Wm {iijiyiiiiiiii! I W,.A .11 .KEWfON i!lilpiijli|ii|ll|i |i| !!l|l ilii!i PiPPiillli iliiiiii ill lilili- T r- IS Ilii i ill Hi i i Class B^-^^^ Book . J} / Gopyiight ]^° COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. REV. ALEXANDER HERRITAGE NEWTON, D.D. OUT OF THE BRIARS ^ cAn cAutobiography ^ AND = Sketch of the ^Tkventy-ninth ^^giment Connecticut Volunteers "By A. K NEWTON. D.D. Member of the New Jersey Annual Conference of the A. M. E. Church With Introduction by Re-v, J, P. Sampson, D, D. PRICE $L25 Printed- By ' THE A. M. E. BOOK CONCERN .l^mxttre nnii $itbHet;rra 631 Pine Street Phila.. Pa. 1910 Copyrig/it, igio Hy Rev. A. //. Xezvlou ©ClA27ni52 AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF AW DEAR CHILDREN AND TO MY WIFE LliLi; L. NEWTON — ]lv the Author. (Eoutrnta Page Preface vii Introduction xi My Life — Ante i'ellum 17 My War Record and Sketch of the Twenty- Ninth Regiment, Connecticut Vohuit'eers .... 29 My Ministerial Lite and Labors gi The Churcli; What It is. And what li Should I'.c. 147 The Negro Problem 159 Sermons 1 75 Articles and Contriltutions 229 Resolutions, Etc 255 Ctat of JUitstratious Pag« Rev. Alexaiuk-r ITerritago Xewtnii Fr^ok implies some acquaintance with, confidence ill, and respect for, the writer thereof, oti the part of the author of the book. Some authors sohcit such a service because of the prominent position of the writer, rather than the thorough acquaint- ance which he has with the author. This may liring- 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 comi)liment; for like himself, the writer of this introduction, has come out of the same circumstances and condi- tions, 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 com- mon 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 schooliuate of my broth- ers, J. B. K. and Jos. Sampson, being taught by John Steward Stanley, and from that time to this good dav, we have known each other as brothers. TNTIinnrCTrON Dr. Xewton's life has been, what we call a suc- cess, neither rich nor poor, but of easy circum- stances. This is to his credit, for a man of our race to be on the middle ground iK-tween riches and poverty, proves that Dr. Xewton 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 great- ness, but Dr. Xewton 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 gooil fight and that there remains for him an inherit- ance, incorruptible, undefiled and that fadeth not awa\-. 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 to- ward the glowing sunset of his life battles. Everv dav that he lives ad realize my said condition, although fi'ee, and the sad condition of my race. Aly father was a slave, so that in my family, I learned wdiat slavery was, I felt its curse in my bones and 1 longed for an opportunity and the power to. play the part of a Closes in behalf of my people. I suppose that this was the wild dream of every child born during slavery. The awful condi- tion of my people, the steel shackles of slavery, the slave block of the market place where hit>- bands and wives, parents and children, were- 19 oVT OF TII1>: r,lUAR8 ruthlessly torn apart and scattered asunder, the shipping 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 so- cial 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 wdien a boy. With the thoughless- ness, the happy-go-lucky spirit of the boy, I •entered into those plays and pleasures which rniake up the pastime of youth. I recall the .many bo}s and girls, both white and colored, who were my mates in games and pranks. Like ?,11 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 reganling the sterling worth of my mother I most vividly recall. Together with some other boys, we w^ere guilty of stealing some peaches. It was not the proverbial watei melon tliis time. Fortunately we wc'-e cauglit by the -j^roprietor of the orchard. It would be for- tunate if all thieves were caught. T vvas taken in charge. I began to cry vigorously. I was asked what I wanted done with mc. I begged to 'be taken home to my mother. This request was granted. Soon I was facing my mother. The >[Y IJFK— ANTIM'.KI.Ll'M -^l gentleman told her of mv 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 re- lease from my awful predicament. But my heart sank within me when she said to the man, "I have no thieves in mv family." So I was led away to face some fearful ordeal, I knew not what. W'hen a boy's mother turns against him for his evil-doings, there is no hope for him. ]')Ut 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 ol T OP TTTE BRIARS found me and tlie 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 ar- rested 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 ]uinish me. I was reported to my employer. The punishment decided on was forty lashes saye one. So I was stripped and my emplo}er plied the lash thirty-nine times. My back was lacerat- ed 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 gen- erally treated for their offenses. They were treat- ed frequently worse than the brutes. For they knew that the Negro had enough intelligence to understand wliat his punishment meant and that the purpose of it was to reduce and keep hini in perpetual servitude. This, of course, had to- :m y lifp:— ante-belli' ^r 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, ias in my case, to some good work- man, 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 im- provements, the planting, cultivating, and har- vesting of the crops, all was done by Xegro la- bor. So that there should be set over to the account of the Negro race, not only their own progress since tlie Civil War, but also the pro- gress of the south for at least a century before the war. There is another incident in my life at this time which may be interestilig 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 01:T of the 15KIAR8 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 liis master and was threatened to be whipped. I assisted him to a place of safety. In all tlie slaveholders' dwellings, slaves were employed in the house. They practically had full charge of ali'airs, and especially in the dining room, kitch- en, etc. This part of the house was very sel- dom 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, J\Ir. Primrose, a man who stood high in the commun- ity, and held the confidence of all slaveholders as one of them and one of their defenders and sup- porters, 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. MY LIFE— A>^TE-I;KI.LUM 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 ^h'. Jacob Good- ing to learn the trade of bricklaying and plas- tering, 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 ]\Ir. Eusten. Then I decided that I would cjuit work and seek new fields. The occasion of my coming to this decision was as follows : Air. 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 ])ecame cook, receiving $7.00 for olT OF THE ^RlAl;^ 111}- services. This schooner was en route for New York City. \Mien I landed at pier 28 East RiA-er I had only my wages. I met a friend from the South. ]\[r. Alexander Hicks. and we arranged a plan hy 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 huying my father's freedom. She was aided in this work hy the Aholitionists. among whom were Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Rev. Henry High- land Garnett, Rev. ^Mr. Bennington, j\Ir. Ar- thur Tapin. "Mr. Theodore Tilton and others. Mr. Timins,. Kinsley, Thomas, ancl Robert Hamil- ton. ]\Ioses Coss, Ebenezer Chambers and others, assisted me in getting work. I was able to at- tend school some. \Miile at school I made the acquaintance of '\\v. \\'illiam F. Powell, who has made his mark in the world and was honored b}" President ^NfcKinley with the position of min- ister to Playti. Some of the other boys were Ben ]\Iyrs and ^^''ash 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 theiuselves honorable and law-abiding- citizens. ^rs■ MFK— ANTi:-i;i;i,i.i M jt In New York I worked some at my trade. But I (lid 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 Ouinn. I was deeply impressed with the im- portance of making- my life a means of serving 'God in the uplifting of my people. I was con- vinced even then that it does not follow that because our skins are dark and that we are iden- tified 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 re- sponsibility of true manhood and let others learn this from his example. If these were my con- victions in those dark da}'s, what should be the feelings of young men of the race today, when the darkness of slaverv has been changed into the li"ht of libertv? OUT OF THE r,KrAi;s Sometime in i860 ]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 ani delivered from the devil out of hell. I am. bound to serve my Heavenly ^Master and I shall serve Him well." J. R. \'. Thomas, William Isaacs, Rev. \\'illiam Dixon, Paul Drayton, James Anderson, Dr. Peter \\'. 