The South Carolina Conference at this time (1866) embraced the States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama, and the work which it entered upon at this session was one of importance. The efforts of Rev. H. M. Turner were recognized by his appointment as superintendent of the work in upper Georgia, with Macon as his headquarters. No better man could have been found to bear and plant our colors, for in the early prime of life he was what we see him to be to-day, a fearless, aggressive man—one so much needed in those early days at the close of the civil war, days which tried men's souls as well as did the tumult and dangers of the battle-field.

Lower Georgia was provided for in Rev. A. L. Stanford, whose headquarters were at Savannah. Rev. Robert Anderson was at Americus, and later, Rev. W. H. Noble at Cuthbert, and Rev. Fortune Robinson at Lumpkin. Rev. Joseph A. Wood was an able preacher at Atlanta about this time, while, among early leaders, Richard Vanderhorst succeeded S. W. Drayton at Augusta, whom Conference had consented to locate. The writer also began the work in Southwestern Georgia on Florence Circuit on the Chattahoochee River.

This year was one of trying labor from these important local centers. There was much to contend against from both white and colored. The former noted a movement, the independence of which grated harshly upon them under so recent defeats and losses, and the inexperience in our own ranks led to varying results. Then there was a prejudice born of generations, of the recognized dominion of the whites which we had to meet and overcome in leading the bodies of Negroes to seek a church where they could be free and untrameled in their religious worship.

Still we increased, but the data concerning the opening up of other districts that conference year, is insufficient to enable us to give a detailed account of the spread of the church. It is sufficient to the credit of the laborers, that when the spring of 1867 opened, with the Annual Conference, held at Wilmington, N. C., the cheering report was made that it had nearly covered the States under its jurisdiction. Thirty circuits and stations were reported for Georgia alone, and equally as many or more in South Carolina, with quite a number in Florida and Alabama, while there were not less than 48,000 or 50,000 members in the whole.

At this Conference, forty-six ministers joined the itinerant force and ninety-eight ministers were ordained. The appointments all told were one hundred and two, and they were nearly all supplied. Opposition had been met at Americus, Ga., and there were dark discouragements from Rome, but the light was strong and it threw its beams so far into the darkness that we could but exclaim that the Lord had indeed been good to us as a people and as a church. Savannah had taken the lead in forward movement, as she should, through Rev. A. L. Stanford, and the report of a church site purchased, a parsonage built and a church basement in process of erection, gladdened the brethren's hearts. At this Conference, Rev. H. M. Turner presented sixteen brethren: John Ricks, Ephraim Russell, Willis Jones, Lazarus Gardner, R. B. Bailey, Wm. Raven, Wm. H. Harris, Watty Parks, Wm. Cherry, Joseph Brown, Robert Brown, Willis Persons, Joseph Jennings, Nelson Beacham, Robert Crumley and Edward Trapp.

This was an all-important session for the States of Georgia, Florida and Alabama. A petition was made to Bishop Wayman*

* Bishop Payne was absent from his regular work and Bishop Wayman held his Conferences in his absence.

The petition was recognized, and Bishop Wayman gave more than was asked—he granted each State separate Conferences. With this wise action, the Georgia Conference took its rise and entered upon an independent existence, though as yet it was really only a mission Conference still awaiting the higher sanction which was to come at the next session of the General Conference to be held in Washington, D. C., May, 1868. But the youthful body held its first session as a separate Conference on the 30th of May, 1867, fifty days after the adjournment of the body of which it had been a part.

Of course it was not burdened with business at this time. Some matters unattended to at the South Carolina Conference were dispatched, and we proceeded to see clearly where we stood. The leading points in Georgia then stood manned as follows: Rev. C. L. Bradwell, at Augusta; Rev. David Pickett, at Columbus; Rev. H. M. Turner, at Macon; Rev. R. P. Gibbs, at Savannah; Rev. W. H. Noble, at Cuthbert; Rev. Fortune Robinson, at Albany; Rev. T. G. Steward, at Lumpkin, and the writer at Atlanta. From the one handful at Savannah in 1864, protected by military forces, we had increased to about 20,000, as near as we could judge, scattered throughout the State, for which we gave thanks to the Lord.

The work which lay outside of the State, and yet within what was called the Georgia Conference, embraced all charges lying along the Chattachoochee River in Alabama. With this outlook the forces moved forward the following year until the next meeting of the Georgia Mission Conference—its second session - which was held in Macon. Ga., 1868. This was its first regular annual session, Bishop Wayman presiding, and the regular Conference business was harmoniously carried on.

To improve and set going missionary interests, the State work was divided into six districts, each in the hands of a competent Presiding Elder, who, with the President of the Conference Missionary Society, would meet and further the work. A traveling agent was also appointed in the same cause. The educational work was looked after as well. The African Methodist Episcopal Church was keenly alive to the importance of both these interests from the first in the South, and now, with Rev. B. T. Tanner placed as Chairman of the Educational Committee, that report, as might be expected, expressed “the highest present duty to ourselves and people, in view of already possessing robust constitutions and a living faith, as being to strive to acquire wisdom that we may be accounted workmen that need not be ashamed.”

A large delegation was elected to the General Conference to meet in May following (1868), ten in all, aside from the alternates and those who were members, under the existing law. The delegates were Rev. H. M. Turner, Rev. W. J. Gaines, Rev. C. L. Bradwell, Rev. Andrew Brown, Rev. W. H. Noble, Rev. T. G. Steward, Rev, H. Stubbs, Rev. H. Strickland, Rev. S. B. Jones, Rev. David Pickett, Rev. S. N. Drayton. Rev. Peter McLain and Thomas K. Brown were alternates. Rev. H. M. Turner and K. Brown were alternates. Rev. H. M. Turner and Rev. R. P. Gibbs were the members under the laws then in force, but as the latter had died, Rev. J. B. Hamilton took his place.

