CHARLES H. COREY,
President Richmond Theological Seminary.
A HISTORY
Richmond Theological Seminary
WITH
REMINISCENCES OF THIRTY YEARS' WORK
AMONG THE
COLORED PEOPLE OF THE SOUTH.
BY
H. COREY,
President of Richmond Theological Seminary.
WITH AN
INTRODUCTION BY W. W. LANDRUM, D. D.
RICHMOND, VA.
J. W. RANDOLPH COMPANY.
1893.
LC
T3
Copyright, 1895,
BY CHARLES H. COREY
All rights Reserved.
WILLIAM ELLIS JONES, PRINTER,
RICHMOND, VA.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. Some Matters Personal The United States
Christian Commission Schools for Colored Soldiers
at Port Hudson Getting out of the Red River 13
CHAPTER II. Morris Island Entry into Charleston Inci-
dents A Sunrise Prayer-Meeting The First Ser-
monThe Dead Officer The Disgusted Officer A
Mock Auction Incidents The Old Flag Back
Resolutions Departure 20
CHAPTER III. Missionary Work in South Carolina Con-
dition of the Churches Church Organized in the
Woods On the Sea Islands Rev. T. Willard Lewis
and Other Methodist Workers Statistics The Au-
gusta Institute 36
CHAPTER IV. The Evacuation of Richmond The Burn-
ing of the City Mr. Lumpkin's Coffle of Slaves
Lecture by Dr. Burrows President Lincoln in Rich-
mond Lumpkin's Jail His Daughters in a North-
ern Seminary Rev. Mr. Newman's Experience 42
CHAPTER V. Condition of the Freedmen at the Close of
the War Work in their Behalf by the American
Baptist Home Mission Society Early Work in Rich-
mond The National Theological Institute and Uni-
versity Dr. N. Colver Dr. Robert Ryland Dr.
Parker's Lectures Resolutions 51
4 TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VI. Dr. Colver'e Work in Richmond Letters
Transfer of the Work of the National Theological
Institute and University to the American Baptist
Home Mission Society Report of Work Done 59
CHAPTER VII. Letter of Dr. Simmons on Lumpkin's
Jail Recollections by Mrs. H. Goodman-Smith
Purchase of the United States Hotel Incorporated
as Richmond Institute 69
CHAPTER VIII. Extracts from Official Letters of Secre-
tariesExtracts from other Letters Needy Stu-
dents 90
CHAPTER IX. Need of Enlightened Leaders Extracts
from Letters Difficulties Early Encouragements
Drs. Dickinson and Jeter Other early Friends An
Amusing Incident The Capitol Disaster Ill
CHAPTER X The Freedmen's Bureau Act of Incorpora-
tion Purchase of a New Site A Higher Theological
School Needed The Richmond Theological Semi-
nary Incorporated 123
CHAPTER XI. Our Students Results of Their Labor Let-
ters from Students 135
CHAPTER XII. Our Teachers Sketches of Our Present
Professors Special Lectures Occasional Lectures
Distinguished Visitors Need of Endowment Funds
Secured Attempted Removal 173
CHAPTER XIII. The Old African Church A Historic
Building Its Religious History Dr. Ryland's Pas-
toratePastorate of Rev. James H. Holmes 185
CHAPTER XIV. The Slave as a Man As a Christian--As
a Soldier As a Free Man Statistics . . . 198
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 5
CHAPTER XV. Then Now Pleasant Recollections
Preaching to Phil. Kearney Post, G. A. R., and R. E.
Lee Camp Visits Abroad Beneficiary Aid The
American Baptist Home Mission Society and its
Workers 207
CHAPTER XVI. Slow Progress Our Ancestors The Bi-
bleWork for the Lowly Suffrage Conclusion.. . . 220
NOTES 229
INDEX. . . 233
PREFACE.
The facts pertaining to the founding of any institution of
learning are always of interest to those who live afterwards.
The experiences through which the early laborers pass ; their
struggles and their triumphs are instructive and stimulating.
What may seem unimportant and not out of the routine of our
daily duty to-day, may be of intense interest, and also of profit
to the generations that follow. This has always been the case
in the founding and building up of the Colleges and Semina-
ries of our denomination.
In view of such considerations as these, it has been consid-
ered desirable to collect and record such facts concerning the
early history of our beloved Richmond Theological Seminary,
as it may be presumed will be of interest in the future to per-
sons of all classes, whether in the North or in the South.
In the providence of God, the writer of this little volume
has been permitted to continue in the work for the colored
people from the close of the war to the present time. Twenty-
seven years of this period has been spent in Richmond, once
the Capital of the Southern Confederacy. This volume con-
tains more than a mere history of the growth of the school
itself; it treats of matters that may seem to some irrelevant
and not germane to the subject. Yet, considering the transi-
tion period which followed the close of the war, and the feel-
ings engendered by the changed relations of the white and
colored races, it is quite impossible to restrict our statements
to the mere details of the growth of the school from year to
year. That this little book may be instructive to some, inci-
dents in which the writer took part at the close of the war are
referred to. Facts of interest and statistics are given. None
of these points can be elaborated in a volume of this kind, and
they can be only hinted at. Exacting professional duties have
PREFACE. 7
claimed the attention of the writer to so great a degree that
only the mere fragments of time could be given to this work.
Dr. Simmons and Dr. Morehouse have kindly consented to the
publishing of extracts from their official correspondence. Drs.
Parker, Peck, Backus, Taylor, Bishop, and Cutting, iinder all
of whom the writer served officially, have passed away. He
has not, therefore, felt at liberty to use many of their letters.
In all letters from which extracts have been made, the desire
has been to convey information, to enforce a point, or to teach
a lesson.
Some portions of this book refer so exclusively to scenes in
which the writer took part that they may appear to be im-
modestly personal. This could not well be avoided, and the
writer begs that this defect may be overlooked. No attempt is
here made to give a history of the great work done by Baptists
for the colored people of the South. The origin and progress
of their work is fully described in the publications which are
issued, from time to time, by the American Baptist Home
Mission Society, and by the other societies engaged in this
work.
Rev. Charles Carleton Coffin, the " Carleton " of the Boston
Journal, during the late war, from w T hose writings some extracts
are made, is an author of note, and his works have been widely
read.
Some statistics change with each passing year, and some of
those which are given may not be fully up to date. Others,
taken from the public press, cannot be properly verified, and
may be exaggerated.
The Commissioner of Education and the War Department,
at Washington, have kindly furnished information and statis-
tics, and for this service acknowledgements are gratefully
made.
It has been impossible to hear from all of our old students,
and this part of the work is necessarily incomplete. The
writer strove, through the public press and by circulars, to
reach every ministerial student connected with the School
from the year 1868 to the present year. Replies to the ques-
8 PREFACE.
tions asked came to hand from about one in every ten. The
address of many could not be ascertained. Many more, whose
modesty prevented them from furnishing the desired informa-
tion, have done a noble work for Christ, and are highly honored
and greatly beloved. Many have finished their work and have
gone to their reward.
No attempt has been made to tabulate the work or to sketch
the career of a number of former pupils who have entered
upon professional and business life. Some have already won
for themselves distinction in the legal and medical professions.
Others, as bankers, teachers and business men, are achieving
success as well as proving themselves useful and valuable mem-
bers of society.
If there be found in some of the extracts from the letters
and writers quoted expressions and sentiments with which the
reader cannot agree, it must be remembered that these are in-
troduced, not to provoke controversy nor to engender strife,
but for the purpose of furnishing information. He who would
intentionally do anything to widen the breach between the
two races is a friend to neither.
With thanks to all who have in any way contributed to
make this little volume what it is, it is sent forth to the public
with a desire that it may directly and indirectly promote the
material and spiritual improvement of the people to whose up-
building thirty of the best years of a lifetime have been given.
INTRODUCTION.
As an usher, I gladly open the door for the read-
ers of this volume. It is a simple story, simply
told ; it is a true story, truthfully told. It is not in-
tended to occupy a large place in the great world of
literature. The circle it addresses embraces those
few choice spirits who are the conscientious and
consistent friends of our "Brother in Black."
That circle, whether we consider it as embracing
those devoted to the religious or the educational,
the political or the social well being of the Ameri-
can negro, has never been so large as it should be.
Quality, rather than numbers, has marked it. The
elect of Grod and the brothers to humanity, how-
ever, will read with throbbing hearts this interest-
ing recital of self-sacrificing service for the lowly.
The historian of the future will need this book.
It recounts, step by step, the course of progress the
long subject race has pursued since the days of its
emancipation. That progress, so rapid and marvel-
lous, has delighted the friends and confounded the
foes of its regeneration and uplifting. The human
10 INTRODUCTION.
causes of that progress have been, not so much the
enactments of Congress and of State Legislatures,
as the benefactions of a few philanthropists and the
gifts of a respectable number of earnest Christians
who founded schools; and, most of all, the diffi-
cult, discriminating and self-forgetting exertions of
the Christ-like men who have directed and taught
in those schools.
The history of the Richmond Theological Semi-
nary is a worthy history. Its teachers have been
competent and well qualified ; its course of study
has been wide and thorough ; its pupils have done
well within its walls and even better beyond them ;
its atmosphere has been clean and pure ; its influ-
ence has been for all that ennobles the colored
man, without the slightest hostility to the white
man. These pages will bring peculiar pleasure to
the Seminary's many friends. They will add to
the number of its friends. They will bless the
souls of all who read them by drawing them nearer
to the heart of Christ.
"As the pastor of the author for many years, I
may be allowed to say that his pure life, his conse-
crated zeal, his sound judgment, his prudent coun-
sel, his amiable temper and consummate tact have
INTRODUCTION. 11
won for him the confidence and admiration of both
races in this community. He has pursued the even
tenor of his way between extremists, among both
blacks and whites. Criticism has never discouraged
him ; condemnation could not cow his spirit ; com-
mendation never elated him ; congratulations only
bowed him in humility or caused a tear of joy to
rise in his eyes. If in this book he has found it
necessary to write of himself, he has had regard to
what loyalty to the facts of the case called for, with-
out the remotest wish to claim any credit for him-
self.
The blessing of God be upon all those into
whose hands this book may come.
WM. W. LAKDRUM.
Richmond, Va., March 26th, 1895.
LIST OF PLATES.
Frontispiece, President Charles H. Corey.
Lumpkin's Jail 47
First African Baptist Church 61
Graduating Class, 1892 85
Richmond Theological Seminary 89
Graduating Class, 1893 109
Rev James H. Holmes 133
Joseph Endom Jones, D. D 157
David Nathaniel Vassar, D. D. . 181
George Rice Hovey, A. M 205
H ISTORY
OF
RlCHMONDTHEOLOGICAL SEMINARY,
CHAPTER I.
Rome Matters Personal The United States Christian
Commission Schools for Colored Soldiers at Port
Hudson Getting out of the Red Elver.
T T may not be unpardonable to make some refer-
* ences to the years the writer passed before com-
mencing work in the South. The statements must be
brief without any filling in of detail. Brought up in
one of the back settlements of Canada, I did not
know what a newspaper was until I was fourteen
years of age. Being nearly a hundred miles from
any city, and with no railroad communication, my
opportunities for securing an education were but
limited. I, however, succeeded in making due
preparation, and entered Acadia College (now Aca-
dia University), ^ova Scotia, in 1854, and was
graduated therefrom in 1858. Rev. E. A. Crawley,
D. D., LL.D., when I entered, was president. He
was a courtly gentleman, a ripe scholar and finished
14 HISTORY OF THE
orator. Rev. J. M. Cramp, B. I).,' distinguished as
a polemical and historical writer, was my teacher in
Theology. In public and private life I heard much
concerning "Wilberforce, and the emancipation of
the slaves in the West Indies. Dr. Crawley, who
afterwards during the war was the teacher in a
young ladies' seminary in South Carolina, often-
times in my student days was grandly eloquent in
his denunciations of the United States for holding
so many millions in bondage. From these teachers
of strong English type, who were familiar with the
efforts of England in the work of emancipation, I
was led to sympathize with those in bondage, and
was prepared in a measure for what carne to be my
life work. From Prof. A. P. S. Stuart, a rare in-
structor, and from Rev. A.W. Sawyer, D. D., LL.D.,
the present efficient and beloved President of the
University, was received a fondness for intellectual
and literary work which has not left me during the
excitement and activities of five and thirty years of
public life.
During the spring of 1861, in the last year of my
course at Xewton Theological Institution, which I
entered in 1858, were heard the rumblings, which
were the forerunners of the oncoming storm of war.
In July, 1861, a few days after being graduated
from Newton Theological Institution, I became pas-
tor of the First Baptist Church, Seabrook, N. H.,
where I remained until 1864.
The war came on. All over the land was heard
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 15
the tramp of marshalling armies. In front of the
church where I preached young men were drilling.
News was flashed across the wires of bloody battles,
now victory, now defeat. Members of my own
congregation were among the slain. Several trips
were made to the front to look after these and
after other soldiers. An organization known as
the United States Christian Commission had been
formed. Its delegates were to assist in looking
after the dying on battle-fields, to carry comfort
to thes ick and wounded in the hospitals, and to
communicate with the friends of sick or dead sol-
diers.
Stirred by the exciting events of the hour, on the
first of January, 1864, I gave up the charge of my
church, and entered permanently into the service
of the United States Christian Commission. My
point of destination was New Orleans. Thence I
pushed on to " the front " at Indianola, Texas.
When the troops withdrew from that place, I fol-
lowed them up the Rio Grande to Brownsville.
When our work was done there, after a brief visit
to Matamoras, Mexico, I returned to New Orleans,
and was ordered to Port Hudson, on the Missis-
sippi, where I first came in contact with educational
workers among the colored people. With a letter
of introduction from Chaplain T. M. Conway to
Rev. E. S. Wheeler (now of Boston), Chaplain of
the Eighth Regiment Corps d'Afrique, and to Lieu-
tenant R. G. Seymour (now the Rev. R. G. Sey-
16 HISTORY OF THE
mour, D. D., of Lowell, Mass.), I arrived at Port
Hudson in April, 1864.
At this place systematic work had been com-
menced for the education of the large number of
colored soldiers stationed at the Post. Captain
Pease was in charge of the work of instruction of
the Corps d'Afrique. Chaplain Wheeler, of the
80th United States Colored Infantry, had built in
January, 1864, a school-house. Lieutenant R. G.
Seymour, of the 79th Regiment of United States
Colored Infantry, built a school-house for his regi-
ment which was dedicated February 6th, 1864. It
is recorded in Chaplain Wheeler's private diary,
April 10th, 1864 : " Brother C. H. Corey, of the
Christian Commission, preached in the camp of the
3d Massachusetts Cavalry, and visited the School."
Associated with Mr. Wheeler and Captain Pease in
loyal service for the country, and incidentally in
behalf of those colored veterans, were some well-
known ministers of the Baptist denomination Dr.
Chase, of Philadelphia; Dr. Seymour, of Lowell,
and Dr. Brouner, of New York.
Chaplain Wheeler, from whose report to Captain
Pease I am courteously permitted to quote, under
date of March 31st, 1864, says: " I am most heart-
ily pleased with the earnestness and spirit of the
men in overcoming the ignorance to which they
have been subjected." In a report to Brigadier-
General L. Thomas, he states that " the Orderly
Sergeants, who four months ago were unable to
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 17
distinguish an alphabetical character, are now able
to transact considerable company business, having
learned to read and write well." Captain Pease,
Corps Instructor, testified to the enthusiasm and
success with which the soldiers pursued their stud-
ies, and stated to me that they took as readily to
books and to military tactics as the white soldiers.
Dr. Wheeler, in a recent letter respecting the School-
house above referred to, says : " I procured an or-
der from our Division Commander, General Daniel
Ullman, permitting me to tear down an old cotton-
gin building outside of the fortifications, and erect
it in a modified form in the rear of my tent, and
there the men were not only instructed in a com-
mon school way, but religious services were usually
held in it, by both officers and men." * * " Many of.
those colored soldiers made astonishing progress
while under our care, eliciting most thoroughly the
praise of their superior officers." He continues :
"The Hon. Orren McFadden, who finally became
Lieutenant-Colonel of our Regiment, and who now
resides in Cedar Grove, Maine, would join me, I am
sure, in the warmest commendations of those men,
whom he often referred to, in my presence, as ' ex-
hibiting the most consummate bravery, manliness,
and intelligence.' '
My visit to Port Hudson made impressions re-
specting this work which were never removed.
While at Port Hudson news came of defeat and
repulse up the Red River. General Banks had
18 HISTORY OF THE
fallen back, and in consequence of falling water
some of his gunboats could not get below Alexan-
dria. On arriving at this city I found thousands of
men. Here was a fine field for Christian activity.
Preaching, prayer-meetings, personal interviews
with soldiers, white and colored, hospital service,
and so on, absorbed all of my energies.
Finally the enemy got below us, cut off our com-
munications, destroyed some of our transports, and
planted batteries on the river banks. From two to
three thousand men, for ten or twelve days and
nights, worked under the leadership of Lieutenant-
Colonel Joseph Bailey,* of the 4th Wisconsin Vol-
unteers, " often up to their waists, and even to their
necks in the water," until a dam was thrown partly
.across the river, which was 758 feet wide above
Alexandria. By this means a sluice-way was formed.
Our situation was growing desperate ; our sick were
increasing, and we were on short rations ; our gun-
boats were unable to move, and the entire force was
imperilled. The dam was fortunately a success.
On a beautiful summer evening the gunboats swung
from their moorings, and passed successfully through
the sluice-way, to the delight of cheering thousands
who stood beholding that thrilling spectacle, ^"ext
morning I strolled along the river bank which was
* For the valuable services rendered to the fleet in this hour
of great danger, this officer was promoted to the rank of Brig-
adier-General, and received the thanks of Congress. See " The
Gulf and Inland Waters," by Commander Mahan of U. S. Navy.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 19
lined with negro women and children; bales of cot-
ton were thrown down the steep embankment and
destroyed ; the street was filled with moving army
wagons. Presently a huge black smoke was ob-
served rolling heavily upward.
The city was soon wrapped in flames; houses,
stores, churches, everything seemed on fire ; wo-
men and children were in tears, and the transports
blew their whistles. I hastened through crowded
streets, dodging among teams and infantry and gal-
loping couriers, just in time to reach the Chauteau,
the hospital boat to which I had been assigned, be-
fore she steamed out of danger. The fire was of
incendiary origin, and General Banks sent men to
extinguish it. The land forces had marched early
in the day. Towards evening the fleet, consisting
of about fifty vessels, including gunboats and trans-
ports, moved slowly down the river, until we tied
up for the night. In the morning the infantry tried
to cat its way across the country, a cloud of dust
marking the line they took. The fleet moved cau-
tiously down the river. The silence of those
wooded shores was repeatedly broken by volleys
poured into us by those concealed by earthworks
on the bank. We finally reached Atchafalaya
Bayou which the army crossed over, and we on the
transports eventually reached New Orleans in safety.
20 HISTORY OF THE
CHAPTER II.
Morris Island Entry into Charleston Incidents A
Sunrise Prayer- Meeting The First Sermon The
Dead Officer The Disgusted Officer A Mock
Auction Incidents The Old Flag Back Resolu-
tions Departure.
77 Summer in New England and the Maritime
^ Provinces recruited exhausted energies and
restored shattered health.
The late Nathan Bishop, LL.D., of honored
memory, had charge of the New York branch of
the United States Christian Commission, and under
his supervision I was sent to the Department of the
South, and made my headquarters before Charles-
ton, on Morris Island. Here was spent the fall of
1864, and the early part of 1865. Distributing
reading matter to the fleet and preaching to the
soldiers, many of whom were colored, occupied my
time. It was here that the siege of Charleston had
been commenced on the 21st ot August, 1863, by
the opening of the "Swamp Angel" Battery. It
was here on the 7th of September following that
the gallant and lamented Shaw, Colonel of the 54th
Massachusetts colored troops, fell at the capture of
Fort Wagner.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 21
The Confederates refused to give up his body.
He lies there buried beside his brave soldiers who
followed him to death and glory, " having won an
immortal name, no less as the commander of the
first negro regiment sent to the war, than by his
gentle bearing as a man and bravery as a soldier."
The following concerning Colonel Shaw is taken
from A. D. Mayo, I). D., in his "New Education
in the New South : "
"Years ago one of the bravest of the young
commanders in the national army, Colonel Shaw,
of the city of New York, fell, at the head of his
brigade of colored soldiers, in a desperate assault
on Fort Wagner, during the siege of Charleston.
He was buried with his men, and his body was
never found. After the close of the war the fami-
lies, in New York and Boston, connected with the
fallen soldier, built a school-house in Charleston for
colored children, established the Shaw School and
for several years supported it as a private benefi-
cence. Some years since the building was virtually
given to the city, and all the funds of the corpora-
tion passed over for its enlargement ; and now one
of the public Schools of Charleston bears the name
of the New York colonel who died, at the head of
his black brigade, forcing the entrance to that be-
leaguered city.
" My last visit was to the Shaw School, now a
collection of several hundred children, with white
and colored teachers; the principal, like the city
22 HISTORY OF THE
superintendent, an officer in the Confederate army.
I was invited to the great hall to listen to some ex-
ercises by the higher classes, prepared, as I under-
stood, for their coming commencement exhibition.
The first was a recitation, by a hundred of the older
pupils, from Longfellow's " Building of the Ship : "
' Sail on, O Ship of State !
Sail on, O Union, strong and great
Humanity with all its fears,
With all its hopes of future years,
Is hanging breathless on thy fate !
Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee,
Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears,
Our faith triumphant o'er our fears,
Are all with thee, are all with thee ! '
" Then, a boy as black as night, George Washington
by name, was summoned from his seat to recite a
pathetic poem, " The Dying Soldier." It didn't
need comment to show for what cause that soldier
died ; for the poem was a most touching story of
peril and suffering, even unto death, for the saving
of the Union. As the soldier neared his end, he
called to his companions for one more of the old
songs of the village Sunday-school ; and the whole
body of children took up the theme and sung, with
a pathos only heard in the tones of the freed men,
the dying refrain. The soldier breathed his last
with a prayer for his country ; when the entire
crowd sprang to their feet and, led by their teach-
ers, pealed forth
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 23
' The Star Spangled Banner, O long may it wave
O'er the land of free and the home of the brave ! ' "
The winter on Morris Island was spent without
much excitement. There was an occasional false
alarm ; several blockade runners were captured, and
shells were frequently thrown into the city. Occa-
sionally a bullet from Fort Sumter, seven hundred
yards away, would come whistling past the ear of
some unsuspecting civilian or soldier who ventured
upon the parapet of Fort Wagner. One soldier
was hit at that distance away, and died from his
wounds.
Fort Wagner was taken on the 7th of September,
1863, and for about fourteen months a slow bom-
bardment continued from day to day until about
thirteen thousand shells had been thrown into the
town, or about one thousand per month. In the
month -of December, 1864, Savannah had fallen,
through Sherman's famous march to the sea. Fi-
nally Sherman flanked Orangeburg, South Carolina,
and General Hardee, who was in command at Charles-
ton, was compelled to evacuate the place. General
Hardee remained in the city until Friday night the
17th of February, leaving behind a detachment of
cavalry to destroy what stores he could not remove.
Colonel Bennett, commanding the Twenty-First
Regiment United States colored troops on Morris
Island, on Saturday morning, February 18th, 1865,
hastened up the harbor in boats, and landed at
24 HISTORY OF THE
South Atlantic wharf. A detachment of the Fifty-
Fourth Massachusetts Regiment followed. Some of
these colored soldiers had been slaves in this very
city. Xow, with the old flag above them, they
marched up the grass grown streets, past the slave
marts, where their families and themselves had been
sold in the public shambles, and laid aside their
arms and helped extinguish the flames of the burn-
ing city. The following extracts from a letter which
was written on the night of the day we entered the
city will give some idea of the impression made on
that occasion :
"All last night our gunboats kept up a continuous
bombardment. The air was filled with bursting
shells, and the sky was red with flame. This morn-
ing calm and beautiful heavy clouds of smoke rose
in the direction of the city. The blowing up of
heavy guns and gunboats sent echoes thundering
from island to island. Orders came to pack- and go
to Charleston. The sand hills on Morris Island
were lined with spectators. The sick and the lame
had hobbled out from the hospitals, and in the still
morning air stood looking at the dense clouds of
smoke hanging over the city. I had been childish
with joy all the morning. When I landed, scenes
of indescribable desolation were all around me. In
the lower half of the city (Gilrnore's town as it was
called) stores were open, private papers were blown
about the streets, houses were shattered and roof-
less, streets ploughed up by the bursting shells, and
RICHMOND THEOLOOICAL SEMINARY. 25
steeples riddled. Pale, poorly clad and hungry
people were on the streets. They received us with
joy. Men, white as well as black, would come to
me and grasp my hand. Sometimes with quivering
lips and tearful eyes they would turn away without
a word ; their hearts were too full for utterance.
When we entered the city flour was $1,600 per bar-
rel. A man told me he had paid $200 for five
pounds of sugar. A little boy told me that his
shoes cost him $400. When a detachment of the
Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts Regiment (colored) came
along, the scenes I witnessed transcend human pow-
ers of description. It was the first body of colored
men in arms seen in this city. The boys ran, and
old men laughed and cried for joy; hats were
swung, aprons and handkerchiefs waved. I saw
young women dancing, the older ones shouting and
praising God. I stood and wept; so did many a
rough soldier ; so did some of the citizens of Charles-
ton. The negroes shook hands, and clung to the sol-
diers and seemed almost wild with delight."
This was in strange contrast with the scenes
which had taken place in this city when Major
Anderson, the peaceful Ordnance Sergeant in
charge in Charleston harbor, was forced to sur-
render Fort Sumter, April 14, 1861. Then men
and women were on the house-tops in the city, and
gathered in the church steeples, bells were rung,
guns fired, ladies waved their handkerchiefs. At
night bonfires glowed ; crowds surged through the
26 HISTORY OF THE
streets, and there was hilarity and carousing, be-
cause, as Governor Pickens said. " the Stars and
Stripes have been lowered in humility before the
glorious little State of South Carolina ? " *
That night I found quarters in the west end of the
Citadel Building, in one of the very rooms in which
secession had been fostered. There the soldiers
held a prayer meeting, which can never be forgot-
ten. We had come over from Morris Island, rested
and fresh without let or hindrance, and realizing
that the war must soon end, there were prayers and
thanksgiving such as are seldom heard. I quote
from the following letter, written February 20th,
1865 : "A happier day I never spent. I could not
sleep; the scenes I had witnessed, the words I had
heard, were still before me, and the anticipations
of the coming Sabbath rendered it next to impos-
sible to get any rest." Early I was away to a sunrise
prayer-meeting among the colored people. I was
the only white man present. I cannot describe the
prayers and praise there offered. Said one, " Who
could not praise the Lord this morning, who would
not praise the Lord to-day, who would not praise
the Lord that we can worship Him under our
own vine and tig tree, and none shall make us
afraid ? " After the benediction they crowded
around me in scores, all eager to grasp my hand ;
they got their hands around me, and even about
* See Coffin's " Four Years of Fighting," p. 457.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 27
my neck. Old wrinkled, toothless, ragged women
came weeping, and pressed through the crowd to
take my hand. Some got on the pulpit stairs and
shouted " Hallelujah ; " some got on the seats and
stood weeping, looking over to where they crowded
around me. I saw men embrace each other, and
women, clasping hands, wept and laughed by turns.
Said one to me by way of apology, " Excuse us ;
this is a happy day for us." Some of the brethren
made three attempts before they got me out of this
throng; there were some hundreds present. One
old man I saw weeping; he stood uttering, with
intonations I cannot describe, "Come at last, come
at last, come at last."
" Similar expressions I heard on every hand. At
10 A. M. I went out to find a Baptist meeting. All
the white congregations of our denomination are
scattered and the ministers are fled. So with the
Methodists. I went to a group of colored people
who had been to a Baptist meeting. They were
congratulating each other. ' This is the most
glorious day that Charleston has ever seen,' said
one ; another, ' I shed more tears yesterday than I
ever did before : ' another, ' I could not speak to a
man yesterday without weeping.' In fine, where-
ever I went all seemed joyousness and sunshine.
The children were full of glee ; the old ones were
almost frantic in their demonstrations, and the
religious were filled with devout thanksgivings. In
the afternoon I preached, according to appointment,
28 HISTORY OF THE
in the spacious church where our morning service
was held. I preached to more than 1500 people,
black and white, citizens and soldiers, from Nehe-
miah xii, 43, ' The joy of Jerusalem was heard even
afar off.' This was the first sermon preached in
the city after its surrender. I never spoke to a
more attentive congregation. When I prayed for
the President of the United States there went up
from nearly 2000 human beings such an 'Amen '
as I never heard before. But how can I describe
all. Your imagination may aid you to fill in the
blank, when you think that these distressed thou-
sands, hungry and naked, as many of them were,
at the advent of the United States forces, were
ushered at once into safety and freedom. The cir-
cumstances were unique, and those present on that
occasion will not readily forget it."
My duties as Delegate of the United States Chris-
tian Commission, were to preach the gospel, to dis-
tribute religious reading matter, and to render such
other services to the soldiers as might be needed.
There were many interesting incidents told by sol-
diers, some of whom had been in prison and had
made their escape. I remember a young soldier
who came into my office, clothed in a suit of gray.
He had made his escape from prison, and travelled
by night, and remained concealed by day. At one
time an old colored woman kept him hid for three
weeks under the floor of her cabin. She killed the
last pig that she owned, and purchased the suit of
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 29
gray with the proceeds in order that the young man,
by means of it, might escape. There were Union
officers in prison in Charleston, some of whom,
from time to time, made their escape. They con-
cealed themselves in the deserted mansions in the
shelled portions of the city. There was an interest-
ing old man left in charge of one of these mansions
by his master. He took in one of these escaping
officers and concealed and cared for him. The
officer was stricken down with yellow fever. Finally
the guards came to search the premises for escaped
prisoners. When the old man heard that they were
approaching, he caught up the sick man, carried him
up three pairs of stairs and concealed him under
the roof. There he and another colored man cared
for him three weeks, until he died. There was no
other alternative but to dig a grave under the house
and to bury him there. One day we crawled under
the house and they showed me his grave. On the
following fall I assisted the proper authorities in
exhuming the body. We buried him in Magnolia
Cemetery.
The remains of this officer, Lieutenant Reed, of
an Ohio Regiment, were subsequently transferred
to the National Cemetery at Hilton Head. There
were several instances in which we disinterred the
bodies of escaping officers, who had been cared for
by the colored people, and who, becoming sick, had
died and were buried in the yards of deserted
houses.
30 HISTORY OF THE
As an illustration that predjudice existed even
among some of the officers of the Union army, I will
give an incident. One day a lieutenant of a Western
regiment came into our reading-room. I noticed
that his straps were not on his shoulders. He
threw them down upon the counter with vehemence,
exclaiming, " I will never wear those straps again,
for I have seen a negro who outranks me." He
had seen on the streets of Charleston, Dr. DeLaney,
a very black man, who, by virtue of his position as
Surgeon, ranked as Major, and who, of course, as
an officer, was his superior. I did not then think
that I should live to see the time when there would
be more than 800 colored physicians in the United
States.
During the month of March the colored people
held a Jubilee celebration in which about 5,000 par-
ticipated. I remember among other things a cart
containing an auction block, with negroes for sale.
The mock auctioneers had many bids, some as high
as $15,000. An old woman ran screaming after the
cart, feigning lamentations for her unfortunate
" Chil'en." One old woman said as we passed by :
" Mine all gone sold in State Street not one left
to close my eyes." There was sadness in her tone
and tears in her eyes. There were in the proces-
sion light-skinned and beautiful girls, with fair and
flowing hair, linked hand in hand with black and
curly headed ones, moving on in loving companion-
ship with the rejoicing multitude.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 31
It is not surprising that there were strong feelings
and forceful expressions of the same among the peo-
ple of Charleston, concerning the people of the
North. An old gentleman, belonging to one of the
old families of Charleston, was accustomed to fre-
quent our rooms to read the papers always kept on
file. One day, in explaining the teasori of the ex-
cessive heat, he said it was " because there were so
many emissaries from Hell in Charleston." On
being asked to whom he referred, he replied, "Why,
you you ;" he saw his dilemma, and the sen-
tence remained unfinished.
My office was next to the Charleston Hotel. On
returning from service one night, I heard a great
commotion. Officers were shouting; some were
standing on the counter, some singing, some crying
for joy; others were hugging each other, and some
astride the necks of others. I asked, " What is the
matter ? What does all this mean ? " Said they,
" Have you not heard the news ? Lee has surren-
dered." There were cheers, songs and rejoicings
until a late hour.
The following letter written a few weeks later,
April 17th, after I had seen the same flag, which
was shot from its staff in 1861, restored to its place,
by the gallant defender who was in command when
Sumter fell. I leave it to the reader's imagination
to contrast the changed conditions and relations of
the people of Charleston on these two ever memo-
rable occasions :
32 HISTORY OF THE
" Last Friday was a great day here. Hundreds
of visitors were on from the North. The city was
alive with excitement, At 10 A. M. the steamers
were in readiness to take us to Fort Sumter. Seats
and decorations had been prepared, and hundreds
of army and navy officers with invited guests were
anxiously awaiting the appearance of the orator,
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. At last he came.
Prayer was offered accompanied by the Amens of
thousands. Mr. Beecher delivered an impassioned
and eloquent oration. The " old flag," which was
lowered four years ago, was then taken from its
hiding place and attached to the rope. Major-
General Anderson delivered a brief and impressive
address. The tears were rolling down the old
hero's cheeks. He then, proceeded to raise the
flag to its place. Such a scene I never expect to
witness again. Every heart was moved. I think
that there was scarcely a person who did not weep.
Then the air was rent with cheers, and the cannon
boomed. Every'fort that tired on Fort Sumter four
years ago saluted the flag, as did all the vessels in
the harbor.
I stood on the parapet and witnessed the whole,
with emotions not to be described. What increased
the depth of the feeling manifested by all was the
reception that morning of the news that Lee and
his army had surrendered. The next day there
was a large meeting which called out thousands of
whites and blacks. George Thompson, of England ;
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 33
Judge Kelly, of Pennsylvania; Theodore Tilton,
arid William Lloyd Garrison, the great Abolitionist,
were among the speakers. Such a meeting I have
never seen and can never see again, for the circum-
stances can never occur again. All who spoke gave
all the glory to God. After the meeting, the col-
ored children singing " John Brown's Body Lies a
Mouldering," with waving of handkerchiefs escorted
the speakers to the Charleston Hotel. Henry Ward
Beecher preached on Sunday to three or four
thousand people. Only think, Garrison, Beecher,
Thompson, and Tilton speaking here in this city.
