About the year 1774, Katy Ferguson was born. Her mother was a slave,
and was taken from her young child and sold to another master.
Uneducated and unaided in her parental duties, this poor Christian
mother had been faithful to the extent of her abilities, and left
upon the mind of her child indelible religious impressions. Katy, in
speaking of this cruel separation, many years afterward, said: "Mr. B.
sold my mother, and she was carried away from me; but I remember that
before they tore us asunder, she kneeled down, laid her hand upon my
head, and gave me to God."
Katy's active mind sought every opportunity of acquiring knowledge.
Her mother had taught her much that she herself remembered of the
Scriptures. Other persons had taught her the catechism, and her
retentive memory seldom lost what had been committed to it.
In her fifteenth year, the Holy Spirit applied to her conscience and
heart the truths of Scripture which she had thus received. But when
awakened to a perception of her sinfulness, she felt the need of some
kind counsellor.
Neither master nor mistress had ever encouraged her to communicate her
thoughts on religious subjects. The minister on whose services she
attended, Dr. John M. Mason, was a man of such a commanding figure
and bearing as to inspire her with fear, rather than confidence. Yet
she knew he was a faithful servant of Christ, and that he would care
for her soul. She accordingly ventured to call on him. She remarked
afterward, "While I was standing at the door, after having rung the
bell, my feelings were indescribable. And when the door was opened,
and I found myself in the minister's presence, I trembled from head
to foot. One harsh word or look would have crushed me." But this
faithful minister of Christ at once appreciated her solicitude, and
in the gentlest manner inquired, "Have you come here to talk with me
about your soul?" This kind reception at once relieved and encouraged
her to open her whole heart. The interview was blessed of God to her
conversion. And from that day, her course was remarkably direct and
upward. She was, in a word, an earnest, self-denying follower of Christ.
At the age of eighteen, by the aid of friends, she was made a free
woman; and very soon afterwards married; but her husband and children
did not live long.
She lived in a part of the city where there were many very poor
families, and many of both colored and white children who had none to
care for their bodies or souls. Some of these she took to her own home
and taught them to take care of themselves; and for others she found
places, where they would be provided for. In this way, during her life,
she secured homes for _forty-eight_ of these neglected and suffering
ones;--thus anticipating one of the benevolent movements of our time.
But her concern for the spiritual welfare of those around her was
especially manifest, and in most appropriate ways. She invited the
children to come into her house every Sabbath day, for religious
instruction. Feeling her own incompetency to instruct them fully,
especially as she was herself unable to read, she obtained the
assistance of other Christian people in this work. The well-known
Isabella Graham thus aided Katy by occasionally inviting her little
flock to come to her own house.
Thus Katy's labor of love went on for some time, unobserved for the
most part, even by Christian people, but not unnoticed by God. He
smiled upon her, and as He often does in the case of humble efforts
like hers, made her little school on the Sabbath the beginning of a
great and good work in that city. It was about this time that the house
of worship on Murray street, in which Dr. Mason preached, was built.
This good man of God had not forgotten Katy, the trembling inquirer.
Having heard of her Sabbath assembly of children, he went one day to
see what she was doing. As he entered her lowly dwelling, and looked
around upon the group of interested, happy-looking faces, he said, with
his wonted kindness: "What are you about here, Katy? Keeping school
on the Sabbath? We must not leave you to do all this." He immediately
conferred with the officers of his church, telling them what he had
seen, and advising that others should join Katy in this good work. Soon
the lecture-room was opened for the reception and instruction of Katy's
charge. This was the beginning of the Sabbath-school in the Murray
Street Church; and KATY FERGUSON, the colored woman, who had been a
slave, is believed to have thus gathered THE FIRST SABBATH SCHOOL IN
THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
But Katy's benevolent heart was not satisfied with this effort for the
good of children. She established and maintained, during the last forty
years of her life, a weekly prayer-meeting at her house, and during
the last five years of her life, when she could not attend the public
services of divine worship, she made her own house a Bethel on Sabbath
afternoons, by gathering the neglected children of the neighborhood,
with such others as did not attend at any place of public worship, and
obtaining some suitable person to lead in the services of prayer and
praise.
The cause of foreign missions was also dear to Katy. On one occasion, a
young man who was about to sail for Africa as a missionary, was invited
to attend a meeting at her house. Three years afterwards, on speaking
of this man and his associate missionaries, she said: "For these three
years I have never missed a day but I have prayed for those dear
missionaries."
The question may occur to some persons, where did this poor woman
procure the means of doing so much good--clothing children and
assisting missionaries? Uneducated as she was, she possessed
extraordinary taste and judgment. Of a truly refined nature, she
appreciated the beautiful, wherever found. Hence a wedding, or other
festival, in some of the best circles of New York, could scarcely be
considered complete unless Katy had superintended the nicer provisions
of the table. She was also uncommonly skilful in the cleaning of laces
and other fine articles of ladies' dresses. This constant demand for
her services must, however, be likewise traced, in part, to the great
esteem in which she was held, and to the desire to furnish her the
means of continuing her useful Christian labors.
She was a cheerful believer; occupied less in complaining of her own
deficiencies and her troubles, or boasting of her attainments, than in
commending her Redeemer to others, and in trying to imitate His active
benevolence.
Thus was this beloved disciple ripening for heaven. And when death, in
that fearful disease, the cholera, came for her, she was ready, and
calmly expressed her Christian confidence by saying: "Oh, what a good
thing it is to have a hope in Jesus!" Her last words were, "All is
well."