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 Seing 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. L J. Hill and myself were the par- ticipants 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 ul- timate benefits to the Negro race. There were vital questions at stake then. The spirit of pa- triotism and the desire to lift oppression, were afire in every breast of every true American. It would be well for the many young Afro-Ameri- cans of today to remember that the supreme pur- pose of the Republican party when it was organ- ized, was not only to prohibit the further exten- sion 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 COL. W. P. WOOSTER Colonel of the 29th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers MY WAK KECOIJD infernal system of slavery, and in our day. it is in sympathy witli anv movement that looks to keeping' the Negro race in some kind of shackles. They are still in favor of keeping the Afro-Amer- ican in slavery in some form. And they are suc- ceeding reasonably well. I'or at last, we are forced to conclude that no man is really free im- less he holds in his bosom the right of franchise and has received the lil)ert\' to exercise that right. ilave the ten millions of Afro-Americans in the L'nited States that right to-day? The answer comes from manv States. XC) ! Inspired with the thought of Shakespeare, who said, "Jie who would be free, let him first strike the bl(>w himself." mv bosom burned with the tire of jiatriotism 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 for- tune to see him emanciji^e the millions of mem- bers of the downtrodden race. I shall never for- get 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 in- auguration at Washington. D. C, to assume con- trol 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 M OUT OF THE BRIARS without the spilhng 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 person- al 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 l>e associated with such men as Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Rev. Henry Highland Garnett, Theodore Tilton, Lewis Tapen, William Still, ot Philadelphia ; Charles Sumner, Thaddeus Stev- ens 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 oh 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 be- cause 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 clank- ing 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 MY WAR KKCORI) 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 multi- tudes 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 w^as a scene never to be forgotten. We marched from Chapel street, where we embarkeil 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 express- ing the hope tliat 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, j\Id.. we were en- camped 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 extend- ing from within outside the tent, and placed sheet iron over these and in these small trenches start- ed our fires. In this way we were able to have lieat within and force the smoke outside. 3() OUT OF THE BRIARS rile colored jteoplc in lhi> place were alraitl t»:» speak to ns. Their masters looked on us with contempt. On Sunday a reverend gentleman came into the camp to preach to us and we hs- tened to a very interesting- sermon. After re- maining 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. 1804. We marched through the main street and went into camp with the Twenty-sixth, of Xew York. On ^lay 25 the paymaster arrived at Beaufort, S. C, where the Twenty-ninth Regiment was at this time stationed, and our si)irits were greatly lifted up when we saw him_, for as yet we had received no ])ay for our services. But when we were told l)vdiim tliat we could receive onlv $7 per month eacli, for our services our spirits fell. So I, to- gether with the rest of niy comrades, was really disgusted with this failure on the part of the (iov- ernment to give us a decent com]:)ensation for our work as soldiers. The officers advised us to take it and assured us that at the next ])ayment we should receive our full compensation. A\'e decid- ed to follow their advice. We cjuieted our pas- sions and went to work like good soldiers. jNIy great desire was to get into contact with the Southern forces that we might he working out the decision of this great prohlem. 1 had no ill feeling for tjie Southern white people, some of MY WAR KK('01!I> them had Ijeen my best friends; but this was not a personal matter, but a question of national is- sue, involvin,!^- the welfare of millions, and my soul was on fire for the question. Slavery o-r Xo Slavery, to be forever settled and that too as soon as possible. While the troops were at llermuda Hundred having disembarked from the transport .Maljama, I recalled an incident. When my father and mother were sitting- at the table ofjmy father's owner, blaster Park Custis. a son of 'Mr. and Mrs. Custis, jsaw a piece of pie on the table and started to help himself, without any formalities, my mother objected t»^ his uncouthness, caught hold of him and would have handled him ([uite 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 lil that if any of the colored people aided the Nortii in it. they would catch them and cut out their tongues and make them drink their mothers' blood. \\'ell, 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. l'>ut thank God, I belped 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 al- wa\s showed his patriotism by action, by deeds of sacrifice, by death itself. A\"e had the same muscle, the same strength, the same heart, the same conscience, the same cause, the same right. tlie 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 lo press forward as soldiers to a certain victory. 40 OUT OF THE P.KIAlfS (Jn the 14th of Auyust, 18O4. a time loiii;' to be remembered with us, an oppressively hot day, we marched into X'irginia. A\'e were worn out, weary, thirsty, hungry, and completely exhaust- ed. We were compelled to carry otu" blankets, knapsack, musket, and sixty pounds of cartridges. About 4 P. M. we reached the headquarters of General Birney, in the woods and encamped. 1 I was so overcome with the heat that I fell to the ground and was soon asleep. \\'e had no feather beds to lie upon, only the bare ground — but this bed always supplied by ^lother Earth, was de- lightful this time for rest. We had for our din- ner, 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 mie could hardly make an impression with the teeth, and some- times coffee, if it could be gotten. These were some of the hardships of tlie soldier and these were enough; but when \()u add to these the mental condition of many, such as myself, almost afraid of my own shadow, ready to shoot at any- thing that made a threatening noise, — I remem- ber that I sliot at the limb of a tree floating down the river, tliiiiking tluit it was a rebel skiff with spies — it was a sore and trying ordeal. Every sol-' dier was in constant expectation of surprises from .[the Johnnies, or rebels. \Lee's and Johnson's army was near iUizzard's Roost, in face of a rockv- MV WAK RECOKl* 41 faced rulge, 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 captur- ed and taken. Llut knowing that Generals Weit- zel, Sherman, Doubleday and Butler had 35,200 men under them, we went bravely forward, de- termined that Old Glory should not trail in t\\e dust. We crossed the pontoon bridge near Deep Bot- tom 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 bound- ed over my head. So I was saved. God's prom- ise was fulfilled in my case. 4 OUT OF THE BRIARS On the i6th we joined the Third Division, Tenth Army Corps, General Birney's Brig-ade, 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 ba- con and -coffe-e and hard tack. We were soon ready to- take a good night's sleep. I remember- ed my loved ones and w^ondered 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 w^as thrown into the Hne of the enemy. The Johnnies were very much excited and tiid their best to cap- ture me, but r 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 REV. L J, HILL Orderly 29th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers MY WAi; UK(;OKD 4:^ colonel had his horse shot from under him and Orderly I. J. Hill was wounded. I prayed in this battle whenever I had oppor- tunity 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 witii 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 i8th, 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 Chick ahom- iny, and remained until the bridge was put in re- pair. 