African Methodism did not spring from a spirit of ignorant obstinacy, neither was it a child of fanaticism and self-conceit, as has been sometimes charged. It arose as a protest against repression and ostracism at the altars of God. It entered its protest in 1787 with a purpose to erect its own altars and to encourage free religious thought and action.

It sprang from a sense of duty, prompted by piety and pity. Its underlying motive was to save souls; to enlighten, evangelize and to lift up mankind. The founders saw their race ostracised, segregated, enslaved and crushed. They inscribed as an insignia upon their denominational banner—

The chief advice sent abroad by the founders of African Methodism to their race variety and neglected brethren, whom they saw enslaved, ostracised and crushed, was, to be good; to cheeish self-reliance; self help and with friendly aid, to cultivate the spirit of manly independence, with ths exercise of free relig these virtues they were to win.

These purposes and messages were seriously needed by the American colored man, but the times were not very propitious. The colored people then had few churches and no schools; to educate them was a crime.

In those days, every prospect to the black man, save the visions of faith, was dark. The slave clanked his chains in the land; the attempt to flee towards freedom, was to risk the sound of the bloodhounds' bray through the woods, and that upon American territory, under the sanction of the law.

It was out of the sentiment of these times, that the United States Supreme Court, through its Chief Justice, Rodger B. Taney, decided that colored men had no rights which white men were bound to respect.

It was at such times, pervaded by such sentiments, that, in 1816, sixteen pious and earnest men, loyal to God and religious liberty, met at Philadelphia in April, and organized the African Methodist Episcopal Church. They were Daniel Coker, Richard Williams, Henry Harding, Edward Williamson, Stephen Hall, Nicholson Gilliard, from Maryland; Richard Allen, Clayton Durham, Jacob Tapsico, James Chapman and Thomas Webster, from Philadelphia; Peter Spencer, from Delaware; Jacob Marsh, William Anderson, Edward Jackson, of Pennsylvania, and Peter Cuff, of New Jersey, making sixteen.

These men organized the first conventional General Conference, which has become the mother of seventy-nine annual conferences. To preside over and superintend the work of the Church, when assembled in General Conference, they have elected and consecrated thirty-nine bishops.

Thus, it is seen that the work has spread and is recognized among the other religious world powers, as co-partners in the world's evangelization.

Richard Allen was the leader of those immortal sixteen founders, but

Every period in the history of the world's advancement has had its chief character to champion great principles and to lead on important reforms. These characters are the pioneers of new departures for the betterment of the condition of mankind. Sometimes these characters come from the summit of society, but, more frequently, they spring from the rank and file of the plain people—generally from obscurity, the cradle of genius. All parts of the globe have been their birthplaces; every race variety has produced them.

In 1760, there lived in Philadelphia, Pa., on Fourth Street, near Spruce, in a house of one Benjamin Chew, a man and wife, both held as slaves. On the 14th day of February, these two had born unto them a son, whom they called Richard. The parents of Richard, with three other slaves, were sold into Delaware, to one Mr. Stokely.

In 1777, Richard embraced religion and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, at seventeen years of age. At that time the Methodist Church was as unpopular as its colored member. In 1782, Richard was licensed to preach, being twenty-two years old.

Such was his thirst for liberty, he purchased his freedom and returned to Philadelphia in 1786, and joined St. George's Methodist Episcopal Church, where, where he was permitted to preach to the colored people at the 5 o'clock meetings. Richard Allen was the first colored man licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church in this country. He was the traveling companion of Bishop Asbury, and tradition says that he was present at the organization of the historic Christmas Conference held in Lovely Lane, Baltimore, Md., 1784.

Through Richard's influence, the colored members of St. George's Church greatly increased; so much that their white brethren were greatly annoyed and began to feel that their colored brethren were in their way. Tradition says that the first evidence of this was that “the officers passed a rule compelling their colored members to sit but one in a pew, and that next to the wall.”

This plan did not work well, for the building soon became lined with colored members. They then said that they should go into the gallery. This order was complied with, then they went up next to the pulpit and, when things waxed warm, as was often the case with Methodists in those days, the colored brethren became a little noisy. They were then ordered to the rear gallery, where many of them refused to remain.

In 1787, the colored people of Philadelphia, connected with St. George's Methodist Episcopal Church, met to consider the unkind treatment received at the hands of their white brethren.

Caste in the church was so intense, and prejudice at the altar of God so arrogant, that while at prayers, the colored brethren were pulled off their knees and ordered to the back part of the house. Richard Allen said, “If you will wait until prayers are over, I will bother you no more.”

For this, and other unkind treatment, they resolved to withdraw from their white brethren. A committee, consisting of Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, William Gray and William Wilcher, were appointed to select and purchase a lot with a view of building a house where they might worship God with the freedom which their conscience dictated.

Richard Allen bargained for a lot on the corner of Sixth and Lombard Streets. But, a majority of his committee having selected a lot on Locust Street, those who came out of St. George's Church decided to erect a house upon it. Richard Allen assisted them, and when they began to build, after prayer, he took out the first shovel of dirt from the foundation. At the meeting of the little society, to choose what religious society they should connect themselves with, all but Richard Allen and Absalom Jones, decided in favor of the Church of England—the Episcopal.

The house was finished and dedicated, and Richard Allen was invited to become the pastor, but he refused, saying: “I am a Methodist, I think that the doctrines and simple forms of spiritual worship of the Methodist suit the colored people best.” Having himself bargained for the lot on the corner of Sixth and Lombard Street sand paid for it, Richard Allen purchased Simms' old blacksmith shop, hauled it on the lot, and fixed it up as a house of worship.

Those of the Methodist faith soon gathered about him, and the “Allenites” as they are called, increased in numbers daily. Then began a tedious series of expensive lawsuits, and perplexing opposition from their white brethren, who tried to get their property. Finally, a victory was gained in the courts, a charter obtained from the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, a new house of worship was erected, which in 1794 was opened, dedicated by Bishop Asbury, and called “Bethel.” This was the origin of African Methodism.

Twenty-nine years after, in 1816, a convention of colored Methodists from several States, who were having similar grievances, assembled at Philadelphia, in April, organized the first General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church its connectional form, and Richard Allen was elected and ordained bishop, being the first Negro bishop in America.

I believe that God led the sainted Allen to consider the wretched condition of his people, under the weight of neglect, ostracism and religious repression, to provide for them and coming generations, a place of divine worship—a place where they might find freedom from caste in the sanctuary of God, and where the gospel of Christ, unhampered, might be preached in its fullness, and its richness to all persons, without regard to race or color.

These were times that tried men's souls; times when, for a gathering of colored people to be found assembled without the presence of a white man, was considered a conspiracy and a crime. Yet, with undaunted courage, true to his convictions, this holy man of God, with heavenly zeal, launched his little craft upon the waters, lashing and heaving with caste and color prejudice in society, church and state, with an intensity that swept all before it, which bore the impress of Africa. Is it to be thought out of order, therefore, that Richard Allen and his followers should refuse to submit to such treatment at the altar of God, with the lessons of the war of the Revolution so vividly in their memories? The struggle of 1776 for national independence had opened a new era in the political world. The people of this country had lately passed through a hot conflict with England for civil and political liberty.

The spirit of liberty was pervading the air. Eleven years had only served to justify the wisdom of the struggle for Colonial independence. Hence, such times were not favorable for pulling people from their knees, while at prayer in the house of God. African Methodism had its origin, therefore, in stirring times in politics as well as in religion.

Upon these troubled waters, with opposition and misrepresentations without any anxiety within, one hundred and twenty-nine years ago, in November, this small African Methodist bark set sail down the century, with her canvas unfurled to heavenly breezes, and her colors at the masthead. “God our Father, Christ our Saviour, Man our Brother,” she has come to us, the African Methodist Episcopal Church of today.

Many and marvelous have been the changes in the politics and in the religion of the country, affecting the nation and race. All who knew Richard Allen have joined him in the better land. None of the founders of our beloved Zion are here. Generation has followed generation, and millions have passed through our Zion, brushed the dews of Jordan and joined the hosts in the heavenly Canaan.

The Allen movement was not the impulse of an obstinate individuality; it was the promptings of pity, patriotism and piety, exerted through manly independence. Such an independence as protests against caste at the altar of God, and demands free religious thought, action and worship. What event in the early history of the colored people has given to the American Negro higher incentives and more encouragement in efforts at self-help, than the spirit and achievements of Richard Allen and his followers?

There were times in its history, when there were no church or school houses among its followers, no books nor connectional journals, but, her altar fires never were suffered to go out.

In many places the religious leader was the pious patriarch of the plantation; the leader of the community by his devout and Godly speech. With these, “the mother in the cabin” who held and encouraged the community prayer meeting, nurtured the infant churches until the circuit preacher arrived.

The log hut used for the church house, few and far between, in which, at stated periods, were held religious meetings, did much to encourage and unite the people, as well as to strengthen the cause. In connection with these were the grove camp meetings in the summer season, where the multitudes gathered for miles around. It was here they assembled, inspired by the enchantments of nature; refreshed by cooling breezes, permeated with the fragrance from foliage and flowers of the fields beyond. It was amid the simplicities that the feelings of the soul were inspired for edifying worship and devotion and, under these conditions, the preacher of the occasion, often without culture or book knowledge, but having a strong grip upon his faith in God, inspired by visions of spiritual things, proclaimed with power, the plain and pointed truths of the gospel, and Christian duty, as he believed and felt.

It was in these temples the people worshiped with devout hearts, conscious of the nearness of the omnipresent and gracious God. It is easy to surmise that visions of the heavenly country were opened to the view of those pious and plain people, who with pathos, harmony and melody, chanted the stanzas:

Looking away from their burdens and sorrows, they saw

It was along these lines, where the altar fires were kept continually burning. It was in these epochs of the Church history, where its sturdy stock was nurtured, whose heredity gave to the A. M. E. Church of today the material composed of men and women, who under better conditions and appliances, are inspired to such noble endeavors, and to accomplish such marvelous achievements.

From Philadelphia, its cradle, in 1787, African Methodism went to Baltimore and organized in 1816. William Lambert, a Missionary from Philadelphia, planted the African Methodist banner on Mott Street, in New York City, in 1819.

David Smith, a young Evangelist of Maryland, planted a mission seed in Georgetown; organized Israel Church in a rope walk on Third Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W., Washington, D. C., on November 14, 1828. Crossing the Allegheny mountains westward, he became acquainted with James and George Coleman and Abraham Lewis, at Pittsburgh, Pa., converted them, and planted a mission there in 1834.

Bishop Morris Brown organized the Ohio Conference, our Western work, at Hillsboro, Ohio, in 1830, and the Canada Conference at Toronto, in 1840.

Rev. William Paul Quinn, who joined the Philadelphia Conference May, 1833, was a member of the Pittsburgh Conference in 1840, and on September 5th, was appointed over the Pittsburgh circuit. On October 2, 1840, Bishop Morris Brown organized the Indiana Conference, at Blue River; N. J. Wilkerson, secretary. William Paul Quinn was put in charge of Brooklyn circuit, Ill., and was also given the oversight of all the circuits of the Indiana Conference. In the same year, 1840, he was appointed by the General Conference as the general missionary, to “plant the A. M. E. Church in the far West.”

He reported to the General Conference of 1844, as follows:

“A brief outline of the rise and progress of the missions in the West, viz.: Number of colored inhabitants of the State of Illinois, 1800; churches established, 47; communicants, 1080; local preachers, 47; traveling preachers, 20; traveling elders, 7; lay members, 2000; Sunday schools, 40; pupils in schools, 920; teachers, 40; Sunday school scholars, 2000; Sunday school teachers, 200; teachers in public schools, 100; temperance societies, 40; camp meetings held, 17. Our people,” reported he, “in these States are chiefly employed in agricultural pursuits.”

This report, it is thought, induced the General Conference, in May, 1844, to elect and ordain William Paul Quinn a bishop of the A. M. E. Church.

The Missouri Annual Conference was organized at Louisville, Ky., September, 1855, with Rev. D. A. Payne, D. D., presiding. Rev. John M. Brown, then pastor at New Orleans, secretary.

Bishop Quinn had sent Rev. J. M. Brown to New Orleans before the war. He organized the St. James A. M. E. Church, and two other missions in that city.

Rev. Charles Burch carried African Methodism to New England and planted a mission at New Haven, in 1830. Rev. Noah C. W. Cannon organized it on Anderson Street, Boston, Mass., in 1830, and from thence it spread over the New England States.

African Methodism on the Pacific Coast was planted by several local preachers, among whom were James Roswell Brown, of Washington, D. C.; Uriah Stokes, of Baltimore; Barney Fletcher and Jeremiah B. Saunderson, of Massachusetts. Rev. Thomas M. D. Ward, of the New England Conference, was assigned to the oversight of the mission field on the Pacific Coast, in 1854.

The California Annual Conference was organized April 6, 1865, in the Powell Street A. M. E. Church, Bishop J. P. Campbell, presiding; J. B. Saunderson, secretary. At this session, James H. Hubbard, Peter R. Green and John T. Jenifer were ordained deacons—the first Negroes ordained on the Pacific Coast.

The first African M. E. Society in the State of Arkansas was organized by Local Deacon Nathan Warren, at Little Rock, in 1866, in the home of Mother Lucy Elrod, and her husband, Anthony Elrod, was the first class leader and steward. Revs. Peter Donty and Levi F. Carter were the first pastors.

The Arkansas Annual Conference was organized at Little Rock, November 9, 1868. Rt. Rev. J. P. Campbell presiding. Willitm A. Rector, a layman, acted as secretary.

African Methodist Missionary work among the Indians in the Indian Territory, was begun when Aaron T. Gillett was sent from the Arkansas Annual Conference as a missionary in 1870.

Elder James F. A. Sisson, a white brother, was transferred from the Georgia A. M. E. Conference and was appointed as presiding elder by Bishop John M. Brown, over the Pulaski District, which included the Indian Territory, also. This brother labored assiduously with George T. Rutherford, Granville Ryles and others, to spread the African M. E. Church among the several Indian tribes.

Bishop T. M. D. Ward organized the Indian African M. E. Conference on October 25, 1879, in the home of Brother Billy Kile, at Yellow Springs, Indian Territory. Thus Ham began in an organized way to evangelize Japhet.

It is evidenced by many facts that the spirit and fame of African Methodism had reached as far South as South Carolina in the early thirties. It is this fact that drew Rev. Morris Brown North to be ordained deacon in 1817, but the influence of American slavery and its pernicious laws prevented this species of Negro Christianity spreading in Southern territory.

But, “God's clock struck the hour,” as Dr. Ransom has put it. The War of the Rebellion came; slavery was shot to death; emancipation came and the Southern territory was made fertile soil for African Methodist gospel seed.

The Baltimore Conference, by resolution offered by Elder A. W. Wayman, resolved to enter with missionaries the Southern field in 1863. Revs. James Lynch and J. D. S. Hall, of New York Conference, were appointed, and who sailed from New York on May 29, 1863. They commenced their operations at Hilton's Head, having as their co-laborers Rev. Wm. G. Stewart and Thos. W. Long. These were followed soon after by Bishop Wayman and Rev. Elisha Weaver, who went as far as Savannah, Ga., in 1865. Richmond had fallen. (See Handy's History.) Bishop D. A. Payne, with Elders James A. Handy, Licentiates; James H. A. Johnson and T. G. Stewart, organized at Charleston, S. C., in the colored Presbyterian Church, the South Carolina Conference of the A. M. E. Church. They were joined several days after by Elder Richard H. Cain and A. L. Stanford, of New York, and George A. Rue, of New England.

One year later, May 9, 1866, Bishop D. A. Payne, with Elder Handy at their head, with twelve preachers, left Wilmington, N. C., for Savannah, Ga., to hold the first session of the South Carolina Conference, at which forty itinerant preachers were ordained. Fourteen elders and seven superintendents were appointed to oversee the work. Elders Henry McNeal Turner and A. L. Stanford, for Georgia; Elder Richard H. Cain and A. T. Carr, for South Carolina, and Elder Charles H. Pierce, for Florida.

From these beginnings have grown and spread the gigantic and vigorous branch of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in the South and West. Thus far, we have traced the foot-steps of the pioneers over the four cardinal points of the North American continent.

The pioneers were not contented to confine the spirit of the Church of Richard Allen to the American continent, they had the courage to carry it abroad. Rev. Daniel Coker, one of the original sixteen founder fathers, carried African Methodism to West Africa, with the original colony in 1819, where we now have churches, missions, conference, preachers, schools and a resident bishop.

The Baltimore Conference sent accredited missionaries to Hayti in 1827 in the person of Scipio Beans. In 1830, the little church at Samana, Santo Domingo, sent Rev. Jacob Robinson and Isaac Miller with accredited petitions to be recognized by the African M. E. Church in America.

Rev. C. W. Moselle, an accredited missionary of the A. M. E. Church, with his sainted wife, labored from 1876 to 1884 at Port au Prince, Hayti, preaching and teaching. John Hurst, now bishop, with George Dorce, Joseph Meves and Jean Bullot, were sent to Wilberforce University to be trained under the department of missions for the foreign fields.

Rev. R. A. Sealy, D. D., of Georgetown, Demarara, has been superintendent of the A. M. E. Mission work for many years in the West Indies.

Bishop C. S. Smith was assigned to the oversight of the West Indian work in 1900, and held sessions of conferences at Georgetown, and with British America and South America in 1901.

When the Ethiopians of South Africa heard of the A. M. E. Church, St. Peter's Church, in Pretoria, South Africa, of which Rev. Joseph M. Kanyane was pastor, sent Rev. J. M. Duane, in 1896, to the A. M. E. General Conference at Wilmington, N. C., praying recognition and membership. He was received by Bishop H. M. Turner and Missionary Secretary H. B. Parks and Rev. Joseph S. Flipper, at Atlanta, Ga., July 12, 1896, into the A. M. E. connection in due form. Then Bishop Turner went to South Africa and organized the Cape Colony South African Annual Conference in 1896 with 7175 members. Now they have churches, conferences, schools, pupils and resident bishop. Hence it is seen that African Methodism, since its birth, has spread with efficiency and acceptance from east, west, north and south.

The islands of the sea sought the light also, as they caught the joyful sound. Under the influences of the grace of God, as administered to thousands at the hands of African Methodist preachers and bishops, the great South has arisen since freedom in her might, in response to the call to a higher, stronger and efficient manhood and womanhood.

Thus we have traced very scantily the initial steps of the pioneers of African Methodists, as they sought to reach, enlighten, evangelize and lift up the benighted sons of Africa.

Conscious always of forces seeking to oppose and destroy, they seldom assembled in conference preliminary services without opening with the hymn:

Nor were they ever unmindful of the weighty responsibility involved in the momentous task they had undertaken, as they evidenced it when at nearly every business meeting was heard:

The purpose in mind of the founder father of African Methodism, as stated above, was, among other things, to exemplify in the black man the power of self-reliance, self-help by the exercise of free religious thought with executive efficiency. Hence, her spirit and practices have been, at all times and places, to encourage fraternal and economic organizations among the colored race; so that, upon any proper occasion, she throws open her churches and halls for funerals, anniversaries and conventions.

But note, we are far from making the claim that the African Methodist Episcopal Church has been the sole agency in the religious and educational enlightenment and uplift of the colored race variety. We do not forget the vast and efficient work along these lines of the Zion A. M. E. Church, the Baptist Church, the Methodist Episcopal, the C. M. E., the Congregational, the Presbyterian and Catholic churches—branches of the Church of Jesus Christ.

James Varick, of the Zion; Miles, of the C. M. E. Church, with other founders and leaders, live in history and heaven, as well as Richard Allen and his compeers.

The closing decade of its century of connectional activities shows no decline, but is characterized by evidences of broadened and more efficient efforts and results.

1. IN HER DEPARTMENT OF MISSIONS there is greater zeal for the cause of missions, local and foreign, in the churches and the conferences. The devout women of the church are intensely active, holding up the hands of the wide-awake secretary at its head. More moneys are raised, both for home and foreign fields; more missions planted, and its laborers better provided for.

The secretary visits the foreign fields, and gives the connection a mission lesson book and ably edited “Voice of Missions.” Hence, we are more and yet more enlightened, awakening to the fact that we are our brother's keeper.

2. THE CHURCH EXTENSION. The people are becoming more and more enlightened as to the usefulness and power of this arm of the church. More funds are given, more poor missions and feeble churches aided, more embarrassed debt-burdened valuable property relieved and saved. And the realty in property values belonging to the connection is evidenced in this department, as in none other. And the church has shown good judgment in letting its present Secretary, Dr. B. F. Watson, remain long enough as its manager to gain, by experience, that efficiency, without which no executive head can reach the requirements, nor his departments its possibilities. Never have there been such surprising amounts raised by single efforts in cash, rallies to clear off mortgage debts, as are being done today.

3. THE DEPARTMENT OF CONNECTIONAL EDUCATION evidences a similar spirit. In addition to the twenty-four connectional schools, two more in Georgia, and two in Africa, are recorded. Morris Brown University, of Atlanta, Ga., has its new Flipper Hall, and Wilberforce University its new Girls' Dormitory, costing $55,000.

In Georgia, at Morris Brown, and at Waco, Texas, Bishop Smith, with his co-workers, surprised us all by the cash raised to clear those schools of their indebtedness. Now, Bishop John Hurst, with his forces, is putting new life in Edward Waters College, at Jacksonville, Florida. Thus, the Georgia regulars and Wilberforce veterans and the Florida fliers have set the connection a pace.

There is an increase of pupils in all of our connectional schools. Their graduates are snatching honors from other leading colleges. The church is no longer dependent solely upon other scholastic sources to supply her faculties with instruction in the higher branches, but she now furnishes them for her own and other schools.

The writer is sure that Dr. A. S. Jackson, A. M., Commissioner of Connectional Education, will come to the General Conference in 1916 reporting larger amounts collected for education.

4. THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. In spite of the limited fields of employment open to our people, and the hard times, with a few exceptions each annual conference session reports an increase of dollar money. If it were possible to show the aggregated amounts raised in all the local charges, we should scarcely credit the correct amounts stated. But it is interesting to note that these labors result, not simply in cash raising, but large increases in membership as well. Evidencing the fact that cash for revenue and grace, do not antagonize each other when a righteous purpose is back of them.

5. THE PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT. The Book Concern, the oldest, mooted in 1817, has not grown with equal efficiency in comparison with the growth of connectional intelligence. Yet it has remained through the vicissitudes, giving us the Discipline, Hymn Books and Christian Recorder, with other books, helping the church to tell its own story, until now, under the management of Rev. J. I. Lowe, D. D., new vitality and efficiency are seen, so that with the scholarly R. R. Wright, B. D., Ph. D., editing the Recorder; R. C. Ransom, D. D., editing the A. M. E. Review; Editors G. W. Allen, D. D., of the Southern Christian Recorder; J. Frank McDonald, D. D., with the Western Recorder; the Georgia African Methodist, Paul Quinn Weekly, the House of Protection and the Chicago Recorder, together with the number of books bought and read, the world has evidences that the African Methodist Episcopal Church is not dying nor retrograding from mental stagnation.

6. THE JUVENILE DEPARTMENT. Our Sunday schools are more largely attended, have better trained instructors and efficient superintendents, better graded system of lesson studies and superior class of music. The moneys raised under the management of this department have enabled its efficient Secretary-Treasurer, Ira T. Bryant, LL. B., to erect the most completely equipped and largest printing house among colored people in the United States.

Akin to this in purpose and work is the Allen Christian Endeavor, with its literature and organ, The Endeavorer, under its efficient manager, Rev. Julian C. Caldwell, D. D., by which we are enabled to husband the youthful energy, ambition and tact in service for Christ and the church.

There are three additional events in the history of African Methodism, which evidence that it is moving in the spirit of progress, we note among the above, viz.:

1. Rev. J. W. Rankin, Missionary Secretary, visited the foreign field, West Africa, in 1914; also that he, with Bishop Hurst, visited Jamaica in 1915, and planted the A. M. E. Church by receiving into the connection representatives of several denominations.

2. The Missionary Congress at Chicago, thus inaugurating a new missionary propaganda.

3. The Educational Congress, held at Atlanta, Ga., July 8, 1914, under the joint management of the Sunday School Union and the Allen Christian Endeavor; Ira T. Bryant and Julian C. Caldwell, secretaries.

Now, we may raise, at this point, the question—has there been good judgment shown, such as to justify the undertaking of the father founders of the African Methodist Episcopal Church? Let a few statistical facts answer:

Members in the United States 620,000 Missionary Field 25,000 Bishops ordained 39 Active Bishops 13 Pastors 6,554 Local preachers 6,437 Number of churches 6,000 Number of parsonages 2.748 Sunday school members 231,828 Teachers and officers 5,851 Books in Library 150,000 Church schools in United States 16 Church schools in West Indies 2 Church schools in West Africa 3 Church schools in South Africa 3 Students in Missionary Schools 4,725 Annual conferences 79 Publishing Houses 2 Newspapers 6

The A. M. E. Church raises, per annum, for trustees and stewards' departments, $2,472,298.42; raises, annually, for missions, home and foreign, $75,000; for education, $1,000,000; according to the United States Census, has church property valued at $11,303,882.

The Church is operating in the United States, Canada, West Indies, South and West Africa, Hayti and San Domingo, and South America.

ALLEN, RICHARD, the first bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born February 14, 1760, a slave of Benjamin Chew, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At an early age he, with his father, mother and three other children, was sold into the state of Delaware, where, on a farm in the neighborhood of Dover, he was brought up. About 1777 he was converted and soon afterwards, about 1780, began to preach. His religion was of such a genuine sort that it affected every department

Abington, Rev. C. W., third son of Peter and Lucinda Abington, was born near Roanoke, Va., March 22, 1872. His father died before he was four years old, and the responsibility of providing for six small children fell upon the widowed mother, thus the boy was early in life taught the value of self help and self reliance. His uncle, Rev. William Frantz, both a preacher and a teacher, adopted him, but on account of poor health could not long keep him. Finally Rev. P. M. Onley, of Cumberland City, Md., took charge of him. Young Abington had evidenced signs of ability and Elder Onley and his wife, endeavored to give him the best training possible. But Mr. Onley was stricken with paralysis, and in 1885 young Abington began to shift for himself. He went first to Knoxville, Tenn., then to Chattanooga, where he continued his studies along with his work. He was converted in 1892 and joined Warren Chapel A. M. E. Church, Chattanooga, and despite the aversion to the ministry he was unable to resist. He was licensed to exhort shortly after his conversion by Rev. Jas. T. Gilmore, and licensed to preach by Rev. Dr. T. B. Caldwell. After studying some time in Chattanooga he entered Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Ga., from which he graduated with honors in the class of 1898, and at once was given a mission on Ft. Wood, Chattanooga, and in his

Adams, Revels Alcorn, was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, February 28, 1869; the son of Rev. Henry Page and Caroline V. Adams, both of Mississippi, the

After completing the common school courses of his native State, he pursued the theological course at Payne Theological Seminary; then went into the active ministry, serving with success the various charges to which he has been appointed, adding large numbers to the church. Among others, he has served as pastor the leading charges in the following cities in Mississippi: Clarksdale, Brookhaven, Jackson, Natchez and Greenville; also Avery Church, Memphis, Tennessee. It was while serving the last named church, with a salary of $1800.00, that Dr. Adams answered the call to the work of an evangelist, in which he has been so eminently successful. He was ordained deacon by Bishop Tanner, January 15, 1892, and elder by Bishop W. B. Derrick, December 10, 1896. For about ten years he resisted the voice within which called him and found excuses in favor of refusing the evangelistic field, but eventually he humbled himself to the will of God, and as a result into his life has come the joy of doing service for humanity and helping thousands to find the peace which world giveth not.

The following are some results of his evangelistic campaigns: at Natchez, Miss., 376 converts; Detroit, Mich., 600; Zanesville, Ohio, 140; Cincinnati, Ohio, 160; Boston, Mass., 84; Chicago, Ill., 800; Kansas City, Kansas, 250; Kansas City, Missouri, 300; Charleston, W. Va., 400. Dr. Adams also lectures on Social Purity, Sex Hygiene and Eugenics, and is a student of sociology. He is corresponding secretary of the New Evangelical Association, president of the National Home Purity League, editor of the Home Purity Magazine, author and publisher Cyclopedia of African Methodism in Mississippi and the new sensational book, “The Negro Girl,” and composer of several musical productions.

