groves were God’s first temples. -We forget that He was pleased to live in a tent with His people. The -Church has gone money-mad. The struggle of the pastor is to get his -salary after the great and increasing expenses of the Church have been -met. If he fails to accomplish this herculean task, he must go. By this -course the masses of the people are driven away from the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span> Church. Only -fifty per cent of the people of the United States attend the Church, -and only thirty per cent are members of the Church, and one of the -reasons, if not the greatest, is that they cannot afford to be members -of the Church. The call on the Sabbath Day is money, money, money. -People sicken at the cry, and turn away in utter disgust.</p> - -<p>4. There is a growing formality in the Church. This formality is seen -in the lives as well as the worship of the members of the Church. Alas, -too many love the form of religion, but they deny the power of it. -Revivals are gotten up, whereas they always come down. We have never -been able to get up a rain, because it is nature that brings it down. -We can never get up a revival because the Holy Spirit brings it down, -so that there has crept into the Church, times, and seasons and plans -of man’s making for revival purposes, simply because the time has come -for a revival and for no other purpose, the revival is had. What good -can come out of such attempts? Revivals come through the operation of -great spiritual laws, and these laws must be obeyed by God’s people, or -there can be no revival.</p> - -<p>The modern evangelist has done much to bring about a stereotyped -condition of the Church. He has his set methods of rousing the people; -he arranges for a revival in a certain church because<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span> it suits his -convenience, not looking to the special need of the church for such a -service. He is often inclined to depreciate the work of the pastor by -his own methods and mannerism; he sets in to do a certain amount of -work; so many souls must be converted; so much money must be raised, -and he is on hand to have this work done, and in this manner, the whole -work of revivals has been almost entirely discounted. The work of the -modern evangelist is unscriptural in that he is not doing it in the -right place. The pastorate is not the place for the evangelist. He -should go to those waste places where there is no pastor. He belongs on -the frontier, and the pastor who is wise will not permit an evangelist -to come into his church, and do the work which he himself ought to do, -or some other pastor.</p> - -<p>The Church must get away from these man-made methods and plans; these -man-set times and occasions, and must look to the Holy Spirit for -direction in all these matters.</p> - -<p>I wish it understood that I am pointing out some of the great -weaknesses of the Church to-day. I have not forgotten that the Church -in every age has had its struggles; I have not forgotten that the -Church is founded on the Rock, Jesus Christ, and the walls of hell -cannot prevail against her. I have not forgotten that it is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span> through -the Church that this lost world will be redeemed. I have not forgotten -that the Church is the salt of the earth, the light of the world, the -bride of Christ.</p> - -<p>In considering what the Church should be we have but to go back to the -Bible in order to determine this question.</p> - -<p>1. The Church should be a body of believers in Christ. I mean by -believers, men and women who are practicing the teachings of Christ. If -the life is not the result of the teachings of Christ there is no faith -behind it. If a man says that he believes in Christ, and is not living -the teachings of the Master, he is not a believer. That there are many -in the Church who are not believers is therefore true, because there -are many who are not practicing the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.</p> - -<p>2. The Church should return to its great mission of preaching the -Gospel. Almost everything else but the Gospel is preached. Science, -literature, biography, philosophy, mortality, etc., are the burden of -the pulpit today. As a consequence of this men and women are starving -to death for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.</p> - -<p>The doctrines of great fundamental principles of Christianity should be -preached. If a man is not rooted and grounded in the principles of his -faith, how can he be strong, how can he be useful?</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span></p> - -<p>A cry has gone out for a new religion. We have too much now of the -new religion. It is a failure; we must get more of the old religion, -or give up the Gospelship to those who will be faithful to their -trust. God will make the change Himself if we do not make it. He took -the light away from the Jews because they were not faithful to their -charge, and He will take it away from us for the same reason. What the -world today needs is the Bible, and in order that it may receive the -Bible it must be preached in the pulpit and in the pew. The pulpit is -very weak today in this respect, and hence the pew is weak. We have a -weak religion, and unless we return to God’s way, it will grow weaker -still. This requires a thorough Bible training on the part of the -preacher. The minister should know his Bible, and then he should preach -it. It demands great faith in the Word of God, and great courage to -proclaim its saving truth. A preacher is sent out into the world to -tell it of sin, Satan, self and hell. He is commissioned to proclaim -salvation from these things, and to set before the people an upright, -godly life. He is authorized to command that men everywhere shall -repent of their sins and turn to God. He must know the truth that he -may preach it. He must know the plan of salvation. He must be one with -God in knowledge and work. The pulpit<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span> must control the pew, and not -the pew the pulpit.</p> - -<p>3. The Church must look after the poor. This is not being done today. -In the Church during the days of the Hebrew nation there were no poor. -During the Church in the early days of Christianity, the poor were -well cared for. There were not any that lacked. The Church should be -going out after the poor instead of running away from them. Christ was -constantly serving the poor. He was with them all the time. He shared -their sufferings and bore their burdens. The Church to be true to Him -and true to itself must do the same thing. Our very judgment test -will be found in the manner in which we treat the poor, which are the -representatives of Christ on the earth. “I was hungry and ye gave me no -meat.” Read the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew and see what this test -is. Suppose that the Church today would be judged by this test, where -would it stand?</p> - -<p>These are some of my views which I gladly put into this book hoping and -praying that they will become an inspiration to many to get back to the -Bible; back to the old time religion of our fathers; back to the cross -of Jesus Christ. They are written in the greatest kindness but with the -greatest earnestness. They are written in no fault finding spirit, but -with the spirit of love and sympathy, for I love the Church more than -my own life.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="The_Negro_Problem">The Negro Problem</h2> -</div> - - -<p>It might be profitable to my readers, after having sketched my life in -the army, to give some of my views pertaining to my race, relative to -the Civil War and the time since then.</p> - -<p>Much is being said and written on the so-called Negro Problem. Why -it has taken this name, I have never been able to decide. For when -we examine into its intricacies, we find that it is the White Man’s -problem also. And certainly it is true, that if this problem is ever -settled in this country on a proper basis, it will be settled when the -White and the Colored people come together on some practical basis of -agreement. There are more than ten millions of Colored people in this -country and they are here to stay. They have paid at least a part of -the debt which they owe to the nation, on the battlefield. They have -never shirked their duty in this respect and they never will. Soldiers -during both the Civil and the Spanish-American wars, demonstrated the -fact that they are patriotic to the core and that on the battlefield -they are not afraid of the belching cannon. They have done their duty -in this regard. And when we look into the history<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span> of the Colored -people since the Civil War we are satisfied that the progress which -has been made, is a most satisfactory one. It is acknowledged by some -of the leading White men of the nation, that the progress of the Negro -Race since the Rebellion has been unparalleled in history.</p> - -<p>But that there is much to be done by my own people yet, is evident. We -have just begun the work of our race. A race that is not over fifty -years old in the arts of civilization, is but an infant in swaddling -clothes. We are to wait until he is able to walk and especially -to work. The Negro Race in this country has a most trying ordeal -before it. It is one of the most difficult of undertakings, to work -out our destiny in a land of such high civilization as that of this -country. While on the one hand it would seem an easier task in such -a civilization, because of the advantages which we have thrown about -us; on the other hand, there are probably more disadvantages. And -why? For the simple reason that the Colored man comes out of the past -without the centuries of training which the White man has. He comes -out of the past without any history. He comes out of the past in a -crude condition, untrained and with the curse of slavery still resting -on him. It will take time for him to prepare himself to compete with -the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span> White man and compete he must! The Colored people must wake up to -the fact that they have to pay for everything that they get in this -country. The mystic “mule and forty acres,” promised by Uncle Sam, has -never been forthcoming. And this is but an indication of any other -mystic gifts that we might dream of in days to come. It will be by the -dint of hard labor, that the Colored man will rise and make his mark. -There are many features of this situation which we will be compelled to -look into and many conditions which we must face, as men.</p> - -<p>I have often asked myself the question, why is it that on our railroads -and street car tracks, there is such a lack of our working men? We -see thousands upon thousands of white men, chiefly foreigners. There -was a time when the larger portion of railroad laborers was Colored -men. There are two or three reasons for this which are obvious. One -is that the foreigner will work for a cheaper wage and will live on -less than the Colored man. He is willing to undergo certain hardships -and privations that the Colored man does not undergo. I am not willing -to concede that he is a better workman than the Colored man, for the -Colored man has proven his ability as a laborer along every line of -work. Another reason is that the White man may be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span> more reliable. He -can be depended on with more certainty. And at this point let me say -that if the Colored race is ever to take its place in the mart of -trade, it must become more reliable.</p> - -<p>Promises must be kept. When a man agrees to work for six days in the -week, for a certain number of weeks, he must stay his time out and -do his work. It is not a question of his disliking the work or the -employer, but the question of his fidelity to his trust. For this -reason, that the Colored man is not faithful to his promises, he has -been discounted in the field of manual labor. The more important the -job of the employer, the more important the fidelity of the employee. -No employer wishes to undertake an extensive and costly piece of work -and be dependent on a class of labor that may fail him at the place -where he needs steady, persistent work. So he will, in making his -choice select that class of labor that will stick to him through thick -and thin. Fidelity to a trust is one of the essentials of man and -womanhood that must be cultivated among my people. If I am correctly -informed, I understand that in our large cities, our girls are not -holding their own as house servants. They are being set aside for the -White girls and these for the most part are foreigners also. Here -is a large and remunerative field that will be ultimately<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span> closed -to our girls if they do not take hold of the situation and meet all -competition. Surely it is due us, if we make good, to receive the -labor that is being given out on every hand. We were here before the -foreigner and are the native laborers of the country. And the country -owes it to us to give our race the labor of the field, of the trades -and of the homes, if we merit it. I greatly fear, however, that we do -not merit it. We need more sterling worth among us.</p> - -<p>The cities are becoming the great centers of my people and in these -cities there is plenty to do. The work is there. It must be done. My -people must live. They must have money to live. They should get this -money honestly, and this means by work. But suppose that the Colored -people of the cities, both North and South, fail in getting their -portion of the work that is to be done, how are they going to live? -That is the question. And we are sure of this conclusion, that if a -man does not earn his bread by the sweat of his brow, which is the -Divinely appointed way to earn it, that he will be forced to earn it -in some dishonorable manner. He will be forced to become more or less -a criminal. He will become a menace rather than a benefit, to the -community in which he lives. So that unless my people look to their -own welfare in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span> our cities there is an ever growing future of darkness -for them. I need not stop to tell of the unsanitary conditions in -which they live. These conditions are enough to deplete their living -greatly every year. I need not talk of the crowded tenement houses of -the city where many persons of both sexes are frequently huddled into -one room and many families into one house. I need not tell of the bawdy -houses, the gambling dens and the saloons, thickly scattered through -the sections of the city where the Colored people live. It is enough to -damn them all. I need not tell of the growing criminal class among the -Negroes in the cities and of the recruits that flow in from the South -every year. I need not speak of the White and the Black Slave traffic -among the young girls of both races. The cities are the death centers -of the Negro race, unless there is something radically done to overtake -these conditions. This, of course, is the dark side of the picture, -but I have not painted it as dark as it is. It would be impossible -to do this. It might be profitable for my readers, when they are in -Philadelphia, to visit South street and its adjoining streets, that -they may see with their own eyes, the signs of infamy, idleness and -debauch among my people. You will find scores of young men there well -dressed, simply straggling<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span> about. How do they live? Why are they not -at work? The dens of infamy hidden in houses answer to their vocations.</p> - -<p>It would be well in our cities to have such municipal regulations that -such loafers, male or female, could be arrested, unless they could -show that they were actually engaged in some legitimate work. Unless -something of the kind is done in the cities, they will become more and -more the cess pools of sin and death, and into these pools thousands -upon thousands of my people will be thrown annually to sink to hell!</p> - -<p>There is not only the obstacle of instability which my people must -overcome in order that they may get and hold the place that they -should have in the field of labor, but the Trades Unions are rapidly -closing up these fields against the Colored laborers. The basis of the -opposition to the Colored people is primarily the desire to eliminate -him from the ordinary industrial lines of work that he will not be -able to compete with the White man. Of course, if he is not permitted -to work there is no danger of competition. This is the real cause of -the opposition of Labor Unions to the Colored laborer, but this cause -is hidden, and the outward cause is, because his skin is black. They -do not want to work by the side of the black man. This, however<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span> is -but a good excuse in the mouth of the white man for it is accepted -as satisfactory by the white employer. An examination into labor -conditions in our Northern cities reveals a deplorable condition so far -as the Colored man is concerned. He cannot get a job calling for the -skilled artisan however skilled he may be. The Union will not permit -him to win his bread by the sweat of his brow. He cannot work because -he is not allowed to work. What is to be done for hundreds of laborers -who are thus excluded from the fields of honest livelihood? There is -no likelihood that these avenues will ever be opened and unless he can -find employment among his own people of what value is his skill as an -artisan to him and of what use is the acquiring of such a training? -The only answer to this question is that the Colored laborer must -thoroughly prepare himself and be on the ground ready for action. -He must be patient. He must be prepared to meet every objectional -condition with manliness and kindness, for the odds are against him. -There are many lessons that we have learned and there are many lessons -yet to be learned. New conditions in this most complex civilization -must be met with the application of the principles of fidelity, -honesty, industry,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span> and the like, or we will never win for the race in -this country.