In order to give a glancing look at the progress and decline of slavery
in the North, and at the sort of fruit the gospel was bearing in the
soul and conduct of the slave, I copy the following from the “Baptist
Home Missions in America” (Jubilee volume):
“By 1776 there were about 300,000 slaves in America. In 1793 there were
comparatively few slaves to be found in the Northern States. * * * In
1790 there were 697,897 slaves in the United States; of this number
there were 17 in Vermont, 158 in New Hampshire, 2,759 in Connecticut,
3,707 in Pennsylvania, 11,423 in New Jersey, and 20,000 in New York.
* * * Before 1830 slavery disappeared from all the Northern States. In
Vermont it was abolished in 1777; in Massachusetts in 1780; while acts
for the gradual emancipation of slaves were passed in other States--in
New York, 1799; in New Jersey, 1804. The final act of abolition in New
York being passed in 1817, declaring all slaves free on July 4, 1827.
“The native African, fresh from his fetich worship, and incapable of
comprehending even common religious statements, seemed an unpromising
subject even for the Christian philanthropist. But, though degraded,
he is recognized as human, sinful, accountable, in need and capable of
redemption through Christ. The obligation to bring him to a knowledge
of the truth as it is in Christ, is practically recognized by many
Christian ministers as well as by many pious masters and mistresses.
At family devotions in many Christian households the domestics are
called in to hear the Scriptures read and bow reverently as prayer is
offered to God. On Sunday in the same meeting house master and slave
listen to the same sermon. Those who give evidence of conversion are
received into the church on relation of their experience after baptism,
and sit with their masters at the Lord’s table.
“The First Colored Baptist Church of Savannah, Ga., dates its
organization from 1788. Other colored Baptist churches appear in
various parts of the country; in Portsmouth, Va., in 1798; the Second
African of Savannah, in 1803; the Abysinian Church of New York City, in
1803; the African or Independent Church, Boston, Mass., in 1805; First
African of Philadelphia, Pa., in 1809; the First African of St. Louis,
in 1827; the Ebenezer of New York City, in 1825; the Union Church of
Philadelphia, and a church in the District of Columbia, in 1832.” One
in Mobile in 1839, of which in 1848, it is said: “They have a fine
house of worship built by themselves, and some excellent leaders or
licensed preachers among them.”
[Illustration: Hon. A. H. Curtis, Ex-Senator to Alabama Legislature
from Perry County.]
We have it on good authority, that in 1850, there were in America about
150,000 negro Baptists. Thus we see that in 230 years the gospel of
Christ, though hampered by the institution of slavery, had done much to
redeem the fetich worshiper from his midnight darkness and consequent
spiritual ruin--had done much to induce the black man to obtain and
retain God in his knowledge.
Often we come upon plants which refuse to give out their sweetness
so long as their parts are unbroken and unbleeding, but which will
quickly yield up their odors when bruised. So it is with men. It is
worthy of notice that these dark days of slavery gave birth to some
strong colored preachers. Among others, the following are mentioned
by their white brethren: Rev. George Leile, of South Carolina, who
visiting Savannah, Ga., about 1782 or 1783, baptized the famous Rev.
Andrew Bryan, of whom the Savannah Association, (white) in 1812, made
the following mention: “The association is sensibly affected by the
death of the Rev. Andrew Bryan, a man of color, and pastor of the
First Colored Church in Savannah. This son of Africa, after suffering
inexpressible persecutions in the cause of his Divine Master, was
at length permitted to discharge the duties of the ministry among
his colored friends in peace and quiet, hundreds of whom through his
instrumentality were brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in
Jesus.”
In 1820, the Board of the Baptist General Convention of America adopted
as their missionaries Revs. Collin Teague and Lot Cary, brethren of
color, from the Baptist church of Richmond, Va. These men sailed from
Norfolk, Va., to Liberia, Africa, in January, 1821. Rev. Thomas Paul,
who was pastor of the church in Boston from 1805 to 1830, is spoken of
after a very praiseworthy manner. Touching our own State, we begin at
Mobile.