Dr. Adams signs; also plays the piano, organ, cornet and violin, and directs his own choirs in evangelistic campaigns.

Alexander, Connie C., was born of slave parents, but devoted Christians, in Pulaski County, Arkansas, October 20, 1881. His mother, with whom he is now living and whom he supports, is a loyal Christian. His father, who died in 1912, was one of the industrious farmers in Arkansas, and had been a class-leader in

Mr. Alexander's education was received in the public schools in Pulaski County, near Little Rock, Arkansas, in the tribal schools in the Indian Territory (now Eastern Oklahoma), Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Arkansas, and the High School, Kansas City, Missouri. He was converted August 20, 1900, afterward joining the A. M. E. Church.

In 1912 he was licensed to preach by the Rev. L. E. Nelson, of the North East Oklahoma Conference of the A. M. E. Church.

Allen, Rev. George Wesley, son of George and Margaret Allen, one of ten children, was born August 10, 1854, in Lee County, Alabama. Parents were members of A. M. E. Church.

Began attending school in 1867, and attended irregularly twenty years. He received much of his instruction from professors in colleges and high schools for whites, who taught him privately, as he was prohibited from attending their schools because he was colored. Received the degree D. D. from Payne University, and Wilberforce University.

Was converted July, 1867, and joined M. E. Church (South) the same year, there being no A. M. E. Church near.

He held almost every office in the church, steward, trustee, class leader, exhorter, local preacher, Sunday school teacher, pastor, presiding elder and general

Has held the following appointments: Phoenix City Mission, four years; Salem Circuit, two years; St. Peters and Grant Chapel, three years; presiding elder of Montgomery District, four years; presiding elder of Union Springs District, six months, until General Conference of May, 1904, at Chicago, when he was elected editor of Southern Christian Recorder, succeeding Rev. G. E. Taylor. He has built the following churches: Bethel, Bullock Co., Ala.; Gaines Chapel, Girard, Ala.; Grant Chapel, Phoenix City; St. Peters, Lee County, Ala.; aided in the erection of several others. He has been a delegate to General Conferences in 1900, 1904, 1908, 1912, and is a member of the Centennial General Conference of 1916. He was voted for the bishopric in May, 1912.

Married Mrs. Phoebe Harvey Allen of Stewart Co., Ga., March 2, 1876. They have eight splendid children, all of whom they have given a first-class education, and in this respect are greatly to be complimented. The seven sons and one daughter are: Griffin A. Allen, M. D., 37 years, finished Tuskegee; at Meharry, as pharmacist and physician; also finished Girard City High School in Girard, Ala.

William W. Allen, age 35, finished at Girard City High School and Georgia State College at Savannah, Ga., and was business manager of the Southern Christian Recorder, and a member of the General Conferences of 1908, 1912 and 1916.

James L. Allen, age 33, finished at Girard City High School and Georgia State College.

John S. Allen, age 31, finished at Girard City High School, and took a college course at Clark University and Lincoln University of Missouri.

Alexander J. Allen, A. B., age 29, finished at Girard High School; finished college course at Clark University; is in senior year and class for B. D. at Yale University.

Nimrod B. Allen, A. B., B. D., age 27, finished Girard City High School; finished college course at Wilberforce University, and B. D. at Yale University.

Marion A. Allen, A. B., age 24, finished Girard City High School and college course at Atlanta University.

Bertha Lee Allen (only living daughter) finished at Columbus, Ga., and at Atlanta University, and is now studying in Boston, Mass.

Contributed to many newspapers and magazines. He was manager of the Columbus Progressive Age, Columbus Messenger, editor and manager of the East Alabama Messenger, and is now editor of the Southern Christian Recorder.

Addressed graduating classes at Columbus City High School, Payne University and others. Connected with A. F. and A. M. and International order; K. of P. and some local societies. Was W. M., secretary and treasurer in A. F. and A. M. He is a Republican and was representative in the Alabama Legislature two years and was elected a second time but counted out by Democrats. Dr. Allen lives in his own home and has been actively associated with the Orphan Home and Y. M. C. A. of Columbus, Ga.

Allen, Mrs. Phoebe C., wife of Rev. G. W. Allen, D. D., editor of the Southern Christian Recorder. Miss Phoebe C. Harvey and Prof. G. W. Allen were united in matrimony March 2, 1876. Rev. C. S. Smith, (now Bishop) performed the marriage ceremony near Eufaula, Ala.

Allen, Miss Mattie A., former district superintendent of S. S. of Phila., was born October 31, 1872, at Bensalem, Pa. One of twelve children born to Leroy and Lucy Allen. At an early age was converted in the Bensalem A. M. E. Church. Been an active worker in the church and Sunday school, filling office as

Alston, Lewis Markfield, was born in Charleston, S. C., September 10, 1859. After receiving a common school training in the public school, he served at trade in the George S. Hacker Door Sash and Blind Factory, and upon completion of his trade, was employed as a mechanic, serving as apprentice and tradesman for a period of thirty-five years.

In the year 1883, January 10, he was joined in matrimony at the age of twenty-three, to Miss Maggie Jeanette Motte, by the Rev. J. F. Dart.

He joined Emanuel A. M. E. Church, Charleston, S. C., May 24th, 1883, and was fellowshipped and appointed a steward by the Rev. L. R. Nichols the next year. He was elected clerk of the church during the pastorate of Dr. W. W. Beckett; appointed a class leader during the pastorate of the late Dr. J. H. Welch. He has been frequently elected a delegate to district conferences and was the delegate from Emanuel Church to the last Electoral College, from which he was elected a lay-delegate to the Centennial General Conference in Philadelphia, 1916. He is now in his twentieth year as clerk of Emanuel Church, under the

Alston, Mrs. Maggie J., President Conference Branch of Women's Home & Foreign Missionary Society, South Carolina Conference, was born in

Alston, Rev. W. R., was born in Marion, S. C., in 1853; was converted and joined the church at the age of 16. He attended the public schools of Marion and received his later education under the direction of H. T. Haynes, of Charleston, who afterwards became Secretary of State for South Carolina during Governor Chamberlain's administration, and the Rev. J. B. Middleton, a noted minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

He taught school for a number of years. While engaged in teaching he was licensed to preach by the late Rev. William E. Johnson, who at the time was the leading character of the A. M. E. Church in South Carolina. In February, 1880, he was admitted into the South Carolina Conference on trial, ordained a deacon under the missionary rule by the late Bishop John M. Brown, and appointed pastor of the Centerville Station. In 1883 he was ordained an elder by the late Bishop William F. Dickerson, in Morris Brown Church, Charleston, S. C.

In 1885, when the rebellion led by the afore-mentioned Rev. William E. Johnson occurred, which resulted in the birth of the Reformed Methodist Union Church of South Carolina, the Rev. W. R. Alston combatted the Rev. Johnson and his followers in defense of African Methodism. He met the enemy on the Britton Neck Circuit, and by argument, persuasion and preaching, took back the St. Wright Church with a large membership. This Church had gone over to the “Johnson faction,” as it was then called.

The A. M. E. Church at Florence was about to be captured when the Rev. Alston urged the Presiding Elder, the late Rev. D. J. Lites, to convene the ministers of the Marion District in extra session of the District Conference. At this District Conference, held in Marion, Rev. Alston said: “Mr. Chairman and brethren, I move that eighty dollars of money we have in hand to purchase a District personage be paid to this white lady, who will give us deeds and titles for our church property at Florence and then we can forbid the ‘Johnson faction’ making further entry thereon.” By this act the A. M. E. Church was held fast in Florence and more permanently established.

Later he was called by the officers of St. John Church, at Marion, to assist them in preventing the “Johnson faction” from making inroads on the Church there, for the Rev. Johnson, himself, was holding services in the Graded School building and making heavy attacks on the A. M. E. Church in his efforts to have the people of St. John follow him. Rev. Alston, through a prominent white attorney of the town, J. Monroe Johnson, procured an injunction restraining the rebel ministers from further use of the school building. He then preached to and pleaded with the members of St. John Church in full congregation assembled, which put an end to the spirit of rebellion, then apparently burning in many of them, as a result

The subject of this sketch has been a successful pastor in the thirty-five years of his ministry and has never had his character marked by an Annual Conference. He has pastored sixteen charges within that period of time, most prominent among which were Centerville, Florence, Mt. Zion and Beaufort Stations. He served for a number of years as Recording Secretary of the South Carolina Conference. At the adjournment of that Conference, at Walterboro, S. C., December, 1913, he was re-assigned to his charge, Mt. Zion Church, in the Beaufort District. One week afterwards, Bishop Coppin asked him to transfer to the Piedmont Conference and fill a vacancy by accepting the pastorate of Bethel Church in the City of Laurens, which charge he now holds.

Amos, Rev. Adolphus A., was born in Barbados, West Indies, October 12, 1873. He attended the public schools when only five years of age. He spent six years in the public schools and four years in college. His father was a minister of Wesleyan Methodist Church.

Converted at only twelve years of age he joined the church which his father was pastoring, being licensed to preach January, 1888.

Soon afterward he went trading with the Royal Mail Boats between Europe and America, Brazil and Central American ports, but at length he ceased traveling and landed in America April, 1900. Here he visited and joined the A. M. E. Church, in which he was ordained deacon by Bishop Gaines, July 5, 1908. He first pastored St. Luke's A. M. E. Mission; then served as a supply at St. John's Church; then St. James Mission. He was ordained Elder by Bishop Gaines May 21, 1911, and is now serving as pastor for the second term at the Emmanuel A. M. E. Church in New York. This church he has had incorporated with the intention of erecting a suitable place for worship. In seventeen months he had twenty-five converts and fifty-seven additional members and raised over $1357, and has a Sunday School of fifty-three scholars.

Anderson, Rev. Boyle C., was born in Shelbyville, Co., Ky., 1861; moved to Cincinnati the same year, then in 1865 to St. Charles, Missouri, then to Sturgeon, Boone Co., Mo., and later to California, returning in 1888. Was licensed to preach by Rev. W. B. Ousley in 1888. Ordained Elder at St. Joseph, Mo., by Bishop B. T. Tanner in 1899.

Attended Wilberforce and graduated in Class of 1896.

Has assisted in building and repairing many of the churches he has pastored. Before he became a member of the Conference he organized a church at Centralia, Mo., his sister having given a lot. Held the following appointments: Chillicothe, Mo., 1897; Clarksville Circuit, 1900; Salisbury and Utica Circuit in 1902; Wentsville, 1903-6-7; Canton Circuit, 1903-9-10; Breckinridge, 1904; Canton and La Grange, 1911-12; Frankford and Salt River, 1913-14, where he renovated the church and put in new electric lights.

Anderson, H. P., was born in Salisbury, Pa., his father having been transported here in the early forties via “The Underground Railway.” His early religious impressions were received from a Quaker family for whom his father worked. Losing his father early in life, young Anderson supported his mother and sister at first on the farm, then by working in a brickyard at Trenton, N. J., and later as a coachman. During all this time he was reading and studying with a view to entering Wilberforce University, which he did in 1889. Here he was converted and called to preach. Here also he met the young woman who afterwards became his wife. He spent seven years at Wilberforce completing the college and theological courses. He supported himself largely by dining-car service during vacation. While at Wilberforce for two and a half years he pastored a mission at Cedarville, Ohio. He was sent by Bishop Tanner on entering the New Jersey Conference to Morristown, N. J. While here he took a two years' post-graduate course at Drew Theological Seminary. Through Bishop Derrick he was appointed to St. James' Church, Newark, N. J. Here, as at Morristown, the church was renovated. Here he also organized a Y. M. C. A. for colored men. After five years at Newark, Bishop B. W. Arnett assigned him to Mt. Zion, an old and influential church at Trenton, N. J. During his pastorate here the church was newly carpeted, the walls frescoed

Anderson, Rev. J. C., is pastor of Quinn Chapel A. M. E. Church, Chicago, Illinois. He entered the itinerancy in January, 1889, at Marshalltown, Iowa, and has served from the smallest missions to stations of first rank in the Connection, pastoring such churches as St. James, St. Paul, Minn.; Wayman Chapel, Chicago, Ill.; Quinn Chapel, Louisville, Ky., and his present charge, Quinn Chapel, Chicago. He is now pastoring his fourth charge in nineteen years.

He has organized churches and bought and paid for church property of every description and wiped out debts wherever he has gone, and added scores and hundreds of souls to the church in every place. In October, 1911, he purchased a church in Louisville, Ky., which originally cost $75,000 and entertained the West

He studied in Hamline University and the University of Chicago, graduated from Taylor University and later from McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, Ill. A diligent student, he has met with the demands of his community. He led his delegation to the General Conference of 1912, and was a member of the Financial Board from 1912 to 1916, and fraternal delegate to the M. E. Church general conference at Saratoga Springs, May, 1916.

Armstrong, Bishop Josiah Haynes, was born May 30, 1842, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, converted at Jacksonville, Fla., 1868, under the preaching of Rev. William Bradwell. He joined the traveling Connection in the Florida Conference, 1869; was ordained a deacon 1869 by Bishop John M. Brown, and ordained an elder by the same Bishop, 1870. Ordained to the office of Bishop by Rt. Rev. Wesley John Gaines, D.D., May 19, 1896; died March 23, 1898, at Galveston, Tex., was buried at Galveston, Texas, March 27, 1898.

He served in the Civil War as cook, teamster and when the regulations permitted, as a soldier. Coming out of the war he was converted and entered the ministry. He served the following charges: Lavilla Ct.; Lake City Ct.; Monticello, Fla.; Presiding Elder Live Oak District, Florida; pastor Reedy Chapel, Galveston; Bethel, Dallas; Austin, Texas; Presiding Elder of Houston (Texas) District. He was secretary of his Conference for eleven years. He was a member of the convention that nominated General Grant in 1872. He served two terms in the Florida Legislature as representative from Columbia County. He was a member of the F. and A. M. and was Grand Master of the State of Texas for four years. He was a trustee of Paul Quinn College. He built churches at Lake City, Fla.; Bellville, Fla.; Jasper, Fla.; Bethel, Dallas, Texas, and remodeled Reedy at Galveston, Texas.

In 1892 he was elected financial secretary of the A. M. E. Church, and in 1896 at Wilmington, N. C., he was elected to the bishopric and assigned to the Tenth Episcopal District.

He published two works: “Originals” and “What Communion Hath Light with Darkness.”

Arnett, Benjamin William, seventeenth bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born March 6th, 1838, at Brownsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania; was baptized at six months old, by Samuel G. Clingman, of the Ohio Annual Conference. Was convicted under the preaching of Rev. Jeremiah Lewis, February 10th, 1856, converted February 14th, received into the Church February 17th by Rev. Leven Gross, of the Ohio Annual Conference; licensed to preach March 30th, 1865, by Rev. J. D. S. Hall, of the Baltimore Conference, Washington, D. C.; recommended to the traveling connection by Rev. William B. Lewis, of the Ohio Conference; received on probation April 16th, 1867, by the Ohio Annual Conference, at Lexington, Ky.; received first appointment to Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, Ohio, April 19th, 1867; ordained deacon April 30, 1868, by William Paul Quinn, at Columbus, Ohio; ordained elder May 12th, 1870, by Bishop Daniel A. Payne, at Xenia, Ohio; assistant secretary to the general conference, 1872; secretary to the general conference, 1876-1880.

In May, 1880, he was elected financial secretary of the A. M. E. Church by the general conference at St. Louis, Mo.; May, 1884, he was re-elected financial secretary by the general conference at Baltimore, Md.; May 19th, 1888, he was elected bishop of the A. M. E. Church by the general conference at Indianapolis, Ind.; ordained May 24th, 1888. His labors have been in the following states since that time.: 1882-1892, the Seventh Episcopal District, comprising South Carolina and Florida; 1892-1893, Arkansas and Mississippi; 1893-1896, Ohio and Western Pennsylvania; 1896-1900, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Michigan; 1900-1904, Ohio, California and Western Pennsylvania; 1904-1906, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

In 1893 he was a member of the Parliament of Religions at Chicago, Ill., delivered six addresses and presided September 15th. The A. M. E. Church presented him a gold medal for the part he took in behalf of the Church. He has held the following positions: Secretary of the Bishops' Council of the A. M. E. Church; historian of the A. M. E. Church, trustee of the Archaeological and Historical Society of Ohio; vice-president of the Anti-Saloon League of America, trustee of Wilberforce University, director of Payne Theological Seminary, chairman Executive Committee, trustee of the United Society of Christian Endeavor, trustee and vice-president of the Normal and Industrial Board of Wilberforce University, statistical secretary of the Ecumenical Conference for the Western Section, 1891-1901; chairman of the Statistical Committee for the Western Section. 1901-1911. He presided at the Ecumenical Conference, London, England, September 7th, 1901; was chaplain of the National Republican Convention at St. Louis, 1896; presented to President McKinley, for the A. M. E. Church, the Bible upon which he took his oath; he was a member of the Executive Committee, National Sociological Society; Chairman Committee on Legislation and Transportation, National Sociological Society; life member of the Business Men's League of the United States; president of the Publication Board, 1904-1906.

For twenty-four years he edited the “Budget” of the A. M. E. Church. He organized the “Sons of Hannibal,” at Brownsville, Pa., 1859; organized the “Sisters of Protection,” June, 1859, at Brownsville; in August, 1859, organized the “Mutual Aid Society,” composed of men; in 1863, organized the “Brothers and Sisters of Love and Charity,” at Brownsville; was a delegate to the national Grand Tabernacle, in 1863, at Philadelphia; in 1864, organized the “Faith and Hope League of Equal Rights,” at Brownsville, Uniontown, Washington, Monongahela City, Allegheny and Pittsburgh, Pa.; in 1865 was a member of the State Equal Rights League of Pennsylvania and western solicitor, having charge of twenty-two counties; in 1865 organized a joint stock company and started a store; prepared the charter which passed through the Legislature; in June, 1865, organized Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, at Brownsville, Pa. Was a member of the National Equal Rights League, Syracuse, N. Y., October 4th, 1865, Frederick Douglass, president; member of the Equal Rights Convention, Cleveland, Hon. J. M. Langston, president; secretary of the National Convention, Washington, D. C., December, 1866, Hon. J. M. Langston, president. Was foreman of a jury, where all were white, at Toledo, Ohio, 1872; also foreman of a jury composed of all colored men in the spring of 1872, at Toledo; was chairman of the Committee on Resolutions of the Congressional Convention in 1872, at Toledo, representing five counties, which nominated I. B. Sherwood. Was fraternal delegate to the Miami Convention of United Brothers, August 12th, 1872, at Pleasant Ridge, Ohio; in 1874 was grand orator of the Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria for the States of Ohio and Indiana and a life member of the same; he was a member of the Corinthian Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, at Cincinnati, Ohio; raised to the Sublime Degree Master Mason, August 13th, 1875; was arched in December, 1877, in Gustava Chapter, Urbana, Ohio; Knighted by the Taylor Commandery, at Columbus, Ohio, 1878; was Grand Chaplain Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Ohio in 1879; was Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge, 1879; was a member of the Knights of the Wise Men of the World, at Nashville, Tenn., 1882, and Grand Lecturer of the same; was Grand Lecturer of Councils of the Independent Order of Immaculates, at Nashville, 1883; member of the Independent Order of Good Templars, 1884. The Central Republican Club, of San Francisco, gave him a farewell meeting at the “Wigwam,” October 19th, 1886; the Golden Gate Lodge, of San Francisco and the G. U. O. of O. F. tendered him a reception, October, 1886; was a member of the reception committee to welcome Hon. J. G. Blaine to Greene County, 1884; was elected to the Ohio Legislature to represent Greene County, 1886-87; was author of the bill abolishing “Black Laws” of the State, and to provide for the teaching of scientific temperance in all the schools.

Was elected delegate to the Ohio State Sunday School Convention, at Norwalk, Ohio, 1878, and was elected vice-president of the same; was a delegate to the International Sunday School Union, at Atlanta, Ga., 1878, and at Toronto, Canada, 1881; was elected to the Sunday School Union of Ohio to represent them at Robert Raike's Centennial, London, England, 1880; elected to represent the Inter-Denominational S. S. Union, of South Carolina, at the World's Convention, London, England, July 2nd, 1889; May 25th, 1890, he responded to the welcome address of Hon. James A. Beaver, Governor of Pennsylvania, at the International S. S. Convention, Pittsburgh, Pa.; he was elected and was one of the vice-presidents of the International Convention until 1893.

Delivered the Annual Address before the College Societies of Wilberforce University, June 19th, 1877; addressed the Masons of the District of Columbia, May, 1866; also the G. U. O. of O. F. of the District of Columbia; addressed the John G. Whittier Club. of Memphis, Tenn., 1898; delivered an address in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah, July 4th, 1898; delivered an address before the International Anti-Saloon Convention, December, 1898, at Columbus, Ohio; addressed the Congregational Social Club, of Boston, 1899; delivered the Annual Address to the graduates of the High School, Paris, Ky., May, 1899; also to the faculty and students of the Georgia State Industrial School, Prof. R. R. Wright, president, June 7th, 1899; delivered an address by invitation to the Republican State Convention, of Denver, Col., September 28th, 1886. Was one of the invited guests and delivered several addresses at the Centennial Celebration of the first settlement of the Northwest Territory, April 7th, 1888, at Marietta, Ohio; delivered an address in the House of Representatives in the State of Georgia, before the Colored Teachers' Association, December 11th, 1883; was a member of the Centennial Conference of Methodists at Baltimore, Md., December 24th, 1884, and delivered an address, “The Mission of Methodism to the Extremes of Society;” delivered the Annual Address before the students of Claflin University and the Claflin College of Agriculture and Mechanical Institute, May 22nd, 1889, Orangeburg, S. C.; delivered an address at the reception of the G. A. R. in Chicago, August, 1900; also an address on “The Development of the Northwest Territory,” in Music Hall, Chicago, October 11th, 1899; has delivered addresses before the International Christian Endeavor Convention, at Montreal, 1893; Cleveland, 1894; Boston, 1895; Washington, 1896; San Francisco, 1897; Nashville, 1898; Detroit, 1899; Cincinnati, 1900; delivered an address at St. James' Hall, London, England, Sunday, September 15th, 1901, and at the Wesleyan Church, Paris, France.

He was married May 25th, 1858, to Mary Louisa Gordon, at Brownsville, Pa. Their union has been blest with the following children; Alonzo T. A., Benjamin W., Jr., Henry Y., Anna L., wife of Prof. Walter J. Mason; Alphonso T., Florence G., wife of Rev. Morrishaw, of New Jersey; Daniel A. Payne. Bishop Arnett died October 7th, 1906, at Wilberforce, while presiding bishop of the First Episcopal District.

Arnett, Benjamin W., Jr., eldest son of Bishop B. W. Arnett, was born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, in 1866, attended public schools and Wilberforce University, from which he was graduated with the degree A.B. in 1886. He later attended Columbia University, New York. For many years he was a teacher, having taught in Birmingham, Ala.; at Campbell College, at Allen University, at the Georgia State Industrial College

Arnett, Rev. Henry Young, pastor of Ward A. M. E. Church, Philadelphia, is the third son of Bishop B. W. Arnett; was born at Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, Ohio, May 26, 1868; attended the primary schools of Cincinnati, afterwards entering Wilberforce University (Ohio), pursuing the normal and scientific courses, graduating with the “Class of '89” with the degree of “Bachelor of Sciences.” After completing a course in the Hudson Business College of Columbus, Ohio, he began teaching school. He taught mathematics in the Kittrell Normal and Industrial Institute (N. C.); taught pedagogy and natural philosophy in Allen University (Columbia, S. C.); was private secretary to the president, and then financial secretary of Wilberforce University.

In State affairs he has many times been a delegate to the Greene County Republican conventions, and to the Ohio State Republican conventions; for twelve years he was an asst.-sergeant-at-arms of the Republican national conventions; he has served as a railway mail clerk, and was appointed comparer of deeds for the District of Columbia, by President William McKinley.

As a churchman he has served as Sunday School teacher and superintendent, class leader, steward, missionary, deacon and elder. For five years he pastored the Frankford (Phila.) Station, at the same time pastoring

After serving as a delegate to the General Conferences in Columbus and Chicago as a layman, just as soon as he was eligible he was elected by the Philadelphia Conference to represent it in Kansas City, and is now a delegate to the Centennial General Conference to meet in Philadelphia. He is a member and the secretary of the Finance Committee of the Philadelphia annual conference, and the chairman of its special committee to protect its Bishop from newspaper attacks. For seven years he has been secretary of the Educational Congress and Literary Chautauqua of the First Episcopal District.

He is married and lives at 47 North Ruby street, Phila., Pa. He served as reading clerk at the Kansas City General Conference, and is now a member and the secretary of the General Conference Commission and the sub-commission. For several years he was secretary to the Historical Commission of the church.

Artis, Mrs. Mary Louisiana, was born in Little Rock, Ark. She joined Shorter A. M. E. Church, Denver, Colorado, in 1891, while Rev. P. A. Hubbard was the pastor. Sister Artis has worked along all lines in the A. M. E. Church, doing missionary work out in the far West, in Vancouver and Victoria City in British Columbia. For 25 years she has also worked under the W. C. T. U. She was consecrated a deaconess in Milwaukee, Wis., in St. Mark A. M. E. Church, by Bishop C. T. Shaffer in 1902. She founded

Ashley, H. C., was born July 28th, 1854, at Clinton, Hickman County, Kentucky, and attended the public schools of the community. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church at an early age. In 1879 he was admitted to the Kentucky Annual Conference, under Bishop Payne, and appointed to Louisville. He served here successfully and many other

Ashton, Mrs. Estella G. (Goodwin), a graduate of Morris Brown University, class 1907, dressmaking and normal; studied at the McDowell School of Dressmaking and Designing, Philadelphia, Pa.; a graduate of the

She was converted at an early age, and was a member of Allen Temple, Atlanta, Ga.; is an excellent example of true womanhood. She is now a member of Mount Pisgah, Philadelphia; sings in the choir. She is a devoted wife and daughter.

Askew, Rev. Tony Jackson, son of Andrew Jackson Askew and Flora Adline Sessomes, was born March 20, 1868, at Harrellsville, North Carolina. He is the second son of eleven children. At the age of five years he entered the first school ever taught for colored children in his native town after emancipation. He attended the country schools about seven years, three months to the year; the Plymouth State Normal at Plymouth, North Carolina, three years; Dickerson Seminary at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, two and a half years, and the Western Theological Seminary of Allegheny City, now North Side Pittsburgh, two years. The degree of D.D was conferred by Morris Brown College. He taught school in North Carolina two years with a first grade certificate.

Converted in Scranton in 1891 under Rev. Chas. A. McGee, he joined the A. M. E. Church and served as class leader, steward, Sunday school superintendent and trustee in said church. He was licensed to preach in 1892, and joined the Conference in 1894 at Wheeling, West Virginia, under Bishop B. W. Arnett, D.D. He was ordained deacon at Wilkesbarre,

He has filled the following appointments: Lock Haven and Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania; West Newton and West Elizabeth, St. Paul, Pittsburgh; Bellefonte, Williamsport; St. Paul, Hamilton, Bermuda, West Indies, served as Presiding Elder of the Conference, Huntingdon and Everett, Pennsylvania, Washington, Pennsylvania. He is at present Presiding Elder of the Pittsburgh District of the Pittsburgh Conference. He lifted a mortgage of $1,000 at Bellefonte, $1,400 at Williamsport, $1,500 at St. Paul, Bermuda; reduced the mortgage $3,500 at Washington, Pennsylvania; built St. Paul Church, S. S. Pittsburgh, at a cost of $10,000, and reduced the debt on same to $3,700. Received into the Church twenty-seven hundred and forty-eight people, baptized eight hundred and twenty-two, married seven hundred and four.

He was financial agent for Wilberforce University one year, a member of the general conferences of 1908 at Norfolk, 1912 at Kansas City, and 1916 at Philadelphia. He has been a member of the S. S. Union Board since 1912, and is a life trustee of Wilberforce University. In 1912, at Kansas City, he was voted for as Secretary of Education. On one occasion he preached the Baccalaureate Sermon to the High School of Mt. Union, Pennsylvania. He has been a contributor to the Christian Recorder and the Voice of Missions, the Bermuda Colonist, and the Williamsport Gazette-Times.