</p> - -<p>Another great need of my people is the ownership of their homes. This -makes the people, citizens in the most realistic sense, they pay -taxes and have the right of representation on such basis. They become -independent. They are then able to lay up some money. They are prepared -to enjoy life in its real and true sense. They will command the respect -of the White race and share with them the burdens of government in -times of peace. They become producers to some degree. There cannot -be said too much in favor of the gospel of ownership in this form of -government. It is our sheet-anchor of hope. The money that is paid out -annually for rent if invested through the right channels will in a few -years pay for the rented house. The time seems to be drawing closer -when it will be more difficult for a Colored man to buy good property. -There are many sections now in our cities from which the Colored man -is eliminated as a purchaser. The rule is to confine him to certain -undesirable sections of the city. This can be overcome to some degree -by the practice of economy and the purchase in the next few years of -homes.</p> - -<p>I wish it to be known that I am by no means<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span> a pessimist, regarding -my people. The same God made my race that made the White race and He -has a destiny for us and He is with us that we may reach that destiny. -But I realize that we have our own part to perform and that it must be -done on the foundation of certain great principles which God Himself -has taught us in His Book. It is in recognition of these eternal laws -that I speak, these principles will stand forever and the people that -puts them into daily practice, will abide with the principles, but the -people who violate them must go down.</p> - -<p>I am deeply interested in the education of the ministry of the race. -There are thousands of Colored preachers whose education is sadly -deficient. They are really not capable of doing the work of ministry -either in or out of the pulpit, and yet they are leading millions of -the people. In a most peculiar sense the Colored pastor is the leader -of his flock. The members of the church follow him and that too almost -blindly. They will condone his faults, overlook his ignorance, and -receive what he says as “The law and the Gospel.” That the people are -disposed to this most kindly attitude toward their ministers is most -praiseworthy, but that in many cases the ministers are unworthy of -such confidence is most lamentable. It has been carefully estimated<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span> -that only about ten per cent of the pastors who have been ordained are -college men and that the average education of the Colored minister -is not above the seventh or eighth grade of the common school, with -practically no Bible or Theological training. This is a sad state of -affairs when we consider that the minister is the leader of the people. -And I am sorry to say that the disposition to improve themselves is -not apparent on the part of many of these ministers. They rather make -pretensions and hide behind these pretensions, they mask themselves -behind the smattering of an education, and think that they are passing -for educated men; but how sadly they are deceived. How this condition -is to be remedied is yet to be seen. It is evident that the present -system of ministerial education in vogue is not sufficient for the -need. Out of over fifteen hundred young men who enter the ministry -yearly, only ten per cent are graduated in the Theological course of -all our schools. The schools of the United States doing Theological -Training for the ministry of the Negro race are therefore not beginning -to do the work.</p> - -<p>I might mention in this connection that there is an organization which -is beginning this work in the right manner, The Bible Educational -Association, with headquarters in Philadelphia, <abbr title="Pennsylvania">Pa.</abbr><span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span> This is an -association of Bible colleges or schools. These schools are located -where they are needed and maintained by the Association. By the plan -of this Association schools can be established where the ministers -are located as pastors and the advantages of this training is thereby -brought to their very doors. The Bible College of Philadelphia and the -Bible College of Washington, D. C., both schools of this Association -are doing a great work. The ministers are being greatly benefited by -taking the practical and helpful courses. These schools train also -young men for the ministry.</p> - -<p>There is much more that I might say on this great subject of the -Negro Problem, but time and space will not allow. Whatever course -may be pursued and plans adopted, it must always be remembered that -“They labor in vain, except the Lord build the house.” Our plans are -like the nests of mice, the straw before the wind, the dust in the -gale, they amount to nothing without God’s co-operation. And His -co-operation cannot be had without our obedience to His laws and -commands. The people of this country of both races have much to learn -of vital Godliness. The prejudice which exists in both races, the -hatred and antagonism engendered thereby, the separation of the races -in educational<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span> and religious matters, are all parts of the condition -which we are forced to face and in some manner to meet. Both races must -know each other better. They must recognize the rights and privileges -of manhood and womanhood. They must build promotion, on merit and -service, on ability, regardless of the color of the skin or previous -condition of servitude. All must become the followers of the Meek and -Lowly Christ, and they will be brothers and our brothers’ keepers. -There is no Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Man, excepting on this -foundation. Whether I live to see it or not, the Negro problem will -never be settled, unless on this basis.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Sermons">Sermons</h2> -</div> - - -<h3>Acquaintance With God.</h3> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>Thus said the Lord, In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: Behold -I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters in the -river and they shall be turned into blood.—Exodus 7:17.</p> -</div> - -<p>There are many perplexities which are not explained by philosophers. -Men of scholarly renown have by no means been able to comprehend the -mysteries of God. In His Omnipotence, Omniscience and Omnipresence, -He enveloped Moses, the great law-giver, but with His God. The power -that was to uphold Moses was not inborn nor was it acquired, but it -was God. The omnipresence, the hand that was to guide him in all his -earthly wanderings was not his own hand, but the hand of his God. So -that whatever of success came to Moses, God would have Moses as well as -us, to know, that it came from the blessings of God and not through the -wisdom or the efforts of man. Therefore, let us render obedience to our -God, who has promised us, that although the heavens and the earth pass -away,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span> not one jot or tittle of His Word or of His law, shall in any -wise pass, until all be fulfilled. We discover in the text the first -great truth, that God wishes us to know Him.</p> - -<p>The providences of God were manifested to Moses through His dealings -with him. This is one of God’s ways of making himself known to us. But -our eyes must be open to the fact that it is God who deals with us in -our conditions and circumstances of life—yes, it is God. We may say -that it is Nature, that it is Law, that it is Force, but herein are we -blind, for God says that “In this thou shalt know.” The doings of God -are frequently through nature, sometimes above nature, as in the case -of turning the water of the river into blood, but we are to be able to -see that it is God’s hand that moves and God’s voice that speaks. If -a man knows not God he will always attribute the doings of God in his -life to some other cause or causes; but if he know God, he thus becomes -better acquainted with God. So in the case of Moses, God’s promise was -sufficient to allow him and the Jewish people to accomplish results -which were replete with honor and glory. These pilgrims on their way to -the Promised Land of Canaan were full of faith and confidence in God, -they believed Him, they knew Him. He had promised them that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span> He would -bring them to this land that “Flowed with milk and honey” and nothing -could turn Him from the fulfilment of this promise; no, not even the -sins of His people. For did they not rebel against Him and sin most -grievously against Him in the wilderness, and yet did He not bring them -into Canaan?</p> - -<p>“Behold I will smite the water of the river with the rod that is in -mine hand and it shall be turned into blood.”</p> - -<p>The church is the receptacle of truth. God has always committed His -truth to His chosen people, to the believers, the church. The church is -devoted and consecrated in word and action to the glory and the service -of God. Through it He has caused the light to shine in darkness, His -love to fall into our hearts, the light of His knowledge and glory has -appeared in the face of Jesus Christ, His Son, who is the great Head -of the Church. God appeared to Moses through Jehovah, the Head of the -Church, and it was upon the strong arm of Jehovah that Moses leaned and -it is upon the same strong arm that we, the church in this day, also -lean. Moses saw the fire in the Burning Bush and he heard the voice out -of the Bush. He turned and saw that the Bush was burning, but that it -was not consumed. My brethren, do you know that this Burning Bush of -the desert is a type of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span> church? It is the church passing through -the fiery trials of this world, the church burning on every hand with -temptations, troubles, doubts, distresses, tribulations, sufferings, -and yet she is not consumed. So Moses was taught at the very beginning -of his ministry that God was in the church through the mediation of -Jesus Christ and that things were made to work together for good to -her. Thou, the Church, shall know that I am the Lord. Lofty cedars, -towering oaks, bramble bushes, the national capital, the House of the -Lord, all these may attract the multitudes of sight-seers, but God’s -own people shall know that He is God and that there is no other God.</p> - -<p>The text also teaches us that.</p> - -<h4>II. God is prompt in the keeping of His promises.</h4> - -<p>Wherever two or three of God’s servants are gathered together in His -name, God is in the midst of them to do all that He has promised. He -is prompt to keep His word. He rides upon the wings of the wind and -upon the wings of angels and upon the lightning, that He may meet all -His engagements. We see Him in the return of His prodigals. We see Him -every where, keeping faith, doing His will, fulfilling His promises. He -is the omnipresent God! Because of His promptness His people are always -able to confide in Him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span></p> - -<p>God is prompt in sustaining the physical needs of the universe. It is -worth our while to look into God’s storehouse to see how He has filled -it with food for the flying fowl, the fish of the sea, the beast of the -field, and man, the Lord of the earth. Food and fuel, light and heat, -air and water, soil and seed, wind and rain, snow and frost, these are -the agents of His prompt action as the Father of the Universe. Prove me -now herewith, saith the Lord, and see if I will not open the windows -of heaven and pour you out such a blessing that there will not be room -enough to receive it. (Mal. 11:1-11.)</p> - -<p>God is as prompt in sustaining the needs of man’s soul. He was with our -forefathers, He was with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, He was with Noah, He -was with Enoch, He was with Abel, He was with our first parents, Adam -and Eve, all these in their experiences and lives attested the fact -that God saved them and saved them at the right time. He gave them His -own salvation and not the salvation of another. All the Saints of the -ages have depended on God’s promptness to do what he promised He would -do. There is not an instance in the history of His people or in our -own experience, if we interpret His dealing aright, where He has not -promptly kept His word of promise. Every child of God has his spiritual -battles to fight.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span> But depending on God with the musket of His grace -he will rout the enemy. Satan in all his hellish rage is not able to -overthrow the bulwarks of the church behind which the believer stands -to destroy the forces of evil. God was prompt in striking the sea and -His people were prompt in crossing. He was prompt in leading His armies -and they were prompt in winning the victories. Jehovah is prompt in -aiding His own and His own are quick in winning the land of spiritual -freedom.</p> - -<p>The river was turned into blood and all the waters of Egypt were -instantly changed into blood. But God’s river is a river of the water -of life. Consider, my brethren, these great types of the Bible—these -rivers of blood, these rivers of water, these rivers of life! God -stands with His rod stretched over every river; your sins, your -wickedness, may turn the waters of life into the blood of death; which, -what, shall it be? God says to you and hear ye His voice, “Come now let -us reason together, your sins though they be as scarlet, I will make -them like snow, though they be red like crimson, I will make them like -wool.” None, my friends, but God can work these changes. The church is -moving on with the march of the centuries. She is grandly marching on! -Moses has gone, Joshua<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span> has gone, the prophets have gone, the apostles -have gone, the saints of the Christian era have gone, and we are -passing on, but God is with us and He is prompt in keeping His word.</p> - -<p class="poetry"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">“On the other side of Jordan, in the sweet fields of Eden,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Where the Tree of Life is blooming, there is rest for you.”</span><br /> -</p> - -<h4>III. The text teaches us that the river, turned into blood, is the Type -of Christ.</h4> - -<p>Jehovah, or Jesus, in Egypt, turned the water into blood; Jehovah, or -Jesus, in Canaan, in the country of Galilee, turned the water into -wine. “The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin.” The wine of the -Communion Table is the symbol of His blood. In these last days God has -spoken to us in the person of His Son. In Him was life, and the life -was the light of men. He came into our own flesh and blood and dwelt -among us and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten -of the Father. “Our life is hid with Christ, in God.” These are most -wonderful words!</p> - -<p>But let us remember that the rivers of blood in Egypt did not change -the heart of Pharaoh, neither did they change the hearts of the -Egyptians. The blood of Christ has been shed but it is of no avail to -them that will not accept its<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span> saving power. Christ died for all but -are all saved? How many are saved? Are you saved? If so, why? Oh, my -friends, it is the blood of Christ that availeth all things with God.</p> - -<p class="poetry"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">“What can save my soul from sin?</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>“Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. He is the wonderful -Counselor, the mighty God, the Prince of Peace, the Everlasting -Father.” Just as Pharaoh and his hosts were strewn in death upon the -sands of the sea, so Satan and his hosts will be strewn upon the land -of time. Christ is our mighty Captain. He has led His battle strong, -through the ages of the past and on through the ages of time to come. -He will lead to victory. His blood is all-availing with God and God is -the ruler of the universe. It is for Christ’s sake that God hears and -answers our prayers. It is for Christ’s sake that He saves our souls. -It is for Christ’s sake that He will make us kings and priests to -rule and reign with Him forever. It is for Christ’s sake that He has -prepared for us the Canaan that lies beyond the Jordan of Death and it -is for Christ’s sake that He is with us today. And after while we will -sing, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, -I will fear no evil, for Thou (Christ) art with me, thy rod and thy -staff, they comfort me.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span></p> - -<p>“Thus said the Lord, in this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: Behold -I will smite with the rod in mine hand upon the waters of the river and -they shall be turned into blood.” God grant to bless every soul here -to-day with the blessed words of this text.</p> - - -<h3>The Intercession of Christ.</h3> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“He ever liveth to make intercession for them.”—Hebrews 8:25.</p> -</div> - -<p>Christ had completed His work on the earth. He had kept the faith, -fulfilled the law, and suffered its penalty in His death. His work, -therefore, so far as the earthly conditions and needs were concerned, -was completed. He did this work, it must be remembered, not on his own -account or for himself, but on your account and for you. He was acting -in the capacity of a representative while on the earth, so that when -his life in the flesh had been finished, it might become your life and -my life, through faith. We are told by the apostle that after this, i. -e., “He had finished His work here, He was believed on in the world, -justified in the spirit, seen of angels, received into glory where He -ever liveth to make intercession for us.” We notice that this passage -teaches us, that</p> - -<h4>I. Christ was absolutely free from selfishness.</h4> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span></p> - -<p>“Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his -friends.” Yes, there is a greater love, for Christ laid down his life -for His enemies. Study the life of Christ as He lived here below, -see how free He was from the selfish taint of sin which lurks in our -natures, and alas, too frequently is the ruling passions of our lives. -With Christ, others were first in consideration and in service; but -with us, we are the first to be considered and served and others must -wait; then if there is opportunity or time they will be considered and -served. Christ opened the gate of righteousness and the way that leads -to life. This cost Him his own life, the price of it was not only the -suffering and labors of life, but the pangs of the physical, and the -eternal pains of the spiritual, death; for you must know that Christ -tasted the death for every man. We can have no conception of what death -meant to Him and yet He went down to death willingly for you and for -me. What are we doing that we may become human saviours of men, that we -too may suffer and labor for others, that we may die that through our -death others may live? These are vital questions if you and I are to be -known as His humble followers; if you and I are to share His glory with -Him, we must also be with Him in His sufferings and death. “Enter in at -the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span> strait gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads -to death, but strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth to -life; many there be that go in at the former gate of death, but few -find the strait gate of life.”