What changes four years have wrought."
As I was about to leave Charleston, the following,
which explains itself, was placed in my hands :
WENTWORTH ST. BAPTIST CHURCH, May 14th, 1865.
At a meeting of the members of this church and congrega'
tion, held this day after morning service, Mr. W. N. Hughes
was called to the chair, and Mr. W. J. Heriot appointed Secre-
tary. Tho following preamble and resolutions, offered by
Deacon W. B. Heriot, were unanimously adopted :
Whereas, the Rev. Charles H. Corey, agent of the United
States Christian Commission has, for several months past,
taken charge of the Baptist Church in Wentworth Street, in
the city of Charleston, during which time he has, without
pecuniary compensation, regularly maintained public worship
therein on each successive Sabbath, and having, by the cour-
teousness of his demeanor, the usefulness of his instructions,
the exemplariness of his character, and the interest he has
manifested in the welfare of our church, most justly entitled
himself to our high esteem and deep gratitude ; and whereas,
Mr. Corey has informed us that his appointed duties will in
34 HISTORY OF THE
future prevent him from continuing to perform services at our
church ; therefore we, the members of the church and congre-
gation, who have enjoyed the privilege of Mr. Corey's acquaint-
ance and Christian ministry, deem it a duty we owe to our-
selves to give expression to our feelings on this occasion. And
to that intent we do unanimously resolve as follows :
1. That our heartfelt thanks are justly due and are hereby
cordiall}' tendered to the Rev. Charles H. Corey, for the minis-
terial services he has so cheerfully and acceptably performed
in our church during the past few months.
2. That we have learned with regret that the appointed
duties of Mr. Corey will hereafter prevent him from continuing
his services at our church ; and that the best wishes and
prayers are, that he may continue in health and be abundantly
prospered in the good work in which he is so faithfully en-
gaged, wherever, in the providence of God, his lot may be cast.
3. That a copy of this preamble and resolutions be trans-
mitted to Mr. Corey over the signatures of the Chairman and
Secretary of this meeting.
W. N. HUGHES, Chairman.
W. J. HERIOT, Secretary.
After closing up all the offices of the United
States Christian Commission in the Department of
the South our footsteps were turned homeward.
Arrangements completed, our noble steamer swung
away from the dock at Hilton Head, the point of
departure of government steamers, amid the cheers
of hundreds of war-worn veterans, who now flushed
with victory, after four years of absence, were re-
turning to quiet homes nestling among New Eng-
gland hills or dotting western prairies. The soldiers
sang their old camp songs, and the dear old hymns
sung around the fireside at home. There were
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 35
teachers returning to rest awhile from their toils ;
and sailors, and soldiers, and preachers, and Chris-
tian Commission men, all of whom mingled in de-
lightful converse.
At night the stars from their silent thrones smiled
serenely upon a grateful and happy throng. Many
had been anxious to take some trophy from the field,
a remembrance of the camp-fire, or a keepsake from
the sunny clime. So there were mocking birds,
guinea pigs, poodles, kittens, turtles and snakes on
board. Finally, New York was approached. How
gracefully the clouds sailed along the morning sky,
and cast their shadows on the distant shores ! How
grateful after the dangers and excitements of the
field was the perfume stealing over the waters on
the invigorating breezes from the distant clover
fields ! How pleasant to be far from the hoarse dis-
cords of war and the carnage of the battle-field !
Our eyes were no longer to look upon the windrows
of the slain, nor upon streams and harbors crim-
soned with fraternal blood. The angel of peace
had spread her white wings over mountains and
valleys, and joy and gladness filled all the land.
86 HISTORY OF THE
CHAPTER III.
Missionary Work in South Carolina Condition of the
Churches Church Organized in. the Woods On
the Sea Islands Rev. T. Willard Lewis and other
Methodist Workers Statistics The Augusta Insti-
tute.
PvURING the spring of 1865, Rev. Dr. Lathrop
^ and J. W. Hoyt visited Charleston, and seeing
the wide field of usefulness that was presented
among the colored people urged me to continue in
the South, and to commence labor among them.
Accordingly, in the autumn of 1865, my wife and I
sailed for Charleston, South Carolina. Here I com-
menced my labors under the auspices of the Amer-
ican Baptist Home Mission Society. In addition to
preaching in the city, where I assisted in organizing
churches, I made trips to the interior of the State-
establishing churches and ordaining ministers. Rev.
James Hamilton, a colored brother from Philadel-
phia, and others assisted me in some of these ser-
vices. The colored members in most instances
belonged to the white churches. In some places,
however, there was not a single white member of
a church among the whites to be found. At George-
town there was only one, the clerk, and he lived
fourteen miles out of town. Churches were oro-an-
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 37
ized and ministers ordained in all the important
cities and villages of the State. At Camden, Rev.
Mr. Boy kin was ordained. One of his sons, at that
time unborn, has since grown to manhood, and
taken his degree of Bachelor of Divinity at the
Richmond Theological Seminary. At Chester a
church was organized.
It was also desirable to establish a church in an
outlying community. The brethren were fearful of
violence in those unsettled times, and determined
upon a journey by night as the only possible course
to pursue. Accordingly we started at nine o'clock
and travelled nearly twenty miles, some on horse-
back and some in wagons, in the wintry night. On
Sunday morning, around an open fire in the woods,
we organized the Pilgrim Baptist Church, and or-
dained Rev. Sancho Sanders as its pastor. We
returned to our starting place, passing through
Chester on Sunday night in the darkness. Trips
were made on foot, on horseback, by steamers, and
in row boats. Along the railroads it was no un-
common thing to see the railroad rails bent and
twisted in the form of U. S., showing that Uncle
Sam had put his mark upon the places through
which his armies had marched. Visits were made
to Edisto, Wadmelaw and James Islands, and
churches were established. Oftentimes a number
of brethren accompanied me. We rowed for many
miles, and the weird songs of the boatmen, with
bared head, feet and arms, floated far over the calm
38 HISTORY OF THE
waters. From a number of churches established
at this time students for the ministry have come to
the school at Richmond. A number of faithful
and devoted men, who were placed in charge of
these churches, have gone to their reward. Some
of them were eminently holy and consecrated, and
the influence of their lives and ministry is still felt
among the churches of the State. Others still
survive, and are the veteran leaders in all denomi-
national enterprises.
I cannot speak of those days of pioneer work
without referring to the energetic and beloved Rev.
T. Willard Lewis and his devoted wife. In their
family I found a pleasant home. We often jour-
neyed together along dangerous and unfrequented
roads. He was caring for his Methodist brethren,
and I for the Baptists. He founded the Baker
Institute,. which eventually became Claiflin Univer-
sity. He fell at his post, years ago, a victim to yel-
low fever. His wife also has gone to her reward.
So has Dr. A. Webster, the associate and successor
of brother Lewis. His house was also our home
for a while. His wife, too, has passed away. There
were strong ties that bound our hearts together in
those days of anxiety and oftentimes of danger.
Nor can I forget the youthful and devoted Ran-
dolph, a colored missionary of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, who, for a time, recited Hebrew to
me, and who was deliberately assassinated on a rail-
road platform in the country, while waiting for his
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 39
train. These noble men and women, after living
honored and useful lives, rest from their labors, and
their works do follow them.
In the spring of 1867 a Convention of the colored
Baptists of the State was called. Delegates from
nearly a dozen churches met in the Morris Street
Church on May 1st. Rev. I. P. Brockenton was the
President, and J. C. Pawley the Secretary.
Out of this Convention grew the Gethsemane
Association, the first in the State. There are now
in the State twenty-eight associations, 764 churches,
444 ministers, and more than 120,000 members.
Rev. Jacob Legare (pronounced La-gree),'a man of
pure life and of deep spirituality, was the beloved
pastor of the Morris Street Baptist Church. He
was highly esteemed by the late Dr. E. T. Winkler,
white pastor in Charleston. Rev. Mr. Legare died
lamented by all, and left no stain upon his memory.
My relations to all the pastors and the churches were
of the pleasantest kind, and I look back to those
pioneer days of missionary life as among the hap-
piest of my life. Several of the pastors and many
of the young men of the State have since been stu-
dents in the Seminary at Richmond.
In the spring of 1867 I closed my missionary
work in South Carolina, and in the autumn of
that year I went to Augusta, Georgia, under the
auspices of the National Theological Institute and
University, and here commenced educational work
as President of the Augusta Institute. The times,
politically, were unsettled. Prejudices were strong,
40 HISTORY OF THE
and with but few facilities, not very much was ac-
complished. A few came to me for instruction by
day, and a larger class at night. Sermons were
preached, and some churches were organized. I
left Augusta on the 13th of July, 1868, and was
subsequently transferred to another field, Richmond,
Virginia, and Rev. Lucius E. Hayden, D. D., became
my immediate successor as President of the Augus-
ta Institute.
In a Historical Sketch of the Augusta Institute by
J. T. Robert, LL.D., the following statement con-
cerning the work done during this period may be
found :
" In November of the same year (1867), Rev-
Charles H. Corey and wife commenced their labors
here, retaining the services of Mr. Rice.
" Mr. Corey, in his first quarterly report, February
1, 1868, gives thirty-eight pupils in attendance;
seventeen in theological class, fifteen in young
men's and six in Mrs. Corey's. In his second re-
port, April 18, 1868, sixty were in attendance,
seventeen of whom were ministerial students. The
school was kept in a rented room,* and mostly at
* Dr. Robert is slightly in error here. We met in the Spring-
field (colored) Baptist Church. I may say that, in addition to
teaching, I preached every Sunday. These were times of great
political excitement, but no harm befell me. I had some warn-
ings from the Ku Klux Klan, and on a few occasions the city
authorities, unsolicited by me, sent some policemen to protect
our evening school. Rev. Dr. Cuthbert, the pastor of the white
Baptist church, gave me his sympathy and cordial supi>ort,
and remained my friend until his death.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 41
night; so that Mr. Corey did not return to his
lodgings generally 'till about midnight. The
branches taught were as diversified as the wants of
those who attended it. The Institute had warm
friends in the community. God's blessing was with
it. But buildings were needed for its use, and also
funds to aid pupils from abroad in their support.
Mr. Corey's labors in Augusta closed July 13th,
1868, and he was subsequently transferred to the
Richmond Institute, Virginia, to meet an exigency
which the resignation of teachers had created there."
42 HISTORY OF THE
CHAPTBR IV.
The Evacuation of Richmond The Burning of the
city Mr. Lumpkin's Coffle of Slaves Lecture by
Dr. Barrows President Lincoln in Richmond
Lumpkin's Jail His Daughters in a Northern Semi-
nary Rev. Mr. Newman's Experience.
TT may not be out of place to introduce here a
* brief statement of the exciting events which
occurred at the Evacuation of Richmond. For the
most of my information I am indebted to Charles
Carleton Coffin, who, in his " Four years of Fight-
ing," gives an account of what he learned and
what he saw on entering the burning city. Mr.
Coffin was the war correspondent (" Carleton ") of
the Boston Journal during the years of the war.
On Sunday April 2d, 1865, a messenger brought
a dispatch from General Lee to Jefferson Davis,
who was found in Dr. Minnigerode's church, which
read, " My line is broken in three places and Rich-
mond must be evacuated." Mr. Davis repaired to
his office and wrote an order for the evacuation of
the city. All was commotion, and preparations for
speedy departure were made on every hand. Mr.
Lumpkin, the keeper of a slave trader's jail, made up
a coffle of fifty men, women and children in his jail
yard, " within pistol shot of Jeff. Davis's parlor
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 43
window and a stone's throw from the Monumental
church," and hurried them to the Danville Depot.
" This sad and weeping fifty, in handcuffs and
chains, was the last slave coffle that shall tread the
soil of America."* On that Sunday afternoon, when
Jefferson Davis, his Secretaries, Benjamin and Tren-
holin, when Dr. Hoge and Dr. Duncan, when the
whole Confederate Government was on the move,
" coaches, carriages, wagons, carts, wheelbarrows,
and everything in the shape of a vehicle was
pressed into use." All were hastening to get away
from the doomed city. " There was a jumble of
boxes, chests, trunks, valises, carpet-bags, a crowd
of excited men, sweating as n6ver before, women
with dishevelled hair, unmindful of their wardrobes,
wringing their hands, children crying in the crowd,
sentinels guarding each entrance to the train, push-
ing back, at the point of the bayonet, the panic-
stricken multitude." But there was no room for
Mr. Lumpkin and his slaves.
Early on the following morning, after the depart-
ing of the Confederate troops, the city was set on
fire by order of the Confederate General Ewell.
The last division has crossed the river. " The sun is
up. A match is applied to the turpentine that has
been poured over the timbers" of the bridges leading
to Manchester, and they are in flames ; so too the
tobacco warehouses, the flouring mills, the arsenals,
*See Coffin's " Four Years of Fighting," p. 501-5.
44 HISTORY OF THE
the laboratory, and whole blocks of the business
portion of the city, until thirty squares in all are
swept by the flames, and many millions of dollars
worth of property are destroyed.* As the fire rages,
General Weitzel enters the city, the colored soldiers
singing the John Brown song. They pass through
streets flanked with flame to the Capitol. They
stack their guns and lay aside their knapsacks ; they
spring to the engines ; they mount the roofs ; they
tear down burning buildings, and seek to stay the
ravages of the fires kindled by the departing sol-
diers. The Capitol square is filled with furniture,
beds, clothing, crockery, chairs, tables, and looking-
glasses. Women are weeping, children crying.
Men stand speechless, gazing at the desolation. The
colored soldiers emulate the noble example of their
comrades in arms in Charleston, and forgetting self
in their devotion to duty, seek to save the homes
and property of their former owners, and divide
their rations with the houseless women and children.
Mr. Coffin, after continuing his graphic descrip-
tion, comments as follows : " How stirring the events
of that day ! Lee retreating, Grant pursuing ; Da-
vis a fugitive ; the Governor and Legislature of Vir-
ginia seeking safety in a canal boat; Doctors of
*The value of public and private property destroyed some
have placed as high as $10,000,000. The Richmond Whig, of
April 12th, 1865, says : " It is remarkable that this fire swept
away almost every vestige of the Confederate Government
from our city." See Note B.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 45
Divinity fleeing from the wrath they feared ; the
troops of the Union marching up the streets ; the
old flag waving over the Capitol ; rebel ironclads
blowing up; Richmond on fire; the billows rolling
from square to square, unopposed in their progress
by the bewildered crowd ; and the Northern Vandals
laying down their arms, not to the enemy in the
field, but the better to battle with a foe not more
relentless, but less controllable with the weapons of
war. Weird the scenes of that strange, eventful
night, The glimmering flames; the clouds of
smoke, hanging like a funeral pall above the ruins ;
the crowd of homeless creatures wandering in the
streets."
It is well known that the Union forces on entering
the city undertook to save the property of the citi-
zens, and to restore confidence.
A writer in the Richmond Whig of April 7th,
1865, says : " With bland and open countenance,
and arms, the Union Army meets us like brothers.
They pity our misfortunes. They have restored
order to our city. They have saved us from
anarchy. They desire to supply our wants, relieve
the suffering, to bless and heal."
And a writer in the Whig again says, when 12,000
Union soldiers marched on review through the
streets of Richmond : " They marched orderly and
quietly, as though desirous of abstaining from any
unnecessary demonstrations that might tend to give
offence to citizens."
46 HISTORY OF THE
Dr. J. L. Burrows, for many years pastor of the
First Baptist church in Richmond, in a brilliant and
thrilling lecture on " The Fall of Richmond,"
speaks of the efforts of the United States soldiers
to save the burning city, and graphically describes
the march of a regiment of colored troops up Broad
street. Along the sidewalk there were their parents,
wives and sisters, some of whom they had not seen
for years. But oblivious to the exclamations of
joyful recognition, with heads erect and steady step,
and with eyes to the front, on, on marched the regi-
ment, " the very perfection of discipline"
Mr. Coffin describes the walk of President Lin-
coln through the streets of Richmond, amid the
wild huzzas of the excited and rejoicing multitudes,
and details an incident.
" The walk from the landing to the Davis mansion
was long, and the President halted a moment to
rest. ' May de good Lawd bless you, President
Linkum,' said an old negro, removing his hat and
bowing with tears of joy rolling down his cheeks.
The President removed his own hat, and bowed in
silence ; it was a bow which upset the forms, laws,
customs and ceremonies of centuries of slavery. It
was a death shock to chivalry and a mortal wound
to caste."
Lumpkin's jail has been referred to. Perhaps it
may be well, at this time, to give further particulars
concerning this place. It was situated in " The
Bottom " between Franklin and Broad Streets, on
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
47
the west side of Shockoe Creek. It occupied a por-
tion of the ground now covered by the establish-
ment of Chamblin, Delaney & Scott. A narrow
lane known as Wall Street, properly Fifteenth
Street, led to it. This establishment, which has
been often spoken of as the " old slave pen," con-
sisted of four buildings, which were of brick. One
LUMPKIN'S JAIL.
was used by the proprietor as his residence and his
office. Another was used as a boarding-house for
the accommodation of those who came to sell their
slaves or to buy. A third served as a bar-room and
a kitchen. The " old jail " stood in a field a few
rods from the other buildings. It was forty-one feet
long and two stories in height, with a piazza to both
stories on the north side of the building. Here
48 HISTORY OF THE
men and women were lodged for safe-keeping, until
they were disposed of at private or public sale.
The proprietor had a family of interesting daugh-
ters, whom he sent North to be educated.
In the summer of 1891, I spent a Sunday in the
home of Rev. Mr. Mower, of Kennebunkport, Maine.
Conversation incidently turned upon matters per-
taining to the past. Mrs. Mower, formerly Annie
E. Cauldwell, knew Martha and Anna Lumpkin at
Mrs. John C. Cowles' Female Seminary, at Ipswich,
Massachusetts, when she was there as a little girl in
1856.
These girls, though born of a slave mother, \veiv
so white that they passed in the community as white
ladies. The father, fearing that some financial con-
tingency might arise when these, his own beautiful
daughters, might be sold into slavery to pay his
debts, kept them, after their education had been
completed, in the free State of Pennsylvania, where
they would be safe. I saw these daughters in Phil-
adelphia, and found them to be cultivated and re-
fined, and contented and happy with families of
their own.
The following incident, given by Rev. A. M.
Newman, of Opelousas, Louisiana, at the Special
Meeting of the American Baptist Home Mission
Society, held in Nashville, in 1888, gives us a pic-
ture of one kind of work carried on in the Lump-
kin Establishment, and also furnishes an illustration
of the truthfulness of the remark sometimes heard,
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 49
that truth is oftentimes stranger than fiction.
Brother Newman, the former neglected slave boy.
after graduating at Madison University, became the
influential pastor of large and important churches.
I quote from his address, delivered on the occasion
above referred to. The address may be found in
the November number of the Baptist Home Mission
Monthly, for 1888, page 295.
"Dr. Corey and Brother Holmes were talking last
night about Richmond and Lumpkin's jail, and
wondering at the change that had taken place. I
thought of one of those changes that took place in
my own individual history. About the year 1862,
the person with whom I was living called me and
said, ' Take this note and carry it down to Mr.
Lumpkin.' Well I took the note, went off down
Broad street just as happy as a little fellow could be.
I handed Mr. Lumpkin the note, and as I passed
I saw Mrs. Mary Jane Lumpkin, his colored wife,
and noticed that she looked at me rather piteously.
I could not understand it. I presented the note
and Mr. Lumpkin looked at it and said: 'Here
John, take this boy, carry him back there and put
him in.' It seemed to me that my heart went right
down. I could not understand it, but there may
be some of my brothers here to-day who under-
stand what it means by 'putting him in.' I was
glad enough when I came out, and when I came
away that same woman looked at me again, and it
seemed to me that she was saying, 'poor child.' I
went on back to the place where I was living.
50 HISTORY OF THE
Some brother asks what I mean by ' putting him in.'
It was putting me in a place known as the whipping
room, and on the floor of that room were rings.
The individual would be laid down, his hands and
feet stretched out and fastened in the rings, and a
great big man would stand over him and flog him.
I got out of there in 1862, and went home. Time
passed on. By and by great things came to us.
We were all free. Prison walls were broken down.
As soon as possible I went to Wayland Seminary,
D. C. From there I went to Madison University,
and then, in 1873, to New Orleans to take charge
of a church. One day while we were having a
church meeting a splendid looking lady came down
the aisle, and coming up to the pastor presented a
very nice looking letter. I opened it and looked at
it and read : ' To whom it may concern : This is to
certify that Sister Mary Jane Lumpkin is a member
in good and regular standing in the First African
Baptist church, city of Richmond, and is hereby
dismissed by her own free will and consent to join
with you.' Then I looked up and said, ' Is this
Sister Lumpkin ? ' She said, ' This is Sister Lump-
kin,' and looked at me and said, ' Have I not seen
you before ? ' I said, ' I expect you have.' She re-
marked, 'Are you not the little one that came one
morning down to the jail with a note, and are you
not the one that went into the back room ? ' ' Yes,
I am the same one,' said I. 'Ah,' she said. But
brethren I will not tell you any more about it. "
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 51
CHAPTER V.
Condition of the Freedmen at the close of the War
Work in their behalf by the American Baptist Home
Mission Society Early Work in Richmond The
National Theological Institute and University Dr.
N. Colver Dr. Robert Ryland Dr. Parker's Lec-
tures Resolutions.
\ T^HEIsT slavery was abolished in the District of
^ Columbia, April 16th, 1862, and after the
emancipation proclamation of January 1st, 1863,
thousands of freedmen crowded into Washington,
Alexandria and other places occupied by the Union
army. Scantily clad and without means, they were
fed and sheltered in shanties, sheds and slave-pens.
These multitudes of dependent men, women and
children, bewildered by their new surroundings, with
no self-reliance, and without guides or counsellors,
afforded an ample field for the labors of Christian men
and women. And later, when the war had ended
and four millions of homeless, penniless, friendless
waifs, with no utensils, no lands, no churches, no
schools, no business experience, were thrust forth
into the heart of the nation, to compete with a
dominant race, the situation was indeed appalling-
Every Christian- and every patriot recognized the
52 HISTORY OF THE
importance of providing for them properly trained
and qualified teachers and preachers.
As early as June 25th, 1862, the Executive Board
of the American Baptist Home Mission Society had
voted to occupy such Southern fields as the provi-
dence of God might open to them.
In Septemher, 1863, the Society, which had sent
some missionary workers into the South in 1862,
adopted " a positive and pronounced policy " re-
specting the work for the colored people. Before
April, 1864, they had about twenty missionaries and
assistants in the Southern field. In 1865, the
Board of the Home Mission Society was instructed
to prosecute, "in all wise and feasible ways, the
evangelization of the freedmen, and to aid them in
the erection and procurement of church and school
edifices when requisite." The tide of feeling, par-
ticularly in New England, ran very strong in this
direction. Prominent men in the denomination
offered themselves for the service. Operations were
eventually commenced at various important centres
in the South.
J. G. Binney, D. D., at one time President of the
Columbian College, Washington, D. C., and subse-
quently teacher of a theological class at Rangoon,
Burmah, opened in the city of Richmond, in the
month of November, a school under the patronage
of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, for
the instruction of colored men preparing for the
ministry. The Religious Herald, published at Rich-
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 53
mond, in making announcement of this fact under
the date of November 80th,*1865, says: "Dr. Bin-
ney's age, learning, experience, piety and prudence
eminently fit him for the work in which he is en-
gaged." Dr. Binney had a class of from twenty to
twenty-five, whom he could hear only at night.
" The effort to provide suitable accommodations for
Rev. Dr. Binney's School failed," and he did not
long remain in Richmond, but at an early day re-
turned to Burmah and gave himself to the work of
training a native ministry among the people of the
far East, a work for which he was so eminently
qualified. For many years after this, " he filled
the post of President of the Karen Theological
Seminary at Rangoon."
It becomes necessary at this point to make some
statements concerning the NATIONAL THEOLOGICAL
INSTITUTE AND UNIVERSITY.
An organization known as the " National Theo-
logical Institute," composed of prominent Baptists,
was effected at Washington, D. C., in December,
1864, and commenced operations early in 1865.
This Institution, which had for its object the judi-
cious training of men of God for the Christian
ministry, and of others associated with them as
assistants, was chartered on the 10th of May, 1866.
This charter was amended March 2d, 1867, and the
name was changed to that of " The National Theo-
logical Institute and University." Of this organi-
zation J. D. Fulton, D. I)., became President, and
:>4 HISTORY OF THE
J. W. Parker, D. D., Corresponding Secretary,
lie was succeeded as Secretary by Solomon Peck,
D. D. J. W. Converse, of Boston, was the Treas-
urer. The work of the National Theological Insti-
tute and University was divided into two depart-
ments. First Schools were established at impor-
tant points, so that the more influential pastors of
churches might be helped without removing them
from their work and from their pastoral charges.
Secondly Ministers' Institutes were " organized in
a manner similar to those which were first estab-
lished in the West." By this means it was hoped
to reach the masses of the ministry.
When this Society had entered fairly upon its
work, attention was directed to Nathaniel Colver,
D. D., as one eminently fitted, by his antecedents,
by his sympathies, by his pow r er as a Biblical teach-
er, and his tact in addressing and influencing men,
for the service needed in the Department of Instruc-
tion. He received an invitation while Professor of
Biblical Theology in the Theological Seminary, at
Chicago, to enter the service of the National Insti-
tute. He accepted, and on May 13th, 1867, he ar-
rived in Richmond and made arrangements to
commence his work. July 1st, 1867, he leased, for
three years, at one thousand dollars per annum, the
establishment known as Lumpkin's Jail, which has
been described already. It was in the Old Jail, the
threshold of which was pressed by the foot of a
slave for the last time on the memorable Sunday
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 55
afternoon of the evacuation, that Dr. Colver made a
beginning of his work. Appropriate services were
held on the premises, and Dr. Colver preached an
impressive sermon from the porch of the boarding-
house. He referred to the change that had taken
place in the status of the colored people, and also
to the different purpose to which the premises were
about, to be devoted; to the old jail, with the iron
grating across the windows (a place of bitter memo-
ries), that was in the adjacent yard. No longer would
there go up from within those walls from broken-
hearted men, torn from their families forever, an
agonizing wail to Heaven. No longer would help-
less wives and mothers wash those floors with their
tears. The Doctor urged all ministers and young
men to avail themselves of the opportunity to enter
the School. The occasion was one of profound and
tearful interest.
Dr. Colver made arrangements with Rev. James
H. Holmes, pastor of the First African Baptist
Church, to reside with his family on the premises,
and to look after the establishment. School opened
regularly in the fall of 1867, and Robert Ryland, D.
D., was associated with Dr. Colver during the year.
Dr. Ryland was for twenty-eight years President
of Richmond College ; and for twenty-five years
pastor of the First African Baptist. Church. He
says in the Religious Herald of September 12th, 1869:
" For twenty-five years preceding the collapse of the
Confederacy, I labored on the Sabbath and at other
56 HISTORY OF THE
spare hours for the spiritual welfare of the colored
people." Dr. Colver, seeing Dr. Ryland returning
from the market with his basket on his arm, de-
cided to secure his services as an associate in teach-
ing. As an illustration of the great change which
took place at the close of the war in the circum-
stances of the citizens, this distinguished leader and
preacher, in order to support his family, carried
milk around the city and sold it, alike to white and
black. Dr. Ryland refers to this in a letter to the
Richmond Dispatch, August 24th, 1876, in which
he says : " I did not keep a dairy, but possessed one
cow, whose milk, carried on foot to my customers,
morning and evening, sustained my family for many
months." Dr. Ryland was a man " pious, consis-
tent and laborious," and his labors, which were
continued through one year, closing with August
31st, 1868, were highly appreciated by the young
men of the School. He speaks of the work as
"A great and good one," and earnestly prays for a
" large reward " upon his " fellow laborer in the
cause of Christ." Dr. Ryland makes the following
statement concerning the work done by him in the
School :
" My connection with your Institute began about
the 1st of September, 1867, and ended about the
last of June, 1868. Dr. Colver, the Principal,
taught only Biblical knowledge, and I devoted six
full hours a day in teaching all the elementary
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 57
branches that I saw most needful to the pupils. I
got along very pleasantly with all the students, and
with Dr. Colver. But as it was best for him to
continue, and as a female could teach at $600 per
annum, what I was teaching at a cost to the Society
of $1.200, I suggested to Dr. Peck, who had come
to Richmond partly to lecture to the School and
partly to attend to its fiscal matters, that I ought to
resign. He concurred with me, and I acted accord-
ingly, with the kindest feelings toward the whole
enterprise.
" Dr. Parker and Dr. Peck delivered some most
judicious and valuable lectures to the whole School
in the winter of 1867-68, on theological subjects.
But as I was generally engaged with my classes
when Dr. Colver was with his, I did not form an
opinion of his instructions, that is, a very definite
one." "The School began systematically about
September 1st, 1867, in a building known as Lump-
kin's Jail, with some thirty or forty pupils, two-
thirds of whom had some reference to the ministry."
Concerning the course of lectures above referred
to, Miss E. II. Peck, who was in the office of her
father in Boston during his absence, says: "Dr.
Parker was to assist Drs. Colver and Ryland in
giving instruction. But Dr. Parker has been sick
in Washington and Dr. Colver is very feeble, and
often suffers from sudden and severe disease in his
chest, threatening life ; so my father has gone to
the rescue, and writes that he arrived none too
58 HISTORY OF THE
soon, and finds himself fully occupied with lec-
turing, teaching, receiving calls, etc."
Dr. Colver, in consequence of failing health, re-
signed in June, 1868. He died at Chicago, Illinois,
September 25th, 1870. An account of the life and
services of this distinguished man may be found in
the valuable memoir prepared by Rev. J. A. Smith,
D. D.
In accepting the resignations of Drs. Colver and
Ryland as teachers at Richmond, the Executive
Committee placed on record the following resolu-
tions, adopted June 15th, 1868 :
Resolved, That in accepting the resignation of the Rev. Dr.
Ryland, we wish to express our deep sympathy with his Chris-
tian spirit, and our high admiration for his manly firmness and
noble fidelity to truth and duty, which he has evinced in con-
tinuing amid all the changes which have occurred in the com-
munity around him, his life-long devotion to the interests of
the colored people.
Resolved, That we recognize with grateful hearts the services
which have been performed by Dr. Colver in the interests of
the freedmen ; that we feel devoutly thankful to God for the
agent and agency ; and that, while we accept his resignation
as theological teacher at Richmond, Virginia, it is not without
the hope that his valuable services may be secured in some
other department of the grand educational enterprise to which
his whole soul is so thoroughly committed.
To meet the exigency created by the above resig-
nations, the Rev. Mr. Corey was subsequently trans-
ferred to Richmond from the Augusta Institute.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 59
CHAPTER VI.
Dr. Colver's Work in Richmond Letters Transfer
of the Work of the N. T. I. and U. to the American
Baptist Home Mission Society Report of Work done.
TIST carrying out the plan referred to in the last
* chapter, Mr. and Mrs. Corey repaired to Rich-
mond, September 16th, 1868.
School was formally commenced October 1st,
with Miss H. W. Goodman as chief assistant.
Classes were opened on the night of the 21st for
such as could not attend in the daytime. In No-
vember and December of this year, by order of the
Executive Committee, a Ministers' Institute was
held in connection with the School. Dr. J. W.
Parker and the Principal were the lecturers. Eighty-
one ministers and church officers, in addition to the
regular students, attended this special Institute.
At the close of the fall term more than one hun-
dred had been regularly connected with the School,
with an average daily attendance of sixty.
Dr. Parker reports to Dr. Peck in December, con-
cerning this series of lectures, " The Lord is giving
us favor here. In the day and evening courses
together, I have had about one hundred men every
colored pastor in the city. The number increases
60 HISTORY OF THE
every day. If we could continue until February
15th, we should be obliged to take the African
Church and address five hundred. But it is better
to wait. It is most inspiring work. The men are
more eager than ever. Many of them are in tears
much of the time, as we speak of doctrines and
duties. I enjoy the work exceedingly. I have
nightly to express my gratitude to God, with tears,
for the privilege of lifting into light Christ's ' little
ones ' who sit in darkness."
Dr. Colver had been invited to aid in this Special
Course of Instruction, but the state of his health
would not warrant it.
Concerning the Ministers' Institutes which were
held at Richmond and elsewhere with great success,
from 1868-1869, Dr. J. W. Parker,* who conducted
several in the South, under the auspices of the Na-
tional Theological Institute and University, writes
from Washington, D. C., April 26th, 1868, of those
whom he had under his instruction at that time :
" Some had no more use of their reasoning powers
than a blind man has of his eyes, and others had
much power of thought, but had no breadth of
foundation of knowledge of the Bible beyond the
* Dr. Parker was for more than twenty years pastor of a Bap-
tist Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He also served as
Secretary of the Northern Baptist Education Society, and sub-
sequently became pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church, Wash-
ington, D. C.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 61
simplest elements of Christian truth. All were
without any knowledge of the relation of the Old
Testament to the New, or of the Gospels to the
Epistles. I think we give these
men power with their people as we make them able
to refer to the Scriptures for what they teach and
direct. If we do little more for them than to help
them to read and to refer to a few Scriptures which
teach doctrine and duty, much is gained. It is not
the amount of knowledge which we impart so much
as the fullness of possession which they have of a
few truths and their relations. If they can be held
to the simple truths in doctrine and precept, they
will lead the people more safely and successfully."
Dr. Parker again writes from Savannah, Georgia,
March 20th, 1869 : " This year opens the way for
much more effective labor the next. If you ask me
who will perform it, He knows who has liberated
this people, and intends that they shall be taught,
and I have no knowledge nor solicitude in the mat-
ter. My heart has been greatly enlarged in it, and
I have much gratitude to God for the privilege of
doing the little I have been permitted to do. It
has absorbed my whole being and filled all my hori-
zon. I have been out of the
world for three months, have seen but two numbers
of the Watchman, know nothing of what is going
on in the world or the Church, but I reckon the
Lord will be able to manage without my supervision,
and T am content to leave the matter with Him."
3
62 HISTORY OF THE
In order to understand the kind of work done at
Richmond by Drs. Colver and Ryland, I will intro-
duce a letter written to me while in charge of the
Augusta Institute, Augusta, Georgia. I wrote Dr.
Colver, asking him kindly to make such suggestions
as his experience and observation would warrant.