In 1894 he married Mrs. Irene Jane Askew, a young lady of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their one child, Flora Isabelle, 18 years old, was graduated from the Pittsburgh High School in 1915.

Dr. Askew was Secretary of the Pittsburgh Conference for three years and is its present Treasurer, which office he has held for seven years. Was a member, by election, of the Fifth World International C. E. Convention, which convened in Chicago, Ill., July, 1915.

Atkinson, Rev. Robert Lee, son of Isham and Clara Atkinson, was born September 26, 1864, at Smithfield, N. C., and died January 2, 1901, at Southport, N. C. His parents moved to Selma, N. C., in 1868, where he

His mother having died in 1883, he being the oldest of ten children, helped to support and educate the other members of the family.

He was licensed to preach from St. John Church, Selma, N. C., in 1887; joined the North Carolina Conference at Kinston, N. C., in November, 1892, under Bishop Gaines, who assigned him to the East Greensboro Circuit. He pastored successfully the following charges: East Greensboro Circuit, Whitsett Circuit, Roxboro Circuit, St. James Station, Winston-Salem, N. C., and New Jordon Circuit.

He was ordained deacon and Elder by Bishop Handy in 1893 and 1895 respectively. In November, 1900, he was transferred from the Western to the North Carolina Conference by Bishop Lee, who stationed him at Southport, N. C., where, after preaching on the last night of the old year, taking for his theme “The Christian Warfare,” he departed this life in the early morning of January 2, 1901.

Atkinson, William C., one of the Church's business men, was born in Black River, Georgetown Co., South Carolina, December 20, 1856, being the son of Amelia and James Christopher Atkinson, the former a member of the A. M. E. Church; the latter of the M. E. Church. There were fifteen other children besides William.

He began attending the rural school in Black River in 1865. He only attended school four years of his life but was given some help in acquiring knowledge by a family for whom he worked. He was converted about 1886 and joined the A. M. E. Church.

In December, 1888, he married a young woman of Georgetown, South Carolina. Their union was blessed with nine children: W. C. Atkinson, Jr., E. W. Atkinson, Lena, Theodore, Hughes, Florence, Amelia, Orilla and Janie. One daughter is married. Theodore and Lena are graduates.

At an early age Mr. Atkinson worked at cutting timber, sleeping under a brush tent in the woods; later he tried the carpenter's trade, but not liking it he finally went into the mercantile business, where he has had excellent success.

He is said to own the leading green grocery business in Georgetown, regardless of color. He owns a home valued at two thousand dollars, two brick stores in the business section of the city, and other property in the city and county. Though a prosperous business man, Mr. Atkinson says that his chief work is in and for his Church.

Avery, J. M., the oldest of six children was born in Burke County, near Morganton, N. C., October 10, 1876; his parents being Thomas and Elizabeth Avery. He was graduated from Kittrell College, June, 1900, and in the same year was elected principal of the Graded School of Hickory, North Carolina.

He began his insurance career as local agent in 1900. He is now the esteemed and efficient assistant manager

Mr. Avery was a delegate to the General Conference in 1904, 1908 and 1916.

He is president of the alumni of Kittrell College, and secretary of the Board of Trustees.

Ayler, Junius Crowley, was born in Virginia 49 years ago. His father was the son of a German woman and his mother was of Negro and Indian blood. His early scholastic and religious training was given by his mother. Junius found Christ when a youth, in a “quarter house,” on the Via Mead farm, Tensas Parish, Louisiana. He taught in the public schools of Virginia and read theology at night. He served as principal of Suffolk Normal and Collegiate Institute one year. He married Alice V. Jackson, of Suffolk, Virginia, entered the Virginia Conference and was ordained deacon by Bishop John M. Brown and an elder by Bishop Daniel A. Payne, who transferred him to the New Jersey Conference at New Brunswick. He was prepared in private for college and entered the seminary of the Reformed (Dutch) Church and graduated as president of his class in 1886. While pastor at Princeton, N. J., he read law under James E. Hayes, Esq., and was admitted to the bar of New Jersey February 23, 1894. He also studied philosophy for two years and received a certificate (not a degree), dated February 8, 1893, signed by Prof. A. T. Ormont. Afterwards Chaddock College, Quincy, Ill., conferred on Rev. Ayler the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He was then appointed pastor at New Haven, Conn., and he matriculated in the senior class in 1899 of Yale University Law School, took a course of lectures under Simeon E. Baldwin and others. Rev. Dr. Ayler reads the Bible in ten languages and speaks five of them. See Dr. Blyden's “Islam, Christianity and the Negro Race.” Also see the “African Abroad,” by Wm. H. Ferris, A.M. He has built one church and is building another in Worcester, Mass. He represented the New Jersey Conference in the General Conference of 1892, Philadelphia, Pa. He has served his church as presiding elder in the New Jersey and New York conferences. The saddest stroke of his life was the death of his wife in 1901. Mr. Ayler is author of a little book, entitled “Guide-Lights,” of a pamphlet known as the “Constitutional Rights of the American Negro,” and of several articles in the A. M. E. Review, including one on “Elohistic Names.” He is Republican in politics and a Prince Hall Master Mason.

BARKSDALE, JAMES DRAYTON, was born at Goldsville, S. C., October 24, 1862; was baptized in infancy in Bethel A. M. E. Church, near Clinton, S. C., and has never been a member of any other denomination. He attended such country schools as were available in the early days of his childhood, but having a great yearning for education, he left his home at the age of thirteen

Barnes, Mrs. Mattie Gaston, wife of R. B. Barnes, M.D., of Cleburne, Texas, was born December 9, 1866, on the plantation of Hon. Wm. Oxshire, on Little River,

She received a diploma in millinery from Madame Jordan's school at Nashville, Tenn., and took a course in hair manufacturing at the Reynold School, Chicago, Ill., receiving a diploma in 1909.

After Dr. Barnes took his medical degree, the family moved to Cleburne, Tex., in 1900, and Mrs. Barnes became active in fraternal circles, having prior to this joined in Gainesville, the Court of Calanthe, the ladies' department of the K. of P. Order. In 1902 she was made deputy; in 1904 was elected president of the Endowment Board, which position she has filled with credit for twelve years.

Mrs. Barnes has at all times placed in the front rank of her activities the work of the Master. Having been started along the right path by a Christian mother and father, she was, when a very small child, taken into the church and baptized by the Rev. Wilhite. She joined Coxe's Providence A. M. E. Church on probation, under the Rev. John Conner, and was carefully watched over by Uncle Ben Williams until she was made a full member. She attended Sunday school conventions and camp meetings where she met many prominent African Methodists, such as Bishops Grant and Cain and Prof. Kealing. She has served as superintendent of the Sunday school at Cleburne since 1902, and has shown great interest in foreign missions.

Battle, Rev. Joseph Bunyan, was born in Barbour County, Ala., March 22, 1875, the son of Rev. Eugene and Mrs. Queen Battle. His father is a minister of the M. B. Church, and lives in Little Rock, Ark., where Joseph was brought up from about twelve years old. He attended Tuskegee Institute, Ala., and Paine College, Augusta, Ga. He entered the ministry in the year 1898, during which year he was assigned to serve at Charlestown, Ark., on the Charlestown Circuit. He has been a successful pastor and evangelist. He cannot answer all the calls to conduct revivals. He is sometimes called the “Lord's Battle Axe.” He has been elected a delegate to the Centennial General Conference from the Northwest Mississippi Conference. He now pastors Jonestown Station, the seat of the first session of that Conference.

Baxter, Daniel M., one of the six children of Aaron and Mary Webb Baxter, both of whom were members of A. M. E. Church, was born October 2, 1872, at Charleston, S. C. His father died when he was seven years of age, and his mother when he was twelve. He began school at the age of seven years, and attended about eighteen years, attending principally the Simonton School, Charleston; private preparatory school in New York. He graduated from public schools of native city and College Preparatory of New York and the theological department of Howard University. Converted

Was ordained deacon in 1905 at High Springs, Fla., by Bishop B. T. Tanner; was ordained Elder in 1906 at St. Petersburg, Fla., by Bishop B. T. Tanner. Joined Annual Conference in 1905, at High Springs, Fla., under Bishop B. T. Tanner.

Has held the following appointments: Bracksville, Fla., 1905-1907; Ocala, Fla., 1907-1910; Mt. Zion, Jacksonville, Fla., 1910-1915; Presiding Elder, North Jacksonville District, 1915 to date. He renovated church and parsonage at Ocala, Fla., at a cost of $2000; made addition and purchased land at Brooksville at a cost of $800; completed Mt. Zion Church at Jacksonville at a cost of $4000; lifted mortgages on Macedonia at Brooksville, to the amount of $300; Mt. Zion at Jacksonville to the amount of $1054.39. He has taken 2010 people into the church and baptized 520 persons.

Was a delegate to the General Conference at Kansas City, Mo., in 1912, and is a member of the Centennial General Conference of 1916. He is a member of the Board of Allen League for 1912-16.

Received the degree of D.D. from Edward Waters College, and is treasurer of the same; a member of the Commission to Union Bishops' Council, Washington, D. C. Married in 1891 Miss Laura Anna Alston, of Charleston, S. C. They have two children, Miss Mae E. Baxter, 19 years of age, graduate of Edward Waters College in 1914, and now a sophomore at Oberlin College, and Miss Irene C. Baxter, 16 years of age, third year at Edward Waters College. He has contributed to Times Union, Florida Metropolis, Christian Recorder, A. M. E. Review, and other periodicals, and has written the following pamphlets, “Has the United States in it the Elements of Permanency,” “Christian Tradition and Heathen Mythology.”

The principal addresses made were: Emancipation Address, 1912; Baccalaureate Sermon, Fessenden Academy; Commencement Address to class of 1907, Edward Waters College; Religious Societies, F. and A. M. He is connected with F. and A. M. Progressive Order of Men and Women, Good Templars, and has been treasurer of Masonic Benefit Association; Grand National Secretary Progressive Order of Men and Women; director of Masonic Temple; is a Republican, and owns several pieces of real estate.

Beaman, Geo. W., was born at Pickens, Miss., November 10, 1867, one of the twelve children of George W. and Elizabeth Beaman.

Dr. Beaman was converted in the year 1882, was licensed to preach at midnight on June 26, 1886, by Rev. Albert Jackson, D.D., of Friar's Point, Mississippi. Was ordained deacon in Grenada, Miss., at the court house January, 1888, by Bishop H. W. Warren of the M. E. Church, having gone to the said church to take advantage of her educational facilities. He was ordained Elder in 1892 at Crystal Springs, Miss., by Bishop Andrews.

He began his education in the public schools of Pickens, Miss., when a boy. He also had private tutors. After finishing the common school he taught public schools in Holmes, Hinds, Pike, Pearl River and Nessha counties, in Mississippi, after which he gave himself solely to the ministry. He built two churches at Bee Lake, Miss., his first pastorate, and organized several others the same year, prior to his ordination. He also pastored successfully at Anding and Vally, Howard Station, Mt. Olive at Yazoo City, Dixon Circuit, Miss., going from this charge to New Orleans University. He advanced rapidly through the college preparatory course, when his means were too meagre for him to longer attend. He took his course in theology at Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Ga., finishing within two years, having taken one year at New Orleans University. He then pastored Laurel St. Church in Springfield, Ill.; Pittsfield and Jacksonville, Ill., and Ft. Madison, Ia. From thence he was sent to Quincy, Ill., to Bethel A. M. E. Church, a most beautiful structure, a large commodious building commanding respect with a very large audience; from thence to East St. Louis, here he bought a nice house from the Presbyterians and soon built up a large congregation next to Quinn Chapel, South St. Louis, Mo. Here he paid a very annoying debt and soon had things moving on toward victory.

He next transferred to the Arkansas Conference, and was appointed by Bishop Derrick to Antioch Station. Here he built a splendid house of worship and had a great revival, paying the church out of debt the same year, and reporting the largest dollar money fund ever carried to Conference from this point. He also pastored South Hot Springs, Okalana Station, Brown Memorial of Little Rock. This church had the most successful three years during his administration, and was a leading spirit in

His wife was Miss Alberta Drew, of Lake Providence, La., who was born in Greenville, Miss., April, 1890. He has three children, William, Rosale and Tyrus Walls Beaman.

The degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Campbell College in 1914. He preached the Baccalaureate sermon at Southern University, Helena, Ark., in 1906, and the Thanksgiving sermon at Alcorn College, Miss. has made many speeches and addresses, among them one with Newman in Artillery Hall, New Orleans, 1891, at Alcorn College, 1915. He is a splendid speaker and hard worker.

Beard, Jesse E., was born March 2, 1873, on a farm near Guyton, Effingham Co., Ga., where his mother had been a slave. The youngest child of four girls and five boys, being without the care of a father, he was soon doing such work as he could do on the farm until eleven years of age, when his mother moved to the town of Guyton. He attended the city school, working odd hours every day, which he did throughout his school life. When the State College of Georgia was established, Elder W. O. P. Sherman

He was converted at fourteen years. Having always loved the Church and Sunday School, he early felt called to the work of the ministry, and received exhorter's license at the hands of Elder W. O. P. Sherman at seventeen years of age, receiving local license six months later. He joined the Conference under Bishop A. Grant at Quitman, Ga., 1894, later transferring to the then North Georgia Conference to attend school in Atlanta. Before entering the ministry he worked on the farm, drove teams, worked at the tin trade and taught school. He was ordained deacon in 1896 at Cedartown, Ga., by Bishop H. M. Turner; ordained Elder at Georgetown, S. C., by Bishop A. Grant, in 1898. He served the following appointments: Emma Lane Mission (Emanuel Co., Ga.), Moncks Corner Ct., Kingstree Ct., Beaufort, Francis Brown (Charleston), Prosperity (where the new parsonage was destroyed by fire, he losing all his effects), Clinton, Cokesbury, Greenwood (where he built a fine brick church, leaving a debt of only $5,000), Bethel (Georgetown), where in one rally his people raised nearly $4,000. Here he served five years.

Rev. Beard taught in the Theological Department of Allen University five years, being three years dean of the department in connection with his pastorate. He has been instrumental in bringing many people into the Church. It has been his lot to pay off debts rather than to make them for others to pay. He attributes much of his success to the tireless energy, faithful prayers and loving devotion of a sainted mother.

He was married in 1897, April 28, to Miss Leonora F. Richmond, of Charleston. To them have been born Ruth Ellen, Elbert Hooper and Samuel Adiel. At the age of ten years and seven months, 1909, August 31, Ruth departed for the rest beyond “Death's Sea.”

Some years ago, having been invited to deliver the Annual Address at Morris Brown College and the address before the religious societies of Wilberforce University, unsought, the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by each of said institutions.

He has re-published the minutes of the first Conferences held in South Carolina, comprising the Conferences of 1865, 1866 and 1867.

Seeing the great need of such a work, he has in course of preparation a Biographical History of the A. M. E. ministry in South Carolina.

Beck, Joseph Brown, principal Howard School, Georgetown, S. C., eldest of eight children of Elbert and Mary Beck. Was born in Abbeville County, South Carolina, in the 70's. The remains of his sainted mother now rest under the trees of Spring Grove, in Abbeville. His father still lives, known and respected throughout his section as a preacher of holiness and an honest, Christian gentleman. Abram Brown, his maternal grandfather, was a pioneer in the A. M. E. Church in the upper part of South Carolina, the founder of Brown Church, on the Calhoun Falls Circuit, in Abbeville County. In an autobiography he said that after some trouble between the white and colored worshipers of one Salem church (white), in that settlement, where the Negroes used to occupy the rear seats, it was decided that the colored people would have to leave, for they were too zealous in their worship. A white man, Sugar Johnson, encouraged them to build a church of their own. He says: “Sugar Johnson gave me the ground. I stepped the ground and Johnson carried the stakes; and he told me that he would make to me a deeded gift of that land—two acres—on which to erect a church.” Brown built an arbor here and called it “Brown Oh!” their first building. He also founded Diamond Hill Church, near Lowndesville, S. C., in much the same way.

Joseph B. Beck pursued his studies in the city schools. His last teacher, Miss Nannie A. Wardlaw, a college graduate of Claflin University, urged him to go to college. Anxious to go to college he passed successfully the examination for teacher's certificate, and taught his first school, “The Poor House,” being located

He successfully passed the United States Civil Service examination for clerk-copyist (first grade), and was offered, June 5th, 1907, an appointment at Pensacola, Fla. Again, in July, he was appointed by the government to a position in New York, and the following September was again certified for appointment in East St. Louis, Ill. But as he was preparing to leave for East St. Louis, the trustees of the Georgetown city schools, in a called meeting, raised his salary and prevailed upon him to remain at the head of the schools here. He yielded to their proposal, feeling that he could do more good for his people as a teacher than he could in the government service. He is still in charge of this, the Howard school, which has nearly a thousand children enrolled.

Prof. Beck joined the St. James A. M. E. Church at Abbeville, S. C., at the age of twelve years. He was converted and received into the church in the year 1888 under the pastorate of the Rev. C. C. Dunlap. He was superintendent of the St. James S. S., and secretary of the official board of the church for some years; also district superintendent of the Abbeville district; supervising and militant secretary of the “Blue Army,” one of the divisions into which Bethel Church, of Georgetown, was divided in the $3650 rally under Dr. J. E. Beard, and is now a member of the trustee board of Bethel and a teacher in the Sunday school.

Some years ago he purchased for his parents a few acres of land on which they were enabled to spend the declining years of their life in comfort. In 1901 he married Miss E. M. Dunmore, the beautiful and accomplished daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Dunmore, of Georgetown, S. C., and they have three promising boys, Joseph, Cornelius and Roswell.

Beckett, Jabez Campbell, oldest son of John Wesley and Catherine Stella Beckett and the grandson of Bishop Jabez P. Campbell, was born October 14, 1877, at Hagerstown, Md. Both of his parents were members of the A. M. E. Church. He was one of nine children. He entered school at the age of 6 years

He was licensed to preach July 15, 1907, at Philadelphia, Pa., by Bishop B. W. Arnett; ordained deacon June 15, 1908, at Carlisle, Pa., by Bishop W. J. Gaines; ordained Elder May 16, 1909, at Milford, Del., by Bishop Gaines; joined the Annual Conference in 1908 at Carlisle, under Bishop Gaines.

He has held the following appointments: Disney, Philadelphia, 1908; Morris Brown, 1909-1910; Campbell Church, Philadelphia, Pa., 1911, to date. He has taken 150 people into the church; baptized 70 and married 33. He is a delegate to the General Conference of 1916. In 1903 he married Miss Sidney Clifton, of Atlanta, Ga. They have five children, Mary C., age 11; Florida G., age 9; John C., age 7; Chas. C., age 4 and Francis J., age 1.

The subject of this sketch has contributed to the Christian Recorder and has acted as private secretary to Bishops Grant, Gaines and Tyree. He has been associated with the Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital of Philadelphia. He is a modest but forceful character.

Beckett, John Wesley, was born in Georgetown (West Washington), D. C., May 28, 1848. Received his schooling in this community, also attended Wilberforce University, from which he was graduated. Rev. Beckett was known as the sweetest singer the A. M. E. Church produced and thousands were brought to salvation through the songs he sang. He was licensed to preach by Rev. J. T. Jenifer, July 13, 1869, at Wilberforce University, Ohio, and sent as assistant supply to Lebanon Circuit, April 13, 1870. He was

Beckett, Mrs. Mary S. C., widow of Rev. John W. Beckett, D.D., (the sweet singer), and daughter of Elias and Malvina S. Chase, was born in Holmesburg, Philadelphia County, Pa. She begain her local missionary work under the direction of her mother and her aunt, Miss C. E. A. James, who would once a

Moving to Frankford, Pa., where there are better school facilities, she graduated from the Wilmot Public School and entered Robert Vaux School, 12th and Wood streets, under the principalship of Prof. Jacob C. White. She next entered the High School.

She married the Rev. John W. Beckett, D.D., then pastor of Metropolitan A. M. E. Church, Washington, D. C. It was then that her public missionary career began. She was president of the auxiliary and made a creditable financial showing of missionary funds. Removing to Bethel Church, Baltimore, 1893, she again resumed missionary work—her auxiliary reporting one hundred dollars, this being the first auxiliary in the connection to make so large a report in mite missionary work. Going to Trinity Church, in the same city, she was again elected president of the auxiliary and the loyal and faithful women, astonished the Connection's Mite Missionary Society by a total of $1,546.38 in five years as follows: 1898-1899, $100; 1899-1900, $125; 1900-1901, $220, 1901-1902, $353; 1902-1903, $748.33; a total of $1,546.33.

They worked with the following motto: “The liberal soul shall be made fat.”

Mrs. Beckett has been unanimously elected four consecutive times as corresponding secretary of “The Woman's Parent Mite Missionary Society.” Without salary she has written over ten thousand letters to assist, inform, inspire and encourage the twenty-two thousand women of the organization. Moving to Philadelphia, she was made treasurer of Special Fund, Philadelphia Conference Branch.

Beckett, Lemuel M., was born in Washington, D. C., October 9, 1854. In early youth he attended what was then called “Pay School,” as the public school system for colored children had not been established. He spent one year at Wayland Seminary,

Bennett, Henry Ward Beecher, was born November 15, 1865, in Georgetown County, S. C. He was converted very young. His parents sent him to Charleston, S. C., where he entered the Simonton School and finished with honor. He taught school several years; was licensed to preach in 1880; joined the annual Conference in 1889 under Bishop Arnett.

He studied theology in Gammon Theological Seminary at Atlanta, Ga., Allen University, Columbia, S. C. He also took a course in the University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill. He filled the following appointments: Goose Creek Circuit, St. Peter's Circuit, Mt. Pleasant Circuit, Bethel Station, Georgetown, S. C.; Emmanuel Station, Charleston, S. C. He spent five years each at the following three appointments: St. Peter's Circuit, Mt. Pleasant Circuit, Emmanuel Station, Charleston, S. C. Spent fifteen years at three places. At Emmanuel Church he attended Sunday School when a boy and after many years, he was appointed pastor of that great church by Bishop L. J. Coppin, D.D.

He paid off the $28,000 mortgage on Emmanuel A. M. E. Church, November 29, 1909, which set at liberty the members of the church and five officers who had their personal property mortgaged as security for the church. He built three churches, one parsonage. He was a delegate to the General Conference of 1912. Bishop Lee appointed him Presiding Elder of the Edisto District in 1912. He died 1915.

Bentley, Daniel S., was born in Madison County, Kentucky, September 20, 1850. He attended school

Bethune, Mary McLeod, a daughter of slave parents, Samuel and Patsy McLeod, was born in a three-room log cabin on a little cotton and rice farm about three miles from Mayesville, S. C., July 10, 1875, being one of a family of seventeen children. Her education was received in the Presbyterian mission school at Mayesville, S. C.; Scotia Seminary, Concord, N. C., and the Moody Bible Training School, Chicago, Ill. She was married in 1898, but soon became a widow, with one child. She founded the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School at Daytona, Fla., October 3, 1904, an institution for the training of girls, and is doing a remarkable work in that State. She is organizer Florida Woman's Christian. Union, trustee Industrial School at Miami, Fla., and Rescue Home, Jacksonville, Fla.; member National Federation of Colored Women, Florida State Federation of Colored Women (vice-pres.), Amanda Smith Community, Married People's Council, Jennie Dean Hospital Club. Address, Daytona, Fla.

Betts, Rev. S. H., was born in Evergreen, Conecuh County, Alabama, July 31st, 1866. At an early age was moved to Milton, Santa Rosa Co., Florida, where he began school and from there to Pensacola, where he completed his literary education. In his early manhood he was a train porter. He was converted February 8th, 1895, joined Allen Chapel A. M. E. Church, and started preaching. He studied theology under the Revs. A. H. Attaway, B. W. Roberts and James Dean, and took correspondence courses with Payne Theological Seminary, Morris Brown University and Edward Waters College. He delivered the annual address to the theological class of Edward Waters College in 1909, and received the degree of D.D. He was the leader of the West Florida conference to the general conference in 1912, one of the leading trustees of the educational work of Florida,

Bianchi, Benj. A., was born at Robertsville, S. C., March 10, 1870, on the plantation of Mr. H. M. Lawton. His father was of Italian descent, his mother an American Negro. His father was a carpenter by trade, was educated before the Civil War in Charleston, S. C., and was never a slave. His mother was a house girl and dressmaker. They were married under the ceremonies which were accorded to colored people at that time.

To the union were born eleven children, seven boys and four girls, only three of whom survive.

When Benjamin was eight years old his father died. Then he began a life of hard toil. He worked as a herdsman for a number of years, sometimes eating roast potatoes and sucking milk from the cows for sustenance. He seldom knew the luxury of shoes, but thinly clad he cut turpentine boxes, dipped gum, ploughed on the farm behind ox, mule and horse, hoed corn, cotton, rice and thinned the cotton with his hands.

Starting his education late in life, when he was twenty years old, he was unable to read a second reader with any intelligence. He attended the country school taught by white Southern teachers, but the facilities were very poor. Having a great craving for knowledge he matriculated at the George State Industrial College, in Savannah, Ga. Prof. R. R. Wright, A.M., Sr., was its president. Later he went to Gammon School of Theology in Atlanta and studied two years trying to prepare himself for the work for which God had called him. The time spent here was not thrown away. Without such preparation he says that he would not have been able to hold a decent appointment, and thanks Bishop Thirkield and the other good professors whose encouragement he had. He joined the South Carolina Conference December, 1893, under Bishop Moses B. Salter and received his first appointment from the hands of Bishop J. C. Embry, December, 1896, at Aiken, S. C.

He has held the following charges: Estell Mission,

Billings, Rev. Charles Franklin, the son of Hezekiah and Elsie Ann Billings, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born March 9, 1873, in Adams Co., Miss. He was one of seven children. He began attending school in 1879 and spent thirteen years in school, attending schools at Church Hill and Blue Ridge, Jefferson Co., Miss. He is a graduate of Morris Brown and Campbell College. He received the degree B.D. from Campbell College and Morris Brown. He was converted in 1888 and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year. He has held nearly every office in the church. He was licensed to preach 1895 at Jefferson County by Rev. J. W. Watson; was ordained deacon 1903 at Brookhaven, Miss., by Bishop Tyree, and ordained elder 1907 at Port Gibson, Miss., by Bishop M. B. Salter. He joined the annual conference 1901 at Hattiesburg, Miss., under Bishop Tyree.

He has held the following appointments in Mississippi: Pearl Haven Mission, 1903; Rock Point Circuit, 1903-05; Bethel Circuit, 1906-09; Zion Circuit, 1910; Meridian Station, 1911-12; Laurel Station, 1913; P. E. 1913 to 1916. He built Mt. Salem, Liberty, Miss., $800, in 1907; Billings Chapel, Gloucester, Miss., $650, in 1908; in 1909 Billings Chapel rebuilt, $700.