There was some opposition to the admission of these delegates when they met the General Conference in Washington, D. C. It was true, that if the General Conference were to follow the constitution then in force for fifty years these delegates had no claim whatsoever to a seat in the body, but it wisely and justly saw that the work they represented must be recognized and an unwritten motion by Rev. Wm. Moore, of the Philidelphia Conference, brought about the recognition, and seated the delegates. As a result, this revolutionary step changed the constitution of the A. M. E. Church, and the mode of making up the General Conference for all the years which have followed.

The progress reported at Washington was cheering. Churches were being built and church property purchased. At Atlanta two churches were commenced, *

* The church on Summer Hill, built by Rev. Joseph A. Wood and called Wood's Chapel, and Bethel A. M. E. Church, Wheat St., by the writer. A new church was built later (1883) by Rev. J. G. Yeizer, at corner of Clarke and Frazler Sts., and called Allen Temple.

There was nothing to do but recognize the work and sanction the division from the South Carolina Conference already made under Bishop Wayman. The table of statistics showed an encouraging outlook at this session of the Georgia Conference, and as a whole, proved the wisdom of the work begun in 1864 and shaped in 1865.

And here we quote from the records, which give briefly the words of one of these grand pioneers—Rev. Andrew Brown—spoken fourteen years later upon the rise and progress of the A. M. Church in Georgia:

“I am not so superstitious as to claim to be a prophet, nor the son of a prophet, but I saw the A. M. E. Church in 1844 as bright as I see her tonight. I then prayed that I might outlive the surrounding circumstances, and see the church in reality as I then saw it in my mind. The day the M. E. Church, South, split from the M. E. Church, while in the woods upon my knees, God showed me this church. The day was dark, but, thank God, we waited on and on. God's horse was tied to the iron stake. For a long time he failed to prance in Georgia and South Carolina. The day the first fire was made at Sumter, I saw the Gospel Horse begin to paw. He continued to paw until he finally broke loose and came tearing through Georgia. The colored man mounted him and intends to ride him. He is not particular where he goes, for he has practiced until he can and does ride him in the white man's pulpit. In 1866 I was in Dalton. In 1865 I, a poor bare-footed, bare-headed man, had met in Atlanta a man named James Lynch; he told me of the A. M. E. Church. The first of September the M. E. Church, South, held their Conference and sent a preacher to preach to the colored people in Dalton. He sent for me and told me he was sent there. I told him we could not comply with his request; we must look for ourselves. He said if I was going to take the people, to take them and leave. I thanked him and we left. We were in a sad plight, for there was not an ordained minister from Chattanooga to Atlanta.

“In 1866 we met in Savannah for the first time as a Conference. There I met Dr. Turner, who gave me the Marietta District. Turner threw me on the right wing, Stanford on the left, and he held the centre.

“What did we know at the first Conference?

“When I was Presiding Elder of the Marietta District, there was but one colored man that could write his name and read the hymn-book. We had to get little white boys and poor white men to act as Secretaries of the Quarterly Conference. Now (1880) we cannot call a dozen men together unless there are several scribes among them. At the Conference in Atlanta, only one Secretary could be found, and he had to read his writing while it was hot, for if it ever got cold he could never have read it in the world. After the rising of the adjourned Conference, which met in Macon, Ga., we commenced to grow, and have advanced steadily on until now.

The General Conference of 1868 gave us three new bishops : James A. Shorter, T. M. D. Ward and J. M. Brown, the first named now called to rest from his labors. It also gave the South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama work to Bishop J. M. Brown.

Under this arrangement the next session of the Georgia Annual Conference was held at Columbus, February 6, 1869, Bishop J. M. Brown presiding, though his first work was to organize the Alabama Conference at Selma, July 25, 1868. He brought to his work his scholarship, amiability, firmness and sympathy, which won from us our love and respect for him as a gentleman and the embodiment of dignity.

It was at this Conference that two representatives from the M. E. Church, South, were introduced to the Conference and made some very interesting statements. It was claimed that the M. E. Church, South, proposed to carry out in good faith the terms of amity and alliance agreed upon with our Church in the General Conference of the former in New Orleans in 1866. During the subsequent remarks it was learned that one of the gentleman, Rev. James Evans, was the chairman of a committee appointed by that General Conference on the condition of the colored people. It was also elicited that the M. E. Church, South, intended to organize an independent colored body in connection with themselves, not, as Rev. James Evans said, “for the purpose of engendering strife,” and that they “did not propose to disturb our congregations and would not affiliate with a minority of our congregations for that purpose,” whatever that might mean. Co-operation and friendship, though, were pledged us, but with caution, as was evidenced by the expression, “only while we were engaged in ‘our one work.’”

Of course we were at liberty to interpret each for himself what was meant by this and act accordingly. And here I may say that Rev. James Evans was an able preacher, full of the Holy Ghost, whose influence as a minister was above the average of ministers in his church, and had the M. E. Church seen fit to stand by the pledge made in their General Conference in 1866, there would have been no division of the colored Methodists of the South, except of those brethren who joined the M. E. Church. The A. M. E. Church was well organized to take care of the colored Methodists of the South, and there was no need of a Colored Methodist Church of America as set up by the M. E. Church, South. It was the fear of the political influence of the North that made that church organize this C. M. E. Church of America. They felt that the African Methodist Episcopal Church was a political church in sympathy with the North. They made a mistake. While the A. M. E. Church believed fully in the freedom of the race and appreciated those who brought about that freedom, this church is not and never has been a political church no more than is any other Christian church.

There is no doubt, however, that the M. E. Church, South, already felt at that early date the serious transition which must take place when the colored people became independent church bodies, and fearing the possible results, it was deemed necessary to retain what hold might be possible, as the words from the General Conference of 1866 indicated.

At this session of the Georgia Conference, the public evinced a desire to know what our body was doing, and the editor of the American Union tendered us the use of his columns, which favor was accepted in the same spirit as offered.