</p> - -<h4>II. The purpose of Christ’s life and death, was that He might be able -to give life unto others. “Father, the hour is come. Glorify thy son -that thy son also may glorify thee. As thou hast given him power over -all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast -given him.” John 18:1, 2.</h4> - -<p>We read that “To as many as received him, to them gave He power to -become the sons or the children of God.” It is interesting to notice -that the word translated “power” here, means a great deal more than -power or authority. It has a germinal meaning and has reference to -life. The idea is that Christ plants in us the seed of eternal life and -it grows and takes root in the heart and life of every believer and -they thereby become the children of God. There is therefore the germ of -eternal life just as there is the germ of physical or mortal life. The -only purpose which Christ had in coming into human flesh was that He -might be able thereby to plant in human nature the seed of everlasting -life, which sin had prevented from bearing fruit. So He became one of -us,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span> bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, our very brother. The -very life which He lived in the flesh is the pattern for our lives. He -is our example in thought, word, and action. We are to live His life by -letting Christ live in us. As Paul said regarding sin, “It is not I but -sin that dwelleth in me,” so he also said that Christ dwelt in him and -we know that Christ dwelleth in us and that through Him we can do all -things.</p> - -<p>We are very prone to think always of Christ’s Divinity and to seek to -explain His life on this basis, this is a great mistake. We are to look -on Christ as also human, a real man: His trials and temptations real; -His limitations as a man, real; His knowledge and experience as a man, -real. Such reflections as these bring Him very near to us and become a -great inspiration to us in that they make His ideal life, a real life; -hence His ideal human life becomes to us a real human life. “He came -that we might have life and that we might have it more abundant.” Our -life, that is our Christ-life, may become abundant in its power, in -its light, in its fruits, if we will walk and talk with Jesus daily. -He is the vine and we are the branches. But in order that the branches -may live and bear fruit, they must abide in the vine. Jesus taught us -that if we obeyed Him, we were abiding in Him. Obedience therefore is -the vital union between us and Christ,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span> the Vine. Disobedience is the -cutting of the branch off from the vine and the branch dies.</p> - -<p>This leads us to another great fact in the text, namely that</p> - -<h4>III. Christ is now engaged in making intercession for us at God’s -throne.</h4> - -<p>His work on earth is finished, but in Heaven, He is still engaged in -our behalf. The priest of the Mosaic Dispensation, made intercession -for the people. He offered sacrifice for them and then he entered into -the temple, the Holy of Holies, once a year, in the person of the -High Priest and prayed for the people. But this priest was a sinner -like the people. He had to first offer sacrifice for himself then for -the people. He has passed away. The earthly priesthood, in the Mosaic -sense, is no more. This priest was but a type of Christ. Christ is the -great anti-type. Christ offered His sacrifice also, which was His own -life. He made no sacrifice for himself, for He was without sin, but He -made sacrifice for the people. Now He has entered into the temple on -High, into the Holy of Holies, where He stands to plead for you and for -me. Intercession here, means that Christ is our Advocate at the throne -of God. He is our lawyer in the supreme court of God. He represents us. -He pleads our case, He defends our cause. There is nothing that takes -place in our<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span> lives that He does not take note of, there is no sin -that passes without His taking account of it, there is no thought, or -word, or deed, that is not entered in the book of His Remembrance. He -must keep an accurate account of our lives, for He represents us at the -Great White Throne. How wonderful is this thought and how inspiring! -Let us therefore make our intercessions to Him that He may take up our -prayers and in His own Heavenly language, present them to our Heavenly -Father.</p> - - -<h3>Christ Glorified in His Word.</h3> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.”—Col. 3:16.</p> -</div> - -<p>It is well nigh impossible for us to understand the power of a word. -We read that in the beginning God said, “Let there be light,” these -were the words or the Word. Who can tell the wisdom and the power that -dwelt in that word or command? We are not able even now to measure the -magnificent result, but we read, “And there was light.” Christ stood at -the sealed tomb and said. “Lazarus, come forth.” This was the word or -the command. It is not in the power of the human mind to comprehend the -meaning, the power and the wisdom of this word, but we see the effect, -“And Lazarus, came<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span> forth.” We take the Bible in its entirety and call -it the Word of God, the Word of Christ. So that in the unfolding of the -text, we wish you to note that:</p> - -<h4>I. The entire Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, is the Word of -Christ.</h4> - -<p>We must not look on the Bible as composed of parts when we make it, -“The man of our counsel,” the guide of our life. The entire book is the -guide, the man, the law, the Gospel. There is a disposition of many -Christians to attach more importance to one part of the Bible than -another part. This is wrong and it leads to evil in our lives. Every -part of the Bible belongs to the entire book, it cannot be detached, -it must not be rendered less important than some other part, for it -was all written for our instruction and edification. So I would have -you understand that the Bible itself in its entirety, is the Word of -Christ, in the text, Christ is the light and the glory of every page -of its history, prophecy, precept, promise, poetry, philosophy and -practice. Human reason, effort and energy are too weak to have reached -Heaven and brought down to us the riches of the Word of God. No man -hath come down from Heaven to tell us of the wonders of the spiritual -life, but the man, Christ Jesus. He is the pearl of priceless value,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span> -which we are to find hidden in this Word. Let the Word of Christ reign -in you when your greatest interests are at stake, when your strongest -passions are raging, and He will guide you into all truth and grace, -and you will sing, “Glory to God in the highest, Peace on earth, Good -will to men.”</p> - -<p>The Bible is the Word of Christ, because He is the Author. He is the -Jehovah of the Old Testament, and the Jesus of the New Testament. -He spake to the Prophets as well as to the Apostles. He was in that -beginning which was before time, when He is called the Word of God, -when He was associated with God, and when He was God, and He was also -in that beginning which marks the first moment, the first hour, the -first day of time, when all things were made by Him and without Him -was nothing made which was made. He is known as the Lamb which was -slain from the foundation of the world, the everlasting Prince, the -Holy One. As the Word of God, Christ is the great and only revealer of -God and His revelation or revelations are the Bible, the Scriptures, -the Word of God. We are exhorted therefore to see that great company -which doth encompass us about and which looks down upon us, filled -with God’s wisdom and power, because the word of Christ<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span> dwells richly -in us. We are to look to Jesus as not only the author of His own -Word, but also through this word, as the author and finisher of our -faith, or religion. This word must dwell richly in the heart that the -believer may be able to glorify God and to strive for that faith which -is steadfast and immovable, for let us remember that faith cometh -by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Just as Christ appeared -to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses, to whom He said, “I will be thy -mouth,” so He appears today to every believer, in His Word. All these -holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The Holy -Spirit takes the things of God and of Christ, and tells them to us in -words. He gives us God’s and Christ’s words. When Joshua prayed that -the sun might stand still, the sun in his fiery course stood still. -Why? Because it was the word of God in Joshua which commanded the sun -to stand still. I pray God, my brethren, that you may be filled richly -with the word of God in all wisdom, that your own hearts may be filled -with all spiritual blessing; that the wickedness which is flooding the -country in hellish rage, may be stopped; that sinners may be brought -to repentance; that the church may triumph most gloriously, and that -the whole earth may be filled with righteousness<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span> as the waters cover -the deep. We need today another Pentecost, when thousands shall be -converted to God, and that time will come just as soon as God’s -disciples are filled with the word of God.</p> - -<h4>II. The Word of Christ Dwelling in Us is Our Strength.</h4> - -<p>The Word reveals to us the saving power of God. Paul said, “I am not -ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto -salvation.” Yes, it is the power of God unto salvation, that is the -thought that you should take hold of. We need power, strength, in -this world of weakness and sin, and we can get this power only by -letting the Word of Christ, dwell in us richly. The Word of Christ -dwelling in us will take us out of ourselves, teach us that labor, -learning, house-hold duties, supporting our families, being punctual -to our duties in the church, avoiding quick tempers and unkind words, -constitute the religion of Jesus Christ which we are to live. We must -therefore be, “Doers of the Word and not hearers only.” We must hear -the Word on the Sabbath and do it every day of the week. We are to look -into the perfect law of liberty that we may know what manner of persons -we are, and to continue to look into this law, lest when we know, we -should forget<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span> what manner of persons we are. “Pure and undefiled -religion before God the Father is this, that we should visit the widow -and the fatherless in their affliction and keep ourselves unspotted -from the world.” To do all these things, my brethren, the Word of -God must dwell richly in you, in wisdom, or there will not be enough -strength in you to live this Christ-like life. His word is strength, -because Christ dwells in His word, and if His word dwells in you, you -will have the strength of Christ in you. See what Christ is, He is life -and immortality, He gives repentance and remission of sins, He is the -bread that cometh down from Heaven, His blood cleanseth from all sin, -He saves, and He does all these things in and through His word. Is -that word in you? Lean on Him in His word, and He will give you daily -strength, and guide you into all blessing, He will give you eternal -life here and hereafter.</p> - -<h4>III. His Word Reveals to us the Plan of Salvation.</h4> - -<p>We would know nothing of the Saviour, nor of the sinner except through -His word. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. Yes, it -was lost, the soul of man. What we know of sin, of Satan, of hell, of -heaven, of repentance, of faith, of justification, of sanctification,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span> -of glorification, we know through His word, and whatever we shall -experience of these blessings, we shall experience through His word.</p> - -<p>“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the -last, which is and was and is to come.” We must be saved through His -word. Job said, “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that I shall -stand upon the earth at the latter days and though after my skin worms -destroy this body, yet in my flesh will I see God whom mine eyes shall -see for myself and not another.” How did Job get this knowledge? It was -through the Word of God, doubtless spoken to him. And whatever we know -of salvation, of sin, or of the resurrection of the dead, of Heaven -and hell, of eternity, of immortality, we must get it out of the Word -of Christ. I exhort you, therefore, my dear brethren, to have the Word -of Christ dwelling in you richly in wisdom; study it daily, commit it -to memory, put it into practice every hour, turn its precepts into -practice, and you will rejoice in its power to redeem you from your -sins, and to fill your hearts with power, joy and peace. Amen.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span></p> - - -<h3>Where Is Your Tent?</h3> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“And Isaac departed and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar and -dwelt there.”—Gen. 26:17.</p> -</div> - -<p>Our text is found in connection with a paragraph of peculiar weight and -sublimity. The Israelites in all their wanderings had a high regard -for the Levites. They formed the tribe of Levi, which filled a most -important place in the life of the Israelites. The entire nation and -government was permeated with their influence. They were the officers -and teachers in the synagogue, or Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was the -center of Hebrew life. All the encampments of the Israelites was made -around the Tabernacle. This tent was God’s dwelling place, and whither -the Israelites moved, they followed the Tabernacle, it was not only -their guide but their guard. When on the march they carried it with -them, and when they were at rest they set it up.</p> - -<p>It is worthy of note that the Israelites always had a high regard for -their women. These women were thoroughly identified with the history -of this people, and often filled prominent positions. The influence -and power of the Israelitish women is well worth careful study that -we may learn some valuable lessons therefrom. Miriam was very closely -associated with Moses and Aaron. Deborah was a mighty leader of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span> her -people. There were many prophetesses such as Anna at the temple. The -wives of such men as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob exerted a great influence -over these men, for they were women of fine judgment, and highly -developed religious characters. The wife of Abraham was always with him -for “better or worse,” through good and evil report. She was faithful -and efficient as his life-companion. She did not live with him for -ornament or social distinction, but for what she could contribute to -his happiness and success. She made her life, his life; her destiny, -his destiny.</p> - -<p>On this occasion of your anniversary, I take this opportunity to call -your attention to the direction in which you are pitching your tent. -We cannot stand still. We choose the place of our tent today, and we -will have to choose the place where we will pitch it tomorrow. Whither -are you going and where are you to pitch your tent? How important these -questions. You are here tonight, with your tears and affection, your -sympathy and smiles, not for show, but that you might hear the Gospel, -and let the world know that you are moving in the right direction, -and that your tent will be pitched nearer Heaven. You are here, as -wives and mothers and sisters, to do your part by the men whom God has -placed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span> you with, and to do your part by the children whom He has given -you. This is what the Gospel teaches and your works and teachings, -your by-laws and Christian characters, as a noble band of workers, all -prove that you are pitched tonight about the Tabernacle of God, and -that when His tent moves you will follow it. Moses tells us that at the -commandment of the Lord the Israelites marched, and at the commandment -of the Lord, they pitched their tents. The cloud of His presence was a -shadow by the day and a light by night. They were safe with this Divine -Leadership.</p> - -<p>In the same way He deals with us. He is still present, although not in -the visible cloud, to shade us and give us light, but He is present -in and through Jesus Christ who dwells in our midst. He will look -after you, mothers and sisters, who with tenderness and care will lead -our girls and young women away from the dens of vice and sin, from -brothels of debauchery and licentiousness, into the paths of virtue and -holiness. You will teach them those lessons of dignity and character, -and teach them the spirit and works of our blessed religion, which will -bring them unto God and make them wise unto salvation.</p> - -<p>“Isaac pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span> and dwelt there.” -He had a reason for so doing. We find that a jealousy had sprung up -between Abimelek, the Philistines, and Isaac and his followers. They -could no longer remain near neighbors. The Philistines had filled the -wells which Abraham had dug in his day, and in many other ways they -were annoying the righteous heart of Isaac.</p> - -<p>So there are jealousies today that spring up among God’s people, and -they cause a great deal of trouble. These troubles must be settled in -some way, and the example of Isaac is now and always before us. You -will not wait to carry out the purposes of such evil passions, but will -cause your heart-tent to be pitched in another direction.