He lifted a mortgage of $200 on Bethel at Liberty, Miss., and on Galilee, at Caseyville, $150 in 1910. He has taken about 800 people into the church, baptized 450 and married 40 couples. He is Assistant Secretary of his conference in Mississippi. He married Rosa D. Billings, of Jefferson Co., Miss., December, 1905. They have six children, namely, Bertha C., 19 years; Hezekiah E., 17 years; Elsie A., 14 years; Marie V., 10 years; Virgie Lee, 6 years; Rosa A., 4

Boddie, Francis F., one of six children of Benjamin and Sarah Boddie, his mother being a member of the A. M. E. Church, was born at Waverly Hall, Ga., February 15, 1860. He began attending school at nine years of age, attending during ten years, Mt. Zion School, Waverly, Ga.; Atlanta University and Griffin High School, and received the D.D. degree from Morris Brown University; was converted at fifteen years of age, and joined A. M. E. Church; held offices of steward, trustee, class leader, exhorter, local preacher and Sunday school teacher. Was licensed to preach at Sparta, Ga., by Rev. George Coplin, in 1882; ordained deacon by Bishop Dickerson, at Sandersville, Ga., in 1883; elder at Columbus, Ga., by Bishop Shorter in 1885; joined the annual conference under Bishop Dickerson, at Augusta, Ga., in 1882; had the following appointments: Prospect Circuit, Milledgeville Station, 1888-90; Lumpkin Station, 1890-94; Eatonton Station, Fort Valley District, Americus District, Columbus District, Dublin Station, Milledgeville District; built St. Mark's Church, at Lumpkin, Ga., in 1895, at a cost of $18,000. Lifted mortgages on St. John's Church, at Eatonton, Ga., in 1898, to the amount of $600; took 1500 people into the church and baptized 800; was delegate to the general conferences of 1900, 1904, 1908 and 1912. Was a member of Sunday School Union Board, 1900-04, and Executive Board of Morris Brown College. He died May, 1915. His wife, Mrs. Carrie A. Boddie, was born in Sparta, Ga. They had six children: William Fisher and Julian F., both practicing physicians; Ella J., graduate of

Bowling, Alonzo J., was born at Lincoln, Ill., August 25, 1879, one of the four children of Thomas and Jane Bowling, both members of Bethel A. M. E. Church of that city. Alonzo's school life, which lasted twenty years, was spent in the grammar school of Lincoln, Ill.; the High School of Kansas City, Kan.; State Normal, University of Michigan, Ohio State University, Harvard College, being a graduate of each. He has the degree of A.B. from Michigan University, A.M. from Ohio State University and Harvard College; B.D. from Albion College, Albion, Mich., where he received his theological training, having also studied theology in Northwestern University and Boston University. Rev. Bowling was converted in 1893, joining the Methodist Church in Topeka, Kans., in 1895. He has served as class leader, exhorter, local preacher, Sunday school teacher and superintendent of the Sunday school. At present he is director of Dearborn Social Center and assistant pastor of the Institutional Church, Chicago, Ill. He was licensed to preach in 1915 by Dr. W. D. Cook, and joined the annual conference in 1915, at Wilwaukee, Wis., under Bishop B. F. Lee. His wife, Mrs. Katie M. Fowler Bowling, of Atlanta, Ga., he married January, 1916. He has served as editor of “The Conservator,” Chicago, and has been a contributor to the “Northwestern Christian Recorder” and the “Broad Ax.” He has written “Negro Education,” Harvard, 1912; a comparison of Kansas City, Kan., and Brookline, Mass., school systems, 1912; “Elimination of Negro Children from Public Schools,” Columbus, O., 1908. He is a Mason, Knight of Pythias. Odd Fellow, Elk and True Reformer. He is one of the moving picture censors of the City of Chicago. He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Geographic Society, and the Royal Society Clubs of London.

Braxton, Rev. W. H., was born in the early 70's at Port Gibson, Mississippi, the eldest son of George and Sarah Braxton, both ex-slaves. At the age of five years he was placed in the public school; at sixteen he graduated from the public schools and entered the Port Gibson Normal and Business Institute, finishing in three years, teaching school in the meantime. Prof. J. M. Taylor, the principal of the institute, recommended Mr. Braxton very highly when he entered Alcorn A. and M. College to finish his scientific course.

He married during his junior year in college, but he

He took a special correspondence course from the New York School of Science. He next took the theological course at Morris Brown College, Atlanta, Ga., and after four years he finished, and the next year he wrote a thesis which secured for him the degree of Doctor of Divinity.

He has done much work both as an educator and pastor, having taught in some of the best schools, built and improved churches and parsonages. With an amiable wife and seven children, he is still happy, despite the much suffering he has undergone to make a record and to have the world to know that he lives in it.

In 1902, while attending a quarterly Conference, he had five boy children burned to death.

He was invited to deliver an address to the Y. M. C. A. of the Louisiana State University in 1909, and it was stated by the President that he was the only Negro that ever had that honor.

Braswell, James S., one of the eleven children of Bird A. and Watie Braswell, was born November 20, 1865, in Leon County, Florida. He attended public schools about seven years, studied theology at Morris Brown College and further improved through private study. He was converted and joined St. Laurene A. M. E. Church September 3, 1886, and has held every office from Sunday-school teacher to presiding elder.

Braswell, Mrs. Brilla Launtine (Burton), was born at Tampa, Fla., April 15, 1871, seventh child of Nelson and Maria Burton. She grew up at Manatee and Cedar Key, Fla., entered Cookman Institute, Jacksonville, Fla., in 1885; after spending four terms she taught in Hillsboro County for three years. She married Mr. James S. Braswell at Tarpon Springs, Fla., where they lived until they entered the ministry at Clearwater. She was converted at the age of 14 and

Brent, Rev. Geo. Wilson, son of Mary Taylor and Geo. Brent, was born March 21st, 1860, in a log cabin on the boundary line between the Taylor and Cushingberry plantations, in King George County, Va. It was said that his father (African born) was drugged, trapped, captured and sold to an English naval officer, who brought him to Virginia and sold him again for debt. His parents had a “broom stick wedding” at the marriage of Cushingberry's son to Taylor's daughter, and they respectively, as “man and maid servant,” were made a present to the contracting parties. His father ran away and joined the army at the call for colored troops in '63, and for revenge the kidnappers picked his mother up on the public highway and sold her to Georgia. From 1869 to 1870 young Brent was at the colored Orphan Home in Washington, D. C. He was “bound out” to the then noted theatrical stars, Charles R. Thorne and wife, and with them went to Lexington, Mass., and was used as understudy by the young men of the family. He later served in various capacities of bell-boy, stable boy, race horse jockey, amateur pugilist, fireman and deck hand on a river steamer, and longshoreman, all of which increased his knowledge. He was converted in February, 1877, and joined Big Bethel, Baltimore, Md., Rev. J. W. Beckett, pastor. He drew up the first “constitution” for the colored Y. M. C. A., which was, however, rejected.

Brinson, Jesse, was born at Summertown, Ga., March 19, 1875, son of David and Alice Brinson. In a family of seven children three were girls and four were boys. His father, who died in 1904, was for twenty-four years a steward and held other offices in the church. His mother still lives and is an active member of the church. He studied in the schools of his home and neighboring counties, and from 1897 to 1902 taught in the public schools of Emmanuel County, teaching three years of this time at Summertown.

On account of poor health he gave up teaching and took up the business of painting, in which he has made much success as a contractor in Savannah, Georgia, to which place he moved in 1904. He was converted when only a boy, impressions having been made upon him by his Sunday School teacher, Mrs. J. T. Smith, in teaching the first Psalms, and he has become especially attached to Sunday School work. He was once connected with three Sunday Schools of different denominations, but having different hours of meeting. He was connected with Sunday School work in Dublin, Georgia, and also served as a trustee.

October, 1898, Mr. Brinson was married to Miss Lillie Pughsley of Swainsboro, Ga. Their children are Sylvester, a girl, and Charles Luke, a boy.

He became connected with St. Phillip's Sunday

Brisbane, A. L., was born of A. M. E. parents in Columbia, S. C., March 30, 1860; emigrated to Liberia, Africa, in 1876, with his father and mother. He was converted November 24, 1884, and joined the A. M. E. Church, and has served from Steward to Presiding Elder. He was licensed to preach in 1892, joined the itinerancy in 1893 under Bishop Turner, was ordained Deacon by Bishop Turner in 1895, and Elder in 1899 by Bishop A. Grant; was delegate to the General Conference in 1908, and appointed Presiding Elder of the Monrovia District by Bishop Heard the same year. In this capacity he has served faithfully up to the present. He is also a delegate to the Centennial General Conference in 1916.

Brookens, Jackson Andrew, son of Charles and Mary Brookens, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Yazoo County, Miss. He entered the King School in 1870; was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1876; licensed to preach in 1882 by Rev. E. R. Carter; joined the annual conference in 1886 at Greenville, Miss., under Bishop Ward; was ordained deacon in 1888, at Yazoo City, Miss., by Bishop Ward, and ordained elder in 1899, at Grenada, Miss., by Bishop Turner. He has held the following appointments: Tree Run, Miss., 1877; Yazoo City Circuit, 1889; Evans Circuit, 1892; Yazoo, 1896; Pickins, 1899; Magna Vista, 1902; Benton, in 1889; Union Paradise, at Evans, Miss., $450, in 1906; Evans Circuit, 1910; Holly Bluff, 1912; Tchula, 1914; Benton, 1915. He built Piney, at Yazoo, $600, 1892; St. Peter, at Pickens, $450, in 1899; Ebenezer, at Benton, $650, in 1906. He lifted a mortgage on Price Chapel, at Holly Bluff, to the amount of $182, in 1912. He has taken 682 people into the Church, baptized 358 and married about 50 couples. He was delegate to the general conferences at Norfolk, in 1908, and Philadelphia in 1916. His wife, Mrs. Georgia A. Brookens, was born in Taylor County, Miss. They were married in 1879, and have nine children: Burrell, 33 years; Mary, 35 years; Clarence, 31 years; Jackson, 29 years; Hattie, 24 years; Benjamin, 22 years; Hallie, 21 years; Beulah, 18 years; O. D. Brookens, 15 years; H. D. Brookens, 10 years. His son, Benjamin, won a scholarship at Campbell College. He has contributed to the “Recorders;” has been chaplain of the Eastern Star; has been constable; is a Republican and a home owner.

Brookins, Mrs. M. L. Harding, was born in Nashville, Tenn., and was reared in Kansas. She was converted at the age of eight years. She obtained her education in Olathe, Kans., after which she was married to Mr. E. A. Harding, who afterward became an itinerant minister in the A. M. E. Church. They were

Brooks, Rev. Charles Edward, the son of W. C. and Mary Brooks, was born in New Orleans, La., Oct. 5th, 1868. He began to go to school at seven years of age and attended the public schools of his native city and the Southern University. He was apprenticed as a bricklayer and thoroughly mastered the trade at which he worked for twenty years. Becoming interested in labor organization he was one of the labor and political leaders of New Orleans and Louisiana.

In 1893 he was converted and joined St. Peter's A. M. E. Church. He held the offices of steward, trustee, class leader, Sunday school teacher and superintendent.

Brooks, Robert Daniel, was born in Waymanville, Ga., March 19th, 1857, son of David and Anna Brooks, who located near the line of Upson and Monroe counties soon after emancipation, and were there converted and joined Sugar Hill A. M. E. Church. Robert first attended Sunday school here, and studied Webster's speller. Subsequently his parents moved near Forsyth, Ga., where they died. Being left alone, he wandered away and finally located at Lovejoy Station, where he was converted at the age of eleven

Professing a call to the ministry, he was licensed to preach in his fifteenth year, and in the following year, was received into the Savannah Annual Conference, ordained deacon under the missionary rule, and appointed pastor of Jonesboro Church. Here the Lord blessed him and much good was done. At this point he married Miss Anna Hightower, and to them was born their only child, Robert Ernest Brooks, now Dean of Theology in Payne University. Four years later, the subject of this sketch was ordained elder by Bishop Foster. After serving several years in Georgia, he secured a transfer to the Central Alabama M. E. Conference. While in this conference, it was made clear to him through the Holy Spirit that the church of his parents' choice in which he first received holy impressions, was the open door to his greatest usefulness. Being thus convinced, he secured his certificate of withdrawal and joined St. John A. M. E. Church, Montgomery, Ala., through its quarterly conference, Rev. A. W. Atwater, presiding. Here he served as class leader until conference. During the session of the Alabama A. M. E. Conference, held in St. John Church, December 5th, 1885, Bishop D. A. Payne, D.D., presiding, Rev. A. W. Atwater, P. E., presented him with his certificate of standing for reception into the conference upon which Bishop Payne requested him to state to the conference his reason for the change, whereupon he stated that he “did not come for the loaves and fishes, that the mother church had treated him well, but that recognizing the fact that in every soul is the sign of human equality, he wanted to satisfy a long felt desire to be in the church of his parents' choice, where he could feel free and good—the church whose open door gives opportunity to the Negro race for the greatest display of usefulness.” Following the statement, he was unanimously received, but as a verification of the honesty of his purpose, he refused to take regular work, choosing rather to aid such pastors and presiding elders as might need him during the year, so as to give time for better acquaintance. He did much varied service that year. From Bishop Payne's conference held in St. Luke Church, Opelika, Ala., December 1st, 1886, he was sent to the pastorate of Emanuel Church, Mobile, Ala. Notwithstanding the four years' limit, he was allowed to remain five years, during which he paid the church debt of $1500, bought and paid for the parsonage, erected the present brick building, and increased the membership from 127 to 480. From the Alabama Conference held in St. John, Montgomery, Ala., November, 1891, he was transferred to the North Alabama Conference and stationed at Brown Chapel, Selma, Ala., but the General Conference of 1892, having set apart the Central Alabama Conference, he, by territorial situation, became a member of the Central Conference. Remaining in charge of Brown Chapel four years, aside from the work done for Payne University, he paid $3100 on the church debt and increased the membership from 266 to 684. His humble efforts were greatly blessed in this pastorate.

At the conference held in Brown Chapel, Nov., 1895, he was by Bishop A. Grant, D.D., appointed Presiding Elder of Selma District. During the twenty years of his service as presiding elder, he served Greensboro, Mobile and Camden Districts, and is now serving his fourth appointment to the Selma District.

For twenty years he served his conference as Chief Secretary, and is now Secretary-Treasurer of the Central Alabama Conference.

Elected Trustee of Payne University, he served as Secretary-Treasurer 21 years and resigned the position on account of failing health. During that time, the property titles were straightened out, the old debts paid off; 23 lots with 6 dwellings were purchased. Gaines' Hall and Coppin's Hall were built and other improvements made. He labored earnestly with head, heart and hands, and to keep the machinery together to the well being of the school, he made untold personal sacrifices.

Brown, Daniel J., was born at Bonneau's Station, now Barkley county, South Carolina, December 8th, 1867. He received his early education in the public school of the county and was later sent to Charleston, South Carolina, where he spent several years in Mary Street Grammar School, leaving to join the family which was moving to take up work in the Columbia Annual Conference, which was just organized. His father, the late Rev. George H. Brown, was one of the pioneer ministers of the South Carolina Conference.

For four years he was forced to accept such opportunities as the public schools afforded. In the year 1882 he entered Claflin University, Orangeburg, S. C.,

His manner of doing things has won friends for him among all classes. He is quiet and unassuming and commands with dignity. He is kind at heart and generous in spirit. Many of his accomplishments are due to his unfaltering faith in the gospel of self-help, seasoned with a liberal dash of courage and perseverance. His rule is to do all the good he can and as little injury as possible. He has made many sacrifices, but without complaint.

Dr. Brown attributes much to his wife, as he regards her help and encouragement so significant. Mrs. Brown is now the corresponding secretary of the M. M. Society of the N. J. Conference and is identified largely in all the labors of her husband.

Brown, Howard Dennis, son of George and Martha Brown, was born in Crumpton, Md., July 18, 1874. He died Sunday, December 19, 1915, at Douglas Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa. When he left his home in Maryland and came to Philadelphia, he joined Bethel A. M. E. Church and rose to the position of class leader and

He served at Disney A. M. E. Church one year and was serving his eighth year as pastor of La Mott A. M. E. Church at the time of his decease. Here he built a church and practically paid it out of debt, and so strong was his hold on the people and so excellent was his work that Bishop Tyree, in spite of the time limit, sent him back for the eighth successive year. He was afflicted for nearly two years, but in spite of this he continued to do such excellent work as to excite the admiration and commendation of his friends. On a visit to his Maryland home he finally collapsed and was brought back to Philadelphia. He was taken to the Douglas Hospital November 22, 1915, where he died December 19. Dr. Montrose Wm. Thornton, of Boston, at his request, preached at Rev. Brown's funeral, at which were present Bishops, Presiding Elders, pastors and many laymen. (For his work see “Lamott.”)

Brown, Bishop John Mifflin, was born in Canwell's Bridge, now Odessa, Delaware, September 8, 1817. He remained here until he was ten years old, then he moved to Wilmington, Delaware, where he lived in the home of a quaker, who sent him to Sunday and weekday school. He received his early education from private instructors. He declined the teaching of a Catholic priest on the ground that he would be a Methodist. He came to live in Philadelphia, where he found a

In 1868 he was elected Bishop of the A. M. E. Church at the General Conference meeting at Washington, D. C., and ordained May 25, 1868.

Brown, Bishop Morris, second bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Charleston, S. C., January 9, 1770, of mixed parentage. By dint of perseverance he acquired what was in his time a good education. Being free he had little trouble in securing a license to preach as soon as he professed religion. In 1817 he was ordained a deacon and the next year an elder, and began traveling in 1818. In 1822 occurred the Denmark Vesey insurrection in Charleston, and the colored people were put under a ban, and in scores of instances, persecuted. Morris Brown had a prosperous business in Charleston, as a maker of boots and shoes. He assisted numbers of slaves in purchasing their

Brown, Norman Wesley, was born October 20, 1876, in Hartford County, Md.

His mother was given away as a wedding present during the days of slavery from Ellicott City, Md., to Hartford County. Her father, Robert Johnson and Charles Bell were in the organization of the A. M. E. Church at Randall's Town, Md., about 1836. His father and his father's father were in the organization of the A. M. E. Church in Hartford County.

At the age of seven he was librarian in the Sunday School, after which he was teacher and superintendent. He was converted November 23, 1890, under the pastorate of Rev. W. W. Wilson.

He went to Baltimore in September, 1891, and joined

Took the normal course at Morgan College, Baltimore; theological course at Howard University, and corresponding scientific course from Chicago University. Presented a thesis upon the subject “Immortality of the Soul” to the faculty of Morris Brown College, Atlanta Ga., and received the degree of Doctor of Divinity.

Served the following appointments: Patuxtent Circuit, Baltimore Conference, two years; Winchester four years; transferred to the Virginia Conference and stationed at Trinity Church, Norfolk, where in five years he paid $1225 more on the bonded indebtedness than six pastors had paid in ten years before, and greatly increased the membership, frescoed the church, put in new carpets, electric lights, bought a new parsonage and put $450 granolithic wall and walk around the church; spent one year at John M. Brown Church in the same city.

Though he was out of his church nine Sundays on the account of sickness, raised $2138.10 and greatly increased the membership.

He then served four years at Newport News, Va.; built a $2700 parsonage; added 172 members to the church; rearranged the mortgage debt and raised more than $25,000 during the four years.

Browne, John Andrew, one of three children of Henry and Annie Maria Brown, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born in 1882, at Chestertown, Md. He attended school for fifteen years, first in the public school of Chestertown, Md.; private school, Wilmington, Del.; graduated from Payne Theological Seminary of Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio, from which he received the degree of B.D. He

Bruce, Elijah Turner, was born January 1, 1869, at Williamsport, W. Va. His mother, Mary Jane Bruce, was a member of the Waugh M. E. Chapel. Left fatherless at the age of three, with an invalid mother, he struggled against poverty and disadvantages to gain a limited education. He was converted at the age of nine, was teaching Sunday school at twelve, and at fourteen was superintendent, and an

Bryant, Ira Toussaint, Secretary-Treasurer of the A. M. E. Sunday School Union, Nashville, Tenn., was born at Selma, Ala., October 14, 1877, son of Mansfield Edward and Alice A. (Choice) Bryant. He was a student of Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn., a graduate of A. & M. College of Normal, Ala., during the administration of Prof. William H. Council. Mr. Bryant was once an apprentice in the same institution of which he is now head. He served as monotype

Bryant, Mansfield Edward, first editor of “The Southern Christian Recorder,” was born in Seales, Lee County, Ala., in December, 1853. He was educated at Atlanta University, Ga., leaving only three months before his graduation as a bachelor of arts. He was a classmate of Prof. R. R. Wright, Sr., now president of the Georgia State College, Savannah, Ga. After leaving school he was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church. Feeling the call to preach he was licensed, and joined the Alabama Annual Conference at Opelika, Ala., December, 1875, under Bishop Ward, and was elected chief secretary of the conference. He served the Church as follows: Pastor of Brown Chapel, Selma, Ala., 1876-9; Emanuel, Mobile, Ala., 1880; Florence, Ala., 1881-2; presiding elder of Florence District, 1882; presiding elder of Selma district, 1883-87, editor of “Southern Christian Recorder,” 1888-—. He was a forceful writer and made the “Southern Recorder,” which he published at Nashville, Tenn., felt throughout the connection. In his early ministry he combined teaching and preaching, having

Bumry, Richard H., son of Richard and Mary Bumry, was born in King George County, Va., April 17, 1864, and was brought to Washington, D. C., the same year. He lost both parents before he was three years of age, and was cared for by his paternal grandmother. He attended the public schools of Washington, D. C., until the year of 1879, selling newspapers and blacking shoes between school hours. He worked

Buren, Nathaniel C., son of Isaac and Louisa Buren, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born in 1859, in Van Buren County, Tenn., one of ten children. He received his education at Walden University, Banvier Theological College and Moody Bible Institute. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1873; served as steward, class leader, local

Buren, Mrs. Hattie Lucile, was born in Savannah, Ga., the oldest child of Samuel and Rachel La Fitte. When she was still quite young her parents moved to Macon, Ga., where she attended and completed the course at Ballard Normal Institute and Fisk University, graduating from the latter with high honors, in

Burgan, Isaac M., was born October 6, 1848, near Marion, McDowell county, North Carolina. Though a child of slavery, he was blessed with a mother that possessed rare Christian virtues, Sylvia Burgan, whose

After emancipation, he left North Carolina and worked on the railroad in Kentucky and Tennessee. It was while at work in Tennessee that he entered school for the first time, and began a battle royal for the acquisition of an education. In December, 1869, he entered a select school at Bowling Green, Ky. In October, 1870, he entered school at Evansville, Ind., under the tutorship of the Rev. J. M. Townsend, D.D. He remained here three years, being given great inspiration by Rev. Townsend. He entered the State Normal School at Terre Haute, Ind., in 1873, and at once took the lead over his classmates, most of whom were whites, in many branches, excelling especially in mathematics and philosophy. He left the Normal in the fall of 1875, just before graduating, to begin teaching at Lost Creek, near Terre Haute. He taught here three years and earned a reputation of being “a natural born teacher.”

While working in Tennessee he was converted in a Baptist revival, but he did not join the church at that time. He afterwards placed himself under the watch care of the M. E. Church at Bowling Green, Ky., and later he joined the A. M. E. Church at Evansville, Ind. He experienced a call to the Christian ministry early in life, and while attending the Normal at Terre Haute, he was licensed to exhort by Rev. J. M. Townsend. While teaching at Lost Creek, he was licensed to preach by Rev. John Meyers. Leaving his school work at Lost Creek, he entered the theological department

He was ordained elder in the West Texas Conference at Rockdale in 1884, by Bishop A. W. Wayman. He has held charges at the following places:

Oakland, Cal.; Richmond, Ind.; Vincennes, Ind.; Little Rock (Brown Memorial), Marrellton, Batesville, Helena and Arkadelphia, Ark., and the college chapel at Paul Quinn College, Waco, Texas, during the nineteen years of his presidency of that institution.

The degree of B.D. was conferred upon him on his graduation at Wilberforce. The degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Ark., and the degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him by Wilberforce University.

At this writing he is the efficient presiding elder of the Houston district, Texas Conference, and he is meeting with the same degree and kind of success that has characterized the efforts of his previous years.

He has published a book “Sunday, the Original Sabbath,” which is commended by Bishops Lee and Coppin and Editor Wright, and others.

Burley, John Wesley, first financial secretary A. M. E. Church, was born of free African parentage, at Baltimore, Md., in 1833. His father, one of Baltimore's most prosperous colored citizens, was able to give him

Butler, Mrs. M. J. Brockman, was born in Greenville, South Carolina, April 5, 1883. She attended the public school of Greenville, graduating in 1896. She studied at Barber Memorial Seminary in Anniston, Alabama, for several years; later attending Clark University in Atlanta.

She served as matron and teacher at Campbell College, Jackson, Mississippi, under Dr. D. H. Butler, her husband, who was President for five years. For two years she was secretary for the Federated Clubs of the State of Mississippi and organized the first Charitable and Literary Club under the auspices of the State Federation in Jackson, Miss. At the National Temperance Union that convened in Baltimore, Md., November, 1910, she represented the State of Texas. She was leader of the Mississippi delegation to the Connectional Missionary Convention that was held in New Orleans in 1914. She was elected to represent the women at the General Conference at Philadelphia, Pa., in 1916. She served three terms as state president of the Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society of the state of Mississippi; served also a third

Butler, William H. H., the youngest son of Israel and Catherine Butler, natives of Virginia, who moved to Ohio about 1836, being forced to leave that State because of the law against Free Negroes, was born in Seneca County, O.; reared in Barlow Township, Washington County, O., and attended the primary

Butler, James William, one of four children of Walter and Cynthia (Wilson) Butler, was born August 17, 1885, at Kalamazoo, Mich. His father died when he was two years old; received his education in the public schools of that city, and Parson's Business College, all the while supporting himself; was converted

Byas, Dr. A. D., was born on a farm, near Kosciusko, Miss., May 9, 1871. His parents being persons of thrift and economy, in spite of slavery, made great headway in accumulating much of this “world's goods.” His literary training was received at Rust University, Holly Springs, Miss., and he studied medicine in Meharry Medical College, at Nashville, Tenn., graduating with honor in the Class of 1899. He is one of the leading physicians of Memphis, Tenn., and has a large practice in and out of the city. He is quiet and unassuming, yet dignified and intelligent in bearing and personality. He lives in one of the most elegant homes in the city of Memphis. His splendid wife, who was a Miss Lula McPherson before marriage, is a lady of culture and refinement. The doctor is a loyal member and honored trustee of Avery Chapel, A. M. E. Church, Memphis, Tenn. He was a delegate to the general conference in Kansas City and to the Centennial General Conference, May, 1916, in Philadelphia, Pa.

Byrd, Elijah, was born April 2, 1849, in Wycomico county, Md., near Salisbury. His father was a slave and his mother was a free woman, and therefore it necessitated her to work very hard to raise her four children. His mother was without education, but his father obtained a meagre education enough to give him the rudiments of an education. After he arrived to seventeen years of age he came North and attended

May 22, 1889, he was appointed to Camden, Del. He found the church in bad condition and built a new one, which was dedicated by Rev. Lewis Hood, then Presiding Elder of the Wilmington District. May 19, 1891, he was appointed to Milford, Del. The people scattered on account a $500 debt made against their will. Rev. Byrd paid $420 of this that year.

Byrd, William, was born in Ross county, O. He was early impressed with a deep sense of his calling and began to prepare himself for the work of a gospel minister.

In the year 1894 he was graduated from Wilber-force University. Then, for some years he labored in Ohio, going from Ohio into Tennessee, he labored there for three years in the ministry. At the expiration of this time he was called into Georgia and there he remained for seventeen years, six of which were as an itinerant minister and eleven years in Morris Brown College. He was elected Vice-President of this college and Professor of Exegetical Theology. He was also a member of the General Conference of the A. M. E. Church of 1908 and 1912, and at present a member of the Connectional Board of the A. C. E. League. He is a member of the Centennial General Conference.

On July 15, 1914, he was elected President of Shorter College, and took charge of this institution the latter part of the same month, and is meeting with success.

Byrd, William Paul Quinn, the son of Rev. S. W. and Sarah Ann Byrd, was born (??) His father was an A. M. E. minister for 41 years, and his mother was the daughter of Rev. Isaac Dunica, who assisted Bishop Quinn in crossing the Mississippi River and in planting the A. M. E. Church in St. Louis, Mo. W. P. Q. Byrd attended public and elementary schools, the Centennial High School, of Pueblo, Colo., and Wilberforce University, taking the degree of B.D. from Payne Seminary, June, 1901, being valedictorian of his class. He was converted May,

CALDWELL, MR. JAMES WILSON, the son of John and Mary Ann Caldwell, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born December 8, 1872, at Elizabeth City, N. C., one of nine children. He entered school in 1878 and attended about 10 years, graduating from the Philadelphia Grammar School and Temple College. He was converted in February, 1888, and joined Union A. M. E. Church, Philadelphia, the same year. He has been steward, trustee, class leader, Sunday school teacher, president of Christian Endeavor, and president of the Literary Association.

He was elected delegate to the general conference of 1916. He married Mrs. Marie Catherine Caldwell,

Caldwell, Julian C., the sixth child of John and Mary Caldwell, was born in Chapel Hill, N. C., November 1, 1870. His parents moved to Philadelphia, Pa., when he was very young, where he received his early training in the public schools, also the Manual Training School and National School of Elocution and Oratory, of same city.

