June 21, 1877.
Word from Algiers, La.
For the Christian Recorder.
Mr. Editor: Elder A. H. Newton has charge of the branch of African
Methodism of Algiers, La. When Elder Newton arrived in Algiers he
found the church in an almost hopeless condition, there being but
ten members belonging to the fold, and as far as Sabbath School was
concerned, they hardly knew what it meant. The majority of the people
of color are Catholics. There are three Catholic churches to one
Methodist church, therefore he had to labor under great disadvantages,
but with King Jesus as his Captain, the Bible as his shield, he fought
the battle bravely and gained the victory. Our church now is in a
prosperous condition. We are doing a good work. Instead of ten members
we have ten times ten, and they are coming to the fold every day.
We have the finest Sabbath School in the State of Louisiana. There
are one hundred and seventy-five members, and still they come. Our
superintendent, Prof. J. H. Corbin, is alive to our Sabbath School.
He is pious, kind and educated. The children all love him, and in
no Sunday School throughout our entire connection could you find a
better superintendent than he. He is also the principal of the colored
school of Algiers. Our musical director, Prof. S. W. Otts, is also one
of our bright stars. He makes the walls of Zion ring with melodies
from the “Gospel Songs.” Miss O. B. Flowers, the assistant principal
of the colored school of this city is also a noble worker in our
Sabbath School. As a teacher she is interesting, and she is also the
embodiment of Christian forbearance. We have a very intelligent corps
of teachers, and, altogether, our school is progressing quite rapidly.
When Elder Newton came to Algiers there was not a book in the Sabbath
School library, not even a Testament; but with the help of God we have
been enabled to get Testaments, Bibles and Catechisms, and we also have
an organ. All this has been done in three months. In another three
months we have hopes of as much more being accomplished. Our agent for
the Christian Recorder is Mrs. Lula L. Newton. She sells as many papers
as are sent her, and could sell as many more if she had them. The
people take quite an interest in the paper, simply because it is edited
and published by our own color.
For the last week we have had a practical effort, six souls have been
added to our number and we have prospects of as many more. Algiers bids
fair of becoming one of the strongholds of the connection. In the city
of New Orleans, Bishop Ward (blessings on his venerable head!) has
organized a new mission, which the elder in charge--Elder Cargile--with
the help of the Lord and good management, is making a good charge.
The people in this city are very wicked, some of them, although in a
Christian land and among Christian people, are worse than heathen. They
have never read the Bible. The Bishop, knowing this, organized the
mission in the most wicked portion of the city, and it is progressing
finely.