He writes from Richmond, Virginia, November
18th, 1867 :
" The enquiries you make will best be answered
by your own observation of those who compose
your pupils, and their necessities. The field is new
and peculiar, and peculiar treatment is demanded.
We almost have to make the mind to instruct. Of
course our theological instructions must be dogmat-
ical till we can teach them to reason, and till they
can read and gather to themselves the use of terms.
I have a large evening class of over thirty that I
have to teach to speak and read properly ; and
some in figures and writing. The literary day
classes are under Dr. Ryland ; a class in grammar,
in arithmetic, in geography, and all in spelling and
reading. With these classes he occupies himself
from nine to three o'clock, alternately.
" I have a class of pastors and preachers with whom
I spend an hour and a half daily. I have gone
mostly through the Book of Hebrews. We first read
a chapter, and I take great pains to have them read
properly, slowly, naturally, distinctly, minding the
pauses, observing proper emphasis, intonation, pro-
nunciation, etc. Then I seize upon the points of
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 63
Gospel truth consecutively, in the order of Apostolic
argument, and try to make them understand it as
well as I can. Progress is very slow, and much
patience is required. They have never been taught
to think consecutively. We take any good young
man, whether looking to the ministry or not. Most
learn well. Some do not. I exercise a sovereign
prerogative to dismiss the hopeless. But I said in
the beginning no rule can be given you. You must
'cut and try.' My suggestions will be useless. Your
own observations must guide you. Our work is a
hard, but an important one."
During my first year in Richmond I was in fre-
quent correspondence with Dr. Colver. As his
health failed, these letters became less frequent.
The following, dated Chicago, March 19th, 1869,
shows the depth of his Christian affection and his
interest in all that pertains to the Kingdom of
Christ :
" How I would love to be with you. I became
very much attached to those dear people. I rejoice
in the conversion of Brother Armistead. Uncle
Jeff and Aunty I love very much. I found Brother
and Sister Holmes, all I could wish. They were so
kind. I wish you to express to them how much I
love them. ***** j ever trusted my
papers and money in the hands of Brother Holmes,
and ever found him true and upright. Remember
me to Brother Jackson and to Brother "Wells.
They, with all the students, did all they could to
64 HISTORY OF THE
make me happy. I hope you will find the same
kindness at their hands. This is a glorious work.
I am glad I engaged in it, though I have no doubt
it was such an over-draught upon my bodily powers
as to bring me to an early grave. I have got to die,
but it will not be death. I shall pass over dry shod.
Death in the Master's service or in His work of
preaching the Gospel to the poor is a privilege. I
think my work is done, and that it only remains
for me hereafter to suffer the will of God. But I
want the work done and it needs to be done quickly.
The time will soon come when that School must be
put upon a permanent basis and properly endowed,
when we shall want to work into the Board much
of the colored element. Train them for it as fast
as you can. I never expect to be well again. I
think a few months will send me home. Commend
me to Brother Holmes, to the First Church, and to
individual friends when you have the opportunity.
I love to hear from you. No one to whom you
write will sympathize with you as I do. The Lord
Jesus sustain and help you in your great work.
* * * May God strengthen us all to do and suffer
all his will."
On the 22d of January, 1869, the Executive Com-
mittee of the National Theological Institute, " in
honor of its first teacher and a life long friend of
the slave and the freedmen," adopted the following
resolution : That the School at Richmond be here-
iK-roafter be designated " Colver Institute."
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 65
After mature and prayerful deliberation, at the
annual meeting of the denomination in 1867, and
onward, it was finally decided by mutual agreement
that the work of the National Theological Institute
should be merged into that of the American Baptist
Home Mission Society.. Formal action was taken
when the anniversaries were held in Boston, May
19th, 1869, and eventually the Board of Managers
transferred the work of the National Theological
Institute to the American Baptist Home Mission
Society, which adopted the schools and teachers as
its own.
On May 26th, 1870, the American Baptist Home
Mission Society, at the annual meeting in Phila-
delphia, resolved to petition Congress to declare
null and void the charter of the National Theologi-
cal Institute and University, and appointed Rev. J.
B. Simmons, J. D. Fulton and G. W. Samson to lay
the subject in a proper manner before Congress.
Dr. Peck,* the Corresponding Secretary, in his
final official letter, dated May 22d, says : " My offi-
cial connection ceased on Thursday. The changes
which have been made and which are to be, I
heartily concur in, and trust that they will eventu-
ate in those great ends for which we are laboring."
* Rev. Solomon Peck, D. D., for many years was Correspond-
ing Secretary of the American Baptist Missionary Union. He
succeeded Dr. Parker as Seci'etary of the National Theological
Institute and University.
66 HISTORY OF THE
Of this transfer of the work of the National In-
stitute, official notice was sent by Dr. J. S. Backus,
Corresponding Secretary of the American Baptist
Home Mission Society, May 28, 1869, to Rev. C. H.
Corey and Miss Hannah W. Goodman, as follows :
"As the work of the National Theological Institute
has now passed into the hands of the American
Baptist Home Mission Society, you are requested,
if agreeable to you, to make out your reports for
the month of May to the Secretaries of the Home
Mission Society, No. 39 Park Row, New York, and
they will forward your month's salary."
The following from Dr. Peck's final report gives
an account of our first year's work in the Colver
Institute :
" Reports of the condition and progress of the
School during the entire academic }*ear have been
regular, frequent and abundantly satisfactory. A
just estimate of its general character and of its
claims to support, may be derived from the quarterly
report, submitted at the close of the second term.
Mr. Corey then wrote, March 31st, ' Since our ses-
sion commenced in October, one hundred and
ninety-five have been in attendance at our School
for a longer or shorter period. This number in-
cludes a night class of forty-five adults. During
the term Miss Goodman, the popular and efficient
associate teacher, has given instruction in reading,
writing, arithmetic, spelling, geography and English
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 67
grammar. There have been exercises in declama-
tion and composition. The theological class has
examined the Evidences of Christianity, has studied
carefully portions of the Old and New Testaments,
and has had weekly exercises in the composition
and delivery of sermons. Lectures have been de-
livered to them on Interpretation and Biblical
Antiquities. In addition to this they have had the
benefit of Dr. Parker's admirable lectures. Two
Latin classes and one Greek class have recited
daily for three months past. Caesar and Sallust
have been read a portion of the time. Xenophon
will be commenced shortly.
' It has been the aim of the instructors simply
not to insist on studious habits in the students,
but they have striven to develop every manly qual-
ity ; they have aimed to make men of their pupils :
God-fearing, self-denying men.
' The conduct of the students, generally, has been
all that could be desired. Never could men work
harder, or apply themselves more closely. Scarcely
one has been absent or late at morning prayers or a
recitation since the commencement of the term. We
cannot thank too cordially the many friends who
have so kindly remembered us with supplies of bed-
ding and clothing. Many prayers ascend daily from
this place on behalf of the friends of the School.
May God bless them all.' '
The exhibit thus given is fully sustained by rep-
68 HISTORY OF THE
resentations of brethren who have visited it, both
of the North and the South, several of whom have
left substantial tokens of the interest thus created
or quickened. To use the words of Dr. Parker,
" Brother Corey and his assistant are taking hold
of the people. They have matters in excellent or-
der. If the patrons of the Institute could look in
upon the school each one would enlist recruits and
gain contributions to the cause. To some of the
ministers it seems an almost, intolerable privation
to lose a lesson."
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 69
CHAPTKR VII.
Letter of Dr. Simmons on Lumpkin's Jail Recollec-
tions by Mrs. H. Goodman-Smith Purchase of the
United States Hotel Incorporated as Richmond In-
stitute.
QEFORE taking final leave of the Old Jail, we
*"' will introduce here letters from Dr. Simmons,*
of New York, and Mrs. H. Goodman-Smith.
LUMPKIN'S SLAVE JAIL, BY JAMES B. SIMMONS, D. D.
Did Northern Baptists design to humiliate South-
ern Baptists, by using Lnmpkin's Slave Jail, at the
opening of their Freedmen School-work in Rich-
mond, Virginia? No, the farthest from it. I -re-
member that it was so hinted at the time. Some
may still believe it. But I am glad to be able to
*, Tames B. Simmons, D. D., one of the Secretaries of the
American Baptist Home Mission Society, had charge of the
Southern Department of its work, and-of its educational work.
This and similar institutes in the South, which he so success-
fully assisted in building up, are monuments to his marvellous
and unremitting energy ; and the solicitude with which he
watched over them and the fidelity with which he studied
their best interests, bear testimony to his absorbing interest in
the welfare of the freedman, and the progress of the Kingdom
of Christ,
70 HISTORY OF THE
show that the occupancy of those premises was
wholly providential.
I will begin by saying that Baptists were not re-
sponsible for the existence of slavery. They did
not originate it. Nor can they be held accountable
for its bad features. True Baptists are true Christ-
ians, and true Christians all through the South are
supposed to have done all that they could in the
circumstances, even while slavery still existed, to
ameliorate the hard features of that hard bondage.
Nobody can deny that the institution of slavery
was a very cruel one. So much so, that one eminent
writer describes it as the " sum of all villainies." It
was certainly of the evil one, and not at ^11 of
Christ ; for it was compelled to employ cruel agen-
cies in order to maintain its power, not to say its
existence. Hence the slave-hunter and the slave-
ship for capturing its victims. Hence the slave-
driver and the slave-whip. Hence the bloodhound,
for runaways, and the slave-pen and the slave-jail,
and the whipping ring for the incorrigible and the
refractory.
True Christians in the South, as well as in the
North, deplored these things and prayed against
them. And it was in answer to these prayers, both
in the North and in the South and in the other parts
of the world, that slavery in these United States
was brought to an end, in that year of wondrous
grace to our brethren in bonds 1865. God did
it by means of war ; war so long and so bloody
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 71
" that each drop drawn by the lash was repaid by
another drop drawn by the sword; " but the emanci-
pating feature of the war was in answer to prayer be-
yond all doubt. The reader will notice that I speak
of the prayers of true Christians. Unconverted,
irreligious church members, who still love the
world and its wicked spirit and its cruel ways, are
not Christians at all. They are sinners. Some-
times the worst of sinners. And God heareth not
sinners. These sinners prayed for the continuance
of slavery, and God refused their prayers. True
Christians, on the other hand, are those who have
been born again, " born from above," " born of the
spirit," and who love God and their slave-neighbor
as they love themselves, having the spirit of Christ.
There were undoubtedly thousands of these Chris-
tians (whites as well as blacks) scattered over the
slave States before the war. I knew personally a
few such. I could name some of them ; in the
Carolinas, in Mississippi, in Kentucky, they dwelt,
all of them whites. One of them from South
Carolina, who emancipated his slaves long before
the war, was afterwards a guest in my house for
many days here in the North. And lovingly did we
converse. There were also many other white slave-
holders substantially of his spirit; tender hearted,
but timid, who loved their slaves and pitied them and
treated them beautifully, and would have freed them
joyfully had they only known how. These all
prayed secretly but fervently before the war for the
72 HISTORY OF THE
overthrow of slavery, and after two hundred and
fifty years God startled the whole world by the
suddenness and bountifulness and magnificence of
His answer. And so, when the war ended the slave
was free. "The regime of the lash had gone; the
regime of the spelling book had come." But how
to apply the spelling book was the question. By
the laws of the slave States it had long been a
crime to teach a black man letters. By the laws of
Jesus Christ all men, black and white alike, were to
" search the scriptures." But how many white Chris-
tians were there in the South immediately after the
war, when bad passions were still rampant, when hate
prevailed and not love, who would have dared to
sell a building or even lease a building in the face
of their pro-slavery neighbors to be used as a school
for negroes ? In some localities, indeed, the negroes
themselves were too timid to allow their own
church-houses to be so used. The experience of
Dr. Nathaniel Colver and of others proves this.
And I myself, as late as 1870, five years after the
war had closed, saw white property owners in
Southern cities almost turn pale with fear when [
asked them to sell me a piece of land for one of
the Home Mission Society's colored schools. They
would exclaim: "No, no. Never, never. My neigh-
bors would blame me." One man said to me :
" Sir, the price of that land is one thousand dollars
an acre, but as you want it for a Negro School, you
cannot have it at any price ! "
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 73
Again, in many of the slave States before the
civil war, and I presume it was so in Virginia, even
free blacks, of which there were always a few,
could not hold property except by means of white
trustees. And church property owned by slaves, as
for example, the First African Baptist Church, of
Richmond, Virginia, must have been held for said
slaves in the same way. So strict was the law in
regard to the assembling of blacks, that no con-
gregation or even considerable number of them
could meet, even for the purposes of worshipping
God, unless a white man was present in said assem-
bly.
In the light of the above facts listen now to the
story of Lumpkin's Jail and its occupancy by the
American Baptist Home Mission Society for school
purposes. Dr. Nathaniel Colver, above referred to,
was a famous anti-slavery champion. For many
years he was pastor at Tremont Temple in Boston,
where he thundered with true Christian eloquence
against all the sins in the Decalogue ; especially
against the saloon system and the system of human
slavery. At the same time he preached Jesus most
tenderly and effectively to the saving of great
numbers of souls. Dr. Colver told me that when
the war was over and the slave was free, that he
felt like one who had been rescuing a drowning
man in mid-winter. He had gotten his man out of
the water onto the ice, as he expressed it, but the
poor fellow would freeze to death if not looked
74 HISTORY OF THE
after. So, said he, I started for Richmond to look
after my freed-man. My plan was to open a school
in one of the colored churches and instruct these
preachers in the word of God. But the freedmen
were timid. They were afraid of schools. They
had never had any schools. Slavery had taught
them that schools and book learning were not for
the black man, but only for the whites. Both the
colored pastors and the colored deacons stood in
doubt therefore as to the wisdom of my plans. So,
in my perplexity and straits, I devoted . a day to
fasting and prayer. And as the evening of that
day approached, I went out of my place of prayer
on to the streets of Richmond to see what answer
the Lord might give me. I had not walked far
when I met upon the sidewalk a group of colored
people. I stopped them. I engaged them in con-
versation. I told them the story of my errand in
Richmond and the obstacles I had encountered. In
the midst of that group was a large, fair-faced freed-
woman, nearly white, who said that she had a place
which she thought I could have. The place proved
to be the famous Lumpkin's Slave Jail, and this
woman who owned it was the widow of Lumpkin,
the slave dealer. Yes, the lawful widow. For
though Lumpkin was a white man and had bought
this woman many years before as a slave, and she
had become the mother of his children, yet, after
Richmond fell, he did the honorable thing of marry-
ing her, and so legitimatized her and her children.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 75
Thus they became his lawful heirs. Mrs. Lump-
kin was a pious and intelligent woman, and after
her marriage was admitted to membership in
the First African Baptist Church of Richmond.
For years before the war, so I was told, this slave-
mother of the white jailer's children united with
Lumpkin in sending their children to the North to
school, winter after winter. The last I heard of them
they were residing in one of the Northern States.
AVhether they pass as colored or whites I do not
know. But I presume no trace could be found of
them under the name of Lumpkin ; for in the
very nature of things they would be more than
willing that all records and recollections of their
birthplace and pedigree should be blotted out for-
ever.
The narrative as given above I had partly from
the lips of Dr. Colver himself, and partly from Bap-
tists in Richmond who were personally acquainted
with the Lumpkin household.
Lumpkin's slave-pen consisted of about half an
acre of land near the center of the older portion of
Richmond. The patch lay very low in a deep hol-
low or " bottom," as it might be called, through
which a small stream of water ran very slowly.
In reaching this place of sighs from Broad Street,
one had to climb down the incline of a sandy em-
bankment nearly one hundred feet. The descent
was steep, irregular, and in places difficult. In ap-
proaching the place from the Franklin Street side,
76 HISTORY OF THE
the descent was quite gradual and easy by means of
a narrow, crooked, untidy lane. Around the outer
borders of the said half acre was a fence, in some
places ten or twelve feet in height. Inside of the
fence, and very close to it, was a tall old brick build-
ing which Lumpkin had used for his dwelling-house.
Near by were other buildings, also of brick, where
he used to shelter the more peaceable of his slave-
gangs that were brought to him from time to time
to be sold. But in the center of the plot was the
chief object of interest a low, rough, brick build-
ing known as the " slave jail." TJI this building
Lumpkin was accustomed to imprison the disobe-
dient and punish the refractory. The stout iron
bars were still to be seen across one or more of the
windows during my repeated visits to this place.
In the rough floor, and at about the center of it,
was the stout iron staple and whipping ring.
It was in this old jail this place of horrible
memories to the blacks that I found that noble
man of God, Rev. Charles H. Corey, engaged in
teaching a company of freedmen preachers. Dr.
Colver, far advanced in years, had now withdrawn,
and Brother Corey was his successor. In the tall
old dwelling-house of the late Mr. Lumpkin, Dr.
Corey kept house with his devoted, self-sacrificing,
New England wife. I was their guest. They were
happy in the work and so was I. For hideous as
were the surroundings, a whole race had been born
in a day into liberty. In the other buildings above
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 77
alluded to, colored students for the ministry were
living and boarding in common. They too were
happy. Glad faces greeted me on every side. The
old slave pen was no longer the "devil's half acre"
but God's half acre. As Corresponding Secretary
of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, T
had repeatedly come to Richmond to purchase bet-
ter quarters for this Christian School. And when
it was announced to the fifty students that I had
succeeded in buying the United States Hotel, on
Main Street, their enthusiasm scarcely knew any
bounds. Never shall I forget their beaming black
faces and their eyes glistening with joy when Dr.
Corey and I told them the following :
First That the great hotel originally cost
$110,000.
Second That such was the changed state of
things that the owners were glad enough to throw
oft' the fraction of $100,000 and sell it to the Society
for $10,000.
Third That it would however require several
thousand dollars over and above the purchase
money to fit it up and furnish it for school pur-
poses, and consequently
Fourth We must have the colored people help
financially.
Then the prompt and generous way in which
they pledged themselves to help was wonder-
ful. Several said they would earn and give five
78 HISTORY OF THE
dollars apiece. Others pledged ten dollars. Still
others twenty, twenty-five, and fifty dollars each.
Every student was requested to say a few words if
he chose in reference to the purchase of the new
property, and the hopes he had for himself and his
people in connection with this school. All spoke
in loud praise of Dr. Colver and Dr. Corey and of
their assistant teachers. Rev. James H. Holmes,
then as now the pastor of the First Colored Baptist
Church in Richmond, a church of 4,000 members,
was one of the pupils in this Lumpkin's Jail School,
and spoke for himself and his people admirably.
So did Richard Wells, pastor of the Ebenezer
Baptist Church, and others too numerous to men-
tion. One man, whose name I have forgotten,
made quite a lengthy speech, and as he sat down
pledged himself to help " right smart." I knew
well enough that " right smart" was a Southern
provincialism, and that it meant a " good deal."
But as Dr. Corey had given the assembled school
into my hands, so that I was presiding on this his-
toric occasion, I insisted on knowing how much
" right smart " meant in dollars and cents. After
hesitating somewhat and blushing as well as an
African young man well could, he replied that it
meant " about fifty dollars." This elicited applause,
of course, and I told the students that, though I
did not like the phrase because it seemed to savor
of slang, nevertheless they might use it freely at
the rate of fifty dollars a time, till our newly-pur-
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 79
chased school quarters should be put in good repair,
furnished, and occupied free of debt.
I remember that Isaac P. Brockenton, a colored
young pastor, from Darlington, South Carolina,
also a pupil, was present on this memorable occa-
sion. He told us that he had already built a meet-
ing-house for his people since the war closed, the
first offering towards it being twenty-five cents
which he himself contributed. He gave us a most
vivid picture of how he led his people to victory
from so small a beginning as that. How his church
members at first laughed to scorn his poor little
twenty-five cent piece as it lay there lonesome upon
the table ; and how a year later they cried for joy,
and sang and shouted triumphantly over their little
meeting-house, built and paid for by a great many
twenty-five cent gifts, which they themselves had
brought in. It is not at all to be wondered at that
this same man Brockenton, child of God and
brother of Jesus and hero of faith, as a grain of
mustard seed, has since built two other Baptist
Churches in his own town of Darlington, the last
one costing $18,000.
It is such men as these, Holmes, Wells, Brocken-
ton, and many others, that Dr. Corey and his able
Faculty have been training for the past twenty-five
years. And I am proud of them. They are my
brothers in Christ, and I have not so much as a
shred of sympathy for the man who despises them.
80 HISTORY OF THE
To slur them, to harm them, is to slur and harm
Jesus.
So nobly did the colored students and the colored
churches and people of Richmond and Virginia
come up to the help of the Lord in this crisis, that
it awakened great enthusiasm all through the North,
and among the white Christians in the South as
well. And here let me say that just in proportion
as the freedmen brethren deny themselves in all
unwise and wasteful personal and family expendi-
tures, and give largely and liberally to the Home
Mission Society for the building up of these young
colleges, just in that proportion will they receive
more and more help from their brethren of the
white race all over the land. Men love to help those
that help themselves. Let the negroes therefore make
Wesley's motto their motto, viz : " To EARN all they
can, SAVE all the} 7 can, and GIVE all they can."
It was a proud day when the students and teach-
ers of Lumpkin's Jail marched up out of that old
slave-pen, and took possession of the United States
Hotel, at the corner of Nineteenth and Main Streets.
That noble property, once the fashionable hotel of
Richmond, so ample and so admirable in all its ap-
pointments, had now been thoroughly cleaned and
repaired, and furnished with new school furniture,
and was joyfully dedicated to its new and sacred
uses with hymns of praise and songs of thanks-
giving to God. It is still in use under the name of
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 81
the Richmond Theological Seminary, and Dr. Corey
is the honored President.
He who began as the despised teacher of negroes
(despised only by the worst people, never by the
best) has been heard from since. Twenty-seven
years ago he was an unknown young man com-
mencing a work for Jesus Christ, in the spirit of
Jesus Christ, and nothing could daunt him. Shel-
tered beneath the roof of an abandoned slave jail,
the best quarters he and his poor freedmen-students
could for the time being command, he cheerfully
bided his time. He seems never to have pined for
social recognition ; he was too busy. If the roughs
jeered him on the streets, he not only bore it pa-
tiently, but answered them back with a benevolent
smile. And this habit of tossing back loving
smiles to those unfriendly to his work on the New
Testament plan, has left dimples in Dr. Corey's
cheeks. If anybody doubts it, let him engage the
genial Doctor in conversation about the amusing
occurrences of those early days of his life in Rich-
mond, and those same benevolent dimples will reap-
pear upon his face.
Since those early days he has received four times
in succession the complimentary title of Doctor of
Divinity from four different colleges. Two of these
colleges are Northern and two are Southern. And
the two in the South, I am glad to say, viz : Rich-
mond College, in Virginia, the very spot where he
has done his life work of love, and Baylor Univer-
82 HISTORY OF THE
sity, in Texas, were several years in advance of
the two Northern Colleges in bestowing these well
merited honors upon this devoted son of Christ.*
RECOLLECTIONS BY MRS. H. G. SMITH, A FORMER
TEACHER IN COLVER INHTITUTE.
Mrs. H. Goodman-Smith f provides some inter-
esting reminiscences of her four years connection
with the School in Richmond :
" The first two years in Richmond we were
located at Lumpkin's Jail, where our sessions were
*The writer protested two or three times against the last
paragraphs in the letter of Dr. Simmons, deeming them un-
necessary. But Dr. Simmons insists on his " rights as the
author of the article to have it appear in its integrity," as he
wrote it. He adds, under date of September 27th, 1894, just
after the death of his accomplished and devoted wife :
" I am eager to see your book. When will it come ? How I
wish my precious wife could have seen it. She took the most
profound interest in you and your wife and your noble work.
Neither you of the Richmond School, nor the teachers of any
of the seven schools I helped to establish, will ever know your
indebtedness to that loving, praying, faithful wife, who at
length rests from her labors and her works do follow her."
f Miss Goodman was a lady of culture and refinement. After
four years of efficient and self-denying service at Richmond,
and three years at Benedict Institute, Columbia, South Caro-
ina, she was transferred to Leland University, New Orleans,
Louisiana, where she remained one year. She was subsequently
married to Mr. W. H. Smith. Their comfortable home at
Rockford, Illinois, was always open to weary missionary work-
ers. Mr. Smith was a helper of all worthy causes, and was
especially interested in the work for the colored people.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 83
held, while the teachers occupied rooms in another
building on the premises. So entirely absorbed
were we in our arduous work of teaching these
eager students, some of whom were already pastors,
that our uninviting surroundings were unthought
of by us, only as our Northern friends commented
on them in their visits to us. In addition to teach-
ing, there was the distribution of clothing and bed-
ding to the needy, and general missionary work,
with the giving of concerts for the benefit of the
students.
"An afternoon class, consisting in all of eighty,
many of whom were mothers and some grand-
mothers, was conducted by Mrs. Corey and myself.
These earnest women highly appreciated their op-
portunity, and rejoiced greatly when they had
learned to read ' the Word.'
" In a recent visit to the Richmond Theological
Seminary, I could but contrast the students of to-
day with those of twenty-six years ago. I was
amazed at the development of character, the sound
thought, the readiness of expression, and the refine-
ment in manners, and the neatness of person of
those I saw. These results must have come from
hard and persistent personal labor.
"Among the visitors to our Institute was Hon.
Henry Bill, of Norwich, Connecticut. Though a
Congregationalist, he became deeply interested in
our work. He remarked that ' he would rather see
his son the President of such an Institution for
84 HISTORY OF THE
colored people than to see him the President of the
United States.'
" Mr. Bill gave largely of the books he published,
both to the Library of the School and also to some
of the Sunday-schools in Richmond. One of our
pupils, J. E. Jones, had become nearly prepared for
college. Mr. Bill furnished the money for his ex-
penses for nearly five years at Madison University,
the rest being secured by me from my personal
friends. After graduating with honor, Prof. Jones
has been for nineteen years a teacher in the Insti-
tution of which he was formerly a pupil. Prof.
Vassar also was graduated from Madison Univer-
sity, and for eighteen years has been a teacher in
the Institution where he entered as a pupil, then
being unable to write his name.
" I shall never forget ' Uncle Jetfry ' and his faith-
ful services, and his devotion to the services of the
Master. I am reminded by my friend, Mrs. Sarah
Hanson Nichols, a generous friend of the Semi-
nary, and my present hostess as I write, of an inci-
dent which occurred during a visit she paid at
Richmond. Uncle Jeft'ry, while attending to some
service in my room, seeming unconscious of our
presence, said half aloud, ' Last night I had a
vision; and the old woman (meaning his recently
departed wife) was there, I seed her plain as I'se
looking at you wid dese two eyes ; she was a walk-
ing the golden streets wid her silver slippers on.
Dar wasirt a black one thar. Dey had all been
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 85
washed in de blood of de Lam ; and made clean
and white as snow. And she said, "yonder, dar
he's coming, Old Jeffry." Another time he met rne
coming out of the Schoolroom, and said, ' Its heaps
of burdens you're a toting on your shoulders for
my poor down-trodden race, and I prays for you
and Dr. Corey every da}'. If anybody in de world
ought to get de blessing it is you, sure nuff.' One
evening while coming from his praying meeting he
said to me, ' How did you like my meeting ? ' I
replied, 'Very much, did'nt you?' 'No,' he said,
' dar was so many prayers and not a single grunt,
mighty cold Missus, mighty cold, so many prayers
and not a single grunt.' He was accustomed to sing
with great pathos and power his favorite hymns,
' we'll walk tru de valley in peace if Jesus His self
be our leader dar,' and ' Hark from de tooms a
doleful sound.'
" Uncle Jeff had been a hard worker. He was
bent and crippled and almost toothless. He had
been owned by a man who was very cruel, and who,
under the disappointment of losing his three hun-
dred slaves, hanged himself at the close of the war.
Dr. Parker said to him : 'And how did you feel,
Uncle Jeff, when your old master w r as dead ? '
With his hand on his mouth, he said, ' You see,
Doctor, I tried to be resigned,' but the merry twin-
kle in his eye and the suppressed te, he, he, showed
that, to say the least, his grief had not lasted very
86 HISTORY OF THE
" In reviewing the past I recall my visit to Dr.
Colver, at Chicago, a short time before he died.
He asked me about James H. Holmes, the good,
strong man, who gave promise of being a power in
the church, and Richard Wells, so reliable and
trustworthy. His farewell messages were sent to his
beloved pupils, and his congratulations to Dr. Corey
for his successes.
"Be assured that though my connection with
the Institution has long since ceased, my thoughts
will always center there, and my best wishes will
follow the President and students, and I believe, as
did my departed husband, that it is the best con-
ducted school of its kind that we ever visited."
As the lease of Lumpkin's Jail was to expire in
1870, it became necessary to secure a more perma-
nent location. The United States Hotel (until 1853
known as the Union Hotel) on the corner of 19th
and Main Streets, was purchased January 26th,
1870, and in the fall of the same year the building
was occupied by the school. The main building,
which is of brick, fronts sixty-two feet on Main
Street and fifty feet on Nineteenth Street. It is
four stories high. An L, one hundred feet long
and thirty-nine feet wide, runs along Nineteenth
Street. The building was erected in 1818, and it
was at the time the most fashionable hotel of Rich-
mond. It contains about fifty rooms. The prop-
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 87
erty is said to have cost originally $110,000. It was
purchased for $10,000.
In this part of the city in those days were the
homes of the prosperous and fashionable families.
The hotel was the stopping place of the most dis-
tinguished people of the State. The members of
the General Assembly who boarded there did not
dine with the ordinary guests, but took their meals
entirely by themselves. After the building ceased
to be a hotel, it was used as a medical college. In
the days of the war it was a Confederate Hospital.
Immediately after the war a school for colored
children was taught in its largest rooms.
The Freedmen's Bureau, from the funds appro-
priated to " erection, rental and repair of school
houses," furnished the money. Rev. R. M. Manly
was at this time State Superintendent of Education
under the Freedmen's Bureau, and actively pro-
moted the interests of the school. The trustees
were A. B. Capwell, James B. Simmons, J. S.
Backus, E. E. L. Taylor, Albert Brooks, Henry K.
Ellyson and R. M. Manly.
After obtaining possession of the building it was
solemnly dedicated to God. In one of the upper-
most rooms we knelt with Secretary Simmons, and
besought God's blessing upon the building and upon
the work of Christian Education, for which it was
to be used. Extensive repairs were needed ; many
of the windows were boarded up ; the pigeons had
88 HISTORY OF THE
taken possession of some of the rooms, and the
plastering had fallen in many others of them.
After the duties of the school were over, the stu-
dents in the old jail hastened daily with alacrity to
the newly-purchased building, and in various ways
assisted in repairing it; they contributed fully a
thousand dollars' worth of labor. They also gave
of their own means. They went through the city,
and from people, both white and colored, they col-
lected a $1,000. This was secured in small sums,
and the list containing the names of contributors
was more than six yards in length.
The School for a long time had been familiarly
known as " THE COLVER INSTITUTE," but for satis-
factory reasons the more general name, " THE RICH-
MOND INSTITUTE," was inserted in the deed which
conveyed the property to the Trustees, and under
that name it was incorporated by an act passed by
the General Assembly of Virginia, February 10th,
1876.
On November 22d, 1876, the Trustees met in
New York City, and organized under the provis-
ions of the very liberal charter which had been
granted them, exempting from taxation property to
the amount of $500,000.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 89
GO
w
90 HISTORY OF THE
CHAPTKR VIII.
Extracts from Official Letters of Secretaries Extracts
from other Letters Needy Students.
JRHE following extracts from letters from Secre-
tary Simmons of the American Baptist Home
Mission Society, and from others, will give some
idea of the growth and development of the work :
"NOVEMBER 3D, 1869.
" I want you to ask God, the great and rich God,
for the sake of his son Jesus, to help you find one
or several of his stewards, who will give $25,000 to
endow the Colver Institute. "Work among those
who love, and will be glad to honor, the name of
that prince among men, Nathaniel Colver.
"J. B. SIMMONS."
"FEBRUARY 12TH, 1870.
" But God will give us the money, and it will
pay large returns. Let us have faith, and so please
Jesus. We shall soon stand in His presence with
our work done. J. B. S."
"FEBRUARY 12TH, 1870.
" To get money you must open your mouth wide,
like a young robin swallowing a big grasshopper
whole. * * * * You do not know how the
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 91
burdens have accumulated upon me since I have
left you. M y heart is absorbed with a desire, irre-
pressible and painful, to found a school like yours,
and iu a building as good as yours, in every one of
these Southern States. To this grand work I must
give myself. Hence, I shall have to leave you and
your students the work of putting that building in
order. Tell the students so. Lay the heavy bur-
den on them. Have no scruples. Tell them I want
to know what they will amount to when they be-
come pastors, when each one ought to raise from
$5,000 to $25,000 alone in building meeting houses,
if all of them together cannot now raise this small
sum of $5,000. J. B. S."
In the following extract reference is made to sub-
scriptions secured by the students for the necessary
repairs of the building on the corner of Nineteenth
and Main Streets. The list was more than six
yards long :
"APRIL STH, 1870.
" You do not know how pleased I am with the
three yards and one-half of names you send me. I
have measured, and three and a half is the number.
Add to the list when you get another yard of them.
A yard at a time is what I desire you to send. * *
You are doing nobly. Keep on. Tell the students
I am greatly pleased with what they have done.
Let none be discouraged. Everyone will reap at
length if he faint not. Everyone. Tell them I say
92 HISTORY OF THE
so. But my saying is of little account. God's
word says so. J. B. S."
"JUNE 13TH, 1870.
" Ever dear Brother, I wish you to know that we
rejoice exceedingly at the success the Lord has
given you in Richmond. As the colored people
voted by a unanimous uprising to pray for you and
help you, so do we. * * * * These colleges
for colored preachers, like the whites, cannot be
carried along with real power unless they can have
the benefit of permanent endowment funds. We
expect you to prove yourself, by God's help, the
author and organizer of a great success in Rich-
mond. J. B. S."
"JULY TTH, 1870.
"As an encouragement to you, let me say that,
after applying day after day, by laborious effort, to
some forty persons, being turned off shortly and
again even rudely, God brought me at length to one
of His hidden saints, who said, before I had finished
stating the great work. ' My brother, I think the
Lord sent you here. I have money and I want to
give it. I want to be mainly my own executor.'
That person has already paid into our treasury
several thousand dollars, and more are coming.
"J. B. S."
" SEPTEMBER 16TH, 1870.