In 1891 he entered Wilberforce University and graduated from Payne Theological Seminary in 1896. He joined the Missouri Conference in 1896 under Bishop Tanner. He filled the following appointments:

From the time he joined the church at the age of fifteen he became intensely interested in the Sunday School and Christian Endeavor work. He was made District Superintendent of the Sunday Schools of the Lancaster District, Philadelphia Conference, when he was sixteen years of age and was licensed to preach when he was seventeen. Perhaps his greatest power has been in the work of the Christian Endeavor Society. He joined the Society of Christian Endeavor of Union A. M. E. Church in 1886, and in 1888 was a member of the Look Out Committee of the Philadelphia Union, the largest city Union in the world. In 1891 he became one of the Vice-Presidents of the State of Ohio Union, and in 1893 presided at a meeting of the International C. E. Convention in Montreal, Canada, the first Negro to be honored with that distinction. It was through his efforts that Bishop Arnett and Bishop Alexander Walters, of the A. M. E. Zion Church, were elected Trustees of the United Society of Christian Endeavor.

In 1908, at the General Conference held in Norfolk, Va., he was elected General Secretary of the Allen Christian Endeavor League of the A. M. E. Church, the young people's department of the church. When elected, the department was only in name, but by his strenuous and Herculean efforts, it has grown and developed, until to-day there are 4215 Leagues with a membership approximating 150,000.

He has ably represented the church and race in both International and World's Christian Endeavor Conventions.

In 1900 he was united in marriage to Miss Mattie M. Bell, of Louisville, Ky., a graduate of Wilberforce University; and like most men who have done something worth while, he has been nobly assisted by this splendid helpmeet, who side by side with him has labored faithfully for the uplift of humanity, in the pastorate or as Secretary of the Allen Christian Endeavor League, for he has often said, speaking of his wife, “I am the talking part of the League and she is the business part.”

Campbell, Jabez Pitt, eighth Bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Slaughter Neck, Sussex County, Delaware, February 5, 1815, the son of Anthony and Catharine Campbell, both of whom were born free, as was their son. His father was a regularly licensed

He ran away from Delaware at an early age. The circumstances causing the same are thus stated in his own language. “My father was induced to give me as collateral security for debt to one of his creditors, he being finally unable to pay the debt, subjected me to the danger of being taken for the debt. This could be and was very often done in accordance with the statutes of Delaware. I ran away on account of that liability, and came to the State of Penna. After my arrival in the latter State, I was sold for a term of years, the last two of which I bought from my master, after serving him four and a half years. At eighteen years of age I became my own master. The primary object which I had in view in making this purchase was an insatiable desire for a good education.” He was a constant student, rising in the early hours of the morning before the duties of the day called him elsewhere, and applying himself to study. This course of self-instruction was systematically done and continued to the closing days of his life. Many of the books left by him can be seen to contain memoranda on the margins, showing his close application to study.

Such was his breadth and depth in the study of the Scriptures that he was known as the “theologian of the A. M. E. Church” during his day and generation.

He was always religiously inclined and raised in a religious atmosphere. He was converted at the age of ten years and became a member of the A. M. E. Church under Rev. James Towson, of the Lewistown Circuit, Delaware; became a member of Bethel Church, Philadelphia, in 1833.

The following in chronological order are the leading events in his ministerial career in the A. M. E. Church:

September 10, 1839, licensed to preach in the A. M. E. Church by Rev. N. C. W. Cannon.

April 5, 1841, license renewed by the same minister.

June 20, 1841, ordained deacon by Bishop Morris Brown, in Providence, R. I.

June 20, 1843, ordained Elder by Bishop Morris Brown, in New York City.

(October 23, 1844, married to Stellar Medley in New York City by Rev. Wm. H. Bishop).

Appointments:

June 20, 1843, to Albany Station, by Bishop M. Brown. 1847, a teacher in colored school of Hudson, N. Y., certified by J. W. Fairfield, supt.

The records show that at this period in the life of the subject of this sketch he labored in the community of Hudson, N. Y., teaching and preaching. The following is a copy of a certificate of membership in the Wesleyan Methodist Connection, where he labored a short while.

Campbell, Mary Ann, wife of Bishop Jabez Pitt Campbell, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., January 10, 1818, daughter of George and Eliza Akins. She was educated in the public schools of the city and for a short time in a school conducted by the Society of Friends. In 1836 she was married to Joseph Shire, and to them were born four children, one of whom, Joseph J. Shire, still lives in Philadelphia. Of Bishop she joined Mother Bethel, Philadelphia. Of Bishop Allen she had vivid recollections. Becoming a widow in 1849, she was wedded to Rev. Jabez P. Campbell in 1855. In 1873 she became one of the organizers of Allen Chapel. In 1874, when the Women's Parent Mite Missionary Society was organized, she was included among the promoters of the same, for a short time was president and for a decade was the treasurer, age compelling her to resign. She was a life member, with her husband, of the board of managers of the Home for Aged and Infirm Colored Persons. She died in Philadelphia January, 1910, aged 92 years.

Canady, H. D., was born near LaGrange, Troup County, Ga., April 19, 1859, the eldest son of Phillip and Manerva Canady. He got his rudimentary education in the rural public schools, by going to school to any who came to his community and styled themselves teachers. His academic and college training was in Clark University under Dr. W. H. Crogman. He was converted and joined McGhee Chapel A. M. E. Church in Troup County near Hogansville, Ga.; was baptized and licensed to preach by Dr. J. A. Wood. He joined the conference in Augusta, Ga., under Bishop Dickerson. He studied in Meharry Medical School, Nashville, more for the knowledge of physical science than for the purpose of practicing medicine. He also attended Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta; was given the degree of D.D. by Turner Theological Seminary, Morris Brown College. Dr. Canady married Miss Nora L. Bryant, who also was a student at Clark University. They have reared a successful family of 5 children—3 sons and 2 daughters: H. Canady, Jr., M.D., who is a successful practicing physician in Atlanta; Joseph R. Canady; J. W. Gay Canady; Hildonia P. Canady, who is principal of the industrial department of Ingraham Institute, Sparta, Ga., and Mrs. Helen G. Penn, wife of Rev. I. Garland Penn, Jr., of Chester, Pa. Rev. Canady has made a successful record as a pastor and presiding elder. Pastored Payne Chapel, Nashville, Tenn.; Steward Chapel, Macon, Ga.; Allen Temple, Atlanta. He freed Steward Chapel of a mortgage debt of long standing. Allen Temple was also left free of debt. Many have been converted and joined the church under his preaching and ministry. He has lived for many years in Atlanta, Ga., where he is favorably known. He is at present the presiding elder of the Monticello District of the Atlanta conference.

Capehart, William Henry, presiding elder of the Fayetteville District of the North Carolina Annual Conference, was born in Murfreesboro, Hertford Co., N. C., of Mary Ann and W. Henry Capehart. His mother was a strict member of the A. M. E. Church, his father a deacon in the Missionary Baptist Church. His mother looked carefully after young William's religious training. He was educated in the public school in Murfreesboro, and Shaw University, Raleigh, N. C., where he was converted on his return home, joining the A. M. E. Church. He was licensed to preach by Rev. Henry Epps, then presiding elder on the Weldon District; joined the North Carolina Annual Conference November, 1883, in Durham, N. C., and was sent for 3 years to St. Paul Station, Chapel Hill, N. C., where quite a number were converted and joined the church. He was ordained deacon November 29, 1886, at Company Shops, N. C., by Bishop Turner and appointed to St. James, Kinston, remaining 2 years, remodeling the church and adding quite a number of members. He was ordained elder November, 1887, by Bishop Campbell and has since held the following appointments: Washington Mission, where he found only 17 names, with not even a church building. He remained here for three years, bought a lot, built a church and added many members; Mt. Zion Church, Wilmington, N. C., two years, where he did good work and added quite a large number to the church; presiding elder of the Wilmington district five years and six months from November, 1893, during which time he surpassed for finance, conversions and accessions the records of all his predecessors; pastor of Mt. Olive, Wilmington, one year and six months; St. Stephen, Wilmington, two years, where at a spring revival more adults were converted than ever before at a revival conducted exclusively by the pastor, and all finances were increased; presiding elder of the New Bern district, two years; presiding elder of the Wilmington district the second time, three years, and he is now presiding elder of the Fayetteville district. As presiding elder his district Sabbath-school convention collected and donated to Kittrell College the largest amount of any S. S. convention in the state of North Carolina. He has been a delegate to all general conferences since 1896, including the Centennial General Conference of 1916. May 25, 1892, he was married to Miss Laura L. Simonson, of Washington, N. C. They have three children: Dr. Leroy G. T., and Misses Helen E. and Bessie L. Capehart.

Carey, Archibald James, the son of Rev. Jefferson and Anna B. Carey, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born August 25, 1868, at Atlanta, Ga., one of three children. He entered school when four years of age. He has attended Atlanta University, Chicago Theological Seminary and the University of Chicago and is a graduate of Chicago Theological Seminary, and has received the honorary degrees of A.M., D.D. and Ph.D. He was converted and joined the church at nine years of age. He held nearly every office in the local church; was licensed to preach in 1888 at

Carolina, W. P., the son of Rev. F. B. Carolina, was born August 29, 1864, at Columbia, S. C. Attended the public schools and Allen University. Converted

Appointed to the pastoral charge of Hymansville Circuit, Georgetown District, South Carolina Conference, Dr. N. B. Sterrett, P. E., to fill out the unexpired term of Rev. Abner Black, deceased, November, 1887.

Pastored Gourdine Circuit, Aiken Station, Beaufort, during the cyclone of 1893, when more than 500 were destroyed. He is author of “The Cyclone,” music to which was arranged by Bishop L. J. Coppin. He also pastored Bethel Station, Georgetown; organized St. Stephen's Church in Georgetown; pastored St. Luke Station, Charleston; thence to St. Stephen at Georgetown; Pee Dee Circuit, Orangeburg Station; Bethel Station, Columbia.

After twenty-three years of pastoral work was appointed presiding elder of the Winnsboro District, Columbia Conference. At present he is presiding elder of the Marion District and President of Flegler High School, Northeast Conference. He was sixteen years member of the Dollar Money Committee, four years a trustee of Wilberforce University, twelve years trustee to Allen University. The degree of D.D. conferred by Allen University, June, 1908.

The dollar money was more than doubled at all points he pastored except three. Many men among whom were drunkards and gamblers were brought to Christ under his administration.

Carr, Harry Augusta, son of Primus and Martha Carr, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born February 20, 1878, at Oakwood, Texas, one of sixteen children. He entered school when ten years of age, attending the public schools and Paul Quinn College from which he graduated with the degree B.D. as the valedictorian of his class. He was converted August 13, 1889, and joined the A. M. E. Church. He was licensed to preach in 1898 at Bryan, Texas, by Rev. G. W. Anderson; joined the annual conference in 1900 at Taylor, Texas, under Bishop Salter; was ordained deacon in 1900 at Belton, Texas, and elder 1902 at

Carter, Jesse Benjamin, one of eight children of Junius and Maria Carter, both loyal members of the A. M. E. Church, was born at Midway, Ala., February 9, 1869, started to school at Midway in 1880, finished grammar school, and did much private study; received D.D. from Payne University, Selma, Ala., was converted August 8, 1892, joined A. M. E. Church, served as steward, class leader, exhorter, Sunday school teacher and superintendent, chorister, etc., was licensed to preach at Pratt City, Ala., December, 1892, by Rev. J. S. Shaw; joined annual conference at Pratt

Certain, Rev. W. D. was born in Camden County, South Carolina, in the early sixties, and was brought to Florida by his parents, Edward R. and Elizabeth Certain, when he was seven months old. He entered school at the age of seven and received his literary training in Stanton Normal Institute, Cookman Institute, and Edward Waters College. He taught school in Duval, Putnam and Volusia counties in Florida. Later he studied Greek, Latin and Hebrew. He was

Much credit is due to his faithful companion for his attainment in the ministry. He joined the East Florida Conference in Gainesville, Fla., February, 1890, under Bishop Arnett, and was appointed to Plant City, Seffner and College Hill, by Presiding Elder T. W. Long, at the District Conference of which he was secretary-in-chief, July, 1890. February 24, 1891, he was ordained deacon by Bishop Arnett in St. Paul Church, Jacksonville, Fla., and was assigned to the Pomna, Stasuma, Circuit, which embraced five points.

He was ordained elder by Bishop Ward, at Lake City, Fla., in Mt. Pisgah Church, February, 1894, and was appointed to East Palatka and Federal Point Circuit. After serving one year he consented to transfer to Bethel Station, Shelbyville, Kentucky, on February 25, 1895. He served this station successfully for two years nearly paying a large debt. Each year the revival efforts were attended with many conversions. He also served as secretary twice and assistant secretary once of the West Kentucky Conference. He was appointed to St. James Chapel, Louisville, Ky., October, 1897, by Bishop Salter, paying the delinquent monthly dues of four months in the Building and Loan Association, and keeping up the monthly obligations during the time of the two appointments. He entertained the West Kentucky Annual Conference, October, 1897. In February, 1898, he was transferred to East Florida conference, to St. Paul Station, St. Augustine, Fla., February 20, 1898. There was a mortgage of $3000.

He paid $500 in ninety days and had a successful revival with thirty-five converts, renovated the church and repaired the roof. When he reported at Lake City, Fla., February, 1898, he was elected secretary of the conference and was made presiding elder of Jacksonville District to succeed the late Dr. S. H. Coleman,

He was again elected secretary of this Conference. He served this district with credit for four years, during which time eleven churches were built and hundreds of souls were converted. The dollar money was greatly increased and the educational funds were increased from $150 to $325. The Conference Territory was divided into six Presiding Elders' Districts in 1909, and he was appointed to the Suwannee District, which district he served for two years. He was needed to pay a debt incurred by the building of a parsonage, and he was assigned to St. Paul Station, St. Augustine, Fla., December, 1911, which charge he had served quite thirteen years prior to this appointment. He labored in this charge successfully for two years.

In the revival of 1912-13, 51 persons were converted and $1100 were paid on the parsonage, which was finished and furnished at a cost of $300, and a $200 organ installed, and all general claims increased.

He was appointed to the Suwannee District the second time December, 1913, by Bishop John Hurst, and was heartily received by the district. On his return after two years' absence and at this writing is serving his second year of the new term.

He was a member of the following General Conferences, 1900, 1908, 1912. He has been a Mason for twenty-six years, 32°, and member of Fidelity Lodge, No. 251, Jacksonville, and Assistant Grand Chaplain Odd Fellows for thirty-four years; also a member of Amega Lodge, No. 5442, Jacksonville, Fla.; District Department Indiana of G. S. & D. of S. American Woodman, U. B. of A., Order of Progressive, Men and Women Mosaic Temple, Director of Afro-American, Progressive Stock Company, St. Augustine, Florida, and a stockholder and member, Jacksonville Loan and Industrial Company: Ex-trustee Wilberforce University; Trustee Edward Waters College; Owner of several valuable houses in Jacksonville, Fla., and is a delegate to the Centennial General Conference, 1916.

Certain, Mary Alice, wife of Rev. W. D. Certain, was born in Winsboro, S. C., and reared in Columbia, S. C., where she received her literary training during the sixties and seventies. Her parents were Isaac and China La Roche. She was brought to Jacksonville, Fla., while in her teens by her mother. She was converted at sixteen at Gordon Chapel, Putnam county, Fla., under the pastorate of Rev. Major Johnson, while living with her grandfather, William Gordon.

She began work as a public school teacher in 1884 and has taught in the following counties in the State of Florida: Putnam, Volusia, Hamilton, St. John, Lafayette, Suwaunee and Marion, in which county she is now engaged. She married Rev. W. D. Certain, February 13, 1882. He was himself a public school teacher.

She has been a member of the A. M. E. Church thirty-seven years and has been active as a church worker in the Sunday School and Missionary Society. She was active in raising the first large sum of money for missions in St. Paul A. M. E. Church, St. Augustine, Fla., during the pastorate of her husband in 1898. When Mrs. Mary A. Handy accompanied her husband, Bishop James A. Handy, to Florida in 1900, to take charge of the Eleventh Episcopal District, she was the right hand supporter of Mrs. Handy in the organizing of the Women's Mite Missionary Society, acting as Secretary. She served as State Secretary of the Mite Missionary Society for twelve years, during the administrations of Bishops Handy, Tanner and Salter. She was elected Conference President of the East Florida Conference Branch of the Mite Missionary Society, served three years and declined the fourth nomination in favor of Mrs. Eddie Byrd, the present incumbent. She has been District President of the Mite Missionary Society of the Jacksonville District, Lake City District and Suwaunee District for twelve years, traveling and working among the sisters and members generally, instructing and showing the necessity of becoming active missionary workers.

Channell, Squire, J., was born on a sugar plantation, near Napoleonville, La., in Assumption Parish on Bayou Lafouche, in the early 60's, the second son of

His parents were founders of Nelson Chapel A.

Channell, Mrs. Letitia Mae, was born in Caddo Parish, a few miles south of Shreveport, La. She grew up on the farm on which she was born. She learned first the country life, the growing of crops, the planting and harvesting of corn and cotton, etc.

At the age of seventeen the godmother took Letitia to live with her in the city of Shreveport, La., at which place she entered the Peabody School and completed the grammar grade. After teaching two summers in the public school work, she went to Mary Allen Seminary, at Crocket, Tex., where she finished the normal course. She then taught in the public school of Shreveport about four sessions and was very proficient in her work. In 1908 she married Rev. S. J. Channell, D.D., one of Louisiana's able preachers.

Since then she has taken her place as one of the mission workers of the State. She was Vice-President of the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society of the Louisiana Conference for several years and was made President and saw the mission work double if not triple. She was president three years, then she was made state president and is holding this office at this writing.

Mrs. L. M. Channell offered New Orleans for the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Convention held February of 1915, which was the greatest of all conventions ever held by the race in the bounds of the city. The convention honored Mrs. Channell by electing her the secretary of that convention.

She was converted when a child and has been a member of the African Methodist Church from her child life up to now. She has composed and published a number of beautiful poems and is called by some of the missionary sisters, “Our Little Poet.” She has expressed the intention of publishing a book of poems at some time in the future.

Chappelle, William David, was born of slave parents, Henry and Patsy Chappelle, who had eleven children, five boys and six girls. William David, the second child, was born in Fairfield Co, about eleven miles from Winnsboro, S. C., November 16, 1857. He began school in 1869. His teachers were northern

Chrystal, Charles S., son of Alexander and Louisa Chrystal, both members of the Baptist Church, was born in 1861 at Mt. Carmel, Ky., one of four children. He has had very little schooling, but studied much at home. He was converted February 23, 1882, and joined church, and has served as steward and class leader. He was lay delegate from the Cincinnati District to the Ohio Annual Conference in September, 1915, and the general conference of 1916. He married Maggie A. Boston, of Dover, Ky., April 18, 1894, and

Cheeks, Robert M., former editor of Southern

Chestnut, Rev. James Horace, son of Henry and Elizabeth Johnson, both members of the Baptist Church, was born July 24, 1873, at Faison, N. C. He was one of fourteen children. He entered school 1886. He received his education at the State College and Claflin University, from which he graduated. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1890; was licensed to preach, 1900, at Orangeburg, S. C., by Rev. S. F. Flegler. He joined the annual conference

He has taken 269 people into the church, baptized 190 and married 45. He married Mrs. Mabel Chestnut, of Orangeburg, S. C., December 20, 1906. They had five children, John, James, Augustus, Alonzo and Harold. He is connected with the F. and A. M., G. U. O. of O. F., K. of P.

Clark, Molliston Madison, first editor of Christian Recorder, 1852-4, was born of mixed parentage in Delaware in 1807, and died while in charge of the A. M. E. Church at Alton, Ill., about 1872. He graduated from Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pa., in October, 1835, and was one of the first college graduates in the A. M. E. ministry. In 1852 he was elected editor of the Christian Recorder, but resigned in 1854 after having gotten out fifteen issues. He was an eloquent preacher and able as a scholar.

Clark, Thomas Garriett, son of Harry and Flora Clark, was born in Wilson county, near the town of Wilson, N. C., July 10, 1876, on the homestead place. There were nine children. Here he grew up on the farm and attended the country and also public school. He entered Lincoln University, Pa., at twenty-two years of age, was converted May 22, 1899, and connected with the Presbyterian Church; entered the Divinity School, Howard University, Fall of 1902,

He joined the A. M. E. Church in 1906, and was licensed in February, at Bethel A. M. E. Church, Sixth and Lombard Streets, Philadelphia, where he labored till the year 1908, when he received his commission to the African field under Bishop William H. Heard, D.D., December 5. He was ordained Deacon at the Philadelphia Annual Conference, June 14, 1908, at Carlisle, Pa., by Bishop Gaines, and was also transferred to the Liberian Annual Conference, West Coast Africa, June 15.

He sailed for Africa with Bishop Heard and other missionaries December 5. He preached his first sermon in Africa January 1, 1909, Rom. 12:1. Met first Annual Conference January 27. He was ordained Elder January 31 and appointed to the Eliza Turner Memorial Church, Monrovia. He was reappointed January 26, 1910, and made Principal of the Mission School. The students enrolled numbered one hundred and thirty.

He raised and contributed October 10 the first one hundred dollars to the “Building Fund” for re-building building the church at this charge. He was appointed to the Bethel A. M. E. Church, Lower Buchanan, Grand Bassa, March 20, 1911, and established a mission station among the Kroo Tribe at Kroo Town, November 26. He baptized seventy-six persons while in Africa.

He was appointed General Missionary at the Annual Conference held at Monrovia, March 15, 1912, and returned to the United States with a native boy, “Uleh,” from the mission station, for the purpose of educating him to return and teach among his tribe. He arrived in America April 10 and was married to Miss Sarah B. Wainwright April 21.

July 1, 1912, he was appointed to Victor's Chapel A. M. E. Church at Mont Clair, N. J. He pastored St. John's A. M. E. Church, Catskill, N. Y., May 26, 1913, to May 31, 1914. Rev. Clark has written a work entitled “Liberia, the African Republic,” setting forth the colonization and steady development and appalling conditions. He shows how non-recognition by foreign power forces decided action on the part of the colonist and retards the formation of a Government modeled after that of the United States.

He was pastor Bethel A. M. E. Church, Elmira, N. Y., May 31, 1914, to May 31, 1915, and compiled a pamphlet on the fifty-first celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation held in this charge. He was appointed pastor at Middletown, N. Y., May 31, 1915.

Clemens, William Edward, was born in Long, Darke County, O., October 15, 1865. On account of superior scholastic and social privileges the family moved to Toledo, O., in 1882, where he has since resided. He entered the Toledo grammar school, was promoted to the high school, but was compelled to leave a year before graduation on account of ill health. After a term at the Ohio Business University he entered

Coffee, Rev. T. W., the eldest of nine children, was born in 1854. His mother, Mrs. Ann Coffee, was a slave and a member of the Methodist Church. Before he was a year old he was taken from his mother and given to another woman to be cared for and his mother was given a white child to nurse who was a few months younger than he. Between six and seven years of age he was taken to the house to attend his mistress' children. Because of cruel treatment he ran away at nine years and attempted to go off with the Union army, but his master begged the captain to let him take him back, promising to treat him kindly, which he says his master did till the Yankees were far away, when he punished him severely. A year later, however, he escaped. At sixteen years old he began going to night school, in Lauderdale County, but attended only a short while. At twenty he could not read and write: but he later attended school in Alabama and LeMoyne Institute, Memphis, Tenn. He was converted at the age of sixteen and he joined Avery Chapel under Rev. Hamilton in 1872 or 1873. He was licensed in 1876 to exhort; 1877 he was assigned to Decatur Mission, Decatur, Ala. The mission had six members and he served them six months and received $12 for his services. He joined the annual conference at Opelika in 1877 under Bishop Campbell and was ordained deacon the same time. In 1880 he was ordained elder at Greensboro, Ala., by Bishop Wayman. He never had local preacher's license. He was sent to Columbiana in the North Ala. conference, pastored here two years, having more than 100 converts and accessions. He next went to Centerville one year, received into church 116. He was sent next to Montevallo, one year, 1880-1881. Next he was sent to Huntsville for one year. In 1882 the conference met at Selma, and Elder Coffee was put in charge of Brown's Chapel, Selma, where he had many converts, and raised the dollar money from $100.50 to $165. After two years he was sent to Birmingham, where he secured a lot for $800, and erected a two-story edifice costing $8000, and added more than 100 persons to the church. Bethel, Mobile; St. Luke, Eufaula; and Tuscumbia were pastored with success, many souls being added to each church. In 1891 he was appointed by Bishop Gaines presiding elder over the Florence district and served two years, when Bishop Grant appointed him presiding elder of the Birmingham district, which he served three years and enjoyed the highest confidence of the bishop, making increases along all lines. In 1896 Bishop Turner transferred him to the Alabama conference and he presided acceptably over the Montgomery district for three years. He served as pastor one year at Eufaula, with increased reports and gave them the best parsonage in that part of the State; was sent from there to Troy for one year and thence to Prattville for two years; again appointed presiding elder of the Florence district North Alabama, serving the same successfully four years. Next he served four years six months as presiding elder of the South Birmingham district with greater success along all lines than upon any district on which he ever served. After the death of presiding elder G. W. Todd he was appointed to the Greensboro (Ala.) district which he is now serving. He has been pastor 18 years and presiding elder 20 years. He was a member of the general conferences of 1896, 1900 and 1912. He married Miss Carrie R. McGowan, of Florence, Ala., in March, 1880, and they have had four children, one deceased, and three who are graduates of the A. & M. College, Normal, Ala.

Coker, Daniel, one of the founders of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Baltimore County, Md., 1780. His mother was a white woman and his father her slave. His full white brother took the greatest interest in him and, to screen him as much as possible from the effect of color prejudice, carried him to the North and secured for him a complete education. By reason of being born under the circumstances narrated above, he was credited as the child of a mulatto woman on the adjoining plantation and had subsequently to be registered as free to secure such a state. To accomplish this, four men of color induced John Needles, a famous Quaker abolitionist of Maryland, to buy him and later grant him emancipation. The four men of color who furnished the money necessary to secure his freedom were Charles Hackett, N. Gilliard, Wm. Watts and George Murray (the last named being the father of Daniel Murray, compiler of “Murray's Encyclopedia of the Colored Race”). The men wished him to teach school in Baltimore and when the whole was arranged, Daniel Coker opened about 1807 the first school for colored children in Baltimore taught by a colored teacher. The Rev. William Douglass, author of the “Annals of St. Thomas Church, Philadelphia,” was one of Coker's pupils. Daniel Coker was one of the leaders in the Baltimore African Church and with others represented that church at Philadelphia, April, 1816, when the African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized. He was elected the first bishop, but next day resigned and was never ordained, Richard Allen being elected in his stead. In 1817 he seems to have left the A. M. E. Church, and in 1821 he joined the first party that went to Liberia. Ten days after the ship Elizabeth left New York, Daniel Coker called the 86 colonists together and formed on shipboard a religious society according to the discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Soon after arriving in Liberia, Daniel Coker and numerous following went to Freetown, Sierra Leone, and there later built a church, where he died in 1846, leaving a family of considerable size, some of whom Bishop Turner met during an episcopal visit there.

Cole, C. P., was born March 20, 1871, at Aiken, S. C. He is the son of John and Nancy Cole. He was

Collier, John William Porter, the third child of M. H. and Louisa Thompson Collier, was born in Marion, S. C., June 12, 1883.

His first teaching was received from his parents; later he attended the Flegler High School, where he studied until 1900, when he left the graduating class and began teaching, in order to sustain his sister in college.

During vacation he worked as a saw-miller, hod-carrier and gardener. He studied at night and taught others without charge. Saturday, April 6, 1901, he was converted in a revival conducted by Rev. F. R. McCay,

Collier entered Allen University, Columbia, S. C., October 1904, with one dollar and fifty-seven cents, and went many days until five o'clock without food.

In June, 1906, he graduated with honors from Allen University, receiving the degree of L.I., and in the fall of the same year was ordained deacon by Bishop Coppin at Lancaster, S. C., and appointed to Camden Mission.

He married Miss Ella N. Laboo, of Bishopville, S. C., his classmate, June 12, 1907.

Bishop Coppin ordained him an elder at Manning, S. C., December 7, 1907, and appointed him to St. Philip Station, Eastover, S. C., where he served two years. Health failing, he was appointed to Wheeler Hill Station, Columbia, S. C., by Bishop Lee. Here his wife, a real help-mate, died.

He was appointed to Brown Chapel Circuit, 1910. In 1911 he graduated from Allen with the degree of B.D., and was reappointed to Brown Chapel whence he transferred, January, 1912, to the New Jersey Conference. Upon his arrival he was sent to Atlantic Highlands, N. J., by Dr. A. L. Murray, P. E.