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, 44 OUT OF Till-: imiARS 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 oth- ers were wounded, but we were successful in capturing seventy-live prisoners. On the 23d we crossed the James River on the pontoon bridge, passing the heights where thKr» confessioti 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 1)Ut an iUustration of the cases of many men and women who have not connected themselves with the church. They are real Christians as I was, havin^^- all the ordinary experience of the Chris- tian, hut not having' made any outward profes- sion. We are therefore unahle to know who are the children of God, for certainly there are 1)e- lievers 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 ])ut it on a candle stick that all about us may see what we are by what we live. When we rounded the IHorida reefs, the boys' hearts were gladden- ed, 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, ma- laria, chills and fever. We were huddled to- gether 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 OUT OF THE BRIARS 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 trans- ports 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 gun- boats 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 MY WAIJ KKCORD channel for New Orleans. \\'hen 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 or- der from General Grant. The officers telegraph- ed 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 voy- age. 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 IJke a little revenge on their accoimt. But there was no opportunity for such outlet of wicked feeling. At last we received an order from General Grant to take the trans- port to New Orleans, to get a supply of coal and OUT OF THE lUlIAKS oil. and to have the transport repaired. But X<> onr di.sniay. only the officer.s were ])ermitted to go. ^\'e were left at Fort Phillips. I managed however, to get to Xew Orleans, in that I had charge of the commissary depart- ment. We were already beginning to forget the hardships of the battlefield. Our minds were turning' to the ordinarv life which we live, and looking" forward to the pleasures c )nnected with home and with business. And I a.s ;ure you. my dear readers, that it was a happy elease. 'We had the constant joy in our hearts vhat our be- kwed 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 A\as too dear. The price of human lil)erty can never l>e estimated. This is especially true of those who knew what slavery meant. And the Colored Kace has an endless debt to pay their While friends who bought their liberty with their own blood. While it is true that the White people l)rought our forefadiers 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 grati- tude which we shall dwc them as lung as time exists. MY WAi; KK«ni;r> 1 had a slKTi't but very pleasant stay in Xew Orleans. On Sunday we went to the A. ^^. E. Church, of which the Rev. WiUiam A. Dove was pastor. This was the St. James A. ~S[. E. Church, ^^'e were most cordially received by the pastor and members. They were kind enough to take care of us while in the cit}'. We learned from the members that while we were on the hattletield, they were at home fasting and pray- ing that our grand cause might be victorious. "Fight and ])ray" is sure t(^ win the day for any just cause. The services were very pleasing and profitable. The pastor preached in the morning and our orderl}- I. J. Hill, at night. I and others, were nmch 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 xyere 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 sha[)e to a]i- preciate these things, because of the privations, losses, suffering, and fears through which we had passed. Our transport having been repaired and fur- nished 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 OUT OP THK BRIAR8 the blaze was soon put out and we were enjoying^ our trip down the "Father of Waters." We arrived at Fort Phillips with more sol- diers for the Twenty-ninth Regiment, they having- been brought in from other quarters. We were soon off for Texas. With the trans- port loaded with human frieght, 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 w^as unable to do anything with him. He was continually call- ing 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 hel]). 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 MY WAR HEC0R1» 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 Grand 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 sol- diers 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 Bra- zos. 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 sad- dened 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. OIT (»F THK lUUAKS It was not a hard matter tor lis to sleep the first nit^ht. A\'e spread our rubber Ijlankets 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 t(j do the best we could. Ijut we had coffee, rice, sweet potatoes and our regular rations. We put up our tents here and soon had the cam[) under military discipline. Then we left for IJrownsville, Texas, a distance of twenty miles. The march was a trying one on account of the Ixad roads. A\'e were not able to keep our stores with us on this account and left a detail of sol- diers to guard them. Many a solder sickened and had to be taken to AVhite 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 \va\' to llrownsville with rations. I remem- ber my homesickness at this time. After the bat- tles had been fought, I was anxious to return to y\\ WAH HK('Oltl) SI my loved ones. I felt that my duty had been done towards m}- country and that now I must take up my duty to my dear ones, ^^"e Avere soon joined by Orderly Hill. He said that he had got- ten tired Avaiting for the boat and had come on to be with us. He threw a few chunks together and started a hre 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." ^\'e 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 sat- isfy 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 decenc}' 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 knowl- edge, judging from their daily lives. I thought "If the righteous scarcely be saved where then shall the siiuier 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. OCT OF THE BRIAKS The horns of the toad reminded one of the horns of a goat. It was a place of trials. Some of the jiien swore and cursed, others were kept too busy scratching-, while others were praying. It was a time of sore trials. One of our officers, Cap- tain Clark ought to have been with the Greys in- stead of the Blues, he had so little use for the Colored troops. So he marched them almost to death on this march. Colonel \\'ooster, 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 Claik. Orderly Hill was very sick and was ordered to the General Hospital. As I look- ed upon him I sjid 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 valu- ables, then report them dead. What a contrast between our camp on the banks of the James Rivei" and the camp in this lar off, God-for-sak- en town of Brownsville, Texas. And now after all our hard fought battles, our .M> WAH RECOKD 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 iiome-fever spread more rapidly than any fever that had ever prevailed in our ranks. We looked for and pa- tiently awaited the day when we would be or- dered out. On tlie 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 migh- ty struggle of the White Race and that the strug- gle 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 S4 OTT np TlIK r.ItlAltS country and these thoughts came to me, I cried out to God. "Can these dry hones Hve? Will this country i^ive 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 IxDues live?"' These were the prayer-thoughts that were filling my mind and heart. CXn- 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 sa}' goodb}e 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 ; the}' ciiuld drink and relisli the muddy water of the Rio (Grande considering it the best \\ ater in the world ; but as for me. T would choose other cjuarters. Now^ that the Confederacy had surrendered, now that the I'almetto Mag had been lowered forever and ( )ld (dory floated in its stead, now tiiat mil- lions of peoi)le were made free and cIV WAR KKC'OHI* think as real men and A\ometi, I was more than happy to say goodbye to all these things and be- gin 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. Wc passed Galves- ton and were much pleased with the place. We found the citizens much more sociable than wc had expected, for we knew that they were Se- cessionists 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 con- (|nered 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 atteiupt, but were forced back again into the harl)or. The soldiers became quite unruly owing to their impatience and also, I suppose the feeling that they could do as they pleased, .\fter a hard voyage we OUT OF Tin: BIMAKS 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 ^•ur 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 c»ut to visit us and to give us their most hearty congii^atulatibns. They gave us coffee, sand- wiches, fruits, etc.. in token of the appreciation of our services in their hehalf. 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 1>e 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 supi)ose that many of them really had no conception of the Real and True God. Their !lives gave no evidence of such a knowledge. MY V\'AH KEC(>H[> The first annual conference of the A. M. E. Church was being held by Bishop J. P. Canip- l)ell. 