This Conference admitted nineteen in full fellowship and elected the following to deacons' orders: Samuel Ross, George Reed, Jeremiah Brown, S. H. Robertson, Daniel Brown, Martin Johnson, Larkin Matthews, Jesse Dinkins, Henry Redd, Washington Benjamin, Larry Thomas, Lacy Beck, Wesley Mappe, Daniel McGee, Lewis Davis, James Jackson, Greene Yorke, Nelson Harris and Wesley Rogers.

The cheering news was also communicated to us, in a memorial from Fort Valley, that the colored Methodists there desired to give in their adherence to our church. Thus our strength increased.

Bishop J. M. Brown was not able to reach the Conference in time to open it in Atlanta, January 14,1871, but by his direction through a telegram the Conference proceeded to business after being opened, with Rev. A. Brown, Presiding Elder, in the chair. Rev. T. G. Steward was appointed Secretary, with S. H. Roberton as assistant.

A long list was admitted on trial, and when the Conference proceeded to the election of deacons, the following were elected: Itinerants, Isaac Hamilton, John Robinson, Samuel George, James Etheridge, F. P. Evans, Henry Hutchinson, Riley Convington, Turner Jones, David Williams, Alfred Attoway, Alfred Sapp, J. M. Cargile, E. P. Holmes, George Christburg, Wm. Abrahams, La-Fayette Wesley, Geo. Strickland, James Hilson. Local, Augustus Stroud, Madison Taylor, Andrew Miller, Herbert Mathews, Burrell Halin, Henry Holsey, Henry Warren, Andrew Lowe, G. H. Clower.

We had with us at this Conference Bishop James A. Shorter and Rev. B. T. Tanner, also Henry J-Young, of Philadelphia. Rev. B. T. Tanner preached the Ordination Sermon of Deacons. A beneficent gift was presented Conference, through Rev. Henry Strickland, by Mrs. Sarah Marshall—a new roof to the church in process of erection at Savannah, in value more than $1,000. It will be remembered that Rev. A. L. Stanford organized the church in Savannah, and he also laid the basement of the church edifice, but Rev Henry Strickland deserves the credit of building the church, and saving our congregation in that city.

Four of the Georgia Conference have fallen under the Reaper's blade this year. Nelson Beacham, Fortune Robinson, Washington Benjamin, Eli Kimball, and suitable respect was paid to their memories, Elder H. M. Turner delivering the sermon.

The matter of Conference school was broached at this date, but it assumed no definite form. It was a subject requiring consideration and deliberate arrangements before we could hope to make other than a lamentable failure. It was wisdom to wait until strength sufficient for success was an assured thing.

Savannah, Ga., was the place decided upon for the next session, as it was intimated that the reports of the Conferences in the past were too meager in details to give a correct idea of Conference doings; it was also gently hinted that the Secretaries in the future might be more copious with advantage to the church. The hint was well taken, as it seems, and acted upon, as records show. There is no doubt that the want of accurate data concerning our church work, as a whole, is largely due to the brief, and often unsatisfactory, way of writing up the minutes of the various Conferences, and that the history of our church must lose much of interest, and thus suffer proportionally by loss, perhaps of moment, by too great brevity. This quality may be the “soul of wit,” but it is not that of history, and even prolixity may be better endured when important matters are before us, and we desire positive and complete information concerning every detail, such as only full, approved minntes can give.

Bishop J. M. Brown suggested at this time Geo. W. H. Williams, J. W. Randolph and S. H. Robertson as proper persons for Elders' Orders, and they were elected, as was also James F. A. Sisson. After discussion, C. R. Edwards was also included in the list, which comprised the following brethren, when the ordinance took place with impressive and solemn exercises: William Lewis, Patrick Parks, Lacy Beck, Wm. Pine, G. B. Reed, J. W. Randolph, S. Ross, J. W. Ricks, Branch Davis, S. H. Robertson, Daniel Brown, W. H. Harris, G. W. H. Williams and J. F. A. Sisson.

An interesting discussion was held upon the temperance question, and the expression of a sentiment in favor of temperance in all things, the discarding of tobacco, snuff, cigars and all intoxicants was indulged in by a large number. The filthiness of the habit, as well as its injurious effects, physically and morally, were dwelt upon, and resolutions placing the Conference on record as opposing the use of all these were reported and adopted by a large majority.

The finances were helped out by Rev. H. M. Turner's proposition to print the minutes for what he might receive from their sale, and accepting this, 1,500 were ordered printed, and the price set at fifteen cents each. The Sabbath-school Banner, which had been promised to the school raising the most missionary money, was awarded to the Columbus Sunday-school, as it came forward, through Rev. C. L. Bradwell, with $100, though Savannah followed closely, through Rev. H. Strickland, with $60.

The minister who should be stationed at Macon was designated as the District Book Steward, and it was also determined upon that each minister be required to raise one collection monthly, for the eight collections to be taken up during the year: the Contingent, Missionary, Book Concern, Bishop's Support, Superannuated Bishops and Preachers, Widows and Orphans, Deficiency and Wilberforce University, and that no preacher be permitted to divide any one of these collections under penalty of being silenced for six months. Bishop Shorter entered a protest with reference to the division of the money, stating that the Conference violated the law governing it.*

The cases of complaints were few and the offenders were dismissed with a reprimand, or referred back to their Quarterly Conference.

It was decided that the Electoral College meet in Macon the coming June—the first Thursday—to be in readiness for the General Conference of the coming year.

The report of the Committee on Education was very hopeful. Schools were springing up in different localities all over the State. The only drawback was the engaging of teachers of too meager qualifications, but still there was progress. The committee looked to the future in recommending a Theological Seminary within the Georgia Conference, that our young men might be properly trained in the ministry, so we see the trend in the right direction. The ministers were strongly advised, however, by Bishop J. M. Brown to a close study of the course laid out by the Conference under whatever guidance they might find possible. Pending the establishment of a school within our own denomination, the work of others was recommended, and at all times, the common schools were to be recognized as one means of uplifting the people. We had all that we could do just then to assist the mother college of our church, Wilberforce, which was brought to our notice again. It was then incomplete under the efforts to raise it from the ruins in which the flames had enveloped it in 1865, and the Conference resolved to do all in its power to aid this university —the only one then owned and controlled by colored men on the American continent.