He married Miss Annie M Poole, of Greenwood, S. C., June 5, 1912, who is now sharing his joys and sorrows.

Rev. Collier delivered the annual sermon to the New Jersey Conference and was sent to the Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church, Plainfield, N. J., his present pastorate, the same year. He is now studying at the Theological Seminary of New Brunswick.

Conner, Bishop James Mayer, son of William and Marie Conner, was born in Winston county, Miss., in 1863 of slave parents. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1881, and was licensed to preach by Rev. J. W. Washington, P. E. of the West Point district, North Miss. Conference, in 1882. He entered the ministry and was sent to Aberdeen Mission in 1883, where he bought and built a new church. In 1884 he was ordained a deacon and elder by Bishop T. M. D. Ward, D. D. After serving at Okolona, Stormsville, he was sent by Bishop Ward to Arkansas and stationed at Forrest City, Ark., to build a church. This done, in 1886, he was sent to Osceola, Ark., to build a church, and then at Newport, Ark., to build a new church. At all these places he gave the connection good churches and added many new members to the church and carried up excellent conference reports, excelling all previous reports. He served four years as P. E. of the Forrest City (Ark.) district, three years on the Vicksburg (Miss.) district, two years on the Jonesboro (Ark.) district and two years on the Little Rock (Ark.) district. He spent two years at Hot Springs, Ark., as pastor, six years at Bethel, Little Rock, Ark., and four years at Fort Smith, Ark. He bought the ground and built the parsonage at Little Rock, Ark., paid the church out of debt at Hot Springs and almost doubled the conference dollar money at these places, also the membership.

His early education was obtained in the public schools fo his native State and Alabama, where he spent the early part of his life. In 1891 was graduated from the National University, of Chicago, with the degree of Bachelor of Sacred Theology; from the American Institute of Sacred Literature, University of Chicago, in 1897, and Shorter College, with the degree of Bachelor of Divinity in 1905. He was president of the executive board, president of the Alumni Association of Shorter College. Morris Brown College, Atlanta, Ga., conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity upon him, and Paul Quinn College, Waco, Tex., gave him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Bishop Conner is an author of several books, among them being “The Outlines of Christian Theology,” “Doctrines of Christ” and “Elements of Success.”

For many years, in connection with his church work, he published the Little Rock Reporter, Arkansas Statesman and Conner's Magazine. For seven years he was at the head of the Business Men's League of Arkansas.

The following are his appointments in chronological

Was Presiding Elder of Forest City District 1893; Little Rock, 1896-97; Vicksburg District, 1897-1901; Little Rock, Ark., 1901-1905; Jonesboro District, 1908-1910; Little Rock District, 1910-12. Was elected Bishop in 1912. Built churches at Aberdeen, Miss., 1883, at a

Lifted mortgages at Hot Springs in 1895 to the amount of $1400; Little Rock in 1897 to the amount of $1200.

Has taken five or six thousand people into the church and baptized about 1800 persons.

Was delegate to the General Conference in 1896 at Wilmington, N. C., and to all others since then. Was member of the Financial Board for eight years, 1904 to 1912.

Married Miss Glovenia L. Stewart, of Kentucky, in 1886. Parents of five children.

Bishop Conner has made many addresses. He has been associated with the Progressive Party, and is owner of a home and other valuable real estate. He served as Bishop of the Eighth Episcopal District, including the States of Mississippi and Louisiana, during the quadrennium 1912-1916, presiding over five conferences in Mississippi and two in Louisiana, and created a new one in Mississippi—the Northwest Mississippi Annual Conference. He is now bishop of Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Cook, Rev. W. D., the son of William B. and Fannie G. Cook, both of whom were African Methodists, was born February 17, 1860, at Warrenton, N. C. He was one of eight children. Began school in 1871 and attended 12 years in all, attending principally public school, Johnson High, Shaw University and Howard University.

Joined Annual Conference in 1878 at Hillsboro, N. C., under Bishop Brown. Held following appointments: Pine Grove Circuit, N. C.; Fayetteville Mission, N. C.; P. Street Mission, Georgetown, D. C.; Durham Station, N. C.; Kinston Station, N. C.; St. John's, Norfolk, Va.; Wilmington, Del.; Bethel, Phila.; Frankford, Pa.; Bridge St., Brooklyn, N. Y.; Atlantic City, N. J.; St. Paul, St. Louis, Mo.; Quinn Chapel, Chicago; presiding elder of Chicago District, and now pastor of Bethel Church, Chicago.

Cooper, Allen R., was born in Quincy, Fla., September 6, 1857, the child of faithful members of the A. M. E. Church, Henry and Charity Cooper. He attended the schools of his native State for nine years;

Converted at the age of fourteen years under the pastorate of Rev. T. G. Steward he united with the church; and filled the following offices: Steward, Sunday School Superintendent, Assistant Class Leader and Secretary of the church. For fourteen years he taught school in Florida and Georgia. After moving from Florida to Georgia he was elected Principal of the Intermediate Department of the Public Schools of the city of Americus, Ga., where he taught for six years. Uniting with Campbell Chapel Church, of Americus during the pastorate of the late William Bradwell, he organized the largest Sunday School in the city and was its Superintendent for a number of years. Received license as a local preacher during the pastorate of the late William C. Banton, D.D., Rev. S. B. Jones being Presiding Elder and one of the oldest at that time in Georgia.

He joined the Macon (Ga.) Conference at Barnesville, the late Bishop W. J. Gaines presiding. At this Conference he was appointed to Mahala Chapel Mission, on the Americus District, where he beautified the church and added a great number of members to the same. His second appointment was at Ellaville Circuit, same district, where he beautified two churches and added a great number of members; after remaining on this circuit for two years he was sent to Columbus and stationed at St. Mark's Station; here he completed a splendid structure erected by Rev. M. R. Wilson. When the latter saw it after its completion as he looked at these words written in gold in the trio windows in front of the building: “Erected by Rev. M. R. Wilson completed by Rev. A. R. Cooper,” tears filled his eyes as he said, “Thank God I have found one Negro preacher willing to give his brother preacher credit for his work.” This is a splendid church and stands to-day a credit to the Connection. Here Rev. Cooper added over 300 to the church. His next appointment was Griffin, in the Atlanta Conference, following the late Dr. E. W. Lee. He remained in this charge two years. He was next sent to Milledgeville, in the Macon Conference, where he erected that beautiful structure, starting with about forty-five members and in three years increasing the membership to over 300. While at Milledgeville he suffered the loss of his wife, Mrs. J. Q. A. Cooper, who had been his helpful companion for eighteen years.

The members petitioned the Conference for his return but by his request of the late Bishop H. M. Turner he was given a small district, viz.: The “Fort Valley,” with only nine appointments. He remained four years, the limit at that time; leaving the district with twenty-two appointments. He next went to Macon and was stationed at Turner Chapel. Remaining two years he paid off all of the debts and increased the membership greatly. From thence was sent to Augusta, Ga., Bethel Church, where a debt was hanging over the church and creditors calling for their money. In two years he had them satisfied that the church would pay them; the lost confidence was reestablished, and everything was moving on smoothly when a telegram called him to report in New York, and at the adjournment of the Conference he was appointed to take the pastoral charge of Bridge Street Church, Brooklyn, N. Y. This church has a wonderful history; during the days of the abolitionist it was one of the stations of the “underground railroad” and from it colored persons were carried to Canada. He was the first pastor in the history of this church to remain four years. He received into the church 1092 members, and raised $48,784.54 in all departments, paid the immediate church entirely out of debt, and made thousands of dollars' worth of improvements.

Cooper, Henry Harrison, the seventh child of Samuel and Sarah Cooper, was born in Philadelphia, Pa.; educated in the Quaker schools of Philadelphia, studied theology and the classics under Rev. Thomas H. Amos, of the Presbyterian Church, Bishop L. J. Coppin and Bishop W. R. Nicholson, of the Reformed Episcopal Church; taught school in Sussex and Kent County, Delaware, for over five years. Studied the printing art at the Industrial School of the Institute for Colored Youths, and founded and established the

Other points served by Rev. Cooper were Bristol, two years; Norristown, Pa., two years; La Mott, Pa., three years; Zion, Philadelphia, three years; West Chester, Pa., two years. In 1910 he was appointed presiding elder of the Philadelphia district. In 1912 he was appointed pastor of Union Church, Philadelphia, which appointment he had held successfully for four years. He represented the Philadelphia conference in the general conference at Norfolk in 1908, and also at Kansas City in 1912.

He was twice married, first to Miss Mary P. Gibbs, who died a year after marriage; next, in 1890, to his present wife, Mrs. Mary M. Cooper. They have seven children.

Cooper, Mrs. Mary M. Bolton, was born in Media, Penna., March 28th, 1870. Her father was a member of the Philadelphia Conference and her mother was a teacher in the Delaware county schools. Mary began school in Media at the age of six. Later she attended

At the age of 12 she became a Christian and joined the A. M. E. Church at Devon, Penna., where her father was the pastor. At his death she joined Bethel, Philadelphia. She was united in marriage to Rev. H. H. Cooper and they have four boys and three girls. As a minister's wife she was ever ready to assist in all the departments of the church, and proved a faithful and willing worker in whatever field to which her husband was assigned. In 1895 she became a member of the Parent Mite Missionary Society and the following year was elected a delegate by the Bermuda Mite Missionary Society to the convention at Bethel, Philadelphia; she was one of the first members of the Philadelphia Conference Branch; also one of its first officers From this body she was elected five consecutive times as assistant secretary, four times chief secretary, four times as the president and filled out a half term as special fund treasurer. She was elected and attended the following biennial and quadrennial conventions of the parent body: At Baltimore, Md.; Cleveland, Ohio; Chicago, Ill.; Atlantic City, N. J., and Detroit, Mich. She organized Mite Missionary Societies at Norwood, Conshohocken, Norristown, Bristol, La Mott, Penna., and Crawl, Bermuda; also junior choirs in several places. The cradle roll was managed and successfully carried on in this same church by Mrs. Cooper bringing to the regular Sunday school treasury as high as $18 and over in one year. In Union church, where her husband now pastors, she organized a junior choir of 40 members, managed the cradle roll of the Sunday school, taught the little mothers' class for the Child's Federation, was principal of the Vacation Bible School No. 93, and other religious and charitable work. She has taken the advanced course in Sunday school work, written several poems and songs, and been generally active in social and church work.

Cooper, John Wesley, the son of Henry and Charlotte Cooper, both members of the A. M. E. Church. Born in Burlington, N. J., 1840. Was one of six children. Entered school when about ten years of age and had about ten years schooling. Attended a country school near his home for over two years. Converted in 1858 and joined A. M. E. Church the same year.

Held the following appointments: Oswego, N. Y., 1867-8; Freehold, 1869; Buffalo, 1871; Melrose, 1873; Coxsackie, 1875; Albany, 1878; Coxsackie, 1879; Camden, N. J., 1880-2; Salem, N. J., 1882; Princeton, Bridgeport, New Brunswick, Cape May, Trenton, Plainfield, Atlantic Highlands, South Camden, Morristown, Woodbury, Rahway, Fair Haven, Riverton, and then to Presiding Elder. Has been elected twice to the General Conference. Married Alvana Cooper, of North Carolina, in 1858, and married again in 1912 to Emma Evans.

He is the father of six children. His sons, William and Robert, are graduates of Lincoln University, and Annie M., a graduate of Institute for Colored Youths. William W. is City Councilman of Cambridgeport, Mass. Mary M. is Vice-President of the Missionary Society, and Anna M. is a public school teacher.

Corde, A. J., was born of poor parents, Frank and Rebecca Corde, August 1, 1860, in Winnsboro, S. C., where his boyhood days were spent. He attended the public school and afterward went to the Fairfield Normal Institute and finished the normal course. He then attended the State Normal School in Columbia, S. C., preparing to enter South Carolina College. He

He was converted when a boy. He was called to the ministry in 1880 and licensed by Rev. David Pickett, Presiding Elder of the Columbia District. He was admitted into the Columbia Annual Conference December, 1883. He pastored the following places: Blythewood Circuit, Bethlehem Circuit, Pleasant Grove Circuit and Union Circuit. He was transferred to the North Carolina Conference in 1903 and sent to the Nashville Circuit. He built the church in Nashville, which the storm had blown down. He organized the church in Rocky Mount, N. C. It was organized in the schoolhouse in the part of town that was called Raleigh then. He pastored the following places in North Carolina: Goldsboro Circuit, Bishop W. J. Gaines appointed him pastor of Kittrell College to follow Dr. Brockett who was transferred to Atlanta, Ga.; Milton Circuit, Pleasant Circuit, Riedsville Station, Liberty Circuit, Hickory Station, Efland Circuit. He organized a church in Efland without a member, preaching for a week under a brush arbor. Next he went to Chapel Hill, the Athens of North Carolina, next to Gailford College, then to Hillsboro, N. C. He appeared before the Board of Education there and made speeches in behalf of a building for his people and by his push and energy the people have a $2000 building. He is known as the chief promoter of Hillsboro. He raised $300 for the people to put in the benches, blackboard, charts and globe in the school-house.

Rev. Corde married Miss Fannie Williams. They lived seventeen years together. She was a faithful wife. She died May 25, 1902, leaving him with five children to care for. This road was rough so he went into the merchandise business and kept a wholesale woodyard, shipping wood to Joplin, N. C. He later took a theological course in Morris Brown University. He married the second time to Miss S. A. Patterson, of Rock Creek, N. C. He was honored with the degree of Doctor of Divinity by Kittrell College. While D. H. Johnson was President of Allen University the Faculty recommended that he receive the degree of D.D.

Coppin, Bishop Levi Jenkins, 30th bishop of the A. M. E. Church, whose parents, John and Jane Coppin, were both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Fredericktown, Md., December 24, 1848, one of eight children. He entered school in 1865 and attended in all five terms. He improved by private study and later attended the P. E. Divinity School, Philadelphia, Pa., from which he received a certificate of graduation. He received the degrees D.D. and LL.D. from Wilberforce Uni. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1865. He has held nearly every office in the church from sexton to bishop. He was licensed to preach in Wilmington, Del., in 1876 by Rev. John F. Thomas, was ordained deacon in 1879 at Reading, Pa., by Bishop Payne, and he was ordained elder in 1880 by Bishop J. M. Brown at Norristown, Pa.; joined Phila. annual conference in 1877 under Bishop Payne, and has served the following charges: Philadelphia City Mission, Morris Brown Mission, Phila.; Allen and Bethel, of Phila.;

Corr, Joseph M., book steward of A. M. E. Church 1832 to 1835, was born of free mixed parentage in Baltimore, Md., in 1806 and received a fair education. In 1826 he was made secretary of the Baltimore Annual Conference and held the same for two years. In 1826 he was secretary of the general conference at Philadelphia. In 1832 he was elected steward of the Book Concern, and during his incumbency issued the second discipline in 1834, and in 1835 the second hymnal of the A. M. E. Church. He died in Philadelphia, Pa., October 18, 1835.

Cox, W. H., was born at Marion, Ala., October 1, 1870, and was brought to Edwards, Miss., in 1878,

He has played a considerable part in the business enterprises of his town, two living organizations bearing record to his business sagacity. He is also active along fraternal lines, leading all organizations of which he is a member. He carries his religion into his business and his business into his religion. He has served the United States Government at Washington with credit to himself and race. For the twenty years he has lived at Friar Point, Miss., no shadow of suspicion has hung over him or his management of affairs.

Craw, Rev. J. Logan, was born in Navasota, Tex., November 21, 1874. With his parents he left the State of Texas when scarcely 5 years of age and located in Parsons, Labette County, Kansas. Here he received a high school education and graduated as valedictorian of his class from Hobson Normal Institute May 24, 1894.

In September, 1895, he was elected as a teacher in the McKinley School in his home town and for seven consecutive years held this position of honor and trust. In May, 1902, against the will of the Board of Education, Prof. Craw resigned as teacher to accept the higher calling of the ministry, having been thoroughly converted in the A. M. E. Church at Parsons, Kansas, with the Rev. J. R. Ransom as his pastor at the age of 19 years. Some three years were devoted to preparation for the work of the ministry and under Bishop Grant at Omaha, Neb., September, 1904, he was admitted on trial to the Kansas Annual Conference. In September, 1906, at the Kansas Annual Conference at Hutchinson, Rev. Craw was ordained deacon by Bishop Grant and began his first active work in the pastorate, being assigned to the Olathe Circuit, Topeka District, Kansas Conference.

On October 3, 1909, Rev. Craw was ordained elder by Bishops Grant and Lee at Bethel A. M. E. Church, Leavenworth, Kansas. On July 1, 1911, Rev. Craw was married to Miss Lillian Jeltz, one of Topeka, Kansas's, most successful teachers and a consecrated Christian lady.

After having pastored very successfully two years in Emporia, the seat of Kansas State Normal School, and two years in Lawrence, the seat of Kansas State University School, Rev. Craw was transferred by Bishop H. B. Parks, presiding bishop of the Fifth Episcopal District, in October, 1911, from the Kansas Conference to the Puget Sound Conference and stationed at Bethel A. M. E. Church, Portland, Oregon. Here Rev. Craw, aided by his brilliant wife and loyal members, paid to the Church Extension Society in October, 1913, the largest amount ever paid at any one time in cash, viz., $2085, a loan which had been standing for sixteen years. The membership was tripled during the three years of Rev. Craw's pastorate and one of the most modern and beautiful churches in the Pacific Northwest nearly completed.

Crayton, F. C., was born in Stewart county, Ga., 1860 or 1861, the son of Archie and Louise Crayton, both members of A. M. E. Church. Was one of nine children. Began attending school in 1869 and received eight years' schooling in all. Spent more than two years in the common schools of Georgia, mostly Florence, Ga. Converted in 1885 and joined A. M. E. Church same year. Has held several offices in the church such as Steward, Trustee, Class Leader, local preacher, Sunday School teacher and chorister. Licensed to preach in 1885 in Stewart county by Rev. S. B. Jones. Ordained Deacon by Bishop Gaines at Milledgeville, in 1889. Ordained Elder at Macon, Ga., in 1891, by Bishop W. J. Gaines. Joined Annual Conference in 1887 at Talbotton, Ga., under Bishop R. R. Disney. Held the following appointments: Preston Mission and Orgelthorpe Circuit, 1888; Mahaley

Rebuilt and remodeled church at Mahaley Chapel Circuit. Completed parsonage and church at Buena Vista, Ga. At Sparta, Ga., he built parsonage. Built church at Warrenton Station. At Mt. Carmel he paid off heavy debt. At Ellaville he lifted mortgage of several hundred dollars. Paid mortgage debt at Milledgeville. Cancelled large mortgage at St. Paul, East Macon, Ga., and built splendid parsonage.

Dr. Crayton has taken between 1200 and 1500 people into the church, baptized hundreds and married eighty. Received degree D.D. from Morris Brown College. Dr. Crayton is a Trustee of Morris Brown College and Recording Secretary of Macon (Ga.) Conference. Married Emma Crayton, 1882, of Alabama. Owns a home in Milledegeville.

Crews, Phillip Caswell, one of fifteen children of Jacob and Joanna Crews, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born June 4, 1850, in Howard County, Missouri. He first went to school in 1867, but made most advancement by means of private study and under good tutors. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1866, and served as steward, trustee, class leader, Sunday school teacher and superintendent, exhorter and local preacher; was licensed to preach by Rev. J. H. Hubbard in 1871, at Chillicothe, Missouri; joined the annual conference at Kansas City, Missouri, September, 1874, under Bishop Wayman, who ordained him deacon in 1875, at Glasgow, Missouri; was ordained elder in 1879 at Springfield, Missouri, by Bishop Shorter, and has held the following appointments, all in Missouri: Heidelburg, 1875-6; La Grange, 1877; Kirkwood, 1878-9; Moberly, 1880-2; Gallatin, 1883-5; Paris, 1886-8; Bowling Green, 1889; Palmyra, 1890-3; Clarksville, 1894; Glasgow, 1895-6; St. Charles, 1897-1900; Louisiana, 1901; Columbia, 1902-6; Macon, 1907-11; Richmond,

Curry, Rev. John Wesley, was born at Monticello, Ark. His opportunities for attending the public schools were very limited. His parents were blessed with sixteen children. Regardless of conditions, he kept striving to make himself a strong man. At 21 years of age he entered the Monticello Seminary, Dr. C. S. Mebane, principal. In four years he finished the teacher's course. He spent some time as teacher, business man, agent and in the fraternity world. He entered Shorter College, N. Little Rock, during the presidency of Dr. T. H. Jackson, spending five years in literary and classical courses. He visited the World's Fair Exposition, St. Louis, 1904. He entered the Theological Department of Shorter College, 1908, tutored under Dr. T. H. Jackson, dean, and Dr. A. H. Hill, president. He was graduated May, 1911, with the degree of B.D. He served two years as Deputy G. Worthy Counsellor, two years as Grand Lecturer of the Courts of Calanthe under Sir J. T. T. Warren, G. W. C. He made the annual visits one year for the G. W. C. He traversed the state from Texarkana to Memphis and from Sterlin to Fort Smith, Ark., visiting and instituting courts.

He was licensed to preach at Maryanna, Drew County, Ark., under Rev. J. D. Dennis, P. E., then of the Monticello District. As pastor, he has served Lee's Chapel Mission, Clio Circuit, South Pine Bluff, Fordyce Station and entertained the Annual Conference, 1911. By request he was transferred from Fordyce Station, West Arkansas Conference, to Northeast Oklahoma Conference

He married Miss C. A. Lytch, daughter of Mr. A. D. and Mrs. Amanda Lytch, in Pittsburgh, Pa., November 28, 1911. Mrs. Curry is talented in music, a graduate of the Pittsburgh High School and a college graduate of Bennett College, N. C., with the degree of A.B.

Rev. Curry was called to take charge at Eufaula in May, 1912. He attended the General Conference, Kansas City, 1912. The same year the Annual Conference met in Muskogee and he was reassigned to Eufaula by Bishop W. D. Chappelle. At the P. E. Council held at Tulsa, April, 1914, he was assigned to Muskogee Station. At the Annual Conference at Red Bird, 1914, he was reassigned to Muskogee. On October 10, 1914, his aged father, one of the faithful pioneer preachers, died.

Curtis, Rev. J. B., was born December 13, 1871, 12 miles north of Natchez, Miss., attended the school of that immediate vicinity for eleven years, beginning at the age of seven years, then studied privately under special instructors, and later attended Leland University, New Orleans, La. He has served entirely within the State of Mississippi—at Hesterville (Miss.) circuit (2 years), Yazoo City circuit (2 years), where he had a large revival; Flora circuit (1 year), Sweet Home Circuit, where he repaired the church and added 50 converts; Hill's chapel circuit, Sidon and Acona circuit, his present charge. In all these places revivals have resulted in large additions to the chruch, spiritual improvement of the people and financial increases. Rev. Curtis' wife was formerly Miss Ordel Banks. The degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Campbell College. He was elected a member of the Centennial General Conference of 1916 by East Mississippi annual Conference.

Daniels, Isaac N., was born January 3rd, 1857, in Madison County, Huntsville, Ala.; went to school two years in Gurleysville, Ala.; five years and six months in Avery, Ala. He graduated from no school; came to

He joined the Iowa Annual Conference in 1889, under Bishop John M. Brown. The first three years of his ministry he built and paid for the church building at Clarinda, Iowa. In 1895 he bought our church property in Aurora, Ill., and paid for the same except $250. In 1897 he was at St. Peter's Mission, Chicago. Here he found 17 members. During five years he took into our church over 500 people. The first four years they worshipped in a store room, but saved $1,000 and made a first payment on a $9,500 church property in North Chicago. The church was incorporated and named Wayman Chapel. After five years' labor with this church he left 175 members and a congregation of 500. In September, 1902, he was sent to Evanston, Ill., where our church had been for more than 30 years without owning a permanent church home. Here he bought for the church its first real estate, which consisted of a fine parsonage with two lots, at the cost of $6,300, which he paid within three years and six months, and increased the membership from 130 to 240. From Evanston he was sent to St. Stephen's Church, Chicago, Ill., in 1907. Here he served one year with success. After preaching 10 years in Chicago and vicinity, he was returned to Aurora, Ill., in 1908. In September, 1910, he was stationed at Des Moines, Iowa, where he served for two years. He received into the church 203 persons and paid some debts. And in 1912 he was appointed Presiding Elder of the Keokuk District of the Chicago Conference, which position he still holds. He is happily married and since 1905 has owned a beautiful home in Evanston, Ill.

David, George Franklin, the son of Baldwin and Hannah David, members of the M. E. Church, was born March 14, 1862, in Harrison County, Ky. His parents had 12 children. He entered school in 1870 and received

Davidson, Henry Damon, was born on the Davidson plantation, three miles below the town of Centreville, Ala., December 16, 1869. His parents, Damon and Adaline Davidson, were pious people and well beloved by white and black for miles around. When Henry was a baby the late Captain Samuel W. Davidson, the former master, said to Henry's father: “Damon, you ought to take care of, raise and educate that boy; a dollar in his head will be worth ten dollars in his pocket.”

When Henry was five years old his parents moved across the Cahawba River nearer the town of Centreville, where he helped his father on the farm and attended the three months public schools in Centreville whenever he could be spared from the farm until the year 1888, when he entered Selma University. After his first term at Selma he went back home, took the State examination for teacher's license, passed, and taught the same school he had attended the year before. The next year he entered the A. M. E. School at Selma, Ala., Payne University, which had just thrown open her doors. His parents being too poor to help him, he had to teach in the rural schools a part of the year, go to school a part and farm the other part. However, by studying hard at night when out of school, he managed to complete the course at Payne with the first class, May 18, 1893.

Our subject was elected when only 17 years old as Superintendent of Mt. Sinai A. M. E. Sunday School, and has held that position for nearly 30 years, “without having been absent on an average of three Sundays a year all of these years,” he says.

Mr. Davidson married Miss Lula J. Davis, a graduate of Tuskegee, in February, 1899. She died June 21, 1908.

He founded Centreville Industrial Institute, of which he is principal, in 1900. He married his present

Mr. Davidson was a delegate to the National Republican Convention which nominated McKinley and Roosevelt at Philadelphia in 1900. He was elected lay delegate to the General Conferences of the A. M. E. Church which met at Columbus, Ohio, in 1900; Norfolk, Va., in 1908; Kansas City, Mo., in 1912, and in Philadelphia in 1916. He holds the office of Sunday School Superintendent, steward and trustee in the church today. He is giving his life for his Maker, church and race.

Davis, Mrs. L. A., is president of the W. H. & F. Society of the Alabama Conference. From girlhood she seemed adapted to missionary work. She began in Brown Chapel A. M. E. Church, Selma, Ala., when a mere girl, as a Sunday school teacher, and taught up to the present time; served as Secretary of the Mite Missionary Society, and is the local secretary of the Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society, having served fifteen years; served eight years as President of the Selma District. As Conference Branch President she has served eleven years, during which time she has raised more than $6,000, having served under Bishops Coppin, Parks and Jones. She has cared for and educated three girls. With a heart full of sympathy for poor unfortunate boys, she has taken several into her home, cared for them. Mrs. Davis' efforts secured the release of a little boy who was guilty of murder, from prison, and had him sent to the Mt. Meigs Reformatory to be trained. Mrs. Davis is chairman of the Dallas County prison work, and for seventeen years

Davis, Rev. Marion E., was born in Ebenezer, Mississippi, January 19, 1864. He was put into the public school at the age of five, and all of his early years were spent in hard study. He was also trained in the home by a loving mother to do anything that a girl could do. In 1880 he taught school in his home county. In

In December, 1905, he was appointed pastor of the Natchez Station. He took hold of this historical church and went to work in earnest, paid off some of the long-standing debt, cleared the church property of all debt, increased the dollar money more than $150, improved all other interests of the church, renovated the church and parsonage at a cost of more than $3,000, paying cash for everything as the improvement went on, and closed up five years there with a glorious success, and just eight weeks before his conference Bishop Coppin requested him to accept Emmanuel, Portsmouth, Va., to succeed the late Dr. L. H. Reynolds. Here he spent five very successful years; in one great revival more than 500 persons were converted; the church was cleared of debt, renovated and new furniture installed at a cost of $2500; a valuable piece of property adjoining the church property was bought and the Church Extension paid in full. In Portsmouth he organized and managed a campaign to raise $5000 to save the Old Folks' Home that was purchased seven years previous to his coming to the state. He has been pastor at Bethel Church, Third Street, Richmond, Va., since April, 1916.