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 for- get 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 good- l)ye 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. ( »ur clothes were almost continuously wet owing to the rocking of the vessel, for days it was im- [>ossible 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. W^e remained on board until about two p. m., when we left the boat and marched through' the ])rincipal 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 fUTT OF THE JiKJAKS 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. Nich- olas 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 steam- er, 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 ar- rived 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 whicli was to be paid at some future date. Some went to their homes, others remained in Hartford, un- til they had spent all their money and were lock- ed up in the prisons by the police officers. After having cleared up my commissary department and turning over my books and papers to the j)roper custodian, and having said farewell to my comrades, I tof>k a midnight train for my home in New Haven. MY W AK (IKroiM) The occasion of my sudden departure from Hartford is very interesting-. One of our sol- diers 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 sol- dier 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. 1 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 await- ing me. Then I went to Brooklyn, my wife's liome, 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 he glory and dominion and power, now and forevermore. Amen !" ALEXANDERS. NEWTON A Young Pastor iig mtui^terial lEttV / Ml] iMtuiBtrrial 2IttV anil ffiabiira 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. 1 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 wdiich a man can ascertain the will of God. God is in the life of every indivi- dual 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 as- surance now that He had delivered, me from death in many bloody struggles, that He had .'something of importance for me to do. I was 93 OUT OF TflK UHIAKS 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 tal- ents 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 brouglit together, in the work of life. On the evening of May sixth, I was received on probation, into the Fleet Street A. M. K. Church, of which IClder Gould wa.-; then jjastor. I served as assistant superintendent and Secretary, Elder Cope l>eing superintendent of the Sunday School ; Robert Tiirpin, one of the preachers, was a close friend. 1 \vas engaged while in this church together with otliers in a Social Bet- terment 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. \Vm. Winder being pastor, There were about one hundred and fifty young people added to the church on profession of their BISHOP J ABEZ P. CAMPBELL, D. D., LL. D. Who gave me my first appointment MY MlNrSTKKlAL LIP'K 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 i8th, 1871, and received Exhorters' license from Elder Theodore Gould. On the following Sunday, I went with Rev. Matthews and others to Pater- son, 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 yoimg 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 Camp- l)ell took hold of me and gave me my first a])- pointment 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 John- son 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, T managed to get on the liocKl side of Bro. Allen. 1 told him the troubles !H! mUT of TIIK H hi a us 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 ob- stacles. I organized a church in the house of Lewis Schenks, at Lawrencevillc; I organized the church at Birmingham, having Ix^en 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 cani- ])ass when I met Dr. Hanlon. He stopped aud 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 liv- ing that life daily. I felt no doubt like Naaman that I had need to go to the Jordan, the river of Israel and be wa.shed from my leprosy of sin. This was the first time that I had charge uf a church and I felt the keen responsibility. REV. THEODORE GOULD, D.D„ Who gave me my first license to preach. MY MINISTERIAL LIFK 97 And I do not doubt that those who heard me preach had the feeHng that instead of my having charge of them that they should have charge of me. But such things are of the order- ing 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. 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. Aly 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 rav- ages of time and what they have wrought. Those who were received into the church by me at that time, with very few exceptions, have iinisheil their battle of life and completed their labors, long since, and have gone home to render a bet- ter service than they could have rendered here. I made improvements on the Church buildings of the circuit and was able to make a good re- port to the Conference which met at Philadelphia. 98 OUT OF THE BRIARS At this conference I was received into member- ship by Bishop Paul Quinn. It was here that I made for the first time, nw acquaintance with Dr. B. T. Tanner, Rev. T. G. Stewart, Rev. Fris- by Cooper and others. Rev. Joshua Woodland Avas my presiding elder. I was permitted to at- tend the Lincoln University, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. I was supported by Mr. Amos Clark Junion of Elizabeth, X. 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 inexper- ienced 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 sA'mpathy 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 Gos- pel. I realized also that in addition to mv own BISHOP WILLIAM PAUL QUINN Who received me into the Conference ^rY MFXISTERIAT. LIFE 99 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 Con- ference, he having-, in the interval taken me up and sent me to the Pennington circuit. I report- ed 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 Klu 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 tne 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 100 OUT OF thh: BKIAKS he would ])rocee(l 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 Klu Klux- ing 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 liave to be very careful as a minister in and out of the pulpit, that the Klu Klux Klan was es- pecially 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 iNIrs. 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 sui)eriors 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. TheJk' used cards to trade with, postage stamps, and whatever of value would be accepted or exchang- MY MlMSTIMtl Al, LIFK KH ed for what you wanted. I remember one nii;iit the Khi Khix Klan came to the house of one of my members, a INTr. 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 1 consoled them as best I could. These were dread- ful times. The hatred and the revenge of ihe Southern White man \\'ho 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 con- ference of the A. ]\I. E. Churcli and it convened at the St. Andrews Chapel of that city. Rev. B. L. Brooks, preached the opening sermon. The Ijishop, John M. Brown, was belated, so the con- ference proceeded with business, having made Elder Page Tyler chairman, and Elder Brooks, secretary. The regular routine of business was purpo'sed. Bishop Brown arrived on the fourth 102 HIT OF THE BRIARS day, having gotten his dates mixed, then he was afraid that at that time it was unwise to hold any piibHc meetings owing to the presence of yel- low fever in the city. The Conference remained in session until it had completed its business. Yellow fever at this time was raging in Mem- phis. 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 ]\iem- phis 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 con- ference several were ordained as deacons, among them myself. While at Nashville, the Confer- ence visited Fisk University and also the Ten- nessee 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 show- ed its hydra-head in every possible way and was MY MINISTERIAL LIFE 103 a serpent with a venomed sting. I remember an incident which illustrates how fearful this preju- dice was. I saw a White man bring his horse up to a public watering- place, and alx)ut 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 allo\Ved 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 pros- perous condition. The Conference report show- ed 9527 members of the A. M. E. Church in this Conference, 1122 probationers, 210 local preach- ers, 120 exhorters, 114 churches, valued at $io5,- 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 104 OUT OF THK BRIARS R. French Harley as my presiding" elder. We had a fearful flood during this year in Chata- nooga. There was great suffering and loss ot property. I did not do well in this charge, how- ever 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 consider- ation 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 Bish- op 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 MY :sriNISTEHIAL LIFE 10.") Johnson, A. A. Williams, J. F. A. Sission, J. T. Jennifer, Andrew J. Chambers, and others. The lion. 