" Be careful to spend no money on bad material
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 93
in students. Even a house of worthless bricks
tumbles down. A chief donor just now says, 'I
. give cheerfully to them. But they must dig as I
had to.' Another, who recently gave several thou-
sands to our Freedmen Fund, worked his way
through college, and is indignant at any thought of
shiftlessness on the part of those students whom he
is helping. He is terribly in earnest. J. B. S."
"DECEMBER 27TH, 1870.
"All day long I have been treading these streets
to collect funds for your school, and no man has
given me a dollar. Tell your students this. Tell
them that my faith is such, however, that if forty-
nine refuse me, that I believe the fiftieth man will
give me at least one dollar. Has God given them
such faith as this, and are they thus at work ? Some
are, I know. Everyone of them should be. Tell
them I say so. Tell them to pray for me as I pray
for them. We are all in partnership, and Jesus is
the Head of the Firm. J. B. S."
"JANUARY 7TH, 1871.
" While He blesses me, and your teachers work
and bear burdens, you must bear burdens too.
Those at the North who give, charge me to tell you
so. You must help. Everyone of you. I want,
1st. That you should pray a great deal more. By
ones as directed in Matt, vi, 6 and by twos as in Matt,
xviii, 19. Pray about this particular matter of more
94 HISTORY OF THE
money. 2d. I want everyone of you who can to
pay partly or wholly for your own board from this
day onward. 3d. I want you to help to save ex-
penses of fuel and lights and everything. 4th. I
want you to go kindly and with cheerful courage
to the poor and the rich and liberal Christians of
Richmond, of all denominations, and ask for aid.
Go also to the men of the world. J. B. S."
"FEBRUARY 3D, 1871.
" I have great pleasure in your School. I pray
for you much. And upon every remembrance of
yourself and wife, and your teachers and your
pupils, I say : ' God bless them every one.' * * *
We pray for the donors to your School often.
"J. B. S."
"FEBRUARY 24m, 1871.
" Do not think for a moment of leaving Rich-
mond. There is no field on earth where you can
be more useful, in my judgment, or see greater
results of your labor. But be careful ; do not over-
work. Take whatever rest is needed each day.
Don't wait until vacation. That is often fatal.
But don't give up the work at Richmond on any
account. You have your hand in, God has blessed
you in the work, and I am confident that He will
still bless you in it. It is the blessing of the Lord
that maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow there-
with. J. B. S."
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 95
" SEPTEMBER 15xH, 1871.
" It was on the 12th inst. Resolved, ' That the
Board finds it indispensable that the teachers of
freedmen schools keep a constant and watchful eye
to the raising of funds ; and that the principals and
male assistants, specially, be requested to give their
energies each Sabbath to preaching or delivering
addresses, and taking subscriptions and collections
for the freedrnen's educational work of this Society.'
As you have done this all along, you will, I know,
cheerfully keep on as your own strength may war-
rant. * * * If all worked as heartily and
earnestly as you in collecting, our Board would not
need to pass many resolutions. J. B. S."
"OCTOBER 31ST, 1871.
"Lending does not seem to me to be much en-
couraged in the Bible. I know it says, ' Do good
and lend,' but it is added, ' hoping for nothing
again,' which makes it much the same as giving.
It is the way the ignorant poor impoverish them-
selves, this miserable, MISERABLE, MISERABLE
habit they have of lending to irresponsible and dis-
honest people without taking legal written security.
One of our colored students has from $100 to $300
thus loaned, and behold we have to feed him or
turn him out of school. J. B. S."
"JANUARY 8TH, 1872.
" Let us keep up good heart. At times, with
96 HISTORY OF THE
the pressure of this work upon me, my heart grows
sad. But it ought not to be so. I am ashamed that
it is so, for God has the supervision of this work.
The more than one hundred laborers in the South
half of our field, whose salaries are more or less
dependent upon my efforts, are every one very dear
to God. He loves them. He is in the field with
them. He defends them. And though I am irre-
ligiously anxious at times, I am glad to tell you that
it is sweet to me to commend them daily to God's
care ; and of the whole one hundred none more so
than yourself and your wife and your fellow-teach-
ers. J. B. S."
The following letter has reference to seventeen
students who were appointed as missionaries in Vir-
ginia during the summer of 1872. Fifteen had also
been appointed and served during the summer of
1871:
"MAY 16TH, 1872.
" Your telegram is received. Enclosed find our
check for eighty-five dollars, in advance on salaries
of your seventeen student-missionaries, to help
them to their fields. Report to J. M. Whitehead
at once, please, just how much you paid to each.
Some may need more than others. Enclosed in
another envelope we send you the seventeen com-
missions and a copy of ' Principles and Purposes ' for
each one. J. B. S."
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 97
"OCTOBER 12TH, 1872.
" Your students made from forty-eight to three
hundred visits each. Urge upon their attention
Acts v, 42, and Acts xx, 20 in the matter of this
household preaching. It is a vast power.
"J. B. S."
"NOVEMBER 30TH, 1872.
" No students thus far, as a whole, have equalled
yours in raising funds. That is, your school of stu-
dents have done more than any other school of stu-
dents. Some individuals in the other schools have
done as much or more, perhaps, than any one of
yours. But God has greatly blessed and helped
you in training your men to raise money. Do not
lose your art. Do not let your school lose its pres-
tige. Keep it ahead. ' Ole Virginny never tire.'
* * * Go everywhere among your people
and stir them up on this subject. Beg their money.
Beg their prayers. Beg their sympathies. Preach
on the subject ; lecture on it and pray about it.
The $1,000 you have raised will soon be increased
to $2,000 if you heartily work together. J. B. S."
Our school at Richmond was the first among all
the institutions of the South to employ colored
teachers. They have now been in our institution
for more than twenty years.
" DECEMBER 27TH, 1872.
" I was in hopes (and I do hope still) that your
98 HISTORY OF THE
colored assistants would prove a grand success.
Your movement in that line is popular both with
whites and blacks. You do not know how reso-
lutely colored leaders have pressed us to employ
and pay colored teachers. I do hope you will fight
it out on this line. ' Look not back, nor tarry in
all this plain.' I pray you take your strongest and
ablest students (those who combine strong minds
with broad, generous, loving hearts), and drill them,
and drill them, and DRILL them privately, until they
ache down to the very core of their hearts and mar-
row with a sense of their responsibility to God and
their race. As to secular work, Paul made tents,
and Jesus, the Son of God, himself wrought as a
carpenter. Ministers who don't, lack one grand
element of power. The example you set and the
training you give to your students in secular mat-
ters is an all-important part of their education.
"J. B. S."
In response to an announcement to Dr. Simmons
of a handsome donation by a Virginian, he writes :
"JANUARY 29TH, 1873.
" I doubt not there are full one hundred more in
Virginia like him, or the equivalent of one hundred.
Some can give more and some less. Tell your
students this. Make it plain to them. And rouse
them and charge them in the name of the Lord to
find these one hundred. They can. You know
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 99
how in your bold, kind, persuasive way, to teach
them to do it. Out of about each forty persons
applied to by me, one gives something. Tell them
this. Can they expect it will fare better with them ?
"J. B. S."
In a season of great financial depression, he
writes :
"MARCH 19TH, 1873.
" In the circumstances, I would suggest three
things : 1st. That you withdraw pecuniary help
from students of doubtful worth, if you have any
such on your list, whether you are helping them
little or much. 2d. That school expenses be cut
down as much as possible in other ways. 3d. That
you lay these facts, as to the treasury, on the minds
and hearts of your pupils and fellow-teachers, and
that they all join us in praying God to help us to the
needed means for carrying on all the schools during
the coming year. J. B. S."
Referring to the appointment of Dr. Stone as
special lecturer, he writes :
"APRIL 16TH, 1873.
" Rev. Mr. Stone, D. D., of Marietta, Ohio, was
appointed at the last meeting of the Board to spend
a few weeks in holding Ministerial Institutes for
freedmen (students and others) and lecturing on
practical and doctrinal theology, say in the schools
from Washington to Augusta. I trust you will
100 HISTORY OF THE
give the most full, early and emphatic, announce-
ments in all the churches and prayer-meetings ;
that you and your students will write cordial letters
to men at a distance and get places of entertainment
for them ; that you and they will labor personally
with all the pastors and leaders in and around Rich-
mond to induce them to attend ; and that you will
secure eminent talent to render Dr. Stone such aid
as he may need. J. B. S."
"OCTOBER 23D, 1873.
" I beg you, and your fellow-teachers and all your
praying students, to make it a special point, day by
day, to pray that God will give you the choicest
spirits for pupils in your school. A school made
up of such material, made up of such as God has
called, set apart and annointed unto himself, is
worth a thousand times more than a school made
up of ordinary material. Please impress this on the
minds of all who are about you who pray. I join
you in these prayers. J. B. S."
The following from Secretary Taylor, who suc-
ceeded Dr. Simmons, shows what grave responsi-
bilities rested upon the Principals of these Institu-
tions while in their formative state:
"JuLY TTH, 1874.
" I must feel, as I do, that you know a hundred
times more about our Richmond School than I and
our Board united. I propose to follow you therefore,
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 101
and if there are grave mistakes in the School at
Richmond, Charles H. Corey must bear the respon-
sibility, very largely, of them, and not I.
" E. E. L. TAYLOR, Cor. Sec."
The following action was taken respecting Bene-
ficiary Aid in the schools sustained by the Society:
"JANUARY 22D, 1879.
"Resolved, That the Board instruct the Princi-
pals that further beneficiaries should be received
only on specific donations, or on authority previously
received from the Board.
" S. S. CUTTING, Cor. Sec."
The action respecting assisting students in the
various institutions was reaffirmed. The following
from Secretary Morehouse on this matter is official :
"MARCH 10TH, 1885.
"After June, 1885, no appropriations will be
made for the support of beneficiaries in the schools
beyond the amounts especially contributed and
designated for that purpose." And again, July
17th, 1885, " We have decided, to cut off any further
appropriations from the funds of the Society for
beneficiary aid. * * * * Unless the colored
churches, or unless the friends of the colored people,
will respond for the support of these men studying
for the ministry, some of them will have to drop
out of their course."
102 HISTORY OF THE
A conference was held in New York, June 4th,
1879, in which the interests of the Richmond In-
stitute and the other schools were considered, in
accordance with the following resolution :
"MARCH 10TH, 1879.
"Resolved, That the Principals of our Freedmen
Schools be instructed to meet in convention with
this Committee, to consider matters of vital impor-
tance relative to the successful prosecution of our
educational work, the meeting to be held at these
rooms on Wednesday, June 4th, 1879."
" S. S. CUTTING, Cor. Sec "
"JANUARY 31ST, 1880.
"In the fall of 1879 we received a communica-
tion from the Corresponding Secretary of the Vir-
ginia Baptist State Convention, Rev. E. G. Corprew,
submitting to us the request of that body, viz : that
we extend the Course of Instruction in Richmond
Institute, and to so enlarge its facilities and
accommodations as to admit female students. In
December the Board referred the subject to the
Corresponding Secretary of this Society, with the
President of the Institute and its Board of Trus-
tees.
" H. L. MOREHOUSE, D. D., Cor. Sec."
In response to the request above referred to, with
the approval of the Board in New York, the Rich-
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 103
mond Institute admitted a limited number of young
women. This was continued until the Hartshorn
Memorial College for young women was opened in
1883.
The following letter refers to the purchase of a
new site for buildings for the Institution :
"APRIL 14TH, 1880.
" The Board on Monday decided to purchase 'A'
of Mr. Hoyt's property, as you will see by the en-
closed letter to Mr. Hoyt, which, after reading, you
will please deliver to him. The half of ' B '
would, undoubtedly, be very desirable, and had we
the means to invest in it, we might have favored its
purchase. But 'A' will be a larger tract of land
than either New York University or Columbia Col-
lege own in this city. It is the decided conviction
of Dr. Bishop and of the other members of the
Educational Committee that one and three-quar-
ters acres will be all that is necessary for school
purposes. This is about the amount included in
this tract. Buildings judiciously planned and lo-
cated on these grounds, will afford ample accommo-
dations for every school purpose. Certainly the
location will be a vast change for the better over
the present one, or over the original one by the
slave mart. H. L. M., Cor. Sec."
The following letters refer to the successful ef-
forts made to secure the endowment of two Profes-
sorships in the Institution. In the spring of 1865,
104 HISTORY or THE
quite soon after the fall of Charleston, South Caro-
lina, J. B. Hoyt and Rev. Dr. Lathrop visited that
city. These gentlemen, who found me there in
charge of the work of the United States Christian
Commission, urged me to give myself to labor for
the colored people of the State. I reminded Mr.
Hoyt of this when I visited him with the view of
securing this subscription. I told him that through
his encouragement I had given my life to this work,
and that he must stand by me and help me make
the work a success. He contributed the sum of
$25,000, and J. D. Rockefeller also contributed the
sum of $25,000 :
"JANUARY 29TH, 1884.
" I have good news for you. I have the promise
of $25,000 for a Professorship of Theology in Rich-
mond Institute, provided $25,000 for another Pro :
fessorship can be raised by October 1st, 1884. So
you see we have not been too fast in deciding to
make this our first high grade theological school.
"H. L. M., Cor. Sec."
" SEPTEMBER 15TH, 1884.
" Hallelujah! The second $25,000 is pledged by
Mr. Hoyt. I wrote him a careful letter last week.
He called at the rooms to-day and said that his wife
and himself talked it over yesterday (Sunday) and
decided to do it. Again hallelujah! Now for the
third $25,000, according to our plan.
"H. L. M., Cor. Sec."
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 105
EXTRACTS FROM MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS.
Rev. Dr. White, now of the Georgia Baptist,
visited our School, where he met Rev. James H.
Holmes, who at that time was the pastor of the
largest Baptist Church in the world, and yet was a
pupil in the School, writes :
"AUGUSTA, GA., January 17th, 1870.
" I have never in my life had so deep an impres-
sion made upon me in the same length of time as
during the twenty-four hours spent with you in
Richmond ; your school is ever before my eyes.
The place, its former use, etc., are well calculated
to illustrate the great change that has taken place
in this country in the last few years. Bless the
Lord, O my soul. Our Schools, under the Baptists,
are doing splendidly. I have frequently spoken to
our people of Brother Holmes. I think his ex-
ample should be kept before our ministering
brethren. W. J. WHITE."
The following shows the unabated interest of ex-
Secretary Simmons in the work :
"JANUARY 26TH, 1879.
" W. W. Colley is the first of Richmond Insti-
tute graduates who goes to Africa, and the first
of the seven schools. Tell him to be to Africa
what Judson was to Burmah. I am also glad to see
that you have four others who are looking to Africa.
106 HISTORY OF THE
God bless them, every one, and make them hero
missionaries. I was thrilled with delight the other
day to learn that your students and other colored
people have paid in full $2,000 at the Home Mission
Rooms towards the endowment of Richmond In-
stitute. Keep right on in that way, I entreat you ;
the endowment question is the vital question, next
to the ordinary blessings of God.
" J. B. SIMMONS."
YORK, March 12th, 1877.
" Were I you, I would emphasize, EMPHASIZE,
EMPHASIZE the matter of giving intelligence
about Africa and praying for AFRICA and working
for AFRICA. The school that does the most for that
cause will be the most loved and the most helped
by our people, and at the same time will not be a
whit the less useful in raising up able and useful
laborers for the home field. There is something
about the cause of Home and Foreign Missions
which enlarges the heart and broadens the sympa-
thies and ennobles the whole being of man. How
glad I am that you believe this and practice upon
it. J. B. S."
The following letter from a brother beloved, who
has toiled long and successfully, is introduced with-
out apology :
"SEPTEMBER 27TH, 1880.
" I wish I could see you and talk with you about
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 107
our spiritual condition. I have fears that I have
not faith enough for the work of the new year.
Can there be positions where more real faith is
needed ? We must look far into the future and
search out the plans of God. I feel weak and
almost faithless. Won't you pray for me that I
may overcome by faith ? My influence over the
men I want should be more potent. When I see
these dull students filling honored positions, I won-
der if I might not have been more to them if I had
been filled more entirely with Christ. Do you ever
feel that way ? I have been reading ' Twenty-six
Years in Burmah,' Dr. Binney's Life. Is God with
me in my life as truly as He was with Dr. Binney?
This is just as real mission work. Then, too, I
think the School would gain more if I had the close
union with God that I ought to have. The ex-
perience of the last four months has been a shadow
over me. I failed in my plans. Was I selfish ?
Were iny motives false ? I want more power the
power that comes from a closer union with the
Divine. My conflicts in taking up the work of the
new year have been many."
The following letters are introduced to make
known the struggles of men to fit themselves for
usefulness. In the days of missionary service in
South Carolina I organized the church over which
Brother Govan at the same time was ordained
108 HISTORY OF THE
pastor. In his old age he was seeking to " pick up
a few crumbs " that he might be .better able to
teach his people :
" COLUMBIA, S. C., December 19th, 1871.
"At times I have not known at one meal where I
could get the other. I have five in my family,
one son sick, since dead, and only myself to work.
My son died on the 27th of last June. I buried
my daughter one year ago last February. The wife
I had when you were with me is dead. They all
died leaving good testimony of a hope of eternal
life.
J. COREY GOVAN."
" COLUMBIA, S. C., February 15th, 1872.
" I am still at this Institute, but how long I shall
stay I cannot say. I have now in my old age
bought twenty-five acres of land, and I want to pay
for it and get it cleared up. It is now all wood
land, and I am the strongest one to do anything. I
am now sixty-eight years old. By the grace of
God I am holding on my way in the good work to
which He has called me, getting weaker in body,
but remain the same in spirit, loving the Lord and
strong in the blessed Jesus. I am now here at the
Benedict learning about God, and getting better
able to read the Bible and preach the Gospel better
and better. It is all from God, as is also this
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 109
School. I have labored hard to get the people to
come, and have got some to come here and study.
My dear brother, I look upon you as a father, as
you have done more for me than any other white
man.
J. COREY GOVAN."
The following is from a freedman student for the
ministry at Richmond. It was addressed to the
friend who paid into the Home Mission Treasury
fifty dollars for his board :
" DEAR FRIEND : I was a slave until the close of
the war. I heard of this school last year, but did
not have money to pay for my board.
" 1 have a wife and two children, but she thought
that she could support the children while I was in
school. So I started. I walked about 100 miles,
and slept out of doors. I walked from noon one
day until noon the next day without a bite of bread.
But when I got here I was received kindly, though
I had no money. I have on the clothes that my
teacher gave me since I came. I never went to
school a day before I came here, but I could read
and write a little. I trust that I will never forget
your kindness in time nor in eternity.
" Yours truly,
" HARVEY MORRIS."
From an applicant living in a distant State, for
admission to Richmond Theological Seminary:
110
HISTORY OF THE
" I am engaged here in what I regard as mission-
ary work. I am trying to make arrangements to
enter school next session. I want to be thoroughly
prepared for service among my people. But I have
no means. I am out of money, out of clothes, out
of doors. I am willing to do anything to help my-
self. If you can do nothing else for me, give me
some advice."
FS*
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. Ill
CHAPTER IX.
Need of Enlightened Leaders Extracts from Letters
Difficulties Early Encouragements Drs. Dickinson
and Jeter Other early Friends An Amusing Inci-
dent The Capitol Disaster.
the importance of the work of educating the
colored ministry, there can be but one opinion.
I add here the expressions of distinguished men on
this point.
The following eloquent passage is from the ser-
mon of Rev. E. T. Winkler, D. D., an eminent
Southern Baptist, of Charleston, S. C. It was de-
livered before the American Baptist Home Mission
Society, at Chicago, in May, 1871. His theme was:
" THE EDUCATION OF COLORED PREACHERS." In
closing his discourse, which gave great satisfaction,
both to the men of the North and of the South, he
said :
"And then Africa Africa, of whom the millions
of colored people in America are only the repre-
sentatives ; Africa, that land that holds the sorrows
of vanished ages in its shadowy deeps; Africa,
that mysterious unrecorded history of pestilences
and famines and massacres, of degrading idolatries
and sanguinary despotisms; Africa, that deadly
112 HISTORY OF THE
region of fiery suns and oozj 7 rivers that drive back
the white man from its coasts of gold and pearl ;
Africa, that grave of missionaries lying yonder in
ghastly despair beneath the pomp and glory of the
tropics; Africa, that peopled world on which the
light of prophecy falls and to which the grace of
Christ extends ; has she not loaned us her children
for a little season that we may send them back to
her, redeemed and regenerate, and that thus, through
their means and ours, Ethiopia may stretch forth
her dusky hands to God ?
"Africa needs her children. She calls them back
to her palmy coasts. As Rachel wept for Joseph,
so she yearns for her exiled ones. As the man of
Macedonia cried to Paul, she summons her apostles
across the misty sea.
" Thus the education of a colored ministry in-
augurates a vast missionary movement. With their
advance in saving knowledge a countless host ad-
vances.
" The seminaries in which they are trained will
nurse the churches of a continent; and their em-
ployment in the sphere to which they are called by
the providence and the grace of Almighty God will
tell upon the salvation of the world."
Dr. J. "W. Parker, speaking in Tremont Temple,
Boston, of the opportunity of usefulness, at the
South, plead for the support, of schools for ministers,
and exclaimed with thrilling emphasis, "/ know, I
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 113
KNOW there never was, since Christ hung on the cross of
Calvary, such an opportunity. THERE HAS BEEN NO
SUCH DAY."
Rev. P. P. Bishop says : " The education of
colored preachers is the one great and crying need of
the Freedmen ! Their preachers have unbounded
influence over them."
Edward Lathrop, D. D., upon returning from a
Southern tour, writes : " I would say emphatically,
throw all you strength into schools for the educa-
tion of a competent ministry. On this point I
am afraid our churches are not half aroused. It is
my deliberate and firm conviction that, if we fail in
this, our work at the South, among the colored
population, will come to a disastrous end. This, in
so far as the freedmen are concerned, is THE GREAT
WORK of the Home Mission Society. "We must
educate a ministry for this people, or abandon the
field ! "
J. M. Cramp, D. D., for many years the distin-
guished President of Acadia College, Nova Scotia,
thus expresses his opinion as to the work in which
his former pupil was engaged :
" ACADIA COLLEGE, WOLVILLE, N. S.,
" January 23d, 1869.
" You are engaged in a good and very useful
and important work, requiring great energy and
much prudence -just such wisdom as the Lord has
114 HISTORY OF THE
promised to give them that ask him. Past success
encourages you. May the future be yet more
blessed.
U J. M. CRAMP."
The following letter is from Rev. T. Willard
Lewis, a noble brother, who years ago entered into
his rest, while engaged in missionary labor under
the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church :
" CHARLESTON, S. C., February llth, 1871.
" I am glad to know that you have made such a
success of Colver Institute, for the training of
teachers and preachers. I believe you are doing
ten times as much for Christ and His cause as you
could possibly do as a pastor of a single church,
and since we have but one short life to live, how
grateful we should be in that God has opened this
good and effectual door to us in this Southern field,
though our labors and sacrifices are unappreciated,
and sometimes received with ingratitude on the
part of those for whom we toil and suffer reproach.
"T. W. LEWIS."
Dr. S. F. Smith, the author of our " National
Hymn," who, with his wife, spent two weeks at the
Institution, writes:
" NEWTON CENTRE, MASS.,
"November 25th, 1877.
"And among the most cherished remembrances
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 115
of our month of travel, will ever be the enjoyment
we experienced in being with you, in sympathizing
in your difficulties and in rejoicing with you in
your work. I had not gained by any written
accounts so perfect an idea of what you were doing;
and I assure you I am full of confidence that in this
great work the Lord is your director. I find it a
pleasure, whenever I find an opportunity, to speak
in highest terms of the Richmond Institute and its
most competent heads.
"S. F. SMITH."
The writer of the following letter, Rev. C. W.
Waterhouse, for many years supported a pupil in
the Richmond Institute, and in his will made pro-
vision by which a student would be supported in
this School for all time :
"LAKEWOOD, OCEAN COUNTY, N. J.,
" December 5th, 1881.
" For ten years, while Mrs. Waterhouse was
living, we supported a student, in Richmond Insti-
tute, and I have continued it for two years since her
death in August, 1879. Our first beneficiary named
to us was Isaac P. Brockenton, now of Darlington
County, South Carolina. (See page 79.) Of his
labors and successes we have had very gratifying
accounts in the Home Mission Monthly. * * *
I have now passed my three score and ten, and I am
no longer able to earn my living by labor ; so that
I shall probably need the interest money to use
116 HISTORY OF THE
while I live. I cannot, therefore, now promise our
usual yearly aid to a student at the Richmond Insti-
tute, however much I would delight in being able
to do it uninterruptedly. But I rejoice in what has
been accomplished, and I trust the good work will
be continued uninterruptedly and faithfully by
younger and stronger hands, both this and the fol-
lowing years, and after my decease.
"C. W. WATERHOUSE."
Dr. S. W. Field, who was a chaplain in the army
and also a prominent pastor in New England, was
always deeply interested in our work. In sending
us a valuable collection of books from his library,
he thus writes of his own struggles in securing his
education, and refers to some of his experiences in
the terrible days of the late war :
" PROVIDENCE, R. I., January 25th, 1884.
" I left home when nineteen years of age, against
my father's will, for Waterville College, then sixty
miles from rny native place, with six dollars in my
pocket, not knowing where the next cent was com-
ing from. By teaching winters and vacations, and
practicing the most rigid economy, and teaching
one term in the Academy after graduation, I en-
tered Newton a term behind my class, and came
out, after the three years' course, $400 in debt.
And I would be willing to go through the same
again, hard as it was, if I could begin life again.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 117
There are sweets and advantages with all the bitter-
ness of such, with love for Christ and jour fellow-
men to sustain you. Tell the men not to mind the
hard rules, nor the practice of noble self-denial.
"A cigar never defiled my lips, so firm was I.
Even in the army it was never a temptation. I met
smoking, whiskey-drinking chaplains, and pitied
them. Are any of your students from Fredericks-
burg? We had our hospital in the African Church,
and their communion table was stained with our
boys' blood. 0, what a day that battle was ! My
clothes were wet with fresh human blood.
"8. W. FIELD."
On commencing the work in Richmond we found
no records of any kind. There was no school
furniture, no apparatus, no library, no course of
study, and there was no one to give advice ; many
could not write their names, and all had but a very
limited knowledge of the meaning of words. Modes
of thought and of expression were entirely different
on the part of teacher and pupil, respectively.
Sometimes the teacher found it extremely difficult
to convey his ideas. He had to explain what he
meant to one of the most intelligent of the pupils,
and he would convey the thought so as to be under-
stood by all.
Our relations to the community in those early
days were pleasant, and they have so continued
until the present day. The pastors were cordial
118 HISTORY OF THE
and friendly. Dr. A. E. Dickinson, then pastor of
the Leigh Street Baptist Church, invited me to
his pulpit and to his home. He has been a gene-
rous contributor to our work, and has served from
the beginning on our Board of Trustees. The fol-
lowing letter, which is from the "Life of J. B.
Jeter, by Dr. Hatcher," explains the interest Dr.
Jeter ever manifested in our work :
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY,
RICHMOND, VA., March 20th, 1887.
My Dear Dr. Hatcher :
I learn with sincere pleasure that you are about to publish
memorials of the late Dr. Jeter. I look forward to its perusal
with peculiar interest. Dr. Jeter was a man for whom I had a
most profound regard and a sincere affection. About nineteen
years ago I came to Richmond an entire stranger. I was to suc-
ceed Rev. Nathaniel Colver, D. D., and Rev. Robert Ryland, D.
D., in their work of training colored ministers. Our schoolroom
was a small brick building, which stood in " the bottom," near
Shockoe creek, below Broad Street, and was a part of the es-
tablishment known as Lumpkin's Jail. My own home was
on the premises, in the house occupied by the former proprietor
of the place, Mr. Lumpkin. Dr. Jeter was among the first to
find his way to my unpretending home, in this most uninviting
place, and to extend to me his sympathies, and to assure me of
his hearty co-operation in my work. He and his "Junior,"
Rev. A. E. Dickinson, D. D., not only did what they cauld to
make me feel at home, but tendered to me the columns of the
Religious Herald, which they assured me would always be at
my disposal in the interests of my work. Then, and ever
afterwards, Dr. Jeter was a frequent and welcome visitor to
our Institution. The young men always hailed with delight
his coming, and listened to his words of instruction and en-
couragement with unfeigned pleasure. His attitude towards
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 119
our work, both in public and private, largely contributed to
secure, at an early day, the confidence and co-operation of the
denomination in Virginia. His words of kind approval and
appreciation to me personally were not only an encouragement,
but an inspiration, as I felt myself honored in having so great
and good a man for my personal friend.
So deeply had Dr. Jeter impressed his personality upon me,
that whenever I saw his commanding form, whether he walked
the streets or rode along on his old white horse, a benediction
involuntarily escaped my lips. It was my privilege to join the
company of mourners that followed him to his resting-place,
on the banks of the James. And now, among the beautiful
places where slumber the great and good in that " city of the
silent," there is no spot near which I more reverently linger,
than that where rest the mortal remains of Jeremiah Bell
Jeter.
CHAS H. COREY.
The Hon. J. L. M. Curry, ex-minister -to Spain,
has always been my personal friend, and also a
friend and advocate of our work. The late H. K.
Ellyson, one of the most distinguished Baptist lay-
men in Virginia, was a member of our Board of
Trustees from the time of our organization as an
Institution until his death. Dr. John William
Jones, now of the University of Virginia, has con-
tributed money and his talents to help build up our
School. So have others in this city. From the
day I entered Richmond, twenty-seven years ago,
I have not seen a line in any of our papers against
our work. Personally, my relations with the citi-
zens have, ordinarily, been of the pleasantest kind.
Occasionally an amusing incident occurred. One
120 HISTORY or THE
day in going down Franklin Street, just below the
Capitol Square, I passed by a bar-room, in front of
which several young men were standing. As I
passed on I overheard one of them say : " That
fellow preaches to the negroes." Assuming to be
offended, I turned, and with feigned severity, de-
manded of them what they meant by insulting a
gentleman in that manner. My business was to see
Albert Brooks, a colored man who kept a livery-
stable near at hand. I incidentally pointed up the
street towards the men in the course of my conver-
sation, and they, suspecting that our talk was con-
cerning them, the proprietor of the saloon and two
or three more sauntered down to where we were.
One of them, with an offended air, asked me what
I meant by speaking to them as I did. I replied :
" What did you mean by speaking to me as you
did ? " He replied : " O, we had no reference at all
to you!" "What!" I replied, "Will you assure
me, on your honor as gentlemen, that you had no
reference whatever to me?" They solemnly as-
serted that they did not mean me at all. Then T
replied : " If that be so, 7 should not have spokm
to you as I did." The saloon-keeper said: "O.
that's all right; won't you come in and take a
drink?" I think that I would not have dared to
assume so much indignation had not General Canby
been in command of the city at that time. And I
suppose the saloon-keeper, who was ever after a ge-
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 121
nial and cordial acquaintance, had fears that the
" preacher to negroes " might have sufficient influ-
ence to get the military authorities to revoke his
license.
April 27th, 1870, was bright and beautiful. Just
before noon Uncle Jeffry came running to me where
I was hearing my classes, saying, " the Capitol has
fallen in." I thought but little of what he said,
but seeing his excited condition, I hastened to the
spot, and there was an appalling sight. The dead
and dying were on the grass around the building,
and there was a scene of indescribable terror and
anguish. The Supreme Court of Appeals had as-
sembled to decide upon the constitutionality of the
"enabling act." Mr. George Chahoon was Mili-
tary Mayor, and Mr. H. K. Ellyson had been elected
by the City Council. The Court was to decide who
was entitled to the Mayoralty, Chahoon or Ellyson.
An immense concourse had gathered to ascertain
the result. Everything was in readiness for the
judges, when the ceiling and girders gave way, and
" the mass of human beings who were in attendance
were sent, mingled with bricks, mortar, splinters,
beams, iron bars, desks and chairs, to the floor of
the House of Delegates, and in a second more, fifty-
seveil souls were launched into eternity. The whole
atmosphere was thick with a dense cloud of dust
from the plastering, and the human beings sent up
a groan which will ring forever in the ears upon
122 HISTORY OF THE
which it fell." * About two hundred and fifty others
were severely injured.
The bells tolled, crowds gathered. Wives,
mothers and friends, wringing their hands, sought
to find their loved ones. Hacks, ambulances, and
all kinds of vehicles were there. On that sunny
April day scenes were witnessed such as are un-
known on battlefields, weeping women and children,
walking among the dead and dying.
See "A Full Account of (he Great Calamity," p. 13.
'"'
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 123
CHAPTER X.
The Freedmen'a Bureau Act of Incorporation Pur-
chase of a New Site A Higher Theological School
Needed The Richmond Theological Seminary In-
corporated.
REFERENCE was made on page 87 to the Freed-
^Vs men's Bureau. General O. O. Howard was
Commissioner of this department of the government
service, which had been called into existence by the
exigencies of the times.
The late General S. C. Armstrong,* Principal of
The Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, says :
" General Howard and the Freedmen's Bureau did
for the ex-slaves, from 1865 to 1870, a marvellous
work, for which due credit has not been given ;
among other things, giving to their education an
impulse and a foundation by granting three and a
half millions of dollars for schoolhouses, salaries,
etc., promoting the education of about a million
colored children. The principal Negro educational
institutions of to-day, then starting, were liberally
aided at a time of vital need. Hampton received
over $50,000 through General Howard for buildings
and improvements."
* See note C.
124 HISTORY OF THE
On page 88 it is stated that the Richmond Insti-
tute was chartered by the General Assembly of
Virginia in 1876. The Act of incorporation is as
follows :
AN ACT
To Incorporate the Richmond Institute in the City of
Richmond.