Davis, Rev. William H., presiding elder of the Philadelphia District, Philadelphia Conference, was born in Augusta County, Va., near Staunton, April 23, 1843. He was converted at Mother Bethel, Philadelphia, Pa., and subsequently joined Union A. M. E. Church, 16th Street and Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia. Here he remained for a period of six years and was licensed both as exhorter and local preacher.

In 1871 he was used as a supply at Germantown and the same year at Carlisle, Pa., was received into the itinerancy by Bishop J. A. Shorter. He was present at the conference when the Philadelphia Conference was divided and the N. J. Conference was organized. He has served the following appointments: Phoenixville Circuit, Dover, where he built a church: South Chester, Bristol, Chambersburg, Reading, Frederica, Del.; Mount Olive, Philadelphia, where he served five years; Presiding Elder of the Wilmington District for 5 years; Mt. Pisgah, West Philadelphia, four years; Media three years; Bryn Mawr, Pa., five years; Presiding Elder of the West Philadelphia District over three years, and is at present Presiding Elder of the Philadelphia District, serving his fourth year. He was a member of the general conference of 1912.

Davis, Rev. William Oscar, son of Rev. William H. and Fannie Davis, both members of the A. M. E. Church,

Dean, Cornelius James, the son of John T. and Hannah Ann Barrett, both members of the B. M. E. Church, was born October, 1863, at Chatham, Ontario, one of fourteen children. He entered school when very young and received about ten years' schooling. He received his theological training from Morris Brown College, was converted in 1884, and joined the B. M. E. Church the same year. He has held every office in the church from sexton to Presiding Elder save exhorter; was licensed to preach in 1895 at Detroit, Mich., by Rev. J. M. Henderson, joined the Michigan Annual Conference in 1900 at Grand Rapids, Mich.; ordained deacon in 1901 by Bishop Grant at South Bend, Ind.; ordained elder by Bishop Grant in 1903 at Detroit.

Rev. Dean has held the following appointments: Adrian, Mich., 1899; Pontiac, Mich., 1902; Jackson, Mich., 1906; Benton Harbor, Mich., 1911, and Presiding Elder of South Bend District, 1913. He built a new church at Pontiac, Mich., at a cost of $1356.50; parsonage at Jackson, Mich., at a cost of $2450; enlarged and remodeled church at Benton Harbor at a cost of $1226; repaired church at Adrian, Mich., at cost of $350; has taken 361 people in church, baptized 86 and married 102.

He is a trustee of Wilberforce University. He married Mary A. Whaley, of North Buxton, Ont., in 1883. They have three children: Mrs. Edith P. Tyler, Mrs. Mabel Thomas, both ministers' wives, and James A. Dean, who is now a student in dentistry in the University of Michigan. All are graduates of high schools. Mrs. Thomas is a music teacher. Mrs. Tyler is a graduate of Claryes Business College.

Dean, Henderson, was born in Jefferson County, Miss., 1865. He was one of thirteen children, the son of George and Lucy Dean, both members of the Baptist Church. He entered school in 1875 and attended about three years. He spent over two years in the Port Gibson public schools. He was converted in 1886 and joined the A. M. E. Church at the same time. He has held the following offices in the church; Trustee, Steward, Class Leader, Exhorter, Local Preacher and Sunday School Teacher. He was licensed to preach in 1892 at Chotard, Miss., by E. R. Carter. He was ordained deacon in 1896 at Columbus, Miss., by Bishop W. B. Derrick. He was ordained elder in 1899 at Vicksburg, Miss., by Bishop Derrick. He joined the Annual Conference in 1894 at Durant, Miss., under Bishop H. M. Turner. He has held the following appointments: Mayersville, 1895-97; Brunswick, 1898; Leota Circuit, 1899; Anguilla Circuit,

He built a church at Mayersville at a cost of $550 in 1896 and a parsonage at Brunswick at a cost of $300 in 1893; also a parsonage at Lintonia at a cost of $400 in 1903. He lifted a mortgage at Holly Bluff to the amount of $350 in 1907. He has taken about 850 persons into the church, baptized about 600 and married about 87.

He has been delegate to the General Conferences of 1904, 1912 and 1916. His wife is Mrs. Nannie Dean, of Marietta, Ga. He was director of an insurance and a member of the F. and A. M. He owns a home.

Deas, Dohn Carlos, son of William and Mary Deas, was born October 23, 1875, at Kershaw county, S. C., one of thirteen children. He entered school at the age of seven and attended in all about twenty years. He graduated from Claflin University. He received a diploma in 1908 from Allen University in Theology and the degree D.D. from Allen in 1912. He took a correspondence course in theology from Morris Brown University. He was converted in 1893 and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1895. He has held several offices in the church. He was licensed to preach in 1895 at Orangeburg, S. C., by Rev. W. D. Chappelle. He was ordained deacon in 1897 at Lancaster, S. C., by Bishop Arnett, and ordained elder in 1899 at Darlington, S. C., by Bishop Grant. He joined the annual conference in 1897 at Darlington, S. C., under Bishop Arnett, and has held the following appointments: Parlorsville circuit, St. Stephen's mission, Couterboro station, Wedgefield and St. Luke circuit, Darlington station, Mt. Olive, Mt. Pleasant, Marion station, appointed presiding elder of Marion district at Florence, S. C., in 1915. He built St. Stephen church near St. Matthews, S. C., at a cost of $400 in 1899. He lifted mortgages on Bethel and Orange Hill churches at Wedgefield in 1902 and on Bethel, Darlington, S. C., at a cost of $200 in 1905. He has taken 950 into the church, baptized 200 and married 50. He was elected delegate to the general conferences of 1912 and 1916. He was recording secretary of the N. E. S. C. conference for 4 years, chief secretary for 6 years, trustee of Allen University for ten years, and a member of the Executive Board for three years. He married Mary King, of Spartansburg, in 1895 and had two children, Mattie and Dohn Carlos, Jr. In 1904 he married Ellen F. Johnson, of Newberry, S. C. He is connected with the Good Samaritan and K. of P. He has held the office of deputy in the Good Samaritan. He owns a home in Sumter, S. C.

DeLaine, Henry Charles, son of Charles and Caroline DeLaine, both members of the A. M. E. Church, was born August 4, 1859, at Manning, S. C., one of thirteen children; began attending school in 1870 and spent over nine years in the county schools. He was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church in 1876 and has held nearly every office in the church. He was licensed to preach in 1880 at Manning by Rev. William M. Thomas; joined the annual conference in 1889 at Columbia, S. C., under Bishop Arnett; was ordained deacon in 1890 at Manning by Bishop Arnett, and elder in 1897 at Manning by Bishop Salter. He has held the following appointments: Manning, 1887-91;

Derrick, Bishop William B., 23rd bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Antiqua, of the West Indies, on July 27, 1843. His father, Thomas J. Derrick, was said to be a planter of some means in Antiqua. In 1867 he entered the itinerant ministry; the next year he was ordained deacon, and in 1870 he was ordained elder at Norfolk, Va., by Bishop Wayman. In 1888 he

Dickerson, John H., was born in Madison, Fla., one of four children; entered school in 1872 and attended about ten years in all. He attended Cookman Institute and Edward Waters College, graduating from the latter. He has received degrees from Wilberforce and Edward Waters College. Converted in 1882, he joined A. M. E. Church and has held almost every office in the church. He was licensed to preach at Ocala, Fla., in 1886, by Rev. J. R. Robinson; ordained deacon in 1887 at Palatka, Fla., by Bishop Payne; ordained elder 1890 at Gainesville, Fla., by Bishop Arnett; joined the annual conference in 1886 at Fernandina, Fla., under Bishop Payne, and has held the following appointments in Florida: San Mateo, 1886: East Palatka, 1887; Jacksonville, 1888; Green Cove Springs, 1889; Jacksonville, 1890; Hawthorne, 1891; Starke, 1891; Ocala, 1892; Tampa, 1893; Palatka, 1894; Citra, 1895; elected to Payne Theol. Institute 1896; appointed presiding elder 1899; built Payne Chapel, East Palatka, at a cost of $1500 in 1887; Mt. Moriah, Jacksonville, at a cost of $2000 in 1888; Mt. Zion, Ocala, at a cost of $3000 in 1892; rebuilt church at Hawthorne at a cost of $500 in 1890, and Starke at a cost of $500 in 1891; bought a church site at Tampa in 1893 at a cost of $10,000; elected delegate to general conferences of 1892, 1896, 1900, 1904, 1908, 1912 and 1916. He was a member of the Educational Board in 1908-12, and of the Church Extension Board in 1904-8. Married Fannie Sims, of Newberry, S. C., in 1883. They have one daughter, Miss Minnie L. Dickerson, who is a graduate. He is a thirty-third degree Mason and has been grand master of the Freemasons of Florida for the last seventeen years. Dr. Dickerson is a Republican. He attended the national conventions in 1908 and 1912. He owns valuable property and is considered one of the substantial men of the race. He is president of the Florida Boys' Home for Colored Youth and president of the Negro Business League. Under his direction has been built in Jacksonville the finest Masonic temple owned by the race, the cost of which is said to be more than $250,000.

Dickerson, William Fisher, thirteenth bishop of A. M. E. Church, was born in Woodbury, N. J., January 15, 1844, the son of Rev. Henry and Sophia Dickerson, both members of the A. M. E. Church. He received a common school education in his native town. He was converted and received into the A. M. E. Church in New York in 1861. He entered Lincoln University and graduated; was licensed to preach while at Lincoln by Rev. H. J. Rhodes at Oxford, Pennsylvania, and joined the New York Annual Conference in 1870. He was ordained deacon in 1868 and elder in 1871. He received the degree

Dixon, Marcellus Richardson, the seventh son of Benjamin and Matilda Dixon, was born in Natchez, Mississippi, December 14, 1872. His mother and grandmother were charter members of Zion Chapel A. M. E. Church of Natchez. He attended the public schools and Natchez College; was converted and joined Zion Chapel A. M. E. Church in 1897 under the pastorate of Dr. O. P. Ross and the revival meeting of Rev. R. A. Adams. He was licensed to preach by Rev. J. G. Thompson. In the fall of 1897 he matriculated at Morris Brown College, Atlanta, Ga., and finished his theological course in 1902. He joined the North Ga. conference November, 1899; was ordained a deacon by Bishop Turner at Newnan, Ga., November, 1901; was transferred to the Central Mississippi conference in 1902 and ordained elder by Bishop Tyree, and received his first appointment December 14, 1902. He has served the following appointments: Columbus, Miss., 1 year; St. John, West Point, Miss., 1903-4; St. Peter's, Port Gibson, Miss., 1904-09; Brookhaven, Miss., 1909-10; presiding elder of the Summit district, Miss. conference, 3 months in 1910-11. In 1911 Bishop Turner transferred him to the Louisiana conference and appointed him to historic St. James, New Orleans, La., where he served successfully five years and at the 1916 session of the Louisiana conference Bishop Connor transferred him to the North Mississippi conference and appointed him to St. Matthew's A. M. E. Church, Greenville, Miss., where he is now serving. He has served as trustee of Campbell College, Jackson, Miss., and of Lampton College, Alexandria, La. He was treasurer of the Louisiana conference and for four years led the Louisiana conference in all reports. On April 20, 1904, he was married to Miss Katie Stevens, of Natchez, Miss. Four sons were born to their union

Drummond, Rev. William Solomon, was born in Wattsville, Va., November 2, 1867, the son of William Thomas and Caroline Drummond, farmers.

He attended public school at his birthplace during his boyhood days a few months each year, from the age of eight to sixteen. Then he was hired out on the farm. At the age of eighteen he went to Lewes, Del., where he worked for a large firm. At the age of twenty he came to Philadelphia, May 5, 1887. The following Autumn he joined Mt. Pisgah A. M. E. Church, under Rev. J. B. Stansberry, and filled the following offices:

President of the literary association, class leader, trustee and local preacher.

He was licensed to preach at the District Conference at Concordville in 1898. In 1894, at the age of 28, he married Henrietta Tull, of Pocomoke City, Md. To this union there are 5 children, four girls and one boy. In 1899 he joined the Philadelphia Conference under Bishop Grant. He served the following appointments:

Pottsville, Penna., 1899-1900; Disney Chapel in Philadelphia, 1900-1902, during which time he was a private student under Dr. Solomon Porter Hood; Emmanuel, 24th & York Sts., Philadelphia, 1902-1907, during which time he attended Müller College for two years. The Lord wonderfully blessed his work in this charge, the membership increasing from 30 to 165; Mt. Zion, Columbia, Pa., 1907-1909, where he paid off the

He was ordained deacon at Bethel Church, Wilmington, Del., in 1902 by Bishop Coppin, and ordained elder at Mt. Pisgah in 1904 by Bishop Arnett.

Dukes, John Walter, was born September 8, 1855, at Waccahoota, Marion Co., Fla., the son of Floyd and Sophia Dukes, and slave of Wm. Price. He was converted in May, 1867, and joined the A. M. E. Church June, 1871, under the pastorate of Rev. Limas Andrews, and joined the A. M. E. Church at Williston, Fla., now known as Grant Chapel. He was licensed to preach in 1880 by Rev. M. J. Johnson and joined the East Florida conference, February, 1883, under Bishop Wayman and was appointed to Micanopy Mission, which he pastored 4 years; ordained deacon in 1885 and elder in 1887, both by Bishop Payne; appointed to the Citra circuit in 1887 and remained 4 years, and organized the great Turner City camp meeting and succeeded in getting special recognition from the railroad. In 1890 he was appointed to Mt. Zion Church, Ocala, had a great revival, more than 250 persons being converted, and dollar money increased from $112 to $176.50. In 1891 he raised the largest amount of money ever raised in one rally in Ocala, $832, and began building Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church. In 1892 he was appointed presiding elder of the Tampa district in the newly made South Florida conference by Bishop Arnett. After 4 years, 1892-1896, he served the Gainesville district 2 years (1896-1898); Sanford district, 2 years (1898-1900), and in 1900 was appointed pastor of Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church, Ocala, Fla. Since then he has served as follows: 1901-2, DeLand Station; 1902-3, Eatonville Station; 1903-6, presiding elder of the St. Petersburg district, Central Florida conference; 1906-9, pastor of Mt. Tabor Station; 1909-10, Crystal River; 1910-11, High Springs Station; 1911-12, St. Paul Station, Leesburg; 1912-13, Apopka Station; 1913-16, Clearwater Station, where he has built one of the best A. M. E. churches in Florida. He was elected to the general conferences of 1896, 1900, 1904, 1908, 1912 and 1916, and was chairman of the Florida delegation in 1912. He was married in 1876 and is the father of three children, two of whom lived to be of age; his son was a physician and died in 1910 at the age of 33, and his daughter died 1903 at the age of 24. Rev. Dukes has accumulated some valuable property in Ocala, Tampa and Clearwater with a rental income of $110 per month. He was state superintendent of the A. C. E. League from 1908 to 1912 and was reappointed in 1916. He made Florida the banner state in Christian Endeavor work. While he was presiding elder of the Tampa district he organized the Ward camp meeting ground in 1894 at Lakeland, Fla., and the railroad gave another large tract of land and built a large pavilion and a church house for the ministers, and for a long time this ground was used by the church.

Edwards, Rev. William, was born in Brooklyn, New York, September 14, 1868. His father was Griffin Edwards, of Virginia, and his mother was Martha Edwards, of Brooklyn. Rev. Edwards received his literary education in the grammar and high schools of Brooklyn, where he also received a business course, and his theological training at Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, which he attended in 1894-96. He has served as Sunday school teacher and organist; also been engaged in several law offices as clerk and stenographer. He has served several sessions as stenographer of the New York Conference. In his home town he is highly respected and was secretary for the Committee on Incorporation of the village, and in 1910 was a census enumerator. He was one of the first colored persons to purchase and own a home in Mineola, L. I. His wife, Mrs. Mary S. Edwards, was born in Keyesville, Va., in 1869, and is a trained nurse and graduate of Dixie Hospital, Hampton, Va. She is president of the New York Conference Branch Women's Mite Missionary Society and is an energetic Christian worker. Her mother, Mrs. Emeline Bailey, now deceased, was a member of the Old Third Street A. M. E. Church, Richmond, Va., under the pastorate of Bishop Wm. B. Derrick.

Rev. Edwards has served the following charges in the African Methodist Episcopal Church: Salem, Roslyn; Bethel, Freeport; Mt. Zion, Westbury; Allen, Northport; Bishop's Chapel and Bethel Chapel, New York City, and Douglaston, Long Island, where he is now pastor. He built a neat little church at Northport, Long Island, and designed and built one of the prettiest edifices for worship in Freeport, Long Island, within the short space of three years. He is a church organizer and has also been successful in raising funds and paying off church debts. He is a member of several secret organizations, namely, the G. U. O. of O. F., and F. & A. M., and is identified with every good cause for the advancement and progress of the church or race in his community.

Edwards, Watson Henry, presiding elder of Senatobia District, N. E. Mississippi Conference, is the son of John and Rachel Edwards, both of whom were devout members of A. M. E. Church. He was born on a farm eight miles from the Mississippi River, east of Egypt Ridge, in Boliver County, Mississippi, in February, 1865. His parents and his pastor, Rev. Lott Stirling and a white lady, named Mrs. Johnson, were his early teachers.

He attended Southland College, Helena, Arkansas, one year; Roger Williams University, Nashville, Tennessee, one year, and three years in Fisk University, which he was forced to leave in March, 1888, on account of the death of his father, which threw the responsibility of the family support largely upon him. But he never stopped studying. He received the degree of D.D. from Campbell College, Jackson, Miss.

He was converted in 1878 and joined the A. M. E. Church the same year.

Licensed to preach in 1880 by Rev. Albert Jackson, of the Greenville District. He joined the annual conference in 1890 at Senatobia, Mississippi, when Bishop Disney presided, was ordained deacon at Greenville, Miss., by Bishop B. T. Tanner, in 1891, and elder in 1893, at Yazoo City, Miss., by Bishop Arnett.

Served the following places:

Sherwood Mission, 1890; Glen Allen Circuit, 1891; Chotard, 1892; Hollandale, 1893; Vicksburg and Coahoma, 1894-5; Stovall Circuit, 1896-7; Arkabutta, 1898; Senatobia, 1899; Harrison, 1900; Tucahoma, 1901; Leland, 1902-3; Anguilla, 1904; Columbus, 1905; Coldwater, 1906; Grenada, 1907-8; presiding elder of Holly Springs District, 1909; Water Valley District, 1910-11; Senatobia District, 1912-16. He built Phillips Church at Holly Springs, 1910; cost, $850; Edwards' Chapel at McMoore, 1896; cost, $500; St. James at Duncan, 1898, cost, $725; St. James at Leland, 1904, cost, $2500; Payne Chapel at Bent Oak, 1905, cost $550; Hines' Chapel near Leland, 1904, cost, $450 and paid the mortgage on Powell Chapel at Grenada, 1908, to the amount of $405.

Rev. Edwards has received about 1000 people into the church, baptized about 500 and married 150. He was delegate to General Conferences in 1904, 1908 and 1912, and was unanimously elected the leader of his delegation for 1916; was a member of the Board of the Western Recorder, 1912-1916; a trustee of Campbell College and Wilberforce University; treasurer of Northeast Mississippi Conference and its acknowledged leader, and member of the Financial Board, representing the 8th district.

Ellis, George W., spent six years in the college and law departments of the University of Kansas, then specialized in the study of the social sciences, graduating

However, aside from his official duties in Africa, his most important work was his study of the native institutions of the Vai Speaking Negroes, resulting in his manuscript on Negro Social Life and Culture in Africa.

As a result of the original work and investigations of George W. Ellis into native social conditions and African problems he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society of Great Britain upon the proposal and nomination of Sir Harry H. Johnston, G.C.M.G., K.C.B., one of the greatest living African authorities in Europe, and Dr. J. Scott Keltie, author of the noted book, “The Position of Africa.” Subsequently, he was elected a member of the following learned societies: African Society for the Study of Native Institutions, London; American Sociological Society; American Political Science Association; American Academy of Social and Political Science; American Society of International Law; honorary member of the Luther Burbank Society, and decorated Knight Commander of the Order of African Redemption. He is now one of the contributing editors of the Journal of Race Development of Clark University at Worcester, Mass., and the Editor of Who's Who of the Colored Race.

It might be added that Mr. Ellis has, perhaps, the largest and most representative single ethnological African collection now in the National Museum at Washington, D. C. He has made a number of addresses in different portions of the United States and elsewhere upon African and Negro questions and was a member of the African Conference at Clark University, Worcester, Mass., in 1910.

He is author of the new book, entitled, “Negro Culture in West Africa.” He was a delegate to the General Conference of 1912, representing Liberia and is a member of the Centennial General Conference. He has also been a member of the Financial Board since 1912.

Embry, James C., 25th bishop of the A. M. E. Church, was born in Knox County, Ind., November 2, 1834. His parents were Baptists. He entered school when quite young and received a good common school education, and taught school prior to 1858. He was converted in 1855 in Galena, Ill., and was licensed to preach in 1856 by Rev. F. Meyers in Galena. He joined the annual conference in August, 1864, under Bishop Quinn. He was ordained deacon in 1866 and ordained elder in 1870. He held many appointments

Evans, Rev. James Joshua, the son of Simon and Mary (Derricks) Evans, was born in Knoxville, Frederick County, Maryland, June 13, 1855. He attended the public schools of his native town. At the age of 16 years he entered Storer College of Harper's Ferry, West Va., and remained for two years. From here he went to Washington, D. C., and attended Wayland Theological Seminary. He was converted in 1880 and in 1883 was ordained deacon by Bishop Cain, in Brooklyn, N. Y., and in 1886 he was ordained an elder by Bishop Turner at Harrisburg, Pa. He has received into the church 635 persons and has baptized 263, married 72 couples and attended 137 funerals. He has built three new churches from the ground, rebuilt five and paid four out of debt. He has entertained the Philadelphia Conference at Chambersburg, Pa., and the Indiana Conference at Terre Haute, Ind.

Rev. Evans was married in 1885 to Miss Lydia Samuel George, of Elizabeth, N. J. He has pastored the following charges with some degree of success: 1883-4, Elizabeth, N. J.; 1885, Bay Shore, N. Y.; 1886-88, Milton, Del.; 1889, Green Castle, Pa.; 1890-1, Zion Chapel, Phila.; 1892-3, Chambersburg, Pa.; 1894-5, Carlisle, Pa.; 1896-7, Allen Chapel, Phila.; 1898-9, Ebenezer, West, Washington, D. C.; 1900, Christfield, M. D.; 1901, St. James, Louisville, Ky.; 1902-3, Taylor Chapel, Bowling Green, Ky.; 1904, LaGrange, Ill.; 1905, Allen Temple, Marion, Ind.; 1907-8, Spruce St., Terre Haute, Ind.; 1909, Bethel, Evansville, Ind.; 1910-11, Bloomington, Ill.; 1912, Edwardsville, Ill.; 1913-4, Mound City, Ill.; 1915, Bethel, Quincy, Ill.; the last named being his present charge. He is now serving his 32d year in the itinerant ministry of the A. M. E. Church.

Evans, Miss Mary G., was born in Washington City, D. C., January 13, 1891. Her parents died when she was a child. She was adopted by Rev. and Mrs. J. J. Evans, Mrs. Evans being her aunt and who then resided in

FELDER, REV. S. P., was born July 1, 1863, at Greensburg, La. His parents were Joseph and Susan Felder. He grew up to the age of seventeen years before he began his education. He began by attending night schools in 1879, and afterwards attended public school. He married in 1880, and desiring to continue his education he hired private teachers who continued to feed his fertile brain until he developed into a scholar of no mean ability. He joined the A. M. E. Church on probation in 1878 and was converted in 1881, was licensed as an exhorter March, 1885, licensed as a local preacher September, 1885. He studied theology under a private teacher, T. A. Wilson. He entered the ministry December, 1887, was ordained a deacon in 1888 and was ordained an elder, 1890. He is one of Mississippi's greatest preachers. More than a thousand souls have been converted by his sermons. He was a successful pastor and is an excellent presiding elder. In the latter position he is now serving his sixteenth appointment. He is a financier, builder and leader of affairs of the church and school in the State of Mississippi. His leadership is not confined to the Church and school alone, and served two years as state General Manager of the Mutual Aid Society in the State of Mississippi, and resigned the position because of his ministerial responsibilities. He was afterwards elected as Supreme Grand Master of the Independent Order of Eagles, which position he now holds. He also was the first president of the People's Saving Bank at Shaw, Miss. He resigned this position because of being over-burdened with responsibility. He has served on the Church Extension Board eight years, and was elected delegate to the Ecumenical Conference, which was held in Toronto, Canada, October, 1911. He has been elected delegate to five consecutive General Conferences, from 1900 to 1916, and has served twelve years on the Episcopal Committee. He is a trustee and manager of Campbell College farm. The degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Campbell College.

He organized Log Town, Jordan River, Bay St. Louis, which was beginning of the Gulf work, while he was a local preacher, and has organized many churches since.

Flagg, Rev. L. S., was born about fifty years ago, near Raleigh, N. C. He was converted in early youth. The first Sunday school attended was the A. M. E. His parents moved to a village in the suburbs of the city of Raleigh, where there was no A. M. E. Church and he attended the M. E. Church and Sunday school and was licensed to preach in that church and used by them as a supply while he attended school to further prepare himself for the ministry. He was often importuned to join the M. E. Conference, but true to his first love he joined the A. M. E. Conference, under Bishop Campbell, at Wilmington, N. C. While attending school he was for a time instructor in theology, but before he graduated, on account of the great demand for preachers, he was compelled to take work. Being

He served as presiding elder of the Morganton District of the West North Carolina Conference, and was transferred to the Baltimore Conference by Bishop J. A. Handy, where he has held important charges, among them Mother Bethel, Baltimore. During his administration, Bethel Church raised more than one thousand dollars a month for all purposes. Though deprived of the opportunity of completing his education, he is in great demand as a preacher, which shows that the A. M. E. Church recognizes work and worth.

Fleming, James Robert, one of seven children of Robert and Annie Fleming, both members of A. M. E. Church, was born in Washington, Georgia, in 1865; attended school in Washington six years; graduated from Morris Brown University; received the degree of D.D. from Campbell College, Jackson, Miss.; was converted in 1881 and joined Woods Chapel A. M. E. Church; held offices of steward, class leader, local preacher, Sunday school teacher and superintendent; was licensed to preach 1887 in Allen Temple, Atlanta, Ga., by Rev. J. G. Yeiser; was ordained deacon 1890 at Cartersville by Bishop Gaines; ordained elder 1894 in Marietta, by Bishop Grant. He joined the annual conference at Washington, Ga., in 1889 under Bishop Gaines; held the following appointments, all in Georgia; Stone Mountain, 1889-1892; Jackson, 1893; Deraville, 1894; Acworth, 1895-96-97; Griffin, 1898-99; Jamesboro, 1900-1904; Madison, 1905; presiding elder twelve years; built churches at Stone Mountain at cost of $500 in 1890; Acworth at $1500 in 1895; Grant Chapel, $500 in 1896; Jamesboro, $500 in 1901. Lifted mortgages at Jackson, $300, 1893, and Griffin, $500, 1898; was delegate to general conferences of 1912 and 1916. Married in 1882 to Gussie Bailey, of Warrenton, Ga.; one child, Anna S. Fleming. Owns a home.

Fleming, John William, was born February 14, 1871; converted in 1892; married Miss Lucina Page in 1893; was licensed to exhort December 19, 1895, by Rev. J. W. Dukes, P. E.; appointed to first pastorate 1898 by Rev. R. D. Lewis, P. E.; ordained deacon in 1900 at Tampa, Fla., by Bishop Gaines; ordained elder in 1906 at Gainesville, Fla., by Bishop Tanner; held the following appointments, all in Florida: Mulberry, where he organized the A. M. E. Church, bought a lot and built a church; Worthington Springs, where he bought land and built a church; Hopewell, where he built a parsonage; Okahumpka circuit, where he built a church; Bloomfield; Dutton, one year; Interlachen, where he remained four years, buying a lot in town and building a church; Citra, two years; Gainesville, three years, making much needed improvements to the church, and Ebenezer A. M. E. Church, Live Oak, his present pastorate. Rev. Fleming was a delegate to Centennial General Conference, Philadelphia, May, 1916, and is a trustee of Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, Fla.