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.i). Aly daughter Ada was with me at this time, my son William Alexander, having remain- ed in Tennessee. There were many noble work- ers in this church, viz : Joseph Stone, Jerome Lewis, Nelson Warren, Sam Wliite. Willie Oli- ver, and others whose names are too numerous to mention. ^ly wife, Olivia Xevvton having died in 1868, and being a widower, while here I became ac- quainted with a young lady, ]\Iiss Lulu L. Camp- bell, 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 i, 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 lUshop Ward to the Louisiana Conference and was km; out op thk briars to have been stationed at the St. James Church, New Orleans, but owing to some miscar- riage in the appointments, I was given the sta- tion 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 l;)y 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 con- fidence 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. MY >riNISTKKlAL LIFK 107 I remember another incident at this place. As I have said, the smallpox was raging'. I was in- vited to conduct the funeral of a small boy who had died of this disease. \\'hen 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 In' this foolish act which threat- ened the health of my own family, but as the good Lord willed, nothing came of it. After do- ing 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, Alo.rgantown, N. C, presided over by Bishop Brown. The regular routine of business was taken up and the reports showed a grow- ing 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, 5 131 ; probation- ers 877 ; churches 58 ; support of pastors $4749.- 51. I was received into this Conference and ap- pointed to the station, Raleigh. N. C. I had instructions to go to Mr. Norfleet Dun- son, but he was away and I was sent to Air. Stewart Ellisons'. lOS ot'T OF TIIK r.HIAUS When I went to Raleigh, I had a very dis- couraging 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. I\[. E. Church. She informed me that all her family had gone to the funeral, so I had my trunk brought upon the jDorch and sat down upon it. She had evi- dently expected me to come in when tlie 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 Avould remain outside until the folks came home. She said. "Xow 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 bne tire, 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 feel- ings to get the better of their good feelings, for they always pay a big price for the victory. Afy c»fficial board was made up of John O'Kelley, MT MINTSTERIAT. LIFK 109 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 peo- ple, 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 peo- ple. ]\Iy 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 up- on as the cause of the failures of a church, in its work, as a rule he is blamed, but this is a anistake. The general cause is to be found in the 110 OUT (»P TIIK DRIAI'vS church. A good church with a i)oor 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 unb.elief. 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 X'ewberne, 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 whip- ping 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. MV MINISTERIAL TJFK 111 Newberne has quite a history. It is situated on the banks of two rivers, the Xeuse and Trent rivers. The ehn trees are magnificent. Here Uved the Stevenses, Jenkinses, lirvans, Webbs, and others, all old slave owners. The\' were of course deeply interested in the trafific and did all in their power to keep the regime from passing away. There was a Colored man at this place that own- ed slaves also, a Mr. J. S. Stanley. Newberne was a great tur])entine center. There were tur- pentine distilleries here and about here. But great changes had taken place. The magnificent dwelling house of the Stevens was now occupied ed by a Colored man and run as a hotel. A Air. George H. White was the superintendent of the public schools, (Colored) at this place and had also a law ofifice. He afterwards became solici- tor of state and a memlier of the U. S. Congress. He is now the president of a Savings Bank, on Lombard Street, Philadelphia, Penna. i\Ir. Syl- vester ]\Iackey and Judge Mumford,. were mer- chants. Presiding Elder, Edward Hill, of the Zion A. M. E. Church, was a wealthy planter. ]\Irs. Edward R. Richardson was a clerk in the Post Ofifice. Mr. John Willis was a deputy sherifif. 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 citi- ]\2 (^TT OF TIIK BRIARS zens of this country and had demonstrated that they had in them that out of which the best citi- zens 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 ora- tors, educators and scholars of the country re- gardless 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, ]\Io. I took my wife and baby and we went up on boat. ^ly daughter Ada returned to Shaw University. Raleigh, X. 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 malad- ministration 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 ]\Ir. J. Alilton Turner, editor of the Free- man's Journal who afterward represented the I'. S. as minister to Hayti. I visited a large Catholic (Roman) school. This was mx brst visit to a Roman Catholic MY MINISTERIAL LIPK IIH institution of any kind. I was deeply impressed with the services, with the use of crucitixes, 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 ceremon- ies. 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 hail before them with a devotion that attracted. But it was all wrong because the \\'ord of God in one of the the Ten Commandments condemned it. The Roman Catholic Church with all its ]iomp. pride and wealth, is wrong in its funda- mental principals and is therefore guilty of idol- atry — they are not worshipping God only, they are worshipping saints and other divinities. On Thursday, May 20, 1880, Revs. H. M. Tur- ner. R. H. Cain, W. F. Dickerson were elected bishops of the A. ]\I. E. Church. Bishops Payne, Wayman, Campbell, Shorter, Ward and Brown, together with the required number of elders, of- ficiated. I left St. Louis and on my way home, stopped over in Little Rock, Ark., spending Sun- day there. It was my pleasure to preach in 114 OUT OP THE BRIARS 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 re- quested a transfer from this section to the North, and at this Conference I was transferred to the Conference of New Jersey. I received appoint- ment to the station of Alorristown^ N. J. I ar- rived 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 re- minded of a couplet in one of the old hymns, "Thy saints in all this gloric^us war Shall conquer though they die.'" I was sent to the Morristown station to fill out the unexpired term of the Rev. Mr. Smith deceased. We spent the night at tlie ])arsonage, then ^[r. licnry Ader, a prominent contractor BISHOP JOHN M. BROWN, D.D., D.CL. Who ordained me as an Elder. MV MINISTEKrAI. LIFE 115 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 w^ere most pleasantly enter- tained 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 iu\- 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 11(5 OUT OF THE BRIARS was harmony in the clmrch between the members and a zeal marked with wisdom in their work. I was soon able to have my wife and children comje on from Little Rock. Ark. This getting to- gether again was a happy reunion of n%j>'''-, ho^iie. 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 pleas- ant 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 ow-n pul- pit. I might mention also a Dr. Owen, a physi- cian (white), who did a great deal for our people and cause. He assisted us in paying off the mort- gage 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 do\\n upon us everv day. For we must remem- ber that the love and the friendship of our white friends are but the sunshine of God's love fall- ing upon us to bless us and to teach us that God has His own chosen ones in this worUl who arc living on the table land of Christian thought and activity, far above the swamps of prejudice REV. J. W. COOPER, Treasurer of the New Jersey Conference. MY MINISTER I AT- LIFK 117 and racial animosity. We, too, should daily seek to live on these same highlands of God's love and peace. The Conference met at Princeton. N. J. I was received into the membership of this Conference and entered into the active duties thereof on com- mittees on which I was assigned. I found the brethren verv cordial in their welcome and pleas- ant 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. Fau- cett, J. T. Diggs, Winston Taylor, J. R. V. Pierce. Wilson Patterson, S. B. Williams and others. I was assigned to Morristown and was much pleas- ed with the appointment. We had a very pleas- ant year as well as profitable. The Conference the following year was entertained by my Church. This meeting of the Conference was a very pleas- and 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 awav for a much needed rest, not letting mv c^n- lis OTT OP THK BRIARS gregation 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 Way- man- and Brown ; Financial Secretary, B. W. Arnctt, (since made Bishop, l)ut 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 ]\Iorris- town, very much refreshed and entered upon my labors with new zeal and, I trust, more wisdom. All through my ministry I have been deeply im- pressed 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 lie greatly advanced by them in their day. When T 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 ; 1 almost tremble for the outcome, be- MACEDONIA A- M. E. CHURCH Camden, N. J. Built by Rev. W. H. Yeocum, D.D., and Rv A. H. Newton. D.D. MY MINISTKHIAI. LIFK 1 U< cause 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- lx)dies, 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 Morris- town I furnished the parsonage, paid oE all debts and added 40 members to the Church. I also or- ganized the Church at Madison, N. J. 