The Georgia, Conference this year took steps to organize the Home and Foreign Missionary Society and a goodly roll of members was made up by the payment of $1 each. The South was still in the midst of financial embarrassment, but it is to be noted that the Georgia Conference statistics showed a decided improvement financially each year. Though the people were poor and the masses yet groping for the light of knowledge, it was not an altogether beggarly people. It did what it could and that was much for the time and under the circumstances. No more could be asked - no more could be expected .

It was on January 5th, 1872, that the Lord allowed us to reassemble in Savannah to transact our business. For the second time within its history an assembly of colored ministers met in that city. Bishop Brown presided at the opening, Rev. J. F. A. Sisson was elected Conference Secretary; J. W. Randolph, Statistical Secretary; and F. J. Peck, Recording Secretary. The Bishop made some most pertinent remarks upon the dilatory attendance of the members composing the body, as well as upon their behavior at Conference. Among other things, he told them not to stand about our church doors and the street corners smoking; he admonished them so to dress and live that they should be attractive to our people and not repulsive; he warned them not to drink wine or brandy, and told them to avoid giving trouble to the families with whom they might stop, to rise early from their beds, be kind to the children, and always see that prayers were held with their host and family.

These remarks apply equally well to-day, and if faithfully followed out, the ministry would stand upon a higher plane, the labor of entertainment would fall much more lightly upon our people, while the general good which would result would be incalculable.

Rev. S. H. Robertson was constituted reporter for the Christian Recorder, and the writer of the Missionary Record published in Charleston. The annual sermon this year was preached by Rev. C. L. Bradwell. The ministers were urged again by the agent of Wilberforce University, Elder Young, to assist in raising endowment money, that the trustees might comply with the conditions of Mr. Avery's will, whereby $10,000 would be secured that institution for its completion. The will was read, and are the ere of the fourth day's session, he had received $140 in money, pledges, notes and dues These we gave of our little as we were advised.

The visitors to Conference included some members of the M. E. Church, South, and the Rev. Elisha Hathaway, of Bristol, R. I., a minister of the Christian Convention, who had within the year past donated $59,000 for the elevation of the freedmen, and he encouraged us to aid all good work by his statements. He gave a short sketch of his life, upon being introduced to Conference, and among other things, he gave us this to consider: that he had known both extreme poverty and abundant riches, and that he felt himself constantly made spiritually and financially richer by giving of his substance to the poor, thereby lending to the Lord.

Forty-eight was the number reported by the Committee on Admission to Conference on probation. Bishop J. M. Brown made the remark that it was the largest class save one he had received since he had been made Bishop. It was a most interesting one, as it was composed mostly of young men. The Bishop gave them some sound advice as to their conduct, ministerial and otherwise, which is as applicable to-day as it has ever been. After telling them to stand up for Jesus, he warned them that they would have no time for mirth and folly. “Be prudent among women,” said he, “Confide only in your wife.” Upon marriage, he said, “Get for a wife one that has good parents who have trained their daughter well, one who is willing to wash your clothes and scour your floor,” and to the class personally he said, “Avoid affectation and the wearing of finery and jewelry. Be plain even in dress and manners; be honest, pay your debts and pay them promptly.”

The matter of Missionary Agency coming up, the writer moved a resolution in favor of leaving that office vacant, though Conference had a standing rule to the effect of filling it by appointment of the Bishop. His arguments were that as yet nothing had been accomplished save to make an indebtedness by each Conference. His idea was the same as now—the plan at present followed by our Church—to make each pastor raise a special Missionary collection, thus avoiding any salaried agent. It was opposed, however, and by vote to rescind, the Bishop was left to appoint the Missionary Agent as heretofore.

The Book Concern report gave such a depressing view of its financial condition that, after an explanatory speech from the Bishop, urging liberal contributions to its treasury, a movement was made by the writer favoring the raising as much as $50 weekly, if possible, to aid in publishing the Christian Recorder until the next session of the General Conference—seventeen weeks hence. It was learned that this would be the cost of publication per week, and the motion prevailed almost unanimously, there being but one dissenting voice. Believing in rapidly striking while the iron was hot, business was suspended and eleven clubs were formed with cash ($140.25) in hand. The writer was elected Secretary of the fund and C. L. Bradwell, Treasurer, and the money was paid over to H. J. Young, the Book Concern Agent, and receipt given.

Again, an indeavor was made looking to the establishment of a school within the bounds of this Conference. While strong speeches were made in favor of the education of the ministry by Revs. Noble, Young, Harris and others, it seemed the prevalent opinion that for the present Wilberforce University offered all advantages required, and that we were not yet ready for giving the support which a second college or institution would demand. Nevertheless, a motion prevailed to take steps toward a school, with the words “College” and “Branch of Wilberforce University” stricken from the original motion; and it was finally decided that a committee of five select a site for such a school as desired, Presiding Elders forming that committee. Under the resolution this was done, and Rev. J. A. Wood was made Treasurer of the School Fund, and Rev. W. J. Gaines, Secretary.

Seventeen brothers were offered for Deacon's orders and elected: Jacob Graham, Eli Erby, Lawrence Thomas, Nathan Berry, George Landrum, Henry Boyd, G. G. Fleming, Richard Graham, Anthony Brown, Andrew Wynn, George Davis, Jefferson Cary, Shadrach L. Mimms, John M. Henderson, James Porter, John B. Butler, George T. Strickland. Those elected to Elder's orders were Henry M. Taylor, Elijah Pennyman, James Daley, C. H. Fairfax, H. B. Dowdell, Warren Shorts, A. B. Davis, itinerants, and Daniel J. McGhee, local. Henry Daniels was left without an appointment for one year; also George Lumpkin, John McDougald and L. Matthews. The ordination of the seventeen Deacons took place under the Presiding Bishop at the close of the morning sermon, January 14th, while the Elders were ordained in the afternoon. One brother had slipped up to the altar during the ceremony of ordination of Deacons, and had received the Bishop's hands upon his head, but he unfortunately called for his certificate later and this fact leaked out.