Flipper, Joseph Simeon, 33rd bishop of the A. M. E. Church, the second of five sons of Festus and Isabella (Buckhalter) Flipper, was born February 22, 1859, in Atlanta, Georgia, a slave of Ephraim G. Ponder. In 1867 he attended a missionary school in Bethel A. M. E. church, Atlanta, and Storrs school. In October, 1869, he was numbered among the first students to enter the Atlanta University, where he remained until 1876, when he entered public life, teaching school at Thomaston, Ga. He went to Thomasville, where his parents had gone, in 1877. Here he was converted in March, 1877, and joined St. Thomas A. M. E. church under Rev. S. W. Drayton. In 1877 and 1878 he taught school in Thomas county. In 1879 he was commissioned by Governor Alfred H. Colquitt, captain of the Thomasville Independents, a colored company, forming a part of the State militia. In 1879 he taught school at Groverville, now Key, Brooks County, Georgia. Here he was licensed both as an exhorter and local preacher and recommended by the local church for admission into the Georgia annual conference of the A. M. E. church, and in January, 1880, he was received into the itinerant ministry of the Georgia conference at Americus, Georgia, by Bishop Campbell, and assigned to Groversville circuit; served Boston circuit 1881. He was ordained deacon in January, 1882, by Bishop Dickerson in St. Thomas A. M. E. church, Thomasville, Georgia. Here also he was elected secretary of the Georgia conference, and a trustee of Morris Brown College; was appointed to Darien, Georgia, in 1882. In 1883 he taught school at Cairo and Whigham, Georgia. In January, 1884, he was ordained elder at Valdosta, Georgia, by Bishop Dickerson and appointed to Quitman, Georgia, remaining there until January, 1886, when at the conference at Hawkinsville, Georgia, he was transferred from the Georgia conference to the North Georgia conference by Bishop Shorter, and appointed to Bethel A. M. E. church, Atlanta, the largest church in the State. He was the youngest man that had ever been appointed to so important a charge in the State. His mother had been a member of this church and he had attended its Sunday school when a boy, and in the old church had first learned his alphabet. He remained here four years, the full limit of the law, and raised more dollar money than had ever been raised in any church in the entire State. No other pastor exceeded his record for 25 years. From here he was appointed pastor of Pierce chapel, A. M. E.

Ford, Rev. Robert E., was born at Washington, D. C., August 13, 1869. He was educated at Howard University, graduating from the Theological Department in 1897. He was converted when but twelve years old. His parents being Baptists, he joined the Vermont Avenue Baptist Church, and at 23 was licensed to preach by Rev. G. W. Lee, the pastor. However,

Soon after his graduation he was sent to supply Oxford Circuit by Bishop Handy, and served successfully, at the same time marrying Miss E. V. Turner, of Washington County, Md. He entered the Baltimore Conference in 1898, and was ordained deacon in 1899 by Bishop Handy, and elder, 1901, by Bishop Lee.

He has served with credit the following charges: Oxford Circuit, Pocomoke Station, Fruitland Circuit, Chesapeake Circuit, Carroll Circuit, Elkton and Cecilton Stations, all in the Baltimore Annual Conference. In 1911 Bishop L. J. Coppin appointed him presiding elder of the Baltimore District, and after a year of successful services, he was given charge of the Easton District, which he is now serving.

Rev. Ford was the first secretary of the Easton District; secretary of the Baltimore District eight years, and the recording secretary of the Baltimore Annual Conference eight years.

He enjoys the rare distinction of being both artist and poet. The walls of his comfortably furnished home are adorned with his own water color paintings, and he has also published “Brown Chapel,” an epic, as well as other verse. He is at present the chairman of the committee on the Fourth Year's Studies in the Baltimore Annual Conference and a delegate to the Centennial General Conference in Philadelphia.

Foree, Byron W., was born at Crawford, Lowndes County, Mississippi, in 1864, and has lived in West Point, Miss., over forty years. He joined the A. M. E. Church at the age of seventeen years and has been an active member of the same church for more than thirty years. He has been trustee and steward for twenty years and holds the positions of trustee, steward, class leader and superintendent of St. John's A. M. E. Sunday school, West Point, Miss. He is also superintendent of Allen C. E. L., of the North Miss.

He received his education in the county and city schools, was prominent in many of the secret orders of Masons, Odd Fellows, Pythians, etc. He is a Republican in politics and has been prominent in the affairs of the party in his State, having filled positions of honor and trust.

He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Campbell College at Jackson, Miss., having served in that capacity for six years.

He is a good citizen and devotes most of his time to the church and the general welfare of his race. He is married and has a prominent family, one of his daughters being a teacher in Campbell College.

Fountain, Dr. William A., now president of Morris Brown University, is the son of Rev. Richard and Virginia Fountain, both of whom were devoted members of the A. M. E. Church. He was born October 29, 1870, at Elberton, Georgia, one of seventeen children. He entered school at the age of six and attended about sixteen years, attending Elberton public school, Morris Brown University, Allen University, Turner Theological Seminary, graduating from each and taking a post-graduate course at Chicago University, and non-resident courses in Central University. He has the following degrees:

A.B., from Morris Brown; A.M., from Allen University: S.T.B., from Turner Seminary; B.D. and Ph.D., from Central University.

He was converted April, 1888, and joined Allen Temple A. M. E. Church, Atlanta, Georgia, the same year.

Has held almost every office in church.

He was licensed to preach at Elberton, Ga., in 1893, by Rev. (now bishop) J. S. Flipper. He joined the annual conference at Marietta, Georgia, under Bishop Grant; was ordained deacon at Athens, Ga.,

Prendergrass Mission; Athens-Bethel; Washington-Jackson Chapel and Pope's Chapel; Marietta, Ga., Turner Chapel; Atlanta, Ga., Allen Temple; Wilmington, N. C., St. Stephens; Macon, Ga., Steward Chapel; presiding elder of Athens District.

He is now president of Morris Brown University, Atlanta, Georgia, having been elected to succeed president E. W. Lee, upon his death in 1911. Under his administration the university has greatly prospered. He built Pope's Chapel at Washington, Georgia, at a cost of $20,000; repaired the parsonage at Marietta, Ga., at a cost of $2000; bought lot and beautified church, paid church out of debt at Atlanta, $5000; left $500 to build a Sunday school room for St. Stephens at Wilmington, N. C.; established an Old Folks' Home and built a parsonage at cost of $4000 for Steward Chapel, Macon, Georgia. He has lifted mortgages at Athens, Marietta, Allen Temple and Steward Chapel.

Dr. Fountain has been a delegate to the following General Conferences:

Columbus, Ohio, in 1900; Chicago, in 1904; Norfolk, in 1908; Kansas City, in 1912, and the Centennial General Conference at Philadelphia, in 1916.

Gaines, Rev. P. P., the son of Emery and Charlotte Gaines, both of whom are members of the A. M. E. Church, was born March 19, 1866, at Seaford, Del. He was one of eight children. He entered school when quite young and spent more than 12 years in school. He spent over two years in the public schools of Seaford. He has received degrees and diplomas from Morris Brown and the State Sabbath School Association. He was converted in 1887 and joined the A. M. E. Church at the same time. He has held many of the offices in the church.

He was licensed to preach in 1891 at Union, Phila., by Rev. J. M. Palmer, P. E. He was ordained deacon,

He joined the Annual Conference in 1894 at Dover, Del., under Bishop Tanner.

He has held the following appointments:

Parkesburg, Pa., 1892; Middletown, Pa., 1895; Frederica, Del., 1896; Dover, Del., 1899; Mt. Friendship, Del., 1900; Lancaster, Pa., 1903; Bristol, Pa., 1907; Norristown, Pa., 1908; Steelton, 1910; Carlisle, 1912; Middletown, Del., 1913; Morris Brown, Philadelphia, Pa., 1915, to date.

He lifted a mortgage of $245 at Frederica, Del.; at Mt. Friendship he lifted a mortgage of $240, and at Lancaster, Pa., to the amount of $350. He has taken 550 people into the church and baptized about 300 people.

He is an alternate to the General Conference of 1916. In 1888 he married Mary L. Gaines, of Seaford, Del. He is a Republican and a property owner.

Garrett, Casper George, was born near Ova, S. C., in Laurens county, September, 1865. His father, Samuel Garrett, could read and write in slavery time and hence by writing passes and reading war news to the plantation Negroes he was “marked for slaughter” by Morgan raiders, who were whipping and killing the free-feeling slaves in that section. To escape the Morgan marauders he joined Sherman's army, but soon fell a victim to the yellow fever epidemic at Memphis, Tenn. Young Garrett was left to the care of a good mother, who struggled amid the hardships of the homeless and unsettled slaves to make a living for herself and child. Her greatest

Gibbons, Jethro T., pastor of Young Chapel A. M. E. Church, Huntington, W. Va., was born in St. Johns, Antigua, British West Indies, and was educated in that country in the cathedral school. He later spent a year in the Bishop Payne Divinity School, at Petersburg, Va., after coming to the United States; was licensed to preach by the quarterly conference of Mt. Zion A. M. E. Church, Charleston, S. C., at which time Rev. (now Bishop) W. H. Heard was pastor. For a number of years he pastored in South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, and is now in West Virginia,

Gibbs, Rev. S. M., was born September 6, 1863, in Jefferson county, Fla., near Monticello, the fourteenth son of Isabella and Toney Gibbs, Sr., both of whom died during his early childhood. He was converted and called to the ministry in his fourteenth year. He attended the Jefferson county public schools and took private lessons. He was licensed to preach in Live Oak, Fla., in Ebenezer A. M. E. church by the Rev. T. C. Dunham. Three months afterwards he went to Mt. Olive circuit, Jefferson county, during the illness of his brother, B. C. Gibbs, then pastor. But he did not continue in the pastorate. In 1882 he was appointed to Kissimmee, Fla., where the uncivilized white people tried to make him dance with pistols and rifles. In 1883 he was sent to Port Orange mission, and built a church and established three preaching points. Next he went to Ormond mission and established the present church. In 1887 he was sent to Torpon Springs mission and built the present edifice. He was next sent to De Leon Springs mission, but after a short time he was transferred to the Florida Conference and stationed at West station, Pensacola, which was burned down during that year. He was ordained elder by Bishop Arnett in 1888 in Quincy, Fla., and appointed to Mt. Olive and Jerusalem circuit, and built a church at Jerusalem. He was then sent to Gum Swamp circuit and remodeled St. Paul church and completed Greensville. He next went to Bethlehem station, Jackson county. He held here as at all other places a great revival. In 1893 he was sent to Waldon county circuit, where he did a great work, both temporally and spiritually. In 1895 he returned to the East Florida Conference and went to South Jacksonville. In 1896 and 1897 to Columbia county, at Bethel and Hope Henry circuit, where he rebuilt Bethel church; in 1898 to Mt. Moriah, Brooklyn, Jacksonville; in 1899 to Mt. Zion station, Madison, Fla.; in 1900-01 to Jasper station; in 1902 he was transferred and stationed at Leesburg, Fla.; in 1903 to Dunnellon station, where he bought and paid for the foundation of the present edifice; in 1904 at Newberry and Jonesville mission, buying back the property at Newberry; in 1905 to Kindreck station, where he remodeled the church.

Dr. Gibbs taught public school in Hillsborough and Walton counties. He has been honored to membership four consecutive times in the general conferences, being leader once. In 1906 he was appointed presiding elder of the Dunnellon district, and led his conference financially for four years. Thence, in 1910, he was appointed to the St. Petersburg district, where he served four years, leading again financially. He was then assigned to the Ocala district in 1914, where he now presides on his second year. He presided as G. M. of the M. W. Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F. and A. M., of Florida and jurisdiction for two years, refusing further election. He was elected G. R. P. of the Order Eastern Star of Royal Grand Chapter, and is now serving his second term.

Gould, Rev. Theodore, son of Elijah and Hannah Gould, was born in Bridgeton, N. J., August 12th, 1830, united with the A. M. E. church, November, 1847, was licensed to exhort in 1851, licensed to preach in 1853, ordained deacon at Philadelphia by Bishop William Paul Quinn in 1859, ordained elder in 1862. His first appointment was in 1859. He served Danville circuit, comprising Danville, Pa.; Bloomsburg, Wilkes-Barre, Abington Centre and Mount Rose, 1 year; Princeton, N. J., circuit, 3 years; Burlington, N. J., circuit, 3 years; Zion mission, Philadelphia, 1 year; traveling agent for the Book Concern, and pastor of Macedonia, Camden, N. J., 1 year; Brooklyn, N. Y., 3 years; Union, Philadelphia, 2 years; Bethel, Philadelphia, 2 years, during which time Allen A. M. E. church was organized and property purchased for it at a cost of $8000; Harrisburg, Pa., 1 year; Allen, Philadelphia, 1 year; Chester, Pa., 2 years; Allen, Philadelphia, 1 year; manager of Book Concern, elected at St. Louis, 1880, four years; Harrisburg, 1 year; Mt. Pisgah, Philadelphia, 2 years; Charles Street, Boston, 3 years; Bethel, New York, 2 years; West Chester, Pa., 2 years; Frankford, Pa., 1 year; Bethel, Philadelphia, 1 year; Zion, Philadelphia, 2 years; presiding elder, Philadelphia district, 5 years; Union Bethel, Brooklyn, 1 year; Darby, Pa., 2 years; presiding elder Philadelphia district, 2 years. May, 1910, at the request of Bishop Gaines, he accepted superannuation. Rev. Gould was twice married, living 58 years with his first wife, who died in 1913, and

Graham, D. A., the son of Washington and Lucy Graham, was born in Princeton, Ind., January 11th, 1861. He was the first colored graduate of the high school of his native city, completing the course in 1880 with the second honors of his class, all of whom were white but himself.

He was admitted to the Indiana Conference at New Albany, Ind., in September, 1882, Bishop James A. Shorter presiding; ordained deacon the next year in Allen Chapel, Indianapolis, by the same bishop, and elder at Terre Haute, Ind., in 1885 by Bishop Jabez P. Campbell. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him, unsolicited, by Paul Quinn College in 1901.

Since joining the conference he has successfully pastored the following points: Washington, Ind., where he built a brick church; Bloomington and Greencastle, Ind.; Flint and Kalamazoo, Mich. (building and paying for a six-room parsonage at Flint); St. Peter, Minneapolis; Bethel, Chicago; Bethel, Indianapolis; St. James, New Orleans; Bethel, Detroit; Salem, Nashville; Clarksville, Tenn., and is now (1914) meeting with great success at Payne Chapel, Colorado Springs.

At New Orleans he rebuilt the old historic St. James and gave us a modern church of great beauty.

While holding up all the interests of the church, his forte is along spiritual lines and great revivals are most sure to accompany his pastorate. More than twelve

The first Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor in the A. M. E. Church was organized by him in Washington, Ind., in May, 1882. The prayer meeting pledge was almost identical with that of the society organized by Francis Clark in Portland, Maine, in February of the same year, though our subject had not heard of Clark's Society. He was on the program of the international convention of the Y. P. S. C. E. in Minneapolis in 1891. He wrote the pledge and constitution of the Allen C. E. League, which was submitted by Bishop Smith to the Bishop's Council at Mobile in January, 1904, endorsed by the same and adopted by the General Conference at Chicago, May, 1904.

He has been married twice. His first wife, Lorena Mason Graham, died in Chicago, June 19th, 1894. In November, 1905, he was married to Elizabeth Etta Bell, an accomplished young lady, in St. Paul, Minn., who has proven a valuable helpmeet to him and a great leader among the women of the church. He has an interesting family of five children.

Graham, Noah Z., was born in Jefferson County, Fla., May 31, 1877, one of the eight children of Noah and Parthenia Graham, members of the A. M. E. Church. His schooling of ten years' duration was acquired in the public school and by correspondence courses; at Paine School; besides this he has tutored

Grant, John H., only child of John H. and Polly C. Grant, his mother a member of the A. M. E. Church, was born December 11, 1865, in Frankfort, Ky. He entered school at the age of six and spent 17 years in school, attending chiefly Samuels Grammar School, Miami University,

He has held the following appointments: Raymond, Summit and Kessiesco, all of Mississippi; in Ohio, London, Oxford, Lebanon, Findley and Toledo; Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; Jackson, Tenn.; St. James, Avery Chapel and Bethel, of Memphis, Tenn. He is now Presiding Elder of the Memphis District of Western Tennessee.

He has lifted mortgages on the following churches: Bethel, Raymond, Miss., to the amount of $700 in 1892; at Summit, Miss., to the amount of $300 in 1893; at London, Ohio, to the amount of $500 in 1895; at Oxford, Ohio, to the amount of $1,000 in 1896; Avery Chapel, Memphis, to the amount of $6,585 in 1903-05; Bethel, Memphis, to the amount of $1200 in 1907-09.

Grantt, Miss C. A. R., spent her earliest life at Chapel Hill, Washington County, Texas. Afterwards her parents moved to Bryan, Texas, where she attended private school and the Bryan City school.

She became a member of Allen Chapel A. M. E. Sunday school at Bryan and since then has creditably filled every office in the school.

About the age of 15 years she professed Christ, and became a member of the church. Her pastors always found her a vigilant worker, regardless of reward.

Being an expert needle-worker she won a number of first and second premiums from different state and local fairs. She was a member of the Ladies' Advisory

In 1899 she won a scholarship and entered Paul Quinn College, Waco, Texas. In January, 1900, she was compelled to be absent three months to teach public school, but on her return she passed the examinations, and in 1902 graduated with her class, in which were four members, each representing one of the four Annual Conferences of Texas.

She returned home June, 1902, greatly inspired, but lost her mother, who died April 23, 1903.

Miss Grantt was elected president of the Conference Branch of Women's Mite Missionary Society of the Texas Conference, and as such she travelled, lectured and organized societies for four years.

September 3, 1907, her brother died at St. Louis, Mo., and she resigned the presidency of the Missionary Work and went to Oklahoma to teach school. She taught five terms in Platter, Oklahoma, and held important offices in the State Teachers' Association of Oklahoma. In the summer and fall of 1914 she made a three months' tour in the north and east, visiting most of the leading cities from New York to St. Louis, and the tomb of Richard Allen in Mother Bethel, Philadelphia.

Gray, Anderson Plummer, was born in Davidson County, Tenn., in 1868, the son of Alfred and Mary Jane Gray, both members of the A. M. E. Church. He was one of eleven children. He began attending school in 1876 and remained in school about sixteen years. He attended the Nashville Public Schools and

He has held the following appointments: Portland Mission, 1891; N. Nashville Mission, 1892; Riddleton Ct., 1893; Gallatin Ct., 1896; Huntland Ct., 1897; McMinnville Sta., 1898; Ebenezer Sta., 1899; Hartsville Cir., 1902; Pulaski Sta., 1903; Mt. Pleasant Sta., 1907; Canaan Sta., 1908; Bellbuckle Sta., 1910; P. E., 1911. He built a church at McMinnville at a cost of $650 in 1898. He lifted the mortgages on Jones' Chapel at Mt. Pleasant to the amount of $275 in 1907 and Campbell Chapel at Pulaski to the amount of $680 in 1903. He has taken about 800 people into the church, baptized about 475 and married about 60 couples. He was delegate to the General Conferences of 1908, 1912 and 1916. He was a member of the Western Recorder Board 1908-12 and Sunday School Union 1912-16.

He was a Trustee of Wilberforce in 1912, Turner College 1897 to date, Treasurer of Tennessee Annual Conference 1912-15. He married Mrs. Sarah Gray, of Davidson County, June 17, 1885. He has contributed to A. M. E. Recorders, Voice of Missions, Sunday School Monitor. He is connected with the F. and A. M., K. of P., G. U. O. of O. F. He is a member of the Republican Party and has attended several State Conventions. He owns a home. He has been associated with the Nashville Negro Board of Trade. He is a natural leader.

Greene, Sherman Lawrence, was born near Vicksburg, Mississippi, June 15, 1880. His father, Rev. Henry Greene, was an itinerant African Methodist preacher, and his mother, Mrs. Delia Greene, was a devout Christian of the same denomination. There were seven sons, two of whom became preachers in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

After spending several years in the public schools of the County Sherman Lawrence was sent to Alcorn

The first two years of his ministry he built two fine churches, costing over fifteen hundred dollars each, at Sherril and Tucker, Arkansas. He thereafter pastored at Ains, Wilmar, Little Rock and Forrest City, when he was transferred to the North Louisiana Conference and appointed to St. Matthew Station, Shreveport, La., where he paid the mortgage debt of our church in one year, and was appointed presiding elder of the Monroe District, by Bishop J. M. Conner, and elected president of Hampton College in 1914. In 1915 he was appointed presiding elder of the Greenville, Miss., District and in 1916 pastor of St. James, New Orleans, La.

He has studied in Howard and Wilberforce Universities and is a graduate (regular course) of the Theological Department of Shorter College.

Dr. Greene is of the vigorous and aggressive type, a church builder, organizer and financier. He is a delegate to the Centennial General Conference, representing the North Mississippi Annual Conference.

Gregg, Rev. John A., president of Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, Fla., was born in Eureka, Kans., February 18, 1877. He attended the public schools of that city, graduating from the high school in 1896. He then attended the Southern Kansas Academy, graduating from the scientific department of that institution in 1897.

In the fall of 1897 he went to Lawrence, Kans., and entered Kansas State University. In June of 1898, when Kansas was calling for volunteers to go into

Rev. Gregg received his license to preach in 1899, and during his university career, served as chorister, Sunday school superintendent and local preacher in St. Luke A. M. E. Church at Lawrence, Kans. Born in the church and being received into full membership at the early age of twelve, he has been actively engaged in church work since that time.

Green, Charles Henry, was born at Newark, New Castle county, Delaware, November 13, 1834. His parents had four other children. He never enjoyed any schooling; was converted and joined the church in November, 1853; served as steward, trustee, class leader, local preacher and Sunday school teacher. In 1863 he was licensed to preach in Syracuse, N. Y. In

Gullins, William Richard, the seventh son of Rev. John and Catherine Gullins, was born in Eatonton, Georgia, June 9, 1864. His father, a minister and a wealthy cotton planter, hired private teachers from the North, under whom William made rapid progress. When sixteen he prepared a manuscript for publication on “The History of the Treatment of Negro Slaves in the South.” He was licensed to exhort May, 1884, and to preach September, 1884, by Rev. S. H. Robertson, at Eatonton, Ga. In November, 1884, he was admitted to the Macon, Georgia, Annual Conference under Bishop Shorter, was ordained

Gunby, Noah, was born in Pocomoke City, Worcester county, Maryland, August 11, 1875, the seventh son of Henry and Amelia Gunby, who were among the first agitators for the A. M. E. Church in that community, having helped to hew the sills of which the first church was built. His first employment was as house boy, during which time he was permitted to attend the public school, very soon winning for himself a good name in the community for industry and honest work. He was converted in 1903 and joined the church under the admnistration of Rev. C. E. Herbert, at which time he was made a trustee and has served in this capacity up to the present. From a business standpoint he ranks well among the merchants of his city, having conducted a bicycle establishment for the past 15 years. The local church has been represented by him at the district and annual conferences, and while a delegate at the electoral college, he was elected a delegate to the Centennial General

HADLEY, JAMES A., was born in Thomasville, Ga., March 8, 1867, the son of Spencer and Fannie Hadley. His father purchased his freedom before the Civil War and his mother was never a slave. At an early age he entered the common schools of his native city and remained through the grades. He was converted and joined St. Thomas

Hadley, Florence L., wife of Rev. J. A. Hadley, D.D., is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Quo, was born in Valdosta, Ga. She was reared under religious influences and early in life was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church. As long as she can remember she has been identified with the Sunday school and has been an ardent worker. She was educated in the public schools of Valdosta and in Atlanta University, Atlanta, Ga. She spent several years as a successful teacher among her people, her intellectual fitness having always been conceded to be of a very high order. She is an earnest and able missionary worker and has been identified with the Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society in many capacities from president of a local society up to that of an officer in the connectional society. She was the first general secretary of that organization and filled the office with credit to herself and church. she has contributed many articles to the church periodicals and other papers and is a writer of ability. She keeps in close touch with all matters pertaining to missionary work. She was appointed a delegate to the world's missionary conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, June, 1910, by the Parent Home and Foreign Missionary Board of the A. M. E. Church, New York City, N. Y.

Hair, Rev. J. W., was born in Sumter county, Alabama, April 7, 1874, of slave parents. His father, Ned Hair, who was born in North Carolina, was well educated, and was a power in politics in those days. His mother, Hester Hair, was born in South Carolina, and was a great lover of education. In his early boyhood days young Hair showed signs of leadership. His parents immigrated to the Mississippi “Bottoms” in November, 1881, and settled in Swedes, Sharkey county. In 1883 his parents moved to Hinds county and settled in Edwards, Miss. In 1884 his parents registered him in the public school of Hinds county, Miss. In 1887 his parents returned to the Delta and settled at Rolling Fork, Sharkey county. He entered the public schools of this county and town and won the reputation of being the most brilliant student in school. His parents were poor, but his mother would not consent for him to lose a day in school unless absolutely necessary. She washed and ironed to keep him in school and supply him with books. In 1889 he was converted and became teacher in the Sunday school in New Hope A. M. E. church, Rolling Fork. In 1890 he finished the county public schools. His parents not being able to send him off to school and having a desire to finish his education, he hired out for $10 a month and four pounds of meat and a pack of meal. In 1892 he took the examination and made the second grade and began teaching in Sharkey county. In 1893 he matriculated at Alcorn A. and M. College, where he completed his education. He was a public school teacher for fifteen years and was an exempt teacher in the State. He finished the correspondence course of theology from Morris Brown College and regular course at Campbell College in 1913.

Hale, Jno. W., superintendent of the First A. M. E. Sunday school, of Los Angeles, Cal., was born in Henderson, Rusk county, Texas, April 4, 1873, graduated from Prairie View Normal and Industrial School in 1900, came to California in 1902, and for the past ten years has had charge of the above-named Sunday school, which is the largest colored one on the Pacific coast.

Hall, Abraham Thomson, was born near Mifflinton, Pa., January 17, 1822, the third of four sons of John and Mary Hall, pioneer settlers in that region. His early life was the usual round of chores, work, in the clearing, cropping and winter schooling. While in his 'teens he was apprenticed to a barber in Lewiston, Pa., and it was there that he gained his first vision of the larger horizon which awaited him. He worked his way west in 1841 by canal and portage to Pittsburgh, thence on foot to Erie, Pa., where he remained three years, and in the home of one Alexander Simms organized the A. M. E. church with 21 members. In the summer of 1845 he went by boat to Chicago. Here he decided to locate, began business as a barber, met with Madison Patterson, a local A. M. E. preacher; John Day and four others, and in October of that year began to hold prayer and praise meetings from house to house. Here, too, in 1846, he met, loved, wooed and was married to Joanna Huss, the sixteen-year-old daughter of Mrs. Adelphia Stewart, who until her death December, 1890, was his devoted life partner. In 1847 Philip Ward, a traveling A. M. E. preacher, arrived in Chicago, met Hall and his little band of praying people, and organized them into Quinn chapel, which has become one of the largest A. M. E. congregations in the country, and Abraham T. Hall was its first steward, class leader and trustee. From 1848 to 1850 he conducted meetings as an exhorter, when he was given license to preach, the first man of Negro origin in Chicago to be given such authority, and at the A. M. E. conference, held that year, Bishop Paul Quinn ordained Hall a local deacon.

In 1852 he was a local delegate to the general conference held in New York City, and on returning to Chicago, as chairman of the Building Committee, under the pastorate of Rev. John A. Warren, he superintended the erection of a capacious house of worship and a parsonage

Joining the Indiana Conference in 1856 Bishop Payne ordained him an elder and started him at work in what was then called “The Blue River Circuit”—a round of churches in Indiana, where the people were “long on hog and hominy, but very short on the circulating medium.” Undaunted, Rev. Hall stuck to his post, doing his work well, and was consequently sent to larger and more important stations. He took a prominent part in the formation of both the Illinois and the Iowa conferences; was hailed as “The Father” of the former, and pastored at various times most of their