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 ^Sloney, ^2'/; ^Missionary Fund. $12; Svinday School. $22; number of mem- bers. 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. AT. ]'\. Church, Cam- den, N. J. I attended the General Conference in Balti- more, which was a wideawake meeting. While living and working in Camden, I bought my first 1-20 OFT op THE BKIAKS house and l)ecauie a propert}- owner. I did this l">ecanse the parsonage could not be vacated at the time I needed the house. 1 have never regretted this step. And 1 hope that many who read this volume will take a similar step. There is no com- fort like living- under your own ''vine and fig tree." iNIy work in the Camden Church was very successful. 1 had associated with me Mr. C. W. Robinson, l^aswell Green, W. Starr, James Hunt, James Martin, George Rice. Mary White, Lizzie Green, Mary Merril. Emma Pitts, Mary Steven- son and other helpers, whose loyalty and faith- fulness were most praiseworthy. We had the great pleasure of entertainiiig the Conference, which was a most profitable meet- ing. The Conference was opened by a sermon from IJishop Campbell and presided over by Bishop Wayman. I was complimented at this meeting bv the brethren along the strain that (tocI had ~~])ecial l)lessings ])rei)ared for me and that in a i)cculiar sense He had cared for me. I told them that I praised Him for all that I was, and had l)cen able to do ior Him : that thev all knew that 1 had started witlmut any education in the schools. 1 had been blessed with good health and ordinariK- '.mod sense; that mv school was the school in wliicli Jesus Christ is tlu' Principal and the Holy Spirit the Teacher; that I had asso- ciated every day with my schoolmates, the sun, MY MINISTKHIAL MFK l-'l moon, stars, rivers, trees, i>rass, flowers and birds; that the world was my blackboard, and the mountains my coUes^e 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 sjilendid opportunities they have of ac(|uiring 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 ])reach the (jospel. the determina- tion and etlort to thoroughly prepare themselves to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I was left at the Mace(U)nia Church for anotlier vear. W'e were able tt) complete the Church dur- ing this vear, and it was dedicated on the 24th of October. 1886, by lUslio]) W'ayman. The collec- tion wliich we were able to raise at this dedica- tory service was $900. 'ilie church building is a tine edifice, with stained glass windows and a fine pipe organ. We were very proud (^f our work. At this service I performed two marriages ]yc- tween Mr. Frank ^^liller and Miss Georgia Strat- ton, and .Mr. Charles J. Cloud and Miss Sarah J. r>eatty. I finished my work in Camden. ])aid $u,ooo on indebtedness, was blessed with 200 conversions, of whom i<^>o united with the church and paid for my house at Xo. t,^2 Washington ]2-I OIT OF TITK BHtAHS Street, Camden, X. J. I left an indebtedness of $5000 in the church. The Conference of 1886 met at Trenton, N. ].. 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., ^yas the spokesman of the committee, which consisted of Rev. J. P. Samp- son, 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 v/as not able to say anything definitely. Then he told Dr. Rice of a provision which the legisla- ture had made for the founding and maintaining of a Colored Industrial School. The outcome of this conference of Dr. Rice with the Gover- nor was that the Industrial School at Borden- town was established and that Dr. l-vice 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 promi- nent in the work of the church. lie is a man of fine ability, of sound judgment, and of noble Christian character. He has been tested by me during a lone life and I have ever found him MY MLNISTKKCAL LJFK to he tried aiul true. I always know where to hm\ Dr. Sampson on any great and important (juestion, he is on the iiglit side. 1 was sent to llridgeton, X. [., and served this charge with cheerf uhiess 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 l>eing- a very poor ciiarge, my wife raised chickens and the children gardened, and we were able to live. I went back to m\' old trade at odd times, that of bricklayer. I did not fear to take off my coat, roll up ni)' sleeves and go to work. I made $3.75 a day, l^aid off the debt on the church, preached to them on Sundays and added quite a numl)er to the church. I went from here to New Brunswick, N. [., and was quite successful. I found the peo- ])le thoroughly alive to the interests of the King- dom 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 the A. M. E. connection at the end of my first year. This Conference showed a deeper in- terest in* the cause of education than any other. The speech that stirred the Conference was made l>y editor L. J. Coppin. The reports at this Conference showed a total membership of 4352 ; Probationers, 1200; Accessions, 1036: Preachers, 124 OUT OF THE BKIAKS 71; Sunday School Scholars, 3694; Dollar Money, $1538.52; Pastors' Support, $18,000. 1 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 abilit\ . T was greatly aided in my work by the Rev. j. 11. Morgan, the jjresiding elder. He had the tact and good sense to bring about a most l^leasant relationship between pastor and people The Rev. Air. Pockman, of the Reformed Church, aided me very much in my work. 1 al- ways sought the advice and lielp of my Meth- odist brethren, as well as the l)rethren of other denominations. William Stiles, Dorie Davis, Jo- siah Henson, Thomas March, Alice Thompson, Mrs .March, Samuel Dowdie, Harriet Henson. son and others were my valuable co-workers dur- ing this year. We paid off the debt, furnished the parsonage, repaired and carpeted the cliurcli Imilding, paid the mortgage of 15 years' standing and were blessed with an addition to the member- ship of forty-two souls. 1 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 l)ranch of the Methodist Church. And it re- MY MIMSTKKIAL 1,1KK fjuires but a brief examination to prove that this is also true of every denomination represented among my i)eople. I sul)mit a few facts and figiu'es that may be of ^reat encouragement to my friends who have the patience to read this vohmie. There are 55,784 church organizations; 56,228 church buildings; 2,672,977 members of all denominations ; church ])roperty is vakied at $32,510,448; when 1 enlisted in the Civil War we had practically no schools, because before the war it was a misdemeanor to teach Colored chil- ean. 1>.1).. this church had l^ought a lot on which was a house used as a parsonage. We were greatly favored here by a 'Sir. Ogden. wh(j aided us in procuring- lumber. ITe was a most kind man to the poor and needy and in his kindness he knew no color line. rhe church building was not plastered or seated, so we decided to borrow money for this purpose. We needed $500 V2f> OIT OF THK liKIAlJS 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-, ^"d Miss Fannie \Vorthington, of Washington, D. C. They were accepted and given positions. (3ur church at this place supplied two of the school teachers, this year, for the teaching of the Colored children. The Alisses Gertie Pierce and Fannie ^Vorth- ington were the young ladies. Through the spiritual activity of the members we had a splen- did revival during the year wluch resulted in iortv members being added to the church, and in .all 62 members. We installed a pipe organ also. 1 am glad to say that the members of this churcii were in dead earnest. So I had no trouble with mud-slingers and evil doers. How much time of a ])astor is frequently taken up in fight- ing against the Devil who is incarnated in some • if the members of the church! BISHOP HENRY M- TURNER Who appointed me Presiding Elder MY MINISTEKI Al. J.IPE The next Conference met at Morristown, N. I. It was a great delight to return and meet my old friends and co-laborers. The reports of thi^ Conference showed a steady growth and ad- vancement along all lines. I am often reminded of the courage of Bishop Allen, whr we know what God's will is and that this will must be carried out bv His loyal children. After m\- return home I was sick for about two weeks but was able to take uj) the work at South. \\'oodbur\-. The lirst thing we did as pastor and ])eople was to plan for a new church build- ing, the old one being in a dilapidated condition. 