</p> - -<p>You have adopted the Lily for your name. It grows in the valley. It -is the symbol of Christ. It represents beauty and purity. Christ -taught us, consider the lilies, how they grow; they grew in their -loveliness under the sunshine and showers which God sent them. They -fulfilled their mission. The Master told us that Solomon, in all his -glory was not arrayed like one of these simple little flowers, and so -it was, the heart may be so arrayed, but not the body. The lily is an -emblem of the purity of God Himself. You have chosen this name. “The -lilies of the valley,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span> as your name and title, and it should make -you as the hand-maidens of the Lord, tender, pure, strong, noble, -Christ-like; no anger, jealousy, hatred, and like passions should be -permitted to dwell in your hearts for one moment, and my advice to all -the members present, is that you should go into this or some other -similar society, for these dear sisters have pitched their tents in -the valley of Christianity, and not only that, but thank God, they -are dwelling there. Yes, they have pitched their tent in the valley -among the lilies. They are humble and meek. They are willing to do the -little things for God and humanity. They are willing to be his humblest -servants. They have planted the lilies in their hearts. They are living -like the lilies, I trust.</p> - -<p>I compliment and congratulate you for the splendid work which you have -done during the year just closed. Your faith is proven by your works, -and your works are the fruit of the Tree of Life. We shall know the -tree by its fruits. You are devoting your time and energies to God -along new lines of thought and service, and new fields of usefulness -are opening up before you. It is always the case when God’s children -are earnestly seeking to do his will, He will lead them into greater -fields of usefulness. I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span> bid you Godspeed. The army of God is hard -on the march. There are many trials and tribulations, but God is our -Captain, and He will lead us to grand victories.</p> - -<p>Abimelek and the Philistines have gone to their place. Moses, the -servant of God, was succeeded by Joshua, and Joshua, by another as -leader, and so God has been marching with His people through all the -ages, leading them from one victory to another, into the very land -of Promise, on the other side of Jordan. Study the history of God’s -people, follow the example of these illustrious leaders, do not fear, -do not fret, but ever march along the Highway of the King. Ever take -the name of Jesus with you. Pitch your tent always in the valley of -Christianity and toward Heaven. Always dwell in the right place, and -move in the right direction, and at last you will wear the white robe -of the righteousness of Jesus Christ your Lord. Let this passage of -Scripture be closely inscribed on your hearts, and Grace be unto you -from Him who was and is and is to come.</p> - -<p>“Unto Him who hath loved us and washed us in His blood, and made us -kings and priests, unto God the Father, to Him be glory and dominion -now and forevermore. Amen.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span></p> - - -<h3>Christ’s Ascension.</h3> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“And it came to pass while he blessed them he was parted from them and -carried into heaven.”—Luke 15:51.</p> -</div> - -<p>The coming of the Lord to the nations of the earth was not that He -might advertise Himself as a candidate for some high office among the -nations, or in the nation to which he belonged. He came not as the Jews -expected Him, for they were looking for some temporal ruler who would -re-establish their temporal kingdom on the earth. Their idea was that -some man would come and sit on the throne of David. Their dream was -that the Hebrew people would be formed into the most powerful nation -on the earth, and that in some mysterious, some mystic way, this great -feat would be accomplished. God’s own chosen people at that time had -practically no spiritual conception of what the Kingdom of God meant. -The disciples of Christ most frequently misconstrued His teachings on -this subject. The case of Nicodemus is an illustrious example of the -spiritual misconception of the Jews.</p> - -<p>Christ came on a special mission, the saving of the lost, the saving -of man. He is therefore represented as the Lamb that taketh away the -sin of the world. When John, the Baptist, saw Him coming towards him, -walking on the shore<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span> of the river Jordan, he exclaimed, “Behold, the -Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.” This spiritual work -of Christ is unchanged. He will rule until the kingdoms of this world, -become the kingdom of God.</p> - -<p>“He came unto His own and His own received him not,” we read, because -He did not come doing the temporal work which they expected Him to do, -but He came unto His own, and in a grand sense it was through this -coming, that the world has received a true conception of this Kingdom, -and millions of hearts have experienced this Kingdom set up in these -hearts. The Kingdom of God is within you, and as heaven, it will work -in and through you, until you are entirely made spiritual. Christ has -ever been the Light of the Word. He inspired our Pilgrim Fathers; He -was the friend of the poor Samaritans; He sought and saved the needy, -poor and sinning of His day. Indeed, the human founders of His Kingdom -on the earth were the ignorant fishermen of Galilee. The law came -through Moses, but grace and truth by Jesus Christ. His presence, His -revelation, His manifestation, His power, His goodness, thrilled the -angels when they sang, “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, -good-will to men.” We are here to laud and to praise Him, and to say<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span> -as the Scriptures say, “Blessed is the womb that bare thee and the paps -that gave thee suck.”</p> - -<p>Sir Knights, we congratulate you on this noble spirit of acknowledging -the ascension of Jesus Christ. We are here not to talk about the mystic -ties which bind you together as a noble band of brothers, but to honor -and glorify Him who rose from the dead that our life and immortality -might be brought to light. You have come from your asylum to this -tabernacle that you may pay tribute to this ascension, the ascension -day of the King of Kings. As Christ climbed the rugged hill of Calvary -that He might set the captives free so we have climbed, as weary -pilgrims, the holy mount of privilege that we might view the landscape -o’er of our liberty on this and that side of Jordan. Let us raise our -banners and wield our swords for the defense of our country, and our -helpless women and children. Let us be valiant soldiers not only of our -own teaching as knights, but also of the Cross of Jesus Christ. We can -know but one real captain; we can follow but one real leader; we can -march in but one army; we can have but one victory; these are all in -the Kingdom of God.</p> - -<p>When Jesus arose from the dead, He met His disciples and blessed them, -and having completed His mission on earth, He went on High,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span> but He -has drilled us as He drilled those disciples; He has left us human -leaders in His name and with His authority, and to us He said, “If ye -would be my disciples, deny yourselves, take up your cross and follow -me.” His work on earth is done, excepting through you and me, the human -agency which He employs. He is doing His work at the right hand of -His Father’s throne that we may be able here, to come off more than -conquerors through Him.</p> - -<p>He passed through the scenes of Gethsemane, He died on the cross of -Calvary; He descended into hell or Hades that He might taste death for -every man, and forty days after the resurrection, He ascended on High. -He went up on the pinions of the clouds until they received Him out of -their sight. Then two men stood by the disciples who were gazing into -heaven and said to them, “Why stand ye gazing into heaven, as ye see -Him go up ye shall see Him likewise come down again. You have heard -of Zerubabel, you have met Darius and Cyrus, the Great, you have seen -Jesus Christ ascending; those great men will not return, but Jesus will -come again to take you with Him in the next ascension. He will not come -again as the victim of pagan hostilities or Jewish persecution, but He -is coming without sin unto salvation as the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span> spoiler of the grave, the -conqueror of the world, the hero who conquered hell, and will lead us -to victory over Satan and his forces.”</p> - -<p>The Gospel and the Word are preached to you because you dwell in His -secret place; thus you are abiding under the shadow of the Almighty, -stay with Him, fight on through the conflict, the battle may be -fierce, but you shall win. You see the triumph from afar, your faith -is your power. God the All-Glorious One is with you, for remember that -when star will shine no more unto star, and planet cease to revolve -around planet, when flowers fade to bloom no more, the Word of our God -endureth forever. Heaven is His throne and earth His footstool, and we -are His children.</p> - -<p>I exhort you therefore to take Him more than ever before, as the Man of -your counsel, the friend that sticketh closer than a brother.</p> - -<p>He has gone to prepare a place for you that where He is there ye may be -also.</p> - -<p>“Unto Him who hath loved us and washed us from our sins in His own -blood, be glory and dominion now and evermore.”</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>There is death in the pot.—II Kings 4:40.</p> -</div> - -<p>In the year 895 B. C., in Syria, a certain woman resided. She was the -wife of Obadiah, a devoted companion, a good, genial spirit; she<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span> was -a model wife, but misfortune overtook her, and the bright days of -prosperity and enjoyment passed under the dark clouds of adversity. -The pleasant fragrance from the flowers faded and her husband too had -passed to the bourne from whence none returns.</p> - -<p>She is now a widow left to contend against the hard and unsympathizing -world.</p> - -<p class="poetry"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">“Trouble like a gloomy cloud</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gathered fast and thundered loud.”</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Her husband and father was God above. Her old-time friends who knew -and recognized her in her prosperity, now passed her by unnoticed. -Adversity makes a great change in friendship. It renders friends, -strangers, and breaks asunder the dearest ties. These friends were -willing to see her suffer and her children torn from her side and sold -into slavery that her debts might be paid. There was no helping hand, -no money to loan, no salvation from this awful condition, no one to -become her surety, but above all this darkness of night and of cloud, -God was dwelling, and watching. He never forsakes His own, He may seem -to do so, but never, never.</p> - -<p>God sent His servant Elisha to her and through him relieved her of -all her troubles. Elisha was a mighty man of God. He had received the -mantle of Elijah and was a student<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span> under him. He was full of wisdom -and understanding, going about in the spirit of Jehovah serving the -people, instructing them, leading them to higher life, and making them -acquainted with God and His ways.</p> - -<p>Elisha during a famine had the people to gather herbs that their hunger -might be relieved. Among those herbs which were thrown into the pot, -there was some poisonous herb which some one had gathered by mistake, -it too was thrown in. In the boiling of these together, the poison was -spread through the pot. When they began eating the vegetable soup, the -poison was discovered. Elijah was informed and destroyed its bad effect.</p> - -<p>It is well for us to note that.</p> - -<h4>I. The world is the pot.</h4> - -<p>The world has been cursed by sin. There is in it both the good and -the bad, both food and poison. God has placed us in the world that we -may as Christians, do the work which Elisha did in his day. When we -look about us, how many people we see who have been poisoned. There -are murderers, suicides, thieves, robbers, liars, all these are acting -in the way they act and live, because they have in them poison. It is -well for us to understand that we need not expect in this world to -find the good unmixed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span> from the evil. Christ prayed that God would not -take His own out of the world, but that He would keep them from the -evil in the world, and we are taught in the prayer called the Lord’s -Prayer, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” As -God’s children, we cannot mix with the children of this world. We -cannot allow the amusements of this world and its allurements to lead -us away from God and His Kingdom. We are in the world, but not of it. -We are but pilgrims, passing through, on the way to the country of God, -but all that we are and have are in this world; just as all the herbs -were thrown into the pot, but there is also poison there. Is there any -pleasure, without its tinge of pain? Is there any hope without the -presence of a cloud? Is there any expectation without some kind of a -disappointment? But Christ is our Elisha. The poison in the pot can be -removed and He will remove it for us. The pleasures of the world may be -rendered sweet and pure. The work of this world can be raised to the -highest dignity. The power of this world may be turned to the highest -good of all. We are not left helpless and hopeless.</p> - -<h4>II. The temptations of the world are the fire under the pot.</h4> - -<p>The question of temptations is a very interesting<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span> one, for the -Christian. There are many who find their greatest trouble in -temptations. They are not able to distinguish a temptation from a sin, -and confusing them, they look upon themselves as very great sinners, -because they have very great temptations. This is a false idea. A -temptation is a trial. All temptations are not evil. There are also -temptations that lead us to noble action. God is not tempted of evil, -neither does He tempt to evil, but He does tempt us to the good, -and indeed, He permits Satan to ply us with temptations, and we by -overcoming these temptations may grow strong and pure.</p> - -<p>Christ, the sinless man, was in the world, full of temptations, but He -overcame them. His temptations were genuine, they were sinful, they -would have proven destructive, but He overcame them and He overcame -them without sin.</p> - -<p>It matters not what the temptation may be, however dark and sinful, it -is with you as to the result of that temptation in your life.</p> - -<p class="poetry"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">“Yield not to temptation,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For yielding is sin.”</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>It is the yielding that is sin. Resist the devil, and he will flee from -you. Make friends of him and he will live with you. He will become a -part of you, he will drag you down, he will work your destruction.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span></p> - -<p>How often we realize that dark, sinful thoughts, pass through our -minds. They are sins like a black cloud, sweeping over the beautiful -landscape of the soul. Well, does this constitute sin? By no means. It -is only when these thoughts remain in the mind, when we harbor them, -when we become fond of them; this is what forms sin in the soul. It is -your work to expel them, to drive them out, to hate them.</p> - -<p>Paul said, When I would do good evil is present with me. How true -this is with us today. Even in our holiest exercises, such as prayer, -praise, worship, sin is found lurking in our aspirations after God. -Selfishness enters our prayers, selfishness frequently inspires our -holiest hopes, selfishness poisons our love, doubt weakens our faith, -and so we find in our religion and its life, the element of sin. This -is the death in the pot.</p> - -<p>So the whole Bible deals with the problem of sin. The plan of salvation -is simply the plan for removing sin from within and from without us. -The mission of Christ is to save the sinner from his sins. Frequently -Christians get the idea that salvation is to bring us at last to -Heaven; well, that is in a manner true, but remember that is the -last work of salvation, bringing us to Heaven. Salvation deals with -thousands of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span> things in our lives here, before we are ready for Heaven. -And indeed we can never enter Heaven with sin in our natures. Sin must -be rooted out here in some manner. So we have our Elisha, he can and -does remove the death from the pot. He is the bread of life, the water -of life, in which there is no poison.</p> - -<p>I beg you, therefore, to take this text with you. Ponder over its deep -meaning. Apply its truths to your own life, come to our Elisha that He -may remove the death from your pot. Try and understand the deep meaning -of your religion and that it is a rule of life for every-day living. -That it furnishes you with the wisdom and the power to overcome all the -sin within you and all the temptations without you. Therefore watch and -pray. Be diligent in season and out of season and put your trust in -your Elisha, and He will make all things work together for your good. -This is His promise.</p> - - -<h3>The Reward of the Righteous.</h3> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which -the Lord your God giveth you.”—Deut. 12:9.</p> -</div> - -<p>A description of Paradise is always acceptable to the humble believer. -He is seeking the rest, the inheritance, which God has so abundantly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span> -promised in His word. So our God has not omitted to give us glimpses of -this Heavenly rest. We have gathered together our own sweet bundle of -sentiments regarding it. They are ever a blooming garden of flowers by -our pathway. We are to so live that we may daily prepare for this Home -of the Soul. Hezekiah was ordered to set his house in order. He was -reminded that he would soon be called to enter into this rest prepared -for the people of God. He had something to do first, however—to set -his house in order.