Wisely so it seemed to the Conference, the minority report of the Committee on Third Year Studies was adopted, and all the members thereby continued in that class. The funeral services of five deceased brothers were carried out at the ninth day's session by addresses from Rev. H. M. Turner and others. This was followed by a collection for the benefit of the widows of the deceased brothers and preachers.

It appeared at this Conference that the minutes of the Georgia Conference, up to this date, had not been properly recorded, and a resolution passed to pay Rev. F. J. Peck thirty dollars to do this work up to close of the present session.

As 180 members of the Georgia Annual Conference, together with 48 probationers, were reported by the Committee on General Conference Delegates, it was entitled to send 26 delegates to represent the members and 6 to represent the probationers. The election which then took place resulted as follow:

H. M. Turner, W. J. Gaines, S. B. Jones, Andrew Brown, F. J. Peck, Henry Strickland, Thos. Crayton, S. W. Drayton, W. H. Noble, J. A. Wood, Wm. Raven, Robert Anderson, Henry Porter, Peter McLain, Albert McGhee, Levi Walker, A. J. McDowell, Robert Cromby, R. M. Taylor, S. H. Robertson, W. H. W. Sherman, J. F. A. Sisson, John McDougald, John T. Gibson, G. W. H. Williams, Lawrence Wood, Z. Armstrong, G. P. Brown, Thomas Garrett, Robert Alexander, C. L. Bradwell, B. K. Brown Aside from these, the Secretary of the Electoral College reported the election of two lay delegates to represent the Conference: G. H. Clower and Lewis Williams.

Among the changes made this year, the District Book Steward was made the Treasurer of the Conference, and the writer was made District Book Steward.

In the line of the effort to prepare for a school in the State of Georgia, an effort was made for each pastor to bring to Conference, next year, five dollars for educational purposes, and the preachers were to be furnished with certificates to be used in making such collections. The sum of fifty-eight dollars and fifty-eight cents was also ordered sent to the Treasurer of Wilberforce University.

Looking forward to their preservation, as the literature of the time, all authors of Conference sermons before the sixth session, were ordered to place their manuscript in the hands of Bishop Brown, who would see them published and bound with the minutes. The manuscript of J. W. Randolph's Anthem and Tune Book was commended to the General Conference for its examination and hoped-for approval.

The Domestic University Society held its meeting, through a suspension of regular work, and made a most favorable show of work, It had a total in bank of $185.92, and collected at this session an aggregate of $53. A re-election of officers made Rev. H. M. Turner, President; C. L. Bradwell, J. A. Wood and W. J. Gaines, respectively, first, second and third Vice-Presidents; J. F. A. Sisson, Secretary; Henry Strickland, Treasurer; J. W. Randolph, Recording Secretary. A short meeting of the Preachers' Aid Society followed this meeting, when the regular business of the Conference was resumed.

A pleasant feature of the session was the recognition of the services of our beloved Bishop, J. M. Brown, who had been with us for four years, and according to our church economy, would sever his direct connection with the Episcopal District of which Georgia formed a part, with this session, or rather, after the meeting of the General Conference in Nashville, Tenn., on the first Monday in the following May. The Conference, therefore, decided to testify to its appreciation of his work with us by the presentation of a copy of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary to him, and Rev. H. M. Turner, C. L. Bradwell and the writer were appointed to execute the will of the Conference, which was carried out at the next session.

When the question was asked which Sunday-school should keep the Annual Conference S. S. banner during the ensuing year, the answer came promptly from Americus, Ga., representatives, which school, through Rev. C. L. Bradwell, pastor, reported thirty-six dollars and seventy-six pupils. As it was to be awarded to the Sunday-school sending the largest Missionary collection to Conference this session, in proportion to the number of pupils, this school held it until the next session.

The sermons for the next year were appointed as follows: Annual Conference Sermon, Rev. R. Anderson; Annual Anniversary Sermon, Rev. W. J. Gaines; the Doctrinal Sermon by Rev. W. H. Noble, and the Ministerial Education Sermon by Rev. James F. A. Sisson.

Elder H. M. Turner requested the Bishop and Conference to allow him to retire from the office and work of Presiding Elder. He desired rest and opportunities for study, composition, and the practical duties of the pastorate without distracting cares outside of the course he had marked out. The address that he delivered after this, as a valedictory, was of historic value to the A. M. E. church, and of general interest.

Scarcely a report of this Conference was presented which was not full of interest. The one upon Denominations was especially powerful, as it breathed a spirit of Christian brotherhood, which alone can unite all the kingdoms of this earth under the one Kingdom of His Son. A growing feeling of fraternity was shown by it to be prevailing upon the part of all denominations, especially in the South. We quote from the report of the Committee on State of the Country that which is true, and which alone will bring about amity and peace: “With a free press, freedom of speech, and freedom of educational advantages and religious privileges, applicable to all alike, without reference to ‘race, color or previous condition,’ then will each bosom thrill with rapturous joy.”

With the arrival of the eleventh of January, 1873, the Conference found itself at Macon, Ga., with Bishop T. M. D. Ward, as the Presiding Bishop. Bishop J. M. Brown accompanied him as Assistant Bishop. Thus General Conference had given us another strong worker for the South. We also received an addition to our ministerial ranks, by the transfer of Rev. George Washington, of Alabama, and Rev. W. D. Johnson, of Florida, while we lost Rev. Lawrence Wood, who took a transfer to South Carolina, and Rev. J. F. A. Sisson, who went to the Arkansas Conference.

The Secretaryship was immediately placed upon the shoulders of Rev. Wm. D. Johnson, and Rev. J. W. Randolph was made Statistical Secretary, with Rev. F. J. Peek, Recording Secretary.

The General Conference of 1872 had condemned the wearing of Episcopal robes in strong terms, but, as in all such matters, there was diversity of opinion, and the question was again raised here by Rev. Dr. H. M. Turner; finally a movement was made to purchase and present a robe to the Presiding Bishop, but was lost.