Whereas, a lot of land with improvements, situate in the city
of Richmond, has been conveyed by deed dated twenty -sixth
January, eighteen hundred and seventy, to A. B. Capwell, James
B. Simmons, Jay S. Backus, E. E. L. Taylor, Albert R. Brooks,
Henry K. Ellyson, and R. M. Manly, trustees, and the survi-
vors of them, upon the trusts that the said trustees should
hold and apply the said land and improvements for the uses
and purposes of an educational institution, and that the pro-
ceeds of the rental or sale thereof should be perpetually de-
voted to educational purposes as specified in said deed ; and
upon the further trust that the trustees or the survivors of
them should apply to the General Assembly of Virginia for an
act of incorporation, and when and as soon as a charter of in-
corporation is obtained creating and incorporating a literary
institution or college, to be called the Richmond Institute, the
trustees or their survivors should convey the property con-
veyed by said deed to the said corporation upon the trusts and
conditions contained in the said deed ; and whereas one of the
said trustees, E. E. L. Taylor, has departed this life, and the
other trustees above named have applied for a charter of incor-
poration, incorporating the following persons and their suc-
cessors as such corporation, to whom said property is to be
conveyed upon the trusts aforesaid : therefore,
l.Beit enacted by the General Assembly, That Nathan Bishop,
Albert B. Capwell, Joseph B. Hoyt, William A. Cauldwell,
Henry K. Ellyson, James H. Holmes, Richard Wells, Alfred E.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 125
Dickinson, and Stephen Woodman, be and they are hereby
constituted a body politic and corporate, by the name and
style of The Richmond Institute, and by that name shall have
perpetual succession and a common seal, may sue and be sued,
plead and be impleaded, with power to purchase, receive and
hold to them and their successors forever any lands, tenements,
rents, goods and chattels, of what kind soever, which may be
purchased by or be devised or given to them for the use of said
literary institution or seminary of learning ; and to lease, rent,
sell, or ortherwise dispose of the same, in such manner as may
seem most conducive to its interests ; provided, that the lands,
goods and chattels so authorized to be held shall not exceed in
amount or value five hundred thousand dollars ; and provided
also, that not less than a majority of said trustees for the time
being shall be sufficient to authorize the sale of any real estate
belonging to said seminary of learning.
2. The said trustees and their successors shall have power
to appoint a president, treasurer, librarian, professors and such
other officers as they may deem proper ; and to make and es-
tablish, from time to time, such bj'-laws, rules and regulations,
not contrary to the laws of the state or of the United States,
as they may judge proper for the good government of said
seminary of learning. A majority of the trustees shall consti-
tute a board for the transaction of business ; and any vacancy
or vacancies among the trustees, occasioned by death, resigna-
tion, or legal disability, shall be supplied by appointment of
the board. The said trustees or their successors shall have
power to increase their number to eleven if they desire to do
so ; and in that event they shall elect by vote of the board the
persons necessary to make such eleven trustees. The said
board of trustees shall have power to create an executive
board, consisting of five of their number, which executive
board (any three of them being present) shall have authority
to transact all the ordinary business of the corporation, except
the purchase or conveyance of real estate ; the investment of
funds; the appointment or removal of officers and teachers,
and fixing their salaries ; but the said board of trustees are
126 HISTORY OF THE
not required to create or appoint such executive board, unless
they see fit to do so in their sound discretion.
3. The said seminary of learning is to be an educational in-
stitution, and the property owned by it, so long as the sail I
corporation shall exist, is to be devoted to educational purposes
as aforesaid.
4. The treasurer shall receive all moneys accruing to the sai<l
seminary of learning and property delivered to his care, ami
shall pay or deliver the same to the order of the board. Before
he enters upon the discharge of his duties, he shall give bond
with such security and in such penalty as the board may din-el.
made payable to the trustees for the time being and their suc-
eeoeors, and conditioned for the faithful performance of his
duty, under such rules and regulations as may be adopted by
the board. And it shall be lawful for the said trustees, or for
the Richmond Institute, suing in the name of such trustees or
their successors, to obtain a judgment on such bond, or for any
special delinquency incurred by said treasurer, on motion in
any court of record in this commonwealth against said treasurer
and his surety or sureties, his or their executors or administra-
tors, upon giving ten days' notice of such motion.
5. The right is hereby reserved to the general assembly to
modify or repeal this act at pleasure.
6. This act shall be in force from its passage.
RICHMOND INSTITUTE BECOMES A HIGHER
THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL.
In consequence of the increase of manufacturing
establishments, and in view of other undesirable
surroundings, it seemed advisable to secure a better
location. After careful examination, on the 28th of
June, 1880, the Trustees purchased of U. G. Hoyt,
of Rochester, New York, for $5,000, nearly two
and one-half acres of land on Reservoir and Bev-
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 127
erly Streets, as a site for a new building. Reference
to this transaction is made on page 103, in a letter
written by Secretary Morehouse.
It soon became evident that the rapid increase of
the colored population, and the phenomenal growth
in the membership of the Baptist Churches created
a necessity for a Theological iSchool of a higher
order somewhere in the South. The most thought-
ful and judicious among both races saw that, for
many reasons, it was desirable that the young min-
isters of the South should not incur the expenses of
long journeys to Northern Seminaries, and that it
would be better for them to be educated at home
among their own people.
There was no distinctive Baptist school of the
same aim and scope in the country nor in the
world. The unprecedented openings for mission-
aries to Africa (which, for coming years, is to be the
greatest mission field of the world) demanded such
a sehool as this.
It was thought that Richmond, Virginia, was the
place best suited for such an institution, as it is a
great railroad center, and also an educational cen-
ter, and the headquarters of the foreign mission
organizations of the South.
A conference of nearly all the Presidents of the
Schools of the American Baptist Home Mission
Society was held at the Home Mission Rooms in
New York, June 22d-24th, 1882. At this confer-
ence, after careful consideration, it was " Voted,
128 HISTORY OF THE
That, in their opinion, a higher Theological School
ought to be developed at Richmond." Plans were
subsequently laid and put into execution.
The following account of the action of the Trus-
tees of Richmond Institute, and also of the Board
of the Home Mission Society is taken from the
January number of 1884 of the Home Mission
Monthly :
" The annual meeting of the Board of Trustees
of Richmond Institute was held at Richmond, Vir-
ginia, November 21st, 1883. There were present
A. E. Dickinson, D. I)., Rev. R. Wells, Rev. J. H.
Holmes, and H. K. Ellyson, Esquire, of Richmond,
and the Corresponding Secretary of the Home Mis-
sion Society. The meeting lasted about three
hours, and was of a most harmonious and hopeful
character. The most important action, which was
taken after full discussion, is indicated by the fol-
lowing resolution, which was heartily and unani-
mously adopted :
Resolved, That, in the judgment of this Board, the time has
arrived for the establishment of a distinctively Theological
Institution of a higher order for the education of colored stu-
dents for the ministry, and that Richmond is a suitable location
for such an institution, and that we commend this subject to
the renewed attention of the American Baptist Home Mission
Society.
" At the meeting of the Board of the Home Mis-
sion Society, in December, 1883, renewed attention
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 129
was given to this subject, and the following resolu-
tions were adopted :
Resolved, That this Board hereby reaffirm their belief that
the increasing intelligence of the colored people in America,
and the need of well-qualified missionaries for Africa, impera-
- tively demand that immediate measures be taken for the estab-
lishment of a distinctively Theological Institution at Richmond,
Virginia, and that the Education Committee be, and are here-
by authorized to make the necssary arrangements for the open-
ing of the institution on this basis in the fall of 1884.
Resolved, That, inasmuch as this will require an increase in
the number of instructors, and as this plan contemplates the
permanent establishment of a theological institution that shall
be for the colored Baptists what theological institutions in
other sections are for their white brethren ; and, inasmuch as
the Society cannot well assume and continually bear the addi-
tional financial burden necessary to the execution of this
design, the Board do, therefore, earnestly appeal to men of ivealth,
who have at heart the welfare of the colored people here, and the evan-
gelization of Africa, to do for this institution ivhat has been done for
others namely, to endow two or more professorships in the sum of
not less than twenty thousand dollars each.
" It will be seen by the foregoing that a first-class
theological seminary is to be established in Rich-
mond in 1884. In the other institutions theological
instruction will continue to be given for those who
are unprepared, or for any other reason are unable
to pursue a thorough course of study in the Semi-
nary at Richmond. It is expected that the most
advanced students from several institutions in the
eastern Southern States will complete their theologi-
cal course at Richmond.
130 HISTORY OF THE
" In addition to the regular course, a partial
course will be provided, somewhat like that which
is furnished in other similar institutions. We are
sure that the means for this enterprise will not be
lacking when the important bearings of it are clearly
understood."
In carrjnng out the resolutions referred to above,
application was made to the General Assembly of
Virginia to change the name of the Institution.
By acts approved February 5th and March 1st,
1886, the Richmond Institute became the RICHMOND
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
Through some oversight on the part of the Com-
mittee of the House of Delegates, who had charge
of the bill, a mistake was made in the title, and it
became necessary to pass another act to correct the
error that had been made.
AN ACT
To amend an act entitled an act to incorporate the Rich-
mond Theological Seminary, in the city of Richmond.
Approved February 5, 1886.
1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
sections one, two, and four of an act entitled an act, to incor-
porate the Richmond Theological Seminary, in the city of
Richmond, approved February tenth, eighteen hundred and
seventy-six, be amended and re-enacted so as to read as fol-
lows :
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 131
SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia,
That H. L. Morehouse, Gardner R. Colby, Joseph B. Hoyt,
William A. Cauldwell, Henry K. Ellyson, James H. Holmes,
Richard Wells, and A. E. Dickinson (trustees), the successors
of Nathan Bishop, Albert B. Capwell, Joseph B. Hoyt, William
A. Cauldwell, Henry K. Ellyson, James H. Holmes, Richard
Wells, Alfred E. Dickinson, and Stephen Woodman, which
nine last persons were incorporated into a body politic and cor-
porate by the act to which this is an amendment, by the name
and style of the Richmond Institute, shall, as such successors,
continue and be a body politic and corporate, and they and
their successors, as such body politic and corporate, shall here-
after be known as the Richmond Theological Seminary, and
by that name shall have perpetual succession and a common
seal, may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, with power
to purchase, receive and hold to them and their successors for-
ever, any lands, tenements, rents, moneys, trust or endowment
funds, goods and chattels of what kind soever, which may
have been purchased by, or may have been or which shall be
devised, bequeathed, or given to the said The Richmond Insti-
tute, or which may hereafter be purchased by, or be devised,
bequeathed, or given to them, under the name of The Rich-
mond Theological Seminary, for the .use of the said literary
institution or seminary of learning, and to lease or rent the
same whenever most conducive to the interests of said institu-
tion, and to sell the same, whenever a majority of the corpora-
tors, who are hereby designated as trustees for the time being,
shall authorize the sale ; such authorization of sale to be made
by a resolution in writing, after notice to each of the trustees
then living that a meeting of them will be convened for the
purpose of deciding whether such sale shall be made or not.
The lands, goods, and chattels so authorized to be held shall
not exceed in amount or value, at any one time, five hundred
thousand dollars. The said corporators or trustees shall have
no power to encumber by mortgage or trust deed the said
property for any purpose whatever, and they are forbidden by
this charter to use the principal of any endowment funds of
132 HISTORY OF THE
the institution for its current expenses. The said corporators
or trustees may vote by proxy or in person, as may be deter-
mined by them by a by-law to be spread upon the record of
their proceedings, such by-law, when once adopted, not to be
changed unless at least two-thirds of the then living trustees
or corporators shall vote to change it.
SEC. 2. The said trustees or corporators, and their successors,
shall have power to appoint a president, treasurer, librarian,
professors, and such other officers as they may deem proper ;
to fix the term of office of all trustees, and provide for the
election of their successors ; and to make and establish, from
tinip to time, such by-laws, rules and regulations, not contrary
to the laws of Virginia, or of the United States, as they may
deem proper for the good government of said seminary of
learning. A majority of the trustees or corporators shall con-
stitute a legal quorum or board for the transaction of business ;
and any vacancy or vacancies among the trustees or corpora-
tors, occasioned by death, resignation or legal disability, shall
be supplied by appointment of the board. The said trustees
or corporators, or their successors, shall have power to increase
their number to eleven, if they desire to do so ; and, in that
event, they shall elect by vote of the board the persons neces-
sary to make such eleven trustees or corporators. No person
shall be eligible, as trustee or corporator, either to make such
increase or to fill any vacancy in the trustees, occasioned by
death or otherwise, unless he be a member in good standing of
a regular Baptist church. The said trustees or corporators, or
their successors, shall have power, if they see fit to do so, to
create an executive board, consisting of five of their number,
which executive board (any three of them being present) shall
have authority to transact all the ordinary business of the cor-
poration, except the purchase or conveyance of real estate, the
investment of funds, the appointment of and removal of offi.
cers and teachers, or fixing the amount of their salaries. The
trustees or corporators, or their successors, with the concurrence
of the faculty of said seminary, shall have power to confer the
degree of Bachelor of Divinity upon full course graduates of
REV. JAMES H. HOLMES,
Vice-President Board of Trustees of Richmond Theological Seminary.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 133
the institution ; and the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity
upon any person of suitable attainments, the concurrence of
the faculty, in either case, to be spread upon the record of their
proceedings.
SEC. 4. The treasurer shall receive all moneys accruing to the
said seminary of learning and property delivered to his care,
and shall pay or deliver the same to the order of the board.
The treasurer, before entering upon the discharge of his duties
as treasurer of the Richmond Theological Seminary, shall give
bond, with such security and in such penalty as the board may
direct, to be made payable to the trustees or corporators for
the time being, and their successors, and conditioned for the
faithful performance of his duty, under such rules and regula-
tions as may be adopted by the board. And the said trustees
or corporators, or their successors, or the Richmond Theological
Seminary, suing in the name of such trustees or corporators,
or their successors, may obtain judgment on such bond, or for
any special delinquency of any treasury of the Richmond
Theological Seminary, or on any bond heretofore given by any
treasurer of the Richmond Institute, on motion in any court of
record of the city of Richmond, against such treasurer and his
surety or sureties, his or their executors or administrators,
upon giving ten days' notice of such motion.
2. This act shall be in force from its passage.
J. BELL BIGGER,
C. H. D. and K. of R. of Va. .
134 HISTORY OF THE
AN ACT
To am.end an act approved February 5, 1886, entitled
an act to amend an act to incorporate the Richmond
Theological Seminary of the city of Richmond, and
to amend the title thereof.
Approved March 1st, 1886.
1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That
the title of the act approved February fifth, eighteen hundred
and eighty-six, entitled " an act to amend an act entitled an
act to incorporate the Kichmond Theological Seminary of the
city of Richmond," be so changed as to read " an act to amend
an act entitled an act to incorporate the Richmond Institute in
the city of Richmond."
2. That the words embodied in the first section of said act,
approved February fifth, eighteen hundred and eighty-six, viz :
" That sections one, two and four of an act entitled an act to
incorporate the Richmond Theological Seminary, in the city of
Richmond," be so changed as to read thus : " That sections
one, two and four of an act entitled an act to incorporate the
Richmond Institute, in the city of Richmond."
3. This act shall be in force from its passage.
.]. BELL BIGGER,
C. //. D. and K. of R. of Va.
March 2, 1886.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 135
CHAPTKR XI.
Our Students Results of Their Labor Letters from
Students.
JHHE pupils of our School in its earlier history
* were not all ministers. Some were trained
for teachers. For a short time young women were
admitted to Richmond Institute (see pages 102,
103). From 1880, up to the time of the opening of
the Hartshorn Memorial College in 1883, about
thirty in all had been in attendance.
Many of our graduates became teachers, and
others engaged in business. As financiers and ac-
countants, some have no peers among their race.
Ten of our former students have become physicians,
and in their chosen profession some have already
won distinction. Six have become foreign mission-
aries. Several are practicing law successfully, and
others are editors of papers. Some of the gradu-
ates are in charge of institutions of learning, others
are professors in such institutions. They may be
found from Canada on the North, to British Hon-
duras on the South ; and from the great Northwest
to the Atlantic.
It is quite impossible to estimate the vast amount
of good that has been done by the students of this
School, known successively as Colver Institute, the
136 HISTORY OF THE
Eichmond Institute and the Richmond Theological
Seminary.
But of the work done since the Institution has
been under the care of the President, from 1868
until the close of the school-year, 1894, the follow-
statements may be made :
In regular attendance from 1868-1894, 766
Attending Special Institute, 1868, - 81
Attending Night Class of 1869, - 68
Special Classes Women, 100
Total, - - 1,015
Total preparing for the Christian Ministry, - 530
Total Graduates with Diplomas from Rich-
mond Institute, - 73
Total Graduates with Degree of B. D. from R.
T. S., 25
Fifty students who answered letters addressed to
them report
Churches organized, - 170
Sunday-Schools established, - 270
Persons Baptized, - 43,543
It is a conservative estimate to say that fully
100,000 persons have been baptized into the fellow-
ship of Christian Churches by the 530 Ministerial
Students who have attended the Institution.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 137
LETTERS FROM STUDENTS.
Among our earliest and most successful students
was Sterling Gardner. After leaving the Colver
Institute, he took the full course at Madison (now
Colgate) University. While in the University he
took several prizes, and was graduated with high
honors. He was associate teacher in Colver Insti-
tute from 1872 to 1873, and from 1875 to 1876.
At the earnest solicitation of Dr. Robert, of the
Augusta Institute, at Augusta, Georgia, he was
transferred from Richmond to that place, where he
died December 8th, 1877. Dr. Robert expressed
his profound grief at the loss his School had sus-
tained, and writes, December 27th, 1877 : " He was
a most excellent Christian and a scholar of great
promise." Miss Robert, describing the funeral,
says : " Judge Gibson, his former owner, was there,
and seemed much affected. He was so highly es-
teemed and loved in the Institute that he is greatly
missed and regretted by father and all the students."
Rev. Henry E. Duers, of Sing Sing, New York,
has organized four churches, planted four new
Sunday-schools and baptized twenty-five converts.
Rev. M. S. G. Abbott, M. D., Pensacola, Florida,
who was graduated from Richmond Institute in
1878, has organized five churches, ten Sunday-
schools, and has baptized 230. Dr. Abbott, who
graduated in medicine at Leonard Medical College,
138 HISTORY OF THE
Raleigh, North Carolina, has held important posi-
tions in Tennessee, West Virginia, and in Florida,
in which places his ministerial life has been spent.
Rev. Richard Spiller, who left school in 1874, is
pastor of the First Baptist Church, Hampton, Va.,
and Principal of the Spiller Academy. He has
founded several churches and baptized one thousand
eight hundred and seventeen persons. He has
raised about ten thousand dollars for the building
in which his congregation now worships. Elder
Spiller holds important positions of trust and in-
fluence in the denomination, and is now President
of the Alumni Association of the Richmond Theo-
logical Seminary. He is founder of the Spiller
Academy, an efficient and growing institution. He
writes, June 23d, 1894 :
" I attribute my success largely to the training I
received at the Richmond Institute, combined with
the early training of my parents. The training I
received in school has guided me all through my
ministerial life, and it has a tendency to draw me
nearer to the people, and has taught me how to
become all things to all men that I might save some.
God bless the School and its Faculty."
Rev. James H. Holmes has been pastor of the First
African Baptist Church for about twenty-eight years.
His church at one time contained the largest mem-
bership of any church in the world. He served the
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 139
church and attended school at the same time. He
left the Institution in 1874. He says, June 25th,
1894:
" I have married fourteen hundred couples, at-
tended twenty-five hundred funerals and baptized
about five thousand eight hundred people."
Rev. Charles H. McDaniel, Farmville, Virginia,
has organized five churches, six Sunday-schools,
baptized twelve hundred persons, and has built
three church edifices. Rev. Mr. McDaniel has
done much in quickening and building up the mem-
bers of the churches. He says :
" The Seminary has made an everlasting impres-
sion on me, spiritually. It has prepared me, intel-
lectually, for the duties of life, and has also enabled
me to get nearer to my people. I have been called
to sit in council to ordain six ministers and fifty
deacons. I have taught in the Public Free Schools
for nineteen years. I have preached about 2,000
sermons, and delivered 125 lectures. I have trav-
eled on foot 24,700 miles, or nearly around the
world."
Rev. Reuben Berkeley, Sassafras Post-office, Glou-
ccester County, Virginia, has organized one church,
seven Sunday-schools, and has baptized seventy
persons, and has built one church edifice. He has
taught Public Schools ever since leaving the Semi-
nary. He says :
140 HISTORY OF THE
" The influence of the Seminary is constantly
developing my spiritual life; it gives me daily
strong command over self."
Rev. Richard Wells, for twenty-four years pastor
of the Ebenezer Baptist Church, Richmond, Vir-
ginia, has been one of our Trustees since the found-
ing of the School. For eleven years he was Presi-
dent of the Virginia Baptist State Convention, and
has held other positions of importance of like dig-
nity and responsibility. He has raised,, from time
to time, $16,600 to repair the beautiful edifice in
which his people worship. He has baptized 3,801
persons. His connection with the Institute, as a
student, terminated before 1875.
Rev. George W. Jackson, Brooklyn, Halifax
County, Virginia, writes :
" I have helped organize five churches, have estab.-
lished four Sunday-schools, and have baptized 124.
I am now Superintending Missionary Agent of the
Halifax Educational Convention. I have been
teaching in the Public Schools since 1875. The
influence of the School upon my spiritual life stim-
ulated me to become a model in my own life for
those whom I instruct. It opened my blind eyes
to see how limited my knowledge was, and created
a longing, incessant desire for more knowledge."
Rev. J. B. Matthews, of Hixburg, Virginia,
writes :
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 141
" I have organized four churches, and have paid
the debts on two. I have baptized 2,500 persons.
I have establishsd four Sunday-schools. My course
in the Institution has done much both for ray spiri-
tual and intellectual life, and has drawn me closer
to my people. I am very thankful to God. I owe
all to Him and the Richmond Theological Seminary
for my success in life. I will always feel very warm
in my heart towards it."
Rev. Spotswood A. Anderson, who left school
in its early history, has baptized 600 persons in the
State of Mississippi, and sixty in the State of Vir-
ginia.
Rev. H. W. Dickerson, of Petersburg, Virginia,
has organized two churches, established two Sun-
day-schools, built one church edifice and baptized
seven hundred persons. He writes :
" My student career has enabled me to do my work
better and has drawn me closer to my people."
Rev. William Cousins, of Martinsville, Virginia,
writes, July llth, 1893 :
" I have been instrumental in organizing six
churches. I have built one meeting-house and have
baptized six hundred and three persons. I have
established nine Sunday-schools."
Mr. Cousins was Principal of the Free School at
Fincastle, Virginia, three years, and he has taught
142 HISTORY OF THE
at other places in the State. He has been very use-
ful as a missionary of the Virginia Baptist State
Convention. He writes :
" The influence of the School has made me
stronger as a Christian, and all that I am, intellec-
tually, I owe to the School. My course of study
has drawn me closer to the people."
Rev. I. P. Brockenton, A. M., has been for
twenty-eight years pastor of the Macedonia Baptist
Church, Darlington C. H., South Carolina. Taken
in infancy from his parents, at twenty years of age
he was sold to pay his master's debts. Securing
the elements of an education, and enjoying the con-
fidence to a rare degree of his owners under the old
regime, he has a record of which any man might
be proud. He taught the first school for Negro
children in Darlington county. He has enjoyed the
confidence of the community, and has held impor-
tant positions in church and State. For a number
of years he has been President of the Baptist Edu-
cational Misssonary and Sunday-school Convention
of South Carolina, and Moderator of the Pedee
Baptist Association. For eight years he was Trial
Justice of Darlington county. He has been instru-
mental in organizing some fifty churches, and more
than that number of Sunday-schools, and has bap-
tized above three thousand persons. He writes :
"A large part of my success as a pastor is due to
the influence which the Institute has had upon me.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 143
I was there stimulated to strive to become ' a work-
man that needeth not to be ashamed.' '
Rev. W. W. Colley, of Winchester, Virginia,
left school in 1875. He spent some eight years in
Central Africa. He was born in 1854, and was
graduated from the Richmond Institute in 1873.
After a brief pastorate in Connecticut he went to
the Valley of the Niger, in Western Africa, under
the auspices of the Southern Baptist Convention,
where he remained for five years. He was the first
colored man to enter Africa as a missionary after
the close of the war. Feeling the importance of
organizing the colored people of America for work
in Africa, he accepted an appointment of the Bap-
tist Foreign Mission Convention of the United
States, and labored for about three years under the
auspices of that Society, which he had been largely
instrumental in founding. He negotiated treaties
with the African Kings while in the field, and did
other valuable pioneer work in the cause of African
missions. Brother Colley has, by his pen and his
voice, done much to awaken and sustain an interest
in the cause of missions among the churches at
home. With health restored he hopes again to
enter the Foreign Field. In speaking of the influ-
ence of the School upon his spiritual and intellectual
life, he says :
" I there received those deep and powerful im-
pressions which gave me the strongest missionary
144 HISTORY OF THE
inclinations which have influenced me for more
than twenty years. My intellectual life took its
root in the influences and instructions of the Insti-
tution from which I went forth to the Master's
work."
Rev. Nelson Jordan, pastor of the Mt. Shiloh and
three other churches, attended the Richmond Insti-
tute in 1877, and has " ever since found use for the
instruction there received, and the impressions re-
ceived in the School will ever remain as graven
images " before his sight. He has organized one
church, two Sunday-schools, and has baptized one
thousand and forty-nine.
Rev. Joseph Gregory, Franklin, Virginia, left
school in 1878. He has organized twelve churches,
built two, established four Sunday-schools and bap-
tized two thousand five hundred persons. He
writes :
" The influence of the Seminary on my spiritual
and intellectual life has been good, and has drawn
me closer to the people. I own a good home. I
hope I stand well in the estimation of my neigh-
bors, both white and colored. I have educated my
son, who is now a practicing physican in New
York."
Rev. J. S. Brown, pastor of Chestnut Grove
Baptist Church, Bedford county, Virginia, was
graduated from Richmond Institute in 1878. He
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 145
has organized four churches, establiehed ten Sun-
day-schools, and has baptized five hundred persons.
He has built and paid for three churches. For ten
years he has been Moderator of the Rock Fish
Baptist Association. The Seminary has been of
untold good to him.
Rev. Solomon Cosby, of Abeokuta, West. Africa,
was graduated from the Richmond Institute in
1878. He was sent out as a missionary by the
colored Baptists of the South. He refers to his
connection with the School as follows :
" None have been more blessed in that old build-
ing than myself. There I found Jesus precious to
my soul. There I found loving Christian teachers
who seemed to be never impatient in instructing
me in the true principles of life as well as in letters,
though stupid and indifferent as I was. When my
prayers ascend for the Institute and teachers, and
in rn}- cherished recollections of Richmond Institute
it will never be an easy thing for me to disassociate
the old building on the corner of Nineteenth and
Main Streets."
Rev. W. J. David (white) missionary of the
Southern Baptist Convention, writes from Africa
of Brother Cosby's death as follows:
BAPTIST MISSIONARY HOUSE,
LAGOS, W. C. A., May 3d, 1881.
Rev. A. Binga, Jr., Manchester, Va. :
DEAR BROTHER : It is my sad and painful duty
146 HISTORY OF THE
to inform you of the death of dear Brother Cosby,
which occurred in Abeokuta, April 23d, at 12 noon,
of jaundice fever. I only heard of his illness the
day he died. When I received the letter informing
me of his illness, I left at once for Abeokuta, hop-
ing I might get there in time to minister unto him,
and if he became able, to bring him to Lagos where
he might have medical advice. I traveled during
the day and the greater part of three nights, and
walked the last ten miles of the journey that I
might get there sooner. But you cannot imagine
my feelings when I arrived and was told he " is
dead and buried." Oh ! my brother, you have
heard those words at home, but never have they
fallen upon your ear in a foreign land. You have
never heard them where they meant that your only
countryman and fellow-laborer was no more. You
have never heard them when they meant that you
were left " alone " in the midst of millions of hea-
then, with no friend, brother, and sympathizer. As
I staid by his grave to strew flowers over it, I com-
prehended, for the first time in life, something of
the meaning of the word " alone" Only four
months before I stood by the grave of my first born,
at whose birth Brother Cosby rejoiced, and at whose
death he mingled his tears with ours. These and
the many other ways by which he endeared himself
to us, caused my tears to fall at his grave. Your
relations with him were doubtless more of an oifi-
cial nature. We revealed to each other our hopes
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 147
and fears, our joys and sorrows. Therefore our loss
is personal, and we have lost a brother beloved.
He left us the 12th of March for Abeokuta; had
been down on a business meeting. He had slight
fevers while here, but was quite cheerful, and more
anxious to return to Abeokuta than at any time
before. He had become more attached to the place,
and, besides, was preparing to build a chapel out of
funds sent him by the Cosby Missionary Society of
Richmond. When he landed at Abeokuta it was
noon, and, as his journal says, " very hot; " yet he
walked five miles to the mission house through the
sun. This was highly imprudent, and resulted in a
fever that same afternoon and night, and for several
successive days. But they had stopped when he
wrote me on March 29th. But I learned from his
interpreter, cook, and others, also his journal, that
after writing to me he began to have fevers every
few days, until finally it resulted in jaundice fever,
and he was confined to his bed only a few days.
The Rev. Mr. Faulkner, the English Church Mis-
sionary, came to our mission and removed Brother
Cosby to his home on Monday. At that time the
symptoms were not serious, but by Wednesday
they had so far increased that Mr. Faulkner sent a
man to me, who was two days and a half coming.
From Thursday till Saturday he was delirious at
times, and in a stupor until his death. Even when
aroused he did not speak unless questioned. Only
148 HISTORY OF THE
one distinct sentence was heard from him. On the
day of his death Mr. Faulkner said: "It may be
the Lord's will for you to come to him and rest."
He replied : " I want to go and rest with my Sav-
iour." Shortly afterwards he obeyed the call of his
Heavenly Master to come home and " rest from his
labors." He was buried at 6 P. M., same day, by
Rev. Mr. Faulkner, who nursed him like a brother,
day and night, until his spirit took its flight. Mr.
Faulkner deserves the profoundest gratitude of
your Board. His post-office is Lagos. Your letter
calling Brother Cosby home to rest came too late
to be seen by hirn. I herewith return the bill you
sent him.
I do not know whether you claim his diary, or
his family, to whom I will write by this mail. If
you desire any further information concerning him,
let me know, and I will take pleasure in giving all
I have or can obtain. I now close my sad duties.
May all of us be as ready to go when the Lord calls
as he was. He was eminently pious. Pray for us.
Yours affectionately,
W. J. DAVID.
Mrs. Nannie David, wife of Rev. W. J. David,
writes of the same sad occurrence, April 30th, 1881 :
" Many friends were present at his burial, and
since the sad news reached this place, his friends,
both foreign and native, are continually pouring in
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 149
to sympathize with me and express their sorrow.
Brother Cosby was much beloved by all specially
the young people. I need not mention the feelings
of our hearts at this dispensation of Providence.
He welcomed us upon our arrival, lived in the house
with us more than seven months, rejoiced Avith us
at the birth of our precious babe, mourned with us
at her death, and in many ways endeared himself
to us. We will miss him sadly, but for him we sor-
row not. He has only laid down ' his sword for a
harp ; his cross for a crown.' '
Rev. W. M. Robinson, pastor of the Baptist
Church, Fredericksburg, Virginia, left school in
1877. When called to the ministry he did not
know a letter in the alphabet. During the year
1869 he walked eight miles three times a week to
attend a free night school. His way was through
the woods, and sometimes he became lost in the
darkness. He writes, June 5th, 1894 :
" In the same year I heard my old master reading
in some of the Richmond papers that there was a
school opened in Richmond for the purpose of
granting young colored men an opportunity to study
for the ministry. I wrote to the same, President
Rev. Dr. Corey. I wrote on Sunday, and on Tues-
day I received an answer to come to the School
with a clear recommendation from any church. In
1872 I entered the Richmond Institute. I remained
there five years. Since I left school I have organ-
150 HISTORY OF THE
ized twelve churches and thirty-three Sunday-
schools. I have baptized 1,698 willing souls, and
added them to the churches; these churches are all
self supporting, have their own ministers and their
own Sunday-schools. I am now pastor of two very
fine churches, with a membership of 1,769 mem-
bers. I have builded five meeting houses at a cost
of $18,000, all of which are paid for except the one
in this city, Fredericksburg."
Rev. T. J. Chick left Richmond Institute in 1879,
and writes :
" I have been instrumental in organizing four
churches and five Sunday-schools. Two of the
Sunday-schools have since grown into churches. I
have baptized sixty-three persons. Since leaving
school I have been laboring as State Sunday-school
Missionary for the American Baptist Publication
Society for fourteen years ; and I have been a
member of the Board of Education and its treasurer
ever since it was organized. I have held the posi-
tion of first Vice-President of the Virginia Baptist
State Convention for two consecutive years. I have
found that an exemplary Christian life has much
more influence upon the people than an eloquent
tongue behind an immoral and unreliable life. I
have been a diligent student though constant and
continuous travel has allowed little spare time, but
that I have endeavored to employ wisely."
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 151
Rev. P. E. Anderson, Meherrin, Virginia, left
Richmond Institute in 1879. He writes :
" I have organized one church, established six
Sunday-schools and one Sunday-school Convention,
composed of sixty-seven schools. I have baptized
sixty persons."
Brother Anderson has spent much time in teach-
ing, and has occupied various important positions
in the educational and religious work of his portion
of the State. He is pastor of two churches, New
Bethel and Shiloh, and also President of the Blue-
stone Baptist Sunday-school Convention. "I owe,"
he says " many thanks to the Richmond Institute
for spiritual and intellectual influences received.
The Institute made me what I am, intellectually,
morally and spiritually. From the Primary Old
Field public schoolhouse I stepped into her walls,
and was there encouraged to stand up for education,
good morals and religion; since leaving the School,
in 1879, I have never forsaken those principles. I
own a small farm, horse, buggy and other prop-
erty."
Rev. Aaron Wells, of Petersburg, Virginia, who
left Richmond Institute in 1881, writes, May 20th,
1892:
" I have built three churches, established five
Sunday-schools, and have baptized over one thou-
sand persons. I took charge of the Wilborn Bap-
152 HISTORY OF THE
tist Church, near Waverly, Virginia, in 1883, and
resigned in 1888. I took charge of the Union
Baptist Church, Yale, Virginia, 1888, and of the
Jerusalem Baptist Church, Jarretts, Virginia, while
a student in 1879. I am still pastor of the two last
named churches. For several years I was Modera-
tor of the Bethany Baptist Association, and Presi-
dent of the District Sunday-school Convention.
The influence of the School upon my spiritual life
was what the influence of devoted and religious
parents would be to their children. At the School
I also learned how to study. If my course of study
has not drawn me closer to my people then I have
made a great failure. But I have reason to believe
that I have not made a failure."
Rev. Guy Powell, Franklin, Southampton county,
Virginia, who left the Richmond Institute in 1880,
has organized six Baptist Churches and eight Sun-
day-schools. He has baptized not less than 2,000
persons. He was Justice of the Peace in Franklin
county more than three years; a member of the
Senate of Virginia for four years, and a member of
the House of Representatives two years. For seven
years he has been Moderator of the Bethany Baptist
Association, and is Chairman of the Bethany Bap-
tist Sunday-school Convention. He has married
about five hundred persons. He now presides over
three churches, and preaches to 2,100 members.