</p> - -<p>We sadly realize that in the study of this deep question our knowledge -of that country which is our eternal home, can be but faint. Paul saw -something of its glory but would not undertake to describe it. And -the glowing descriptions which John gives us in his Revelation, are -most difficult to understand. They are figures, they are poorly drawn -pictures, outlines, photographs, of that Celestial Clime and its Holy -Inhabitants. But it confirms our hopes, invigorates our strength, -ennobles our efforts. Then let us study today something and somewhat of -this Happy Land.</p> - -<h4>I. The Character of the Reward, the Inheritance.</h4> - -<p>The Israelites were worn and weary, with the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span> desert journey. For forty -years they had been wanderers, pilgrims, in a land of sand, rocks, -barren waste and mountains. God so blessed them that their garments -did not wear out, and He gave them water from the rocks and food from -Heaven and flesh from the far countries. But this was not enough. -They had been promised a land that flowed with milk and honey, a land -of rest, an inheritance. God had promised to Abraham that He would -give them the land of Canaan for a possession, and that it should be -inherited by all his children forever. While this promise had been -made centuries before their trials in the Wilderness, yet God had not -forgotten His pledge and His people had not forgotten His promises. -The great encouragement which Moses always brought forward that their -strength might be renewed, was that God had made them a promise of a -land of their own. With all their trials and disappointments, their -mistakes and their failures, their doubts and perplexities, God was -with them and the Land of Canaan was just beyond the Jordan.</p> - -<p>It is well for us to keep in mind the journey of the Israelites, -between the Red Sea and the Jordan; between the land of slavery and the -land of liberty. For indeed we are making just such a journey now. We -are on the march to our<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span> Heavenly Canaan. It is called a rest. It is -called an inheritance. What blessed descriptions these are! We could -want no better.</p> - -<p>This wilderness of sin is a land of weariness. The way is hard, the -mountains to climb are high. The rocks which cut our feet are many. The -loads which we carry cause so often fainting, almost death. There is -no rest here. We have temporary resting places where we may sleep and -refresh ourselves. But the day comes, and its work, its weariness. Even -in our religious lives and work, we experience the same fatigue, we are -exhorted not to grow weary in well doing, not to faint by the way, why? -Because we are in a land of weariness, of toil, of exhaustion!</p> - -<p>“To him that overcometh, I will give a crown of life. To him that -overcometh, I will make a pillar in the temple of my God and they shall -go out no more.” Our abiding place there will be as permanent as the -pillars of the temple. We cannot be removed. Surely we will not want -to go out any more. We will be satisfied to dwell in the temple of God -forever. Then it is called an inheritance. Our children inherit our -possessions. There is no law to prevent them from coming into what has -belonged to us. It is their own when we leave it by every right of -human and Divine law.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span></p> - -<h4>II. Our Saviour is the faithful witness of this promised land.</h4> - -<p>Moses, you remember, sent spies into Canaan that they might bring -back a report of the land which God had promised to Abraham and his -descendants. These spies returned. Only two, Caleb and Joshua, brought -back a good report. The majority report was very discouraging indeed, -so much so, that the Israelites turned back again.</p> - -<p>There are many in this world who have a bad report of the Promised -Land which the text tells us, is to be our rest and our inheritance. -Will you listen to them? If so, you will also turn back and continue -wandering in the wilderness of sin. Do not forget that Satan is one of -these spies. He will tell you false things regarding your religion, -your brethren, your Saviour, your God and Heaven. This is his business. -He is always at it. You find many Christians who do not think much -about Heaven, they consider it a dream, they contend that this is their -Heaven, hence they place little value on all the reports in the Bible -concerning this land. But we have a true witness, our Joshua, our -Jesus. He came from that country. He knows its hills and dells, its -clime, its fruits, its joys, its eternal delights. He has left us His -report.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span> It is absolutely true. He has seen and heard and tasted and He -speaks as a true witness. He said to His disciples on the eve of His -departure, “I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am, there ye -may be also. In my Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so -I would have told you.” “If ye believe in God, believe also in me.”</p> - -<p>God liberated His people from Egypt. He raised the iron heel of -oppression from the necks of His people. He led them forth. He brought -them into Canaan. His omniscience guided them. His omnipresence was -ever with them. He brought them to an end of the toil, labor, dust, -pains, weariness of the wilderness journey. The same God is leading -us to a much better country. In this country there are no enemies, as -there were in Canaan. No battles will be fought, no sickness will be -endured, no trials to pass through, no fading sunsets and following -dark nights, no losses, no crosses, for “All the former things are -passed away, behold, I make all things new.”</p> - -<p>Jesus says, “I am the living bread of which if any man eat, he shall -nevermore hunger.” He has broken down the middle wall or partition, so -that we can enter into the very presence of God. Paul speaks of His -work when he says, “By<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</span> whom also we have access by faith into this -grace wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” -Yes, the glory of God, that glory which shall be reflected from our -hearts and faces when we stand complete before God. John says, “It doth -not appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear, -we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And every one -that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself even as He is pure.” We -shall be like Him! These are not misty descriptions of our rest and -inheritance! They are real photographs. We need not doubt, we need -not fear. It doth not appear what we shall be, but in that beautiful -habitation of the soul, we will be more beautiful than the beautiful -home which God has prepared.</p> - -<h4>III. But this rest and inheritance will be the reward of the faithful.</h4> - -<p>We should not deceive ourselves for not every one will enter. There -are many in this world who confidently expect to enter this Heavenly -Canaan, but they have no passport. If you were to take a trip through -Europe and Asia, it would be necessary for you to procure from the -proper officials of this country a passport, for without this you would -not be permitted to go through these countries. You would be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</span> looked -upon as some kind of an enemy. The passports to Heaven are goodness and -faithfulness. Not the goodness, however, which this world creates and -loves and prizes. Christ said to the young nobleman who came to Him -and wanted to know what good thing he could do to enter the kingdom of -Heaven, “Why callest thou me good, there is none good but God.” This -young man said that he had kept all the commandments from his youth up, -now if he had done that and we have no reason to doubt it, for Christ -looked on him and loved him, then this young man was really good as -this world calls goodness; but mark you he did not enter the “Kingdom -of God,” for he went away very sorrowful, for he was very rich. Oh! he -was very rich!</p> - -<p>He had his own little heaven, he had his own little bundle of goodness, -he had his own passport, but these did not suffice, for the Kingdom of -God. These were of no value in this Kingdom.</p> - -<p>I was born in a slave state. When I was a little boy, my mother being -very poor, sent me out on a very cold day to the river bank to gather -up a bundle of wood. I gathered up the wood and tied it into a bundle -and placed it on my head. I started home. It was a large bundle<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</span> and -grew very heavy as I walked along. It was painful to my head and I -became tired. I staggered under the burden, I thought that I could not -reach the house, but I kept on. At last I got home and almost fainted. -But what a relief it was to me and what a comfort it became to my -mother. As we sat that night by the crackling fire, I thought, well it -was worth all it cost me. The pleasure it gave my mother, the family, -and satisfaction it gave me to know that I had done this and all were -now enjoying it, was my reward, my rest. But mark you, it was the -reward of goodness and faithfulness. If I had been a disobedient boy, -would I have had that reward? Would I have had that enjoyment? Would I -have had the approval and the love of my mother? Never, never! So it is -with us today. We must carry our burdens, and the burdens of others. We -have always a double load on our shoulders, this makes it doubly heavy. -Sometimes we nearly faint under it, the road seems to have no end, we -are almost tempted to throw down the load, but can we? If we really -desire to enter that beautiful city beyond the river of death, the load -which God has given us, must be carried to the very end. We can drop -that load when we come to the river, when the death angel tells us that -it is enough and that our Father wants us to come home.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</span></p> - -<p>You are to serve your brother-man, you are to love him, to pray for -him, and to love and pray for your enemies. This is the load, this -is the work that is to be done! Without the cross there is no crown, -without the weights there are no wings, without the prayers there will -be no praises! “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been -faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things. -Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” This is the welcome plaudit. Do -you long to hear that plaudit? Then be faithful today and tomorrow and -throughout life.</p> - -<h4>IV. This place is called rest.</h4> - -<p>After the victory there is peace. After the labor there is rest. -After the pain there is pleasure. This world is not our abiding -place, our peace-place. As long as man lives on the earth he has -various inducements to sin. Enemies within and without are continually -organizing against him. Satan is seeking to devour him with lust and -sin. He too often, alas! renounces his allegiance to his God, he -forgets his Saviour, he turns away from the practice of his religion. -Worldly pleasures allure him, they deceive him, they intoxicate. Ten -thousand are the ways of this world to lead the humble pilgrim astray. -The Israelites wandered in the Wilderness forty<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</span> days, but it was only -a seven days march from Egypt to Canaan; Why did they wander? Because -they sinned. The flesh is lusting against the spirit and the spirit -against the flesh. When we would do good evil is present with us. What -a mighty conflict this life of wandering is!</p> - -<p>But blessed be God there are no haunts of innocent (?) amusement to -entice you from pure holiness, in Heaven! No dens to rob men and women -of their virtue, no pit-falls of saloons and gambling hells to lead -astray the holy inhabitants of that land of rest, none of these things -are to be found there! The ungodly rich man, the oppressor of the poor, -the robber, the thief, these are all cast into the lake where the worm -dieth not and the fire is not quenched. There is the place of our -Eternal Rest. It is a mountain where heavenly pastures grow and the -rivers of life gently flow. It is here that we shall know as we are -known. Here ignorance is forever banished and we see face to face. God -help as to enter this rest and to obtain this inheritance.</p> - - -<h3>Our Legacy.</h3> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>Peace I leave with you.—John 14:27.</p> -</div> - -<p>Dear Brethren, in entering upon the work of this district two years ago -I found that the ship had sprung a leak, the sails were furled, many<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</span> -of the crew had deserted the ship and left her to the mercy of the -waves. There seemed to be a heavy cloud over the church, her banners -had been trailing in the dust. I look back and almost shudder and -wonder what would have been the fate of the church had things drifted -on as I found them. I wonder if there were any here who at that time -would have believed our report and to whom the arm of the Lord would -have been revealed. I ask the question now, shall the church in Trenton -sink, shall her doors be closed, shall her banner be dust covered? No, -never, so long as God says “Thou shalt live.” So like Paul at Athens -I take courage and preach the Gospel to you that your strength may -increase and your faith grow stronger.</p> - -<p>Bro. Joseph Long was the first man I saw, to whom I delivered my -message. He said go ahead, my son, sound the trumpet and we will rally -to the standard though the host of hell surround us. I accepted the -situation, seeing that there was a great field of usefulness before -me. I saw and felt my inability to do any good or to be of any service -to the church unless God was with me. So I consecrated myself anew to -God and made a complete surrender. My own capabilities united with -yours, we brought our forces into line and began the battle which you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</span> -have fought so nobly and bravely against every obstacle. You have been -faithful soldiers, and may be called veterans in the cause of Christ. -The enemy has been many times defeated and main victories have been won -and the cause has been greatly advanced, but the time of our separation -is drawing nigh, our communions will soon cease, they have been very -sweet and precious to me, very helpful, your kindness has been like -the bud on the tree continually swelling, and blossoming for my own -pleasure and profit. Like David, we have cried from the bottom of our -hearts, How long, O Lord, How long shall the wicked reign? Save thy -people, bless thine inheritance, feed and lift them up for ever. You -have proven your loyalty to the church at large, your efficiency in the -church here, I commend your integrity, your faithfulness. Your warm -hearts have beat continually for the success of the church during this -pastorate.</p> - -<p>The old heroes have gone home to their reward. Their seats are vacant, -their work is complete but we have entered into their labors and their -memory is still precious among us. They are still with us in spirit, -they are looking down from the battlements of glory and are witnessing -our race here below. They have been described as a cloud of witnesses. -Therefore we<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</span> are to lay aside every weight and the sin that doth so -easily beset us and run with patience the race that is set before us. -Their skill and bravery we should imitate, their example we should -copy, their life of service we should relieve. Oh! Could many of those -old warriors awake from their graves and revisit old Mt. Zion and stand -on her battleground, to tell us of the contests through which they had -passed and to show us the scars which they had received while fighting -the battle of the Lord, how often they have witnessed the going and -coming of ministers, having listened to their sad farewells, I am sure -that we would take courage today and rejoice that we are a part of that -grand procession, some of which are now in glory, some of which are -crossing and some of which are still on this side. These old veterans -of glory are not here to shake our hands; they have risen from the -bloody battlefield of earth to the sun lit hills of eternity and have -washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Some -that I met two years ago are not here tonight to shake our hands, to -be with us in this farewell exercise, where are they? Where is father -Crusen and Sister Layten, Tolson, Phinley, Reley and Rachel Conover. -Young men, I ask you tonight where is Enoch Limehouse, Jimmie<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</span> Vroom -and others of your companions? Parents and Sabbath School teachers, -I ask you where are the Scotts, the Sees and Lily Wright and others -whom I met here two years ago? They have gone down to the grave, they -are mouldering in their graves. But this shattered Mt. Zion church is -the same now as then, a few pillars are left. Brothers Long, Johnson, -Fisher, Jones, Ward, Ayers, Charna, Sisters Long, Ward, Perine, Hall, -Scroden, Hutchens, Lewis, Harriet, Charmer, and a host of others, we -have stood together through these years and are one tonight in spirit -and in truth. Our spirits have shared each other’s burdens, each -other’s sorrows, we have mingled our tears.</p> - -<p>Your Christian advice, tender care, loyal friendship, all these have -helped me on my way to the better land. You have performed your part -well, a uniform desire to contribute to the harmony of all. Your -zeal for the growth of the church when it seemed to be dying, your -constant watching for its highest welfare, have often caused me to -say, “I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the -Lord.” Although we separate here in sorrow we will meet in a place -where sorrow is unknown. Do you promise to meet me there? March on, ye -Soldiers of the Cross, be not afraid, God is your<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</span> helper, He will not -desert you! Keep your eyes on the city whose builder and maker is God. -Do not grow weary in well-doing nor faint by the way.</p> - -<p>Christ said, My peace I leave with you. I can say my blessings I leave -with you. Let us pray for each other and look forward to the time when -we shall meet to part no more. Farewell!</p> - -<p class="center p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img003d"> - <img src="images/003.jpg" class="w5" alt="Decorative image" /> -</span></p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Articles_and_Contributions">Articles and Contributions</h2> -</div> -<hr class="r5" /> - -<h3>An Echo to the Manager’s Call.