132 olT OF Tl[K HUIAttS It took quite a while to get the people in the notion of building, but we adopted our plans and began to work. 1 found a great many splendid workers in this church, without \vhoni I would have labored in vain. 1 was at this place for three years and when I left, the members were worshij)ping in a hue l>rick chiu'ch. I had suc- ceeded in paying off a part of the debt, and had received into the membership of the cliurch 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 con- viction 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 ^^ h(,i 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 190T, having re- organized the Sunday Schoi^l and ])aid something on the church debt and added many members to the membership of the church. Beverl\- was my next charge. Here I built a new churcli. 1 found that many of the AMiite MY MIXISTKIUAl. LIFE 138 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 tlie building of the church and a nice little sum for the pastor. She w-as j\Irs. 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. ''\Miom have I in Pleaven 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 drag- ged 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. xunlcen l)encath the waves of affliction. .M\ daughter, Ada Augusta Xewton Cooper, the wife of Rev. A. B. Cooper, died September i8th, 1899. She was thirty-eight years old. She was a devoted, loving daughter and faithful wife. She passed away at Orange, X. J., where l.U OUT OP THE BRIARS 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. wShe 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 after- ward she was conscious of the advantages that I had given her and was constantly trying to pay ofif this great debt of gratitude. lUit 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 af- flictions know anything of the pains and suffer- ing. I cried out, "Oh, Lord, I sink into the deep mire w'here no solid foundation is found. I have come into the deep waters where the floods over- flow 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 vears. He had taken a thorough course of MV MINISTERIAL LIFK IH.J training at Lincoln L'niversity. Pa., and had en- tered the ministry of tlie A. M. E. Denomina- tion. He united with the Conference at Atlantic City and had heen assigned to the charge at Sea Bright. X. J-. by Bishop A. Grant. He was a loving son, fine scholar, strong preacher, and was begining life with all the prospects of a great usefulness. But the frost of death rested on him and he went to slee]) from the labors of the earth. But we are sure that he awakened in that l)right and happy land where there is no death and that now he is engaged in a nmcli 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 wdthout a mother. Although at the age of sixty I was still a son. I had never for- gotten that the law of my life was that of obe- dience. That it was my dutv to honor mv father i:^6 !Y MINISTERIAL LIFE l".l Mrs. Jennie Wise Johnston, wife of the edi- tor, Dr. II. T. Johnson, was sitting;- hy 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 sav 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 earlv 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. \'ernon, 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 18S OUT OF THE BRIARS to say what he would do under such circum- stances 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 wnth 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 li3ng 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, Ed- ward Llolmes ; sisters, Hannah Stokes, Mamie Taper, Hattie Dougherty, Louisa Holmes, Anna Burk, Annie Dowers, and a host of other work- ers were standing around me in this great field. . MY MINISTKKIAL LIFK 139 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. Ueach 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 ses- sion 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 pre- siding 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 ad- vancement. 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 14(1 Ol'T OF THK inn.VRS ground of ^Methodism, the Old Time Religion which our fathers enjoyed. I sometimes think that in our church work we have so much ma- chinery 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 spirit- ual power. We need a great change in this re- spect. ^^'e must get back to the thought that God is our all in all and that they labor in vain mIk) would l)uild the house unless the Lord Him- self 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 Xegro popu- lation of the U. S. in 1900 was 9,204,531 ; seventy per cent, w'ork on 746,000 farms; 21,000 car- penters ; 20,000 barbers, and one-fourth as many doctors; 10,000 ordained preachers; 15,000 ma- sons; 12,000 dress makers; 10,000 engineers; 5,000 shoemakers; 1,000 lawyers; 4,000 musi- cians; 2,000 actors; since i8<)0 the illiteracy of the race has been reduced from 57 per cent, to 44.5 ])er cent: These reports mentioned Mr. Roosevelt as standing shoulder to shoulder with the immortal Lincoln as the friend of the Race. 'Jdiese facts and figures are a great inspiration MV MINISTKHIAL \AFK to my people and I hope that they will he in- spired to take fresh courai^e and g'o ahead in the great work and battle of life. ^ly only jnn"- pose in pntting into print the record of m}- own life is to encourage the }-oung 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 C()me when the people should not tolerate ignorance and its shames in any of the professions. From a ])ersi:)nal acquaintance. I can most heartilv recom- mend three great men who will do all in their power for the young Colored men of this coun- try — Rev. Isaac X. Rendall, D.D., of Lincoln University, Rev. Dr. Scarbourough. of \\'ilber- force L'niversity. ( )hio, and Rev. Samuel G. .Miller. D.D.. of the Bible College, of Philadel-' phia. Pa. Hiese men have made their reputa- tiiin 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 edu- cation of the i)eople. Idiey believe that what is gi-.od for tile Wdute man is equally good for the lUack man. ( )n the other hand, if voung men and women are seeking to Ije educated along l)ractical lines. I recommend them to the great 142 (•! T OF THE BRIARS institution at Tiiskegee, 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 ap- pointed at Bordentown, N. J. I had a pleasant reception here. Rev. J. H. Morgan was the re- tiring 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 paint- ed 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 Indus- trial School at this place, an institution supported by the State of New Jersey, was also a very valuable aid in the work ot the church. He and his students were always present at the Sunday services and helped very materially in all the work of the church. 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 REV. J. H. MORGAN Former Secretary of the Ne-w Jersey Annual Conference MV ^riNISTKRIAL LIFE fight between the forces of hfe 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 recou.nt this experience; after a close examina- tion of myself, I found that I was ready to die, that 1 was reallv 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, Avhen 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 mc with tried and true friends. The best friend I had in all this affliction was my dear wife. Lulu. She was with me con- stantly. She seemed to suffer with me all my sufifering. 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, "Glor}- and honor to such a wife !" The operation was a successful one in the sense that in this case the Datient did not die. In three 144 orx OP TIIK ]}RIAKS 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 (Jrange, N. J., April 25th, 1907. Bishop Wesley J. Gaines, pre- sided. 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 sta- tioned at the church at IMt. 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 T.ord. At the Conference which met at Orange I had the pleasure of hearing the Rev. Samuel G. Mil- ler, D.D.. President of the Bible Educational As- sociation, speak on the necessity of an educated ministry. I was deeply impressed with his re- marks 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 edu- cational lines, I determined that I would visit the school and see what they were doing. Xot 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 under- take any course of study and that if I did I feared that I could not kee]) pace with the class. He MY .\riNrSTKUIAL LIFE 145 replied to me that age had nothing" to tlo with a man's ahihty to study if he would apply himself — that the mind never grew old, that it was im- mortal, 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. Xew Testament Greek, Hebrew, Psychology, and put in several hours a day on them. I was astonished at my suc- cess. 