He writes, August 2cl, 1893 :
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 153
" The influence of the Seminary on my spiritual
life has been great. The instruction received there
has been the means of a great spiritual blessing,
both to me and the people over whom I have pre-
sided for the last nineteen years. A desire for
more knowledge was there created, and an impulse
to search for hidden truths was there received. I
have been drawn to my people by my course of
study, and my people have learned to appreciate
education when it is used in the right way."
Rev. Elisha Perry, Franklin, Virginia, who left
Richmond Institute in 1881, has organized three
churches, built three, established four Sunday-
schools, and has baptized 180 persons. He writes :
" The instruction received in the Seminary has
led me closer to the Saviour, and has helped me in
trying to live in accordance with the divine law,
and to be patient and long-forbearing. Save my
conversion, it has had all to do with shaping the
course of my spiritual life. Though I did not pur-
sue my studies very far, I secured enough knowledge
to steer my course, and to try to gather enough in-
formation to enable me to speak the Word as it is.
I have been drawn closer to the people, and though
I have spent the greater number of my days on
earth, yet I feel that I am being blessed more and
more."
Rev. J. H. A. Cyrus, who left Richmond Instutute
154 HISTORY OF THE
in 1881, is pastor of the Port Royal and three other
Baptist Churches. He has organized one church,
four Sunday-schools, and baptized 280 persona. He
has been elected to various positions of responsi-
bility, both ecclesiastical arid civil. He writes :
" I remember with gratitude the few weeks I
spent within the sacred walls of Richmond Insti-
tute. The noble Christian instructors there in-
spired me with an earnest purpose to work for
Christ and the salvation of humanity. To this end
I have dedicated my life. Intellectually, I received
an incentive at the Institution which has kept me
constantly striving to add to my knowledge, taxing
every available means to this end."
Rev. L. A. Scruggs, A. M., M. D., Raleigh,
North Carolina, who was graduated from the Rich-
mond Institute in 1882, has organized two churches,
built one church, paid one church debt, and estab-
lished three Sunday-schools. Dr. Scruggs has been
Professor of Physiology at Shaw University, and
Resident Physician at Leonard Medical College
Hospital. He is now Visiting Physician and Lec-
turer on Physiology and Hygiene at Saint Augus-
tine's Normal and Collegiate Institute. He received
the degree of A. B. and A. M. in course at Shaw
University, and M. I), at Leonard Medical College.
He writes :
" The influence of the Seminary has been most
marked upon my life. I owe much (of the little I
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 155
am) of what I am to the Institution, from a spiritual
point of view. The influence upon my intellectual
life has been also great. My course of study in the
Richmond Institute has brought me in much closer
sympathy with my people. I shall try, God help-
ing me, .to make the very best of my life. I hope
never to see the day when either Mr. P., my bene-
factor, or you will think less of me than you do
now, but that you both shall feel that the time and
money which have been spent to educate me have
been well spent."
Rev. A. W. Pegues, A. M., Ph. D., Raleigh,
North Carolina, was graduated from Richmond
Institute in 1882. He has organized three churches
since leaving school, established seventeen Sunday-
schools, and has baptized 150 people. Dr. Pegues
was, for five years, Professor of Latin and Philoso-
phy in Shaw University, Raleigh, North Carolina,
and is now General Sunday-School Missionary of
the American Baptist Publication Society for North
Carolina. He says :
" If I ever do anything in the intellectual world
it will be due largely to the impressions made upon
me at the Richmond Institute. My course has ena-
bled me to reach the people as I never could have
done without it."
Rev. C. S. Coleman, Scottsburg, Virginia, who
left the Richmond Institute in 1882, writes, Novem-
ber 23rd, 1892:
156 HISTORY OF THE
" I have organized five churches, established two
Sunday-schools, and have baptized 1,787 persons.
The influence of the Institution on my life, spiritual
and intellectual, has been alike good and great.
The course of study seemed a strong cord to hold
me to my people."
Rev. D. M. Pierce, A. M., who was graduated
from Richmond Institute in 1882, Principal of Tim-
monsville (South Carolina) Colored Graded School,
writes, February 3d, 1894 :
" I feel deeply indebted to you as my benefactor
and educational father. I have been busy from the
day I left Richmond to this day, working for the
civilization of my race. The people and the Lord
have used me in their interest. I am still a student,
and find my highest happiness in imparting the
riches of Jesus to my unfortunate race. I can
never forget you, who have settled my destiny for
life and Heaven."
Rev. J. Milton Waldron, A. M., pastor of the
Bethel Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Florida, and
Professor of Rhetoric and Biblical Interpretation
in the Florida Baptist Academy, was graduated
from the Richmond Institute in 1882. Professor
Waldron, from May, 1889, to September, 1890, was
General Secretary of the Young Men's Christian
Association, of Richmond, Virginia, during which
time he secured $5,000 for running expenses and
PROF. J. E. JONES, D. D.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 157
building, and assisted in starting six different
Young Men's Christian Associations in as many
different places. For more than two years Mr.
Waldron was pastor of the Berean Baptist Church,
Washington, D. C. He says :
"I was converted to Christ and led into the
Christian ministry while in the Kichmond Institute.
Its spiritual influence has followed me and helped
me most wonderfully."
Rev. C. II. Payne, D. D., Montgomery, West
Virginia, was graduated from Richmond Institute
in 1883. Dr. Payne writes :
" I am trying to do about three men's work. I
am pastor of two churches, editor of a weekly
newspaper, and deputy collector of internal reve-
nue, and doing a large part of the work of superin-
tending our State Mission work. I am often forced
to work night and day in order to carry forward
the many lines of work in which I am engaged."
In response to questions submitted he says :
" I have been instrumental in organizing eleven
churches, establishing eight Sunday-schools, and
have baptized 572 persons. I am President of the
West Virginia Baptist State Convention."
Dr. Payne has held important positions of trust,
both political and religious, and he says :
" The Seminary has exerted a helpful influence
158 HISTORY OF THE
upon my spiritual life such as only eternity can
reveal. The development I have made intellectually
is due almost wholly to the influence exerted by the
Seminary. In proportion as my work proves effi-
cient and helpful to my people, in the same pro-
portion am I drawn to them."
Rev. J. H. Presley, who was cutting his three
cords of wood per day in Virginia, and was unable
to read or write when converted and called to the
ministry, graduated from Richmond Institute. He
entered the foreign field in 1888, and organized one
Baptist Church in the Vey Tribe in Africa. He
has baptized more than 100 persons. Since his
return from Africa, in 1886, Brother Presley, after
a pastorate of one year, has been engaged in Evan-
gelistic work, as his health did not permit of his
return to Africa. More than 2,500 have professed
conversion in the various meetings conducted by
him up to May, 1894. He writes :
" The influence of the Seminary on my spiritual
life has enabled me to better understand my great
responsibility to God and my duty to a lost world.
In the School I learned how little I knew, and how
much I am still to learn if & am to efficiently serve
my Master and His people. I there learned to
understand men, and thus I have been drawn to
the people and the people to me."
Rev. J. J. Coles, Baptist Vey Mission, Manoh
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 159
Salijah, Sierra Leone, W. C. Africa, was graduated
from the Richmond Institute in 1883. He com-
menced work in 1885 : he had a day school and a
Sunday-school. The material around him had to
be grown before he could build. He baptized
seven, and was instrumental in dispelling ignorance
and superstition. His life abroad was an eventful
one. Five times he was seemingly in the arms of
death, and was only rescued by Divine mercy. He
labored self-denyingly ; and of suffering and hard-
ship he had his share. He writes :
" When I came to the School I was a converted
man, yet I had many false notions and imperfect
ideas of religion. These were remedied by the in-
struction I received. There I dug up the old wooden
foundations of ignorance, deeply mixed with super-
stition, and laid the corners with stone, on which I
am still trying to build an edifice that will enable
me to be more useful to my fellow men. My course
of study draws me to my people."
On the 22d of July, 1893, Brother Coles returned
to America for rest and recuperation. But zeal for
the Master consumed him, and December 7th, 1893,
" he fell on sleep," at the age of thirty-seven years.
Devout men made great lamentation over him. He
was a great man. He was beloved alike by his
brethren at home and the natives of Africa among
whom he labored, both young and old.
Rev. C. W. B. Gordon, pastor of the Tabernacle
160 HISTORY OF THE
Baptist Church, Petersburg, who left School in
1884, has organized one church, built two, and es-
tablished a number of Sunday-schools. He says :
"I have baptized more than 1,500, am editor of
the National Pilot, and am the author of a volume
of select sermons. The influence of the Seminary
on my life has been inestimable. It has been what
fire is to the moving engine. I shall ever hold in
grateful regard the Richmond Theological Semi-
nary."
Rev. A. Chisholm, D. D., pastor of the Wash-
ington Street Baptist Church, Bedford City, Vir-
ginia, was graduated from the Seminary in 1884.
He has been instrumental in organizing three
churches and five Sunday-schools, and has baptized
700 persons. Dr. Chisholm writes :
" The Seminary was a source of inspiration to
me. Never can I forget the glorious prayer-meet-
ings enjoyed there. The influence of the Seminary
upon my intellectual life has been strong, whole-
some, and effective. My studies have drawn me
closer to the people. I understand them better,
and know how to reach their spiritual needs, and
the same is true with respect to them ; they can
understand me better."
Rev. G. L. P. Taliaferro was graduated from
Richmond Institute in 1885, and he is now pastor
of the Holy Trinity Baptist Church, in Philadel-
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 161
phia. He has established one Sunday-school, and
has paid about $5,000 on church debts. He has
baptized about 300, and has had about 1,000 more
converts in meetings he has held. He is Secretary
of the Pennsylvania Baptist State Convention, and
managing editor of the Christian Banner. He says :
" My Seminary course strengthened and more
fully developed my spiritual powers. Intellectually,
I owe the greatest part of my success to the Semi-
nary. My course of study has drawn me to my
people."
Brother Taliaferro has had great success as an
evangelist, and as a worker and lecturer in the
cause of temperance.
Rev. L. W. Wales, pastor of the Mt. Ararat
Baptist Church, Williamsburg, Virginia, and the
Rising Sun Baptist Church, York County, Virginia,
was graduated from the Richmond Institute in 1885.
He has organized one church since 1885, has raised
for church building purposes, $3,000, has baptized
more than 300 persons. He says :
" My course of study has enabled me to enter
into sympathy with my people, and to labor cheer-
fully for their temporal and spiritual welfare. I
have been able to save something for the ' rainy
day.' I feel at a loss for words of praise in behalf
of the School and the Faculty, for what they have
162 HISTORY OF THE
done for me, and with a grateful heart I shall always
pray for their success."
Rev. R. C. Quarles, pastor of the Pilgrim Baptist
Church, St. Paul, Minnesota, entered school in 1880,
and was graduated from the Richmond Institute in
1885. After successful pastorates in Farmville, Vir-
ginia, and in Buffalo, Xew York, he has entered
upon an important field in the West. He has bap-
tized 393 persons. He writes :
" The influence of the Seminary on my intellect-
ual powers has been wonderful, having sharpened
my reasoning faculties, and given me clearer views
of the great doctrines of the Bible. It has set the
wheels going, which in order to achieve suc-
cess, must continue to go. My course of study has
drawn me closer to the people, and has caused me
to yearn for their up-building, intellectually, finan-
cially, morally, and spiritually, as never before."
Rev. Henry Madison, San Marino, Virginia, left
school in 1886. He has organized two churches
and five Sunday-schools. He has built and paid for
four churches, and has baptized 1,428 persons, has
married 112 couples, and has preached 346 funerals.
His spiritual and intellectual life has been wonder-
fully quickened by his stay in the Seminary.
Rev. S. A. Garland, pastor of the Brookville
Baptist Church, Amherst County, Virginia, since
he left the Richmond Institute, in 1885, has organ-
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 163
ized two churches, four Sunday-schools, and has
baptized 200 converts, and is President of the Min-
isterial Union, of Lynchburg, Virginia. He writes :
" If I am any good to the world, it is due to the
training that I received in this School. I would have
been in obscure life had it not been for the intellect-
ual training that I received from the Richmond
Institute. I can never forget your interpretation of
the Acts of the Apostles. I have found that there
is ' No royal road to success ; ' and I shall ever
remember what you said to us, that we need not go
through the world expecting the trees to bow down
to us."
Rev. E. Payne, of the Fourth Baptist Church,
Richmond, Virginia, writes :
" I have built one church and paid the debt on
one church. I have baptized about 1,500 persons.
I have had charge of but one church from June 1st,
1880, until the present time. I am a member of the
Board of the Friends' Orphan Asylum, and a mem-
ber of the Home and Foreign Mission Board of the
Virginia Baptist State Convention. The influence
of the Seminary has been very great, both on my
spiritual and intellectual life. My course of study
has drawn me closer to the people and has been of
invaluable service to me. I am only too sorry that
I have not been able to attend the School more."
Some additional facts in the life of Elder Payne,
164 HISTORY OF THE
who left the Seminary in 1887, may be of interest.
The following statement is furnished by himself:
" I was working as a laborer for the city of Rich-
mond when I was called of God to preach ; but I
knew not how, being in total ignorance. One day
while working on the corporation I picked up a
piece of a book on an ash heap. In this I saw a
w r ord, and other words just oft' from that. This
caused me to like the piece of a book, and I kept
it for two or three weeks, being ashamed to ask any
one what it was. Finally I asked a fellow-work-
man, who laughed heartily at me for my ignorance,
and told me that it was part of an old Dictionary.
These pieces were dear to me and I held on to
them. I took the notion to go to school, so I found
a little girl about fourteen years old who was will-
ing to teach me. I learned to spell and read very
rapidly. So it fell on a day (Sunday) that I thought
I might read a chapter in the Bible if I were to try.
I told Mrs. Hannah Willis my wish. She told me
if I could read a chapter in the Bible she would
give me a Bible. She told me to turn to the 25th
chapter of Matthew, as I would find that an easy
one. But my trouble was to find Matthew, and
then to find the chapter she named. I opened the
book to what proved to be the 5th chapter of Reve-
lation. This I read. She then gave the Bible to
me, which turned out to be the half of one. I con-
tinued to go to school to anyone that I could, in the
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 165
meantime working for an honest living whenever I
could get work. When I took charge of this
church, in 1880, I had these two pieces of books, a
Bible, Dictionary, and a whole Bible. I had not a
set of good books yet, but as I could, I bought
books here and there."
Brother Payne for several years was a student at
the Seminary, and serving the church at the same
time. I secured a grant of books from the Ameri-
can Baptist Publication Society for Brother Payne,
as I have for scores of ministers and students in the
South. In the thirteen years of his pastorate he
has built a substantial brick church, costing $30,000,
on which there is no indebtedness. There are no
rich members in the church, but all work for their
daily bread.
Rev. A. R. Griggs, D. D., Dallas, Texas, who left
Richmond Theological Seminary in 1887, writes as
follows :
" I have organized ten churches, and built five.
I have established about twenty Sunday-schools,
and baptized about 100. As missionary pastor, I
served Mt. Zion Church, Forney, Texas, from De-
cember, 1888, to 1889. I have held the following
positions : Moderator of the Northwestern Baptist
Association, Trustee of Bishop College and of
Hearne Academy, President of the Baptist State
Convention, State Sunday-school Evangelist, Presi-
dent of the Foreign Mission Convention of the
166 HISTORY OF THE
United States of America, member of the Advisory
Council on Religious Congresses of the World's
Congress Auxiliary, editor of the Missionary Dollar
Reporter. The State University, of Kentucky, gave
me the honorary degree of D. D. The influence
of the Seminary kindled a flame of spiritual life in
me that has enabled me to do my Christian work
wilh a degree of joy, comfort, and understanding
that could not have come to me otherwise. The
spiritual life that pervades every department of the
school work done in the Seminary, is so visibly
manifested that no student, in my judgment, could
escape its influence, so powerful yet pleasant. The
Seminary's influence upon my intellectual life has
wrought wonders for me in preparing my mind for
systematic study and an appreciation for useful
knowledge. The Seminary has given me a place
among noble and intelligent people. Once I used
to shun such company, or close contact with such
men. Now I seek and enjoy it. I see the impor-
tance of intelligence, and long for it more and more.
I feel that I have been able to serve my people bet-
ter and more acceptably in the cause of Christ.
My course of study has enabled me to reach my
people in many ways that I knew not of before ;
therefore I feel myself drawn closer to them."
Rev. A. J. Brown, B. D., pastor of the Queen
Street Baptist Church, Norfolk, Virginia, though
but recently from the Seminary (1888), has done an
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 167
important work. He has very materially reduced
the heavy indebtedness of his church, and has bap-
tized in all about 200 persons. For a young man,
Brother Brown has held several responsible posi-
tions. For four years he was Secretary of the
Home Mission Board of the Virginia State Baptist
Convention, and in this capacity successfully car-
ried on the mission work of the State.
Rev. Z. D. Lewis, B. D., a graduate from the
Richmond Theological Seminary, in 1889, is pastor
of the Second Baptist Church, Richmond, Virginia.
On coming to this church as pastor, in March, 1889,
he found it much in debt, with nothing in its treas-
ury. All debts have been paid, and several hundred
dollars are in hand for a new edifice. Pastor Lewis
has baptized about 1,050 persons. He is Secretary of
the Shiloh Association, and an officer in a number
of important organizations. He writes :
" The influence of the Seminary has been such
as to give me a clearer vision of my duty to myself,
to my fellow-man, and to God, and its course of
study and discipline have drawn and tied me to my
people. The church evinces much love for the
School, and confides much in its ability to furnish
men for the times. The Lord has been with me,
and greatly blessed me. Even now the future ap-
pears bright before me, with Him still at my right
hand."
Rev. Forris J. Washington, Williamston, South
168 HISTORY OF THE
Carolina, left school in 1889. He has baptized
sixty-five converts. He is trying to establish a
school of high grade for the benefit of young men
and women. In the years he has been teaching he
has instructed nearly one hundred pupils. He
writes :
" Words are not at my command to express the
good effect of my Seminary course upon my spiri-
tual and intellectual life. I regard the time spent
in preparation for the Lord's work the most valuable
time spent on earth."
Rev. P. S. Lewis, B. D., Salisbury, North Caro-
lina, says :
" Since commencing my work here in 1889, I
have paid one church debt and have baptized sixty.
I am Moderator of the Rowan Association, and
have held other ecclesiastical positions. The influ-
ence on my spiritual and intellectual life has been
wonderful. I am still thirsty. Your friendly ad-
vice during my school life is to me a lasting treasure.
May God prolong your days of usefulness to ele-
vate my race."
Rev. Ellis Watts, B. D., pastor of the Harrison
Street Baptist Church, Petersburg, Virginia, was
graduated from the Richmond Institute in 1880,
and from the Richmond Theological Seminary in
1890. He reports large congregations and constant
additions. He writes :
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 169
" I have assisted in organizing tive churches. I
have organized five Sunday-schools and have bap-
tized about 1,000. I was Missionary for the Ameri-
can Baptist Home Mission Society for nearly four
years. I received the Degree of B. D. from the
Richmond Theological Seminary. I entered the
Richmond Institute in 1875 moneyless, and without
friends able to help me. It was the friends of the
Institution who helped me, and for this aid I can
never cease to give thanks to God, for both my
spiritual and intellectual life have been greatly
helped by the Seminary. My course of study helps
me to do better work with greater ease. By it I
have been drawn decidely nearer my people ; their
condition, their needs, and the way out, fill me
with the greatest sympathy."
Rev. Z. Taylor Whiting, of Ordinary, Virginia,
left school in 1890, and he has organized three
churches, started three Sunday-schools, and has
baptized 550 persons. He has also erected two
church edifices. He reports :
" Spiritually, the influence of the Seminary has
been a permanent guide, and intellectually, a helper
in solving the hard problems of life. I cannot ex-
press the gratitude I feel for the help I received
from the Seminary."
Rev. J. II. Turner, B. D., who was graduated
from the Richmond Theological Seminary in 1890,
writes :
170 HISTORY OF THE
" I have paid one church debt of ninety-five
dollars. I have organized four churches and bap-
tized eight persons. I am now State Sunday-school
Missionary of the Virginia Baptist State Conven-
tion. I have held five religious institutes, and have
received the Degree of B. I). The influence of the
Seminary upon my spiritual life, by the contact
with religious teachers and pupils, has been of un-
told value to me in my Christian experience. If I
had not attended the Richmond Theological Semi-
nary, or some similar school, principles and powers
that were hidden would never have been developed
in me. Theory and practice are drawing me nearer
and nearer to fallen humanity."
Rev. E. V. Gassaway, B. D., pastor of the St.
Paul's Baptist Church, Anderson Court House,
South Carolina, since his graduation from the Rich-
mond Theological Seminary, in 1890, has estab-
lished twenty-five Sunday-schools, and has baptized
125 persons. He is President of the County Sun-
day-school Convention. He says :
" My intellectual aspirations have all been raised
and improved by my Seminary life. I am only
sorry that I did not get there earlier, and that I did
not take a full college course. The Lord has greatly
blessed me here, and I am very grateful for it."
Rev. C. G. Robinson, who was graduated from
the Richmond Theological Seminary in 1891, writes
from News Ferry, Virginia, December 15th, 1894 :
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 171
" The Lord has helped me to do a great work
here that shall ever remain in the hearts of the
people. This has been done in a short time through
much self-denial and sacrifice. The place- is a new
one, the people another people. My salary is small,
but yet I live. I have baptized fifty persons since
I left the Seminary."
Rev. P. H. Callaham, Society Hill, South Caro-
lina, who was graduated from Richmond Theologi-
cal Seminary in 1892, writes under date of March
9th:
" I have built two churches. I have baptized
forty persons. My residence in the Seminary con-
firmed my faith in Jesus Christ, and inspired me
with a constant search for knowledge. My Semi-
nary course has drawn me much closer to the peo-
ple. We have a school in connection with our
church work. "We are doing all that we can to
push on the cause of Christ."
Rev. J. W. Boykin, pastor of the Baptist Church,
Clarksville, Tennessee, was graduated in 1892 with
the degree of B. D. He writes :
" The Seminary has been a great blessing to me
in broadening my intellectual horizon. Spiritually,
my idea of worship was greatly modified and im-
proved. The School has brought me nearer to the
people. I have baptized twenty-three."
Rev. S. W. Bacote was graduated in 1892 with
172 HISTORY OF THE
the degree of B. D. In August of the same year,
he became pastor of the Second Baptist Church,
Marion, Alabama. He has baptized about forty
persons, and has paid off a church debt of $300.
He became Principal of the Marion Baptist Acad-
emy in 1892. He was a member of the Advisory
Council on Religious Congresses in connection with
the World's Fair in 1893. He writes :
" My course of study at the Seminary has drawn
me closer to the people, and has strengthened me
both spiritually and intellectually."
Rev. W. T. Johnson, B. I)., was graduated from
the Richmond Theological Seminary in 1893. He
writes, April 2d, 1894 :
~"" Last fall I conducted a meeting here, and on
the first Sunday in December I baptized ninety-
seven, and there are others awaiting baptism. We
are undertaking to build a new church to cost $9,000.
The systematic training which I received at the
Seminary in the line of work and study, has ena-
bled me to have perfect control of my present situ-
ation. The influence of the Seminary upon my
ministerial life is far beyond my comprehension or
estimation. I am grateful to God, and to the Pres-
ident and Faculty of the Institution for the benefits
that have come to me already."
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 173
CHAPTER XII.
Our Teachers Sketches of Our Present Professors
Special Lectures Occasional Lectures Distinguished
Visitors Need of Endowment Funds Secured At-
tempted Removal.
here give a list of the teachers from the
commencement of the School until the pres-
ent time.
TEACHERS FROM 1867 TO 1895.
REV. NATHANIEL COLVER, D. D., President 1867-1868
REV. ROBERT RYLAND, D. D. Associate 1867-1868
REV. C. H. COREY, A. M., D. D., President 1868-
Miss H. W. GOODMAN, Associate 1868-1872
MR. STERLING GARDNER, Associate 1872-1873
REV. S. J. NEILEY, A. M., Associate 1873-1874
MR. STERLING GARDNER, A. B., Associate 1875-1876
PROF. GEORGE A. MINOR, Musical Director 1875-1881
REV. J. ENDOM JONES, A. M., D. D., Professor 1876-
REV. D. N. VASSAR, A. M., D. D., Professor 1877- . . . .
Miss J. J. TURPIN, Associate 1880-1883
MRS. B. A. CLEMENTS, Musical Instructor 1881-1885
ERNEST ALBERT COREY, A. M., M. D., Professor 1882-1885
Miss MARIE E. ANDERSON, Associate 1883-1884
REV. NAHUM HINES, A. M. Professor 1884-1887
GEO. R. HOVEY, A. M., Professor 1887- . . . .
While they were students of the Institution, the
following persons held commissions from the Ameri-
can Baptist Home Mission Society, as assistant
174 HISTORY OF THE
teachers: Isaac T. Armistead, William Cousins,
Joseph E. Jones, B. J. Medley, Andrew II. Cum-
ber, Howard B. Bunts, Henry H. Johnson and
Charles J. Daniel.
A number of other pupils have served acceptably
as teachers, from time to time, being appointed for
this service by the Faculty.
PROFESSOR JOSEPH ENDOM JONES, D. D.
Joseph E. Jones was born of slave parents in
the city of Lynchburg, Virginia, October 15th,
1850. He continued a slave until the surrender.
Against the most earnest protestations of his mother
he was put to work in a tobacco factory when he
was not more than six years of age. At this par-
ticular period of the country's history the question
of human slavery was agitating the minds of the
people from Maine to the Gulf. The Southern
States deemed it expedient to enact some very
stringent laws with respect to the Negro. There-
fore, the State of Virginia passed laws that pro-
hibited anyone from teaching Negroes how to read
and write, and if anyone was caught violating this
law he would be imprisoned. The mother of
Joseph believed with all her heart that the time
would come when the colored people would be
liberated. This idea so possessed her that she de-
termined to have her son taught to read and write.
She secured a man who was owned by the same
family as herself to instruct her boy. This man
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 175
came several nights each week to give him lessons.
At this time during the year 1864 things were
in a desperate state in the South. Joseph's teacher
soon began to think that he was running too much
risk to give lessons at the boy's home, and he de-
cided that it was not wise for him to continue.
However, after some reflection, it was decided that
the pupil should go once a week to the room of the
teacher. The time fixed upon was Sunday morn-
ing, between the hours of ten and twelve. The
white people usually spent this time at church,
hence the selection. Later in the same year his
mother secured the services of a sick Confederate
soldier to teach him. The pay the teacher received
was, something to eat. The instruction of this man
was cut short by the surrender of General Lee.
Immediately after the surrender, young Jones'
mother placed him in a private school that had
been opened by his first teacher, the late R. A. Per-
kins. When he commenced school after the sur-
render, his progress was very marked. He continued
in this school two years. The most of the time he
stood at the head of his class. The following
winter he spent as a pupil in a private school taught
by J. M. Gregory, now a Professor in Howard Uni-
versity, Washington, District of Columbia, and he
was one of the best scholars in this school. In the
spring of 1868, Joseph was baptized, and connected
himself with the Court Street Baptist Church, of
the city of Lynchburg, Virginia. October 6th,
176 HISTORY OF THE
1868, he entered the Colver Institute, now Rich-
mond Theological Seminary, with a view of pre-
paring himself for the Gospel Ministry. He spent
three years here, taking the academic and theologi-
cal studies then taught. April, 1871. he left Vir-
ginia for Hamilton, New York, and entered the
preparatory department of Madison (now Colgate)
University, from which he was graduated in June,
1872. The following fall he entered the university,
and after a successful course of study, was gradu-
ated, June, 1876. The same year the American
Baptist Home Mission Society, of New York, ap-
pointed him instructor in the Richmond Institute,
and entrusted him with the branches of language
and philosophy. In 1877, he was ordained to the
ministry. In 1879, his alma mater conferred upon
him the Degree of Master of Arts " in course."
After Richmond Institute was changed to Rich-
mond Theological Seminary, Professor Jones oc-
cupied the chair of Homiletics and Greek Testament.
He is now Professor of Homiletics and English
Interpretation. He not only performs well his
work in the class-room, but takes an active part in
all denominational movements, as well as other
questions relating to the welfare of his people. He
is a member of the Educational Board of the Vir-
ginia Baptist State Convention. November, 1883,
Professor Jones was elected Corresponding Secre-
tary of the Baptist Foreign Mission Convention of
the United States of America. He served in this
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 177
position until September, 1893. He was six years
President of the Virginia Baptist State Sunday-
School Convention. He has corresponded con-
siderably for newspapers. He has had the pastoral
care of a small church in the county of Chester-
field for about two years and a half. During this
time he has baptized fifty persons. The Degree of
Doctor of Divinity was conferred on him by Selma
University.
The Religious Herald, of Richmond, Virginia, in
speaking of the Professor, says : " Professor Jones
is one of the most gifted colored men in America.
Besides being Professor in Richmond Theological
Seminary, he is Corresponding Secretary of the
Baptist Foreign Mission Convention. He has the
ear and heart of his people, and fills with distinc-
tion the high position to which his brethren North
and South have called him."
In June, 1880, he was requested to speak before
the American Baptist Home Mission Society at its
anniversary at Saratoga, New York, on, "The
Needs and Desire of the Colored People for these
Schools."
The Examiner, of New York, in commenting on
the address, said : " Mr. Jones is a young colored
man, prepossessing in appearance and manners,
and his address would have been creditable to any
white graduate of any Northern college. It was
sensible, witty, and eloquent."
A writer, in the Baptist Encyclopaedia, says :
178 HISTORY OF THE
" Professor Jones is an efficient teacher, a popular
and instructive preacher, and a forcible writer. In
1878 he held a newspaper controversy with the
Roman Catholic Bishop Keane, of Richmond, in
which the Bishop, in the estimation of many most
competent to judge, was worsted."
Dr. William J. Simmons says : "In following
the career of Professor Joseph Endom Jones, and
observing and marking the changes in it, Ave can
but say that it was simply marvelous. It must
have been divinely ordered and superintended."
PROFESSOR DAVID NATHANIEL VASSAR, D. D.
The subject of this sketch was born in Bedford
county, Virginia, December 5th, 1847. When three
years of age he was stolen from his mother and
sold into slavery, for he was born free. The man
who did the deed was punished for his crime. He
grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia, working at the
barber's trade. He learned to read by studying the
signs over the doors of the merchants of Lynchburg.
In 1868 he entered the Colver Institute, and being
an apt pupil, met with favor in the eyes of the teach-
ers. In 1871 he attended the Academy of Madison
University, and in 1877, he was graduated from
the College Department with the Degree of B. A.
When he graduated, he was at once chosen Pro-
fessor of Natural Science and Mathematics in Rich-
mond Institute, in recognition of his ability and
learning. In 1880, Madison (now Colgate) Univer-
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 179
sity conferred on him the Degree of A. M. "in
course." In the year 1892, Shaw University, of
Raleigh, North Carolina, conferred upon him the
honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity. For thirteen
years he has been pastor of the First Baptist Church,
of Louisa, Virginia, and has there baptized 800
persons. He was elected Moderator of the Shiloh
Baptist Association and served acceptably for two
years. At present he is Treasurer of the Virginia
Baptist State Convention, Treasurer of the National
Foreign Mission Convention of the United States,
and a trustee of Virginia Seminary.
The most important work of his life is his career
as Professor of Biblical Introduction and Church
History in the Richmond Theological Seminary, in
which place he has left his impress upon the scores
of students who have been under his instruction.
Professor Vassar is noted for his strong will, his
exalted character, and his tender heart, and he is
a great blessing to his race, and a worthy example to
be followed.
PROFESSOR GEORGE RICE HOVEY, A. M.
Professor Hovey was born January 17th, 1860,
at Newton Center, Massachusetts, an attractive
suburb of Boston. He is of sturdy New England
parentage. His father, Alvah Hovey, D. D., LL.
D., is one of the most distinguished Baptist theo-
logians, educators, and writers. His mother has
been prominent in organizing and carrying on the
180 HISTORY OF THE
Woman's Baptist Foreign Missionary Society, a
mission school, hospital work, and other good enter-
prises. Professor Hovey is the oldest of four chil-
dren. He was educated in the public schools of
Newton, and fitted for college at the Newton High
School. He was graduated from Brown University
in 1882, having, during his college course, enjoyed
athletics as well as study. He took prizes in Latin
and Greek, and was graduated with high honors.
Entering Newton Theological Institute he was grad-
uated in 1885, and spent a fourth year in post-grad-
uate work. He served as acting pastor of the
Baptist Church in Harrison, Maine, six months
during the winter of 1886-7. For several summers
he attended Professor W. R. Harper's Summer
School of Hebrew as a student; and as an instruc-
tor at New Haven in 1885, and in Newton in 1886.
He was married in 1890 to Miss Clara K. Brewer.
He came to Richmond Theological Seminary in the
fall of 1887. He has, while here, shown special
interest in the library, raising above $3,000 as a
fund for its use. and cataloging it by the most ap-
proved system. He has assisted in developing the
high course of study now offered here, and espe-
cially in laying out the reading courses. For two
years he did a large part of the editing of the Semi-
nary Monthly. He has taken much interest in the work
of the colored Young Men's Christian Association,
instructing, weekly, a class of teachers in the Sun-
day-school lesson. His voice has often been heard
PROF. D. N. VASSAR, D. D.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 181
in the temperance cause in the churches of the city.
He is a frequent contributor to the columns of the
Watchman. He also furnished a sermon for each of
the two volumes on the Sunday-school lessons edi-
ted by President E. B. Andrews. His chief work,
however, has been in his departments of Greek and
Hebrew Interpretation, in which he tries to give
courses fully equal to those in Northern seminaries.
Professor Hovey is an enthusiastic and conscien-
tious teacher. His abilities as a scholar and writer
command the respect of his acquaintances ; and he
is justly entitled to the high esteem in which he is
held by all.
In order to carry out more fully the design of the
patrons of the Institution, special courses of lec-
tures have been delivered to the students on subjects
pertaining to the work of the ministry, from time
to time. These lecturers have been : Marseria
Stone. D. D., formerly Professor in Dennison Uni-
versity ; W. W. Everts, D. D., Chicago, Illinois;
Alvah Hovey, D. D., LL.D., President of Newton
Theological Institution, and E. G. Robinson, D. D.,
LL.D., formerly President of Rochester Theological
Seminary, and subsequently President of Brown
University.