</h3> - -<p><abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Editor: In your issue of June 21, 1877, an article appears, -emanating from the business manager, indicating trouble ahead. He -says that from the very fact of the editor receiving two letters to -his one, and the supporters of our publishing department placing -the major portions of their communications on the wrong current, -the most pernicious effect is designed to flow through the stream -of intellectual knowledge gleaned from the columns of the Christian -Recorder.</p> - -<p>I have only to ask my brethren, Can we, as pillars of the porch that -leads to the great temple of African Methodism, sit still on our easy -chair and hear such powerful peals of thunder ringing through our -ears, constantly coming from the subverting clouds now overhanging our -manager’s head?</p> - -<p>Let us burst loose the bands of oppression, open the prison door and -set the captive free. Give the manager a fair start in the race, and -then if he die (as he says the death warrant has been served on others -who had charge of the concern), let us bury him in a recreant’s grave.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</span> -As to the department being whittled away by the ministry, I would -like to ask, <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Editor, who is responsible for that? Is there not a -prescribed mode of bringing these would-be men to justice? These vipers -that creep through the money till of all our departments and from -their atrocious dereliction or their villainous designs to defraud the -connection out of what is rightfully due it? These things are actually -undermining the foundation of our Church. Put them between the upper -and lower millstones and grind them as fine as powder. Do not let us -all suffer from the effect of the same blow. The blow the Doctor struck -has shocked the connection like a mighty earthquake. Now the question -goes from every loyal fort along the line, “Who are these whittlers?” -Again, the manager says there is a wolf howling about the door of -his sanctum, and that unless there be sufficient food to satisfy his -demands, at no distant date there will be a burst up. I again ask, -Cannot this eternal howling be stopped?</p> - -<p>Now, the manager says that our articles of commendation and sweet -pats on the shoulder, telling him to go ahead with the engine without -anything to propel it, does not amount to much. He wants action—noble, -sublime, Godlike action—such as will place him on the road to success. -Then, brethren, let us act. According to the report<span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</span> made at the -General Conference of 1872, we have three hundred thousand members, -seven thousand preachers in our connection. Let a Sabbath be set apart -and let it be universally known throughout the Church, and one-fourth -of a dollar be collected from each member. This would give us the nice -little sum of $75,000. Say that the preachers give one dollar each, -including bishops, managers, editors and all others, which would make -a total of $82,000. Would not this stop the howling wolf and save the -department? The echo is, Yes! Then, brethren, let us awake from our -sleep. Call the forces to the front, wheel into line, fire on the -enemy, and the victory is ours. I will guarantee one-fourth of a dollar -from each one of my members, and not only one dollar from myself, but -five, at whatever time may be mentioned as a day for this purpose in -the interests of the Book Concern.</p> - -<p class="right"> -A. H. NEWTON.</p> -<p>Algiers, <abbr title="Louisiana">La.</abbr>, July, 1877.<br /> -</p> - -<hr class="r5" /> -<h3>The Race Problem Solved at Asbury Park.</h3> - -<p> -For the Christian Recorder.<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">New Brunswick, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr>, August 2, 1890.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Editor.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Sir: As a native of the “Old North State” myself, it is but natural -that I should feel some pride<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</span> in every honor or mark of respect paid -to her honored sons; and yet, sir, when I see metropolitan papers, -whose politics are not very favorable to our race, teeming with -praise of the speeches made, with some very remarkable quotations of -opposition to the “Force Bill,” or apologizing for certain reasons -why it should not become a law; when I see certain gentlemen denied -by those in authority not especially committed to our side of public -questions regarding our interest, it is but natural that some of us -should become alarmed lest these honors are received and bestowed at -the terrible expense of compromising the rights of our race.</p> - -<p>We are forced to believe that President Grandison must have committed -himself with all the force of his eloquence on the beach at the park -to thirty thousand people in favor of the Force Bill. We are also led -to believe that our popular friend <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Sampson was very conservative -in his Fourth of July speech. But now comes out one of the leading -illustrated journals with all the pictures of these orators of the -Fourth at the park, and the Doctor is made to say if a colored man is -discriminated against or in any way persecuted in regard to his rights, -that it ought to stimulate him to greater effort to make himself more -worthy, and to not only make himself the equal, but the superior of the -other men. With<span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</span> other compromising remarks, and after several highly -pleasing speeches on the beach to the multitudes from the hotels, it is -said that the Doctor and founder, Bradley, repaired to the dining rooms -of the different hotels and told the colored help when and where they -might be allowed to bathe.</p> - -<p>Was this arrangement made by the Doctor with <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Bradley for the -colored people? Will these two North Carolinians answer this question? -Were they paid one hundred dollars for these speeches, and were they -properly quoted in the New York World? I mean President Grandison, of -Bennett College, as to his views on the Force Bill delivered at the -park or elsewhere, and also <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> Sampson on the Race Problem, delivered -on the grand stand on the Fourth of July at the park. I understand that -my old friend did say that a Negro’s occupation should not be above -that of a servant, for he must know well how to discharge the duties -belonging to this sphere before he is able to meet the more responsible -duties of life. I ask the Doctor if this is all true.</p> - -<p class="right"> -<span style="margin-right: 5em;">Yours respectfully,</span><br /> -A. H. NEWTON.<br /> -</p> - -<p>31 French Street, New Brunswick, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</span></p> -<hr class="r5" /> - -<h3>Intemperance.</h3> - -<p class="center">By Miss Ada A. Newton.</p> - -<p>Intemperance is a fatal evil. What are felons, murderers and thieves -but men who began drinking but moderately, just for fashion or to see -how it tasted? From drinking moderately they go on taking a little more -each time, until finally they become confirmed drunkards. How common -it is to hear a wife say, Ah! He was a good husband before he began -drinking. There was nothing he thought too good for me. How we pity -the drunkard’s wife and children! The little ones are made to suffer -for the doings of their father, for God says that “the iniquities of -the fathers are visited upon the children unto the third and fourth -generation, while His mercy is shown unto thousands that love Him and -keep His commandments.” How careful, then, should all be to guard -against this evil. The cup that has the glow of ruby at last biteth -like a serpent and stingeth like an adder.</p> - -<p>Let us give an illustration that all may see the course of this sin. -Here is a rich man who has a son; he indulges him beyond measure; he -teaches him in youth to drink wine. At first he makes a wry face and -tells his father that he does not like it and cannot drink it. His -father scorns and ridicules the idea, and tells him that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</span> unless he -drinks some he will never become a man. So the little fellow drinks -because it is his father’s desire and not his own. He soon acquires a -thirst for the poisonous cup, and when he comes to manhood’s estate -he drinks often and freely. At last he drinks too much and becomes -intoxicated—yes, intoxicated! This is his first step to ruin; the -habit has been formed. His father is now much mortified. He threatens -to disinherit him if he does not stop drinking, but it is too late. -The father has laid the foundation and the son has built on it, and -neither of them is now able to undo what has been done and fixed into -a habit. His mother begs him to never again touch the deadly drug. For -her sake he promises and takes the pledge. There is great rejoicing -now. His father, mother, friends, all rejoice at the reclamation; the -son has reformed! Yes, he has reformed. His eyes lose their redness -and become bright and lustrous. He attends diligently to his business. -After a while he marries. Then the rejoicing is universal. All delight -at the great reformation. But alas! how frail is human nature. Soon -after his marriage he meets at the tavern his old chums. He has perfect -confidence in himself. He knows he will not drink again. His pride -asserts itself. His old companions are gleeful and congenial; they ask -him to drink. He pays no attention to them.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</span> Then they sneer, they -ridicule, they appeal to his manhood, they accuse him of being tied to -his wife’s apron strings. To prove to them that he is not all that they -declare, he takes one drink, then another and another, and soon he is -beastly drunk. Then they kick him out. His wife watches for him, then -she watches over him, and he does not return, so it seems. He is now -detained on business; he has an engagement at the club, at the lodge. -How little does she know how soon she is to be bowed down and broken -under grief! She watches. It is midnight; she meets him at the door -with a glad heart; the sight is heart-sickening. She reels and faints. -He is fearfully intoxicated! When he is able to reason, she reasons -with him, but in vain. Down, down he goes from one step to another, -until from a large mansion he brings her to live in a cellar. Who is -that grinning monster the boys are pelting in the street? And who is -that emaciated creature entreating the boys to let the miserable wretch -whom she calls her husband go home? The once noble husband and the -once beautiful wife! What has brought them so low? What has caused her -misery, her anguish? Rum, rum, rum; nothing but the demon RUM!</p> - -<p>Oh, young man, if you only knew the harm that the social glass does -you, the misery that it brings, the death that follows, you would cast<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</span> -away the poison and turn from it now, before it is eternally to late. -“Touch not, taste not the unclean thing, for wine is a mocker and -strong drink is raging.”</p> - -<p>Algiers, <abbr title="Louisiana">La.</abbr></p> - -<hr class="r5" /> -<h3>From Arkansas.</h3> - -<p> -For the Christian Recorder.<br /> -</p> - -<p><abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Editor: You have not heard from us for several months, not because -we have lost interest, for we have always stood among the active -workers of the Church, but we have been very busy. The last time we -wrote you from the South we were in the State of Tennessee.</p> - -<p>In the month of October last year Bishop Brown ordered us to strike our -tent and move to Arkansas. With the knapsack of faith and the musket of -truth we came and engaged in the contest, taking charge of Little Rock.</p> - -<p>The Little Rock Conference is composed of some of the noblest and -most energetic men in the Church. They work, sing and fight against -Satan like men of war, determined to conquer although they die in the -battle. Elder J. T. Jenifer, so well known throughout our widespread -connection as a pioneer of African Methodism, erected a new church -edifice at Little Rock, a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</span> monument that can never be forgotten, and to -be admired by unborn generations. Bishop Brown and J. F. A. Sisson, P. -E., contributed their share towards the construction of this model of -beauty. H. H. Petigrew, <abbr title="Presiding Elder">P. E.</abbr>, John A. Jones, S. A. Patten and R. A. -Sinquefield are the pioneers of African Methodism in this State, and -their labors have been given entirely to the Christian Church. Their -affectionate and kind-hearted spirits draw every one near to them in -the fullest confidence, and none can but love and cherish them.</p> - -<p>The Conference is divided into eleven districts and is cared for by -good and faithful presiding elders who are not afraid of the truth, -though dark and gloomy clouds oppose them on every hand. We have -several churches in course of construction in this State which will be -ornaments when completed.</p> - -<p>In Little Rock the work is in a prosperous condition. We are preparing -to hold the Conference on the 9th of November, 1876. Bishop T. M. Ward -is now with us on his way to the South Arkansas Conference. Our church -is not yet completed, and we are about four thousand dollars in debt; -but, thank the Lord, we were successful in paying off $1200 this year. -We have 483 members, who say that they are determined to succeed. We -have 229 scholars in the Sunday<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</span> School and 25 officers and teachers. -We have not done much for the Recorder, but we intend to fall into -line. “Hold the fort, for we are coming!” (“Yes, but hurry up!”)</p> - -<p>King Cotton has a powerful influence in this State, and the same is -true of another king—Alcohol. There are 113 rum shops in Pine Bluff -and 108 in Little Rock. Thousands of people are inquiring for the -byways to hell, and, comparatively speaking, very few are inquiring the -way to heaven. Over $1,000,000 are spent in this State annually for rum -and tobacco.</p> - -<p>On September 25th we visited the Conference of Tennessee, held in -Pulaski, where we met many smiling faces and hearts and enjoyed a -hearty shake of many hands.</p> - -<p class="right"> -A. H. NEWTON.<br /> -</p> - -<p>Little Rock, <abbr title="Arkansas">Ark.</abbr>, October 18, 1876.</p> -<hr class="r5" /> - -<h3>Algiers, <abbr title="Louisiana">La.</abbr></h3> - -<p>Algiers is situated on the north bank of the Mississippi River, about -one hundred miles distant from the Gulf. It is connected with New -Orleans by ferry boats, which run every five or ten minutes. There is -not much enterprise here, as all the business is done in the city. -It is not a separate parish from the city, as one mayor controls the -affairs of both places. Beelzebub has<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</span> his headquarters here, and his -court and his orders take the premium. The Sabbath is not respected. -Mechanics labor and stevedores flock and flutter about the ships. You -will find human beings as thick on the ballroom floor on Sunday as -fleas on a dog’s head. And this is only a substitute for the wickedness -indulged in here on the Sabbath. But our Church is progressing. We -have just had a glorious revival. Our forces were drawn up in line in -pitched battle with the devil and artillery of hell. After a heavy -conflict for several weeks the battle subsided. When the smoke was -over we picked up thirty souls happily converted to God. Bishop Ward -was with us about eight weeks ago. He organized a new mission work -in this city. He threw two or three bombshells against the forces of -Catholicism, crippled, wounded and captured several of their troops, -and moved on down the line, leaving the boys to push the battle to the -gate.</p> - -<p class="right"> -A. H. NEWTON.<br /> -</p> - -<p>June 21, 1877.</p> - -<hr class="r5" /> -<h3>Word from Algiers, <abbr title="Louisiana">La.</abbr></h3> - -<p> -For the Christian Recorder.<br /> -</p> - -<p><abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Editor: Elder A. H. Newton has charge of the branch of African -Methodism of Algiers, <abbr title="Louisiana">La.</abbr> When Elder Newton arrived in Algiers he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</span> -found the church in an almost hopeless condition, there being but -ten members belonging to the fold, and as far as Sabbath School was -concerned, they hardly knew what it meant. The majority of the people -of color are Catholics. There are three Catholic churches to one -Methodist church, therefore he had to labor under great disadvantages, -but with King Jesus as his Captain, the Bible as his shield, he fought -the battle bravely and gained the victory. Our church now is in a -prosperous condition. We are doing a good work. Instead of ten members -we have ten times ten, and they are coming to the fold every day. -We have the finest Sabbath School in the State of Louisiana. There -are one hundred and seventy-five members, and still they come. Our -superintendent, Prof. J. H. Corbin, is alive to our Sabbath School. -He is pious, kind and educated. The children all love him, and in -no Sunday School throughout our entire connection could you find a -better superintendent than he. He is also the principal of the colored -school of Algiers. Our musical director, Prof. S. W. Otts, is also one -of our bright stars. He makes the walls of Zion ring with melodies -from the “Gospel Songs.” Miss O. B. Flowers, the assistant principal -of the colored school of this city is also a noble worker in our -Sabbath School. As a teacher she is interesting, and she is also the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</span> -embodiment of Christian forbearance. We have a very intelligent corps -of teachers, and, altogether, our school is progressing quite rapidly. -When Elder Newton came to Algiers there was not a book in the Sabbath -School library, not even a Testament; but with the help of God we have -been enabled to get Testaments, Bibles and Catechisms, and we also have -an organ. All this has been done in three months. In another three -months we have hopes of as much more being accomplished. Our agent for -the Christian Recorder is Mrs. Lula L. Newton. She sells as many papers -as are sent her, and could sell as many more if she had them. The -people take quite an interest in the paper, simply because it is edited -and published by our own color.