With the opening of the year 1874, the A. M. E. Church in Georgia entered upon its new work of conducting the deliberations of the two Conference bodies instead of one. The North Georgia Conference was the first to assemble. Bishop T. M. D. Ward opened the first session of this body, in the city of Augusta, upon the 8th of January. His opening remarks were most opportune and well received, though some objected to the statement that the division of the old Georgia Conference had passed into history. This objection must have been made upon the ground that the Georgia Conference, as a separate body, had as yet held no session, while the North Georgia was but opened.

Be this as it may, the work of final division went on, such as definitely settling the boundary lines between the two, which work was assigned to a committee of fifteen, after the election of a Conference Secretary in the person of Rev. W. D. Johnson, J. M. Cargile being appointed Statistical Secretary. This committee consisted of Dr. H. M. Turner, Revs. W. J. Gaines, J. A. Wood, William Raven, H. H. Taylor, John Ricks, Augustus Gonickie, S. H. Robertson, E. P. Holmes, S. B. Jones, W. H. Harris, W. D. Johnson, Andrew Brown, Robert Cromley, Daniel Brown, Robert Anderson, Lawrence Thomas and W. H. Noble. In brief, the boundary was laid off as follows, and the report of the committee adopted: “Commencing at the Chattahoochee river, the following counties and all north of them, to constitute the North Georgia Conference—Harris, Meriwether, Upson, Monroe, Jones, Baldwin, Hancock, Warren, McDuffie and Richmond; the following, and all south of them, to constitute the South Georgia Conference—Muscogee, Talbot, Taylor, Crawford, Bibb, (except Macon station, which was included in the North Georgia work) Wilkinson, Washington, Glascock, Jefferson and Burke.” This, as we said in our last chapter, gave to the North Georgia Conference the Atlanta, Marietta, Macon, Augusta and LaGrange districts, leaving Cuthbert, Sandersville, Valdosta, Americus and Savannah districts in the South Georgia work.

The following persons were sent before the committee on admission: Joshua Brown, Perry Simon, J. B. Lofton, William Stansel, Alfred Floyd, George Chapel, Willis Covington, Handy West and Albert Gaines.

Bishop S. H. Holsey, of the Colored M. E. Church of America, was introduced to Conference, and spoke words of congratulation upon our success. He spoke of the tendency of all Christian bodies to unite, and the strength that would result from union in Methodism, especially in the colored churches. In the response which was made by Dr. H. M. Turner, the statement was acquiesced in, and the declaration made that the African Methodist Episcopal Church-the church organized by Richard Allen and others—was the first step made by colored men toward the equal rights mentioned by all, and it was “like stone cut out without hands—a rolling power that had scattered hallowed fire wherever it has penetrated.” Have not the years established the truth of this?

Although the state of education was encouraging in view of the hopeful outlook from Wilberforce University, which reported three hundred students, and that the committee stated the desire expressed upon the part of the Public School Boards in a number of localities, to open more schools for the colored children, yet it seemed best, notwithstanding this, to look now to our own denominational school work in the South with a critical eye upon what was sorely needed, as we were pressed for properly qualified ministers for our increasing fields of labor. In view of this a motion was put on foot looking to the joint efforts of the two Conferences in raising up an institution of learning in our midst, that should be an honor to our church and to the race. A convention to consider the matter was appointed at Thomasville, Ga., January 22d, the date of the coming first session of the South Georgia Annual Conference as a separate body.

It was at this place that Bishop T. M. D. Ward opened this Conference, at the appointed date, and this Convention met and deliberated upon an “Institution of Higher Learning,” and appointed its Trustees to act upon the same—seven from the North Georgia and eight from the South Georgia Conference.

Rev. Wm. D. Johnson was made Secretary and Rev. Francis J. Peck Statistical Secretary of this Conference at this session, and it proceeded to the business of announcing transfers: Revs. J. M. Cargile, Andrew Brown and F. J. Peck took transfers to the North Georgia work, while Revs. W. J. Gaines, C. L. Bradwell, Wm. Raven, Rev. Wm. Bradwell, of Florida, and Godfrey B. Taylor, of Alabama, were transferred to this Conference. The action of the joint committee dividing the Conference was brought up for ratification, but by motion of Dr. H. M. Turner, it was indefinitely postponed. This motion, however, was ruled out of order by Bishop T. M. D. Ward, who decided that the separation of the Conferences was settled in Macon in 1873. Upon this, Dr. Turner stated his intention to appeal to the next General Conference, as he wished Macon struck from the South Georgia list.

Rev. Andrew Brown preached an able sermon the evening of the first day from the text, Ex. IV. I; “And Moses answered and said, but behold, they will not believe me.” Henry Boyd, Richard Graham, David Williams and George Gamble were elected and ordained as elders, while eleven received deacon's orders: Andrew Jackson, Benjamin F. Franklin, H. P. Powell, Augustus Scott, Wm. Askew, Isaac Stewart, B. W. Wilson, Isaac Coachman, David T. Green, George Bass, James Ricks. The ordination vows were also administered to Rev. T. N. Stewart and A. R. Spencer, elders from the colored M. E. Church of America. These latter had been fitted for this office by their previous training. At the same time these two, with Wesley C. Gaines, G. H Washington, S. M. Clark, B. W. Wilson, G. J. Jordan, B. F. Franklin, Isaac Stewart, Andrew Jackson, A. J. Johnson and Andrew Monroe, formed the class admitted on trial.

It was a pleasure to the Conference that it received a most cordial welcome from the inhabitants of the city, white and colored, so far exceeding any heretofore, that it felt constrained to recognize it by proper thanks. African Methodism had accomplished the task of commanding respect for it, though its adherents were of the Negro race.

This Conference body received the glad news, that Hon. Mr. Haynes, of Pottsville, Pa., having donated five hundred dollars to our Southern work, fifty of that sum would come to each of the two Georgia Conferences

With this session we closed the Conference year, and with the coming year we reached the first decade of what might be called our Southern work, beginning as it did in Charleston upon the 15th of May, 1865.