In addition to these courses of lectures, distin-
guished men in our city, and noted preachers from
various parts of this country and from abroad, have
favored our students with highly instructive and
182 HISTORY OF THE
profitable discourses. The brief addresses of the dis-
tinguished Dean Ilowson, of Chester, England, and
of Dr. Henry Grattan Guinness, of London, will
never be forgotten.
We have had visits from distinguished statesmen
of our own country, of Canada and of Great Britain.
The importance of securing an endowment was
recognized by the friends of the School at an early
day. To them it seemed to be an endowment or death.
Dr. T. J. Conant, the distinguished Biblical transla-
tor, in writing to a friend, gives his experience :
" I have spent thirty-two years in the service of
our denomination, as a teacher in its colleges and
theological seminaries. My salary after the first
two years was never sufficient to cover the very
moderate expenses of my household. I seldom
knew the luxury of freedom from debt. During
those thirty-two years, more than twenty thousand
dollars of money, which came to me from my
father, was thus expended in the struggle to sustain
my family, in the service of an unendowed institu-
tion."
Our students, in order to show their interest in
securing an endowment, paid more than $1,000 to-
wards it.
It is stated on page 36 that Dr. Lathrop and J.
B. Hoyt visited Charleston, South Carolina, in
1865 ; and on page 104, is an account of an inter-
view with the latter, at his home, in 1884. Secre-
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 183
tary H. L. Morehouse, on the same page, states
what followed.
We have now the following PROFESSORSHIPS and
SCHOLARSHIPS fully or partially endowed:
THE J. B. HOYT FUND, Chair of Church
History, $25,000 00
THE JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER FUND, Chair
of Biblical Theology, 25,000 00
THE UNION PROFESSORSHIP, Chair of
Biblical Interpretation, - - 6,917 41
SCHOLARSHIPS.
The following "Funds" have been established,
and the income from them is to be used in helping
needy students :
The Emily C. S. Colby Fund, $ 500 00
The Susan C. Reed Scholarship, Estab-
lished by Dr. K Colver's daughter, 1,000 00
Ths Rev. C. W. Waterhouse Scholarship, 1,000 00
The Lydia S. Tolman Fund, In Memory
. of Mrs. Lydia S. Tolman, Lynn,
Mass., - 1,400 00
LIBRARY FUND.
This Fund now amounts to $3,120 50.
In addition to this there is available the income
of $1,000, until such time as the principal may be
needed for its designated purpose.
The BUILDING FUND is $12,669.24 in cash, and
ten shares of railroad stock.
184 HISTORY OF THE
THE D. HENRY SHELDON LOAN FUND.
This fund of $100 is given that it may be lent
temporarily to needy students.
In 1894 a suggestion was made that it might he
desirable to remove the Seminary to Atlanta,
Georgia. Some very strong reasons were urged in
favor of such a course. The matter was very
thoroughly discussed by the friends of theological
education. While the discussion was thorough and
exhaustive on both sides, it was conducted in the
most friendly manner, the desire of all being to
ascertain what, upon the whole, was best for the
colored Baptists of the South. It was decided,
however, that it would be both unwise and imprac-
ticable to undertake to remove the Seminary from
Virginia. The Corresponding Secretary of the
American Baptist Home Mission Society, Dr. T. J.
Morgan, writes, December llth, 1894 :
" I think that no further steps will be taken at
all looking to the removal ; that matter may be re-
garded as settled. * * * * We have found
that it is impossible to move the Seminary."
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 185
CHAPTKR XIII.
The Old African Church A Historic Building Its
Religious History Dr. Roland's Pastorate Pasto-
rate of Rev. James H. Holmes.
7TS the first work in Richmond for colored
^ * preachers was commenced in the old African
Church, and as it was so intimately connected with
much of the past history, both of the white and
colored people of the city, it seems desirable to de-
vote a chapter to it.
The Richmond Dispatch, of August, 1876, con-
tained a number of interesting letters pertaining to
the building. From these letters, which were after-
wards published in pamphlet form, copious extracts
will be made.
In 1802 the First Baptist Church erected a house
of worship at the northeast corner of H or Broad
and College Streets. Originally the building was
about forty by forty feet. Subsequently it was en-
larged on three sides, making a cruciform building
one hundred feet by seventy. The Richmond Dis-
patch, about the time the old building was torn
down, in 1876, published the articles to which
reference has been made, and says :
" The OLD CHURCH has been for many years a
land-mark, and in the minds of our people is as-
186 HISTORY OF THE
sociated with happy memories of by-gone days, and
of customs that have been swept away by the tide
of years and results of the war. When its founda-
tion was dug and its corner-stone laid, Richmond
was but a country town. Its streets were poorly
graded, and only in a few instances paved. Where
now is the fashionable and brilliant West End was
then a forest.
" Main Street, in the neighborhood of the Old
Market, monopolized much of the business of the
place, while the upper part of the street and Broad
Street were just beginning to claim some attention
by stores being erected here and there upon them.
"The Baptists, now a denomination of immense
number in the State, were then few and by no
means possessed of the influence they now enjoy.
The old church soon became too small for their
needs, and was passed into the hands of trustees for
the benefit of the colored people of that denomina-
tion. In slave times the congregations were always
large. Of the happy and peaceful looking flocks
that gathered there in those days ; of the content
that sat upon their countenances ; and of their
comfortable appearance and respectful demeanor,
the writer of Virginia history will have occasion to
speak. In the old church worshipped congrega-
tions of immense size, and their sacred songs were
ever an attraction, while their fervid piety and ear-
nest exhibition of religious feeling were marked
with all the characteristics of the race.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 187
" In the scarcity of public halls the church was
often used for public meetings. Democrats and
Whigs held conventions and had rallies there. The
old walls, now soon to mingle with the dust, have
echoed the eloquence of some of the foremost ora-
tors that Virginia ever produced.
" In the last days of the Confederacy, when star-
vation and battle were weakening Lee's army;
when the smoke from the enemy's guns was daily
wafted into the city, and when despair was seizing
the people, a grand mass-meeting was called at the
African Church, and the voices of Jefferson Davis,
Judah P. Benjamin, and other orators aroused new
zeal and inspired fresh hope in the struggle, and
helped to postpone, for a time, the inevitable hour
of surrender. *
"As a place of entertainment and interest, we
may say that the old African Church had no equal.
Every Northerner who came to see Richmond and
its many features of interest and historic note, as a
matter of course, visited the old church. Before
the war the singing there was remarkably fine, and
Sunday was generally selected for the visit.
"As a place of amusement, too, it has some
notoriety. Ole Bull charmed hundreds of Rich-
mond people in days gone by, and it was there that
Tom Thumb was greeted when he first commenced
coming to Richmond. Blind Tom, too, we believe,
gave some of his performances in the same build-
ing, both during and after the war. Our citizens
188 HISTORY OF THE
will also remember with delight that they heard
Patti, Sontag and Parodi here, and it was with no
little delight that the writer heard Paul Julien play
the " Carnival of Venice " on one string, a few
years after the signing of the Declaration, within
these classic walls."
Among a few of the notable men who addressed
vast auditories from the platform of this historic
building, may be mentioned the following :
" Governor William Smith, Benjamin Watkins
Leigh, John Minor Botts, Henry A. Wise, Tim.
Rives, John Letcher, Roger A. Pryor, William C.
Rives, R. M. T. Hunter, Geo. W. Randolph, Judah
P. Benjamin, Jefterson Davis, Patrick Henry Aylett,
John Tyler, Briscoe G. Baldwin, and John B.
Baldwin. *
" Not least among the historic reminiscences of
this old building is the famous meeting that took
place in 1864, just after the noted peace conference
at Fortress Monroe. Our people did not know how
sick they were; the soldiers, though starving, were
dreaming of better rations for the future, and our
cause was generally lacking of that vitality that
betokens success. One of the grandest meetings
ever held in Richmond was held in the church.
" Stirring addresses were delivered by President
Davis, Judah P. Benjamin, and other notables,
which led many of our staid citizens to invest much
of their earnings in Confederate States bonds, and
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 189
many of our ladies to put down on the platform
their much-cherished jewels. It was a scene well
worth} 7 of the worn traditions of Sparta, for many
of our ladies took off their breast-pins and brace-
lets and deposited them upon the table before the
speaker. This was the last meeting ever held in
Richmond under Confederate auspices."
From the Richmond Dispatch of August 17th,
1876, we have the following :
" When the war was about fairly commenced, a
number of persons from the Cockade City came
over to Richmond, and headed by General Roger
A. Pyor, they went to the old church, where an
improvised meeting was held. The church was
soon thronged. The Petersburgers had the ' stars
and bars' at the head of their column, and this
was probably the first occasion upon which the
Confederate flag was displayed in Richmond. It
was. upon that memorable night that Pryor fairly
fired the Southern heart with his great speech.
Many persons who bitterly opposed even the thought
of war were changed in sentiment, and the meeting
soon became one of the wildest enthusiasm. John
Minor Botts was holding forth the same night at
the old Metropolitan Hall, and it was upon that
occasion that Mr. Botts predicted in his speech
what afterwards came true concerning the war.
" The reputation of many local orators was formed
in the African Church. Colonel Marmaduke John-
190 HISTORY OF THE
son and Colonel Thomas P. August frequently
spoke there. But what we started to write was
that E. Z. C. Judson, alias Ned Buntline, thundered
in the old church in behalf of the American Order,
which was the prelude to the ' Know-Nothings.'
" It is stated upon good authority that when the
old theatre was destroyed by fire in 1811, the Afri-
can Church was used as a receptacle for the dead
and wounded. The negroes assembled at the
church, and sang and prayed during the fire, and
they claimed that their church was saved from de-
struction by their prayers.
" The prices paid for the hire of the building
were sometimes high. The first year of the war,
and even before that time, it was not an uncommon
thing for twenty-five dollars to be paid for the use
of the house just for one night."
A correspondent in the Richmond Dispatch, of
the 17th of August, 1876, contributes the following :
" J)uring the winter of 1864, one of Lee's vete-
rans, from the rural districts, who had been imbi-
bing rather freely of apple-jack ($20 per canteen,
Confederate currency), chanced to be in the city,
' running the blockade ' from the home-guard
pickets. On his way back to camp he strolled into
the African Church for the sake of getting warm,
and comfortably seated himself in a pew convenient
to the stove. One of the elder brethren was ex-
horting the congregation at the time from the para-
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 191
ble in Scripture where the sheep and the goats were
prominent in his argument. He was portraying in
vivid language the terrors of the great judgment-
day, and impressing upon his hearers that the saved
would be among the sheep and the lost among the
goats. ' On dat day, dear breddern,' said he, ' de
sheep will be on de one side and de goats on de
udder, and I piously hopes dere will be lots of sheep
from this fold. But,' with a pause for effect, 'who
will be de goat ? ' After an impressive pause he
repeated in louder tones : ' I say, breddern, on
dat great day ivho'll be de goat ? ' Another im-
pressive pause and silence everywhere. About this
time the old Confederate began to rustle about in
his seat, and simultaneously the ominous voice
came from the pulpit, ' Who'll be de goat f The
imbibing rebel, drawing himself up as straight as
he could from his seat, shouted out, ' See here
hie mister, sooner than see hie this thing play
out hie I'LL BE DE GOAT.' The effect of this un-
expected response is left to the imagination of the
Y*fi '1 M O K*
"No scene of transformation could be more com-
plete than that presented within the walls of this
old and historic building since the war. We had
seen during those dark days such men as Davis,
Toombs, Yancey, Benjamin, and others, ' firing the
Southern heart,' and when the smoke of the battle
had cleared away what was to be seen ? an assem-
blage of our former slaves the first ever held in
192 HISTORY OF THE
the South. They had been invested with all the
rights of citizenship, and spoke with an assurance
that would indicate that they had owned the land
since the days of their birth. Among the men
who spoke to them in their gatherings were Horace
Greeley, Gerritt Smith, Henry Wilson, General O.
O. Howard, Judge Underwood, and others whose
names are prominent in the history of Southern
reconstruction."
George W. Smith says in the Dispatch of August
18th, 1876:
"Allow me space in your columns to make an
addendum to the history of the old African Church,
which appeared in yesterday's Dispatch viz : That
at an early day of the month of April, 1861, the
largest meeting ever held in that church took place
in behalf of the Union, the Constitution, and the
Enforcement of the Laws.
" I had the honor to preside at that meeting.
Such men as Waitman T. Willey, of Monongahela
county; John A. Campbell, of Washington county;
and the late Geo. W. Summers, of Kanavvha
county all of them being members of the State
Convention or of the Legislature, both bodies then
being in session in this city made able and elo-
quent addresses to the large audience in behalf of
the Union."
In the year 1841 the white people built a new
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 193
church on the corner of Twelfth and Broad Streets.
Dr. Robert Ryland, then connected with Richmond
College, took pastoral charge of the colored church,
in 1841. The church paid him a salary of $500
per annum. I am indebted to an address delivered
by Dr. Ryland at the celebration of the the close of
the first century of the First Baptist Church, for
some interesting statements. He says :
" The colored brethren were informed that they
could occupy the old house as soon as it should be
vacated by the whites, and that, on their payment
of $4,500, which they thought they could raise, the
property should be deeded to trustees, to be held
by them for the exclusive and perpetual use of the
First African Church. Both these pledges were
redeemed, and in the year 1849 the property was
conveyed to its present incumbents, who had paid
$5,000.19, principal and interest. *
" It had long been the habit of many of the at-
tendants to come late to meeting. This habit was
not only hurtful to those who indulged it, but it
disturbed the quietness of the audience and inter-
rupted the preaching. At first the pastor thought
that the employers might have detained their house
servants so long, as to prevent their reaching the
sanctuary in time. On inquiry, he found that most
of the families who permitted their servants to
come at all, allowed them ample time to secure
punctuality. Tie found, moreover, that when there
194 HISTORY OF THE
was a marriage to be solemnized, or something
amusing to be exhibited, everybody was in time.
After trying by moral suasion, very urgently, but
in vain for several years, to break up this annoy-
ance, he induced the deacons to pass an order that
the church-yard gates should be locked forty-live
minutes after the time to begin worship, so as to
exclude incomers after the sermon began. This
measure seemed harsh, but its effect was most salu-
tary. Very few were really kept out, and loiterers
were taught a valuable lesson. The evil being, to
a great degree corrected, the rule was, after six
months, suspended. *
" There were usually at our College some twenty
or twenty-five young men, studying for the minis-
try. And, like theologians, generally, most of them
were not burdened with money. Partly to help
their pockets and partly to improve their gifts, as
well as to get assistance in his arduous work, the
pastor often invited these young men to officiate for
him in the afternoon. At the close of a sermon by
one of these, Deacon Simms, an excellent man, was
requested to follow with prayer. He offered up a
devout petition to God for His blessing on the truths
just delivered, and for large grace ' on our stripling
young brother that is trying to learn how to preach.'
" The good order of the congregation was re-
markable for its size, it was wonderful. During
the twenty-four years of his ministry among them,
the pastor did not see a single instance of a group
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 195
of persons, young or old, engaged in talking and
laughing during public worship.
" It is a misconception of the African race, which
many Anglo-Saxons cherish, that all negroes are alike.
While the whole human family are depraved, and
the sameness of condition, surrounding a particular
tribe, will impress on it a peculiar type of charac-
ter, still there is as much individuality as much
variety of intellectual and moral temperament
among the negroes as there is among persons of
any other race. I have witnessed as bright exam-
ples of godliness, of disinterested kindness, of real
gentility of manner, and of native mental shrewd-
ness among them as among other people. Many
of the old men and matrons were brought up in the
best families, and understood all the proprieties of
life. Their manners were polished, and their prin-
ciples correct. This, to a partial extent, was true
of some of the young people of both sexes. Say
you this was the result of imitation ? Very well.
And do not our children get all their refinement by
imitation ? *
" One of my members went on a certain occasion
to hear a learned gentleman, then a pastor of this
city. I do not vouch for the justness of the criti-
cism, but, being asked how he liked the sermon, he
said : ' He preaches too much out of the dictionary.'
"From October 1st, 1841, to July 1st, 1865, the
additions by baptism to the First African Church
were 3,832. Of this number no larger a proportion
106 HISTORY OF THE
fell away from the belief and practice of the truth,
than is usual in our average churches."
It may be interesting to know that the Richmond
Missionary Society was formed in the year 1815, in
this church, with the sole purpose of sending mis-
sionaries to Africa. In January, 1821, Lott Carey
and Colin Teague, members of this church, sailed
w r ith'a number of colonists for Africa. In the ab-
sence of the Governor of Liberia, the entire gov-
ernment of the colony devolved on Lott Carey.
He was considered one of the most gifted colored
men of his time.
The present pastor of the church is Rev. James
H. Holmes. When he took charge of the church in
August, 1867, the membership was about 4,000.
In 1870, it numbered 4,683. During 1870-71, the
names of 2,200 persons who failed to respond to a
call for a new enrollment, were dropped. There
\vere left 2,400 in 1871. In the great revival of
1878 the writer was present, and saw the pastor
immerse 598 in three hours. Again in June, 1894,
the pastor immersed 245 in one hour. During the
twenty-eight years of Mr. Holmes' pastorate, he
has baptized nearly 6,000 persons. On one occa-
sion more than a thousand went out and formed a
new church.
Rev. Mr. Holmes was a pupil in the School in its
early history. He could be seen daily going along the
streets of the city with his books under his arm,
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 197
though at that time he was pastor of the largest
Protestant Church in the world. He and Rev.
Richard Wells, the beloved pastor of the Ebenezer
Baptist Church, and later Rev. Evans Payne, the
more youthful, but equally energetic pastor of the
Fourth Baptist Church, for several years were ear-
nest students in the Institution, though each had a
large church, numbering many hundreds, under
his care. Brother Holmes often refers to an occa-
sion under the old regime, when he, as a violator
of the law, had to suffer its extreme penalty. One
of the city ordinances made it unlawful for more
than five colored people to be assembled without
the presence of a white man. One Sunday morn-
ing, instead of going home from prayer-meeting,
he attended a wedding breakfast, at the earnest en-
treaty of his wife. While engaged in the enjoy-
ment of the meal the officers of the law came upon
them, and they were all arrested. On the following
morning he was publicly flogged in due and ap-
proved form, and his wife was fined five dollars.
Mr. Holmes thinks this another instance in which
a woman's influence led to a man's humiliation.
The cost of the new church edifice built by Pas-
tor Holmes and his people was $35,000.
108 HISTORY OF THE
CHAPTER XIV.
The Slave as a Man As a Christian As a Soldier
As a Free Man Statistics.
JHIIE writer was not acquainted with the colored
^ man as a slave. But he has heard much of the
fidelity of slaves to their masters, and of the regard
in which some were held by their old owners. Dr.
John A. Broadus, in his Commentary on the Gospel
of Matthew, says : "A ' Confederate ' officer and
the slave who attended him in camp would often
risk their lives for each other, while his other slaves
at home took the most faithful care of his wife and
his children."
It will remain always to the praise of the colored
man that he was true and faithful to the family of
his master when he was in the army fighting for a
cause which, if successful, would perpetuate his
bondage. In conversing with scores of people dur-
ing thirty years, I have never heard of an instance
of betrayal of trust on the part of a slave. Con-
federate generals, doctors, lawyers, and ministers,
and private citizens give their unanimous testimony
that the slaves toiled industriously, and faithfully
cared for the unprotected women and children who
were left in their charge. This faithfulness on the
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 199
part of the slave has filled the English-speaking
race with surprise and admiration.
A Southern minister says : " In a county some-
times 12,000 out of 15,000 were black people.
What a blow they could have struck ! During all
the years of that dark war did these black men
ever lift their hand in one revengeful act ? Can
you point to one single instance of revenge ? Did
not they protect the interests of their masters dur-
ing the war ? "
A volume might be written, giving instances of
affectionate devotion to their old masters, and of
sublime ftiith in God who they believed was fight-
ing their battles for them. The following incident
is taken from the American Missionary for 1894,
page 19 :
"During the last days of the civil war a Confed-
erate soldier lay dying on a Virginia battle-field.
His faithful slave valet stood at his side. As the
master was breathing his last he said to the slave :
'Go, go.' 'Go where, master?' asked the slave.
' Go North and be free. You are too noble a man
to be a slave.' ' No, master, I'se obliged to ffo back.
I promised missus that if you fell I would bring
back to her the Bible she sewed in your vest pocket.
I would like to be free, but I'se obliged to go back.'
The master died. Back the slave went, across riv-
ers, over plains, through cane brakes, till he reached
the old Mississippi plantation. When he had deliv-
ered the book he was remanded to slavery."
200 HISTORY OF THE
The following is from the Christian Herald:
" Near the Black Mingo Baptist Church in
Georgetown District, South Carolina, among the
tombstones which mark, and will ever make the
spot dear to all who may visit the place, one may
read the following on a marble slab :
Sacred to the memory of
" BILL,"
A Strictly Honest and Faithful Servant of
CLELAND BELIU.
" Bill was often entrusted with the care of personal
merchandise, to the value of many thousand dol-
lars, without loss or damage.
"He died on the 7th day of October, 1854, in the
thirty-fifth year of his age, and an approved mem-
ber of the 'Black Mingo Baptist Church,' of which
his master was a deacon. ' Well done thou good
and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy
Lord.' Erected by his master. C. B.
" This is one of a thousand evidences of affection
held in ante-bellum days for faithful servants by
their masters.
-W. H. ROBERT, an ex-Slam-Holder ."
Rev. Dr. Allen, brought up in the South, a slave-
holder's son, says :
" I have carried in my heart since I was a boy,
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 201
a prayer of an old colored man whom my father
owned. As I came up one evening, near the fence,
I heard a strange noise. I stopped I was a little
frightened. I soon found the old colored man was
there, engaged in prayer near the fence. I heard
him pray to God to wash his soul in the blood of
Jesus, to clothe him in Christ's righteousness, and
towards the close of his prayer, he said : ' Now,
Lord, bless the corn-fields and the old people at the
house, and God bless old master's little boys.'
When I heard that, I felt like going down on my
knees beside him, for I felt that I stood on holy
ground. The heart of that man reaching up to
Him who could bless the little boy ! We saw him
die in a few months after. And, brethren, I feel
in my heart that if God will help me, and the Pres-
byterian Church will help me, old master's little
boy shall bless the dying man's race."
Some very eloquent and touching descriptions are
given by the white men and women of the South, of
their old mammies, into whose arms they were placed
in earliest infancy, and whose lisping tongues were
first taught by these dear old saints to speak the
name of Jesus. Many of these aged ones are still
dearly beloved and affectionately cared for by their
old owners.
Among the slaves were often found many high-
minded and pious men and women. Bishop Hay-
ward says some of the holiest men he ever knew
202 HISTORY OF THE
were slaves. Some of the slave-preachers were men
of great pulpit power, and enjoyed the confidence
and sympathy of their white brethren in the minis-
try. Others of them had exalted ideas of their
duty to God, and preached the Gospel at the risk
of punishment from unsympathizing masters.
In the pine woods near Florence, South Carolina, I
entered the humble cabin of a preacher. I was
hundreds of miles away from my family, and could
not see them for months to come. Said the wife,
" I never was away from my husband but one time
in all my life, when he was gone two weeks. When
he come home it 'peared like I didn't had no sense,
I was so glad." Princes and millionaires may well
envy a devotion like this.
During the war the Government decided to enlist
colored men in its service. The Records of the
War Department show that there were 178,975 col-
ored men who became soldiers of the United States.
We have already made reference to the testimony
of officers at Port Hudson as to their bravery in
action.
The late General S. C. Armstrong, to whom ref-
erence has already been made, served two and a
half years with negro soldiers. His experience as
commander of the Ninth and Eighth Regiments of
United States colored troops convinced him of the
good qualities and capacities of the freedmen.
" Their quick response to good treatment and to dis-
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 203
cipline was a constant surprise. Their tidiness,
devotion to their duty and their leaders, their dash
and daring in battle, and ambition to improve
often studying their spelling-books under fire
showed that they deserved as good a chance as any
people." Similar testimonies have been given by
many other commanders of colored troops.
There is no record at the War Department as to
the number of colored soldiers that fell in action or
died of wounds and disease. According to the
latest official statistics, 67,058 officers and enlisted
men of the Federal army were killed in action, and
292,470 died of wounds and disease in the late war.*
That the colored people have made great progress
since they were emancipated, none can deny. The
late Governor Brown, of Georgia, said : " The
negroes have shown a capacity to receive education,
and a disposition to elevate themselves that is ex-
ceedingly gratifying, not only to me, but to every
right-thinking man." Bishop A. G. Haygood, of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South, says : " The
progress of the negro race in the United States
during the past twenty years is one of the marvels
of history." A distinguished Southern minister,
familiar with the South from the Potomac to the
Rio Grande, said on a public occasion : " Since
God's sun has moved across the heavens, no race
has made such progress in the same length of time
* See Note I).
204 HISTORY OF THE
as the colored people have made since they were
set free."
Governor Northern, of Georgia, says that the
negroes of his State pay taxes on $16,000,000, and
the white people on $462,000,000. This gives a
ratio of about one to twenty-nine. It has been
stated, on what seems to be good authority, that
the negroes of the whole South pay taxes on
$264,000,000 worth of property.
The following statements from the Annual Re-
port of the Auditor of Public Accounts for Vir-
ginia for the year 1893, show that where a colored
man owns one dollar, a white man owns about
thirty dollars. This report also shows that where
a colored man pays one dollar for taxes, a white
man pays not thirty dollars, but only about eleven
dollars :
VALUE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY 1893 :
Total value $93,838,414 00
Total value owned by whites 90,373,044 00
Total value owned by negroes 3,465,370 00
VALUE OF REAL ESTATE :
Total value $306,200,038 00
Total value owned by whites 296,371,055 00
Total value owned by negroes 9,829,583 00
TAXKS ASSESSED FOR 1893:
Whites '. . $1,824,15:; 74
Negroes 172,391 28
They have made progress in education. They
have now 1,500,000 children in school, while more
PROF. GEORGE RICE HOVEY, A. M.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 205
than 2,500,000 have learned to read and write.
When the writer first came to the South there were
no colored teachers; now there are fully 25,000.
At the close of the war there were few or no col-
ored teachers in Virginia; now there are 2,041, of
whom 1,130 are colored women. These teachers
receive on an average $26.86 per month. At the
close of the war there were but three colored phy-
sicians; now there are about 800. There were
then only two colored lawyers ; now there are about
300. There are about 200 editors of papers. There
are 1,000 college-bred colored ministers, and 250
colored students in the universities of Europe.
Those who wish to investigate this subject more
thoroughly are referred to the following sources of
information :
" Second Mohonk Conference on the Negro Ques-
tion," Boston, 1891, 8vo. ; " Twenty-two Years
Work of Hampton Normal and Agricultural In-
stitute," Hampton, 1891, 8vo. ; " Education of the
Negro," by W. T. Harris, Atlantic Monthly, Vol.
LXIX (June, 1892), p. 721; "A Voice from the
South," by a black woman of the South (A. J.
Cooper), Ohio, 1892 (published by Aldine Printing
House, Xenia, Ohio) ; "A Brief Historical Sketch
of Negro Education in Georgia," by R. R. Wright,
Savannah, Georgia, 1894; "Afro-American Press
and its Editors," by I. G. Penn, Springfield, Massa-
chusetts, 1891 (Willey & Company, Publishers) ;
206
HISTORY OF THE
" Condition of the Negro," by A. T. Smith and
others, New York Independent, April 2, 1891 ; " Pro-
ceedings National Educational Association," 1880,
p. 76, 1889, pp. 546-553, 1890, p. 497; "Twenty
Years of Negro Education," by J. M. Keating,
Popular Science Monthly, Vol. 28, p. 24.
For educational statistics, collegiate and profes-
sional, you may consult the Annual Reports of the
Commissioner of Education, under head of "Edu-
cation of the Colored Race," Vol. 2, for 1890-91,
pp. 961, 1469.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 207
CHAPTER XV.
Then Now Pleasant Recollections Preaching to
Phil. Kearney Post, G. A. R., and R. E. Lee
Camp Visits Abroad Beneficiary Aid The Amer-
ican Baptist Home Mission Society and its Workers.
T T may be expected that I should say something
* about the religious progress of the colored man
since he became free. I am aware that he has been
the subject of many unkind remarks and many
caricatures. His piety and integrity have been
assailed, and newspaper correspondents have tried
to create merriment by giving amusing reports of
his public utterances and his sermons. It should
be remembered that the list of words that the for-
mer slave knew was small, and therefore his efforts
to pronounce many words used by the whites were
not very successful. But his heart was right, and
God signally honored the slave preachers in saving
many souls. It is not surprising that a student
should say : " I have come to insult you," when he
meant " consult." It is not hard to understand
how a man might pray before the sermon for the
brother who was to "expand" the Gospel, when
he meant to " expound " it. No affront was in-
tended when the fervid brother prayed for a certain
white man whom he looked upon as a friend of his
208 HISTORY OF THE
race, and blessed the Lord that though this friend
had a white skin, yet he had a black heart.
When the slaves were first made free the mem-
bers of Baptist Churches were very much scattered.
The white and colored were members of the same
churches before the war, but at the close, in many
instances, the churches were entirely broken up.
In Georgetown, South Carolina, the only white
member that could be found was the clerk of the
church, and he lived fourteen miles from the church
edifice. The colored members, who were numerous,
had mostly remained, but they could not act for the
church. Conversions were occurring among them,
and we organized a church and ordained a pastor.
Some lived in out-lying districts, and the local lead-
ers in those places could only indicate the number
of their converts by a notch cut in a stick for every
one who professed conversion under their leader-
ship. Tin cups and tea cups were the vessels in
which the wine was distributed at the communion.
Frequently the places of worship were booths or
arbors in the forests. The people were very poor.
A marriage ceremony was performed, and the grate-
ful groom, on the following morning, brought three
eggs to reward the minister for his services.
Peculiar ideas prevailed as to hearing audibly the
voice of God or of an angel at the time of conver-
sion. For want of suitable words, often the most
primitive, yet vivid, illustrations were used to ex-
press the experiences of the human soul in passing
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 209
from darkness into light. When our School was in
the Old Jail, one of our ministerial students, in
giving an account of his conversion, after describ-
ing various exercises of mind, said : "All of a sud-
den a star busted in my breast, and I was mighty
happy in the Lord." What language could more
poetically describe the ecstatic emotions that burst in
upon the soul when it passes from darkness into the
light of the glorious Gospel of the son of God ?
Some of the prayers and sermons of the colored
leaders are remarkable, alike for the beauty of the
thought and the vividness of expression. I have
heard from the lips of colored men some of the
finest word painting that ever fell from human lips.
The following is part of a prayer offered by a lay-
man in the first African Church, Richmond, Vir-
ginia. It is without the abbrevations with which it
was accompanied when delivered : " In this dark
way of sin and death, while the loud thunders of
thy wrath roll in majesty in the sinner's ears and
the blaze of thy fury flashes all of a sudden before
his eyes, send your brooding spirit like a dove
through the storm and speak peace to his wretched
soul before it is everlastingly too late. Show him
tbe slippery rocks and the miry clay. Make him
see that Satan follows fast, tripping at his heels, and
hell yawns open to catch him when he falls. Oh !
arrest him by the mighty power of thy grace.
Pour down your mercy like rain from the summer
clouds. Make him open his blind eyes to see the
210 HISTORY OF THE
beauty of thy holiness a-shining in the face of your
beloved Son, like the rainbow when the storm is
done gone and passed away. Oh, thou great King
of Glory who rides in the golden chariot in the New
Jerusalem, above the sun, I beseech and pray you
drive thy white horses down this way ; and when
the hoofs of the horses strike this lower world and
the dashing wheels come in our sight, stop thy
chariot at Washington city, and alight in loving
kindness at the door of thy servant, the President
Grant, and tell him exactly what to do. Sound the
meaning of your will in the Congress halls, and tell
the great men without their own asking how to
serve their country best. Purge the hearts of the
Senators and Representatives from the love of sin,
and lead their stumbling feet from the snares of
hell. Help them to remember thy servants in every
sorrow and temptation, as Jesus remembers them.
Thin out the desire of honor and the love of salary
from their souls like suckers out of corn ; and may
your name be above every name, and thy kingdom
come into the high places and the low, like the
light of morning comes to the hills and the valleys
the same. After leaving Washington city and tak-
ing thy time, drive your chariot dow T n over the fields
and rein up thy horses of fire at the capital of old
Virginia, alight out at the Governor's door, and go
into his house and tell him what things he ought
to say, and show him what things he ought to do,
like a father who instructs his own children."
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 211
This prayer, uttered with great fervor and with
some of the words drawn out in musical tones that
were indescribable, held breathless the congrega-
tion. The throne of grace was near and the souls
of the people were blessed.
In those early days of pioneer work in the South,
there were but few, if an} 7 , church buildings owned
by the colored people. Now there are large and
comfortable edifices which they have erected and
paid for, at a cost of twenty, thirty, and even forty
thousand dollars. There are flourishing Sunday-
schools, Young Men's Christian Associations, and
various Societies for the culture and development
of the young people. There are now Academies,
Colleges, Schools of Law, Medicine and Theology.
There are also cultivated preachers and accomplished
professional men Dr. A. E. Dickinson, editor of
the Religious Herald, says in the Independent (New
York), March 7th, 1895: " The negroes of the South
are doing as well as we have any right to expect
under all the circumstances. Their progress in
building fine churches and raising great amounts of
money for various descriptions of religious work
is truly wonderful. Northerners should come down
among us and see it all with their own eyes, then
they would know how to appreciate it."
These things are mentioned as showing what is
possible. But after all that has been done, there
are hundreds of thousands that have never been
reached, and who need the helping hand.
212 HISTORY OF THE
While many thousands in the South still occupy
the one-room cabin, yet many own good homes,
costing from one thousand to six and eight thou-
sand dollars. The prosperity of a people depends
upon the condition of the home life. No race or
nation can rise above the moral condition of its
women. If they are indolent, and vain, and fond
of frivolous amusement, the men will too readily
conform to the prevailing notions. If, on the other
hand, the women are noble and aspiring, and graced
with every womanly virtue, the men will eagerly
strive to become worthy of them. In some coun-
tries of Europe there exist much ignorance, super-
stition and degradation. But when one sees the
women engaged in removing the oft'al of the cities,
or loading railroad cars, or mixing and carrying
mortar, he learns why so much wretchedness, super-
stition and crime exist.