</p> - -<p>For the last week we have had a practical effort, six souls have been -added to our number and we have prospects of as many more. Algiers bids -fair of becoming one of the strongholds of the connection. In the city -of New Orleans, Bishop Ward (blessings on his venerable head!) has -organized a new mission, which the elder in charge—Elder Cargile—with -the help of the Lord and good management, is making a good charge. -The people in this city are very wicked, some of them, although in a -Christian land and among Christian people, are worse than heathen. They -have never read the Bible. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</span> Bishop, knowing this, organized the -mission in the most wicked portion of the city, and it is progressing -finely.</p> - -<p class="right"> -ADA A. NEWTON.<br /> -</p> - -<p>April 4, 1877.</p> - -<hr class="r5" /> -<h3>Word from Algiers, <abbr title="Louisiana">La.</abbr></h3> - -<p> -For the Christian Recorder.<br /> -</p> - -<p><abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Editor: I am glad to say that our church is gaining ground. -Christians are a unit in this place in laboring for the building of -Christ’s kingdom. Meetings are being held everywhere, with very marked -results. Elder James Madison is carrying on a great work in <abbr title="saint">St.</abbr> James. -He seems to be determined that every valley shall be filled and every -hill made low. I think that he is the right man in the right place. -The Elder visited my Sabbath School and addressed the children. He -expressed himself as highly pleased with the progress of the church and -school.</p> - -<p>Elder Lazarus Gardiner, of <abbr title="saint">St.</abbr> Peter’s Chapel, is scattering Gospel -seed and contending against the assaults of sin, at the head of -noble-hearted workers for the success of African Methodism in this -State. They have paid five hundred dollars on their new church and have -arranged for the payment of another five hundred when due. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</span> Elder -is up and a-doing. God speed him on his journey!</p> - -<p><abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> George W. Bryant is sounding the Gospel trumpet from the -battlements of Zion at the Union Bethel. He is master of the situation. -If our Gospel be hid, it is hid unto them that are lost. The Baptist -church is also doing a great work in this place. I was at a union -meeting at the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> James Chaig’s church, a Baptist brother, and the -Spirit of the Lord God filled the house. It was densely packed. The -conference of glad voices giving praise to God was a heaven below. -Brother Benjamin Buchannon also held a union meeting last Sabbath, -which was a complete success. Fully three thousand people were present. -The church and the yard were literally packed. God bless these -brethren! May they live long and continue as instruments in the hands -of God, enemies to ignorance and friends to holiness! J. H. Scie, P. -E., is on the scout, I presume, although I have not heard from Elder -Thomas. And Elder Burch I can give no account of, as I have no news -from their district since Conference.</p> - -<p class="right"> -A. H. NEWTON.<br /> -</p> - -<p>June 5, 1877.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</span></p> -<hr class="r5" /> - -<h3>Dedication of Macedonia Church.</h3> - -<p>The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. H. Newton was ably assisted in the service of dedicating -the beautiful new Macedonia Church in Camden, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr>, last Sunday. The -dedicatory service was conducted and sermon preached by Bishop A. W. -Wayman, D.D., at 11 A. M. In the afternoon the editor of the Christian -Recorder and at night Macedonia’s ex-pastor, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> W. H. Yocum, B.D., -preached. There were present the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> G. A. Mills, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J. W. Cooper, -T. N. Allen, S. B. Williams, G. S. Smith, T. Gould, L. J. Coppin, B. -T. Tanner, D.D., J. H. Bean, J. W. Becket, D.D., W. Rice and G. M. -Witten, of our church, and S. P. Smith, of the Congregational Church of -Knoxville, <abbr title="Tennessee">Tenn.</abbr> There may have been other ministers present. In the -afternoon the audience of the main audience room overflowed, filling -the basement, where they were addressed in a good sermon delivered by -<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> G. M. Witten. The collection of the day amounted to over $900. -Macedonia has been partly described while in course of erection. It -is of brick, the windows are of beautiful stained glass, the floor -is entirely carpeted, the pulpit is furnished, the gas jets, the -excellent finish of the entire building within and without command our -congratulation to our Brother Newton and constituents, who with him,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</span> -as well as with his predecessor, Elder Yocum, under whose pastorate the -building was started, erected and enclosed, have been faithful.</p> - -<p>October 24, 1886.</p> - -<hr class="r5" /> -<h3>Another Account of the Dedication of the Macedonia Church.</h3> - -<p> -For the Christian Recorder.<br /> -</p> - -<p><abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Editor: In the midst of the ranges of thought and sentiment, and -while the busy world was moving on in the grand march of improvement, -the Church of the Living God is unfolding and developing everywhere. -The Kingdom of Christ is gaining territory in the marts of men.</p> - -<p>Sunday, October 24th, the Macedonia A. M. E. Church of Camden, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr>, -was dedicated with imposing services. Indeed, I venture the assertion -that it was the grandest occasion in the history of the congregation. -More than forty years ago a few fathers and mothers, African -Methodists, concluded to build the house to God in that city, all of -whom have finished their well-begun work, and have fallen asleep; -but Brother Wilson, Father Sample, Mother Quinn and Sister Hill. The -younger men and women, inspired by the fathers, took hold where they -left off and have carried forward the work until the third<span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</span> building is -successfully reared on the same lot; but the glory of the latter house -is greater than the former. The members and congregation needed this -new church seventeen years before it was built. They were losing their -congregation of young people, their societies were taking their start -from Old Macedonia until eight other churches were built in Camden. -With the exception of one or two, Macedonia was the poorest. Standing -two and one-half feet below the grade of the street might be seen a -small flat-roof house covered with felt, pitch and gravel; this was the -A. M. E. church with a gallery all around it, yet some of our ablest -ministers had pastored there.</p> - -<p>After I had labored three years in the city of Providence, <abbr title="Rhode Island">R. I.</abbr>, in -August, Bishop John M. Brown said to me, “Brother Yeocum, we have -needed a new church in Camden for years, can you not go there and -build that church. You will find a good lot of people. We must have a -church there that will compare with the churches in Philadelphia or we -shall lose all that we have.” On the 22nd of August I found myself in -Camden, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr>, and it was not long before we commenced talking about -the new church. About the last of October our first grand rally netted -us $575.00; at the last service in the old building we raised about -$300.00 and soon $1,000.00 were in hand. The old church was taken down -and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</span> many were fearful that the church would never go up again. We took -the congregation some distance from its stamping ground to what is -known as “Kaighnsville” and worshipped in our mission school-house just -in the rear of the A. M. E. Z. Church. Here we remained eighteen months -while the carpenters and masons were working on the present noble -structure. There were many discouragements and trying circumstances -confronting us, but we toiled on trusting in the Lord whose work it -was. The tribes led on by the presidents, Mrs. Anna White, the late -Lyda McCoy and Mrs. Maggie J. Moseley and Mrs. Lizzie Green, collected -money perhaps as they never expected. It was simply marvelous. The -former, if my memory is correct, raised over $500.00 during my three -years pastorate while the building was being erected.</p> - -<p>On the first Sunday in December, 1885, we went into the basement of the -new church complete. That was an occasion of surprise as well as of -joy to the members of the congregation. For many a Job’s comforter had -prophesied that it would not go up again, while others laughed saying, -“Aha! Aha!” “Where is their church now?” Perhaps some said, “What -they do build, if a fox go up thereon, it will break down.” In April, -1885, I was succeeded by the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. H. Newton, who is a successful, -energetic pastor,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</span> who does not sit down or stand still waiting for -something to turn up in his favor, like some pastors. But he goes to -work with such vim and is here and there so much among his members -that one following him learns that <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Newton has been there. With -this spirit he carried to completion this fine and beautiful church. -He and his members deserve much credit. The church has all the modern -improvements and many say that it is the finest A. M. E. church in New -Jersey. I do not remember the dimensions but it is a large two-story -brick building with a cellar below where all the heating is done. On -entering the front door there is a stair-way leading to the audience -room on the right and on the left. Before entering the lecture room -there is a fine study and lecture and class room with frosted windows. -The ceiling of the basement is high, it is easily ventilated, the -windows of the best enameled glass. There is no paint on the wood -work, simply finished in oil, thus retaining the natural color of the -yellow pine. The audience room is large with three isles, one in the -center and one on each side, with a door at each isle, making the -exit very easy. There is a large gallery across the front, making the -seating capacity about 550. The windows are the best variegated stained -glass. In each there is a memorial to Bishop R. H. Cain, the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. -H.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</span> Newton, W. H. Yeocum and <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Perry Wilson, the oldest member. The -ceiling is very high, carved and angled, with two large reflectors -which give a mellow, beautiful light. Unlike many of our churches all -the floor is carpeted and the fine furniture on the pulpit, together -with the splendid pipe organ, make an elegant finish.</p> - -<p>At 10:30 a. m., after the usual form, Bishop A. W. Wayman, D.D., -preached one of his noted sermons which was well received by the -people, the text being, “Who is she that looketh fair as the morning?” -And <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> B. F. Lee, D.D., preached a most elegant, instructive, sermon -at 3 p. m. The congregation was so large that the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> G. M. Witten -preached to a crowded basement also at the same hour. At 7 p. m. your -humble servant tried to preach from <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> 1:11, “I am Alpha and Omega,” -the theme being, “Christ, the First and the Last.” The collection was -$900.00, which was very good considering the circumstances of our -people. The visiting members present were <abbr title="Doctor">Dr.</abbr> B. T. Tanner, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J. W. -Cooper, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> G. A. Mills, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> S. B. Williams, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> W. A. Rice, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J. -H. Bean, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J. H. Morgan and <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> L. J. Coppin.</p> - -<p class="right"> -<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> William H. Yeocum, B.D.</p> -<p>Trenton, New Jersey.<br /> -</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</span></p><h2 class="nobreak" id="Resolutions_Etc">Resolutions, Etc.</h2> -</div> -<hr class="r5" /> - -<h3>Little Rock, <abbr title="Arkansas">Ark.</abbr></h3> - -<p>Whereas, The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. H. Newton, since his advent in our midst as pastor -of Bethel A. M. E. Church and subsequently, became superintendent of -our Sabbath School, demonstrating a great love for the Sabbath School -and zealously desirous of promoting its complete success as a place -of reform and education for the young, has ardently labored to extend -its usefulness and sound religious and moral teachings in the minds -of our youthful members, has striven to lead the young to religious -devotion, has spared no pains to cause the officers and teachers to -imbibe the same zeal, and, being a devotee to music, has caused its -uplifting influence to flow among us, leading our voices to leap forth -in joyous strains in adoration to our King of kings, and to promote -a higher intellectual and spiritual standard among officers, members -and scholars, and has sown the seed that will bring forth an abundant -harvest when his hoary head is laid to rest in its last resting place; -therefore be it</p> - -<p>Resolved, 1. That the officers and teachers of the Bethel A. M. E. S. -S. give to <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. H.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</span> Newton a vote of thanks for the expending of his -time and labors in promoting our welfare.</p> - -<p>2. That we commend him to his many Christian friends for his many deeds -of kindness and labors of love, for both our temporal and spiritual -good.</p> - -<p>3. That the above preamble and resolutions be recorded by our -secretary, and a copy be given to him.</p> - -<p class="right"> -<span style="margin-right: 3em;">H. J. BROWN,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-right: 3em;">W. H. SMITH,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-right: 3em;">G. W. OLIVER,</span><br /> -Committee.<br /> -</p> - -<p>November 19, 1876.</p> - -<hr class="r5" /> -<h3>Respecting <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. H. Newton.</h3> - -<p>At a meeting of the officers and members of the Bethel A. M. E. Church, -held in this city in 1876, the following preamble and resolutions were -adopted:</p> - -<p>Whereas, He has served us faithfully for one year as pastor of Bethel -Station, in this city, and labored faithfully and honestly to build up -our Sabbath School and other organizations placed under his charge by -the General Conference; and</p> - -<p>Whereas, He has taken special pains to instill into the minds of the -young of the church the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</span> grand and beneficent principles of temperance -and morality; and</p> - -<p>Whereas, His Christian conduct, scholarly attainments and liberal views -have endeared him unto us; therefore be it</p> - -<p>Resolved, That we, officers and members of the Bethel Church, do hereby -tender to him our heartfelt thanks for the noble work he has done among -us, and we will ever pray that the blessings of Almighty God may rest -upon him and his family, and aid him in his new work to accomplish good -work for the cause of Christ.</p> - -<p>Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be presented to Brother -Newton, and that they be published in the Little Rock daily papers.</p> - -<p class="right">G. W. OLIVER, Secretary.<br /> -</p> - -<p>November 18, 1876.</p> - -<hr class="r5" /> -<h3>Macedonia Church Endeavors to Retain Their Pastor.</h3> - -<p class="center">Camden, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr></p> - -<p> -To the Presiding Elder and Members of the Quarterly Conference of Macedonia A. M. E. Church:<br /> -</p> - -<p>Whereas, The New Jersey Annual Conference of the A. M. E. Church will -hold its annual session at Trenton April 20; and</p> - -<p>Whereas, Another year’s faithful service of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</span> our pastor, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. H. -Newton, will expire; and</p> - -<p>Whereas, His Christian deportment and liberal views, his gentlemanly -and agreeable qualities have endeared him to us; therefore be it</p> - -<p>Resolved, That we, the members of the Macedonia Quarterly Conference, -do, for his two years of earnest labor in the upbuilding and finishing -of our church and increasing our membership, tender him our heartiest -thanks; and</p> - -<p>Resolved, That in this he has our heartiest regard and the good wishes -of the members of the Quarterly Conference, and we sincerely hope that -his future may be as bright and prosperous as he may hope or desire, -and we also pray that the Bishop may return him to us for another year.</p> - -<p>Resolved, That a copy of these minutes be presented to <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. H. -Newton and be printed in the Sentinel and the Tribune.</p> - -<p>Signed in behalf of the Quarterly Conference of the Macedonia A. M. E. -Church.</p> - -<p class="right"> -<span style="margin-right: 3em;">WILLIAM STEVENSON,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-right: 3em;">JAMES HURT,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-right: 3em;">CHARLES COX,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-right: 3em;">EZEKIEL WALLACE,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-right: 3em;">GEORGE ROBERTS,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-right: 3em;">JAMES BRISCOE.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>March 24, 1887.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</span></p> - -<hr class="r5" /> -<h3>Notice.