The North Georgia Conference at Athens, Ga., opened the ensuing year's work, with its second session held in “Pierce's Chapel,” January 17th, Bishop Ward presiding, and Rev. Wm. D. Johnson, Secretary, with Richard Harper, as assistant. It was not a busy session, and closed on the fifth day. The date for convening was changed to the month of December, and some changes were made in the Districts.

J. H. M. Durand, W. A. Pearce, H. Cargile, Washington Campbell, R. W. Mitchell, B. Johnson, Sandy Luster, J. L. Smith, Richard Harper, A. Williams, H. D. Bush, S. A. Bush, were admitted on trial. Alexander Price, M. O. Boddie, L. H. Smith, John Whittaker, Turner Jones, Jefferson Cary, Jr., E. A. Shephard, Burrell Mitchell, were made elders, and the deacons who were elected and ordained, were: Richard Harper, David T. Green, George Chapell, Wm. Lee, J. H. M. Brown, C. H. Green, Augustus Jones, J. F. Brown. The transfers made were, Rev. W. H. Jackson, from the Tennessee Conference, and Henry Porter, E. P. Holmes, Wm. D. Johnson, S. L. Mimms, J. M. Cargile, to the South Georgia, with Martin Wright to the Mississippi work.

Thomas K. Brown and Johnson Parks were on the death roll this year. The former closed his career at the age of ninety-three, after seventy years of labor, and yet was a man of remarkable vigor at time of his death.

On January 21st, 1875, the second session, or rather the the ninth session, of the mother Conference, convened in the courthouse at Albany, Ga., and was opened by Bishop Ward, who read Isaiah XXXV. Rev. Wm. D. Johnson was conveniently present to accept and faithfully discharge the duties of Secretary, with J. M. Cargill, his assistant.

The announcement of transfers showed that Henry Porter, J. M. Cargile, W. D. Johnson, S. L. Mimms, G. H. Neely, J. J. Bowman had come from the North Georgia, and that Rev. S. H. Robertson and H. B. Dowdell were transferred to the North Georgia Conference. The interest of the people was made manifest by small gifts of money from various sources; especially pleasing in one instance, in the shape of one acre of land for church purposes, donated by Hon. John Hall. A number of visitors also attested their Christian fellowship and good-will by their presence and cheering words. Death had visited the work and taken away Revs. Zachariah Armstrong and Hamilton Spann. The death of these, with that of Father Thomas K. Brown, who, all felt, belonged to the whole of Georgia, irrespective of the division, was fittingly commemorated with special services.

A. J. Johnson, H. W. Whitaker, Samuel J. Thomas, J. R. Thornton, D. O. Alexander, L. R. Smith, Jasper Maxwell, Morgan Smith, Daniel Duncan, Wilson Williams, Anthony Rousseau, W. H. Hammond, Henderson Bowen, J. F. Campfield, Kelly Moses, Robert Hamilton, George Holt, A. Randolph, B. F. Brazell, Scott Devereaux were admitted into the itinerant ranks; and Andrew Monroe, Alfred Dunlap, Benjamin Simmons, Stephen Gadsen, Samuel Wright, Henry Williams and Prince Irwin, were admitted as local preachers. Irwin Butler Clayborn Randall, J. A. Brown, Andrew Bigham, George Bass, Augustus Scott, H. P. Powell, P. W. Williams, William Askew, Isaac Coachman, David T. Green, were admitted into full connection. The elders of this year, elected and ordained, were Irwin Butler, Prince Gadsen, Gabriel Clark, Pineo Martin, E. R. Erby, Caleb McDowell; while the list of Deacons ordained comprised Giles Jordan, P. W. Williams, Andrew Monroe, Henry Williams.

The Sunday-school work was made a matter calling for clear consideration, and a set of rules was recommended as an order of exercises. Something of the kind seemed to be needed, as the ministers were not as observant of all things pertaining to its interest as the future welfare of the church demanded. Proper persons were especially needed to look after the details of the work, and this body felt moved to urge it upon all present to do their full duty in this respect under penalty of censure, suspension or any punishment which in the opinion of the Conference seemed advisable.

Upon the Sunday-schools and general education much depends. The church that neglects either must expect to suffer the consequences in diminishing numbers and disintegration. There have been many Sunday-schools established by the Missionary churches of other denominations throughout the South, in which schools our children have been reared, as we may say, with the result, in by far the great majority of such cases, of attaching themselves to the church which thus fostered them. Each church may expect this outcome. The Sunday-school becomes a family, with strong family relations and ties. It is but a step—and a natural one at that—to ally oneself to this family by Church Bonds; so that wisdom calls for every church that would retain its children and youth for its service, to make its own Sunday-school relations so strong, so sacred, so attractive, that no mere inclination will lead these away from its fold, for inclination is largely the reason given for the abandonment of the church of their fathers and mothers. But it must be remembered that in but few cases is this inclination superinduced by any of the theological reasons, but by those things that appeal so directly to the young, and seem to satisfy their craving desires, the desires of the most intellectual and refined spirits. These things are good teachers, possessed of winning manners, good moral character, and an enthusiasm for souls, managed with that discretion the young demand. To these then must be added a knowledge of the Scriptures, and the ability which comes from natural talent and experience, to make all things clear that belongs to man to know. This has been felt from the first by those whose minds were groping in the darkness for the full light that rests in God's Word. The A. M. E. Church to-day is awakening to that fact. Its Sunday-schools are being made centers, closed in by the church instead of assemblies, upon its circumference, as it were, ready to drop off at every jolt or show of neglect from those whose duty it should be to keep careful watch over them.