The effect of the training received at our schools
for girls is seen in the communities where the grad-
uates of these schools labor. A pupil is at school
brought in contact with new influences. She be-
comes acquainted with new methods of missionary
and temperance work. She receives new impulses,
and goes back to her home among the mountains
or on the lowlands, full of enthusiasm. Her influ-
ence for good is seen every where. It is manifest
in her immediate family, among her associates, in
the Sunday-school and in the church. The pastor
is stimulated in his efforts, and the whole com-
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 213
murrity is blessed. In some instances her influence
extends beyond her native land. A few years ago
there was a colored girl ploughing cotton in Tenn-
essee. She left the cotton field for the school-
room. She took a course of medicine at Nashville,
and after receiving her degree, she went to Africa,
where she has been supporting herself as a Medical
Missionary among the natives. The Methodist
Episcopal Church has recently decided to give her
an appointment under their Board of Missions.
In the course of twenty-seven years' work in
Richmond, there is very little that is unpleasant to
be remembered. The city officials, the Police and
Fire Departments, and others have shown the deep-
est interest in the protection and preservation of our
property.
While in Richmond, in addition to my appointed
work, I have preached 614 sermons. Of this num-
ber seventy-nine have been to white congregations,
and 208 to the First African Church.
The Richmond Dispatch of May, 1888, contained
this announcement: " R. E. Lee Camp and the
United Veterans will join Phil. Kearney Post in
attendance upon a Memorial Sermon to be preached
to-night at Grace Street Baptist Church by Rev. C.
H. Corey, D. D." On entering the pulpit I found
on my left Phil. Kearney Post, G. A. R., and on my
right R. E. Lee Camp of Confederate Veterans,
with a large congregation in addition. The text
214 HISTORY OF THE
was Joshua i, 7. The situation, to say the least,
was a peculiar one ; the President of a school for
colored people preaching in Richmond a memorial
discourse on the Union dead, before Federal and
Confederate soldiers. Within a radius of four miles
were buried nearly 40,000 who fell in action, or died
of wounds or disease in the late war.
On Memorial Day, May 80th, the veterans of both
armies, the Blue and the Gray, marching to the
music of the same fife and drum, joined in the
morning in decorating the graves of the Federal
dead at Seven Pines, and in the afternoon the graves
of the Confederate dead at Hollywood. As " Chap-
lain of the day " for Phil. Kearney Post, it was my
privilege to be present at both services.
In 1878 the Young Men's Christian Association
of Richmond, sent me as a delegate to the Inter-
national Convention of Young Men's Christian As-
sociations, which convened in August, at Geneva,
Switzerland. As showing what effect the method
of Sabbath observance in Continental Europe has
upon Christian people, I may mention that it was
the custom of the Young Men's Christian Associa-
tion of Geneva, to make steamboat excursions on
the lake on Sunday afternoons.
Through the kindness of the Board of Trustees
of the Seminary, and the Board of the Home Mis-
sion Society, in 1890, leave of absence was granted
me for several months to visit the Orient. Egypt,
Palestine, Damascus, Baalbek, Beyrout, Cyprus,
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 215
Smyrna, Ephesus, Athens, Corinth, Constantinople
and a number of the capitals of Europe were em-
braced in this delightful journey.
From an inquiry made not long ago it was found
that there were then more than 500 white men pre-
paring for the ministry in (not all) the Baptist
Academies, Colleges and Theological Seminaries of
the United States, who were receiving aid, at the
average cost of $100 per man, making in all $50,000
per annum. These young men are from the oldest
and richest States, with the wealth .of a century
behind them.
In one of our oldest Seminaries at one time ninety
per cent, of the students received beneficiary aid.
In some of our best Seminaries now six out of seven
are beneficiaries. If white men cannot get along
without assistance, can we expect that colored men
who have but recently come from slavery can do
so ? They are poor ; some of them are homeless ;
some have aged parents (formerly slaves) dependent
upon them. It has been found necessary, therefore,
to render assistance to those that really needed it.
The sum of $40,595.03 in cash has been expended
in the payment of the board of ministerial students.
This money has come, largely, by solicitation from
Sunday-schools, churches and private individuals.
Many have made great sacrifices, and have done so
cheerfully, for the sake of putting into the field a
properly equipped minister of Christ. One, who
216 HISTORY OF THE
for years supported a student in our Institute, lived
in a humble home near a New England village, and
raised strawberries on her little homestead. I have
found her in her fields toiling in the hot summer
sun, in order that she might add to her earnings.
She was accustomed to peddle her berries through
the village, from a wheelbarrow propelled by her
own hands. She supported a student for a number
of years, at a cost of $50 per year.
Sometimes we have been in great straits. On
one occasion, at the Christmas holidays, there were
not five dollars in hand, and there were twenty
men to be provided for until the close of the term
in May. We made known, as we ever do, our
wants to God, and he sent us means from unexpec-
ted sources to carry us through without incurring
a debt. One hundred and twenty-five dollars of
this came from an entire stranger beyond the sea.
At various times we have had remarkable answers to
our prayers, and blessed assurances that God was
watching over this, his own work.
Before closing this chapter I desire to say some-
thing of the work of the American Baptist Home
Mission Society, under whose auspices this and
many other schools have been planted and fostered.
Seven or eight schools had been founded up to the
close of the administration of Secretary S. S. Cut-
ting. The amount of work done by Dr. H. L.
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 217
Morehouse,* who succeeded Dr. Cutting, in thirteen
years, up to the time when he resigned the General
Secretaryship, seems almost incredible. The record
of what was accomplished during his administra-
tion is not only inspiring, but thrilling. Nothing
but nerves of iron, unflagging energy, tireless
working, an exhaustless patience, and an ever abid-
ing faith in the God who holds the key that unlocks
the hearts of his servants, could have accomplished
such results. During that period the number of
missionaries increased from 238 to 1,053; the num-
ber of schools, from eight to twenty-seven. The
receipts per year at the commencement of that
period were $176,393.1.9, at the close $500,930.
Endowments were secured, and all departments of
the work were strengthened and enlarged. "What
man could have done grander work than this ?
Rev. M. Mac Vicar, LL. D., formerly Chancellor
of McMaster University, Toronto, Canada, is giv-
ing with indomitable energy the ripe fruits of long
experience in educational work, to the upbuilding
of the educational institutions of the Home Mission
Society. His advice and cooperation have materi-
ally strengthened our work in Richmond.
General T. J. Morgan, our General Secretary,
well known in all the land as a soldier, an educator,
and as a public officer of the United States Govern-
ment, with his large knowledge of affairs, is throw-
* See Note E.
218 HISTORY OF THE
ing his energies into the work of marshaling the
Baptist forces of the land, and of leading them for-
ward in the line of duty. Already we have learned
how great is his solicitude, that not only our Semi-
nary but all the schools under the care of the Soci-
ety should he developed to the highest state of
efficiency. Truly this is a trio of " tried and true "
workers.
It is worthy of remark in this connection, that
during the period of thirty years in the service of
the Home Mission Society, not a single check from
the now venerable ex-Treasurer J. M. WMtehead, or
from the present efficient Treasurer J. G. Snelling,
has failed to reach us on time ; and none of our
Monthly Reports have failed to reach the office in
New York.
Dr. Morehouse, at Nashville, in 1888, in his
memorable address, entitled "A survey of twenty-
five years' work for the colored people of the South,"
pays a glowing tribute to the noble men and women
who had given unsparingly of their means to help
build up the schools in the South. In referring to
Dr. Nathan Bishop, Mrs. Bishop, Mrs. Benedict,
Deacon Holbrook Chamberlain, John D. Rocke-
feller and others, he says : " Their names, associated
with these institutions and entrenched in the. affec-
tions of the people, will be immortal. Nobler men
and women than these were never found among the
friends of any society." Dr. Morehouse, referring
to the early laborers in the Southern field, con-
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 219
tinues: "No lives of ease have been lived, no per-
functory service rendered by these who, with a
missionary spirit that in many cases matches that
exhibited in any mission field of earth, have bent
every energy of their being to the accomplishment
of their tasks. What has it cost? Tell us who can,
what it cost that hero, Harry Woodsmall, who con-
sumed the last atom of vital force in absolute self-
surrender to Christ and the least of his lowly breth-
ren in the South. Tell us who can for she will
not tell it what it has cost Joanna P. Moore in her
twenty-five years continuous toil among the homes
and the by-ways of the neglected and the needy.
Tell us, who can for never from the lips of these
brave, uncomplaining souls do you hear a recital of
it what it has cost these veterans, whom we count
it an honor to meet with us to-day, Drs. Philips
and Corey, and Drs. Tupper and King, who could
not be here ! The cost in those earlier years, when
the condition of things was vastly different from
the present, is not only beyond computation but
beyond apprehension. Had some of these wrought
in a foreign land with corresponding results, their
name and fame would have gone around the world."
220 HISTORY OF THE
CHAPTKR XVI.
Sloio Progress Our Ancestors The Bible Work for
the Lowly Suffrage Conclusion.
Q.OMETTMES the complaint has been heard that
the progress made by the colored people has
not been sufficiently rapid. It should be remem-
bered, however, that all history teaches that the
uplifting process among races is slow. When Ju-
lius Caesar invaded Britain in the year 55, B. C.,
he took some of the finest specimens of our savage
ancestors to Rome. Cicero, in writing to his friend
Atticus (see Ad Atticum, Lib. IV, 6), declared that
none of them would be found fit to be a slave at
Rome. It has taken 1900 years to change the de-
scendants of these rude inhabitants of that little
island to the noble specimens of Christian manhood
and womanhood that we see in England and
America to-day. In the days of the Caesars it was
the proudest boast a man could make, to say : " I
am a Roman." What makes the difference between
the descendant of him who was not fit to be a slave
at Rome, and the ignorant and superstitious descen-
dant of the proud Roman of the olden times ? The
pure teachings of the Bible is the answer. The
Bible, not chained in cloisters, nor torn from the peo-
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 221
pie and burned, but the Bible, open, and placed
within the reach of the poorest and humblest inhab-
itant of the land, is the great lever to lift races and
nations. Queen Victoria, when King Theodore, of
Abyssinia, wrote to her, asking why England, so
small a country, was yet so great, returned as her
answer a Bible, with an autograph letter containing
the following royal reply : " Your Majesty : This
book has made my kingdom great, and will make
great your majesty's kingdom also."
The growth towards righteousness and truth is
slow. In the time of the Conquest it was the cus-
tom to buy men and women in all parts of Eng-
land, and to carry them from Bristol to Ireland for
sale. They sold as slaves their nearest relatives,
and even their own children. (See Life of Bishop
Wolston.)
The streets of London, now with its 4,300,000
inhabitants, were " foul and noisome," and unpaved
until Henry VIII commenced the work of im-
proving and paving them. This King had but one
ship of war at the beginning of his reign with
which to defend himself from his enemies. (See
Taine's English Literature^ Vol. I, 146.) Before the
time of Elizabeth, A. D. 1558, the country houses
of gentlemen were little more than straw-thatched
cottages, plastered with the coarsest clay, and
lighted only by trellises. They had no glass in their
houses; they used a good round log for a bolster
or pillow, and ate with wooden spoons. The moral
222 HISTORY OF THE
condition of the people of those times was also
deplorable.
Among the " meere " or wild Irish, in the year
1600, they were accustomed to fasten the plough to
the horse's tail, and to burn the oats from the straw
to save the trouble of threshing them. Acts of
Parliament were passed against these practices.
Their great lords dwelt in poor clay houses or
cabins, of boughs covered with turf. In many
parts women, as well as men, had even in the win-
ter time only a linen rag about their loins, and a
woolen mantle on their backs. They had no tables,
but set their meat on a bundle of grass. They
feasted on " fallen " horses, and drank milk warmed
with a stone first cast into the fire (Tylor's Primi-
tive Culture, Vol. I, 44).
Others are superstitious as well as the colored
people. Martin Luther believed in witches, and
he says : " I would have no pity on these witches ;
I would burn them all." The great and good Sir
Matthew Hale hung witches in Suffolk county, on
the authority of Scripture as he thought, and the
consenting wisdom of all nations. King James, of
England, presided at the torture of Dr. Fiau, for
bringing a storm against the king's ship on its
course from Denmark, by the aid of a fleet of witch-
es in sieves who carried out a christened cat to sea.
Even Richard Baxter, of the " Saints Rest," believed
in witches.
In Bohemia, a recent account (1864) says that the
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 223
fishermen do not venture to snatch a drowning man
from the water ; they fear that the " water-demon "
would take away their luck in fishing, and drown
themselves at the first opportunity. In short, other
races have always had their superstitions, as well as
the black race.
It has taken a long time to uproot many errors,
superstitions, and immoralities from the nations
now foremost in the march of civilization. The
more of these that are removed, the greater is the
safety to a commonwealth. As blood-poisoning is
destructive to the whole human system, so the ex-
istence in our body politic of corrupt elements en-
dangers our national life. If the stern of a ship
goes down the prow will inevitably follow. If we
in the South, who have so many millions among
us yet in ignorance, do not lift them up, they will
drag us and our children down.
The work of lifting up the masses must begin at
the bottom. I have not been able to quite agree
with my loved and honored friend, the late Dr.
John A. Broadus,* whose present departure from
earth is mourned by two hemispheres, that we
must begin at the top and work downward in our
educational and religious labors. It seems to me
that if we lift the lowly, along with them we lift
those above them. We put the fire under the boiler
and not on the top. Wesley preached to the com-
* See Note F.
224 HISTORY OF THE
mon people of England the horny-handed sons of
toil. They were saved, uplifted ; and along with
them the corrupt and profligate nobility. Wesley
lifted the crowds and saved England from a more
bloody revolution than that which devastated France.
The efforts of the negroes to secure an education
has, no doubt, been a stimulus to many white
people. See the following interesting letter. J.
B. Gambrell, D. D., President of Mercer Univer-
sity, Macon, Georgia, in writing to a Northern Bap-
tist, makes the following statement. See The Ex-
aminer for March 14th, 1895:
" Last June I delivered a diploma to a preacher
who had completed his studies at Mercer. The
next day, in my office, he said : ' Do you know how
I came to enter Mercer ? It was in this way : I
was preaching out in the country, and the people
there said they thought I could beat two college
men; but I was not satisfied. There was a feeling
that I needed a much better training to do the work
that was on me. One day I met a colored brother
on the train, and he told me of his studies in the
Atlanta School for colored preachers how greatly
he was helped, and he wound up by saying that he
did not see how any preacher could be willing to
go into the work without an education. When he
got through, one thing was settled ; I determined to
go through Mercer. How, I did not know, but my
purpose was fixed to have an education.' '
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 225
Dr. Gambrell adds these significant words : " He
is one of our best men ; and how true it is that we
cannot help the lowliest of our people without help-
ing ourselves."
There is no doubt, that if not in this precise way
then in some other way, the progress of the colored
man has served as an incentive to his white neigh-
bor.
The right of suffrage has been granted to the
negro, and various opinions have been expressed
concerning this matter. One distinguished minis-
ter of the South pronounces the giving of the right
of suffrage " a blunder and a crime." Another
representative man of national reputation, in a pub-
lished article, writes as follows : "I approach what
is to my apprehension the most unmatchable out-
rage ever inflicted by a civilized people. Some
acts, like the partition of Poland, stand out on the
pages of history as disgraceful national crimes; but
most of them shade into minor offences compared
with the crime-breeding, race-endangering, liberty-
imperiling savagery of conferring the right of suf-
frage upon the negroes en masse.
Giving the elective franchises to the suddenly-eman-
cipated negroes, if not such a repeating crime,
would be a farce for the ages."
The Christian Advocate, of Richmond, Virginia,
in 1888, uses the following language : " We are
ready to close our gates even to the European with
226 HISTORY OF THE
his genius and history, but decree it a sacrilege to
hint that a creature out of a rude hut in a southern
swamp, with mind, manners and motives hardly
above a gorilla, is not fit to direct and dominate the
1 first nation in the fore files of time.' '
" While the negro, whose native land is just across
the Mediterranean from Athens and Rome, and
along the same river with the wise Egyptians, yet.
never rising out of sloven savagery in all the cen-
turies, remaining a brute and bondman throughout
the ages, is the ebon Czar of America, the sooty
and grotesque idol of advanced statesmen. It
makes men shudder for the sanity of our civiliza-
tion."
It may seriously be questioned whether it is wise
in men who reverently acknowledge God in all
their ways (for the writers are gentlemen of high
and devout Christian character) to express them-
selves so positively on a point like this. God, who
knows the end from the beginning, permitted it,
and He does not work simply for to-day. His plans
run on and on through the eternities. The web
he weaves is from everlasting to everlasting. He
works down out of human sight, and the drapery
of invisibility often enshrouds the Divine Arm.
None but the God of nations knows what is in store
for our republic. The tides of anarchy are already
surging against the foundation stones of our social
fabric. New and disintegrating foreign elements
are already securing a foothold on our soil. Infidel
RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 227
and unprincipled men, doubtless will, at no dis-
tant day, undertake to control or overthrow all that
we, as a nation, hold most dear. The colored man
is not an anarchist, nor a Sabbath-breaker, nor a
maker of drunkards. He speaks our own lan-
guage ; he loves our common Lord; he is loyal to
our institutions. If we do our duty to him and
prepare him to use intelligently his ballot, he and
his posterity will be allies that may assist in saving
our country from the perils that threaten to engulf
it.
All the crimes and misdoings of our common
humanity should not be placed at the door of the
colored man. History tells of the diabolical cruel-
ties of some whom the world calls its greatest he-
roes. The social life of the most civilized peoples
has its scandals, even in the highest stations in life.
Nefarious schemes for gain are planned; great
gambling establishments exist; colossal defalca-
tions occur ; and breaches of trust are common
among what are called the dominant races. It is
not wise to arrogate to ourselves too much superior
virtue, but with Christ's love in our hearts, like
Peter who took the crippled man that lay at the
Temple gate by the hand, we should take by the
hand and lift up the despairing and helpless of every
race, whether black, white, red or yellow, and
whether they are in our own or in other lands.
What then is our duty? The crisis is upon us;
the old regime is passing away ; a new era is dawn-
228 HISTORY OF THE
ing upon us; the gates of the twentieth century
will soon swing open before us. As Christians in
America do we realize our responsibilities ? Some
one has said that the Baptists and Methodists of
America are responsible for the development of the
colored people, as so many of them belong to these
denominations. As Baptists are we doing our duty?
More than one-third of all the Baptists on the globe
are found among the colored people of the South.
Our work of providing a trained ministry for the
1,500,000 colored Baptists of the South needs
strengthening all along the line. Students are com-
ing to our Seminary from the far South, the West
Indies, British Honduras, and from Africa. These
need aid. Our " Faith Fund" is sometimes very
low. Who will make provision for the support of
a student in our Seminary for all time? Who will
erect a memorial for himself or his family more
enduring than granite or bronze, by founding a
Scholarship? Men have erected monuments and
built mausoleums to perpetuate their names. But
the tombs and pyramids of earth have been rifled
by ruthless robbers, and the dust of Pharaohs and
Kings has been scattered to the winds of heaven.
Monumental cities and temples are in ruins. But
whenever a steward of God sends a fully equipped
and consecrated man into the world, he will live in
him until the end of time. It is better to build in
MEN than to build in marble.
NOTES.
NOTE A. MAJOR-GENERAL ANDERSON.
The following is from the Adjutant-General's office, Wash-
ington, D. C., August 15, 1893 :
"SiR: In answer to your communication of the llth instant,
the following information is furnished from the files of this
office: Fort Sumpter, S. C., was surrendered April 14, 1861, by
Major Robert Anderson, 1st Artillery, and the United States
flag was raised again on that fort April 14, 1865, by the same
officer, who at that time held the rank of Brigadier-General
and Brevet Major-General on the retired list.
"Ordinance Sergeant James Kearney, United States Army,
was present at Fort Sumpter at its surrender in 1861, and at the
raising of the United States flag there in 1865."
NOTE B. VALUE OF PROPERTY DESTROYED.
In the Richmond Whig of April 10, 1865, there is a partial
list of the owners of real estate destroyed in the fire, and of
the property respectively owned by them. The figures repre-
sent the assessed value in 1860. The amount given in that list,
which is only a partial one, is $2,146,240. Says the Whig : " Im-
posing as these figures appear, they are far short of the truth,
for the reason already stated, that real estate was, before the
war, invariably assessed much below the value it would have
commanded in the market. Our list covers no more than the
value of the bricks and mortar destroyed." * * * " In ad-
dition to the buildings, &c., destroyed are the Public Ware-
house, in which was stored a very large quantity of tobacco ;
the Richmond and Petersburg railroad bridge ; the Richmond
and Danville railroad bridge, two spans of which were de-
10
230 RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
stroyed, and Mayo's passenger bridge." Add to these losses
the many public buildings owned by the Confederacy, the
Government stores, and the contents of the stores of mer-
chants, and the loss will be seen to be enormous. One ware-
house alone contained 1,500 hogsheads of tobacco.
NOTE C. BREVET BRIGADIER-GENERAL S. C. ARMSTRONG.
General S. C. Armstrong was born in the Sandwich Islands
in 1839 of parents who were missionaries. In 1860 he left that
country to complete his education at Williams College, Massa-
chusetts. He served in the late war two and one-half years
with negro soldiers. General O. O. Howard, Commissioner of
the Freedmen's Bureau, in 1866. placed him in charge of ten
counties in Eastern Virginia, with headquarters at Hampton.
In 1868 he commenced the educational work at Hampton
which has been so successful. He died in May, 1893, his death
no doubt being hastened by the weight of his cares and the
intensity with which he devoted himself to his duties.
NOTE D. THE NORTHERN SOLDIERS.
The entire number who enlisted during the war, when re-
duced to a three years' standard, was, 2,324,516.
In the various National Cemeteries, of which there are
eighty-two, there are interred 331,755. The names of 149,913
of these are -unknown. Of these interments about 9,300 are
Confederates.
A writer in one of our prominent daily papers a few weeks
ago speaks of "the Anglo-Saxon of the North aided by his
hords of foreign hirelings brought from every clime to destroy
us," &c.
For the information of the writer of the above, and all who
may have a similar impression, I give the following percentage
of the nationalities of those who enlisted in the Northern
army from 1861 to 1865. It is taken from the New York Sun
of August 30, 1891:
NOTES. 231
Percent.
Native Americans 75.48
Germans 8.76
Irish 7.14
British Americans 2.60
English 2.26
Other foreigners 3.76
The percentage of native Americans who deserted was five ;
of all others, seventy-five.
NOTE E. H. L. MOREHOUSE, D. D.
Since his resignation as Corresponding Secretary, Dr. More-
house still serves the Home Mission Society as its efficient
Field Secretary. He reminds me that Dr. Lathrop and J. B.
Hoyt, who are spoken of on page 36, as coming to Charleston,
South Carolina, in 1865, " were appointed by the American
Baptist Home Mission Society to make this Southern visit."
See page 424 of the Jubilee Volume of the Society, by H. L.
Morehouse, for an account of their reception.
NOTE F. JOHN A. BHOADUS, D. D., LL.D.
This distinguished scholar, President of the Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary, died at Louisville, Kentucky, March
16th, 1895. He was a ripe scholar, a rare instructor, and a
charming preacher. He was a polished gentleman, with an
indescribable charm of manner that drew all hearts to him.
Well does the writer remember a conversation with him while
walking to the church one afternoon during the session of the
Southern Baptist Convention in Baltimore. Familiarly draw-
ing his arm under mine he expressed his hearty sympathy
with me in my work, and cordially encouraged me to command
his services in any way and at any time I might desire.
The following is from the Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ken-
tucky :
" Dr. Broadus' last appearence at the General Association of
232 RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY!
Kentucky Baptists was to make a plea for colored preachers.
Dr. McRidley, a colored teacher, had made a plea for his nor-
mal school, at Cadiz ; the matter was about to be passed with-
out favorable action ; Dr. Broadus took th'e floor and said : ' Let
us have a collection ; ' and although a little objection was made,
he carried the day, as was his way. He went through the
church and collected the money in his own hat. On another
occasion, at the Southern Baptist Convention, when he spoke
of the Home Board, he said of the colored people :
" ' Heaven help me, I shall say nothing of the race problem
or any other problem. You can't solve a problem by whole-
sale. You can only do it as Nehemiah did when he rebuilt
the walls of Jerusalem each do his part. The Scriptures say :
"As ye have opportunity do good toward all men." We have
an opportunity. Let us do the colored people good. Let no
unkind criticism dishearten. * * * * As to what is
proper I cannot lay down any law ; but whatever you or I can
do, oh ! God of mercy, help you and me to do. One of the
heaviest responsibilities, one of the highest duties that God
Almighty ever gave you and me was to do what we could for
the elevation of the colored people.' "
In a letter to the Religious Herald, Dr. Broadus bears a delicate
and generous testimony to the work accomplished by our School
in Richmond. Drs. Manly, Boyce and Broadus, all of whom I
visited in their homes at Louisville, have rested from their
labors and their works do follow them. These, with Dr. Wil-
liams, their colleague, have all passed away since I commenced
my work in Richmond, twenty-seven years ago.
I N D BX.
Abbott, Rev. M. S. G. (M. D.) 137
American Baptist Home Mission Society,
36, 48, 52, 65, 66, 73, 77, 90, 111, 113, 127, 128, 216
American Baptist Publication Society 150
Acadia University 13
Aid to Students 215
Alexandria 18
Anderson, Major 25, 32, 229
Anderson, Rev. P. E 151
Anderson, Rev. Spotswood A 141
Answers to Prayer 216
Armstrong, General S. C 123, 202, 230
Augusta Institute 39, 40, 58
Backus, J. S. (D. D.) 66
Bacote, Rev. S. W. (B. D.) 171
Bailey, Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph 18
Banks, General 17, 19
Beecher, Rev. Henry Ward. 32, 33
Benedict, Mrs 218
Bennett, Colonel 23
Berkeley, Rev. Reuben 139
Bill, Hon. Henry 83, 84
Binney, J. G. (D. D.) 52, 53, 107
Bishop, Nathan (LL.D.) 20, 218
Bishop, Rev. P. P 113
Board of Trustees, Meeting of 128
Boykin, Rev. M 37
'Boykin, Rev. J. W , 171
Broadus, John A. (D. D.) 198, 223, 231
234 RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
Brockenton, Rev. I. P 39, 79, 115, 142, 1G2
Brouner, Dr 1C
Brown, Rev. A. J 106
Brown, Rev. J. S 144, 146
Building Fund 183
Burrows, J. L. (D. D.) 46
Callahan, Rev. P. H 171
Canby, General 120
Carey, Lott 196
Chahoon, Mayor George 121
Chamberlain, Deacon H 218
Charleston 20, 21, 31, 36, 44 '
Chase, Dr 16
Chick, Rev. T. J 150
Chisholm, Rev. A. (D. D.) 160
Clafflin University 38
Coffin, C. C 7, 42, 44, 46
Coleman, Rev. C. S 155
Coles, Rev. J. J 158, 159
Colley, Rev. W. W 143
Colver Institute 88
Colver, Nathaniel (D. D.) 54-58, 60-63, 72, 73, 75, 76, 78, 86
Conant, J. T. (D. D.) 182
Conway, Chaplain T. M 15
Cosby, Rev. Solomon 145
Cousins, Rev. William 141
Cramp, J. M. (D. D.) 14, 113, 114
Crawley, E. A. (D. D.) 13, 14
Curry, Hon. J. L. M 119
Cutting, S. S. (D. D.) 101, 102, 216
Cyrus, Rev. J. H. A 153
Davis, Jefferson 42, 43
David, Rev. W. J 145, 148
De Laney, Dr 30
Dickerson, Rev. H. W 141
INDEX. 235
Dickinson, A. E. (D. D.) 118
Duers, Rev. Henry E 137
Ellyson, Mayor H. K 119, 121
Everts, W. W. (D. D.) 181
Field, S. W. (D. D.) 116, 117
First African Baptist Church 73
Fort Wagner *21, 23
Freedmen's Bureau, The .81, 87, 93, 123
Fulton, J. D. (I). D.) 53, 65
Gambrell, J. B. (D. D.) 224
Gardner, Sterling 137
Garland, Rev. S. A 162
Garrison, William Lloyd 33
Gassaway, Rev. E. V 170
General A'ssembly, Act of 130, 131
Goodman, Miss H. W 59, 66, 69, 82-84
Gordon, Rev. C. W. B 159
Govan, J. Corey 108, 109
Grant, General 44
Gregory, Rev. Joseph 144
Griggs, Rev. A. R 165
Guinness, Henry Grattan (D. D.) 182
Hamilton, Rev. James 36
Hardee, General 23
Hartshorn Memorial College 135
Hayden, Rev. Lucius E. (D. D.) 40
Haygood, Bishop A. G 201, 203
Heriot, W. J 34
Hilton Head 29, 34
Holmes, Rev. James H 55, 63, 78, 79, 86, 138, 196, 197
Hovey, Alvah (D. D.) 181
Hove}', George Rice (A. M.) 179
236 RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
Howard, General O. 1?3
Howson, Dean 182
Hoyt, J. B 36, 104, 182, 183
Hoyt, U. G 103, 126
Hughes, W. N 34
Indianola 15
Jackson, Rev. George W 140
Jeter, J. B. (D. D.) 118
Johnson, Rev. W. T. (B. D.) 172
Jones, John William (D. D.) 119
Jones, Rev. Joseph Endom (D. D.) 174-178
Jorden, Rev. Nelson 144
Jubilee Celebration 30
Kelly, Judge 33
King, Dr 219
King Theodore, Letter to 221
Labors of Students 136
Lathrop, Edward (D. D.) 36, 113, 182
Legare, Rev. Jacob 39
Lewis, Rev. P. S. (B. D.) , . . 168
Lewis, T. Willard 38, 114
Lewis, Rev. Z. D. (B. D.) 167
Library Fund 183
Lincoln, President 46
Loan Fund, D. Henry Sheldon 184
Lumpkin's Jail 47, 54, 69, 73, 74, 80, 82, 86
Lumpkin, Mr 42, 43, 76
MacVicar, Rev. M. (LL. D.) 217
Madison, Rev. Henry 162
Madison University 49, 50, 84, 176, 178
Mahan, Commander -: 18
INDEX. 237
Matarnoras 15
Matthews, Rev. J. B 140
Manly, Rev. R. M 87
Mayo, A.. D. (D. D.) 21
McDaniel, Rev. Charles H 139
McFadden, Hon. Orren 17
Moore, Joanna P 219
Morehouse, H. L. (D. D.) 102-104, 127, 183, 216, 218, 231
Monument to a Slave 200
Morgan, General T. J 184, 217
Morris, Harvey 109
Morris Island 20, 23, 24, 26
Mower, Rev. Mr 48
National Theological Institute 39, 53, 58, 60, 64, 65
Negro Education, Sources of Information on 205, 206
Newman, Rev. A. M 48
New Orleans 15, 19
Newton Theological Institution 14
Nichols, Mrs. Sarah Hanson 84
Northen, Governor 204
Northern Soldiers 203, 230
Old African Church, History of 185-196
Parker, J. W. (D. D.) 57, 59, 61, 67, 68, 85, 112
Pawley, J. C 39
Payne, Rev. C. H. (D. D.) 157
Payne, Rev. E las, 165, 197
Pease, Captain 16, 17
Peck, Solomon (D. D.) 54,57,59,65
Pegues, Rev. A. W. (Ph. D.) 155
Perry, Rev. Elisha 153
Philips, Dr 219
Pickens, Governor 26
Pierce, Rev. D. M. (A. M.) 156
Port Hudson 15, 17
238 RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
Powell, Rev. Guy 152
Preaching to Phil. Kearney Post 213
Presley, Rev. J. H 158
Professorships 183
Quarles, Rev. R. C 162
Reed, Lieutenant 28
Religious Herald 52, 55, 170
Religious Progress of the Negro 207-211
Removal, Efforts for 184
Reports of Auditor in Virginia 204
Richmond, Evacuation of 42
Richmond Institute, Incorporated 124-126
Richmond Theological Seminary 37, 130
Richmond Whig 44, 45
Rio Grande 15
Robert, J. T. (LL.D.) 40
Robinson, Rev. C. G 170
Robinson, E. G. (D. D.) 181
Robinson, Rev. W. M 149
Rockefeller, J. D 104, 183, 218
Ryland, Robert (D. D.) 55-58, 62, 193-196
Samson, G. W. (D. D.) 65
Sanders, Rev. Sancho 37
Sawyer, Rev. A. W. (D. D., LL.D.) 14
Savannah, Fall of 23
Scholarships 183
Scruggs, Rev. L. A. (M. D.) 154
Seabrook, N. II 14
Sermons Preached in Richmond 213
Seymour, Lieutenant R. G 15, 16
Shaw, Colonel 21
Sherman, General 23
Simmons, Rev. J. B. (D. D.) 65, 69, 87, 90-100, 106
Simmons. W. J. (D. D.) 178
INDEX. 239
Slave, A Faithful 199
Slaveholder's Son, Testimony of 200
Smith, S. F. (D. D.) 114, 115
Smith, W. H 82
Snelling, J. G 218
Soldiers, Colored 16, 203
Soldiers, White 203
Southern Baptist Convention 145
Spiller, Rev. Richard 138
Stone, Marsena (D. D.) 181
Stuart, Prof. A. P. S 14
Suffrage, Right of 225
Supreme Court of Appeals 121
Taliaferro, Rev. G. L. P 160, 161
Taylor, E. E. L. (D. D.) 101
Teachers, List of 173
Teague, Colin 196
Thomas, L., Brigadier-General 16
Thompson, George 32
Tilton, Theodore. . . 33
Tolman Fund, The Lydia S 183
Turner, J. H. (B. D.) 169
Tupper, Dr 219
Ullman, General Daniel 17
Uncle Jeffrey 63, 84, 85
United States Christian Commission 15, 20, 28, 34
United States Hotel 77, 80, 86
Value of Property destroyed 44, 229
Vassar, J)avid Nathaniel (I). D.) 178, 179
Visits Abroad 213
Waldron, Rev. J. Milton 156, 157
Wales, Rev. L. W .161
240 RICHMOND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
Washington, Rev. Forris J 167
Water-house, C. W 115, 116
Watts, Rev. Ellis (B. D.) 168
Webster, Dr. A 38
Weitzel, General 44
Wells, Rev. Aaron 151
Wells, Richard 63, 78, 79, 86, 140, 197
Wheeler, Rev. E. S 15, 16. 17
White, Rev. Dr 105
Whitehead, J. M 218
Whiting, Rev. Z. Taylor 169
Winkler, Rev. E. T. (D. D.) 39, 111
Witches, Belief in 222
Woodsmall, Harry 219
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