</h3> - -<p><abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. H. Newton, pastor of the Bethel A. M. E. Church, has been -transferred to the Louisiana Conference. We regret to lose <abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> Newton -from this city, as gentlemen of his attainments are none too plenty -in the ranks of the A. M. E. ministry. Aside from being liberally -educated, he has shown a practical Christian spirit and work since his -residence in this city. He is to be succeeded by the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J. R. Jenifer.</p> -<hr class="r5" /> - -<h3>East Camden, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr></h3> - -<p>At the last Quarterly Conference of the Hosanna A. M. E. Church the -following resolutions were offered by the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> W. W. Chase:</p> - -<p>Whereas, The church has prospered under the presiding eldership of <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> -A. H. Newton for the past four years; and</p> - -<p>Whereas, This is his last year and Quarterly Conference; be it therefore</p> - -<p>Resolved, That we return to him our grateful thanks for the manner in -which he has conducted the business of the church, and pray that the -blessings of God may rest on his labors; and</p> - -<p>Whereas, In the appointment of the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> F. A. Sherman to fill the -unexpired term of <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> G. B. Smith has proven a blessing to the church<span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</span> -and the community; we pray that he may be successful in preaching the -Word of God; and</p> - -<p>Whereas, He has been zealous and faithful in the discharge of his -duties, both temporal and spiritual; therefore be it</p> - -<p>Resolved, That he has our prayers and best wishes for his future -success.</p> - -<p class="right"> -<span style="margin-right: 3em;">HARRY INGRAM,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-right: 3em;">WILLIAM INGRAM,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-right: 3em;">DAVID CORSE,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-right: 3em;">JOHN TOULKS,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-right: 3em;">BENJAMIN INGRAM,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-right: 3em;">NATHANIEL INGRAM,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-right: 3em;">GARDNER INGRAM,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-right: 3em;">HEZEKIAH COMMARGER,</span><br /> -Church Officers.<br /> -</p> - -<p>March 14, 1896.</p> -<hr class="r5" /> - -<h3>Resolutions of Respect.</h3> - -<p>The Fourth Quarterly Conference of the Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church, at its -regular session, adopted the following resolutions:</p> - -<p>Whereas, The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. H. Newton, having served us as pastor, and as he -is near the termination of his administration, it is the honor that -should be given to whom it is due and credit to those who justly merit -it; therefore be it</p> - -<p>Resolved, By the members of this Quarterly Conference that in the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> -A. H. Newton we<span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</span> recognize a faithful Gospel minister and energetic -worker in his Master’s vineyard; and furthermore we recognize him as -a gentleman whose character is irreproachable and whose ministerial -bearing and executive ability commend themselves to the judgment of the -intelligent; and furthermore be it</p> - -<p>Resolved, That we highly appreciate his efficient management of the -temporal, financial and spiritual interests of the church, and whose -administration of two years has been one of perfect tranquillity and -fraternal feeling, one of its prominent characteristics; and be it</p> - -<p>Resolved, That in giving him our testimony of appreciation we would -not forget his companion and coadjutor in his ministerial work, and do -highly esteem her as a Christian lady for her untiring perseverance and -devotion that has characterized her during her husband’s administration.</p> - -<hr class="r5" /> -<h3>Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church.</h3> - -<p>The quarterly meeting of Mt. Zion Church last Sunday was a grand -success. The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. H. Newton, the pastor, is very energetic and a -grand church worker. <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Gilbert T. Waters preached a noble sermon in -the afternoon. The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Thomas held the audience spellbound at<span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</span> night. -Elder J. H. Morgan consecrated the elements and administered the Lord’s -Supper, with the assistance of Elder Thomas. The church was crowded -afternoon and evening. There were many strangers present, who expressed -themselves benefited during the day. Mrs. Lulu L. Newton left last -Monday morning to spend a few days in Camden and Philadelphia with old -friends. Mrs. Ada A. Harris, daughter of <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. H. Newton, will spend -some time in Atlantic City before returning to Raleigh, <abbr title="North Carolina">N. C.</abbr> Elder A. -H. Newton has raised $900 since Conference for church purposes. The -congregation of Mt. Zion are well pleased with the appointment of the -Bishop. The Sabbath School of Mt. Zion will give a grand concert in -the near future, conducted by Mrs. Ada A. Harris, for the purpose of -getting new singing books. The collection at Mt. Zion last Sunday was -$45.83.</p> - -<p>The members of Mt. Zion Church tendered their pastor, <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. H. -Newton, a nice little surprise in honor of the reverend gentleman’s -fiftieth birthday. They had a good time and left many substantial -tokens of their regard.</p> - -<hr class="r5" /> -<h3>The Obituary of the <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> William Watson.</h3> - -<p>The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> William Watson, a member of the New Jersey A. M. E. -Conference, died at his residence in Woodbury, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr>, Tuesday, August<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</span> -7, 1888. He was one of the oldest preachers of the Conference, and was -therefore regarded as the “Father of the Conference.”</p> - -<p>The funeral services were held August 9 at the A. M. E. church, -Woodbury, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr> The <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> J. T. Rex preached the sermon, which was very -impressive, and <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. H. Newton and <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Johns made very appropriate -remarks concerning the character and usefulness of the deceased. -Friday, August 10th, the body was carried to Frankford, <abbr title="Pennsylvania">Pa.</abbr>, where -services were held in the church, when eulogies were delivered by Elder -G. A. Mills, Bishop Turner, Elder J. W. Cooper and others. <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. H. -Newton read the following resolution:</p> - -<p>Whereas, we realize the fact that we sustain a great loss by the -decease of our dear brother and colaborer in the work of the Master; be -it therefore</p> - -<p>Resolved, That it is but a just tribute to the memory of our brother -who has been taken from us to say that in his removal from our midst we -mourn for one who was in every way worthy of our respect and our regard;</p> - -<p>Resolved, That while we bow in humble submission to the hand of Divine -Providence, and while sorrow for the loss of a good man, a kind -shepherd, a faithful and beloved minister, we find<span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</span> consolation in the -belief that “it is well with him.” He fell at his post, and we believe -that he has triumphantly entered the Haven of Eternal Rest.</p> - -<p>Resolved, That we also remember the family in the hour of affliction -and trial, we tenderly condole with and devoutly commend them to the -keeping of Him who looks with pity on the widow and fatherless, and -that we share with them the hope of a reunion in that better land where -death and separation are forever unknown.</p> - -<p>Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be presented to the family -and printed in the Christian Recorder and other papers.</p> - -<p class="right"> -<span style="margin-right: 3em;"><abbr title="Reverend">REV.</abbr> J. T. REX,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-right: 3em;"><abbr title="Reverend">REV.</abbr> A. H. NEWTON,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-right: 3em;"><abbr title="Reverend">REV.</abbr> G. M. WITTEN,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-right: 3em;"><abbr title="Reverend">REV.</abbr> WALTER THOMPSON,</span><br /> -Committee.<br /> -</p> -<hr class="r5" /> - -<h3>LODGE NOTICES.</h3> - -<p>Past Grand Master P. T. Colding, G. Bailey, W. O. Castor, A. H. Newton, -<abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Bean and twenty others of the State of New Jersey paid Prince Hall -Lodge, No. 10, a fraternal visit on last Wednesday. Short addresses -were delivered by those present.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</span></p> - -<p>Last week we left out the names of the officers elect of the Grand -Chapter: S. N. Robinson, M. E. G. P., P. L. Colding, R. D. G. H. P., -Camden; W. H. Jackson, R. E. G. K., Bordentown; A. H. Newton, R. E. G. -S., Trenton; J. L. Derrick, R. W. G. Treasurer, Camden; W. F. Powell, -R. W. Grand Secretary, Burlington; W. H. Douglas, R. W. Dist. Dept., -Plainfield.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Madams Pitts, Daniels, Webb, Hack and Newton have been assiduous in -their efforts in making the fair a success.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>At a meeting of the Damascus Commandery, K. T., No. 4, Trenton, the -following officers were elected: Sir A. H. Newton, Em. Com.; Sir J. -Thornton, Gen.; John Seruby, Capt. General.</p> -<hr class="r5" /> - -<h3><abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. H. Newton, Chaplain of the Senate, Trenton, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr></h3> - -<p><abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> A. H. Newton has been appointed Chaplain of the State Senate, -Trenton, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr> Thus we creep up. This is a great honor to <abbr title="Reverend">Rev.</abbr> Newton, -as well as the race. We congratulate him.</p> - -<p>March 29th-April 3d.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</span></p> - -<p class="right"> -Camden, <abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr>, August 20, 1894.</p><p> -The Adjutant-General W. S. Arcory, W. S. U.<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">S. A., Washington, D. C.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Dear Sir: Will you please inform me of the probable number of troops -enlisted during the Civil War, those having died from wounds, being -sick in hospitals, and the number of those killed on the battlefield?</p> - -<p>Also please advise me of the cost of the war, how many colored soldiers -enlisted, the years they enlisted, and the first battle they engaged in.</p> - -<p class="right"> -<span class="mr">Very respectfully yours,</span><br /> -A. H. NEWTON.<br /> -</p> - -<p>The following was the reply to the above:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p> - -Address: “Chief of the Record and Pension Office, War Department, Washington, D. C.”<br /> -</p><p class="center"> -RECORD AND PENSION OFFICE,<br /> -War Department,</p><p class="right"> -Washington, August 24, 1894.</p> -<p> -Respectfully returned to<br /> -<abbr title="Mister">Mr.</abbr> A. H. Newton, 332 Washington <abbr title="Street">St.</abbr>, Camden, -<abbr title="New Jersey">N. J.</abbr><br /> -</p> - -<p>Inviting attention to the accompanying printed statement showing the -number of troops furnished by the several States and Territories under -the different calls by the President, including the number of colored -troops.</p> - -<p>According to the latest official compilation, 67,058 officers and men -were killed in action, and 292,470 died of wounds or disease during -the war.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</span></p> - -<p>According to a statement made by the Secretary of the Treasury on June -10, 1880, “the expenditures of the government on account of the war of -the rebellion from July 1, 1861 to June 30, 1879,” including interest -on the public debt, “aggregated $6,189,929,908.58.” The amount -expended since the latter date is not shown by any statistics filed in -this Department.</p> - -<p>The first authorized enlistment of U. S. colored troops during the -war of the rebellion was made in the State of Louisiana in 1862. No -detailed information as to the organization and service of colored -troops can readily be furnished from data now accessible.</p> - -<p class="center"> -(one enclosure)</p><p> -By authority of the Secretary of War:</p><p class="right"> -<span class="smcap mr">F. C. Ainsworth,</span><br /> -Colonel, U. S. Army, Chief of Office.</p><p> -Per<br /> -</p> -</div> - -<hr class="r5" /> - -<h3>The Legal Form of Apprenticeship Used in the Case of A. H. Newton.</h3> - -<p> -State of North Carolina,<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">County of Craven,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">ss:</span> -</p> - -<p>This Indenture, made the eighteenth day of December, in the year of our -Lord 1852, between the Worshipful William S. Blackledge, Esq., Chairman -and Presiding Justice of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of -the county aforesaid, of the one part, and Jacob Gooding, of the same -county, of the other part,</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</span></p> - -<p>Witnesseth, That the said Presiding Justice, in pursuance of an order -of said Court, doth put, place and bind, unto said Jacob Gooding, a -free boy of color, an orphan, named Alexander H. Newton, aged 17 years -16th July, 1852, with the said Jacob Gooding, to live after the manner -of an apprentice and servant until he shall attain the age of 21 years. -During which time the said apprentice his said Master shall faithfully -serve, and his lawful commands gladly obey, and not absent himself from -his Master’s service without leave, but in all things as a good and -faithful servant shall behave.</p> - -<p>And the said Jacob Gooding doth covenant, promise and agree, with the -said Presiding Justice, that he will teach and instruct, or cause to -be taught and instructed, the said apprentice the art and mystery -of a bricklayer and mason, and constantly find and provide for the -said apprentice, during the term aforesaid, sufficient diet, washing, -lodging and apparel fitting an apprentice, and also all other things -necessary both in sickness and in health, and at the expiration of said -apprenticeship will pay to said apprentice six dollars and furnish him -with a new suit of clothes and a new Bible.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</span></p> - -<p>In witness whereof, the parties have hereunto set their hands and seals -the day and year aforesaid.</p> - -<p class="right"> -J. GOODING. (Seal)<br /> -WILLIAM BLACKLEDGE. (Seal)</p><p> -Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of</p><p class="center"> -J. G. Stanly.</p> -<p>State of North Carolina,<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">County of Craven,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">ss:</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>I hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the original filed in -this office.</p> - -<p>Witness my hand and official seal this 22d day of August, 1878.</p> - -<p class="right"> -<span class="mr">S. W. CARPENTER, C. S. C.,</span><br /> -Per J. B. Willis, Deputy.</p><p> -(Seal Superior Court.)<br /> -</p> - -<p class="center p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img003e"> - <img src="images/003.jpg" class="w5" alt="Decorative image" /> -</span></p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter transnote"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Transcribers_Notes">Transcriber’s Notes</h2> - - -<p>Minor errors and omissions in punctuation have been fixed.</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_20">20</a>: “the thoughlessness” changed to “the thoughtlessness”</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_78">78</a>: “loaded with human frieght” changed to “loaded with human -freight”</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_79">79</a>: “the Rio Grand” changed to “the Rio Grande”</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_99">99</a>: “Klu Klux Klan” changed to “Ku Klux Klan”</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_100">100</a>: “were Klu Kluxing” changed to “were Ku Kluxing”</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_104">104</a>: “in Chatanooga” changed to “in Chattanooga”</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_111">111</a>: “now occupied ed by” changed to “now occupied by”</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_113">113</a>: “one of the the Ten Commandments” changed to “one of the Ten Commandments”</p> -<p>Page <a href="#Page_122">122</a>: “this conncetion” changed to “this connection”</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_123">123</a>: A repeated line of text was removed.</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_124">124</a>: “Harriet Henson, son and others” changed to “Harriet Henson, -and others”</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_128">128</a>: “$57 for for traveling expenses” changed to “$57 for traveling expenses”</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_133">133</a>: “was begining” changed to “was beginning”</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_177">177</a>: “Omnipotence, Omnicience” changed to “Omnipotence, -Omniscience”</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_179">179</a>: “most greviously” changed to “most grievously”</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_186">186</a>: “others may life?” changed to “others may live?”</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_199">199</a>: “Dibine Leadership” changed to “Divine Leadership”</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_243">243</a>: “assistant princial” changed to “assistant principal”</p> - -<p>Page <a href="#Page_247">247</a>: “sermon deliverd” changed to “sermon delivered”</p> -</div> -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUT OF THE BRIARS ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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