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 wdiat I would loved to have done fifty years ago. I have educated myself. How strange the Providence of God ! The Southern people enslaved my peo- ple and caused me a great deal of my suft'ering, but at the end or almost at the end of my earthly journey, I met this godly Southern man, Dr. Mil- ler, who has made a new man out of me along educational lines. Thank God, Pie has His own children among the Southern people as well as in the Xorth. And I believe that when the Southern people realize what the Xegro is to 14(i OUT OF TIIK Bin A US tlieni 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 Avith the ^^'hite people of North Caro- lina, as to w^hich 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 lill the posts of duty and honor which have been assigned me in my life. I have done what I could and tlie 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 W ar, as son. husband, father and friend. I have tried to be faithful, and I can truly repeat the words of d}- ing King Edward. "I tried to do my duty." S' SAMUEL G. MILLER, D.D. My Instructor in Hebrew, New Testament Greek, Theology, etc. Bible College, Philadelphia, Pa. ®Ijf (Elturrli; Itat 3t 3s mh Uliat Jt ^hnulft 1p 3t ^Imitlii If. I am aware of the tact that in writing my views of the Church as it is and as it should be, that I ma}' 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 ex- pressing m}- view-s 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 149 160 OUT OP^ THE BRIARS Protestants or Roman Catholics; they may be Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Episcopal- ians or Quakers. No one denomination can lay any claim to a monopoly of religion or of Christ- ianity, and therefore cannot be considered alone. I. 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 divi- sions 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 Mili- tant 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 terri- tory, 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 impov- erished 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 fol- lowing the example of their denominations. All THE CHURCH ui 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 Ploly Spirit. Some of the great meetings of our churches, in their annual business sessions, have become real Avorldly political gatherings having met in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thev have turn- ed 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 them" selves a stepping stone for the betterment of the Zion of God. They have forgotten that the}- 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 pro- curing of high positions; life has been wasted in a selfish attempt to save it; the Church has be- come corrupted and made sinful, thereby driving the Holy Spirit away from its work and pres^ ence. The Church today is more or less dis- 152 OUT OF THE BRIARS graced by such political methods. It stands de- pleted of much of its power. It is ' following men instead of (iod. instead of the Holy Spirit. The Church cannot serve two masters. 3. The Church today is largely under the pow- er of the god of Alammon. 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." \\diereas the multitudes are living and surging all aljout these emptv houses of God. The great burden of the Church today is not getting in souls, but getting in dollars. .Magnifi- cent 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 ])astor 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. \)y this course the masses of the i)eople are driven away from the Till'; ciiritcii i.vj Church. (July tifly per cent of the ])eople of the L'nited States attend the Cliurch, and onl)- thirty per cent are members of the Church, and one of the reasons, if not the greatest, is that they can- not afford to be members of the Church. The call on the Sabbath Day is money, money, money. I'eople sicken at the cr}-. and turn away in utter cHsgust. 4. There is a growing formalit}- in the Church. This formahty is seen in the Hves 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, where- as thev always come down. \\'e 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 sea- sons and plans of man's making for revival pur- poses, simply because the time has come for a re- vival and for no other purpose, the revival is had. What good can come out of such attem])ts? Re- vivals come through the operation of great spiritual laws, and these laws must be obeyed bv 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 arrans^es for a revival in a certain church be- 154 nl T OF THE BRIARS caiise 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 v^ork done, and in this manner, the whole work of re- vivals 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 evangel- ist to come into his church, and do the work which he himself ought to do, or some other pas- tor. 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 for- gotten 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 THE CHURCH h^5 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 de- termine 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 mis- sion of preaching the Gospel. Almost every- thing else but the Gospel is preached. Science, literature, biography, philosophy, mortality, etc., are the burden of the pulpit today. As a conse- quence 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 ? ir,(i OUT OP THE BRIARS A cry has ,qone out for a new religion. We have too much now of the new rehgion. It is a faikire; we must get more of the old religion, or give up the Gospelship to those who will he 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 Ihble 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, ^^'e have a weak religion, and unless we return to God's way. it will grow weaker still. This recjuires a thorough Bible training on the part of the preacher. The minister should know his Biljle. and then he should preach it. It de- mands great faith in the \\'ord 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 salvati(Mi from these things, and to set before the peo])lc an upright, godly life. He is author- ized to command that men everywhere shall re- ])ent of their sins and turn to God. He must know the trutli that he may preach it. He must know tlic plan of salvation. He nnist be one with (iod in kn(n\ ledge and work. The pulpit TIIK <'TrrRCH 157 niiist control the pew, and not the pew the pulpit. 3. The Church must look after the poor. This is not being done today. Tn the Church during the days of the Hebrew nation there were no poor. During- the Church in the early days of Christianity, the jMJor 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 serv- ing the poor. He was with them all the time. He shared their sulTerings and bore their bur- dens. 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 repre- sentatives of Christ on the earth. "T was hun- gry and ye gave me no meat." Read the twenty- fifth chapter of ]\Iatthew 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 the_\' will become an inspiration to many to get back to the Eible ; 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 tlian mv own life. Eht Nrgrn f rnblrm (51]r ^t^to Jproblrnt It might be profitable to my readers, after hav- ing sketched my hfe 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 tliis 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 161 Ifi2 OUT OF THE BRIARS of the Colored people since the Civil \\'ar 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 in- fant in swaddling clothes. We are to wait until lie is able to walk and especially to work. The Xegro 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. \\^hile 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 dis- advantages. And why? For the simple reason tliat the Colored man coiues 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 THE NE(tKO PHOBLKM !(« W'liitc 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 coun- try. The mystic "mule and forty acres," promised hy Uncle Sam, has never been forthcoming. And this is but an indication of any other mystic gifts tliat 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 com- pelled 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? Wq 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 under- go certain hardships and privations that the Col- ored 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 If54 OUT OP THE BRIARS 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 ul- THE NEGRO PROBLEM Ki") tiinately 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. 1 greatly fear, however, that we do not merit it. We need more sterling worth among us. The cities are becoming the great centers ot 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 Col- ored 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 con- clusion, that if a man does not earn his bread by the sweat of his brow, wdiich is the Divinely a])pointed way to earn it, that he will be forced to earn it in some dislionorable 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 I