Education received an impetus in the vigorous report its committee presented. The theological training in our own schools was recommended first of all, if possible. Wilberforce was ready and competent to receive and instruct all who might seek her walls; but it was recognized that pecuniary lack made it impossible for many to leave the South for that purpose. Atlanta University was with us, and as we had been assured that its religious policy was not sectarian, the general education that its extraordinary advantages offered was heartily recommended to all. Best of all, the spirit of the true teacher showed itself in the offer of Dr. H. M. Turner to instruct such young ministers who could find time to spend a few weeks or months with him, and the necessity of an educated ministry was reimpressed upon the brethren by the committee of which he was chairman.

“We cannot expect the people to feed, clothe and reverence us unless we are able to repay them with that instruction and knowledge which our exalted position demands, and they naturally expect. The simple titles of preacher, deacon and elder are not enough to satisfy those who are thirsting for moral and religious knowledge. We must be able to impart the same, otherwise we will become mere sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal, and our preaching will be but little more than the low of an ox or the bray of an ass. The minister is the representative of our Lord Jesus Christ, and as such he should be able, learned and chaste, and every spare moment should be devoted to the acquisition of such information as will fit him for his high station.”

The above quotation is just as applicable to-day as then. In fact it will always be applicable, and every minister of the church feels the need of exciting all to redoubled efforts for the sake of our church, our children and our race.

The growth in recognition of our work worth and bearing was shown by an amount of interest exceeding that exhibited at our previous meeting in Thomasville, Ga. Bishop T. M. D. Ward, Rev. W. J. Gaines and Rev. Wm. D. Johnson were invited to preach in the M. E. Church, South, a courtesy never before extended to us in the State, and the white citizens alone, of Albany, contributed some five hundred dollars toward the support of the Conference.

Carrersville, Ga., was the place selected for the third session of the North Georgia Conference, and then it assembled in St. Luke's Chapel, December 16, 1875, with Bishop T. M. D. Ward presiding. This change of time brought two sessions of this Conference within the one year, the first having been held at Athens in January.

Sermons were preached before the body by the writer and by Rev. T. N. Stewart, who filled Bishop Ward's place, he being in feeble health. Rev. F. J. Peck preached the Ordination Sermon, and Conference also listened to a discourse by Rev. Robert Anderson. There was very little business aside from the regular order.

William Foster, John Jackson, George Towns, George Martin, Alfred McCarver, L. McClaren, M. M. Nelson, Benjamin Franklin, Wesley Neale, B. R. Glass, A. Blunt, Aaron Pursons were admitted on trial; M. N. Nelson, H. T. Cargile, T. Slaughter, G. Jones, G. Martin, George Copeland, H. D. Bush and J. H. M. Durand were ordained deacons; the only elder ordained was Mark E. Cox.

Edward Purdee's was the only death the North Georgia Conference was called to mourn this year.

The General Conference which was to meet in May, 1876, called for an election of delegates at this session, which was carried out with the following list as the result: Andrew Brown, J. A. Wood, S. B. Jones, F. J. Peck, L. Gardner, H. Strickland, S. H. Robertson, Dr. T. N. Stuart, George Washington, Daniel McGhee, Peter McLain, and as alternates, Levi Walker, Daniel McGhee, Robert Anderson, Burrell Mitchell, S. Gardner, J. L. Smith, A. R. Spencer, Jefferson Cary, Jr., A. Price, H. C. Boyd, J. A. Davis. The lay delegates were also approved. This Conference made a report of Dollar Money as reaching $2,699.00.

For the year of 1875 St. Philip's Station was manned by Rev. W. D. Johnson, and St. James Mission by Rev. H. M. Turner, Bethel Mission by W. C. Gaines, St. John's Chapel by E. P. Holmes, and Columbus City Station by the writer. Albany Station was filled by S. W. Drayton.

The State Missionary, Rev. T. N. Stewart, reported $86.80 for the year; and from the grand total, as reported by the Secretary, the Georgia Conference brought up $1,511.30 for Dollar Money. This last showed that Georgia meant to do her duty and promised well for the next answer to the Financial Secretary, J. H. W. Burley, who appealed for aid in helping swell the receipts of the fiscal year to $50,000.00.

The Centennial year of 1876 found the Georgia Conference down upon the coast at Savannah, January 29, where the body opened its deliberations in St. Philips A. M. E. Church. Bishop Ward was present, not having been once absent during his years of service with us. S. H. Robertson was made Secretary and W. D. Johnson, Statistical Secretary. This year, Revs. S. H. Robertson, W. H. Jackson, H. B. Dowdell, Lewis W. Tyson, were transferred from the North Georgia Conference to this; Rev. Edward Ware from the Florida to this, and Revs. William Price, S. S. Mimms, J. W. Ricks and Kelley Moses from this body to the Florida work.

The General Conference, which was to meet in Atlanta in May following, necessitated the election of delegates to that body. The Georgia Conference was entitled to thirteen representatives—one to every eleven members according to Discipline—therefore the following delegates were chosen: Dr. H. M. Turner, Revs. W. J. Gaines, C. L. Bradwell, W. H. Noble, Geo. W. H. Williams, William Bradwell, Henry Porter, E. P. Holmes, W. H. Taylor, Wm. Raven, W. D. Johnson and Robert Crowley. The alternates were Revs. William Price, W. H. Harris, Mansfield Dillard, Alfred Attaway, Warren Shorts, W. H. Harris, George Linder, John McDougal and James Porter. The lay delegates were John Steward, Jackson Holt, L. B. Bateman, Louis DeGraffenreid.

An effort was made to provide each P. E. District with a parsonage for a home for its Presiding Elder, but the time was not ripe for the success of such a movement. Various visitors addressed the Conference, among them Col. J. E. Bryant, and Rev. W. E. Markham, of the Georgia Congregational Church, also Mr. John H. Deveaux, editor of the “Colored Tribune.” The good Daughters of Conference remembered us, as usual, with a gift of money, and a committee was appointed to draw up a constitution for this guild of workers, while the brethren were recommended to organize one in each charge. Woman was first at the tomb and last at the cross, as has been said, and ever has been the helper in the church. There are thousands of churches which owe a large share of their prosperity, spiritually and financially, to the faithful work and earnest prayers of these sisters, who,